Omega-3 docosahexaenoic acid induces pyroptosis cell death in triple-negative breast cancer cells

TNF-ɑ induces mitochondrial dysfunction to drive NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis in MCF-7 cells

Pyroptosis is a gasdermin-mediated pro-inflammatory form of programmed cell death (PCD). Tumor necrosis factor-ɑ (TNF-ɑ) is an inflammatory cytokine, and some studies have shown that TNF-ɑ can cause pyroptosis of cells and exert anti-tumor effects. However, whether TNF-ɑ exerts anti-tumor effects on breast cancer cells by inducing pyroptosis has not been reported. In this study, to explore the impact of TNF-ɑ on pyroptosis in breast cancer cells, we treated MCF-7 cells with TNF-ɑ and found that TNF-ɑ induced cell death. Moreover, we observed that the dead cells were swollen with obvious balloon-like bubbles, which was a typical sign of pyroptosis. Further studies have found that the anti-tumor effect of TNF-ɑ on breast cancer cells in vitro was achieved through the canonical pyroptosis pathway. In addition, TNF-ɑ-induced pyroptosis in MCF-7 cells was associated with mitochondrial dysfunction, in which mitochondrial membrane potential was decreased and mitochondrial ROS production was increased. After inhibiting ROS production, the activation effect of TNF-ɑ on NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD pathway was weakened, and the inhibitory effect of TNF-ɑ on the growth of MCF-7 cells in vitro was also decreased, further confirming the involvement of ROS in TNF-ɑ-induced pyroptosis. Overall, our study revealed a new mechanism by which TNF-ɑ exerts an anti-tumor effect by inducing pyroptosis in MCF-7 cells through the ROS/NLRP3/Caspase-1/GSDMD pathway, which may provide new therapeutic ideas for the treatment of breast cancer.

Pyroptosis and chemical classification of pyroptotic agents

Pyroptosis, as a lytic-inflammatory type of programmed cell death, has garnered considerable attention due to its role in cancer chemotherapy and many inflammatory diseases. This review will discuss the biochemical classification of pyroptotic inducers according to their chemical structure, pyroptotic mechanism, and cancer type of these targets. A structure-activity relationship study on pyroptotic inducers is revealed based on the surveyed pyroptotic inducer chemotherapeutics. The shared features in the chemical structures of current pyroptotic inducer agents were displayed, including an essential cyclic head, a vital linker, and a hydrophilic tail that is significant for π-π interactions and hydrogen bonding. The presented structural features will open the way to design new hybridized classes or scaffolds as potent pyroptotic inducers in the future, which may represent a solution to the apoptotic-resistance dilemma along with synergistic chemotherapeutic advantage.

Ferroptosis-targeting drugs in breast cancer

In 2020, breast cancer surpassed lung cancer as the most common cancer in the world for the first time. Due to the resistance of some breast cancer cell lines to apoptosis, the therapeutic effect of anti-breast cancer drugs is limited. According to recent report, the susceptibility of breast cancer cells to ferroptosis affects the progress, prognosis and drug resistance of breast cancer. For instance, roblitinib induces ferroptosis of trastuzumab-resistant human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer cells by diminishing fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 (FGFR4) expression, thereby augmenting the susceptibility of these cells to HER2-targeted therapies. In tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells, Fascin exacerbates their resistance by repressing solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) expression, which in turn heightens their responsiveness to tamoxifen. In recent years, Chinese herbs extracts and therapeutic drugs have been demonstrated to elicit ferroptosis in breast cancer cells by modulating a spectrum of regulatory factors pertinent to ferroptosis, including SLC7A11, glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), acyl-CoA synthetase long chain family member 4 (ACSL4), and haem oxygenase 1 (HO-1). Here, we review the roles and mechanisms of Chinese herbal extracts and therapeutic drugs in regulating ferroptosis in breast cancer, providing potential therapeutic options for anti-breast cancer.

Dual roles of inflammatory programmed cell death in cancer: insights into pyroptosis and necroptosis

Programmed cell death (PCD) is essential for cellular homeostasis and defense against infections, with inflammatory forms like pyroptosis and necroptosis playing significant roles in cancer. Pyroptosis, mediated by caspases and gasdermin proteins, leads to cell lysis and inflammatory cytokine release. It has been implicated in various diseases, including cancer, where it can either suppress tumor growth or promote tumor progression through chronic inflammation. Necroptosis, involving RIPK1, RIPK3, and MLKL, serves as a backup mechanism when apoptosis is inhibited. In cancer, necroptosis can enhance immune responses or contribute to tumor progression. Both pathways have dual roles in cancer, acting as tumor suppressors or promoting a pro-tumorigenic environment depending on the context. This review explores the molecular mechanisms of pyroptosis and necroptosis, their roles in different cancers, and their potential as therapeutic targets. Understanding the context-dependent effects of these pathways is crucial for developing effective cancer therapies.

Therapeutic strategies of targeting non-apoptotic regulated cell death (RCD) with small-molecule compounds in cancer

Regulated cell death (RCD) is a controlled form of cell death orchestrated by one or more cascading signaling pathways, making it amenable to pharmacological intervention. RCD subroutines can be categorized as apoptotic or non-apoptotic and play essential roles in maintaining homeostasis, facilitating development, and modulating immunity. Accumulating evidence has recently revealed that RCD evasion is frequently the primary cause of tumor survival. Several non-apoptotic RCD subroutines have garnered attention as promising cancer therapies due to their ability to induce tumor regression and prevent relapse, comparable to apoptosis. Moreover, they offer potential solutions for overcoming the acquired resistance of tumors toward apoptotic drugs. With an increasing understanding of the underlying mechanisms governing these non-apoptotic RCD subroutines, a growing number of small-molecule compounds targeting single or multiple pathways have been discovered, providing novel strategies for current cancer therapy. In this review, we comprehensively summarized the current regulatory mechanisms of the emerging non-apoptotic RCD subroutines, mainly including autophagy-dependent cell death, ferroptosis, cuproptosis, disulfidptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, alkaliptosis, oxeiptosis, parthanatos, mitochondrial permeability transition (MPT)-driven necrosis, entotic cell death, NETotic cell death, lysosome-dependent cell death, and immunogenic cell death (ICD). Furthermore, we focused on discussing the pharmacological regulatory mechanisms of related small-molecule compounds. In brief, these insightful findings may provide valuable guidance for investigating individual or collaborative targeting approaches towards different RCD subroutines, ultimately driving the discovery of novel small-molecule compounds that target RCD and significantly enhance future cancer therapeutics.

FABP5-binding lipids regulate autophagy in differentiated SH-SY5Y cells

The motor features of Parkinson's disease result from loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra with autophagy dysfunction being closely linked to this disease. While a large body of work focusing on protein effectors of autophagy has been reported, regulation of autophagy by lipids has garnered far less attention. Therefore, we sought to identify endogenous lipid molecules that act as signaling mediators of autophagy in differentiated SH-SY5Y cells, a commonly used dopaminergic neuron-like cell model. In order to accomplish this goal, we assessed the role of a fatty acid-binding protein (FABP) family member on autophagy due to its function as an intracellular lipid chaperone. We focused specifically upon FABP5 due to its heightened expression in dopaminergic neurons within the substantia nigra and SH-SY5Y cells. Here, we report that knockdown of FABP5 resulted in suppression of autophagy in differentiated SH-SY5Y cells suggesting the possibility of an autophagic role for an interacting lipid. A lipidomic screen of FABP5-interacting lipids uncovered hits that include 5-oxo-eicosatetraenoic acid (5OE) and its precursor metabolite, arachidonic acid (AA). Additionally, other long-chain fatty acids were found to bind FABP5, such as stearic acid (SA), hydroxystearic acid (HSA), and palmitic acid (PA). The addition of 5OE, SA, and HSA but not AA or PA, led to potent inhibition of autophagy in SH-SY5Y cells. To identify potential molecular mechanisms for autophagy inhibition by these lipids, RNA-Seq was performed which revealed both shared and divergent signaling pathways between the lipid-treated groups. These findings suggest a role for these lipids in modulating autophagy through diverse signaling pathways and could represent novel therapeutic targets for Parkinson's disease.

Revolutionizing breast cancer treatment: Harnessing the related mechanisms and drugs for regulated cell death (Review)

Breast cancer arises from the malignant transformation of mammary epithelial cells under the influence of various carcinogenic factors, leading to a gradual increase in its prevalence. This disease has become the leading cause of mortality among female malignancies, posing a significant threat to the health of women. The timely identification of breast cancer remains challenging, often resulting in diagnosis at the advanced stages of the disease. Conventional therapeutic approaches, such as surgical excision, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, exhibit limited efficacy in controlling the progression and metastasis of the disease. Regulated cell death (RCD), a process essential for physiological tissue cell renewal, occurs within the body independently of external influences. In the context of cancer, research on RCD primarily focuses on cuproptosis, ferroptosis and pyroptosis. Mounting evidence suggests a marked association between these specific forms of RCD, and the onset and progression of breast cancer. For example, a cuproptosis vector can effectively bind copper ions to induce cuproptosis in breast cancer cells, thereby hindering their proliferation. Additionally, the expression of ferroptosis‑related genes can enhance the sensitivity of breast cancer cells to chemotherapy. Likewise, pyroptosis‑related proteins not only participate in pyroptosis, but also regulate the tumor microenvironment, ultimately leading to the death of breast cancer cells. The present review discusses the unique regulatory mechanisms of cuproptosis, ferroptosis and pyroptosis in breast cancer, and the mechanisms through which they are affected by conventional cancer drugs. Furthermore, it provides a comprehensive overview of the significance of these forms of RCD in modulating the efficacy of chemotherapy and highlights their shared characteristics. This knowledge may provide novel avenues for both clinical interventions and fundamental research in the context of breast cancer.

Crosstalk between hypoxia-induced pyroptosis and immune escape in cancer: From mechanisms to therapy

Pyroptosis can be triggered through both canonical and non-canonical inflammasome pathways, involving the cleavage of gasdermin (GSDM) protein family members, like GSDMD and GSDME. The impact of pyroptosis on tumors is nuanced, because its role in regulating cancer progression and anti-tumor immunity may vary depending on the tumor type, stage, location, and immune status. However, pyroptosis cannot be simply categorized as promoting or inhibiting tumors based solely on whether it is acute or chronic in nature. The interplay between pyroptosis and cancer is intricate, with some evidence suggesting that chronic pyroptosis may facilitate tumor growth, while the acute induction of pyroptosis could stimulate anti-cancer immune responses. Tumor hypoxia activates hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) signaling to modulate pyroptosis and immune checkpoint expression. Targeting this hypoxia-pyroptosis-immune escape axis could be a promising therapeutic strategy. This review highlights the complex crosstalk between hypoxia, pyroptosis, and immune evasion in the TME.

Nanomedicine-induced cell pyroptosis to enhance antitumor immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a therapeutic modality designed to elicit or augment an immune response against malignancies. Despite the immune system's ability to detect and eradicate neoplastic cells, certain neoplastic cells can elude immune surveillance and elimination through diverse mechanisms. Therefore, antitumor immunotherapy has emerged as a propitious strategy. Pyroptosis, a type of programmed cell death (PCD) regulated by Gasdermin (GSDM), is associated with cytomembrane rupture due to continuous cell expansion, which results in the release of cellular contents that can trigger robust inflammatory and immune responses. The field of nanomedicine has made promising progress, enabling the application of nanotechnology to enhance the effectiveness and specificity of cancer therapy by potentiating, enabling, or augmenting pyroptosis. In this review, we comprehensively examine the paradigms underlying antitumor immunity, particularly paradigms related to nanotherapeutics combined with pyroptosis; these treatments include chemotherapy (CT), hyperthermia therapy, photodynamic therapy (PDT), chemodynamic therapy (CDT), ion-interference therapy (IIT), biomimetic therapy, and combination therapy. Furthermore, we thoroughly discuss the coordinated mechanisms that regulate these paradigms. This review is expected to enhance the understanding of the interplay between pyroptosis and antitumor immunotherapy, broaden the utilization of diverse nanomaterials in pyroptosis-based antitumor immunotherapy, and facilitate advancements in clinical tumor therapy.

Exploring the role of pyroptosis in the pathogenicity of heart disease

Cell death is an essential cellular mechanism that ensures quality control and whole-body homeostasis. Various modes of cell death have been studied and detailed. Unbalanced cell death can lead to uncontrolled cell proliferation (i.e., tumors) or excessive loss of cells (i.e., ischemia injury tissue loss). Thus, it is imperative for modes of cell death to be balanced and controlled. Here, we will focus on a recent mode of cell death called pyroptosis. While extensive studies have shown the role of this route of cell death in macrophages and monocytes, evidence for pyroptosis have expanded to encompass other pathologies, including cancer and cardiac diseases. Herein, we provide a brief review on pyroptosis and discuss current gaps in knowledge and scientific advances in cardiac pyroptosis in recent years. Lastly, we provide conclusions and prospective on the relevance to various cardiac diseases.

Crosstalk between metabolism and cell death in tumorigenesis

It is generally recognized that tumor cells proliferate more rapidly than normal cells. Due to such an abnormally rapid proliferation rate, cancer cells constantly encounter the limits of insufficient oxygen and nutrient supplies. To satisfy their growth needs and resist adverse environmental events, tumor cells modify the metabolic pathways to produce both extra energies and substances required for rapid growth. Realizing the metabolic characters special for tumor cells will be helpful for eliminating them during therapy. Cell death is a hot topic of long-term study and targeting cell death is one of the most effective ways to repress tumor growth. Many studies have successfully demonstrated that metabolism is inextricably linked to cell death of cancer cells. Here we summarize the recently identified metabolic characters that specifically impact on different types of cell deaths and discuss their roles in tumorigenesis.

PANoptosis: a potential new target for programmed cell death in breast cancer treatment and prognosis

Breast cancer is a prevalent and severe form of cancer that affects women all over the world. The incidence and mortality of breast cancer continue to rise due to factors such as population growth and the aging of the population. There is a growing area of research focused on a cell death mechanism known as PANoptosis. This mechanism is primarily regulated by the PANoptosome complex and displays important characteristics of cell death, including pyroptosis, apoptosis, and/or necroptosis, without being strictly defined by the cell death pathway. PANoptosis acts as a defensive response to external stimuli and pathogens, contributing to the maintenance of cellular homeostasis and overall stability. Increasing evidence suggests that programmed cell death (PCD) plays an important role in the development of breast cancer, and PANoptosis, as a novel form of PCD, may be a crucial factor in the development of breast cancer, potentially leading to the identification of new therapeutic strategies. Therefore, the concept of PANoptosis not only deepens our understanding of PCD, but also opens up new avenues for treating malignant diseases, including breast cancer. This review aims to provide an overview of the definition of PANoptosis, systematically explore the interplay between PANoptosis and various forms of PCD, and discuss its implications for breast cancer. Additionally, it delves into the current progress and future directions of PANoptosis research in the context of breast cancer, establishing a theoretical foundation for the development of molecular targets within critical signaling pathways related to PANoptosis, as well as multi-target combination therapy approaches, with the goal of inducing PANoptosis as part of breast cancer treatment.

Exosomes derived from impaired liver aggravate alveolar bone loss via shuttle of Fasn in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) exacerbates irreversible bone loss in periodontitis, but the mechanism of impaired bone regeneration caused by the abnormal metabolic process of T2DM remains unclear. Exosomes are regarded as the critical mediator in diabetic impairment of regeneration via organ or tissue communication. Here, we find that abnormally elevated exosomes derived from metabolically impaired liver in T2DM are significantly enriched in the periodontal region and induced pyroptosis of periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs). Mechanistically, fatty acid synthase (Fasn), the main differentially expressed molecule in diabetic exosomes results in ectopic fatty acid synthesis in PDLCs and activates the cleavage of gasdermin D. Depletion of liver Fasn effectively mitigates pyroptosis of PDLCs and alleviates bone loss. Our findings elucidate the mechanism of exacerbated bone loss in diabetic periodontitis and reveal the exosome-mediated organ communication in the "liver-bone" axis, which shed light on the prevention and treatment of diabetic bone disorders in the future.

Engineering materials for pyroptosis induction in cancer treatment

Cancer remains a significant global health concern, necessitating the development of innovative therapeutic strategies. This research paper aims to investigate the role of pyroptosis induction in cancer treatment. Pyroptosis, a form of programmed cell death characterized by the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and the formation of plasma membrane pores, has gained significant attention as a potential target for cancer therapy. The objective of this study is to provide a comprehensive overview of the current understanding of pyroptosis and its role in cancer treatment. The paper discusses the concept of pyroptosis and its relationship with other forms of cell death, such as apoptosis and necroptosis. It explores the role of pyroptosis in immune activation and its potential for combination therapy. The study also reviews the use of natural, biological, chemical, and multifunctional composite materials for pyroptosis induction in cancer cells. The molecular mechanisms underlying pyroptosis induction by these materials are discussed, along with their advantages and challenges in cancer treatment. The findings of this study highlight the potential of pyroptosis induction as a novel therapeutic strategy in cancer treatment and provide insights into the different materials and mechanisms involved in pyroptosis induction.

EEBR induces Caspase-1-dependent pyroptosis through the NF-κB/NLRP3 signalling cascade in non-small cell lung cancer

Lung cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Recent studies have identified pyroptosis, a type of programmed cell death, as a critical process in the development and progression of lung cancer. In this study, we investigated the effect of EEBR, a new compound synthesized by our team, on pyroptosis in non-small cell lung cancer cells (NSCLC) and the underlying molecular mechanisms. Our results demonstrated that EEBR significantly reduced the proliferation and metastasis of NSCLC cells in vitro. Moreover, EEBR-induced pyroptosis in NSCLC cells, as evidenced by cell membrane rupture, the release of cytokines such as interleukin-18 and interleukin-1 beta and the promotion of Gasdermin D cleavage in a Caspase-1-dependent manner. Furthermore, EEBR promoted the nuclear translocation of NF-κB and upregulated the protein level of NLRP3. Subsequent studies revealed that EEBR-induced pyroptosis was suppressed by the inhibition of NF-κB. Finally, EEBR effectively suppressed the growth of lung cancer xenograft tumours by promoting NSCLC pyroptosis in animal models. Taken together, our findings suggest that EEBR induces Caspase-1-dependent pyroptosis through the NF-κB/NLRP3 signalling cascade in NSCLC, highlighting its potential as a candidate drug for NSCLC treatment.

TNFRSF19 promotes endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced paraptosis via the activation of the MAPK pathway in triple-negative breast cancer cells

TNFRSF19 is a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily, and its function exhibits variability among different types of cancers. The influence of TNFRSF19 on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has yet to be definitively established. In this study, bioinformatics analyses revealed that lower TNFRSF19 was associated with the poorer prognosis, higher lymph node metastasis and lower immune infiltration. Subsequently, data obtained from the TCGA database and collection of tissue samples revealed that the mRNA and protein expression levels of TNFRSF19 were observed to be significantly reduced in TNBC tissue compared to normal tissue. Additionally, the results of in vitro experiments have demonstrated that TNFRSF19 possessed the ability to inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasive capabilities of TNBC cells. In vivo trials elucidated that TNFRSF19 could suppress tumor xenografts growth. Mechanistically, TNFRSF19 initiated caspase-independent cell death and induced paraptosis. Moreover, rescue assays demonstrated that TNFRSF19 induced-paraptosis was facilitated by MAPK pathway-mediated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. In conclusion, our findings demonstrated that the upregulation of TNFRSF19 functioned as a tumor suppressor in TNBC by stimulating paraptosis through the activation of the MAPK pathway-mediated ER stress, highlighting its potential to be a new therapeutic target for TNBC.

Ajmalicine induces the pyroptosis of hepatoma cells to exert the antitumor effect

Ajmalicine (AJM) is an alkaloid extracted from the root of Yunan Rauvolfia verticillata. At present, little research has reported the antitumor pharmacological action and mechanism of AJM. Therefore, this work aimed to conduct relevant research. The mouse hepatoma cell line H22 was intervened with a gradient concentration of AJM. Subsequently, the pyroptosis level was detected by flow cytometry. The expression of inflammatory factors and lactate dehydrogenase was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) expression was detected by dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate probe. In addition, the tumor-bearing model mice were also treated with AJM to analyze tumor growth as well as the expression levels of tissue inflammatory factors and proteins. According to our results, AJM promoted the pyroptosis of H22 cells, increased the pyroptosis rate, and upregulated the expression of inflammatory factors tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6. At the same time, it enhanced the openness of membrane pores and increased the expression of ROS. Moreover, AJM promoted the expression of Caspase-3 and N-terminal gasdermin E (GSDME). The AJM-induced pyroptosis was suppressed after N-acetylcysteine treatment to inhibit ROS, while Caspase-3 knockdown also inhibited the AJM-induced pyroptosis. In animals, AJM suppressed tumor growth. AJM can activate ROS to induce pyroptosis and exert the antitumor effect via the noncanonical Caspase-3-GSDME pyroptosis pathway.

Novel model of pyroptosis-related molecular signatures for prognosis prediction of clear cell renal cell carcinoma patients

Background: Pyroptosis is a programmed death mode of inflammatory cells, which is closely related to tumor progression and tumor immunity. Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the major pathological type of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) with poor prognosis. Many theories have tried to clarify the mechanism in the development of ccRCC, but the role of pyroptosis in ccRCC has not been well described. The main purpose of this study is to explore the role of pyroptosis in ccRCC and establish a novel prognosis prediction model of pyroptosis-related molecular signatures for ccRCC. Methods: In the present study, we made a systematical analysis of the association between ccRCC RNA transcriptome sequencing data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database [which included 529 ccRCC patients who were randomized in a training cohort (n=265) and an internal validation cohort (n=264)] and 40 pyroptosis-related genes (PRGs), from which four genes (CASP9, GSDME, IL1B and TIRAP) were selected to construct a molecular prediction model of PRGs for ccRCC. In addition, a cohort of 114 ccRCC patients from Shanghai Eastern Hepatobiliary Surgery Hospital (EHSH) was used as external data to verify the effectiveness of the model by immunohistochemistry. Moreover, the biological functions of the four PRGs were also verified in ccRCC 786-O and 769-P cells by Western blot (WB), CCK-8 cell proliferation, and Transwell invasion assays. Results: The model was able to differentiate high-risk patients from low-risk patients, and this differentiation was consistent with their clinical survival outcomes. In addition, the four PRGs also affected the ability of cell proliferation and invasion in ccRCC. Conclusion: The prediction model of pyroptosis-related molecular markers developed in this study may prove to be a novel understanding for ccRCC.

Baicalin Induces Gastric Cancer Cell Pyroptosis through the NF-κB-NLRP3 Signaling Axis

Pyroptosis, a highly regulated form of cell death, could hold the key to revolutionizing cancer treatment. With cancer posing a significant global health challenge due to its high morbidity and mortality rates, exploring unconventional therapeutic approaches becomes imperative. Chinese medicine, renowned for its holistic principles, presents intriguing possibilities for treating gastric cancer (GC). Notably, baicalin, a prominent component found in the traditional Chinese herb Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, has shown promising clinical potential in gastric cancer treatment.To shed light on this intriguing phenomenon, a multidisciplinary approach was undertaken, combining systems biology, bioinformatics, and in vitro studies. The primary objective was to unravel the intricate workings underlying baicalein's ability to promote gastric cancer cell pyroptosis.The findings from this comprehensive study unveiled an essential signaling axis involving NF-κB-NLRP3, which plays a pivotal role in the process of baicalein-induced pyroptosis in gastric cancer cells. As the investigation progressed, it became evident that baicalein exhibited a remarkable capability to reverse the effects of the NLRP3 inhibitor, MCC950 Sodium. Excitingly, the efficacy of cell pyroptosis induction by baicalein demonstrated a discernible dose-dependent relationship, showcasing its potential as a valuable therapeutic agent.The complex nature of these findings underscores the intricate interplay between baicalein, NF-κB-NLRP3 signaling, and gastric cancer cell pyroptosis. As the scientific community delves deeper into the world of Pyroptosis and its therapeutic implications, baicalein's potential as a game-changer in the fight against gastric cancer becomes increasingly evident.

ASC/inflammasome-independent pyroptosis in ovarian cancer cells through translational augmentation of caspase-1

Canonical pyroptosis is type of programmed cell death depending on active caspase-1, and the inflammasome carries out caspase-1 activation. Here, we showed that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) induced ovarian cancer cell deaths in caspase-1-dependent manner. DHA increased caspase-1 activity and led to interleukin-1β secretion and gasdermin D cleavage while disulfiram inhibited DHA-induced cell death, suggesting that DHA triggered pyroptosis. Intriguingly, ASC, the molecule recruiting caspase-1 to inflammasome for activation, was dispensable for DHA-induced pyroptosis. Instead, we observed remarkable elevation in caspase-1 abundance concurrent with the activation of caspase-1 in DHA-treated cells. As ectopically overexpressing caspase-1 resulted in robust amount of active caspase-1, we reason that DHA activates caspase-1 and pyroptosis through the generation of excessive amount of caspase-1 protein. Mechanistically, DHA increased caspase-1 by specifically accelerating caspase-1 protein synthesis via the p38MAPK/Mnk1 signaling pathway. We have uncovered an unknown pyroptosis mechanism in which caspase-1-dependent pyroptosis can occur without the participation of ASC/inflammasome.

Pyroptosis: shedding light on the mechanisms and links with cancers

Pyroptosis, a novel form of programmed cell death (PCD) discovered after apoptosis and necrosis, is characterized by cell swelling, cytomembrane perforation and lysis, chromatin DNA fragmentation, and the release of intracellular proinflammatory contents, such as Interleukin (IL) 8, IL-1β, ATP, IL-1α, and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1). Our understanding of pyroptosis has increased over time with an increase in research on the subject: gasdermin-mediated lytic PCD usually, but not always, requires cleavage by caspases. Moreover, new evidence suggests that pyroptosis induction in tumor cells results in a strong inflammatory response and significant cancer regression, which has stimulated great interest among scientists for its potential application in clinical cancer therapy. It's worth noting that the side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy can be triggered by pyroptosis. Thus, the intelligent use of pyroptosis, the double-edged sword for tumors, will enable us to understand the genesis and development of cancers and provide potential methods to develop novel anticancer drugs based on pyroptosis. Hence, in this review, we systematically summarize the molecular mechanisms of pyroptosis and provide the latest available evidence supporting the antitumor properties of pyroptosis, and provide a summary of the various antitumor medicines targeting pyroptosis signaling pathways.

Natural products derived from medicinal plants and microbes might act as a game-changer in breast cancer: a comprehensive review of preclinical and clinical studies

Breast cancer (BC) is the most prevalent neoplasm among women. Genetic and environmental factors lead to BC development and on this basis, several preventive - screening and therapeutic interventions have been developed. Hormones, both in the form of endogenous hormonal signaling or hormonal contraceptives, play an important role in BC pathogenesis and progression. On top of these, breast microbiota includes both species with an immunomodulatory activity enhancing the host's response against cancer cells and species producing proinflammatory cytokines associated with BC development. Identification of novel multitargeted therapeutic agents with poly-pharmacological potential is a dire need to combat advanced and metastatic BC. A growing body of research has emphasized the potential of natural compounds derived from medicinal plants and microbial species as complementary BC treatment regimens, including dietary supplements and probiotics. In particular, extracts from plants such as Artemisia monosperma Delile, Origanum dayi Post, Urtica membranacea Poir. ex Savigny, Krameria lappacea (Dombey) Burdet & B.B. Simpson and metabolites extracted from microbes such as Deinococcus radiodurans and Streptomycetes strains as well as probiotics like Bacillus coagulans and Lactobacillus brevis MK05 have exhibited antitumor effects in the form of antiproliferative and cytotoxic activity, increase in tumors' chemosensitivity, antioxidant activity and modulation of BC - associated molecular pathways. Further, bioactive compounds like 3,3'-diindolylmethane, epigallocatechin gallate, genistein, rutin, resveratrol, lycopene, sulforaphane, silibinin, rosmarinic acid, and shikonin are of special interest for the researchers and clinicians because these natural agents have multimodal action and act via multiple ways in managing the BC and most of these agents are regularly available in our food and fruit diets. Evidence from clinical trials suggests that such products had major potential in enhancing the effectiveness of conventional antitumor agents and decreasing their side effects. We here provide a comprehensive review of the therapeutic effects and mechanistic underpinnings of medicinal plants and microbial metabolites in BC management. The future perspectives on the translation of these findings to the personalized treatment of BC are provided and discussed.

Pyroptosis and inflammasomes in cancer and inflammation

Nonprogrammed cell death (NPCD) and programmed cell death (PCD) are two types of cell death. Cell death is significantly linked to tumor development, medication resistance, cancer recurrence, and metastatic dissemination. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of cell death is essential for the treatment of cancer. Pyroptosis is a kind of PCD distinct from autophagy and apoptosis in terms of the structure and function of cells. The defining features of pyroptosis include the release of an inflammatory cascade reaction and the expulsion of lysosomes, inflammatory mediators, and other cellular substances from within the cell. Additionally, it displays variations in osmotic pressure both within and outside the cell. Pyroptosis, as evidenced by a growing body of research, is critical for controlling the development of inflammatory diseases and cancer. In this paper, we reviewed the current level of knowledge on the mechanism of pyroptosis and inflammasomes and their connection to cancer and inflammatory diseases. This article presents a theoretical framework for investigating the potential of therapeutic targets in cancer and inflammatory diseases, overcoming medication resistance, establishing nanomedicines associated with pyroptosis, and developing risk prediction models in refractory cancer. Given the link between pyroptosis and the emergence of cancer and inflammatory diseases, pyroptosis-targeted treatments may be a cutting-edge treatment strategy.

Investigating the Anti-Aging Effects of Caviar Oil on Human Skin

BACKGROUND/AIM

As the largest organ of the human body, the skin serves as a critical barrier against environmental damage. However, many factors, such as genetics, sun exposure, and lifestyle choices can lead to skin damage creating wrinkles, sagging, and loss of elasticity. The use of skincare products containing natural ingredients has become increasingly popular as a way to combat the signs of aging. Caviar oil is one such ingredient that has gained attention due to its rich composition of fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential anti-aging effects of caviar oil and to develop a product, Cavi Balm, which could potentially reduce wrinkles and skin sagging.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

An in vitro model using the 3T3-L1 cell line was employed to assess the effect of caviar oil on adipocyte differentiation. An ex vivo study using human skin tissue was conducted to investigate the impact of caviar oil on collagen and elastin formation and the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-1,2,9 (MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-9). Furthermore, 102 participants were enrolled in five clinical studies to evaluate the anti-aging efficacy of our product, "Cavi Balm", in facial and neck wrinkles, facial and eye area lifting, and various skin parameters, such as skin moisture, skin elasticity, skin density, skin tightening relief, skin clarity, and skin turnover.

RESULTS

In vitro, caviar oil enhanced adipocyte differentiation, and increased lipid accumulation inside the cells. The ex vivo analysis revealed that caviar oil reduced the expression levels of MMP-1, MMP-2, and MMP-9, and increased the formation of elastin and collagen I, III. Moreover, in the clinical study, Cavi Balm improved skin parameters after one-time use, with more significant effects observed after four weeks of usage.

CONCLUSION

Caviar oil has a substantial impact on mitigating skin aging and holds potential for application in anti-aging products.

Role of gasdermin family proteins in cancers (Review)

The gasdermin (GSDM) family comprises six proteins, including GSDMA‑GSDME and Pejvakin. Most of these proteins have a crucial role in inducing pyroptosis; in particular, GSDMD and GSDME are the most extensively studied proteins as the executioners of the pyroptosis process. Pyroptosis is a highly pro‑inflammatory form of programmed cell death and is closely associated with the incidence, development and prognosis of multiple cancer types. The present review focused on the current knowledge of the molecular mechanism of GSDM‑mediated pyroptosis, its intricate role in cancer and the potential therapeutic value of its anti‑tumor effects.

Metabolic Alterations in Canine Mammary Tumors

Canine mammary tumors (CMTs) are among the most common diseases in female dogs and share similarities with human breast cancer, which makes these animals a model for comparative oncology studies. In these tumors, metabolic reprogramming is known as a hallmark of carcinogenesis whereby cells undergo adjustments to meet the high bioenergetic and biosynthetic demands of rapidly proliferating cells. However, such alterations are also vulnerabilities that may serve as a therapeutic strategy, which has mostly been tested in human clinical trials but is poorly explored in CMTs. In this dedicated review, we compiled the metabolic changes described for CMTs, emphasizing the metabolism of carbohydrates, amino acids, lipids, and mitochondrial functions. We observed key factors associated with the presence and aggressiveness of CMTs, such as an increase in glucose uptake followed by enhanced anaerobic glycolysis via the upregulation of glycolytic enzymes, changes in glutamine catabolism due to the overexpression of glutaminases, increased fatty acid oxidation, and distinct effects depending on lipid saturation, in addition to mitochondrial DNA, which is a hotspot for mutations. Therefore, more attention should be paid to this topic given that targeting metabolic fragilities could improve the outcome of CMTs.

Effect of tumor-associated macrophages on the pyroptosis of breast cancer tumor cells

Macrophages are immune cells with high plasticity that are widely distributed in all tissues and organs of the body. Under the influence of the immune microenvironment of breast tumors, macrophages differentiate into various germline lineages. They exert pro-tumor or tumor-suppressive effects by secreting various cytokines. Pyroptosis is mediated by Gasdermin family proteins, which form holes in cell membranes and cause a violent inflammatory response and cell death. This is an important way for the body to fight off infections. Tumor cell pyroptosis can activate anti-tumor immunity and inhibit tumor growth. At the same time, it releases inflammatory mediators and recruits tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) for accumulation. Macrophages act as "mediators" of cytokine interactions and indirectly influence the pyroptosis pathway. This paper describes the mechanism of action on the part of TAM in affecting the pyroptosis process of breast tumor cells, as well as its key role in the tumor microenvironment. Additionally, it provides the basis for in-depth research on how to use immune cells to affect breast tumors and guide anti-tumor trends, with important implications for the prevention and treatment of breast tumors. Video Abstract.

The therapeutic targets of N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modifications on tumor radioresistance

Radiation therapy is an important tool for malignant tumors, and its tolerance needs to be addressed. In recent years, several studies have shown that regulators of aberrant m6A methylation play an important role in the formation, development and invasion and metastasis of tumors. A large number of studies have confirmed aberrant m6A methylation as a new target for tumour therapy, but research on whether it can play a role in tumor sensitivity to radiotherapy has not been extensive and thorough enough. Recent studies have shown that all three major enzymes of m6A methylation have significant roles in radioresistance, and that the enzymes that play a role differ in different tumor types and by different mechanisms, including regulating tumor cell stemness, affecting DNA damage and repair, and controlling the cell cycle. Therefore, elucidating the mechanisms of m6A methylation in the radiotherapy of malignant tumors is essential to counteract radioresistance, improve the efficacy of radiotherapy, and even propose targeted treatment plans for specific tumors. The latest research progress on m6A methylation and radioresistance is reviewed in this article.

An 8-gene predicting survival model of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) related to pyroptosis and cuproptosis

BACKGROUND

The study aimed to establish a prognostic survival model with 8 pyroptosis-and-cuproptosis-related genes to examine the prognostic effect in patients of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

We downloaded gene expression data and clinical information of HCC patients from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). The clustering analysis and cox regression with LASSO were used for constructing an 8 PCmRNAs survival model. Using TCGA, ICGC and GEO cohort, the overall survival (OS) between high- and low- risk group was determined. We also evaluated independent prognostic indicators using univariate and multivariate analyses. The relatively bioinformatics analysis, including immune cell infiltration, function enrichment and drug sensitivity analyses, was performed as well. The gene expression of 8 PCmRNAs in vitro were validated in several HCC cell lines by qRT-PCR and Western blot. The relationship between GZMA and Fludarabine were further checked by CCK-8 assay.

RESULTS

The survival prognostic model was constructed with ATP7A, GLS, CDKN2A, BAK1, CHMP4B, NLRP6, NOD1 and GZMA using data from TCGA cohort. The ICGC and GEO cohort were used for model validation. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves showed a good survival prediction by this model. Risk scores had the highest predictable value for survival among Stage, Age, Gender and Grade. Most Immune cells and immune functions were decreased in high-risk group. Besides, function enrichment analyses showed that steroid metabolic process, hormone metabolic process, collagen - containing extracellular matrix, oxidoreductase activity and pyruvate metabolism were enriched. Potential drugs targeted different PCDEGs like Nelarabine, Dexamethasone and Fludarabine were found as well. ATP7A, GLS, CDKN2A, BAK1, CHMP4B, NOD1 were upregulated while NLRP6 and GZMA were downregulated in most HCC cell lines. The potential therapy of Fludarabine was demonstrated when GZMA was low expressed in Huh7 cell line.

CONCLUSION

We constructed a novel 8-gene (ATP7A, GLS, CDKN2A, BAK1, CHMP4B, NLRP6, NOD1 and GZMA) prognostic model and explored potential functional information and microenvironment of HCC, which might be worthy of clinical application. In addition, several potential chemotherapy drugs were screened and Fludarabine might be effective for HCC patients whose GZMA was low expressed.

Hunteriasines A - D, tryptamine-derived alkaloids from Hunteria umbellata

Four undescribed tryptamine-derived alkaloids, hunteriasines A - D, were isolated and identified from Hunteria umbellata (Apocynaceae), together with fifteen known indole alkaloids. The chemical structure and absolute configuration of hunteriasine A were determined by spectroscopic and X-ray crystallographic data analyses. Hunteriasine A, featuring with a unique scaffold comprised of tryptamine and an unprecedented "12-carbon unit" moiety, is a zwitterionic indole-derived and pyridinium-containing alkaloid. Hunteriasines B - D were identified by spectroscopic data analyses and theoretical calculations. A plausible biogenetic pathway for hunteriasines A and B was proposed. The lipopolysaccharide-stimulated mouse macrophage cell line J774A.1 cell-based bioactivity assays revealed that (+)-eburnamine, strictosidinic acid, and (S)-decarbomethoxydihydrogambirtannine enhance the release of interleukin-1β.

Pyroptosis: a new therapeutic strategy in cancer

Programmed cell death pathways play important roles in a wide variety of physiological processes. Although it has similarities with apoptosis pyroptosis is a different type of programmed cell death. Pyroptosis can be triggered by different molecules originating from the cells or their environment. Once a pyroptotic pathway is started, it is followed by different molecular steps, and, it ends with the disruption of cell membrane integrity and the onset of inflammatory processes. In addition to the role of pyroptosis in the host's innate immunity against pathogens, uncontrolled pyroptosis can lead to increased inflammation and lead various diseases. The contradictory role of pyroptosis-related molecular changes in the pathogenesis of cancer has attracted attention lately. Excessive or decreased expression of molecules involved in pyroptotic pathways is associated with various cancers. There are ongoing studies on the use of different treatment methods for cancer in combination with new therapies targeting pyroptosis. The potential beneficial effects or side-effect profiles of these protocols targeting pyroptosis still need to be investigated. This will provide us with more efficient and safer options to treat cancer. This review aims to overview the main pathways and mechanisms of pyroptosis and to discuss its role in cancer.

Dichotomous ovarian cancer-initiating potential of Pax8+ cells revealed by a mouse genetic mosaic model

Different cellular compartments within a tissue present distinct cancer-initiating capacities. Current approaches to dissect such heterogeneity require cell-type-specific genetic tools based on a well-understood lineage hierarchy, which are lacking for many tissues. Here, we circumvented this hurdle and revealed the dichotomous capacity of fallopian tube Pax8+ cells in initiating ovarian cancer, utilizing a mouse genetic system that stochastically generates rare GFP-labeled mutant cells. Through clonal analysis and spatial profiling, we determined that only clones founded by rare, stem/progenitor-like Pax8+ cells can expand on acquiring oncogenic mutations whereas vast majority of clones stall immediately. Furthermore, expanded mutant clones undergo further attrition: many turn quiescent shortly after the initial expansion, whereas others sustain proliferation and manifest a bias toward Pax8+ fate, underlying early pathogenesis. Our study showcases the power of genetic mosaic system-based clonal analysis for revealing cellular heterogeneity of cancer-initiating capacity in tissues with limited prior knowledge of lineage hierarchy.

Neobavaisoflavone induces pyroptosis of liver cancer cells via Tom20 sensing the activated ROS signal

BACKGROUND

Neobavaisoflavone (NBIF), a natural active ingredient isolated from Psoralea, possesses anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and antioxidant properties; however, the anti-tumor mechanism of NBIF has not been thoroughly investigated, and the inhibitory effect and inhibitory pathway of NBIF on liver cancer are still unknown.

PURPOSE

Our study aimed to explore the effects of NBIF on hepatocellular carcinoma and its potential mechanisms.

METHODS

First, we detected the inhibition of NBIF on HCC cells by the CCK8 assay and then observed the morphological changes of the cells under the microscope. Besides, we analyzed the changes in the pyroptosis level of NBIF when inhibiting the cells through flow cytometry, immunofluorescence, and a western blot assay. Finally, we used a mouse tumor-bearing model to explore the effects of NBIF in vivo on HCCLM3 cells.

RESULTS

NBIF-treated HCC cells exhibited specific features of pyroptosis. Analysis of pyroptosis-related protein levels revealed that NBIF primarily induced pyroptosis in HCC cells via the caspase-3-GSDME signaling pathway. Then, we demonstrated that NBIF impacted the protein expression of Tom20 by producing ROS in HCC cells, hence promoting the recruitment of Bax to mitochondria, activating caspase-3, cutting GSDME, and triggering pyroptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

By activating ROS, NBIF was able to trigger pyroptosis in HCC cells, providing an experimental basis for the future study of new treatments for liver cancer.

Progress in the study of molecular mechanisms of cell pyroptosis in tumor therapy

Pyroptosis, also known as cellular inflammatory necrosis, is a programmed cell death mediated by the Gasdermin family of proteins. The mechanisms by which pyroptosis occurs are divided into the GSDMD-mediated Caspase-1 and Caspase-4/-5/-11-dependent classical inflammatory vesicle pathway and the GSDME-mediated Caspase-3 and granzyme-dependent non-classical inflammatory vesicle pathways, among others. Recent studies have shown that pyroptosis has both inhibitory and promotive effects on tumor development. Pyroptosis induction also plays a dual role in antitumor immunotherapy: on the one hand, it suppresses antitumor immunity by promoting the release of inflammatory factors, and on the other hand, it inhibits tumor cell proliferation by triggering antitumor inflammatory responses. In addition, cell scorching plays an essential role in chemotherapy. It has been found that natural drugs modulating the induction of cell scorch are necessary to treat tumors. Therefore, studying the specific mechanisms of cell pyroptosis in different tumors can provide more ideas for developing oncology drugs. In this paper, we review the molecular mechanisms of pyroptosis and the role of pyroptosis in tumor development and treatment to provide new targets for clinical tumor treatment, prognosis, and antitumor drug development.

Promising Effects of N-Docosahexaenoyl Ethanolamine in Breast Cancer: Molecular and Cellular Insights

Unhealthy dietary habits have been identified as a risk factor for the development and progression of cancer. Therefore, adopting a healthy eating pattern is currently recommended to prevent the onset of different types of cancers, including breast carcinoma. In particular, the Mediterranean diet, based on high consumption of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (N-3 PUFAs), such as those found in cold-water fish and other seafood, nuts, and seeds, is recommended to reduce the incidence of several chronic-degenerative diseases. Indeed, the consumption of N-3 PUFAs, particularly eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), reduced the risk of different types of cancer, including breast cancer. Moreover, they can counteract breast cancer progression and reduce the side effects of chemotherapy in breast cancer survival. Studies have demonstrated that DHA, exhibiting greater antitumor activity than EPA in breast cancer, can be attributed to its direct impact on breast cancer cells and also due to its conversion into various metabolites. N-docosahexaenoyl ethanolamine, DHEA, is the most studied DHA derivative for its therapeutic potential in breast cancer. In this review, we emphasize the significance of dietary habits and the consumption of N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, particularly DHA, and we describe the current knowledge on the antitumoral action of DHA and its derivative DHEA in the treatment of breast cancer.

A Lipid Perspective on Regulated Pyroptosis

Pyroptosis is a novel pro-inflammatory cell programmed death dependent on Gasdermin (GSMD) family-mediated membrane pore formation and subsequent cell lysis, accompanied by the release of inflammatory factors and expanding inflammation in multiple tissues. All of these processes have impacts on a variety of metabolic disorders. Dysregulation of lipid metabolism is one of the most prominent metabolic alterations in many diseases, including the liver, cardiovascular system, and autoimmune diseases. Lipid metabolism produces many bioactive lipid molecules, which are important triggers and endogenous regulators of pyroptosis. Bioactive lipid molecules promote pyroptosis through intrinsic pathways involving reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, lysosomal disruption, and the expression of related molecules. Pyroptosis can also be regulated during the processes of lipid metabolism, including lipid uptake and transport, de novo synthesis, lipid storage, and lipid peroxidation. Taken together, understanding the correlation between lipid molecules such as cholesterol and fatty acids and pyroptosis during metabolic processes can help to gain insight into the pathogenesis of many diseases and develop effective strategies from the perspective of pyroptosis.

The Potential of DHA as Cancer Therapy Strategies: A Narrative Review of In Vitro Cytotoxicity Trials

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), also known as omega-3 (n-3) polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), is a natural compound that has demonstrated pharmacological activity against several malignant neoplasms. Available cancer treatments cause side effects, affect healthy cells, reduce the quality of life of patients and may cause resistance to antineoplastics. For these reasons, the search for new therapies is continuous. This narrative review aimed to compile information on in vitro experiments that study the cytotoxic effect of DHA or molecules derived from DHA in tumor and nontumor cells. This was performed to highlight the potential of DHA as a strategy for cancer therapy and to gather information, which will help researchers plan experimental designs and develop research to discover effective therapies against cancer. In addition, studies were presented that demonstrate the dose of DHA that can treat patients with cancer. Thus, a search was conducted for articles on the SCOPUS and Web of Science platforms, published until 2022, that analyzed the action of DHA against breast, lung, colorectal, prostate, stomach and liver cancers. Cytotoxic effects were observed in tumor and nontumor cell lines, and these results varied with the type of cell line studied, drug concentration, incubation time and treatment combination, i.e., with DHA alone, combined with other drugs and with molecules derived from DHA. In patients with cancer, in all analyzed studies, DHA intake was associated with eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and/or proteins to aid chemotherapy, and with this procedure, tumor reduction, chemotherapy tolerance and muscle mass gain were obtained. This work contributes to the community by demonstrating the possible applicability of DHA in the pharmaceutical area of oncological therapies.

Pyroptosis and its role in cancer

Programmed cell death (PCD) is mediated by specific genes that encode signals. It can balance cell survival and death. Pyroptosis is a type of inflammatory, caspase-dependent PCD mediated by gasdermin proteins, which function in pore formation, cell expansion, and plasma membrane rupture, followed by the release of intracellular contents. Pyroptosis is mediated by caspase-1/3/4/5/11 and is primarily divided into the classical pathway, which is dependent on caspase-1, and the non-classical pathway, which is dependent on caspase-4/5/11. Inflammasomes play a vital role in these processes. The various components of the pyroptosis pathway are related to the occurrence, invasion, and metastasis of tumors. Research on pyroptosis has revealed new options for tumor treatment. This article summarizes the recent research progress on the molecular mechanism of pyroptosis, the relationship between the various components of the pyroptosis pathway and cancer, and the applications and prospects of pyroptosis in anticancer therapy.

Docosahexaenoic Acid, a Key Compound for Enhancing Sensitization to Drug in Doxorubicin-Resistant MCF-7 Cell Line

Drug resistance is a well-known and significant obstacle in the battle against cancer, rendering chemotherapy treatments often ineffective. To improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy, researchers are exploring the use of natural molecules that can enhance its ability to kill cancer cells and limit their spread. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a lipid found in marine fish, has been shown to enhance the cytotoxicity of various anti-cancer drugs in vitro and in vivo. While the combined use of chemotherapeutic drugs with DHA demonstrated promising preliminary results in clinical trials, there is still a significant amount of information to be discovered regarding the precise mechanism of action of DHA. As the biological pathways involved in the chemosensitization of already chemoresistant MCF-7 cells are still not entirely unraveled, in this study, we aimed to investigate whether DHA co-treatment could enhance the ability of the chemotherapy drug doxorubicin to inhibit the growth and invasion of MCF-7 breast cancer cells (MCF-7/Dox) that had become resistant to the drug. Upon treating MCF-7/Dox cells with DHA or DHA-doxorubicin, it was observed that the DHA-doxorubicin combination effectively enhanced cancer cell death by impeding in vitro propagation and invasive ability. In addition, it led to an increase in doxorubicin accumulation and triggered apoptosis by arresting the cell cycle at the G2/M phase. Other observed effects included a decrease in the multi-drug resistance (MDR) carrier P-glycoprotein (P-gp) and TG2, a tumor survival factor. Augmented quantities of molecules promoting apoptosis such as Bak1 and caspase-3 and enhanced lipid peroxidation were also detected. Our findings in the cell model suggest that DHA can be further investigated as a natural compound to be used alongside doxorubicin in the treatment of breast cancer that is unresponsive to chemotherapy.

Involvement of inflammasomes in tumor microenvironment and tumor therapies

Inflammasomes are macromolecular platforms formed in response to damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and pathogen-associated molecular patterns, whose formation would cause maturation of interleukin-1 (IL-1) family members and gasdermin D (GSDMD), leading to IL-1 secretion and pyroptosis respectively. Several kinds of inflammasomes detecting different types of dangers have been found. The activation of inflammasomes is regulated at both transcription and posttranscription levels, which is crucial in protecting the host from infections and sterile insults. Present findings have illustrated that inflammasomes are involved in not only infection but also the pathology of tumors implying an important link between inflammation and tumor development. Generally, inflammasomes participate in tumorigenesis, cell death, metastasis, immune evasion, chemotherapy, target therapy, and radiotherapy. Inflammasome components are upregulated in some tumors, and inflammasomes can be activated in cancer cells and other stromal cells by DAMPs, chemotherapy agents, and radiation. In some cases, inflammasomes inhibit tumor progression by initiating GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis in cancer cells and stimulating IL-1 signal-mediated anti-tumor immunity. However, IL-1 signal recruits immunosuppressive cell subsets in other cases. We discuss the conflicting results and propose some possible explanations. Additionally, we also summarize interventions targeting inflammasome pathways in both preclinical and clinical stages. Interventions targeting inflammasomes are promising for immunotherapy and combination therapy.

ZIF-8 Nanoparticles Evoke Pyroptosis for High-Efficiency Cancer Immunotherapy

Although zeolitic imidazolate framework-8 (ZIF-8) has been applied in various tumor therapies, the intrinsic immunogenicity remains unclear. Here, we initiatively discover that ZIF-8 nanoparticles (NPs) can intrinsically induce pyroptosis by a caspase-1/gasdermin D (GSDMD)-dependent pathway. The pyroptotic cell death is accompanied by necrosis and immunogenic cell death (ICD) simultaneously for efficient in situ immunity initiation. Meanwhile, carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl hydrazone (CCCP), a mitochondrial depolarizing agent, is successfully loaded into ZIF-8 NPs and found to further enhance the pyroptosis process. Collectively, the obtained Pluronic F127-modified CCCP-incorporated ZIF-8 NPs (^F127 ZIF-8_CCCP NPs) activate antitumor immunity and reprogram immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), realizing high-efficiency tumor growth inhibition. This work will facilitate biomedicine applications of ZIF-8 and provide good inspiration for pyroptosis-induced cancer therapy.

Targeting pyroptosis in breast cancer: biological functions and therapeutic potentials on It

Pyroptosis is a lytic and inflammatory type of programmed cell death that is mediated by Gasdermin proteins (GSDMs). Attractively, recent evidence indicates that pyroptosis involves in the development of tumors and can serve as a new strategy for cancer treatment. Here, we present a basic knowledge of pyroptosis, and an overview of the expression patterns and roles of GSDMs in breast cancer. In addition, we further summarize the available evidence of pyroptosis in breast cancer progression and give insight into the clinical potential of applying pyroptosis in anticancer strategies for breast cancer. This review will deepen our understanding of the relationship between pyroptosis and breast cancer, and provide a novel potential therapeutic avenue for breast cancer.

Construction of a pyroptosis-related lncRNAs signature for predicting prognosis and immunotherapy response in glioma

Recent studies have proved that pyroptosis-related long non-coding RNAs (PRlncRNAs) are closely linked to tumor progression, prognosis, and immunity. Here, we systematically evaluated the correlation of PRlncRNAs with glioma prognosis. This study included 3 glioma cohorts (The Cancer Genome Atlas, Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas, and Gravendeel). Through Pearson correlation analysis, PRlncRNAs were screened from these 3 cohorts. Univariate Cox regression analysis was then carried out to determine the prognostic PRlncRNAs. A pyroptosis-related lncRNAs signature (PRLS) was then built by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator and multivariate Cox analyses. We systematically evaluated the correlation of the PRLS with the prognosis, immune features, and tumor mutation burden in glioma. A total of 14 prognostic PRlncRNAs overlapped in all cohorts and were selected as candidate lncRNAs. Based on The Cancer Genome Atlas cohort, a PRLS containing 7 PRlncRNAs was built. In all cohorts, the PRLS was proved to be a good predictor of glioma prognosis, with a higher risk score related to a poorer prognosis. We observed obvious differences in the immune microenvironment, immune cell infiltration level, and immune checkpoint expression in low- and high-risk subgroups. Compared with low-risk cases, high-risk cases had lower Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion scores and greater tumor mutation burden, indicating that high-risk cases can be more sensitive to immunotherapy. A nomogram combining PRLS and clinical parameters was constructed, which showed more robust and accurate predictive power. In conclusion, the PRLS is a potentially useful indicator for predicting prognosis and response to immunotherapy in glioma. Our findings may provide a useful insight into clinically individualized treatment strategies for patients.

Pyroptosis Provides New Strategies for the Treatment of Cancer

Cancer is an important cause of death worldwide. The main types of cancer treatment are still surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and immunotherapy is becoming an important cancer treatment. Pyroptosis is a type of programmed cell death that accompanies an inflammatory response. This paper reviews the recent research progress in pyroptosis in tumors. Pyroptosis has been observed since 1986 and until recently has been recognized as programmed cell death mediated by GSDM family proteins. The molecular pathway of pyroptosis depends on the inflammasome-mediated caspase-1/GSDMD pathway, which is the canonical pathway, and the caspase-4/5/11/GSDMD pathway, which is the noncanonical pathway. Other pathways include caspase3/GSDME. Pyroptosis is a double-edged sword that is closely related to the tumor immune microenvironment. On the one hand, pyroptosis produces a chronic inflammatory environment, promotes the transition of normal cells to tumor cells, helps tumor cells achieve immune escape, and promotes tumor growth and metastasis. On the other hand, some tumor cell treatments can induce pyroptosis, which is a nonapoptotic form of cell death. Additionally, pyroptosis releases inflammatory molecules that promote lymphocyte recruitment and enhance the immune system's ability to kill tumor cells. With the advent of immunotherapy, pyroptosis has been shown to enhance the antitumor efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Some antineoplastic agents, such as chemotherapeutic agents, can also exert antineoplastic effects through the pyroptosis pathway. Pyroptosis, which is a programmed cell death mode, has been the focus of research in recent years, and the relationship between pyroptosis, tumors and tumor immunity has attracted attention, but there are still some questions to be answered regarding the specific mechanism. Further study of pyroptosis would aid in developing new antitumor therapies and has great clinical prospects.

Construction of prediction model for prognosis of uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma based on pyroptosis gene

PURPOSE

To assess the expression of genes that are relevant to pyroptosis and the relationship between these genes and prognosis in uterine corpus endometrial carcinoma (UCEC).

METHODS

The research identifies 16 pyroptosis regulators with different expressions in normal endometrium and UCEC. In accordance with the differentially expressed genes (DEGs), the various kinds of UCEC are classified into two sub-types. With the help of the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), the prognostic value of all pyroptosis-related genes for survival was assessed, and a multigene model has constructed accordingly. Ten genes were modeled by applying the minimum criteria for determining risk score selection (LASSO) Cox regression method. Meanwhile, by referring to the TCGA atlas, UCEC patients were divided into the high- and low-risk subgroups. The effects of the gene with significant differences on the proliferation of two cancer cells were also verified.

RESULTS

The survival rate of UCEC cases with higher risk was higher than that with lower risk (P < 0.001). Through the median risk score of TCGA atlas, UCEC cases were ranked as patients with higher risk and patients with lower risk. The low risk has a significant relationship with the prolongation of overall survival (OS) (p = 0.001) in the low-risk subgroup. Moreover, the KEGG and gene ontology (GO) enrichment models indicated that among the patients in the high-risk subgroup, their immune-related genes were concentrated but with decreased immune status.

CONCLUSION

The apoptosis-related genes are crucial for the immunity of tumors and may forecast the prognosis of UCEC.

Targeting cell death pathways for cancer therapy: recent developments in necroptosis, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and cuproptosis research

Many types of human cells self-destruct to maintain biological homeostasis and defend the body against pathogenic substances. This process, called regulated cell death (RCD), is important for various biological activities, including the clearance of aberrant cells. Thus, RCD pathways represented by apoptosis have increased in importance as a target for the development of cancer medications in recent years. However, because tumor cells show avoidance to apoptosis, which causes treatment resistance and recurrence, numerous studies have been devoted to alternative cancer cell mortality processes, namely necroptosis, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and cuproptosis; these RCD modalities have been extensively studied and shown to be crucial to cancer therapy effectiveness. Furthermore, evidence suggests that tumor cells undergoing regulated death may alter the immunogenicity of the tumor microenvironment (TME) to some extent, rendering it more suitable for inhibiting cancer progression and metastasis. In addition, other types of cells and components in the TME undergo the abovementioned forms of death and induce immune attacks on tumor cells, resulting in enhanced antitumor responses. Hence, this review discusses the molecular processes and features of necroptosis, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and cuproptosis and the effects of these novel RCD modalities on tumor cell proliferation and cancer metastasis. Importantly, it introduces the complex effects of novel forms of tumor cell death on the TME and the regulated death of other cells in the TME that affect tumor biology. It also summarizes the potential agents and nanoparticles that induce or inhibit novel RCD pathways and their therapeutic effects on cancer based on evidence from in vivo and in vitro studies and reports clinical trials in which RCD inducers have been evaluated as treatments for cancer patients. Lastly, we also summarized the impact of modulating the RCD processes on cancer drug resistance and the advantages of adding RCD modulators to cancer treatment over conventional treatments.

Nanomedicine-Enabled/Augmented Cell Pyroptosis for Efficient Tumor Nanotherapy

The terrible morbidity and mortality of malignant tumors urgently require innovative therapeutics, especially for apoptosis-resistant tumors. Pyroptosis, a pro-inflammatory form of programmed cell death (PCD), is featured with pore formation in plasma membrane, cell swelling with giant bubbles, and leakage of cytoplasmic pro-inflammatory cytokines, which can remodel the tumor immune microenvironment by stimulating a "cold" tumor microenvironment to be an immunogenic "hot" tumor microenvironment, and consequently augment the therapeutic efficiency of malignant tumors. Benefiting from current advances in nanotechnology, nanomedicine is extensively applied to potentiate, enable, and augment pyroptosis for enhancing cancer-therapeutic efficacy and specificity. This review provides a concentrated summary and discussion of the most recent progress achieved in this emerging field, highlighting the nanomedicine-enabled/augmented specific pyroptosis strategy for favoring the construction of next-generation nanomedicines to efficiently induce PCD. It is highly expected that the further clinical translation of nanomedicine can be accelerated by inducing pyroptotic cell death based on bioactive nanomedicines.

Prognostic pyroptosis-related lncRNA signature predicts the efficacy of immunotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a common malignant tumor of the liver, remains high incidence and poor prognosis. Although pyroptosis as well as lncRNA have been believed to play important roles in the tumorigenesis, diagnosis and prognosis, the role of pyroptosis-related lncRNAs (PRlncRs) in HCC remains obscure. Here, we identified 73 significantly differentially expressed and overall survival (OS) related pyroptosis-related lncRNAs (PRlncRs) in noncancerous and HCC samples. Based on LASSO regression and Cox regression analyses, we set up a novel prognostic model including six PRlncRs (MKLN1-AS, AC139491.2, AC145207.5, AC099850.3, AL590705.3 and AL049840.5), which showed good correlation with the OS of HCC patients. Considering that the risk score was negatively related to clinicopathologic features including T stage (T1-2 and T3-4), clinical stage (stage I-II and stage III-IV) and histological grade (G1, G2, G3 and G4), we further constructed a predictive nomogram containing the risk score and other clinicopathological features to predict the OS rates for HCC patients. In addition, the proposed signature was closely related to immune infiltration and offered improved clinical utility for immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) strategies and chemotherapeutic drug selection in HCC. In conclusion, we established a considerable accurate risk signature consisting of 6 PRlncRs in HCC, which could predict the prognosis and efficacy of immunotherapy for HCC patients.

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Pyroptosis-related lncRNA signature showed good correlation with the OS of HCC patients.

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The nomogram model could predict the 1-, 2- and 3-year survival of individual HCC patients.

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HCC patients with low risk scores would be more sensitive to Axitinib and Sorafenib.

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Pyroptosis-related lncRNA signature could predict the efficacy of immunotherapy in HCC.

Mitophagy Induction and Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor-Mediated Redox Signaling Contribute to the Suppression of Breast Cancer Cell Growth by Taloxifene via Regulation of Inflammasomes Activation

Aims: Raloxifene, a selective estrogen receptor (ER) modulator, has been reported to exert the tumor-suppressive effects in both ER-positive and ER-negative cancer cells; however, the mechanisms underlying its ER-independent anti-cancer effects are poorly understood. The NLRP3 inflammasome, a critical component of the innate immune system, has recently received growing attention owing to its multifaceted roles in various aspects of cancer development. The present study aimed at examining the involvement of NLRP3 inflammasomes in the anti-breast cancer effects of raloxifene and its underlying mechanisms. Results: Raloxifene significantly inhibited the activation of NLRP3 inflammasomes in various breast cancer cell lines. Importantly, forced expression of a gain-of-function variant of NLRP3 rescued breast cancer cells from growth arrest by raloxifene, suggesting that the suppression of NLRP3 inflammasomes activation mediates the raloxifene-induced inhibition of breast cancer growth. Mechanistically, raloxifene suppressed NLRP3 inflammasomes activation by lowering the cellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) through the modulation of redox signaling mediated via aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)-nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) axis or the impaired generation of mitochondrial ROS in a mitophagy-dependent manner. Further, the blockage of AhR signaling or inhibition of mitophagy abolished the tumor-suppressive effect of raloxifene in a human breast tumor xenograft model. Innovation: We elucidate a novel molecular mechanism underlying the breast tumor suppressing effect of raloxifene. Conclusion: The results observed in this study suggest that the modulation of NLRP3 inflammasomes activation is a critical event in the inhibition of breast tumor growth by raloxifene. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 37, 1030-1050.