Qigesan reduces the motility of esophageal cancer cells via inhibiting Gas6/Axl and NF-κB expression

Gas6/AXL pathway: immunological landscape and therapeutic potential

Cancer is a disease with ecological and evolutionary unity, which seriously affects the survival and quality of human beings. Currently, many reports have suggested Gas6 plays an important role in cancer. Binding of gas6 to TAM receptors is associated with the carcinogenetic mechanisms of multiple malignancies, such as in breast cancer, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, non-small cell lung cancer, melanoma, prostate cancer, etc., and shortened overall survival. It is accepted that the Gas6/TAM pathway can promote the malignant transformation of various types of cancer cells. Gas6 has the highest affinity for Axl, an important member of the TAM receptor family. Knockdown of the TAM receptors Axl significantly affects cell cycle progression in tumor cells. Interestingly, Gas6 also has an essential function in the tumor microenvironment. The Gas6/AXL pathway regulates angiogenesis, immune-related molecular markers and the secretion of certain cytokines in the tumor microenvironment, and also modulates the functions of a variety of immune cells. In addition, evidence suggests that the Gas6/AXL pathway is involved in tumor therapy resistance. Recently, multiple studies have begun to explore in depth the importance of the Gas6/AXL pathway as a potential tumor therapeutic target as well as its broad promise in immunotherapy; therefore, a timely review of the characteristics of the Gas6/AXL pathway and its value in tumor treatment strategies is warranted. This comprehensive review assessed the roles of Gas6 and AXL receptors and their associated pathways in carcinogenesis and cancer progression, summarized the impact of Gas6/AXL on the tumor microenvironment, and highlighted the recent research progress on the relationship between Gas6/AXL and cancer drug resistance.

Association of lung-intestinal microecology and lung cancer therapy

In recent years, the incidence of lung cancer is increasing. Lung cancer has become one of the most malignant tumors with the highest incidence in the world, which seriously affects people's health. The most important cause of death of lung cancer is metastasis. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the mechanism of lung cancer progression and metastasis. This review article discusses the physiological functions, pathological states and disorders of the lung and intestine based on the concepts of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), and analyzes the etiology and mechanisms of lung cancer formation from the perspective of TCM. From the theory of "the exterior and interior of the lung and gastrointestinal tract", the theory of "the lung-intestinal axis" and the progression and metastasis of lung cancer, we proposed e "lung-gut co-treatment" therapy for lung cancer. This study provides ideas for studying the mechanism of lung cancer and the comprehensive alternative treatment for lung cancer patients.

Natural Products for Esophageal Cancer Therapy: From Traditional Medicine to Modern Drug Discovery

Esophageal cancer (EC) is one of the most malignant types of cancer worldwide and has a high incidence and mortality rate in Asian countries. When it comes to treating EC, although primary methods such as chemotherapy and surgery exist, the prognosis remains poor. The purpose of this current research is to review the range of effects that natural products have on cancer by analyzing studies conducted on EC. Fifty-seven studies were categorized into four anti-cancer mechanisms, as well as clinical trials. The studies that were scrutinized in this research were all reported within five years. The majority of the substances reviewed induced apoptosis in EC, acting on a variety of mechanisms. Taken together, this study supports the fact that natural products have the potential to act as a candidate for treating EC.

AXL Inhibits Proinflammatory Factors to Relieve Rheumatoid Arthritis Pain by Regulating the TLR4/NF-κB Signaling Pathway

Objective

This study aims to explore the role and mechanism of AXL receptor tyrosine kinase (AXL) in relieving inflammatory pain caused by rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods

RA mouse model was constructed by collagen antibody induction. RT-qPCR and Western blot were used to detect the level of AXL in RA fibroblast-like synovial cells (RA-FLS) and joint synovium. The levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and nitric oxide (NO) were detected by ELISA. The inflammatory infiltration in joints was determined via HE staining. The mechanical abnormal pain and hyperalgesia were detected by the Von Frey microfilament test. The protein levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (3COX-2), toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), p65, and phosphor (p)-p65 were detected by Western blotting.

Results

The expression of AXL in RA-FLS and RA mice was downregulated, while the expression of iNOS and COX-2 was upregulated. The levels of inflammatory cytokines IL-6, TNF-α, and NO were increased in RA-FLS and RA mice. RA mice presented inflammatory cell infiltration, bone and cartilage destruction, and joint space stenosis. AXL overexpression alleviated inflammatory cell infiltration, inflammatory cytokine secretion, and pathological injury in RA mice. Additionally, AXL overexpression inhibited the expression of TLR4 and p-p65.

Conclusion

AXL inhibits inflammatory pain in RA mice by suppressing TLR4/NF-κB pathway.

Chinese Medicine Formula Siwu-Yin Inhibits Esophageal Precancerous Lesions by Improving Intestinal Flora and Macrophage Polarization

Siwu-Yin (SWY), a traditional Chinese medicinal formula, can replenish blood and nourish Yin. It was recorded in ancient Chinese medicine books in treating esophageal dysphagia, which has similar symptoms and prognosis with esophageal precancerous lesions and esophageal cancer. However, its effect has not been established in vivo. This study explores the antiesophageal cancer effect of SWY on rats with esophageal precancerous lesions. By performing 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metabolomics, it was suggested that SWY may improve the composition of intestinal flora of rats by regulating the synthesis and secretion of bile acids. In addition, flow cytometry results showed that SWY treatment modified tumor microenvironment by improving macrophage polarization and therefore inhibiting the occurrence of esophageal precancerous lesions.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Therapy for Esophageal Cancer: A Literature Review

Esophageal cancer (EC) is the sixth leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Western medicine has played a leading role in its treatment, but its prognosis remains unsatisfactory. Therefore, the development of effective therapies is important. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been practiced for thousands of years, and involves taking measures before diseases occur, deteriorate, and recur. Interestingly, there is growing evidence that TCM can improve the therapeutic effects in reversing precancerous lesions, inhibiting the recurrence and metastasis of EC. In this article, we review traditional Chinese herbs and formulas that have preventive and therapeutic effects on EC, summarize the application and research status of TCM in patients with EC, and discuss its shortcomings and prospects in the context of translational, evidence-based, and precision medicine.

A review on the role of GAS6 and GAS6-AS1 in the carcinogenesis

Growth arrest specific 6 (GAS6) encodes a protein that serves as a ligand for AXL receptor tyrosine kinase and stimulates cell proliferation. Notably, an antisense RNA, namely GAS6-AS1 is transcribed from chromosome 13q34, near GAS6 gene. In vitro functional experiments have demonstrated that GAS6-AS1 can promote proliferation, migration and invasive properties of transformed cells through enhancing entry into S-phase. Notably, mechanistic investigations have shown that GAS6-AS1 can regulate expression of GAS6 at the transcriptional or translational stages through constructing a RNA-RNA duplex, thus enhancing expression of AXL and inducing AXL signaling. Both GAS6 and its antisense transcript contribute in the pathogenesis of human malignancies. In the current review, we provide a summary of studies that appraised the role of these genes in the carcinogenesis.

Anticancer activities of TCM and their active components against tumor metastasis

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has the characteristics of multiple targets, slight side effects and good therapeutic effects. Good anti-tumor effects are shown by Traditional Chinese Medicine prescription, Chinese patent medicine, single Traditional Chinese Medicine and Traditional Chinese medicine monomer compound. Clinically, TCM prolonged the survival time of patients and improved the life quality of patients, due to less side effects. Cancer metastasis is a complex process involving numerous steps, multiple genes and their products. During the process of tumor metastasis, firstly, cancer cell increases its proliferative capacity by reducing autophagy and apoptosis, and then the cancer cell capacity is stimulated by increasing the ability of tumors to absorb nutrients from the outside through angiogenesis. Both of the two steps can increase tumor migration and invasion. Finally, the purpose of tumor metastasis is achieved. By inhibiting autophagy and apoptosis of tumor cells, angiogenesis and EMT outside the tumor can inhibit the invasion and migration of cancer, and consequently achieve the purpose of inhibiting tumor metastasis. This review explores the research achievements of Traditional Chinese Medicine on breast cancer, lung cancer, hepatic carcinoma, colorectal cancer, gastric cancer and other cancer metastasis in the past five years, summarizes the development direction of TCM on cancer metastasis research in the past five years and makes a prospect for the future.

Qigesan inhibits esophageal cancer cell invasion and migration by inhibiting Gas6/Axl-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition

Qigesan (QGS) has been used to effectively treat esophageal cancer (EC) for decades in China, but the mechanism by which it suppresses EC metastasis remains unknown. In this study, we examined the effects of QGS on EC cell mobility. Using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence, expression of Gas6 and Axl, which promote tumor cell migration and invasion, was examined in carcinoma tissues and adjacent normal tissues from EC patients. Levels of Gas6, Axl, and the Gas6/Axl complex were also examined in ECA109 and TE13 EC cells treated with QGS. In addition, immunofluorescent staining and quantitative protein analysis were used to examine E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and Snail levels in ECA109 and TE13 EC cells after QSG administration, and cell mobility was assessed. The results demonstrated that levels of Gas6 and Axl expression are higher in EC tissues than in adjacent normal tissues. Moreover, QGS decreased Gas6/Axl levels, increased E-cadherin expression, decreased Snail and N-cadherin expression, and inhibited epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in EC cells. QGS thus suppresses EMT in EC by inhibiting Gas6/Axl binding.