Bufalin down-regulates Axl expression to inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in non-small-cell lung cancer cells

Chemical Composition, Pharmacological Effects and Clinical Applications of Cinobufacini

Chinese medicine cinobufacini is an extract from the dried skin of Bufo bufo gargarizans Cantor, with active ingredients of bufadienolides and indole alkaloids. With further research and clinical applications, it is found that cinobufacini alone or in combination with other therapeutic methods can play an anti-tumor role by controlling proliferation of tumor cells, promoting apoptosis, inhibiting formation of tumor neovascularization, reversing multidrug resistance, and regulating immune response; it also has the functions of relieving cancer pain and regulating immune function. In this paper, the chemical composition, pharmacological effects, clinical applications, and adverse reactions of cinobufacini are summarized. However, the extraction of monomer components of cinobufacini, the relationship between different mechanisms, and the causes of adverse reactions need to be further studied. Also, high-quality clinical studies should be conducted.

Bufalin inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition and increases radiosensitivity of non-small cell lung cancer via inhibition of the Src signaling

Background

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a biological process involved in tumor migration, invasion, and radiotherapy resistance. Bufalin can affect the proliferation, apoptosis and invasion of tumor cells by regulating multiple signaling pathways. Whether bufalin can increase radiosensitivity through EMT deserves further investigation.

Methods

In this study, we investigated the effect of bufalin on the EMT and radiosensitivity of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the underlying molecular mechanism. NSCLC cells were treated with bufalin (at a dose of 0-100 nM) or irradiated with 6 MV X-rays (4 Gy/min). The effects of bufalin on cell survival, cell cycle, radiosensitivity, cell migration, and invasion were detected. Western blot was used to analyze the gene expression changes of Src signaling in NSCLC cell induced by Bufalin.

Results

Bufalin significantly inhibited cell survival, migration, and invasion and induced G2/M arrest and apoptosis. Cells co-treated with bufalin and radiation manifested a higher inhibitory effect compared to those treated with radiation or bufalin alone. Furthermore, the levels of p-Src and p-STAT3 were considerably reduced following bufalin treatment. Interestingly, elevated p-Src and p-STAT3 were observed in cells treated with radiation. Bufalin inhibited radiation-induced p-Src and p-STAT3, whereas the knockdown of Src abrogated the effects of bufalin on cell migration, invasion, EMT, and radiosensitivity.

Conclusions

Bufalin inhibits EMT and enhances radiosensitivity through targeting Src signaling in NSCLC.

Traditional Chinese Medicine has great potential as candidate drugs for lung cancer: A review

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

With high mortality and morbidity rates, lung cancer (LC) has become one of the major threats to human health. The treatment strategies for LC currently face issues, such as drug resistance and body tolerance. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is characterized by novel pharmacological mechanisms, low toxicity, and limited side effects. TCM includes a substantial number of biologically active ingredients, several of which are effective monomeric agents against LC. An increasing number of researchers are focusing their efforts on the discovery of active anti-cancer ingredients in TCM.

AIM OF THE REVIEW

In this review, we summarized the anti-LC mechanisms of five types of TCM monomeric compounds. Our goal is to provide research ideas for the identification of new prospective medication candidates for the treatment of LC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We collected reports on the anti-LC effects of TCM monomers from web databases, including PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, and Europe PubMed Central. Among the keywords used were "lung cancer," "traditional Chinese medicine," "pharmacology," and their combinations thereof. Then, we systematically summarized the anti-LC efficacy and related mechanisms of TCM monomers.

RESULTS

Based on the available literature, this paper reviewed the therapeutic effects and mechanisms of five types of TCM monomers on LC. The characteristics of TCM monomers include the capabilities to suppress the tumor cell cycle, inhibit proliferation, induce apoptosis, promote autophagy, inhibit tumor cell invasion and metastasis, and enhance efficacy or reduce drug resistance when combined with cytotoxic agents and other methods to arrest the progression of LC and prolong the survival of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

TCM contains numerous flavonoids, alkaloids, terpenoids, polyphenols, and other active compounds that are effective against LC. Given their chemical structure and pharmacological properties, these monomers are suitable as candidate drugs for the treatment of LC.

Bufalin for an innovative therapeutic approach against cancer

Bufalin is an endogenous cardiotonic steroid, first discovered in toad venom but also found in the plasma of healthy humans, with anti-tumour activities in different cancer types. The current review is focused on its mechanisms of action and highlights its very large spectrum of effects both in vitro and in vivo. All leads to the conclusion that bufalin mediates its effects by affecting all the hallmarks of cancer and seems restricted to cancer cells avoiding side effects. Bufalin decreases cancer cell proliferation by acting on the cell cycle and inducing different mechanisms of cell death including apoptosis, necroptosis, autophagy and senescence. Bufalin also moderates metastasis formation by blocking migration and invasion as well as angiogenesis and by inducing a phenotype switch towards differentiation and decreasing cancer cell stemness. Regarding its various mechanisms of action in cancer cells, bufalin blocks overactivated signalling pathways and modifies cell metabolism. Moreover, bufalin gained lately a huge interest in the field of drug resistance by both reversing various drug resistance mechanisms and affecting the immune microenvironment. Together, these data support bufalin as a quite promising new anti-cancer drug candidate.

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.

Bufalin enhances the killing efficacy of NK cells against hepatocellular carcinoma by inhibiting MICA shedding

Bufalin, as a Chinese traditional anti-tumor agent, has been studied about inhibiting proliferation and promoting apoptosis of liver cancer, however, there are few reports on immune modulating function. We used the human liver cancer cell lines along with 91 pathologically-verified postoperative hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) specimens to assess immune modulating function of bufalin. We found that bufalin directly balances stimulatory and inhibitory receptors on the surface of NK cells and indirectly activates natural killer (NK) cells by inhibiting MICA shedding, which prevented immune escape and indirectly enhanced NKG2D-dependent immune surveillance. This study showed that bufalin can directly or indirectly regulate the immune response, which provides a new theoretical basis for the clinical application of "Huachansu injection".

MicroRNAs regulating SOX2 in cancer progression and therapy response

The proliferation, metastasis and therapy response of tumour cells are tightly regulated by interaction among various signalling networks. The microRNAs (miRNAs) can bind to 3'-UTR of mRNA and down-regulate expression of target gene. The miRNAs target various molecular pathways in regulating biological events such as apoptosis, differentiation, angiogenesis and migration. The aberrant expression of miRNAs occurs in cancers and they have both tumour-suppressor and tumour-promoting functions. On the contrary, SOX proteins are capable of binding to DNA and regulating gene expression. SOX2 is a well-known member of SOX family that its overexpression in different cancers to ensure progression and stemness. The present review focuses on modulatory impact of miRNAs on SOX2 in affecting growth, migration and therapy response of cancers. The lncRNAs and circRNAs can function as upstream mediators of miRNA/SOX2 axis in cancers. In addition, NF-κB, TNF-α and SOX17 are among other molecular pathways regulating miRNA/SOX2 axis in cancer. Noteworthy, anti-cancer compounds including bufalin and ovatodiolide are suggested to regulate miRNA/SOX2 axis in cancers. The translation of current findings to clinical course can pave the way to effective treatment of cancer patients and improve their prognosis.

The Parotoid Gland Secretion from Peruvian Toad Rhinella horribilis (Wiegmann, 1833): Chemical Composition and Effect on the Proliferation and Migration of Lung Cancer Cells

Since Rhinella sp. toads produce bioactive substances, some species have been used in traditional medicine and magical practices by ancient cultures in Peru. During several decades, the Rhinella horribilis toad was confused with the invasive toad Rhinella marina, a species documented with extensive toxinological studies. In contrast, the chemical composition and biological effects of the parotoid gland secretions (PGS) remain still unknown for R. horribilis. In this work, we determine for the first time 55 compounds from the PGS of R. horribilis, which were identified using HPLC-MS/MS. The crude extract inhibited the proliferation of A549 cancer cells with IC₅₀ values of 0.031 ± 0.007 and 0.015 ± 0.001 µg/mL at 24 and 48 h of exposure, respectively. Moreover, it inhibited the clonogenic capacity, increased ROS levels, and prevented the etoposide-induced apoptosis, suggesting that the effect of R. horribilis poison secretion was by cell cycle blocking before of G2/M-phase checkpoint. Fraction B was the most active and strongly inhibited cancer cell migration. Our results indicate that the PGS of R. horribilis are composed of alkaloids, bufadienolides, and argininyl diacids derivatives, inhibiting the proliferation and migration of A549 cells.

Clinical Impact of the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Lung Cancer as a Biomarker Assisting in Therapeutic Decisions

Lung cancer is one of the most common solid cancers and represents the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Over the last decade, research on the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in lung cancer has gained increasing attention. Here, we review clinical and histological features of non-small-cell lung cancer associated with EMT. We then aimed to establish potential clinical implications of EMT in current therapeutic options, including surgery, radiation, targeted therapy against oncogenic drivers, and immunotherapy.