Design, synthesis, and study of novel phenethyl-based antitumor phospholipids downregulating p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase

Discovery of a stilbenoid-flavanone hybrid as an antitumor Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway inhibitor

A series of designed stilbenoid-flavanone hybrids featuring sp3-hybridized C2 and C3 atoms of C-ring was evaluated against colorectal cancers presented compounds 4, 17, and 20 as the most potential compounds among explored compounds. Evaluation of the anticancer activity spectrum of compounds 4, 17, and 20 against diverse solid tumors presented compounds 17 and 20 with interesting anticancer spectrum. The potencies of compounds 17 and 20 were assessed in comparison with FDA-approved anticancer drugs. Compound 17 was the, in general, the most potent showing low micromolar GI50 values that were more potent than the standard FDA-approved drugs against several solid tumors including colon, brain, skin, renal, prostate and breast tumors. Compound 17 was subjected for evaluation against normal cell lines and was subjected to a mechanism study in HCT116 colon cancer cells which presented it as an inhibitor of Wnt signaling pathway triggering G2/M cell cycle arrest though activation of p53-p21 pathway as well as intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic death of colon cancer cells. Compound 17 might be a candidate for further development against diverse solid tumors including colon cancer.

Function and inhibition of P38 MAP kinase signaling: Targeting multiple inflammation diseases

Inflammation is a natural host defense mechanism that protects the body from pathogenic microorganisms. A growing body of research suggests that inflammation is a key factor in triggering other diseases (lung injury, rheumatoid arthritis, etc.). However, there is no consensus on the complex mechanism of inflammatory response, which may include enzyme activation, mediator release, and tissue repair. In recent years, p38 MAPK, a member of the MAPKs family, has attracted much attention as a central target for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. However, many p38 MAPK inhibitors attempting to obtain marketing approval have failed at the clinical trial stage due to selectivity and/or toxicity issues. In this paper, we discuss the mechanism of p38 MAPK in regulating inflammatory response and its key role in major inflammatory diseases and summarize the synthetic or natural products targeting p38 MAPK to improve the inflammatory response in the last five years, which will provide ideas for the development of novel clinical anti-inflammatory drugs based on p38 MAPK inhibitors.

Repurposing of conformationally-restricted cyclopentane-based AKT-inhibitors leads to discovery of potential and more selective antileishmanial agents than miltefosine

Conformational restriction was addressed towards the development of more selective and effective antileishmanial agents than currently used drugs for treatment of Leishmania donovani; the causative parasite of the fatal visceral leishmaniasis. Five types of cyclopentane-based conformationally restricted miltefosine analogs that were previously explored in literature as anticancer AKT-inhibitors were reprepared and repurposed as antileishmanial agents. Amongst, positions-1 and 2 cis-conformationally-restricted compound 1a and positions-2 and 3 trans-conformationally-restricted compound 3b were highly potent eliciting sub-micromolar IC50 values for inhibition of infection and inhibition of parasite number compared with the currently used miltefosine drug that showed low micromolar IC50 values for inhibition of infection and inhibition of parasite number. Compounds 1a and 3b eradicated the parasite without triggering host cells cytotoxicity over more than one log concentration interval which is a superior performance compared to miltefosine. In silico studies suggested that conformational restriction conserved the conformer capable of binding LdAKT-like kinase while it might be possible that it excludes other conformers mediating undesirable effects and/or toxicity of miltefosine. Together, this study presents compounds 1a and 3b as antileishmanial agents with superior performance over the currently used miltefosine drug.

Therapeutic role of 2-stearoxyphenethyl phosphocholine targeting microtubule dynamics and Wnt/β-catenin/EMT signaling in human colorectal cancer cells

The inhibition of cell death, perturbation of microtubule dynamics, and acceleration of Wnt/β-catenin/epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) signaling are fundamental processes in the progression and metastasis of colorectal cancer (CRC). To explore the role of 2-stearoxyphenethyl phosphocholine (stPEPC), an alkylphospholipid-based compound, in CRC, we conducted an MTT assay, cell cycle analysis, western blot analysis, immunoprecipitation, immunofluorescence staining, Annexin V/propidium iodide double staining, small interfering RNA gene silencing, a wound-healing assay, an invasion assay, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay in the human CRC cell lines HT29 and HCT116. stPEPC showed anti-proliferative properties and mitotic cell accumulation via upregulated phosphorylation of BUBR1 and an association between mitotic arrest deficiency 2 (MAD2) and cell division cycle protein 20 homolog (CDC20). These results suggest that activation of the mitotic checkpoint complex and tubulin polymerization occurred, resulting in mitotic catastrophe in HT29 and HCT116 cells. In addition, stPEPC attenuated cell migration and invasion by regulating proteins mediated by EMT, such as E-cadherin and occludin. stPEPC altered the protein expression of Wnt3a and phosphorylation of low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6), glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β), and β-catenin as well as their target genes, including cMyc and cyclin D1, in CRC cells. Thus, stPEPC may be useful for developing new drugs to treat human CRC.

Gut microbiota: key facilitator in metastasis of colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks third in terms of incidence among all kinds of cancer. The main cause of death is metastasis. Recent studies have shown that the gut microbiota could facilitate cancer metastasis by promoting cancer cells proliferation, invasion, dissemination, and survival. Multiple mechanisms have been implicated, such as RNA-mediated targeting effects, activation of tumor signaling cascades, secretion of microbiota-derived functional substances, regulation of mRNA methylation, facilitated immune evasion, increased intravasation of cancer cells, and remodeling of tumor microenvironment (TME). The understanding of CRC metastasis was further deepened by the mechanisms mentioned above. In this review, the mechanisms by which the gut microbiota participates in the process of CRC metastasis were reviewed as followed based on recent studies.