Sinomenine restrains breast cancer cells proliferation, migration and invasion via modulation of miR-29/PDCD-4 axis

Review on effects and mechanisms of plant-derived natural products against breast cancer bone metastasis

Bone metastasis is the prevalent form of metastasis in breast cancer, resulting in severe pain, pathological fractures, nerve compression, hypercalcemia, and other complications that significantly impair patients' quality of life. The infiltration and colonization of breast cancer (BC) cells in bone tissue disrupt the delicate balance between osteoblasts and osteoclasts within the bone microenvironment, initiating a vicious cycle of bone metastasis. Once bone metastasis occurs, conventional medical therapy with bone-modifying agents is commonly used to alleviate bone-related complications and improve patients' quality of life. However, the utilization of bone-modifying agents may cause severe drug-related adverse effects. Plant-derived natural products such as terpenoids, alkaloids, coumarins, and phenols have anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, and anti-angiogenic pharmacological properties with minimal side effects. Certain natural products that exhibit both anti-breast cancer and anti-bone metastasis effects are potential therapeutic agents for breast cancer bone metastasis (BCBM). This article reviewed the effects of plant-derived natural products against BCBM and their mechanisms to provide a reference for the research and development of drugs related to BCBM.

GLUT and HK: Two primary and essential key players in tumor glycolysis

Cancer cells reprogram their metabolism to become "glycolysis-dominant," which enables them to meet their energy and macromolecule needs and enhancing their rate of survival. This glycolytic-dominancy is known as the "Warburg effect", a significant factor in the growth and invasion of malignant tumors. Many studies confirmed that members of the GLUT family, specifically HK-II from the HK family play a pivotal role in the Warburg effect, and are closely associated with glucose transportation followed by glucose metabolism in cancer cells. Overexpression of GLUTs and HK-II correlates with aggressive tumor behaviour and tumor microenvironment making them attractive therapeutic targets. Several studies have proven that the regulation of GLUTs and HK-II expression improves the treatment outcome for various tumors. Therefore, small molecule inhibitors targeting GLUT and HK-II show promise in sensitizing cancer cells to treatment, either alone or in combination with existing therapies including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy, and photodynamic therapy. Despite existing therapies, viable methods to target the glycolysis of cancer cells are currently lacking to increase the effectiveness of cancer treatment. This review explores the current understanding of GLUT and HK-II in cancer metabolism, recent inhibitor developments, and strategies for future drug development, offering insights into improving cancer treatment efficacy.

Bioactivities and Mechanisms of Action of Sinomenine and Its Derivatives: A Comprehensive Review

Sinomenine, an isoquinoline alkaloid extracted from the roots and stems of Sinomenium acutum, has been extensively studied for its derivatives as bioactive agents. This review concentrates on the research advancements in the biological activities and action mechanisms of sinomenine-related compounds until November 2023. The findings indicate a broad spectrum of pharmacological effects, including antitumor, anti-inflammation, neuroprotection, and immunosuppressive properties. These compounds are notably effective against breast, lung, liver, and prostate cancers, exhibiting IC50 values of approximately 121.4 nM against PC-3 and DU-145 cells, primarily through the PI3K/Akt/mTOR, NF-κB, MAPK, and JAK/STAT signaling pathways. Additionally, they manifest anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects predominantly via the NF-κB, MAPK, and Nrf2 signaling pathways. Utilized in treating rheumatic arthritis, these alkaloids also play a significant role in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular protection, as well as organ protection through the NF-κB, Nrf2, MAPK, and PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathways. This review concludes with perspectives and insights on this topic, highlighting the potential of sinomenine-related compounds in clinical applications and the development of medications derived from natural products.

Sinomenine regulates circTRPM7-related pathway to inhibit gastric cancer cell growth and metastasis

Sinomenine has been found to have antitumor effects in a variety of cancers, including gastric cancer. Circular RNA (circRNA) is an important regulator of gastric cancer progression. However, it is not known whether Sinomenine mediates gastric cancer processes by regulating circRNA-related pathways. Quantitative real-time PCR was used to measure the expression of circTRPM7, microRNA-145-5p (miR-145-5p), and pre-B-cell leukemia homeobox 3 (PBX3). MTT assay, colony formation assay, EdU assay, transwell assay, wound-healing assay, and flow cytometry were used to detect cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and apoptosis. The expression of related proteins was detected by Western blot. Mechanically, the interaction of miR-145-5p with circTRPM7/PBX3 was validated by dual-luciferase reporter assay and RIP assay. Our study showed that circTRPM7 expression was reduced in Sinomenine-treated gastric cancer cells. Moreover, overexpression of circTRPM7 upregulated the growth and metastasis of Sinomenine-treated gastric cancer cells. CircTRPM7 could sponge miR-145-5p, and miR-145-5p reversed the effect of circTRPM7 on the growth and metastasis of Sinomenine-treated gastric cancer cells. PBX3 was the target of miR-145-5p, and knockdown of PBX3 could restore the in-miR-145-5p promotion effect on the malignant behavior of Sinomenine-treated gastric cancer cells. To sum up, our data indicated that Sinomenine played an antitumor role in gastric cancer cells via circTRPM7/miR-145-5p/PBX3 axis.

Driving adult tissue repair via re-engagement of a pathway required for fetal healing

Fetal cutaneous wound closure and repair differ from that in adulthood. In this work, we identify an oxidant stress sensor protein, nonselenocysteine-containing phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (NPGPx), that is abundantly expressed in normal fetal epidermis (and required for fetal wound closure), though not in adult epidermis, but is variably re-induced upon adult tissue wounding. NPGPx is a direct target of the miR-29 family. Following injury, abundance of miR-29 is lowered, permitting a prompt increase in NPGPx transcripts and protein expression in adult wound-edge tissue. NPGPx expression was required to mediate increased keratinocyte migration induced by miR-29 inhibition in vitro and in vivo. Increased NPGPx expression induced increased SOX2 expression and β-catenin nuclear localization in keratinocytes. Augmenting physiologic NPGPx expression via experimentally induced miR-29 suppression, using cutaneous tissue nanotransfection or targeted lipid nanoparticle delivery of anti-sense oligonucleotides, proved to be sufficient to overcome the deleterious effects of diabetes on this specific pathway to enhance tissue repair.

Overcoming cisplatin resistance of human lung cancer by sinomenine through targeting the miR-200a-3p-GLS axis

Lung cancer, a malignant disease, is one of the leading causes of patient death. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer. Currently, chemotherapeutic agents such as cisplatin are widely used against lung cancer. However, development of chemoresistance, which led to poor prognosis and low survival rate greatly limited the clinical applications of cisplatin. Sinomenine (SIN) is a bioactive component of sinomenium acutum. Accumulating evidence revealed SIN exhibits potential anti-tumor activities in various types of cancers. However, the precise molecular mechanisms for the sinomenine-induced anti-cancer effects have not been fully elucidated. Here, we assessed the effects of sinomenine on cisplatin sensitivity in NSCLC cells. The combination of SIN with cisplatin showed synergistically inhibitory effects on lung cancer cells by calculating the combination index (CI value) using the Calcusyn 2.0 software. Moreover, we detected that the glutamine metabolism was significantly suppressed by sinomenine treatments in lung cancer cells. Under low glutamine supply, A549 cells showed less sensitivity to sinomenine treatments. Meanwhile, miR-200a-3p was found to be significantly induced by SIN treatments. We demonstrated a suppressive role of miR-200a-3p on glutamine metabolism. Furthermore, miR-200a-3p was downregulated but the glutamine metabolism was significantly hyperactive in A549 cisplatin resistant cells compared with parental cells. Bioinformatical analysis and luciferase assay demonstrated the glutaminase (GLS), a key enzyme of glutamine metabolism, is the direct target of miR-200a-3p in lung cancer cells. Finally, rescue experiments demonstrated that recovery of GLS in miR-200a-3p overexpressing-cisplatin resistant cells successfully overrode the sinomenine-mediated cisplatin sensitization. In summary, this study revealed a new molecular mechanism for the sinomenine-promoted cisplatin sensitization, contributing to investigating the sinomenine-based therapeutic agents against chemoresistant NSCLC.

Dissecting the Roles of PDCD4 in Breast Cancer

The human programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4) gene was mapped at chromosome 10q24 and encodes the PDCD4 protein comprised of 469 amino acids. PDCD4 inhibits protein translation PDCD4 inhibits protein translation to suppress tumor progression, and its expression is frequently decreased in breast cancer. PDCD4 blocks translation initiation complex by binding eIF4A via MA-3 domains or by directly binding 5’ mRNA internal ribosome entry sites with an RNA binding domain to suppress breast cancer progression and proliferation. Numerous regulators and biological processes including non-coding RNAs, proteasomes, estrogen, natural compounds and inflammation control PDCD4 expression in breast cancer. Loss of PDCD4 expression is also responsible for drug resistance in breast cancer. HER2 activation downregulates PDCD4 expression by activating MAPK, AKT, and miR-21 in aromatase inhibitor-resistant breast cancer cells. Moreover, modulating the microRNA/PDCD4 axis maybe an effective strategy for overcoming chemoresistance in breast cancer. Down-regulation of PDCD4 is significantly associated with short overall survival of patients, which suggests that PDCD4 may be an independent prognostic marker for breast cancer.

Synthesis, Antitumor of Sinomenine Derivatives and Apoptotic Induction via IL-6/PI3K/Akt/NF-κB Signaling Pathway in MCF-7 Cells

Natural products have been widely considered as an important resource for new drugs or lead compounds. Sinomenine (SIN) and its derivatives exert antitumor activity via regulation of inflammatory mediators. For these reasons we synthesized three series of SIN derivatives (compounds 4a-i, 7a-c and 11a-c) as antitumor agents from this natural product. All compounds were prepared by the modification at the C1 and C4 positions of A ring, the C4 position of A ring and the C6 and C7 positions of C ring, respectively. All the derivatives were subjected to in vitro antitumor activity against HeLa, A549, HepG-2, MCF-7 and HT-29 cell lines. To observe the apoptotic induction of SIN derivatives and its mechanism, fluorescent staining and western bolt were carried out for active compound against MCF-7. Based on the screening results, most of SIN derivatives showed better antitumor activity than SIN. Some of them were found to possess broad spectrum antitumor activity. Most notably, 11c exhibited obvious antitumor activity in both cell lines with IC50 value less than 11 μM. Besides, 11c induced apoptosis of MCF-7 in a dose-dependent manner. Western blot assay demonstrated that 11c inhibited IL-6-mediated activation of PI3K/Akt pathway. A docking study revealed that 11c had stronger binding interaction with the residues of IL-6 than SIN. All these results indicate that 11c may be a potential anti-breast cancer agent by directly targeting IL-6.

TPX2 regulated by miR‑29c‑3p induces cell proliferation in osteosarcoma via the AKT signaling pathway

The present study aimed to investigate the significance of targeting protein for Xenopus kinesin-like protein 2 (TPX2) expression in osteosarcoma. First, the TPX2 expression and survival analysis data were evaluated from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database. Next, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR was used to explore the expression of TPX2 in osteosarcoma tissues. The observed potential target relationship between TPX2 and microRNA (miR)-29c-3p was verified using TargetScan and luciferase reporter assays. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was used to determine associations between TPX2 expression levels and survival prognosis. TPX2 small interfering RNA was successfully constructed and transfected into osteosarcoma cell lines. The effects of TPX2 on osteosarcoma cell proliferation were then detected by MTT assay. In addition, the expression levels of AKT signaling pathway-associated proteins were identified by western blot analysis. The expression of TPX2 was upregulated and the expression of miR-29c-3p was downregulated in osteosarcoma. High expression of TPX2 was linked to a poor prognosis. Using luciferase assay and the miRNA mimic and inhibitors, miR-29c-3p was able to target and repress TPX2, and siRNA knockdown of TPX2 resulted in the inhibition of osteosarcoma cell proliferation by affecting the AKT pathway. Overall, the study showed that miR-29c-3p could inhibit the proliferation of osteosarcoma cells via TPX2 downregulation, and that TPX2 and miR-29c-3p may serve as promising prognostic indicators.

Two Worlds Colliding: The Interplay Between Natural Compounds and Non-Coding Transcripts in Cancer Therapy

Cancer is a devastating disease and has recently become the leading cause of death in western countries, representing an immense public health burden. When it comes to cancer treatment, chemotherapy is one of the main pillars, especially for advanced stage tumors. Over the years, natural compounds have emerged as one of the most valuable resources for new chemotherapies. It is estimated that more than half of the currently used chemotherapeutic agents are derived from natural compounds. Usually, natural compounds are discovered empirically and an important limitation of introducing new anti-cancer natural products is lack of knowledge with regard to their mechanism of action. Recent data has proven that several natural compounds may function via modulating the expression and function of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). NcRNAs are a heterogenous class of RNA molecules which are usually not translated into proteins but have an important role in gene expression regulation and are involved in multiple tumorigenic processes, including response/resistance to pharmacotherapy. In this review, we will discuss how natural compounds function via ncRNAs while summarizing the available data regarding their effects on over 15 types of cancer. Moreover, we will critically analyze the current advances and limitations in understanding the way natural compounds exert these health-promoting effects by acting on ncRNAs. Finally, we will propose several hypotheses that may open new avenues and perspectives regarding the interaction between natural compounds and ncRNAs, which could lead to improved natural compound-based therapeutic strategies in cancer.

Sinomenine Suppresses Development of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells via Inhibiting MARCH1 and AMPK/STAT3 Signaling Pathway

Promotion of apoptosis and suppression of proliferation in tumor cells are popular strategies for developing anticancer drugs. Sinomenine (SIN), a plant-derived alkaloid, displays antitumor activity. However, the mechanism of action of SIN against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is unclear. Herein, several molecular technologies, such as Western Blotting, qRT-PCR, flow cytometry, and gene knockdown were applied to explore the role and mechanism of action of SIN in the treatment of HCC. It was found that SIN arrests HCC cell cycle at G0/G1 phase, induces apoptosis, and suppresses proliferation of HCC cells via down-regulating the expression of membrane-associated RING-CH finger protein 1 (MARCH1). Moreover, SIN induces cell death and growth inhibition through AMPK/STAT3 signaling pathway. MARCH1 expression was silenced by siRNA to explore its involvement in the regulation of AMPK/STAT3 signaling pathway. Silencing MARCH1 caused down-regulation of phosphorylation of AMPK, STAT3 and decreased cell viability and function. Our results suggested that SIN inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis of HCC cells by MARCH1-mediated AMPK/STAT3 signaling pathway. This study provides new support for SIN as a clinical anticancer drug and illustrates that targeting MARCH1 could be a novel treatment strategy in developing anticancer therapeutics.

Baicalin suppresses lung cancer growth phenotypes via miR-340-5p/NET1 axis

As a malignant disease, lung cancer has a high morbidity and mortality rate. Baicalin is derived from Radix Scutellariae and has anti-tumor effects, however, its role in lung cancer remains unknown. Here, functional assays suggested baicalin suppressed in vitro lung cancer phenotypes. We used micro (mi)RNA array analysis to explore baicalin effects on miRNA expression. We observed baicalin increased miR-340-5p expression, whereas inhibition of this expression abolished anti-tumor effects of baicalin. Furthermore, neuroepithelial cell transforming 1 (NET1) functioned as a miR-340-5p target, and acted in a baicalin-dependent manner to regulate lung cancer progression. Thus, baicalin elicited antitumor activities by affecting the miR-340-5p/NET1 axis, suggesting a new approach to lung cancer clinical management.

MicroRNA‑29‑3p regulates the β‑catenin pathway by targeting IGF1 to inhibit the proliferation of prolactinoma cells

The present study aimed to analyze the effects and underlying mechanisms of microRNA (miR)-29-3p on the proliferation and secretory abilities of prolactinoma cells by targeting insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-1/β-catenin. The relationship between miR-29a-3p and the survival of prolactinoma cells was analyzed with the Kaplan-Meier method in reference to The Cancer Genome Atlas. The expression levels of miR-29a-3p and IGF-1 in MMQ and GH3 cells were detected. A dual-luciferase reporter gene assay was performed to verify the combination of miR-29a-3p and IGF-1. Cells were transfected with a miR-29a-3p mimic and/or IGF-1 pcDNA3.1 to analyze the effects on the proliferation, apoptosis and secretion of prolactin (PRL) and growth hormone (GH) of prolactinoma cells. The effects on β-catenin in the cytoplasm and nucleus were investigated by western blot analysis. The results showed that miR-29a-3p expression was low in MMQ and GH3 cells. Overexpression miR-29a-3p inhibited IGF-1 mRNA and protein expression. miR-29a-3p inhibited cell proliferation and PRL and GH expression, and promoted apoptosis by inhibiting IGF-1. Increasing the expression of miR-29a-3p increased β-catenin levels in the cytoplasm, whereas IGF-1 promoted β-catenin activation and entry into the nucleus, and reversed the inhibitory effects of miR-29a-3p on β-catenin. To conclude, miR-29a-3p inhibited the proliferation and secretory abilities of prolactinoma cells by inhibiting nuclear translocation of β-catenin via a molecular mechanism that is inseparable from IGF-1.

Exosomal microRNAs: Pleiotropic Impacts on Breast Cancer Metastasis and Their Clinical Perspectives

As a major threat factor for female health, breast cancer (BC) has garnered a lot of attention for its malignancy and diverse molecules participating in its carcinogenesis process. Among these complex carcinogenesis processes, cell proliferation, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET), and angiogenesis are the major causes for the occurrence of metastasis and chemoresistance which account for cancer malignancy. MicroRNAs packaged and secreted in exosomes are termed "exosomal microRNAs (miRNAs)". Nowadays, more researches have uncovered the roles of exosomal miRNAs played in BC metastasis. In this review, we recapitulated the dual actions of exosomal miRNAs exerted in the aggressiveness of BC by influencing migration, invasion, and distant metastasis. Next, we presented how exosomal miRNAs modify angiogenesis and stemness maintenance. Clinically, several exosomal miRNAs can govern the transformation between drug sensitivity and chemoresistance. Since the balance of the number and type of exosomal miRNAs is disturbed in pathological conditions, they are able to serve as instructive biomarkers for BC diagnosis and prognosis. More efforts are needed to connect the theoretical studies and clinical traits together. This review provides an outline of the pleiotropic impacts of exosomal miRNAs on BC metastasis and their clinical implications, paving the way for future personalized drugs.

Hsa_circ_0053063 inhibits breast cancer cell proliferation via hsa_circ_0053063/hsa-miR-330-3p/PDCD4 axis

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common malignancies and its mortality is the highest among females. Circular RNAs (circRNAs), a novel group of non-coding RNAs, play an important regulatory role in angiogenesis and cancer progression. Hsa_circ_0053063 is a circRNA generated from several exons of HADHA. The potential role of hsa_circ_0053063 in BC remains unknown and needs to be explored. Hsa_circ_0053063 was mainly located in the cytoplasm and activated in BC tissues and cell lines. The binding position between hsa_circ_0053063 and miR-330-3p was confirmed by luciferase reporter assay. Moreover, hsa_circ_0053063 inhibited cell viability, proliferation, and progression of BC through the negative regulation of miR-330-3p. Programmed cell death 4 (PDCD4) is a direct target of miR-330-3p. Besides, the over-expression of miR-330-3p promoted cell progression by directly targeting and regulating PDCD4. Mechanistically, hsa_circ_0053063 activated PDCD4 by targeting miR-330-3p to inhibit BC progression. In conclusion, hsa_circ_0053063 inhibits breast cancer cell proliferation via hsa_circ_0053063/hsa-miR-330-3p/PDCD4 axis, which may provide a new therapeutic target for BC patients.

Sinomenine-phenolic acid coamorphous drug systems: Solubilization, sustained release, and improved physical stability

Sinomenine (SIN), isolated from Caulis sinomenii, is a benzyltetrahydroisoquinoline-type alkaloid with potent anti-inflammatory and analgesic effects. SIN-HCl has been used in the forms of tablets or enteric-coated tablets in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis in China for years, while its short half-life leads to attenuated therapeutic effects and serious side effects. In the current study, three phenolic acids, including salicylic acid (SAA), 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid (23DHB), and 2,4-dihydroxybenzoic acid (24DHB), were firstly employed as coamorphous coformers to prepare three binary SIN-phenolic acid coamorphous systems. These new coamorphous systems were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), modulated temperature differential scanning calorimetry (mDSC), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The formation of SIN-phenolic acid coamorphous systems are supported by the absence of diffraction peaks in their PXRD spectra, as well as the single T_gs of three samples (i.e., SIN-SAA, SIN-23DHB, and SIN-24DHB) at 109.5 °C, 124.9 °C, and 135.3 °C. Importantly, the salt formation between SIN and phenolic acids was observed in FTIR. In three coamorphous systems, coamorphous SIN-24DHB shows superior physicochemical stability under both low humidity and accelerated storage conditions. They were also more soluble than crystalline SIN, while were released slower than the commercial SIN-HCl in dissolution experiments. Therefore, our study suggests that phenolic acids may be used as a new type of coformers in the preparation of coamorphous systems for active pharmaceutical ingredients.

Network Pharmacology-Based Approach to Investigate the Molecular Targets of Sinomenine for Treating Breast Cancer

Purpose

Sinomenine has been known to inhibit the proliferation of breast cancer cells. However, its targets have not been found yet. This study aimed to search for molecular targets of sinomenine for treating breast cancer via network pharmacology.

Methods

Potential targets of sinomenine or breast cancer were separately screened from indicated databases. The common targets of both sinomenine and breast cancer were considered as the targets of sinomenine for treating breast cancer. A sinomenine-target-pathway network was constructed based on the obtained results from Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. The putative targets of sinomenine were further determined by using protein–protein interaction (PPI) analysis and molecular docking. Finally, the putative targets were verified in vitro and in vivo.

Results

Twenty predicted targets were identified through network pharmacological analysis. Gene Ontology (GO) and KEGG pathway enrichment indicated that these predicted targets enriched in the process of MAP kinase activity, VEGF signaling pathway, Relaxin signaling pathway, Growth hormone synthesis, secretion and action. MAPK1, NOS3, NR3C1, NOS1 and NOS2 were further identified as the putative targets by using PPI and molecular docking analysis. Expression of MAPK1, NR3C1, NOS1, NOS2 and NOS3 genes were significantly regulated by sinomenine in both MCF-7 cells and MDA-MB-231 cells. Furthermore, the expression of NR3C1 in human breast cancer specimens was lower than that in para-tumor normal tissues. Meanwhile, the expression of NR3C1 in xenograft tumors was up-regulated after sinomenine treatment.

Conclusion

MAPK1, NR3C1, NOS1, NOS2 and NOS3 were identified as the putative targets of sinomenine for treating breast cancer. NR3C1 was preliminarily confirmed as a target of sinomenine in two breast cancer cell lines, xenograft tumor models and human breast cancer specimens. These data indicated that the network pharmacology-based prediction of sinomenine targets for treating breast cancer could be reliable.

miR-29c-3p regulates proliferation and migration in ovarian cancer by targeting KIF4A

Background

Increasing evidence suggested that microRNA and kinesin superfamily proteins play an essential role in ovarian cancer. The association between KIF4A and ovarian cancer (OC) was investigated in this study.

Methods

We performed bioinformatics analysis in the GEO database to screen out the differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) associated with ovarian cancer prognosis. Upstream targeting prediction for KIF4A was acquired by using the mirDIP database. The potential regulatory factor miR-29c-3p for KIF4A was obtained from the intersection of the above all miRNAs. The prognosis of KIF4A and target-miRNA in OC was obtained in the subsequent analysis. qRT-PCR and Western blot detected KIF4A expression level in IOSE80 (human normal ovarian epithelial cell line). In the meantime, the gene expression level was detected in A2780, HO-8910PM, COC1, and SKOV3 cell lines (human ovarian carcinoma cell line). MTT and colony formation assays were used to detect cell proliferation of SKOV3 cell line. The following assays detected cell migration through the use of transwell and wound heal assays. Targeted binding relationship between KIF4A and miRNA was detected by using the dual-luciferase reporter assay.

Results

Both high expression of KIF4A and lower expression of miR-29c-3p could be used as biomarkers indicating poor prognosis in OC patients. Cellular function tests confirmed that when KIF4A was silenced, it inhibited the proliferation and migration of OC cells. In addition, 3′-UTR of KIF4A had a direct binding site with miR-29c-3p, which indicated that the expression of KIF4A could be regulated by miR-29c-3p. In subsequent assays, the proliferation and migration of OC cells were inhibited by the overexpression of miR-29c-3p. At the same time, rescue experiments also confirmed that the promotion of KIF4A could be reversed by miR-29c-3p.

Conclusion

In a word, our data revealed a new mechanism for the role of KIF4A in the occurrence and development of OC.

Programmed cell death factor 4 (PDCD4), a novel therapy target for metabolic diseases besides cancer

Programmed cell death factor 4 (PDCD4) is originally described as a tumor suppressor gene that exerts antineoplastic effects by promoting apoptosis and inhibiting tumor cell proliferation, invasion, and metastasis. Several investigations have probed the aberrant expression of PDCD4 with the progression of metabolic diseases, such as polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), obesity, diabetes, and atherosclerosis. It has been ascertained that PDCD4 causes glucose and lipid metabolism disorders, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, chronic inflammatory response, and gut flora disorders to regulate the progression of metabolic diseases. This review aims to summarize the latest researches to uncover the structure, expression regulation, and biological functions of PDCD4 and to elucidate the regulatory mechanism of the development of tumors and metabolic diseases. This review has emphasized the understanding of the PDCD4 role and to provide new ideas for the research, diagnosis, and treatment of tumors and metabolic diseases.

Sinomenine Can Inhibit the Growth and Invasion Ability of Retinoblastoma Cell through Regulating PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway

Sinomenine was found to play anti-cancer functions in different type of cancers, while the mechanisms underlying the anticancer effects of sinomenine in retinoblastoma (RB) remains unclear. The present study was designed to explore the impacts of sinomenine on cell proliferation and invasion ability of RB cells and the related mechanism. Human retinoblastoma cell line WERI-RB-1 and Y79 cells were cultured and treated by different concentration of sinomenine, and then the proliferation ability of the cells was determined via performing the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) proliferation assay. The cell apoptosis was examined via performing the flow cytometry assay. Then scratch wound healing analysis as well as and transwell invasion analysis have been performed to determine the effect of sinomenine on cell migration ability as well as invasion ability. The proteins level of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling molecules were determined with Western blot assay. We found that sinomenine was able to decrease the proliferation and promote the apoptosis of RB cells in a dose-dependent manner; moreover, sinomenine also significantly suppressed the migration as well as invasion ability of WERI-RB-1 and Y79 cells in vitro. Furthermore, sinomenine also de-activated PI3K/AKT signaling in WERI-RB-1 cells via inhibited the phosphorylation of PI3K and AKT proteins. Sinomenine can exert anti-tumor function on RB cells in vitro, therefore sinomenine might be a potential alterative medication for the treatment for RB.

Magnoflorine inhibits the malignant phenotypes and increases cisplatin sensitivity of osteosarcoma cells via regulating miR-410-3p/HMGB1/NF-κB pathway

AIMS

Magnoflorine is an essential type of alkaloid and possesses anti-tumor activity in multiple cancers. Recent studies have demonstrated that magnoflorine plays tumor-suppressive roles in gastric and breast cancers. However, its role in osteosarcoma (OS) tumorigenesis is enigmatic. This study aimed to investigate the role and mechanism of magnoflorine in OS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two human OS cells (MG-63 and U-2 OS) were treated with different concentrations of magnoflorine. Cell viability and invasion were then detected by Cell Counting Kit-8 and Transwell assay, respectively. And the effects of magnoflorine on the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and cisplatin sensitivity were also measured. To explore the potential mechanism, we assayed the influence of magnoflorine on the miR-410-3p/HMGB1/NF-κB signaling pathway. Additionally, rescue experiments were performed to further confirm the regulation mechanism of magnoflorine.

KEY FINDINGS

Magnoflorine inhibited the viability, invasion, and EMT of OS cells in a dose-dependent manner. And it increased the sensitivity of OS cells to cisplatin. Magnoflorine significantly suppressed HMGB1 expression and NF-κB activation, but upregulated miR-410-3p level. Overexpression of HMGB1 promoted NF-κB activation and reversed the effects of magnoflorine on the viability, invasion, EMT and cisplatin sensitivity of OS cells. miR-410-3p mimic inhibited the EMT of OS cells, which was restored by HMGB1 upregulation. And miR-410-3p inhibitor abrogated the influence of magnoflorine on HMGB1 expression in OS cells.

SIGNIFICANCE

Magnoflorine inhibited the malignant phenotypes and increased cisplatin sensitivity of OS cells via modulating miR-410-3p/HMGB1/NF-κB pathway. These results indicated that magnoflorine might be a novel drug for the treatment of OS.

Sinomenine Inhibits Migration and Invasion of Human Lung Cancer Cell through Downregulating Expression of miR-21 and MMPs

Sinomenine is an alkaloid derived from Sinomenium acutum. Recent studies have found that sinomenine can inhibit various cancers by inhibiting the proliferation, migration and invasion of tumors and inducing apoptosis. This study aims to investigate the effect and mechanism of sinomenine on inhibiting the migration and invasion of human lung adenocarcinoma cells in vitro. The results demonstrate that viabilities of A549 and H1299 cells were inhibited by sinomenine in a dose-dependent manner. When treated with sub-toxic doses of sinomenine, cell migration and invasion are markedly suppressed. Sinomenine decreases the mRNA level of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9, and the extracellular inducer of matrix metalloproteinase (EMMPRIN/CD147), but elevates the expression of reversion-inducing cysteine-rich proteins with kazal motifs (RECK) and the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) and TIMP-2. In addition, sinomenine significantly increases the expression of the epithelial marker E-cadherin but concomitantly decreases the expression of the mesenchymal marker vimentin, suggesting that it suppresses epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). Moreover, sinomenine downregulates oncogenic microRNA-21 (miR-21), which has been known to target RECK. The downregulation of miR-21 decreases cell invasion, while the upregulation of miR-21 increases cell invasion. Furthermore, the downregulation of miR-21 stimulates the expression of RECK, TIMP-1/-2, and E-cadherin, but reduces the expression of MMP-2/-9, EMMPRIN/CD147, and vimentin. Taken together, the results reveal that the inhibition of A549 cell invasion by sinomenine may, at least in part, be through the downregulating expression of MMPs and miR-21. These findings demonstrate an attractive therapeutic potential for sinomenine in lung cancer anti-metastatic therapy.

Sinomenine Inhibits Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer via Downregulation of Hexokinases II-Mediated Aerobic Glycolysis

Background

Addiction to aerobic glycolysis is a common metabolic phenotype in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The natural product Sinomenine (Sin) exhibits significant anti-tumor effects in various human cancers. However, the underlying mechanism remains elusive.

Methods

The inhibitory effect of Sin on NSCLC cells was determined by MTS and soft agar assays. The glycolysis efficacy of NSCLC cells was examined by glucose uptake and lactate production. The activation of Akt signaling and the protein level of hexokinases II (HK2) were examined by immunoblot (IB), qRT-PCR, and immunohistochemical staining (IHC). The in vivo anti-tumor effect of Sin was validated by the xenograft mouse model.

Results

We showed that HK2 is highly expressed in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. Depletion of HK2 suppressed cell viability, anchorage-independent colony formation, and xenograft tumor growth. Sinomenine exhibited a profound inhibitory effect on NSCLC cells by reducing HK2-mediated glycolysis both in vitro and in vivo. Ectopic overexpression of HK2 compromised these anti-tumor efficacies in sinomenine-treated NSCLC cells. Moreover, we revealed that sinomenine decreased Akt activity, which caused the down-regulation of HK2-mediated glycolysis. Knockdown of Akt reduced HK2 protein level and impaired glycolysis. In contrast, overexpression of constitutively activated Akt1 reversed this phenotype.

Conclusion

This study suggests that targeting HK2-mediated aerobic glycolysis is required for sinomenine-mediated anti-tumor activity.

Anti-Angiogenic Effects of Phytochemicals on miRNA Regulating Breast Cancer Progression

Several phytochemicals have been identified for their role in modifying miRNA regulating tumor progression. miRNAs modulate the expression of several oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes including the genes that regulate tumor angiogenesis. Hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) signaling is a central axis that activates oncogenic signaling and acts as a metabolic switch in endothelial cell (EC) driven tumor angiogenesis. Tumor angiogenesis driven by metabolic reprogramming of EC is crucial for tumor progression and metastasis in many different cancers, including breast cancers, and has been linked to aberrant miRNA expression profiles. In the current article, we identify different miRNAs that regulate tumor angiogenesis in the context of oncogenic signaling and metabolic reprogramming in ECs and review how selected phytochemicals could modulate miRNA levels to induce an anti-angiogenic action in breast cancer. Studies involving genistein, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and resveratrol demonstrate the regulation of miRNA-21, miRNA-221/222 and miRNA-27, which are prognostic markers in triple negative breast cancers (TNBCs). Modulating the metabolic pathway is a novel strategy for controlling tumor angiogenesis and tumor growth. Cardamonin, curcumin and resveratrol exhibit their anti-angiogenic property by targeting the miRNAs that regulate EC metabolism. Here we suggest that using phytochemicals to target miRNAs, which in turn suppresses tumor angiogenesis, should have the potential to inhibit tumor growth, progression, invasion and metastasis and may be developed into an effective therapeutic strategy for the treatment of many different cancers where tumor angiogenesis plays a significant role in tumor growth and progression.