Novel cyclophosphamide of natural products osalmide and pterostilbene induces cytotoxicity and cell cycle arrest in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma cells

Phytostilbenes in lymphoma: Focuses on the mechanistic and clinical prospects of resveratrol, pterostilbene, piceatannol, and pinosylvin

Lymphoma is a cancer affecting the lymphatic system that fights infections and diseases. In addition to surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy, novel approaches have recently been investigated, such as phytostilbenes in treating lymphoma. Phytostilbenes are natural compounds present in various plants and have been shown to have different therapeutic effects, including anticancer properties. Resveratrol is a main phytostilbene with various derivates followed by pterostilbene and piceatannol. Studies have revealed that phytostilbenes can suppress the growth and proliferation of lymphoma cells by inducing apoptosis and inhibiting specific enzyme activity in cancer cell survival. The compounds also have antiinflammatory effects contributing to reducing lymphoma-associated inflammation. Additionally, phytostilbenes have been shown to increase the immune system's ability to fight cancer cells by activating immune cells (T-cells and natural killer cells). This review investigates the potential therapeutic effects of phytostilbenes, including resveratrol, pterostilbene, piceatannol, and pinosylvin, against lymphoma.

Fuzi polysaccharides improve immunity in immunosuppressed mouse models by regulating gut microbiota composition

Rationale and objectives

Fuzi, the dried root of Aconitum carmichaelii Debx, is one of the widely used traditional Chinese medicines. Fuzi polysaccharides are considered the most bioactive compounds with immunomodulatory functions, however, the mechanisms have not been evaluated. This study aims to systematically investigate the effects of Fuzi polysaccharides on the gut microbiota and immune function using a mouse model immunosuppressed with cyclophosphamide.

Methods

The short-chain fatty acid levels in cecal contents were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The gut microbiota 16S rRNA gene were sequenced by next generation sequencing. The mRNA expression levels of NF-κB, IL-6, TNF-α, iNOS and COX-2 were measured using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction. The protein expression of occludin and zonula occludens-1 were analyzed by Western blot. The white blood cells were counted using automated hematology analyzer, and CD4⁺FOXP3⁺/CD4⁺ ratio was measured by flow cytometry.

Results and Conclusions

Fuzi polysaccharides had the function of elevating the concentration of acetic acid, propionic acid, isobutyric acid, and n-butyric acid in the cecum. Meanwhile, Fuzi polysaccharides could decrease the relative abundance of Helicobacter, Anaerotruncus, Faecalibacterium, Lachnospira, Erysipelotrichaceae_UCG-003, Mucispirillum, and Mycoplasma, and increase the relative abundance of Rhodospirillales, Ruminococcaceae_UCG-013, Mollicutes_RF39, Ruminococcus_1, Christensenellaceae_R-7_group, and Muribaculaceae in the gut. Furthermore, Fuzi polysaccharides exhibited the function of increasing spleen and thymus indices and number of white blood cells and lymphocytes. Fuzi polysaccharides could reverse the decreased mRNA expression of NF-кB, IL-6, and iNOS, differentiation of CD4⁺FOXP3⁺ regulatory T cells as well as protein expression of occludin and zonula occludens-1 induced by cyclophosphamide. In addition, the mRNA and protein expression of cytokines were significantly correlated with the abundance of gut microbiota under Fuzi polysaccharides treatment. Collectively, the above results demonstrated that Fuzi polysaccharides could regulate inflammatory cytokines and gut microbiota composition of immunosuppressive mice to improve immunity, thereby shedding light on revealing the molecular mechanism of polysaccharides of traditional Chinese medicines in the future.

A novel alkaloid compound, DCZ0358, exerts significant antitumor activity in bortezomib-resistant multiple myeloma cells through inhibition of JAK2/STAT3 pathway

Multiple myeloma (MM), the second most common haematological malignancy, is currently incurable because patients often develop multiple drug resistance and experience subsequent relapse of the disease. This study aims to identify a potential therapeutic agent that can counter bortezomib (BTZ) resistance in MM. DCZ0358, a novel alkaloid compound, is found to exert potent cytotoxic effects against BTZ-resistant MM cells in vivo and in vitro. The anti-myeloma activity of DCZ0358 is associated with inhibition of cell proliferation, promotion of cell apoptosis via caspase-mediated apoptotic pathways, and induction of G0/G1 phase arrest via downregulation of cyclin D1, CDK4, and CDK6. Further investigation of the molecular mechanism shows that DCZ0358 suppresses the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. In conclusion, DCZ0358 can successfully counter BTZ resistance in MM cells. This study provides evidence that warrants future preclinical assessments of DCZ0358 as a therapeutic agent against BTZ resistance in MM.

JNK signaling as a target for anticancer therapy

The JNKs are members of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) which regulate many physiological processes including inflammatory responses, macrophages, cell proliferation, differentiation, survival, and death. It is increasingly clear that the continuous activation of JNKs has a role in cancer development and progression. Therefore, JNKs represent attractive oncogenic targets for cancer therapy using small molecule kinase inhibitors. Studies showed that the two major JNK proteins JNK1 and JNK2 have opposite functions in different types of cancers, which need more specification in the design of JNK inhibitors. Some of ATP- competitive and ATP non-competitive inhibitors have been developed and widely used in vitro, but this type of inhibitors lack selectivity and inhibits phosphorylation of all JNK substrates and may lead to cellular toxicity. In this review, we summarized and discussed the strategies of JNK binding inhibitors and the role of JNK signaling in the pathogenesis of different solid and hematological malignancies.