The HLJ1-targeting drug screening identified Chinese herb andrographolide that can suppress tumour growth and invasion in non-small-cell lung cancer

Characterization, expression and functional analysis of Hsp40 during LPS challenge in blood parrot Amphilophus citrinellus ×Vieja melanura

Heat shock protein 40 belonging to heat shock protein family plays an important role in the immune responses of organisms. In this study, the full length cDNA of Hsp40 was 2426 bp including a 1368 bp open reading frame (ORF) encoding 455 amino acids with a molecular weight of 49.16 kDa and a theoretical isoelectric point of 9.34 in blood parrot Vieja synspila ♀ × Amphilophus citrinellus ♂, an important ornamental fish in China. It had three conserved domains DnaJ, CRR and DnaJ_C. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the sequence of Hsp40 among species was conserved, and the blood parrot Hsp40 was closely related to Neolamprologus brichardi. Blood parrot Hsp40 mRNA could be detected in all of the tissues examined and mainly distributed in the cytoplasm. The expression of Hsp40 was upregulated during lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge. Upregulated Hsp40 inhibited the activity of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and activated protein 1 (AP-1) and reduced the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 mRNA expression. This study provides a theoretical basis for further exploring the role of Hsp40 gene in the anti-bacterial immunity of blood parrot.

Multi-Faceted Roles of DNAJB Protein in Cancer Metastasis and Clinical Implications

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) are highly conserved molecular chaperones with diverse cellular activities, including protein folding, assembly or disassembly of protein complexes, and maturation process under diverse stress conditions. HSPs also play essential roles in tumorigenesis, metastasis, and therapeutic resistance across cancers. Among them, HSP40s are widely accepted as regulators of HSP70/HSP90 chaperones and an accumulating number of biological functions as molecular chaperones dependent or independent of either of these chaperones. Despite large numbers of HSP40s, little is known about their physiologic roles, specifically in cancer progression. This article summarizes the multi-faceted role of DNAJB proteins as one subclass of the HSP40 family in cancer development and metastasis. Regulation and deregulation of DNAJB proteins at transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and post-translational levels contribute to tumor progression, particularly cancer metastasis. Furthermore, understanding differences in function and regulating mechanism between DNAJB proteins offers a new perspective on tumorigenesis and metastasis to improve therapeutic opportunities for malignant diseases.

Exploring the mechanism of andrographolide in the treatment of gastric cancer through network pharmacology and molecular docking

Gastric cancer has emerged as a key challenge in oncology research as a malignant tumour with advanced stage detection. Apart from surgical management, a pharmacotherapeutic approach to stomach cancer treatment is an appealing option to consider. Andrographolide has been shown to have anticancer and chemosensitizer properties in a variety of solid tumors, including stomach cancer but the exact molecular mechanism is skeptical. In this study, we identified and validated pharmacological mechanism involved in the treatment of GC with integrated approach of network pharmacology and molecular docking. The targets of andrographolide and GC were obtained from databases. The intersected targets between andrographolide and GC-related genes were used to construct protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Furthermore, mechanism of action of the targets was predicted by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses. Finally, these results were validated by molecular docking experiments, mRNA and protein expression level. A total of 197 targets were obtained for andrographolide treating GC. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that the target genes were exerted promising therapeutic effects on GC by HIF-1 and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. The possible mechanism of action is by inactivation of HIF-1 signaling pathway which is dependent on the inhibition of upstream PI3K-AKT pathway. The PPI network identified SRC, AKT1, TP53, STAT3, PIK3CA, MAPK1, MAPK3, VEGFA, JUN and HSP90AA1 as potential hub targets. In addition, these results were further validated with molecular docking experiments. Survival analysis indicated that the expression levels of the hub genes were significantly associated with the clinical prognosis of GC. This study provided a novel approach to reveal the therapeutic mechanisms of andrographolide on GC, making future clinical application of andrographolide in the treatment of GC.

HLJ1 amplifies endotoxin-induced sepsis severity by promoting IL-12 heterodimerization in macrophages

Heat shock protein (HSP) 40 has emerged as a key factor in both innate and adaptive immunity, whereas the role of HLJ1, a molecular chaperone in HSP40 family, in modulating endotoxin-induced sepsis severity is still unclear. During lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endotoxic shock, HLJ1 knockout mice shows reduced organ injury and IFN-γ (interferon-γ)-dependent mortality. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, we characterize mouse liver nonparenchymal cell populations under LPS stimulation, and show that HLJ1 deletion affected IFN-γ-related gene signatures in distinct immune cell clusters. In CLP models, HLJ1 deletion reduces IFN-γ expression and sepsis mortality rate when mice are treated with antibiotics. HLJ1 deficiency also leads to reduced serum levels of IL-12 in LPS-treated mice, contributing to dampened production of IFN-γ in natural killer cells but not CD4⁺ or CD8⁺ T cells, and subsequently to improved survival rate. Adoptive transfer of HLJ1-deleted macrophages into LPS-treated mice results in reduced IL-12 and IFN-γ levels and protects the mice from IFN-γ-dependent mortality. In the context of molecular mechanisms, HLJ1 is an LPS-inducible protein in macrophages and converts misfolded IL-12p35 homodimers to monomers, which maintains bioactive IL-12p70 heterodimerization and secretion. This study suggests HLJ1 causes IFN-γ-dependent septic lethality by promoting IL-12 heterodimerization, and targeting HLJ1 has therapeutic potential in inflammatory diseases involving activated IL-12/IFN-γ axis.

Anti-cancer activity of heteroaromatic acetals of andrographolide and its isomers

Acetals (2a-d, 3a-d, and 6a-d) of andrographolide (1), 14-deoxy-12-hydroxyandrographolide (4), and isoandrographolide (5) were synthesized using benzaldehyde and heteroaromatic aldehydes. All the synthesized derivatives were characterized using ¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, mass spectrometry, UV, and IR. The compound 6d was characterized via a single-crystal X-ray diffraction study. All the compounds were tested against 60 cell lines of NCI. The acetals (2a-d) of andrographolide (1) exhibited better activity than the acetals (3a-d, and 6a-d) of 12-hydroxyandrographolide (4) and isoandrographolide (5). Preliminary studies suggested that acetals synthesized using benzaldehyde improved anticancer activity. Compound 2a showed the highest growth inhibition of 90.97% against the leukaemia cancer cell line CCRF-CEM. Andrographolide and seven selected compounds were tested against the MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line. Compound 3b showed the best activity with an IC₅₀ value of 3 μM among all the tested compounds. Furthermore, this compound 3b was subjected to cell cycle analysis and protein expression confirming apoptosis through the disruption of the mitochondrial potential membrane (Δψ _m).

The role of heat shock protein 40 in carcinogenesis and biology of colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer worldwide. Despite the enormous amount of effort in the diagnosis and treatment of CRC, the overall survival rate of patients remains low. The precise molecular and cellular basis underlying CRC has not been completely understood yet. Over time, new genes and molecular pathways involved in the pathogenesis of the disease are being identified. Accurate discovery of these genes and signaling pathways are important and urgent missions for the next generation of anticancer therapy research. Chaperone DnaJ, also known as Hsp40 (heat shock protein 40), has been of particular interest in CRC pathogenesis, as it is involved in the fundamental cell activities for maintaining cellular homeostasis. Evidence show that protein family members of DnaJ/Hsp40 play both roles; enhancing and reducing the growth of CRC cells. In the present review, we focus on the current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms responsible for the role of DnaJ/Hsp40 in CRC carcinogenesis and biology.

Drug-Herb Interactions among Thai Herbs and Anticancer Drugs: A Scoping Review

More than half of Thai patients with cancer take herbal preparations while receiving anticancer therapy. There is no systematic or scoping review on interactions between anticancer drugs and Thai herbs, although several research articles have that Thai herbs inhibit cytochrome P450 (CYP) or efflux transporter. Therefore, we gathered and integrated information related to the interactions between anticancer drugs and Thai herbs. Fifty-two anticancer drugs from the 2020 Thailand National List of Essential Medicines and 75 herbs from the 2020 Thai Herbal Pharmacopoeia were selected to determine potential anticancer drug–herb interactions. The pharmacological profiles of the selected anticancer drugs were reviewed and matched with the herbal pharmacological activities to determine possible interactions. A large number of potential anticancer drug–herb interactions were found; the majority involved CYP inhibition. Efflux transporter inhibition and enzyme induction were also found, which could interfere with the pharmacokinetic profiles of anticancer drugs. However, there is limited knowledge on the pharmacodynamic interactions between anticancer drugs and Thai herbs. Therefore, further research is warranted. Information regarding interactions between anticancer drugs and Thai herbs should provide as a useful resource to healthcare professionals in daily practice. It could enable the prediction of possible anticancer drug–herb interactions and could be used to optimize cancer therapy outcomes.

Andrographolide inhibits non-small cell lung cancer cell proliferation through the activation of the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway and by reprogramming host glucose metabolism

Background

The main aim of this research was to explore the role and mechanism of Andrographolide (Andro) in controlling non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell proliferation.

Methods

Human NSCLC H1975 cells were treated with Andro (0–20 µM) for 4–72 h. B-cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2)-antagonist/killer (Bak)-small interfering RNA (siRNA) (Bak-siRNA) and fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase (FBP1)-siRNA were transfected into H1975 cells to inhibit the endogenic Bak and FBP1 expression, respectively, and their expressions were detected by real-time quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and western blotting (WB). Cellular proliferation ability was determined through various assessments, including 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT), colony formation, and cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assays. Cell apoptosis ability was measured using flow cytometry. Pro-apoptotic-related proteins (cleaved caspase 9, cleaved caspase 8, and cleaved caspase 3) and mitochondrial apoptosis pathway proteins [Bcl2-associated X (Bax), Bak, Bcl-2, and cytochrome C (cyto C)] were assessed by WB. Aerobic glycolysis-associated genes [pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2), lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA), and glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1)] and gluconeogenesis genes [phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 (PEPCK1), fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase 1 (FBP1), and phosphofructokinase (PFK)] were measured by qRT-PCR. The mitochondrial membrane depolarization sensor, 5, 50, 6, 60-tetrachloro-1, 10, 3, 30 tetraethyl benzimidazolo carbocyanine iodide (JC-1) assay was used for the measurement of mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm). Additionally, glycolytic metabolism, lactate production, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis were also analyzed.

Results

Andro inhibited human NSCLC cellular proliferation and induced apoptosis in a dose-time or dose-dependent manner via activation of the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. Andro inhibited glycolysis, promoted the gluconeogenesis pathway, and increased the levels of cleaved caspase 9, cleaved caspase 8, cleaved caspase 3, Bax, Bak, PEPCK1, FBP1, and PFK, and decreased the levels of Bcl-2, PKM2, LDHA, and GLUT1. Moreover, it also decreased the ΔΨm and facilitated the release of cyto C from mitochondria into the cytoplasm. Furthermore, Andro enhanced the mitochondrial translocation of Bak, glucose uptake, lactate release, and intracellular ATP synthesis. Suppression of endogenic Bak and FBP1 expression significantly reduced the effects of Andro in H1975 cells.

Conclusions

Andro represses NSCLC cell proliferation through the activation of the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway and by reprogramming glucose metabolism.

Andrographolide: A Herbal-Chemosynthetic Approach for Enhancing Immunity, Combating Viral Infections, and Its Implication on Human Health

Plants consistently synthesize and accumulate medically valuable secondary metabolites which can be isolated and clinically tested under in vitro conditions. An advancement with such important phytochemical production has been recognized and utilized as herbal drugs. Bioactive andrographolide (AGL; C20H30O5) isolated from Andrographis paniculate (AP) (Kalmegh) is a diterpenoid lactones having multifunctional medicinal properties including anti-manic, anti-inflammatory, liver, and lung protective. AGL is known for its immunostimulant activity against a variety of microbial infections thereby, regulating classical and alternative macrophage activation, Ag-specific antibody production during immune disorder therapy. In vitro studies with AGL found it to be effective against multiple tumors, neuronal disorders, diabetes, pneumonia, fibrosis, and other diverse therapeutic misadventures. Generally, virus-based diseases like ZIKA, influenza A virus subtype (H1NI), Ebola (EBOV), Dengue (DENV), and coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemics have greatly increased scientific interest and demands to develop more effective and economical immunomodulating drugs with minimal side effects. Trials and in vitro pharmacological studies with AGL and medicinally beneficial herbs might contribute to benefit the human population without using chemical-based synthetic drugs. In this review, we have discussed the possible role of AGL as a promising herbal-chemo remedy during human diseases, viral infections and as an immunity booster.

The Adroitness of Andrographolide as a Natural Weapon Against Colorectal Cancer

The conventional carcinoma treatment generally encompasses the employment of radiotherapy, chemotherapy, surgery or use of cytotoxic drugs. However, recent advances in pharmacological research have divulged the importance of traditional treatments in cancer. The aim of the present review is to provide an overview of the importance of one such medicinal herb of Chinese and Indian origin: Andrographis paniculate on colorectal cancer with special emphasis on its principal bioactive component andrographolide (AGP) and its underlying mechanisms of action. AGP has long been known to possess medicinal properties. Studies led by numerous groups of researchers shed light on its molecular mechanism of action. AGP has been shown to act in a multi-faceted manner in context of colorectal cancer by targeting matrix metalloproteinase-9, Toll-like receptor or NFκB signaling pathways. In this review, we highlighted the recent studies that show that AGP can act as an effective immunomodulator by harnessing effective anti-tumor immune response. Recent studies strongly recommend further research on this compound and its analogues, especially under in-vivo condition to assess its actual potential as a prospective and efficient candidate against colorectal cancer. The current review deals with the roles of this phytomedicine in context of colorectal cancer and briefly describes its perspectives to emerge as an essential anti-cancer drug candidate. Finally, we also point out the drawbacks and difficulties in administration of AGP and indicate the use of nano-formulations of this phytomedicine for better therapeutic efficacy.

Antitumor effects of Andrographis via ferroptosis-associated genes in gastric cancer

The overall prognosis of advanced/metastatic gastric cancer (GC) remains poor despite the development of pharmacotherapy. Therefore, other treatment options, such as complementary and alternative medicine, should be considered to overcome this aggressive malignancy. Andrographis, which is a generally unharmful botanical compound, has gained increasing interest for its anticancer effects in multiple malignancies via the regulation of cancer progression-associated signaling pathways. In the present study, a series of in vitro experiments (cell proliferation, colony formation and apoptosis assays) was designed to elucidate the antitumor potential and mechanism of Andrographis in GC cells. The present study demonstrated that Andrographis exerted antitumor effects in GC cell lines (MKN74 and NUGC4) by inhibiting proliferation, reducing colony formation and enhancing apoptotic activity. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that the expression levels of the ferroptosis-associated genes heme oxygenase-1, glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic and glutamate-cysteine ligase modifier were significantly upregulated after Andrographis treatment in both GC cell lines in reverse transcription-quantitative PCR experiments (P<0.05); this finding was further confirmed by immunoblotting assays (P<0.05). In conclusion, to the best of our knowledge, the present study was the first to demonstrate that Andrographis possessed antitumor properties by altering the expression levels of ferroptosis-associated genes, thereby providing novel insights into the potential of Andrographis as an adjunctive treatment option for patients with metastatic GC.

Toona sinensis modulates autophagy and cytokines in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 macrophages

Toona sinensis (TS) is a medicinal herb possessing anti-apoptotic, anti-oxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties and is used to treat diabetes, cancer, and inflammatory diseases. In traditional Chinese medicine theory, TS clears dampness and heat, strengthens the stomach function, and regulates vital energy flow. TS is also used as an astringent and a pesticide. In this study, we aimed to evaluate how TS influences autophagy and cytokines during the inflammatory process in RAW 264.7 macrophages. The treatment groups were pre-supplemented with TS leaf extract; rapamycin was used to enhance autophagy and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to induce inflammation. The expression of autophagy-related proteins was analyzed by western blotting. The survival rate of, and chemokine expression and oxidative stress in the cells were also assessed. TS leaf extract inhibited mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) phosphorylation at site S2448 in the macrophages. At relatively higher concentrations (50 and 75 μg/mL), TS elevated the expression of light chain 3 II (LC3-II), which further modulated autophagy. Pre-supplementation with TS leaf extract elevated the total glutathione (GSH) level and GSH/oxidized GSH (GSSG) ratio, but it decreased the GSSG, total nitric oxide, nitrate, nitrite, malondialdehyde, and superoxide anion levels. TS reversed the effects of LPS-induced cytokines, including interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10. TS did not induce significant toxicity at the studied concentrations. In conclusion, TS leaf extract may modulate autophagy during inflammation. Furthermore, it may prevent cell damage via anti-inflammation and anti-oxidation. Thus, this study supports the ethnomedical use of TS in the prevention of inflammation-related diseases.

Andrographolide and its potent derivative exhibit anticancer effects against imatinib-resistant chronic myeloid leukemia cells by downregulating the Bcr-Abl oncoprotein

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is clinically treated with imatinib, which inhibits the kinase activity of the Bcr-Abl oncoprotein. However, imatinib resistance remains a common clinical issue. Andrographolide, the major compound of the medicinal plant Andrographis paniculata, was reported to exhibit anticancer activity. In this study, we explored the therapeutic potential of andrographolide and its derivative, NCTU-322, against both imatinib-sensitive and imatinib-resistant human CML cell lines. Both andrographolide and NCTU-322 downregulated the Bcr-Abl oncoprotein in imatinib-resistant CML cells through an Hsp90-dependent mechanism similar to that observed in imatinib-sensitive CML cells. In addition, NCTU-322 had stronger effects than andrographolide on downregulation of Bcr-Abl oncoprotein, induction of Hsp90 cleavage and cytotoxicity of CML cells. Notably, andrographolide and NCTU-322 could induce differentiation, mitotic arrest and apoptosis of both imatinib-sensitive and imatinib-resistant CML cells. Finally, the anticancer activity of NCTU-322 against imatinib-resistant CML cells was demonstrated in vivo. In summary, our data demonstrated that andrographolide and NCTU-322 inhibit Bcr-abl function via a mechanism different from that of imatinib, and they induced multiple anticancer effects in both imatinib-sensitive and resistant CML cells. Our findings demonstrate that andrographolide and NCTU-322 are potential therapeutic agents again CML.

Andrographolide induces DNA damage in prostate cancer cells

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common diagnosed cancer and is the third cause of cancer mortality in men in the USA. Andrographolide, a diterpenoid lactone isolated from Andrographis paniculata, has shown to possess anticarcinogenic activity in a variety of cancer cells. In this study, we examined the efficacy of Andrographolide in PCa using in vitro and in vivo models. Androgen-independent (PC3) and androgen-dependent (22RV1) cell lines were treated with Andrographolide to determine the effect in cell motility, cell proliferation and apoptosis. Andrographolide decreased PCa cell migration, decreased invasion, and increased cell apoptosis in vitro. Tumor growth was evaluated using an orthotopic xenograft model in which the prostates of SCID mice were injected with 22RV1, and mice were treated three times per week with Andrographolide 10 mg/kg. Andrographolide decreased tumor volume, MMP11 expression and blood vessels formation in vivo. Gene expression analysis identified cellular compromise, cell cycle, and “DNA recombination, replication and repair” as the major molecular and cellular functions altered in tumors treated with Andrographolide. Within DNA repair genes we confirmed increased expression of genes involved in DNA double strand break repair. Consistent with this observation we detected increased γH2AX in Andrographolide treated tumors and in cells in culture. Taken together, these data suggest that Andrographolide inhibits PCa by promoting DNA damage.

Andrographolide inhibits breast cancer through suppressing COX-2 expression and angiogenesis via inactivation of p300 signaling and VEGF pathway

BACKGROUND

Andrographolide (Andro), a diterpenoid lactone, has been used for treatment of various cancers with less adverse effects. However, the underlying mechanisms regarding its anti-tumor mechanism still remain unclear.

METHODS

Cell viability and proliferation were measured by CCK8 and CFSE dilution assay. The localization of p50/p65 or cytochrome c was determined using confocal immunofluorescence. Streptavidin-agarose pulldown or ChIP assays were used to detect the binding of multiple transactivators to COX-2 promoter. The promoter activity was examined by a dual-Luciferase reporter assay. The functions of Andro on COX-2-mediated angiogenesis were also investigated using human HUVEC cells through tube formation and spheroids sprouting assay. The in vivo anti-tumor efficacy of Andro was analyzed in xenografts nude mice.

RESULTS

The results indicated that Andro could significantly inhibit the proliferation of human breast cancers, and suppress COX-2 expression at both protein and mRNA levels. Furthermore, Andro could dose-dependently inhibit COX-2-mediated angiogenesis in human endothelial cells. We have also found that Andro significantly promoted the activation of cytochrome c and activated caspase-dependent apoptotic signaling pathway. Our further explorations demonstrated that Andro inhibited the binding of the transactivators CREB2, C-Fos and NF-κB and blocked the recruitment of coactivator p300 to COX-2 promoter. Moreover, Andro could effectively inhibit the activity of p300 histone acetyltransferase (HAT), thereby attenuating the p300-mediated acetylation of NF-κB. Besides, Andro could also dramatically inhibit the migration, invasion and tubulogenesis of HUVECs in vitro. In addition, Andro also exhibited effective anti-tumor efficacy as well as angiogenesis inhibition in vivo.

CONCLUSION

In current study, we explore the potential effects of Andro in suppressing breast cancer growth and tumor angiogenesis, as well as the precise mechanisms. This work demonstrated the potential anti-cancer effects of Andro, indicating that Andro could inhibit COX-2 expression through attenuating p300 HAT activity and suppress angiogenesis via VEGF pathway, and thereby could be developed as an antitumor agent for the treatment of breast cancer.

Andrographolide disrupts meiotic maturation by blocking cytoskeletal reorganisation and decreases the fertilisation potential of mouse oocytes

Andrographolide (AG) is a diterpenoid lactone isolated from the stem and leaves of Andrographis paniculata Nees that is used for the effective treatment of infectious diseases in Asian countries. Previous studies have reported adverse effects of AG on female fertility in rodents; however, the underlying mechanisms are unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of AG on the IVM of mouse oocytes and their fertilisation potential. Immature oocytes incubated for 6, 14 or 24h in medium containing 5, 10 or 20μM AG showed time- and dose-dependent decreases in maturation rates compared with the control group. Immunostaining revealed that AG exposure disrupted spindle organisation and migration, as well as actin cap formation and cytokinesis. Furthermore, most oocytes exposed to 20μM AG underwent apoptosis, and the few oocytes exposed to 5 or 10μM AG that reached MII exhibited lower fertilisation rates after intracytoplasmic sperm injection. The findings of the present study suggest that AG may disrupt mouse oocyte meiotic maturation by blocking cytoskeletal reorganisation, and may thus have an adverse effect on female fertility.

Characteristics of Chinese herbal medicine usage and its effect on survival of lung cancer patients in Taiwan

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

In Taiwan, lung cancer remains one of the deadliest cancers. Survival of lung cancer patients remains low, ranging from 6% to 18%. Studies have shown that Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) can be used to induce cell apoptosis and exhibit anti-inflammatoryanti-inflammatory activities in cancer cells.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to investigate the frequencies and patterns of CHM treatment for lung cancer patients and the effect of CHM on their survival probability in Taiwan.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We identified 6939 lung cancer patients (ICD-9-CM: 162). We allocated 264 CHM users and 528 CHM-non users, matched for age, gender, duration, and regular treatment. Chi-square test, conditional multivariable logistic regression, Kaplan-Meier method, and the log-rank test were used in this study.

RESULTS

The CHM group was characterized by a longer follow up time and more cases of hyperlipidemia and liver cirrhosis. This group exhibited a lower mortality hazard ratio (0.48, 95% confidence interval [0.39-0.61], p < 0.001), after adjusting for comorbidities. The trend was also observed that the cumulative survival probability was higher in CHM than in non-CHM users (p < 0.0001, log rank test). Analysis of their CHM prescription pattern revealed that Bu-Zhong-Yi-Qi-Tang (BZYQT), Xiang-Sha-Liu-Jun-Zi-Tang (XSLJZT), and Bai-He-Gu-Jin-Tang (BHGJT); and Bei-Mu (BM), Xing-Ren (XR) and Ge-Gen (GG) were found to be the top three formulas and herbs, respectively. Among them, BM was the core CHM of the major cluster, and Jie-Geng (JG) and Mai-Men-Dong-Tang (MMDT) were important CHMs by CHM network analysis.

CONCLUSION

The use of CHM as an adjunctive therapy may reduce the mortality hazard ratio of lung cancer patients. The investigation of their comprehensive CHM prescription patterns might be useful in future large-scale, randomized clinical investigations of agent effectiveness, safety, and potential interactions with conventional treatments for lung cancer patients.

HLJ1 (DNAJB4) Gene Is a Novel Biomarker Candidate in Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is the most common cancer type and cause of cancer-related mortality among women worldwide. New biomarker discovery is crucial for diagnostic innovation and personalized medicine in breast cancer. Heat shock proteins (HSPs) have been increasingly reported as biomarkers and potential drug targets for cancers. HLJ1 (DNAJB4) belongs to the DNAJ (HSP40) family of HSPs and is regarded as a tumor suppressor gene in lung, colon, and gastric cancers. However, the role of the HLJ1 gene in breast cancer is currently unknown. We evaluated the role of the HLJ1 gene in breast cancer progression by analyzing its in vitro and in vivo expression and its genetic/epigenetic alterations. HLJ1 expression was found to be reduced or lost in breast cancer cell lines (SK-BR-3, MDA-MB-231, ZR-75-1) compared with the nontumorigenic mammary epithelial cell line (MCF 10A). In a clinical context for breast cancer progression, the HLJ1 expression was significantly less frequent in invasive breast carcinoma samples (n = 230) compared with normal breast tissue (n = 100), benign neoplasia (n = 53), and ductal carcinoma in situ (n = 21). In methylation analyses by the combined bisulfite restriction analysis assay, the CpG island located in the 5'-flanking region of the HLJ1 gene was found to be methylated in breast cancer cell lines. HLJ1 expression was restored in the ZR-75-1 cell line by DNA demethylating agent 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine (5-AzadC) and histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A. These new observations support the idea that HLJ1 is a tumor suppressor candidate and potential biomarker for breast cancer. Epigenomic mechanisms such as CpG methylation and histone deacetylation might contribute to downregulation of HLJ1 expression. We call for future functional, epigenomic, and clinical studies to ascertain the contribution of HLJ1 to breast cancer pathogenesis and, importantly, evaluate its potential for biomarker development in support of personalized medicine diagnostic innovation in clinical oncology.

Andrographolide, a diterpene lactone from Andrographis paniculata and its therapeutic promises in cancer

The diterpene lactone andrographolide, isolated from Andrographis paniculata, has been proven to possess several important protective biological activities, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, antiseptic, antimicrobial, cytotoxic, hypolipidemic, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, and neuroprotective effects. In addition, it has been reported to play a therapeutic role in the treatment of major human diseases, such as Parkinson's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and colitis. This systematic review aims to highlight andrographolide as a promising agent in cancer treatment. To this purpose, a number of databases were used to search for the cytotoxic/anticancer effects of andrographolide in pre-clinical and clinical studies. Among 1703 identified literature articles, 139 were included in this review; 109 were investigated as non-clinical, whereas 24, 3, and 3 were pre-clinical, clinical, and non-pre-clinical trials, respectively. Among the model systems, cultured cell lines appeared as the most frequently (79.14%) used, followed by in vivo models using rodents, among others. Furthermore, andrographolide was found to exert cytotoxic/anticancer effects on almost all types of cell lines with the underlying mechanisms involving oxidative stress, cell cycle arrest, anti-inflammatory and immune system mediated effects, apoptosis, necrosis, autophagy, inhibition of cell adhesion, proliferation, migration, invasion, anti-angiogenic activity, and other miscellaneous actions. After careful consideration of the relevant evidence, we suggest that andrographolide can be one of the potential agents in the treatment of cancer in the near future.

AC-93253 iodide, a novel Src inhibitor, suppresses NSCLC progression by modulating multiple Src-related signaling pathways

Background

The tyrosine kinase Src is involved in the progression of many cancers. Moreover, inhibiting Src activity has been shown to obstruct several signaling pathways regulated by the EGFR. Thus, Src is a valuable target molecule in drug development. The purpose of this study was to identify compounds that directly or indirectly modulate Src to suppress lung cancer cell growth and motility and to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of these compounds.

Methods

Human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines (PC9, PC9/gef, A549, and H1975) with different EGFR statuses were tested by cytotoxicity and proliferation assays after AC-93253 iodide treatment. Src and Src-related protein expression in AC-93253 iodide-treated PC9, PC9/gef, and A549 cells were assessed by western blotting. The effects of AC-93253 iodide on cancer cell colony formation, invasion, and migration were assessed in PC9 and PC9/gef cells. The synergistic effects of gefitinib and AC-93253 iodide were evaluated by combination index (CI)-isobologram analysis in gefitinib-resistant cell lines. The efficacy of AC-93253 iodide in vivo was determined using nude mice treated with either the compound or the vehicle.

Results

Among the compounds, AC-93253 iodide exhibited the most potent dose-independent inhibitory effects on the activity of Src as well as on that of the Src-related proteins EGFR, STAT3, and FAK. Furthermore, AC-93253 iodide significantly suppressed cancer cell proliferation, colony formation, invasion, and migration in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. AC-93253 iodide sensitized tumor cells to gefitinib treatment regardless of whether the cells were gefitinib-sensitive (PC9) or resistant (H1975 and PC9/gef), indicating that it may exert synergistic effects when used in combination with established therapeutic agents. Our findings also suggested that the inhibitory effects of AC-93253 iodide on lung cancer progression may be attributable to its ability to modulate multiple proteins, including Src, PI3K, JNK, Paxillin, p130cas, MEK, ERK, and EGFR.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that AC-93253 iodide inhibits NSCLC cell growth and motility by regulating multiple Src-related pathways. Our findings may facilitate the development of therapeutic strategies and anti-tumor drugs that may be useful for treating lung cancer in the future.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s13045-017-0539-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

RETRACTED: Potential role of andrographolide in the proliferation of osteoblasts mediated by the ERK signaling pathway

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy). This article has been retracted at the request of the Editor-in-Chief. The authors contacted the journal to request a retraction: "We found some errors in reviewing the original data, the current results could not fully support the conclusions". Concern was also raised about the reliability of the Western blot results in Figure 8A+E, which appear to have a similar phenotype as contained within other publications, as detailed here: https://pubpeer.com/publications/CC36842602D94EB300623ED982FBFA; and here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1r0MyIYpagBc58BRF9c3luWNlCX8VUvUuPyYYXzxWvgY/edit#gid=262337249. Concerns were also raised about suspected image duplications within Figure 1C. The journal requested the corresponding author comment on these concerns and provide the raw data. The author did not fulfil this request and the Editor-in-Chief decided to retract the article.

Rhodomycin A, a novel Src-targeted compound, can suppress lung cancer cell progression via modulating Src-related pathways

Src activation is involved in cancer progression and the interplay with EGFR. Inhibition of Src activity also represses the signalling pathways regulated by EGFR. Therefore, Src has been considered a target molecule for drug development. This study aimed to identify the compounds that target Src to suppress lung cancer tumourigenesis and metastasis and investigate their underlying molecular mechanisms. Using a molecular docking approach and the National Cancer Institute (NCI) compound dataset, eight candidate compounds were selected, and we evaluated their efficacy. Among them, rhodomycin A was the most efficient at reducing the activity and expression of Src in a dose-dependent manner, which was also the case for Src-associated proteins, including EGFR, STAT3, and FAK. Furthermore, rhodomycin A significantly suppressed cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and clonogenicity in vitro and tumour growth in vivo. In addition, rhodomycin A rendered gefitinib-resistant lung adenocarcinoma cells more sensitive to gefitinib treatment, implying a synergistic effect of the combination therapy. Our data also reveal that the inhibitory effect of rhodomycin A on lung cancer progression may act through suppressing the Src-related multiple signalling pathways, including PI3K, JNK, Paxillin, and p130cas. These findings will assist the development of anti-tumour drugs to treat lung cancer.

The altered microRNA profile in andrographolide-induced inhibition of hepatoma tumor growth

BACKGROUND

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have been reported to play critical roles in regulating gene expression in tumor development. Natural compound andrographolide (Andro), isolated from medicinal herb Andrographis paniculata, was reported to inhibit hepatoma tumor growth in our previous studies. The present study aims to observe the altered miRNAs profile and related signaling pathways involved in Andro-induced inhibition on hepatoma tumor growth.

RESULTS

The inhibition on hepatoma tumor growth induced by Andro (10mg/kg) was found in a xenograft mouse tumor model in vivo. The results of miRNAs chip analysis showed that the expression of 22 miRNAs was increased, whereas the expression of other 10 miRNAs was decreased after Andro treatment. Further, the increased expression of miR-222-3p, miR-106b-5p, miR-30b-5p, and miR-23a-5p was confirmed in hepatoma Hep3B and SMCC7721 cells in vitro after cells were treated with Andro (50μM) for the indicated time. Functional annotation of the target genes based on the differentially expressed miRNAs demonstrated that the majority of the genes were involved in a variety of signaling pathways, including miRNAs in cancer, mitogen-activated protein kinases (MPAKs), focal adhesion. Furthermore, the expression of 24 target genes (total 31) involved in above signaling pathways based on miRNAs analysis was found to be consistent with the alteration of miRNAs.

CONCLUSIONS

The results demonstrate that Andro alters the expression of miRNAs profile and downstream signals, which may contribute to its inhibition on hepatoma tumor growth.

SRJ09, a promising anticancer drug lead: Elucidation of mechanisms of antiproliferative and apoptogenic effects and assessment of in vivo antitumor efficacy

SRJ09 (3,19-(2-bromobenzylidene)andrographolide), a semisynthetic andrographolide (AGP) derivative, was shown to induce G1 cell cycle arrest and eventually apoptosis in breast and colon cancer cell lines. The present investigation was carried out to elucidate the mechanisms cell cycle arrest and apoptosis and evaluate the in vivo antitumor activity of SRJ09. The in vitro growth inhibitory properties of compounds were assessed in colon (HCT-116) and breast (MCF-7) cancer cell lines. Immunoblotting was utilized to quantitate the protein levels in cells. The gene expressions were determined using reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR). Pharmacokinetic investigation was carried out by determining SRJ09 levels in plasma of Balb/C mice using HPLC. In vivo antitumor activity was evaluated in athymic mice carrying HCT-116 colon tumor xenografts. SRJ09 displayed improved in vitro activity when compared with AGP by producing rapid cell killing effect in vitro. Its activity was not compromised in MES-SA/Dx5 multidrug resistant (MDR) cells expressing p-glycoprotein. Cells treated with SRJ09 (0.1-10μM) displayed increased p21 protein level, which corresponded with gene expression. Whereas CDK4 protein level and gene expression was suppressed. The treatment did not affect cyclin D1. Changes of these proteins paralleled G1 cell cycle arrest in both cell lines as determined by flow cytometry. Induction of apoptosis by SRJ09 in HCT-116 cells which occurred independent of p53 and bcl-2 was inhibited in the presence of caspase 8 inhibitor, implicating the extrinsic apoptotic pathway. A single dose (100mg/kg, i.p) of SRJ09 produced a plasma concentration range of 12-30.4μM. At 400mg/kg (q4dX3), it significantly retarded growth of tumor xenografts. The antitumor activity of SRJ09 is suggested mediated via the induction of p21 expression and suppression of CDK-4 expression without affecting cyclin D1 to trigger G1 arrest leading to apoptosis.

Andrographolide: progression in its modifications and applications - a patent review (2012 - 2014)

INTRODUCTION

Extraction, isolation and modifications of andrographolide (Androg) is extensively investigated and patented. The prominent activities were vastly modified for anticancer and antivirals. Many products related to Androg are commercially available, thus the section 'Interaction of Androg and Andrographis paniculata dried extract with drugs' is included.

AREAS COVERED

The data in this review are searched and selected from SciFinder and Espacenet for the patents, with the keywords: Andrographolide and Andrographolide analogs, and the results were refined by the years.

EXPERT OPINION

Modifications of Androg have been done to nearly all of the possible sites, and now screening tests for any new activities had been settled down. Categorizing the analogs that have been developed is not clear cut since some diseases can develop into others, for example, inflammation and some viral infections can develop into cancer. Currently, investigation of the mode of action and the mechanisms at the molecular level are intensively ongoing. Producing new chemotherapeutic agents from Androg looks promising. The main problem of using Androg in therapeutic applications is its insolubility in aqueous media. Those modified analogs' esters, ethers or salts, have to be considered for the stability of pharmaceutical preparations, and transformation in biological fluids after administration. Further stages of drug development are required for those promising analogs.

Pathway crosstalk analysis of non-small cell lung cancer based on microarray gene expression profiling

AIMS AND BACKGROUND

Lung cancer is characterized by uncontrolled cell growth in the lung tissue. A major challenge in cancer research is the biological interpretation of the complexity of cancer somatic mutation profiles. This study examines the role of pathway crosstalk in the metastatic process of lung cancer cells based on DNA microarray analysis.

METHODS

We downloaded the gene expression profile GSE10096 from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified and the gene functions of selected DEGs were further analyzed. After KEGG pathway analysis, dysfunctional pathways and dysfunctional crosstalk between pathways in two types of lung cancer cells (low metastasis, M1, and high metastasis, M5) were examined.

RESULTS

A total of 13433 genes were filtered as DEGs, and after pathway analysis, 108 signaling pathways related to cancer signaling pathways were screened, including a host pathway hsa05223 and 79 neighbor pathways. Dysfunctional crosstalk analysis of pathways revealed that pathway crosstalk dysfunction of M1 and M5 cells mainly occurred between hsa05223 (non-small cell lung cancer) and hsa04310 (Wnt signaling pathway), and between non-small cell lung cancer and hsa04520 (adherens junction), respectively. Significant pathway crosstalk dysfunction also existed between adherens junction and other classical signaling pathways such as hsa04110 (cell cycle), hsa04310 (Wnt signaling pathway), hsa04350 (TGF-beta signaling pathway), and hsa04630 (Jak-STAT signaling pathway).

CONCLUSIONS

Our discovery will help to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of the high carcinogenic and metastatic potential of lung cancer cells. In addition, it will pave the way to developing effective therapies for lung cancer.

Tumour suppressor HLJ1: A potential diagnostic, preventive and therapeutic target in non-small cell lung cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality throughout the world. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for 85% of all diagnosed lung cancers. Despite considerable progress in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease, the overall 5-year survival rate of NSCLC patients remains lower than 15%. The most common causes of death in lung cancer patients are treatment failure and metastasis. Therefore, developing novel strategies that target both tumour growth and metastasis is an important and urgent mission for the next generation of anticancer therapy research. Heat shock proteins (HSPs), which are involved in the fundamental defence mechanism for maintaining cellular viability, are markedly activated during environmental or pathogenic stress. HSPs facilitate rapid cell division, metastasis, and the evasion of apoptosis in cancer development. These proteins are essential players in the development of cancer and are prime therapeutic targets. In this review, we focus on the current understanding of the molecular mechanisms responsible for HLJ1’s role in lung cancer carcinogenesis and progression. HLJ1, a member of the human HSP 40 family, has been characterised as a tumour suppressor. Research studies have also reported that HLJ1 shows promising dual anticancer effects, inhibiting both tumour growth and metastasis in NSCLC. The accumulated evidence suggests that HLJ1 is a potential biomarker and treatment target for NSCLC.