Baicalein inhibits FURIN-MT1-MMP-mediated invasion of ectopic endometrial stromal cells in endometriosis possibly by reducing the secretion of TGFB1

Furin-Catalyzed Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging Probe for Differential Diagnosis of Malignant Breast Cancers

Molecular magnetic resonance imaging (mMRI) of biomarkers is essential for accurate cancer detection in precision medicine. However, the current clinically used contrast agents provide structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) information only and rarely provide mMRI information. Here, a tumor-specific furin-catalyzed nanoprobe (NP) was reported for differential diagnosis of malignant breast cancers (BCs) in vivo. This NP with a compact structure of Fe3O4@Gd-DOTA NPs (FFG NPs) contains an "always-on" T2-weighted MR signal provided by the magnetic Fe3O4 core and a furin-catalyzed enhanced T1-weighted MR signal provided by the Gd-DOTA moiety. The FFG NPs were found to produce an activated T1 signal in the presence of furin catalysis and an "always-on" T2 signal, providing mMRI and sMRI information simultaneously. Ratiometric mMRI:sMRI intensity can be used for differential diagnosis of malignant BCs MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7, where the furin levels relatively differ. The proposed probe not only provides structural imaging but also enables real-time molecular differential visualization of BC through enzymatic activities of cancer tissues.

The possible role furin and furin inhibitors in endometrial adenocarcinoma: A narrative review

BACKGROUND

Endometrial adenocarcinoma (EAC) is a malignant tumor of the endometrium. EAC is the most common female malignancy following the menopause period. About 40% of patients with EAC are linked with obesity and interrelated with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and high circulating estrogen levels. Proprotein convertase (PC) furin was involved in the progression of EAC.

RECENT FINDINGS

Furin is a protease enzyme belonging to the subtilisin PC family called PC subtilisin/kexin type 3 that converts precursor proteins to biologically active forms and products. Aberrant activation of furin promotes abnormal cell proliferation and the development of cancer. Furin promotes angiogenesis, malignant cell proliferation, and tissue invasion by malignant cells through its pro-metastatic and oncogenic activities. Furin activity is correlated with the malignant proliferation of EAC. Higher expression of furin may increase the development of EAC through overexpression of pro-renin receptors and disintegrin and metalloprotease 17 (ADAM17). As well, inflammatory signaling in EAC promotes the expression of furin with further propagation of malignant transformation.

CONCLUSION

Furin is associated with the development and progression of EAC through the induction of proliferation, invasion, and metastasis of malignant cells of EAC. Furin induces ontogenesis in EAC through activation expression of ADAM17, pro-renin receptor, CD109, and TGF-β. As well, EAC-mediated inflammation promotes the expression of furin with further propagation of neoplastic growth and invasion.

Heme induced progesterone-resistant profiling and promotion of endometriosis in vitro and in vivo

Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent, progesterone-resistant gynecological disease with an unknown pathogenesis. Compared to women without endometriosis, women with endometriosis have a remarkably high heme level in the peritoneal fluid. To further investigate the pathomechanisms of heme in endometriosis, we aimed to identify the dysregulated expression of heme-trafficking proteins, such as PGRMC1/2 that are also receptors that mediate the non-genomic responses to progesterone, and heme-degrading enzymes between ectopic endometrial stromal cells and their normal counterparts. We found that heme could regulate progesterone receptor-related gene expression. Functional human endometrial stromal cell experiments showed that heme promotes cell proliferation and migration in a heme oxygenase-1-independent manner; moreover, blocking oxidative phosphorylation/ATP generation could abolish these effects of heme in vitro, whereas intraperitoneal hemopexin administration could alleviate heme-triggered ectopic lesions in vivo. Therefore, heme likely mediates the induction of progesterone resistance and simultaneously induces endometriosis via the mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation pathway.

Network pharmacology and experimental validation to explore the potential mechanism of Sanjie Zhentong Capsule in endometriosis treatment

PURPOSE

Sanjie Zhentong Capsule (SZC) is gradually becoming widely used in the treatment of endometriosis (EMs) and has demonstrated an excellent curative effect in the clinic. However, the active components and mechanisms of Sanjie Zhentong Capsule (SZC) in the treatment of endometriosis (EMs) remain unclear, and further research is needed to explore the effects of Sanjie Zhentong Capsule (SZC).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

First, a drug target database of Sanjie Zhentong capsule (SZC) was established by consulting the TCMSP database and related literature. An endometriosis (EMs) disease target database was then established by consulting the GeneCards, OMIM and Drug Bank databases. The overlapping genes of SZC and EMs were determined, and protein-protein interactions (PPIs), gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Gene and Genome Encyclopedia (KEGG) analyses were performed to predict the potential therapeutic mechanisms. Molecular docking was used to observe whether the key active ingredients and targets predicted by network pharmacology had good binding energy. Finally, in vitro experiments such as CCK-8, flow cytometry and RT-PCR assays were carried out to preliminarily verify the potential mechanisms.

RESULTS

Through the construction of a pharmacological network, we identified a total of 28 active components in SZC and 52 potential therapeutic targets. According to GO and KEGG enrichment analyses, the effects of SZC treatment may be related to oxidative stress, steroid metabolism, apoptosis and proliferation. We also experimentally confirmed that SZC can regulate the expression of steroid hormone biosynthesis-related genes, inhibit ectopic endometrial stromal cell (EESC) proliferation and oxidative stress, and promote apoptosis.

CONCLUSION

This study explored the potential mechanism of SZC in the treatment of EMs through network pharmacology and experiments, providing a basis for further future research on SZC in the treatment of EMs.

Baicalein Relieves Ferroptosis-Mediated Phagocytosis Inhibition of Macrophages in Ovarian Endometriosis

Iron overload and oxidative stress have been reported to contribute to ferroptosis in endometriotic lesions. However, the possible roles of iron overload on macrophages in endometriosis (EMs) remain unknown. Based on recent reports by single-cell sequencing data of endometriosis, here we found significant upregulations of ferroptosis-associated genes in the macrophage of the endometriotic lesion. Additionally, there was an elevated expression of HMOX1, FTH1, and FTL in macrophages of peritoneal fluid in EMs, as well as iron accumulation in the endometriotic lesions. Notably, cyst fluid significantly up-regulated levels of intracellular iron and ferroptosis in Phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA)-stimulated THP-1 cells. Additionally, high iron-induced ferroptosis obviously reduced PMA-stimulated THP-1 cells' phagocytosis and increased the expression of angiogenic cytokines, such as vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) and interleukin 8 (IL8). Baicalein, a potential anti-ferroptosis compound, increased GPX4 expression, significantly inhibited ferroptosis, and restored phagocytosis of THP-1 cells in vitro. Collectively, our study reveals that ferroptosis triggered by high iron in cyst fluid promotes the development of EMs by impairing macrophage phagocytosis and producing more angiogenic cytokines (e.g., IL8 and VEGFA). Baicalein displays the potential for the treatment of EMs, especially in patients with high ferroptosis and low phagocytosis of macrophages.

Polyphenols as a Diet Therapy Concept for Endometriosis-Current Opinion and Future Perspectives

Endometriosis represents an often painful, estrogen-dependent gynecological disorder, defined by the existence of endometrial glands and stroma exterior to the uterine cavity. The disease provides a wide range of symptoms and affects women’s quality of life and reproductive functions. Despite research efforts and extensive investigations, this disease’s pathogenesis and molecular basis remain unclear. Conventional endometriosis treatment implies surgical resection, hormonal therapies, and treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, but their efficacy is currently limited due to many side effects. Therefore, exploring complementary and alternative therapy strategies, minimizing the current treatments’ adverse effects, is needed. Plants are sources of bioactive compounds that demonstrate broad-spectrum health-promoting effects and interact with molecular targets associated with endometriosis, such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasiveness, inflammation, oxidative stress, and angiogenesis. Anti-endometriotic properties are exhibited mainly by polyphenols, which can exert a potent phytoestrogen effect, modulating estrogen activity. The available evidence derived from preclinical research and several clinical studies indicates that natural biologically active compounds represent promising candidates for developing novel strategies in endometriosis management. The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of polyphenols and their properties valuable for natural treatment strategy by interacting with different cellular and molecular targets involved in endometriosis progression.