Proliferation and Migration of Lung Cancer Could be Inhibited by Oxymatrine through the Regulation for miR-520/VEGF

Oxymatrine induces apoptosis in non-small cell lung cancer cells by downregulating TRIM46

Sophora flavescens Aiton, a traditional Chinese medicine that was supposed to predominantly play an anti-inflammatory role, has been used to treat multiple diseases, including cancer, for over two thousand years. Recently, it has attracted increasing attention due to the anti-tumor properties of Oxymatrine, one of the most active alkaloids extracted from S. flavescens. This study aims to explore it's anti-tumor effects in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and the underlying mechanisms. We first investigated the effects of oxymatrine on cell apoptosis in lung cancer cell lines A549 and PC9 as well as explored related genes in regulating the apoptosis by transcriptome analysis. Subsequently, to further study the role of TRIM46, we constructed two types of TRIM46 over-expression cells (A549TRIM46+ and PC9TRIM46+ cells) and then investigated the effect of TRIM46 on oxymatrine-induced apoptosis. Moreover, we explored the effect of TRIM46 on downstream signaling pathways. Transcriptome analysis suggested that shared differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in A549 and PC9 cells treated with oxymatrine were CACNA1I, PADI2, and TRIM46. According to TCGA database analysis, the abundance of TRIM46 expression was higher than CACNA1I, and PADI2 in lung cancer tissues, then was selected as the final DEG for subsequent studies. We observed that oxymatrine resulted in down-expression of TRIM46 as well as induced the apoptosis of the cancer cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Meanwhile, we found that apoptosis induced by oxymatrine was inhibited by over-expressing TRIM46. Furthermore, our study indicated that the NF-κB signaling pathway was involved in apoptosis suppressed by TRIM46. We conclude that TRIM46 is the direct target of oxymatrine to induce anti-tumor apoptosis and may activate the downstream NF-κB signaling pathway.

miR-520f-3p blocks MNNG-induced gastric precancerous lesions via the KLF7/NFκB pathway

Studying the regulatory mechanism of gastric disease progression to gastric cancer (GC) is essential. miR-520f expression is down-regulated in GC and inhibits the proliferation of gastric cancer cells, suggesting that it is associated with the development of GC, but whether it plays a role in the gastric precancerous lesion (GPL) is unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effect of miR-520f-3p in the N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG)-induced GPL model and to elucidate the role of its downstream target gene Kruppel-like factor 7 (KLF7) in it. The experimental results showed that miR-520f-3p expression was down-regulated in the MNNG-induced GES-1 cell model, and overexpression of miR-520f-3p reversed the effects of MNNG on cell migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) -related protein expression. Meanwhile, overexpression of KLF7 attenuated the effect of miR-520f-3p on GPL. In a mouse GPL model, it was observed that MNNG elicited inflammation and EMT processes in mouse gastric tissues through the KLF7/ Nuclear Factor Kappa B (NFκB) pathway, and silencing KLF7 alleviated MNNG-induced gastric epithelial cell injury and gastric atrophy symptoms. These results provide a new perspective for understanding the development of GPL, and the development of new therapies targeting miR-520f-3p and KLF7 may provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment of gastric cancer.

Oxymatrine inhibits melanoma development by modulating the immune microenvironment and targeting the MYC/PD-L1 pathway

Oxymatrine, also known as ammothamnine or oxysophoridine, is a natural compound isolated from Sophora flavescens (in Chinese, Kushen), and many previous researchers have characterized its anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic and anti-tumor properties. However, the underlying anti-tumor immunological mechanism of oxymatrine remains elusive. In this study, we carried out experiments both in vitro and in vivo and investigated the anti-tumor effect of oxymatrine to inhibit the proliferation and migration of melanoma B16 cells, while promoting apoptosis. Oxymatrine upregulated CD4+ T, CD8+ T and NKT cells, downregulated Treg cells, promoted TNF-α secretion, and successfully modulated the immune microenvironment and ultimately suppressed melanoma development in subcutaneous tumor models established in mice. Evidence from network pharmacology and RNAseq suggested that possible targets of oxymatrine for melanoma treatment included PD-L1 and MYC. We observed oxymatrine inhibited PD-L1 and MYC expression in melanoma cells via qRT-PCR and western blotting analysis, and found MYC potentially regulated PD-L1 to mediate anti-tumor effects. These findings provide insight into the mechanism by which oxymatrine inhibits melanoma and enhances the anti-tumor immune effect. In summary, our study proposes a novel approach to suppress melanoma by targeting the MYC/PD-L1 pathway using oxymatrine, which may develop into a less toxic and more efficient anti-tumor agent for melanoma treatment.

Explore intersection genes of oxymatrine and COVID-19 with lung cancer as potential therapeutic targets based on network pharmacology

Introduction. Oxymatrine is a natural quinazine alkaloid extracted from Sophora flavescens and has many medicinal values. Oxymatrine showed protective effects, viral inhibition and effects against lung cancer.Hypothesis/Gap Statement. Individuals with lung cancer exhibit heightened vulnerability to COVID-19 infection due to compromised immune function. In conjunction with COVID-19, it is hypothesized that oxymatrine may exert potent pharmacological effects on lung cancer patients.Aim. The objective of this study was to assess the pharmacological mechanisms and targets of oxymatrine in relation to COVID-19 lung cancer.Methodology. Utilizing network pharmacology analysis, a selection of 2628 genes were identified as co-targets for both COVID-19 and lung cancer. Subsequently, a clinicopathological analysis was conducted by integrating RNA-Seq and clinical data obtained from the TCGA-LUAD lung cancer dataset, which was acquired from the official TCGA website. The identification of pharmacological targets for oxymatrine was accomplished through the utilization of various databases including Pharm mapper, SWISS Target prediction, and STITCH. These identified targets were further investigated for protein-protein interaction (PPI) using STRING, as well as for gene ontology (GO) and KEGG pathways.Results. The effects of oxymatrine on COVID-19-induced lung cancer were mediated by immune regulation, cytoprotection, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory activities, immune regulation, and control of related signalling pathways, including the formation of the neutrophil extracellular trap, phagosome, Toll-like receptor signalling pathway, apoptosis, proteoglycans in cancer, extracellular matrix disassembly, and proteolysis involved in cellular protein catabolism. Furthermore, important substances and genes like ALB, MMP3, MMP1, and TLR4 may affect how oxymatrine suppresses lung cancer/COVID-19 development.Conclusion. To treat COVID-19 or lung cancer paired with COVID-19, oxymatrine may improve the therapeutic efficacy of current clinical antiviral medicines and immunotherapy.

Comprehensive analysis of the oncogenic roles of vascular endothelial growth factors and their receptors in stomach adenocarcinoma

Background

Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGFs) and their receptors (VEGFRs) play complicated oncogenic roles in multiple tumors by initiating and promoting tumor angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis. The main goal of our study was to comprehensively investigate the oncogenic roles of VEGFs and VEGFRs in stomach adenocarcinoma (STAD).

Methods

The present study applied multiple bioinformatic tools to comprehensively explore the expression levels, prognostic values, genetic alterations and immune infiltrations of VEGFs and VEGFRs in STAD patients.

Results

We found that VEGFA, VEGFC, placenta growth factor, FLT1, KDR, FLT4, and Neuropilin 1 were overexpressed in STAD, while the expression of VEGFB and VEGFD were decreased. Survival analysis revealed that higher transcription levels of VEGF/VEGFRs were obviously correlated with worse clinical outcome in STAD patients. Additionally, high alteration frequencies of VEGFs and VEGFRs (27%) were observed in STAD patients, and alterations of VEGFs and VEGFRs improved their prognosis. The expression of VEGFs and VEGFRs was remarkably associated with immune cell infiltration and immune checkpoint expression in STAD patients.

Conclusion

Our study systematically explored the transcriptome profiles and distinct prognostic values of VEGFs and their receptors in STAD and contributed to a better understanding of the oncogenic roles of VEGF/VEGFR members in STAD.

Fluoxetine inactivates STAT3/NF-κB signaling and promotes sensitivity to cisplatin in bladder cancer

Bladder cancer is known as one of the top ten most common cancer types worldwide and can be majorly divided into muscles invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) and non-muscles invasive type (NMIBC). However, the prognosis of BC remains poor under standard treatment including radical cystectomy or concurrent chemoradiotherapy. Numerous studies have reported that the prognosis of BC is associated with the activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT3) and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB). Fluoxetine, a well-known anti-depressant, has been reported to against various type of cancers. However, it is unclear whether fluoxetine has the capacity to inhibit BC progression by targeting STAT3 and NF-κB-mediated signaling. Here, we used cell viability, apoptosis assay, wound healing assay, invasion/migration assay, Western blotting assay, immunofluorescence staining, as well as animal experiments, to elucidate the efficacy of fluoxetine on in vitro and in vivo BC models. We found that fluoxetine may induce cytotoxicity and intrinsic/extrinsic apoptosis in BC and enhance the potential of cisplatin. Fluoxetine promoted both caspase-dependent and caspase-independent apoptosis signaling by activating caspase-3, 8, 9, apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), and EndG. Furthermore, fluoxetine suppressed invasion and migration ability and the expression of metastasis-associated genes. Fluoxetine was also found to inactivate the phosphorylation of STAT3 (Tyr705) and NF-κB (Ser536) and suppress the nuclear translocation of NF-κB. In MB49-bearing mice, fluoxetine effectively delayed the progression of BC without inducing general toxicity. In summary, the induction of apoptosis and the inhibition of invasion triggered by fluoxetine are associated with the inactivation of STAT3 and NF-κB.

Jaceosidin inhibits the progression and metastasis of NSCLC by regulating miR-34c-3p/Integrin α2β1 axis

Non-coding RNAs are crucial for cancer progression, among which miR-34c-3p has been demonstrated to be a tumor suppressor in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In this study, we attempt to identify flavonoids that can up-regulate miR-34c-3p expression, evaluate the anticancer activity of the flavonoids and explore its underlying mechanism in NSCLC cells. Six flavonoids were screened by RT-qPCR and we found that jaceosidin significantly increased miR-34c-3p expression in A549 cells. We found that jaceosidin inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of A549 and H1975 cells in a dose-relevant manner, indicated by cell counting kit (CCK-8) assay, wound healing assay, transwell assay and EdU assay, we observed that jaceosidin inhibited the proliferation, migration and invasion of A549 and H1975 cells in a dose-relevant manner. Further research suggested that miR-34c-3p bound to the transcriptome of integrin α2β1 and then inhibited its expression, leading to the inhibitory effect on the migration and invasion of NSCLC. Our study sheds some light on anti-tumor of jaceosidin and provides a potential lead compound for NSCLC therapy.

Oxymatrine boosts hematopoietic regeneration by modulating MAPK/ERK phosphorylation after irradiation-induced hematopoietic injury

Hematopoietic toxicity due to ionizing radiation (IR) is a leading cause of death in nuclear incidents, occupational hazards, and cancer therapy. Oxymatrine (OM), an extract originating from the root of Sophora flavescens (Kushen), possesses extensive pharmacological properties. In this study, we demonstrate that OM treatment accelerates hematological recovery and increases the survival rate of mice subjected to irradiation. This outcome is accompanied by an increase in functional hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), resulting in an enhanced hematopoietic reconstitution ability. Mechanistically, we observed significant activation of the MAPK signaling pathway, accelerated cellular proliferation, and decreased cell apoptosis. Notably, we identified marked increases in the cell cycle transcriptional regulator Cyclin D1 (Ccnd1) and the anti-apoptotic protein BCL2 in HSC after OM treatment. Further investigation revealed that the expression of Ccnd1 transcript and BCL2 levels were reversed upon specific inhibition of ERK1/2 phosphorylation, effectively negating the rescuing effect of OM. Moreover, we determined that targeted inhibition of ERK1/2 activation significantly counteracted the regenerative effect of OM on human HSCs. Taken together, our results suggest a crucial role for OM in hematopoietic reconstitution following IR via MAPK signaling pathway-mediated mechanisms, providing theoretical support for innovative therapeutic applications of OM in addressing IR-induced injuries in humans.

Dan Bai Xiao Formula combined with glucocorticoids and cyclophosphamide for pediatric lupus nephritis: A pilot prospective study

BACKGROUND

Patients with lupus nephritis (LN) typically undergo long-term treatment with glucocorticoids (GCs) and immunosuppressants. There is a growing demand for optimal therapy with better remission results and fewer side effects. Sustained traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) might be quite valuable for multitarget therapy, reducing the total dosage of GCs and minimizing the side effects of immunosuppressants.

AIM

To evaluate whether Dan Bai Xiao Formula (DBXF) can reduce the exposure to GCs and cyclophosphamide (CYC) and to assess the efficacy and safety of DBXF for the resolution of proteinuria and hematuria in children with LN.

METHODS

A 24-wk pilot study was conducted at Beijing Children’s Hospital. Children with active LN were divided into either a TCM group or a control group. Children in the TCM group received DBXF combined with GCs and CYC, and the ones in the control group received GCs and CYC every 4 wk for 24 wk. The primary endpoints of this trial were urinary protein excretion of < 150 mg/d and normal serum albumin concentration and renal function.

RESULTS

The trial included 78 children, of whom 38 received GCs and CYC treatment (control group) and the remaining 40 received DBXF combined with GCs and CYC treatment (TCM group). At week 24, the TCM group showed a better rate of complete remission (42.5%); however, there was no significant difference compared with the control group (31.5%, P > 0.05). The urine red blood cell count and urine protein level were significantly lower in the TCM group than in the control group at weeks 4, 12, and 24 (P < 0.05). Furthermore, patients in the TCM group had a lower proportion of methylprednisolone pulses than those in the control group (1.30 ± 1.41 vs 3.05 ± 2.02, P < 0.0001). The ending GC dose was significantly lower in the TCM group than in the control group (P < 0.001). Moreover, more hepatic function damage, gastrointestinal adverse effects, and hypertension were observed in the control group than in the TCM group (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The findings suggest that DBXF treatment is effective and safe as a supplementary therapy for LN and is superior to routine GC and CYC therapy. DBXF containing combination treatment possibly results in a faster resolution of proteinuria and hematuria, smoother GC reduction, fewer methylprednisolone pulses, and fewer adverse events.

Inhalation delivery of repurposed drugs for lung cancer: Approaches, benefits and challenges

Lung cancer (LC) is one of the leading causes of mortality accounting for almost 25% of cancer deaths throughout the world. The shortfall of affordable and effective first-line chemotherapeutics, the existence of resistant tumors, and the non-optimal route of administration contribute to poor prognosis and high mortality in LC. Administration of repurposed non-oncology drugs (RNODs) loaded in nanocarriers (NCs) via inhalation may prove as an effective alternative strategy to treat LC. Furthermore, their site-specific release through inhalation route using an appropriate inhalation device would offer improved therapeutic efficacy, thereby reducing mortality and improving patients' quality of life. The current manuscript offers a comprehensive overview on use of RNODs in LC treatment with an emphasis on their inhalation delivery and the associated challenges. The role of NCs to improve lung deposition and targeting of RNODs via inhalation are also elaborated. In addition, information about various RNODs in clinical trials for the treatment of LC, possibility for repurposing phytoceuticals against LC via inhalation and the bottlenecks associated with repurposing RNODs against cancer are also highlighted. Based on the reported studies covered in this manuscript, it was understood that delivery of RNODs via inhalation has emerged as a propitious approach. Hence, it is anticipated to provide effective first-line treatment at an affordable cost in debilitating LC from low and middle-income countries (LMIC).

Predictive and Prognostic Biomarkers for Lung Cancer Bone Metastasis and Their Therapeutic Value

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Bone metastasis, which usually accompanies severe skeletal-related events, is the most common site for tumor distant dissemination and detected in more than one-third of patients with advanced lung cancer. Biopsy and imaging play critical roles in the diagnosis of bone metastasis; however, these approaches are characterized by evident limitations. Recently, studies regarding potential biomarkers in the serum, urine, and tumor tissue, were performed to predict the bone metastases and prognosis in patients with lung cancer. In this review, we summarize the findings of recent clinical research studies on biomarkers detected in samples obtained from patients with lung cancer bone metastasis. These markers include the following: (1) bone resorption-associated markers, such as N-terminal telopeptide (NTx)/C-terminal telopeptide (CTx), C-terminal telopeptide of type I collagen (CTx-I), tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase isoform 5b (TRACP-5b), pyridinoline (PYD), and parathyroid hormone related peptide (PTHrP); (2) bone formation-associated markers, including total serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP)/bone specific alkaline phosphatase(BAP), osteopontin (OP), osteocalcin (OS), amino-terminal extension propeptide of type I procollagen/carboxy-terminal extension propeptide of type I procollagen (PICP/PINP); (3) signaling markers, including epidermal growth factor receptor/Kirsten rat sarcoma/anaplastic lymphoma kinase (EGFR/KRAS/ALK), receptor activator of nuclear factor κB ligand/receptor activator of nuclear factor κB/osteoprotegerin (RANKL/RANK/OPG), C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12/C-X-C motif chemokine receptor 4 (CXCL12/CXCR4), complement component 5a receptor (C5AR); and (4) other potential markers, such as calcium sensing receptor (CASR), bone sialoprotein (BSP), bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2), cytokeratin 19 fragment/carcinoembryonic antigen (CYFRA/CEA), tissue factor, cell-free DNA, long non-coding RNA, and microRNA. The prognostic value of these markers is also investigated. Furthermore, we listed some clinical trials targeting hotspot biomarkers in advanced lung cancer referring for their therapeutic effects.

Circular RNA hsa_circ_0032463 Acts as the Tumor Promoter in Osteosarcoma by Regulating the MicroRNA 498/LEF1 Axis

Several studies have examined the relationship between osteosarcoma (OS) and microRNAs (miRNAs). However, only a few researchers have investigated the underlying mechanism of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in OS development. Our paper aimed to assess how hsa_circ_0032463 (abbreviated “circ_0032463” here) initiates and regulates OS progression. We detected circ_0032463 expression in OS tissues and cell lines by using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis and then investigated the interaction between circ_0032463, miRNA 489 (miR-498), and LEF1 using RNA pulldown, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), and luciferase assays. The effect of the circ_0032463/miR-498/LEF1 axis on the migration, proliferation, and apoptosis levels of OS cells was explored using CCK-8, bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU), wound healing, and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) assays. Our findings revealed that circ_0032463 expression was upregulated in OS tissues and cell lines. We also found that circ_0032463 interacted with miR-498, thereby reducing the expression of miR-498 in OS cells. Experimental results indicated that miR-498 could directly target LEF1 in OS cells and that circ_0032463 could abrogate the tumor-inhibitory effect of miR-498 by upregulating LEF1 in OS. More specifically, by binding to miR-498 and inhibiting LEF1 expression, circ_0032463 promoted the migration and proliferation abilities of OS cells and suppressed the apoptosis ability of OS cells. Overall, this research suggested that circ_0032463 could promote OS development by regulating the miR-498/LEF1 axis.

Current Insight into the Therapeutic Potential of Phytocompounds and their Nanoparticle-based Systems for Effective Management of Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the second most common cancer and the primary cause of cancer-related death in both men and women worldwide. Due to diagnosis at an advanced stage, it is associated with high mortality in the majority of patients. At present, various treatment approaches are available such as chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy. However, all these approaches usually cause serious side effects like degeneration of normal cells, bone marrow depression, alopecia, extensive vomiting, etc. To overcome the aforementioned problems, researchers have focused on the alternative therapeutic approach in which various natural compounds are reported, which possessed anti-lung cancer activity. Phytocompounds exhibit their anti-lung cancer activity via targeting various cell-signaling pathways, apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and regulating antioxidant status and detoxification. Apart from the excellent anti-cancer activity, clinical administration of phytocompounds is confined because of their high lipophilicity and low bioavailability. Therefore, researchers show their concern in the development of a stable, safe, and effective approach of treatment with minimal side effects by the development of nanoparticle-based delivery of these phytocompounds to the target site. Targeted delivery of phytocompound through nanoparticles overcomes the aforementioned problems. In this article, the molecular mechanism of phytocompounds, their emerging combination therapy, and their nanoparticles-based delivery systems in the treatment of lung cancer have been discussed.

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.

A narrative review of the migration and invasion features of non-small cell lung cancer cells upon xenobiotic exposure: insights from in vitro studies

Lung cancer (LC) is the leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide, being non-small lung cancer (NSCLC) sub-types the most prevalent. Since most LC cases are only detected during the last stage of the disease the high mortality rate is strongly associated with metastases. For this reason, the migratory and invasive capacity of these cancer cells as well as the mechanisms involved have long been studied to uncover novel strategies to prevent metastases and improve the patients’ prognosis. This narrative review provides an overview of the main in vitro migration and invasion assays employed in NSCLC research. While several methods have been developed, experiments using conventional cell culture models prevailed, specifically the wound-healing and the transwell migration and invasion assays. Moreover, it is provided herewith a summary of the available information concerning chemical contaminants that may promote the migratory/invasive properties of NSCLC cells in vitro, shedding some light on possible LC risk factors. Most of the reported agents with pro-migration/invasion effects derive from cigarette smoking [e.g., Benzo(a)pyrene and cadmium] and air pollution. This review further presents several studies in which different dietary/plant-derived compounds demonstrated to impair migration/invasion processes in NSCLC cells in vitro. These chemicals that have been proposed as anti-migratory consisted mainly of natural bioactive substances, including polyphenols non-flavonoids, flavonoids, bibenzyls, terpenes, alkaloids, and steroids. Some of these compounds may eventually represent novel therapeutic strategies to be considered in the future to prevent metastasis formation in LC, which highlights the need for additional in vitro methodologies that more closely resemble the in vivo tumor microenvironment and cancer cell interactions. These studies along with adequate in vivo models should be further explored as proof of concept for the most promising compounds.

Identification of PGC-related ncRNAs and their relationship with the clinicopathological features of Gastric Cancer

Pepsinogen C (PGC) is considered to be the final product of mature differentiated gastric mucosa. The expression level of PGC in gastric mucosa is clearly decreased upon the development of gastric cancer (GC). However, the mechanism behind PGC's down-regulation remains unclear and needs to be clarified. This study aimed to identify PGC-related ncRNAs with the potential to be PGC post-transcriptional regulators and to further explore the association between these ncRNAs and the clinicopathological parameters of GC. Bioinformatic software was used to predict miRNAs binding specifically to PGC and circRNAs binding specifically to these candidate miRNAs. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was performed to validate the completely complementary pairing of PGC and PGC-related ncRNAs. qRT-PCR was applied to determine the expression levels of PGC and PGC-related ncRNAs in GC tissue. hsa-let-7c was predicted to bind to the PGC gene, which was confirmed by dual-luciferase reporter assay. hsa_circ_0001483 and hsa_circ_0001324 were identified to bind to hsa-let-7c by bioinformatic analysis and dual-luciferase reporter assay. In addition, the hsa_circ_0001483/hsa_circ_0001324 -hsa-let-7c-PGC axis was confirmed in tissue by qRT-PCR. The expression level of hsa_circ_0001483 was correlated with peritumoral inflammatory cell infiltration and lymphatic metastasis. hsa_circ_0001483, hsa_circ_0001324, and let-7c were newly identified and validated as PGC-related ncRNAs and showed associations with the clinicopathological features of GC. The hsa_circ_0001483/hsa_circ_0001324-hsa-let-7c-PGC axis in GC may account for the down-regulation of PGC in GC tissue.

Frontiers of MicroRNA Signature in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for more than 80% of all lung cancer cases. Recent advancements in diagnostic tools, surgical treatments, chemotherapies, and molecular targeted therapies that improved the therapeutic efficacy in NSCLC. However, the 5-years relative survival rate of NSCLC is only about 20% due to the inadequate screening methods and late onset of clinical symptoms. Dysregulation of microRNAs (miRNAs) was frequently observed in NSCLC and closely associated with NSCLC development, progression, and metastasis through regulating their target genes. In this review, we provide an updated overview of aberrant miRNA signature in NSCLC, and discuss the possibility of miRNAs becoming a diagnostic and therapeutic tool. We also discuss the possible causes of dysregulated miRNAs in NSCLC.

LncRNA LINC01503 aggravates the progression of cervical cancer through sponging miR-342-3p to mediate FXYD3 expression

Cervical cancer (CC), an aggressive malignancy, has a high risk of relapse and death, mainly occurring in females. Accumulating investigations have confirmed the critical role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in diverse cancers. LncRNA LINC01503 has been reported as an oncogene in several cancers. Nonetheless, its role and molecular mechanism in CC have not been explored. In the present study, we found that FXYD3 expression was considerably up-regulated in CC tissues and cells. Moreover, FXYD3 deficiency conspicuously hampered cell proliferation and migration while facilitated cell apoptosis in CC cells. Subsequently, molecular mechanism experiments implied that FXYD3 was a downstream target gene of miR-342-3p, and FXYD3 expression was reversely mediated by miR-342-3p. Moreover, we discovered that LINC01503 acted as the endogenous sponge for miR-342-3p. Besides, LINC01503 negatively regulated miR-342-3p expression and positively regulated FXYD3 expression in CC. Rescue assays revealed that LINC01503 depletion-induced repression on CC progression could be partly recovered by miR-342-3p inhibition, and then the co-transfection of sh-FXYD3#1 rescued this effect. Conclusively, LINC01503 aggravated CC progression through sponging miR-342-3p to mediate FXYD3 expression, providing promising therapeutic targets for CC patients.

hsa-miR-9-5p Down-Regulates HK2 and Confers Radiosensitivity to Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

BACKGROUND

This study was designed to explore the effects of hsa-miR-9-5p on radiotherapy sensitivity of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) by targeting hexokinase 2 (HK2).

METHODS

The levels of hsa-miR-9-5 and HK2 in NPC patients and radiosensitive and resistant cells were determined using qRT-PCR. The dual luciferase reporter gene system was used to determine hsa-miR-9-5p targeting HK2. The level of HK2 expression in NPC were determined using qRT-PCR and western blotting after the administration of hsa-miR-9-5p agomir. The effects of hsa-miR-9-5p on proliferation and apoptosis with or without irradiation (IR) were examined using CCK-8, flow cytometry and colony formation assays. (18F)-Flourodeoxyglucose uptake was used to evaluate the growth of tumor with or without radiation therapy in vivo.

RESULTS

hsa-miR-9-5p target to inhibit HK2. Moreover, the cell proliferation was seen in a decreased trend while the cell apoptosis increased in the hsa-miR-9-5p group following radiation therapy hsa-miR-9-5p also showed a significant inhibitory effect on the growth of tumor in vivo with radiation therapy.

CONCLUSIONS

hsa-miR-9-5p improved the radiosensitivity of NPC by targeting HK2.

Oxymatrine Inhibits Twist-Mediated Renal Tubulointerstitial Fibrosis by Upregulating Id2 Expression

The final pathway for the development of diabetic nephropathy (DN) into chronic renal failure in DN is glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial fibrosis. Renal tubular lesions can occur in the early stage of DN renal injury. Cumulative evidence shows that oxymatrine (OMT) has a variety of biological and pharmacological properties. In recent years, more attention has been paid on the preventive and therapeutic influence of OMT on organ fibrosis. In this experiment, db/db mice were intraperitoneally injected with OMT 120 mg/kg for 8 weeks, and NRK-52E cultured with 30 mmol/L glucose and 0.1 mg/mL OMT for 48-hour. We investigated the relationship between Id2 and Twist in NRK-52E cells and the effect of OMT on the expression of E-cadherin, α-SMA, Fibronectin, and Collagen-IV by Western blot, Real-time PCR, Immunofluorescence, cell transfection, Co-Immunoprecipitation, and Luciferase assays. OMT increased the expression of Id2 but decreased that of Twist under high glucose condition in vitro and in vivo. The promoted recovery of Id2 facilitated its binding to Twist and affected E-cadherin activity inhibiting EMT and the excessive proliferation and abnormal deposition of ECM. In brief, OMT promotes Id2 to reverse EMT and exert anti-fibrotic effect in diabetic renal tubular epithelial cells by binding Id2 to Twist and affecting its transcriptional activation of downstream target genes. Or findings provide a new experimental basis for delaying the progress and for treatment of diabetic renal fibrosis.

Repurposing of plant alkaloids for cancer therapy: Pharmacology and toxicology

Drug repurposing (or repositioning) is an emerging concept to use old drugs for new treatment indications. Phytochemicals isolated from medicinal plants have been largely neglected in this context, although their pharmacological activities have been well investigated in the past, and they may have considerable potentials for repositioning. A grand number of plant alkaloids inhibit syngeneic or xenograft tumor growth in vivo. Molecular modes of action in cancer cells include induction of cell cycle arrest, intrinsic and extrinsic apoptosis, autophagy, inhibition of angiogenesis and glycolysis, stress and anti-inflammatory responses, regulation of immune functions, cellular differentiation, and inhibition of invasion and metastasis. Numerous underlying signaling processes are affected by plant alkaloids. Furthermore, plant alkaloids suppress carcinogenesis, indicating chemopreventive properties. Some plant alkaloids reveal toxicities such as hepato-, nephro- or genotoxicity, which disqualifies them for repositioning purposes. Others even protect from hepatotoxicity or cardiotoxicity of xenobiotics and established anticancer drugs. The present survey of the published literature clearly demonstrates that plant alkaloids have the potential for repositioning in cancer therapy. Exploitation of the chemical diversity of natural alkaloids may enrich the candidate pool of compounds for cancer chemotherapy and -prevention. Their further preclinical and clinical development should follow the same stringent rules as for any other synthetic drug as well. Prospective randomized, placebo-controlled clinical phase I and II trials should be initiated to unravel the full potential of plant alkaloids for drug repositioning.

Quinolizidine alkaloids derivatives from Sophora alopecuroides Linn: Bioactivities, structure-activity relationships and preliminary molecular mechanisms

Quinolizidine alkaloids, as essential active ingredients extracted from Sophora alopecuroides Linn, have been well concerned in the past several decades owing to the unique structural features and numerous pharmacological activities. Quinolizidine alkaloids consist of matrine, oxymatrine, sophoridine, sophocarpine and aloperine etc. Additionally, quinolizidine alkaloids exert various excellent activities, including anti-cancer, anti-inflammation, anti-fibrosis, anti-virus and anti-arrhythmia regulations. In this review, we comprehensively clarify the pharmacological activities of quinolizidine alkaloids, as well as the relationship between biological function and structure-activity of substituted quinolizidine alkaloids. We believe that biological agents based on the pharmacological functions of quinolizidine alkaloids could be well applied in clinical practice.