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Repurposing Astragalus Polysaccharide PG2 for Inhibiting ACE2 and SARS-CoV-2 Spike Syncytial Formation and Anti-Inflammatory Effects. Viruses 2023; 15:v15030641. [PMID: 36992350 PMCID: PMC10054482 DOI: 10.3390/v15030641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2022] [Revised: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) poses a serious threat to global public health. In an effort to develop novel anti-coronavirus therapeutics and achieve prophylactics, we used gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) for drug screening and identified that Astragalus polysaccharide (PG2), a mixture of polysaccharides purified from Astragalus membranaceus, could effectively reverse COVID-19 signature genes. Further biological assays revealed that PG2 could prevent the fusion of BHK21-expressing wild-type (WT) viral spike (S) protein and Calu-3-expressing ACE2. Additionally, it specifically prevents the binding of recombinant viral S of WT, alpha, and beta strains to ACE2 receptor in our non-cell-based system. In addition, PG2 enhances let-7a, miR-146a, and miR-148b expression levels in the lung epithelial cells. These findings speculate that PG2 has the potential to reduce viral replication in lung and cytokine storm via these PG2-induced miRNAs. Furthermore, macrophage activation is one of the primary issues leading to the complicated condition of COVID-19 patients, and our results revealed that PG2 could regulate the activation of macrophages by promoting the polarization of THP-1-derived macrophages into an anti-inflammatory phenotype. In this study, PG2 stimulated M2 macrophage activation and increased the expression levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines IL-10 and IL-1RN. Additionally, PG2 was recently used to treat patients with severe COVID-19 symptoms by reducing the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR). Therefore, our data suggest that PG2, a repurposed drug, possesses the potential to prevent WT SARS-CoV-2 S-mediated syncytia formation with the host cells; it also inhibits the binding of S proteins of WT, alpha, and beta strains to the recombinant ACE2 and halts severe COVID-19 development by regulating the polarization of macrophages to M2 cells.
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Rau KM, Shun SC, Hung SH, Chou HL, Ho CL, Chao TC, Liu CY, Lien CT, Hong MY, Wu CJ, Tsai LY, Jane SW, Hsieh RK. Management of cancer-related fatigue in Taiwan: an evidence-based consensus for screening, assessment and treatment. Jpn J Clin Oncol 2022; 53:46-56. [PMID: 36354095 PMCID: PMC9825724 DOI: 10.1093/jjco/hyac164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cancer-related fatigue is one of the most common and persistent issues experienced by cancer patients. Cancer-related fatigue is a distinct form of fatigue that is subjective, long-lasting and unalleviated by rest or sleep. Studies have shown that almost all cancer patients experience severe fatigue that disrupts the quality of life and physical function, but cancer-related fatigue remains under-addressed in clinical care, and only about half of all patients receive treatment. METHODS To increase the awareness of cancer-related fatigue and improve current management, the Taiwan Society of Cancer Palliative Medicine and the Taiwan Oncology Nursing Society convened a consensus committee to develop recommendations for the screening, assessment and treatment of cancer-related fatigue. RESULTS Thirteen consensus recommendations were subsequently developed based on the best available evidence and the clinical experience of committee members. CONCLUSIONS These recommendations are expected to facilitate the standardization of cancer-related fatigue management across Taiwan and may also serve as a reference for other clinicians.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Shih-Hsin Hung
- Department of Nursing, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsiu-Ling Chou
- Department of Nursing, Asia Eastern University of Science and Technology, New Taipei City, Taiwan,Department of Nursing, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan,School of Nursing, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Liang Ho
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Tri-Service General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan,Division of Oncology, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ta-Chung Chao
- Department of Oncology and Comprehensive Breast Health Center, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan,Faculty of Medicine, School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Yu Liu
- Division of Transfusion Medicine, Department of Medicine and Comprehensive Breast Health Center, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan,Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Oncology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan,School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Ting Lien
- Department of Nursing, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Ying Hong
- Department of Nursing, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Ching-Jung Wu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Cathay General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan,Department of Radiation Oncology, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan,Department of Biomedical Engineering, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Li-Yun Tsai
- College of Nursing, Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Sui-Whi Jane
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan, Taiwan,Graduate Institute of Nursing, Chang Gung University of Science and Technology, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Ruey-Kuen Hsieh
- For reprints and all correspondence: Ruey-Kuen Hsieh, Department of Hematology and Oncology, MacKay Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. No. 92, Sec. 2, Zhongshan N. Rd., Taipei City 10449, Taiwan. E-mail:
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Liao CH, Yong CY, Lai GM, Chow JM, Cheng CF, Fang CL, Lin PC, Chang CL, Zheng YM, Chuang SE, Whang-Peng J, Yao CJ. Astragalus Polysaccharide (PG2) Suppresses Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor and Aggressiveness of Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CHINESE MEDICINE 2020; 48:1491-1509. [PMID: 32924531 DOI: 10.1142/s0192415x20500731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Astragalus membranaceus is the most popular traditional Chinese medicine for managing vital energy deficiency. Its injectable polysaccharide PG2 has been used for relieving cancer-related fatigue, and PG2 has immune-modulatory and anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we explored the effects of PG2 in lung adenocarcinoma A549 and CL1-2 cells and investigated its anticancer activity, and the results were validated in severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice. Although PG2 did not inhibit the growth of these cells, it dose-dependently suppressed their migration and invasion, accompanied by reduced vimentin and AXL and induced epithelial cadherin (E-cadherin) expression. Regarding the underlying molecular mechanism, PG2 treatment reduced the macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), an inflammatory cytokine that promotes the epithelial-mesenchymal transition and aggressiveness of cancer cells. Consistent with the previous finding that MIF regulates matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), treatment with PG2 reduced MMP-13 and activated AMPK in A549 and CL1-2 cells in this study. In SCID mice injected with A549 cells through the tail vein, intraperitoneal injection with PG2 reduced lung and abdominal metastases in parallel with decreased immunohistochemical staining of AXL, vimentin, MMP-13, and MIF in the tumor. Collectively, data revealed a potential application of PG2 in integrative cancer treatment through the suppression of MIF in cancer cells and their aggressiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chien-Huang Liao
- Cancer Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11696, Taiwan
| | - Chen-Yin Yong
- Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Department of Dentistry, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11696, Taiwan
| | - Gi-Ming Lai
- Cancer Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11696, Taiwan.,Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11696, Taiwan.,Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan.,Taipei Cancer Center, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan.,National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli 35053, Taiwan
| | - Jyh-Ming Chow
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11696, Taiwan.,Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | | | - Chia-Lang Fang
- Department of Pathology, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11696, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Chun Lin
- Cancer Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11696, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Lun Chang
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11696, Taiwan.,Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Mei Zheng
- Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11696, Taiwan
| | - Shuang-En Chuang
- National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli 35053, Taiwan
| | - Jacqueline Whang-Peng
- Cancer Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11696, Taiwan.,Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11696, Taiwan.,Taipei Cancer Center, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Jung Yao
- Cancer Center, Wan Fang Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11696, Taiwan.,Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan
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Chang HL, Kuo YH, Wu LH, Chang CM, Cheng KJ, Tyan YC, Lee CH. The extracts of Astragalus membranaceus overcome tumor immune tolerance by inhibition of tumor programmed cell death protein ligand-1 expression. Int J Med Sci 2020; 17:939-945. [PMID: 32308547 PMCID: PMC7163360 DOI: 10.7150/ijms.42978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
A polysaccharide isolated from the radix of Astragalus membranaceus, called PG2, used in traditional Chinese medicine, with potential hematopoiesis inducing and immunomodulation activities. PG2 extracted from A. membranaceus has been demonstrated as a novel alternative medicine for cancer patients. Recently, we demonstrated that PG2 enhanced chemotherapy through bystander effect and reduced the expression of indoleamine 2, 3-dioxygenase 1 in tumor cells. Many tumors have been proven to have a high expression of programmed cell death protein ligand-1 (PD-L1), which binds with programmed cell death protein-1(PD-1) in immune cells, thus causing immune tolerance within the tumor microenvironment. With decreased expression of PD-L1, increased immune response can be observed, which might be helpful when developing tumor immunotherapy. The antitumor therapeutic effect mediated by PG2 may associate with an inflammatory immune response at the tumor site. However, the molecular mechanism that by which PG2 inhibits PD-L1 is still incompletely known. The expression of PD-L1 was decreased after tumor cells were treated with PG2. In addition, the cell signaling pathway in tumor cells was evaluated by Western blotting analysis after PG2 treatment. PG2 can downregulate the expression of PD-L1 on the cell surface via the protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/ribosomal protein S6 kinase beta-1 (p70S6K) pathway. In conclusion, our results indicate that PG2 inhibits PD-L1 expression and plays a crucial role in immunotherapy, which might be a promising strategy combined with other treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hsu-Liang Chang
- Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80145, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Hsuan Kuo
- Department of Biological Sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan
| | - Li-Hsien Wu
- Department of Biological Sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan
| | - Chih-Min Chang
- Department of Biological Sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan.,Division of Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 833, Taiwan
| | - Kai-Jen Cheng
- Department of Biological Sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan.,Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Municipal United Hospital, Kaohsiung 80457, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chang Tyan
- Department of Medical Imaging and Radiological Sciences, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80145, Taiwan
| | - Che-Hsin Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan.,Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan.,Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 804, Taiwan.,Doctoral Degree Program in Marine Biotechnology, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 80424, Taiwan.,Aerosol Science Research Center, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, 80424, Taiwan
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Chen JP, Lai HC. Immuno-potentiating effects of Astragalus polysaccharides: A mini-literature review. JOURNAL OF CANCER RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2020. [DOI: 10.4103/jcrp.jcrp_3_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
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Hsieh CH, Lin CY, Hsu CL, Fan KH, Huang SF, Liao CT, Lee LY, Ng SK, Yen TC, Chang JTC, Lin JR, Wang HM. Incorporation of Astragalus polysaccharides injection during concurrent chemoradiotherapy in advanced pharyngeal or laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma: preliminary experience of a phase II double-blind, randomized trial. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2019; 146:33-41. [PMID: 31728618 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-019-03033-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) is one of the standard treatments for patients with advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, CCRT may lead to decreased quality of life (QoL) and treatment compliance. This study aimed to determine the effects of PG2 (Astragalus polysaccharides) injection on CCRT-associated adverse events (AEs) and patients' compliance with the CCRT course. METHODS In this phase II double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial, PG2 injection (sterile powder form) or placebo was administrated three times per week in parallel with CCRT to patients with HNSCC. The chemotherapy regimen included 50 mg/m2 cisplatin every 2 weeks with daily tegafur-uracil (300 mg/m2) and leucovorin (60 mg/day). RESULTS The study was terminated prematurely due to the successful launch of a newly formulated PG2 injection (lyophilized form). A total of 17 patients were enrolled. The baseline demographics and therapeutic compliance were comparable between the CCRT/PG2 and CCRT/placebo groups. During CCRT, severe treatment-associated AEs were less frequent in the CCRT/PG2 group than in the CCRT/placebo group. Furthermore, less QoL fluctuations from the baseline during CCRT were noted in the CCRT/PG2 group than in the CCRT/placebo group, with a significant difference in the pain, appetite loss, and social eating behavior. The tumor response, disease-specific survival and overall survival did not differ between the two groups. CONCLUSION This preliminary study demonstrated PG2 injection exhibited an excellent safety profile, and has potential in ameliorating the deterioration in QoL and the AEs associated with active anticancer treatment among patients with advanced pharyngeal or laryngeal HNSCC under CCRT. Further research in patients with other cancer types or treatment modalities may widen PG2's application in clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Hsun Hsieh
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou; College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, No. 5, Fushin St., Gueishan District, Taoyuan, 333, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chien-Yu Lin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Cheng-Lung Hsu
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou; College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, No. 5, Fushin St., Gueishan District, Taoyuan, 333, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Kang-Hsing Fan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Shiang-Fu Huang
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chun-Ta Liao
- Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Li-Yu Lee
- Department of Pathology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Shu-Kung Ng
- Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University at Linkou, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Tzu-Chen Yen
- Department of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging Center, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Joseph Tung-Chieh Chang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Jr-Rung Lin
- Clinical Informatics and Medical Statistics Research Center and Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Hung-Ming Wang
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou; College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, No. 5, Fushin St., Gueishan District, Taoyuan, 333, Taiwan, ROC.
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Liu C, Wang K, Zhuang J, Gao C, Li H, Liu L, Feng F, Zhou C, Yao K, Deng L, Wang L, Li J, Sun C. The Modulatory Properties of Astragalus membranaceus Treatment on Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: An Integrated Pharmacological Method. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:1171. [PMID: 31680955 PMCID: PMC6802460 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.01171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2018] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Studies have shown that the natural products of Astragalus membranaceus (AM) can effectively interfere with a variety of cancers, but their mechanism of action on breast cancer remains unclear. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is associated with a severely poor prognosis due to its invasive phenotype and lack of biomarker-driven-targeted therapies. In this study, the potential mechanism of the target composition acting on TNBC was explored by integrated pharmacological models and in vitro experiments. Materials and Methods: Based on the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and the relational database of Traditional Chinese Medicines (TCMs), the drug and target components were initially screened to construct a common network module, and multiattribute analysis was then used to characterize the network and obtain key drug-target information. Furthermore, network topology analysis was used to characterize the betweenness and closeness of key hubs in the network. Molecular docking was used to evaluate the affinity between compounds and targets and obtain accurate combination models. Finally, in vitro experiments verified the key component targets. The cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, invasion assay, and flow cytometric analysis were used to assess cell viability, invasiveness, and apoptosis, respectively, after Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) intervention. We also performed western blot analysis of key proteins to probe the mechanisms of correlated signaling pathways. Results: We constructed “compound-target” (339 nodes and 695 edges) and “compound-disease” (414 nodes and 6458 edges) networks using interaction data. Topology analysis and molecular docking were used as secondary screens to identify key hubs of the network. Finally, the key component APS and biomarkers PIK3CG, AKT, and BCL2 were identified. The in vitro experimental results confirmed that APS can effectively inhibit TNBC cell activity, reduce invasion, promote apoptosis, and then counteract TNBC symptoms in a dose-dependent manner, most likely by inhibiting the PIK3CG/AKT/BCL2 pathway. Conclusion: This study provides a rational approach to discovering compounds with a polypharmacology-based therapeutic value. Our data established that APS intervenes with TNBC cell invasion, proliferation, and apoptosis via the PIK3CG/AKT/BCL2 pathway and could thus offer a promising therapeutic strategy for TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cun Liu
- First School of Clinical Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Kejia Wang
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, China
| | - Jing Zhuang
- Department of Oncology, Weifang Chinese Medicine Hospital, Weifang, China
| | - Chundi Gao
- First School of Clinical Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Huayao Li
- First School of Clinical Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Lijuan Liu
- Department of Oncology, Weifang Chinese Medicine Hospital, Weifang, China
| | - Fubin Feng
- Department of Oncology, Weifang Chinese Medicine Hospital, Weifang, China
| | - Chao Zhou
- Department of Oncology, Weifang Chinese Medicine Hospital, Weifang, China
| | - Kang Yao
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Laijun Deng
- Department of Oncology, Weifang Chinese Medicine Hospital, Weifang, China
| | - Lu Wang
- Department of Oncology, Weifang Chinese Medicine Hospital, Weifang, China
| | - Jia Li
- College of Basic Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Changgang Sun
- Department of Basic Medical Science, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.,Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
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Using the Pleiotropic Characteristics of Curcumin to Validate the Potential Application of a Novel Gene Expression Screening Platform. Nutrients 2019; 11:nu11061397. [PMID: 31234318 PMCID: PMC6627093 DOI: 10.3390/nu11061397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2019] [Revised: 06/12/2019] [Accepted: 06/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Curcumin is a polyphenol derived from curcumin longa that exhibits anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties. The consumption of foods at supernutritional levels to obtain health benefits may paradoxically result in negative health outcomes. In the present study, multiple targeting characteristics of curcumin were analyzed using our gene expression screening system, which utilized the gene expression signatures of curcumin from human hepatocellular carcinoma and colorectal cancer cells to query gene expression databases and effectively identify the molecular actions of curcumin. In agreement with prediction, curcumin inhibited NF-κB and Aurora-A, and induced G2/M arrest and apoptosis. Curcumin-suppressed NF-κB was identified through inhibition of PLCG1, PIK3R1, and MALT1 in the CD4-T-cell-receptor-signaling NF-κB cascade pathway. The results suggest that our novel gene expression screening platform is an effective method of rapidly identifying unknown biological functions and side effects of compounds with potential nutraceutical benefits.
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Liu C, Li H, Wang K, Zhuang J, Chu F, Gao C, Liu L, Feng F, Zhou C, Zhang W, Sun C. Identifying the Antiproliferative Effect of Astragalus Polysaccharides on Breast Cancer: Coupling Network Pharmacology With Targetable Screening From the Cancer Genome Atlas. Front Oncol 2019; 9:368. [PMID: 31157164 PMCID: PMC6533882 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.00368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background:Astragalus polysaccharides (APS), natural plant compounds, have recently emerged as a promising strategy for cancer treatment, but little is known concerning their effects on breast cancer (BC) tumorigenesis. Methods: We obtained breast cancer genetic data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, network pharmacology to further clarify its biological properties. Survival analysis and molecular docking techniques were implemented for the final screening to obtain key target information. Our experiments focused on the detection of intervention effects of APS on BC cells (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231), and quantitative RT-PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to assess the expression of key targets. Results: A total of 1,439 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by TCGA and used to build disease networks. Module analysis, gene ontology and pathway analysis revealed characteristic of the DEGs network. Topological properties were used to identify key targets, survival analysis and molecular docking finally found that the targets of APS regulation of BC cells may be CCNB1, CDC6, and p53. Through cell viability, migration and invasion assays, we found that APS interferes with the development of breast cancer in MCF7 and MDA-MB-231 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, qRT-PCR verification suggested that the expression of CCNB1 and CDC6 in breast cancer cells was significantly downregulated in response to APS, while expression of the tumor suppressor gene P53 was significantly increased. Conclusion: Results of this study suggest therapeutic potential for APS in BC treatment, possibly through interventions with CCNB1, CDC6, and P53. Furthermore, these findings illustrate the feasibility of using network pharmacology to connect large-scale target data as a way to discover the mechanism of natural products interfering with disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cun Liu
- First School of Clinical Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Huayao Li
- College of Basic Medical, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Kejia Wang
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, Fujian, China
| | - Jing Zhuang
- Department of Oncology, Weifang Traditional Chinese Hospital, Weifang, China
| | - Fuhao Chu
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Chundi Gao
- First School of Clinical Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Lijuan Liu
- Department of Oncology, Weifang Traditional Chinese Hospital, Weifang, China
| | - Fubin Feng
- Department of Oncology, Weifang Traditional Chinese Hospital, Weifang, China
| | - Chao Zhou
- Department of Oncology, Weifang Traditional Chinese Hospital, Weifang, China
| | - Wenfeng Zhang
- School of Clinical Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Changgang Sun
- Department of Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Weifang, China
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Wang CH, Lin CY, Chen JS, Ho CL, Rau KM, Tsai JT, Chang CS, Yeh SP, Cheng CF, Lai YL. Karnofsky Performance Status as A Predictive Factor for Cancer-Related Fatigue Treatment with Astragalus Polysaccharides (PG2) Injection-A Double Blind, Multi-Center, Randomized Phase IV Study. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11020128. [PMID: 30678249 PMCID: PMC6406819 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11020128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Revised: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Fatigue is a common and debilitating symptom in patients with advanced cancer, resulting in poor quality of life and reduced treatment efficacy. Phytotherapeutic agents have shown potential effects to relieve cancer-related fatigue in these patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Astragalus Polysaccharides injection and identify predictive factors associated with this treatment. Patients with advanced cancer receiving palliative care with moderate to severe cancer-related fatigue were enrolled in this study for two treatment cycles. Fatigue improvement response rates were analyzed as the primary endpoint at the end of the first cycle to determine treatment efficacy. The drug safety profile was evaluated by the reporting of adverse events. Three hundred and ten patients were enrolled in this study and 214 patients were included ITT population. Improvement in fatigue scores by at least 10% was observed in greater than 65% of subjects after one treatment cycle compared to scores at baseline. Patients with higher Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) responded better to the Astragalus Polysaccharides injection. Drug-related adverse event rates were less than 9%. This study identified KPS as a promising predictive factor for the therapeutic efficacy of Astragalus Polysaccharides injection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Hsu Wang
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Chang Gung University, College of Medicine, Keelung 204, Taiwan.
| | - Cheng-Yao Lin
- Chi Mei Medical Center, Liouying, Tainan City 736, Taiwan.
| | - Jen-Shi Chen
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan.
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan 333, Taiwan.
| | | | - Kun-Ming Rau
- Hematology-Oncology Division, Kaohsiung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Kaohsiung 833, Taiwan.
- Hematology-Oncology Department, E-Da Cancer Hospital, Kaohsiung 824, Taiwan.
- Collage of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 824, Taiwan.
| | - Jo-Ting Tsai
- Department of Radiology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan.
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City 23561, Taiwan.
| | | | - Su-Peng Yeh
- China Medical University Hospital, Taichung City 40447, Taiwan.
| | | | - Yuen-Liang Lai
- MacKay Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City 25160, Taiwan.
- Mackay Medical College, New Taipei City 25245, Taiwan.
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11
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Hao Y, Quinnies K, Realubit R, Karan C, Tatonetti NP. Tissue-Specific Analysis of Pharmacological Pathways. CPT-PHARMACOMETRICS & SYSTEMS PHARMACOLOGY 2018; 7:453-463. [PMID: 29920991 PMCID: PMC6063738 DOI: 10.1002/psp4.12305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2018] [Revised: 03/19/2018] [Accepted: 04/11/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the downstream consequences of pharmacologically targeted proteins is essential to drug design. Current approaches investigate molecular effects under tissue‐naïve assumptions. Many target proteins, however, have tissue‐specific expression. A systematic study connecting drugs to target pathways in in vivo human tissues is needed. We introduced a data‐driven method that integrates drug‐target relationships with gene expression, protein‐protein interaction, and pathway annotation data. We applied our method to four independent genomewide expression datasets and built 467,396 connections between 1,034 drugs and 954 pathways in 259 human tissues or cell lines. We validated our results using data from L1000 and Pharmacogenomics Knowledgebase (PharmGKB), and observed high precision and recall. We predicted and tested anticoagulant effects of 22 compounds experimentally that were previously unknown, and used clinical data to validate these effects retrospectively. Our systematic study provides a better understanding of the cellular response to drugs and can be applied to many research topics in systems pharmacology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Hao
- Departments of Biomedical Informatics, Systems Biology, and Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Kayla Quinnies
- Departments of Biomedical Informatics, Systems Biology, and Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ronald Realubit
- Columbia Genome Center, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Charles Karan
- Columbia Genome Center, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA
| | - Nicholas P Tatonetti
- Departments of Biomedical Informatics, Systems Biology, and Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA.,Institute for Genomic Medicine, Columbia University, New York, New York, USA.,Data Science Institute, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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12
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Chao YH, Wu KH, Lin CW, Yang SF, Chao WR, Peng CT, Wu HP. PG2, a botanically derived drug extracted from Astragalus membranaceus , promotes proliferation and immunosuppression of umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2017; 207:184-191. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2017.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/30/2023]
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13
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Won SJ, Yen CH, Hsieh HW, Chang SW, Lin CN, Huang CYF, Su CL. Using connectivity map to identify natural lignan justicidin A as a NF-κB suppressor. J Funct Foods 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2017.04.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
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14
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Tsao YT, Kuo CY, Kuan YD, Lin HC, Wu LH, Lee CH. The Extracts of Astragalus membranaceus Inhibit Melanogenesis through the ERK Signaling Pathway. Int J Med Sci 2017; 14:1049-1053. [PMID: 29104457 PMCID: PMC5666534 DOI: 10.7150/ijms.20335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2017] [Accepted: 07/05/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanin is a normal production protecting skin from environment-causing damage. Plants produce some agents in response to their environment. These agents could be applied in cosmetic production. Some Chinese herbals have immunomodulatory activities and modulate the symptoms of several diseases. Melanogenesis represents a complex group of conditions that are thought to be mediated through a complex network of regulatory processes. Previously, some studies found that the extracts of Astragalus membranaceus (PG2) regulated immunity and supported hematopoiesis. Herein, we want to determine the molecular mechanisms by which PG2 inhibits melanogenesis in B16F10 melanoma cells. The cellular melanin contents and expression of melanogenesis-related protein, including microphthalmia associated transcription factor (MITF) and tyrosinase were significantly reduced after PG2 treatment. Moreover, PG2 increased phosphorylation of ERK, without affecting phosphorylation of p38. These results suggested that PG2 as a new target in reducing hyperpigmentation through the ERK signal pathway. PG2 has potential for cosmetic usage in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Tzu Tsao
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Taoyuan General Hospital, Taoyuan 330, Taiwan.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei 11221, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Yu Kuo
- Graduate Institute of Basic Medical Science, School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Diao Kuan
- Department of Biological Sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 804, Taiwan
| | - Han-Chen Lin
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
| | - Li-Hsien Wu
- Department of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan
| | - Che-Hsin Lee
- Department of Biological Sciences, National Sun Yat-sen University, Kaohsiung 804, Taiwan.,Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, China Medical University, Taichung 40402, Taiwan
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15
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The Effectiveness of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Treating Patients with Leukemia. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2016; 2016:8394850. [PMID: 27847528 PMCID: PMC5099467 DOI: 10.1155/2016/8394850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2016] [Revised: 08/15/2016] [Accepted: 09/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Leukemia is the most common malignancy among all childhood cancers and is associated with a low survival rate in adult patients. Since 1995, the National Health Insurance (NHI) program in Taiwan has been offering insurance coverage for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), along with conventional Western medicine (WM). This study analyzes the status of TCM utilization in Taiwan, in both pediatric and adult patients with leukemia. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using population-based National Health Insurance Research Database of Registry of Catastrophic Illness, involving patient data from 2001 to 2010 and follow-up data through 2011. The effectiveness of TCM use was evaluated. Relevant sociodemographic data showed that both pediatric and adult patients who were TCM users one year prior to leukemia diagnosis were more likely to utilize TCM services for cancer therapy. A greater part of medical expenditure of TCM users was lower than that of TCM nonusers, except little discrepancy in drug fee of adult patients. The survival rate is also higher in TCM users. Altogether, these data show that TCM has the potential to serve as an adjuvant therapy when combined with conventional WM in the treatment of patients with leukemia.
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