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Zhou Y, Wang F, Li G, Xu J, Zhang J, Gullen E, Yang J, Wang J. From immune checkpoints to therapies: understanding immune checkpoint regulation and the influence of natural products and traditional medicine on immune checkpoint and immunotherapy in lung cancer. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1340307. [PMID: 38426097 PMCID: PMC10902058 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1340307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is a disease of global concern, and immunotherapy has brought lung cancer therapy to a new era. Besides promising effects in the clinical use of immune checkpoint inhibitors, immune-related adverse events (irAEs) and low response rates are problems unsolved. Natural products and traditional medicine with an immune-modulating nature have the property to influence immune checkpoint expression and can improve immunotherapy's effect with relatively low toxicity. This review summarizes currently approved immunotherapy and the current mechanisms known to regulate immune checkpoint expression in lung cancer. It lists natural products and traditional medicine capable of influencing immune checkpoints or synergizing with immunotherapy in lung cancer, exploring both their effects and underlying mechanisms. Future research on immune checkpoint modulation and immunotherapy combination applying natural products and traditional medicine will be based on a deeper understanding of their mechanisms regulating immune checkpoints. Continued exploration of natural products and traditional medicine holds the potential to enhance the efficacy and reduce the adverse reactions of immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yibin Zhou
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Fenglan Wang
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Guangda Li
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Xu
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jingjing Zhang
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Elizabeth Gullen
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale Medical School, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Jie Yang
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
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Pei T, Dai Y, Tan X, Geng A, Li S, Gui Y, Hu C, An J, Yu X, Bao X, Wang D. Yupingfeng San exhibits anticancer effect in hepatocellular carcinoma cells via the MAPK pathway revealed by HTS 2 technology. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 306:116134. [PMID: 36627003 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.116134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Revised: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 01/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Yupingfeng San (YPFS) is a classic rousing prescription in Chinese medicine, with widly clinical application and remarkably curative effect. It consists of three herbs named Astragalus mongholicus Bunge (Huangqi), Atractylodes rubra Dekker (Baizhu) and Saposhnikovia divaricata (Turcz.) Schischk. (Fangfeng), and has a variety of pharmacological activities including immune regulation, antioxidant, anti-tumor, regulation of cytokines, etc. AIM OF THE STUDY: It has been proved that YPFS exerts its anti-tumor effect through enhancing the systemic and local immune responses in tumor patients, moreover, it has the direct tumor-suppressing effect and can reduce the adverse reactions caused by radiotherapy and chemotherapy drugs. Therefore, in this study, we explored the potential anti-HCC mechanism of YPFS based on HTS2 technology and systems pharmacology, aiming to provide a scientific basis for the clinical application of YPFS and a new strategy for Chinese medicine research. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this study, systems pharmacology plus high throughput sequencing-based high throughput screening (HTS2) technology, and experimental validation were used to investigate the therapeutic mechanisms and the chemical basis of YPFS in HCC treatment. Firstly, the potential therapeutic targets and signaling pathways of YPFS in the treatment of HCC were obtained through systems pharmacology. Subsequently, HTS2 technology combined with PPI network analysis were used to reveal potential therapeutic targets. Finally, the anti-HCC effects and underlying mechanisms of YPFS were further verified in vitro in human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. Moreover, the possible chemical basis was explored by drug target verification and molecular docking technology. RESULTS In total, 183 active ingredients were predicted by YPFS screening and 49 anti-HCC targets were further identified. Most of these targets were enriched into the "MAPK pathway", and the expression of 37 genes was significantly changed after herb treatment. Among them, 5 key targets, including VEGFA, GRB2, JUN, PDGFRB and CDC42, were predicted by protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. According to our results, YPFS inhibited the proliferation, induced the apoptosis and caused cell cycle arrest of HCC cells. In addition, YPFS significantly reduced P38 gene expression. Fangfeng, one of the three herbs in YPFS, significantly down-regulated the expression of more target genes than that of the other two herbs. Lastly, as revealed by molecular docking analysis, 4'-O-glucosyl-5-O-methylvisamminol, an active ingredient identified in Fangfeng, showed a high affinity for P38. CONCLUSION Taken together, this study shows that YPFS possesses the activities of anti-proliferation and pro-apoptosis in treating HCC, which are achieved by inhibiting the MAPK signaling pathway. P38 is one of the critical targets of YPFS in treating HCC, which may be directly bound and inhibited by 4'-O-glucosyl-5-O-methylvisamminol, a compound derived from YPFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianli Pei
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Yifei Dai
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Xue Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Aiai Geng
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Shengrong Li
- School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Yu Gui
- School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Chao Hu
- School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Jun An
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Xiankuo Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Xilinqiqige Bao
- Medical Innovation Center for Nationalities, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot City, 010110, China.
| | - Dong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China.
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Feng YB, Chen L, Chen FX, Yang Y, Chen GH, Zhou ZH, Xu CF. Immunopotentiation effects of apigenin on NK cell proliferation and killing pancreatic cancer cells. Int J Immunopathol Pharmacol 2023; 37:3946320231161174. [PMID: 36848930 PMCID: PMC9974612 DOI: 10.1177/03946320231161174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Apigenin is a kind of flavonoid with many beneficial biological effects. It not only has direct cytotoxicity to tumor cells, but also can boost the antitumor effect of immune cells by modulating immune system. The purpose of this study was to investigate the proliferation of NK cells treated with apigenin and its cytotoxicity to pancreatic cancer cells in vitro, and explore its potential molecular mechanism. In this study, the effect of apigenin on NK cell proliferation and killing pancreatic cancer cells were measured by CCK-8 assay. Perforin, granzyme B (Gran B), CD107a, and NKG2D expressions of NK cells induced with apigenin were detected by flow cytometry (FCM). The mRNA expression of Bcl-2, Bax and protein expression of Bcl-2, Bax, p-ERK, and p-JNK in NK cells were evaluated by qRT-PCR and western blotting analysis, respectively. The results showed that appropriate concentration of apigenin could significantly promote the proliferation of NK cells in vitro and enhance the killing activity of NK cells against pancreatic cancer cells. The expressions of surface antigen NKG2D and intracellular antigen perforin and Gran B of NK cells were upregulated after treating with apigenin. Bcl-2 mRNA expression was increased, while Bax mRNA expression was decreased. Similarly, the expression of Bcl-2, p-JNK, and p-ERK protein was upregulated, and the expression of Bax protein was downregulated. The molecular mechanism of the immunopotentiation effects of apigenin may be that it up-regulates Bcl-2 and down-regulates Bax expression at the gene and protein levels to facilitate NK cell proliferation, and up-regulates the expression of perforin, Gran B, and NKG2D through the activation of JNK and ERK pathways to enhance NK cell cytotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong-Bo Feng
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Jiangsu, China,Department of Gastroenterology, Nanjing Gaochun Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ling Chen
- Department of Central Laboratory, the 71st Group Army Hospital of PLA Army, The Affiliated Huaihai Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Fu-Xing Chen
- Department of Central Laboratory, the 71st Group Army Hospital of PLA Army, The Affiliated Huaihai Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Pharmacy, the 71st Group Army Hospital of PLA Army, The Affiliated Huaihai Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Jiangsu, China
| | - Guo-Hua Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Gaochun Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhong-Hai Zhou
- Department of Central Laboratory, the 71st Group Army Hospital of PLA Army, The Affiliated Huaihai Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Jiangsu, China,Zhong-Hai Zhou, Department of Central Laboratory, the 71st Group Army Hospital of PLA Army, The Affiliated Huaihai Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, 236 Tongshan Road, Xuzhou, Jiangsu 221004, China.
| | - Chun-Fang Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Jiangsu, China,Chun-Fang Xu, Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, 188 Shizi street, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215006, China.
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Bai Y, Wei W, Yao C, Wu S, Wang W, Guo DA. Advances in the chemical constituents, pharmacological properties and clinical applications of TCM formula Yupingfeng San. Fitoterapia 2023; 164:105385. [PMID: 36473539 DOI: 10.1016/j.fitote.2022.105385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Yupingfeng San (YPFS) is a famous and commonly used traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, respiratory tract infections, and pneumonia in China. It is composed of three Chinese herbs, including Astragali Radix, Atractylodis Macrocephalae Rhizoma and Saposhnikoviae Radix. In this review, the relevant references on YPFS were searched in the Web of Science, PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), and other databases. Literatures published from 2000 to 2022 were screened and summarized. The constituents in YPFS could be classified into nine groups according to their structures, including flavonoids, saponins, essential oils, coumarins, lactones, amino acids, organic acids, saccharides, chromones and others. The importance of chemical constituents in YPFS were demonstrated for specific pathological processes including immunoregulatory, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor and pulmonary diseases. This article systematically reviewed the up-to-date information on its chemical compositions, pharmacology and safety, that could be used as essential data and reference for clinical applications of YPFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuxin Bai
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun 130117, China; Shanghai Research Center for Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine, National Engineering Research Center of TCM Standardization Technology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Wenlong Wei
- Shanghai Research Center for Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine, National Engineering Research Center of TCM Standardization Technology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Changliang Yao
- Shanghai Research Center for Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine, National Engineering Research Center of TCM Standardization Technology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Shifei Wu
- Shanghai Research Center for Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine, National Engineering Research Center of TCM Standardization Technology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Wei Wang
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun 130117, China; TCM and Ethnomedicine Innovation & Development International Laboratory, Innovative Materia Medica Research Institute, School of Pharmacy, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410208, China
| | - De-An Guo
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun 130117, China; Shanghai Research Center for Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine, National Engineering Research Center of TCM Standardization Technology, Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 201203, China.
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Sun K, Wu L, Wang S, Deng W. Antitumor effects of Chinese herbal medicine compounds and their nano-formulations on regulating the immune system microenvironment. Front Oncol 2022; 12:949332. [PMID: 36212483 PMCID: PMC9540406 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.949332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), including herbal medicine, acupuncture and meditation, has a wide range of applications in China. In recent years, herbal compounding and active ingredients have been used to control tumor growth, reduce suffering, improve quality of life, and prolong the life span of cancer patients. To reduce side effects, herbal medicine can be used in conjunction with radiotherapy and chemotherapy or can be used as an adjuvant to strengthen the immune effect of anticancer vaccines. In particular, in the immunosuppressed tumor microenvironment, herbal medicine can have antitumor effects by stimulating the immune response. This paper reviews the advances in research on antitumor immunomodulation in Chinese herbal medicine, including the regulation of the innate immune system, which includes macrophages, MDSCs, and natural killer cells, and the adaptive immune system, which includes CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, and regulatory T cells (Tregs), to influence tumor-associated inflammation. In addition, a combination of active ingredients of herbal medicine and modern nanotechnology alter the tumor immune microenvironment. In recent years, immunological antitumor therapy in TCM has been applied on a reasonably large scale both nationally and internationally, and there is potential for further clinical expansion. Investigation of immune modulation mechanisms in Chinese herbal medicine will provide novel perspectives of how herbal medicine controls tumor growth and metastasis, which will contribute to the evolution of tumor research.
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Chen H, Zheng M, Zhang W, Long Y, Xu Y, Yuan M. Research Status of Mouse Models for Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) and Antitumor Therapy of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in Mouse Models. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE : ECAM 2022; 2022:6404853. [PMID: 36185084 PMCID: PMC9519343 DOI: 10.1155/2022/6404853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is known as one of the most lethal cancers, causing more than 1 million deaths annually worldwide. Therefore, the development of novel therapeutic drugs for NSCLC has become an urgent need. Herein, various mouse models provide great convenience not only for researchers but also for the development of antitumor drug. Meanwhile, TCM, as a valuable and largely untapped resource pool for modern medicine, provides research resources for the treatment of various diseases. Until now, cell-derived xenograft (CDX) model, patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model, syngeneic model, orthotopic model, humanized mouse model (HIS), and genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs) have been reported in TCM evaluation. This review shows the role and current status of kinds of mouse models in antitumor research and summarizes the application progress of TCM including extracts, formulas, and isolated single molecules for NSCLC therapy in various mouse models; more importantly, it provides a theoretical exploration of what kind of mouse models is ideal for TCM efficacy evaluation in future. However, there are still huge challenges and limitations in the development of mouse models specifically for the TCM research, and none of the available models are perfectly matching the characteristics of TCM, which suppress the tumor growth through various mechanisms, especially by regulating immune function. Nevertheless, with fully functional immune system existing in syngeneic model and humanized mouse model (HIS), it is still suggested that these two models are more suitable for development of TCM especially for TCM extracts or formulas. Moreover, continued efforts are needed to generate more reliable mouse models to test TCM formulas in future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongkui Chen
- Shanghai Lidebiotech Co. Ltd., Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Min Zheng
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Wenhui Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
- Engineering Research Center of Shanghai Colleges for TCM New Drug Discovery, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yuan Long
- Shanghai Lidebiotech Co. Ltd., Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yu Xu
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
- Engineering Research Center of Shanghai Colleges for TCM New Drug Discovery, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Man Yuan
- School of Pharmacy, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
- Engineering Research Center of Shanghai Colleges for TCM New Drug Discovery, Shanghai 201203, China
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Yang H, Zhang J, Ling J. The Modulatory Effects and Targets Prediction of Herbal Medicines or Phytochemicals on Cancer Immunosurveillance. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CHINESE MEDICINE 2022; 50:1401-1422. [PMID: 35748216 DOI: 10.1142/s0192415x22500604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is a main life-threatening disease worldwide. Due to the adverse effects of conventional chemotherapies and radiotherapies, immunotherapy has emerged as a potent strategy to treat cancer. In cancer immunotherapy, cancer immune surveillance plays a crucial role in the cancer process, which contains various effector cells from innate and adaptive immunity. This review summarized the functions of innate and adaptive immune cells in cancer immunosurveillance and their main reported targets. Moreover, the potential targets about the modulatory effects of cancer immunosurveillance were predicted using network-based target analysis, with total predicted pathways not only reporting previously reported pathways, but also putative signaling pathways pending for investigation. In addition, the potential use of herbal medicines and their phytochemicals in the modulation of cancer immunosurveillance were also discussed. Taken together, this review paper aims to provide scientific insight into further drug development, particularly herbs, phytochemicals, and TCM formulae, in the modulatory effects of cancer immunosurveillance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huihai Yang
- College of Chinese Medicine Material, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 136000, P. R. China
- Institute of Chinese Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Research on Bioactivities, Clinical Applications of Medicinal Plants, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong
| | - Jing Zhang
- College of Chinese Medicine Material, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun 136000, P. R. China
| | - Jiawei Ling
- Institute of Chinese Medicine, State Key Laboratory of Research on Bioactivities, Clinical Applications of Medicinal Plants, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong
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Yang H, Wang L, Zhang J. Leukocyte modulation by natural products from herbal medicines and potential as cancer immunotherapy. J Leukoc Biol 2022; 112:185-200. [PMID: 35612275 DOI: 10.1002/jlb.3ru0222-087rrr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Revised: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer constitutes a kind of life-threatening disease that is prevalent throughout the world. In light of limitations in conventional chemotherapies or radiotherapies, cancer immunotherapy has emerged as a potent strategy in treating cancer. In cancer immunotherapy, preliminary studies have demonstrated that cancer immune surveillance serves a crucial role in tumor initiation, progression, and metastasis. Herbal medicines and natural products, which serve as alternative medicines, are involved in the modulation of tumor immunosurveillance to enhance antitumor activity. Accordingly, this review aimed to summarize the modulation function of herbal medicines and natural products on tumor immunosurveillance while providing scientific insight into further research on its molecular mechanism and potential clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huihai Yang
- Department of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine Material, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China.,Department of Chinese medicine, College of Medicine, Changchun Science-Technology University, Changchun, China.,Institute of Chinese Medicine and State Key Laboratory of Research on Bioactivities and Clinical Applications of Medicinal Plants, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, New Territories, Hong Kong
| | - Lulu Wang
- Department of Chinese medicine, College of Medicine, Changchun Science-Technology University, Changchun, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Chinese Medicine, College of Chinese Medicine Material, Jilin Agricultural University, Changchun, China
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Chen F, Li J, Wang H, Ba Q. Anti-Tumor Effects of Chinese Medicine Compounds by Regulating Immune Cells in Microenvironment. Front Oncol 2021; 11:746917. [PMID: 34722304 PMCID: PMC8551633 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.746917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
As the main cause of death in the world, cancer is one of the major health threats for humans. In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine has gained great attention in oncology due to the features of multi-targets, multi-pathways, and slight side effects. Moreover, lots of traditional Chinese medicine can exert immunomodulatory effects in vivo. In the tumor microenvironment, tumor cells, immune cells as well as other stromal cells often coexist. With the development of cancer, tumor cells proliferate uncontrollably, metastasize aggressively, and modulate the proportion and status of immune cells to debilitate the antitumor immunity. Reversal of immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment plays an essential role in cancer prevention and therapy. Immunotherapy has become the most promising strategy for cancer therapy. Chinese medicine compounds can stimulate the activation and function of immune cells, such as promoting the maturation of dendritic cells and inducing the differentiation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells to dendritic cells and macrophages. In the present review, we summarize and discuss the effects of Chinese medicine compounds on immune cells in the tumor microenvironment, including innate immune cells (dendritic cells, natural killer cells, macrophages, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells) and adaptive immune cells (CD4+/CD8+ T lymphocytes and regulatory T cells), and the various immunomodulatory roles of Chinese medicine compounds in cancer therapy such as improving tumor-derived inflammation, enhancing the immunity after surgery or chemotherapy, blocking the immune checkpoints, et al., aiming to provide more thoughts for the anti-tumor mechanisms and applications of Chinese medicine compounds in terms of tumor immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengqian Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Center for Single-Cell Omics, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingquan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Center for Single-Cell Omics, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Center for Single-Cell Omics, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qian Ba
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Center for Single-Cell Omics, School of Public Health, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Zhang J, Hu K, Di L, Wang P, Liu Z, Zhang J, Yue P, Song W, Zhang J, Chen T, Wang Z, Zhang Y, Wang X, Zhan C, Cheng YC, Li X, Li Q, Fan JY, Shen Y, Han JY, Qiao H. Traditional herbal medicine and nanomedicine: Converging disciplines to improve therapeutic efficacy and human health. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 178:113964. [PMID: 34499982 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.113964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2021] [Revised: 08/28/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Traditional herbal medicine (THM), an ancient science, is a gift from nature. For thousands of years, it has helped humans fight diseases and protect life, health, and reproduction. Nanomedicine, a newer discipline has evolved from exploitation of the unique nanoscale morphology and is widely used in diagnosis, imaging, drug delivery, and other biomedical fields. Although THM and nanomedicine differ greatly in time span and discipline dimensions, they are closely related and are even evolving toward integration and convergence. This review begins with the history and latest research progress of THM and nanomedicine, expounding their respective developmental trajectory. It then discusses the overlapping connectivity and relevance of the two fields, including nanoaggregates generated in herbal medicine decoctions, the application of nanotechnology in the delivery and treatment of natural active ingredients, and the influence of physiological regulatory capability of THM on the in vivo fate of nanoparticles. Finally, future development trends, challenges, and research directions are discussed.
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Guan J, Chen W, Yang M, Wu E, Qian J, Zhan C. Regulation of in vivo delivery of nanomedicines by herbal medicines. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2021; 174:210-228. [PMID: 33887404 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2021.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Nanomedicines are of increasing scrutiny due to their improved efficacy and/or mitigated side effects. They can be integrated with many other therapeutics to further boost the clinical benefits. Among those, herbal medicines are arousing great interest to be combined with nanomedicines to exert synergistic effects in multifaceted mechanisms. The in vivo performance of nanomedicines which determines the therapeutic efficacy and safety is believed to be heavily influenced by the physio-pathological characters of the body. Activation of multiple immune factors, e.g., complement system, phagocytic cells, lymphocytes, and among many others, can affect the fate of nanomedicines in blood circulation, biodistribution, interaction with single cells and intracellular transport. Immunomodulatory effects and metabolic regulation by herbal medicines have been widely witnessed during the past decades, which alter the physio-pathological conditions and dramatically affect in vivo delivery of nanomedicines. In this review, we summarize recent progress of understanding on the in vivo delivery process of nanomedicines and analyze the major affecting factors that regulate the interaction of nanomedicines with organisms. We discuss the immunomodulatory roles and metabolic regulation by herbal medicines and their effects on in vivo delivery process of nanomedicines, as well as the prospective clinical benefits from the combination of nanomedicines and herbal medicines.
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Yu-Ping-Feng Formula Exerts Antilung Cancer Effects by Remodeling the Tumor Microenvironment through Regulating Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2021; 2021:6624461. [PMID: 33986819 PMCID: PMC8079197 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6624461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2020] [Revised: 03/28/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Yu-Ping-Feng (YPF) formula is a classical prescription used for enhancing the body's immunity function in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). In clinical practice, the YPF formula has been reported to exhibit antilung cancer and immunomodulatory effect. However, the relationship between them remains unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the antilung cancer effect of the YPF formula and its immune-related mechanisms. The C57BL/6 tumor-bearing mice model was established and randomly divided into the YPF group and the control group. Tumor volume, spleen weight, and survival in both groups were measured and evaluated during 28 days of consecutive intervention. Flow cytometry was used to detect the proportion of immune cell subsets. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) were induced in vitro from bone marrow cells. After intervention by the YPF formula, CCK-8 and flow cytometry analyses were performed to detect proliferation and apoptosis of MDSCs. A coculture system containing T cells and MDSCs was established to further study the role of MDSCs in the regulation of T-cell subsets proportion by the YPF formula. The expressions of MDSCs-related genes and proteins were detected by RT-PCR and Western blotting. The results showed the YPF formula inhibited tumor growth, reduced spleen weight, and prolonged the survival of mice. Besides, the proportions of MDSCs subsets and Regulatory T (Treg) in the YPF group decreased, whereas those of CD4+T and CD8+T increased both in vitro and in vivo. CCK-8 and flow cytometry demonstrated that the YPF formula could inhibit proliferation and promote apoptosis of MDSCs. The coculture experiments further confirmed that MDSCs served a critical role in regulating the tumor microenvironment by the YPF formula. RT-PCR and Western blotting indicated that the levels of MDSCs' activation and proliferation-related proteins and genes were downregulated in the YPF group. Therefore, our results demonstrated that the YPF formula could promote apoptosis and inhibit the proliferation of MDSCs. As a result, the negative regulatory effect on the positive immune cells induced by MDSCs was weakened, thus achieving the antilung cancer effect by remodeling the tumor microenvironment.
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Li Z, Feiyue Z, Gaofeng L. Traditional Chinese medicine and lung cancer--From theory to practice. Biomed Pharmacother 2021; 137:111381. [PMID: 33601147 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2021.111381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2020] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
With the continuous breakthroughs in molecular biology and biochemistry, we have constantly made great progress in the treatment of lung cancer. There is no doubt that standard treatment (such as surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy) has greatly improved the prognosis of lung cancer populations. In particular, the immunotherapy has brought more and more good news to countless lung cancer patients. In contrast to these standard treatments, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) rarely has a profound and comprehensive overview in the field of lung cancer. This article will summarize the latest progress of TCM in lung cancer which is mainly non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) from theory to clinical practice, which would carry forward the sophisticated TCM and promote the development of modern medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhang Li
- Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China; Department of Thoracic Tumor Surgery, Yunnan Cancer Center, Kunming 650118, China
| | - Zhang Feiyue
- Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China; Department of Thoracic Tumor Surgery, Yunnan Cancer Center, Kunming 650118, China
| | - Li Gaofeng
- Department of Thoracic Tumor Surgery, Yunnan Cancer Center, Kunming 650118, China.
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Fan Y, Ma Z, Zhao L, Wang W, Gao M, Jia X, Ouyang H, He J. Anti-tumor activities and mechanisms of Traditional Chinese medicines formulas: A review. Biomed Pharmacother 2020; 132:110820. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2020.110820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2020] [Revised: 09/19/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
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Huang H, Fang J, Fan X, Miyata T, Hu X, Zhang L, Zhang L, Cui Y, Liu Z, Wu X. Advances in Molecular Mechanisms for Traditional Chinese Medicine Actions in Regulating Tumor Immune Responses. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:1009. [PMID: 32733246 PMCID: PMC7360845 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.01009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been developed for thousands of years with its various biological activities. The interest in TCM in tumor prevention and treatment is rising with its synergistic effect on tumor cells and tumor immunosuppressive microenvironment (TIM). Characteristic of TCM fits well within the whole system and multi-target cancer treatment. Herein we discuss the underlying mechanisms of TCM actions in TIM via regulating immunosuppressive cells, including restoring the antigen presentation function of dendritic cells, enhancing NK cells-mediated killing activity, restraining the functions of myeloid cell-derived suppressor cells, and inhibiting cancer-associated fibroblasts. TCM also regulates tumor progression through enhancing immune response, preventing immune escape and inducing cell death of tumor cells, which triggers immune response in nearby cells. In addition, we discuss TCM in clinical applications and the advantages and disadvantages of TCM in cancer prevention and treatment, as well as current therapeutic challenges and strategies. It might be helpful for understanding the therapeutic potential of TCM for cancer in clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Han Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiansong Fang
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiude Fan
- Center for Liver Disease Research, Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Tatsunori Miyata
- Center for Liver Disease Research, Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Xiaoyue Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Lihe Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Liangren Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Yimin Cui
- Department of Pharmacy, Peking University First Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Zhenming Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoqin Wu
- Center for Liver Disease Research, Department of Inflammation and Immunity, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH, United States
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Wang L, Wu W, Zhu X, Ng W, Gong C, Yao C, Ni Z, Yan X, Fang C, Zhu S. The Ancient Chinese Decoction Yu-Ping-Feng Suppresses Orthotopic Lewis Lung Cancer Tumor Growth Through Increasing M1 Macrophage Polarization and CD4 + T Cell Cytotoxicity. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:1333. [PMID: 31780946 PMCID: PMC6857089 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.01333] [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: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The tumor microenvironment (TME) has a deep influence on cancer progression and has become into a new target for cancer treatment. In our previous study, we found that Yu-Ping-Feng (YPF), an ancient Chinese herbal decoction, significantly inhibited the Lewis lung cancer (LLC) tumor growth in a subcutaneous xenograft tumor model, and prolonged the survival of tumor-bearing mice. But the regulation of Yu-Ping-Feng on tumor microenvironment is unknown. Methods: To access the effect of Yu-Ping-Feng on non-small cell lung cancer, an orthotopic luciferase stably expressed Lewis lung cancer tumor model was established on C57BL/6 mice, and then the survival and the tumor growth were evaluated. To address the tumor microenvironment immune regulation, the percentages of CD4+ T cells, CD8+ T cells, natural killer cells (NK), regulatory T cells (Treg), macrophages, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC) in spleens and tumor tissues, the macrophage polarization and CD4+ T cell cytotocixity were analyzed by flow cytometry, biophotonic cell killing activity assay, real-time PCR and western-blot. Results: Yu-Ping-Feng significantly prolonged orthotopic lung tumor-bearing mouse survival, and increased the percentages of CD4+ T cell and M1 macrophages and the cytotoxicity of CD4+ T cells. Yu-Ping-Feng significantly enhanced macrophage-mediated lysis of LLC in a concentration-dependent manner, and had no effect on CD4+ T cell-mediated lysis of LLC, but significantly increased CD4+ T cell-mediated lysis after co-incubated with macrophages. In addition, Yu-Ping-Feng induced M1 macrophage polarization through promoting the phosphorylation of STAT1. Conclusion: Yu-Ping-Feng induced M1 macrophages polarization, and then activated CD4+ T lymphocytes, resulting in killing of LLC cells. Yu-Ping-Feng was a potent regulator of M1 macrophage polarization and might have a promising application in tumor immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lixin Wang
- Department of Immunology and Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenbin Wu
- Experiment Animal Center, Experiment Center for Science and Technology, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiaowen Zhu
- Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wanyi Ng
- Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chenyuan Gong
- Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Chao Yao
- Department of Immunology and Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhongya Ni
- Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuewei Yan
- Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Cheng Fang
- Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shiguo Zhu
- Department of Immunology and Pathogenic Biology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Laboratory of Integrative Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Progress in research on the effects of traditional Chinese medicine on the tumor microenvironment. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE-JIM 2018; 15:282-287. [PMID: 28659232 DOI: 10.1016/s2095-4964(17)60345-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Tumor microenvironment (TME) has received more and more attention as modern medical research has begun to understand its importance in tumorigenesis. The occurrence, development, metastasis and drug resistance of tumors are closely related to TME. TME is a complicated system, including nontumor cells, their secreted cytokines, extracellular matrix, among other components. The concepts of wholism and multitarget regulation in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) make it well suited to the regulation of TME. In this paper, the authors reviewed the progress of TME research and the effect of TCM on TME, providing some views of Chinese medicine in antitumor research.
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Zuo H, Zhang Q, Su S, Chen Q, Yang F, Hu Y. A network pharmacology-based approach to analyse potential targets of traditional herbal formulas: An example of Yu Ping Feng decoction. Sci Rep 2018; 8:11418. [PMID: 30061691 PMCID: PMC6065326 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-29764-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Herbal formulas from traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) have been extensively used in clinics as effective therapies, but it is still a great challenge to demonstrate the scientific basis for their therapeutic effects at the level of molecular biology. By taking a classic herbal formula (Yu Ping Feng decoction, YPF) as an example, this study developed a novel network pharmacology based method to identify its potential therapeutic targets. First, this study constructed a “targets–(pathways)–targets” (TPT) network in which targets of YPF were connected by relevant pathways; then, this network was decomposed into separate modules with strong internal connections; lastly, the propensity of each module toward different diseases was assessed by a contribution score. On the basis of a significant association between network modules and therapeutic diseases validated by chi-square test (p-value < 0.001), this study identified the network module with the strongest propensity toward therapeutic diseases of YPF. Further, the targets with the highest centrality in this module are recommended as YPF’s potential therapeutic targets. By integrating the complicated “multi-targets–multi-pathways–multi-diseases” relationship of herbal formulas, the method shows promise for identifying its potential therapeutic targets, which could contribute to the modern scientific illustration of TCMs’ traditional clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huali Zuo
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
| | - Qianru Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China.,School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, Guizhou, China
| | - Shibing Su
- Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine Complexity System, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Qilong Chen
- Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine Complexity System, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Fengqing Yang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing, China.
| | - Yuanjia Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China.
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Traditional Herbal Formula NPC01 Exerts Antiangiogenic Effects through Inhibiting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathway in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cells. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE 2018; 2018:5291517. [PMID: 29636781 PMCID: PMC5831941 DOI: 10.1155/2018/5291517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2017] [Revised: 12/19/2017] [Accepted: 01/04/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Antiangiogenic therapy is vital in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) treatment. NPC01 has already been successfully used in treating patients with NPC in clinical practice and exerted an excellent antiangiogenetic effect. However, the potential molecular mechanism underlying the antitumor effect of NPC01 has not been well explored. The present study demonstrated that NPC01 could significantly inhibit cell proliferation and induce cell apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in human NPC cell lines. Furthermore, NPC01 exerted antiproliferative and antiangiogenic effects in NPC xenograft mice. Moreover, the study showed that NPC01 could significantly decrease the expression of angiogenesis-associated factors including hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and vascular endothelial growth factor. Additionally, the decreased expression of these angiogenesis-associated factors could be due to the inhibition of the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway (PI3K/Akt/mTOR). In conclusion, the results proposed that NPC01 could exert its antitumor effect by suppressing the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the molecular mechanism.
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