1
|
Bossio S, Perri A, Gallo R, De Bartolo A, Rago V, La Russa D, Di Dio M, La Vignera S, Calogero AE, Vitale G, Aversa A. Alpha-Lipoic Acid Reduces Cell Growth, Inhibits Autophagy, and Counteracts Prostate Cancer Cell Migration and Invasion: Evidence from In Vitro Studies. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17111. [PMID: 38069431 PMCID: PMC10707055 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242317111] [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: 09/21/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) is a natural antioxidant dithiol compound, exerting antiproliferative and antimetastatic effects in various cancer cell lines. In our study, we demonstrated that ALA reduces the cell growth of prostate cancer cells LNCaP and DU-145. Western blot results revealed that in both cancer cells, ALA, by upregulating pmTOR expression, reduced the protein content of two autophagy initiation markers, Beclin-1 and MAPLC3. Concomitantly, MTT assays showed that chloroquine (CQ) exposure, a well-known autophagy inhibitor, reduced cells' viability. This was more evident for treatment using the combination ALA + CQ, suggesting that ALA can reduce cells' viability by inhibiting autophagy. In addition, in DU-145 cells we observed that ALA affected the oxidative/redox balance system by deregulating the KEAP1/Nrf2/p62 signaling pathway. ALA decreased ROS production, SOD1 and GSTP1 protein expression, and significantly reduced the cytosolic and nuclear content of the transcription factor Nrf2, concomitantly downregulating p62, suggesting that ALA disrupted p62-Nrf2 feedback loop. Conversely, in LNCaP cells, ALA exposure upregulated both SOD1 and p62 protein expression, but did not affect the KEAP1/Nrf2/p62 signaling pathway. In addition, wound-healing, Western blot, and immunofluorescence assays evidenced that ALA significantly reduced the motility of LNCaP and DU-145 cells and downregulated the protein expression of TGFβ1 and vimentin and the deposition of fibronectin. Finally, a soft agar assay revealed that ALA decreased the colony formation of both the prostate cancer cells by affecting the anchorage independent growth. Collectively, our in vitro evidence demonstrated that in prostate cancer cells, ALA reduces cell growth and counteracts both migration and invasion. Further studies are needed in order to achieve a better understanding of the underlined molecular mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Bossio
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Catanzaro “Magna Græcia”, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (S.B.); (A.P.)
| | - Anna Perri
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Catanzaro “Magna Græcia”, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (S.B.); (A.P.)
| | - Raffaella Gallo
- Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Catanzaro “Magna Græcia”, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy;
| | - Anna De Bartolo
- Cellular and Molecular Cardiovascular Pathophysiology Laboratory, Department of Biology, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy;
| | - Vittoria Rago
- Department of Pharmacy, Health and Nutritional Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy;
| | - Daniele La Russa
- Department of Biology, Ecology and Earth Sciences, University of Calabria, 87036 Rende, Italy;
| | - Michele Di Dio
- Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Annunziata Hospital, 87100 Cosenza, Italy;
| | - Sandro La Vignera
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy; (S.L.V.); (A.E.C.)
| | - Aldo E. Calogero
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, 95124 Catania, Italy; (S.L.V.); (A.E.C.)
| | - Giovanni Vitale
- Department of Medical Biotechnology and Translational Medicine (BIOMETRA), University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy;
- Laboratory of Geriatric and Oncologic Neuroendocrinology Research, IRCCS Istituto Auxologico Italiano, 20145 Milan, Italy
| | - Antonio Aversa
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Catanzaro “Magna Græcia”, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy; (S.B.); (A.P.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Mena-Silva D, Alfaro A, León A, Guajardo-Correa E, Elgueta E, Diaz P, Vilos C, Cardenas H, Denardin JC, Orihuela PA. Zeolite Nanoparticles Loaded with 2-Methoxystradiol as a Novel Drug Delivery System for the Prostate Cancer Therapy. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:10967. [PMID: 37446151 DOI: 10.3390/ijms241310967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023] Open
Abstract
The estrogen metabolite 2-methoxyestradiol (2ME) is a promissory anticancer drug mainly because of its pro-apoptotic properties in cancer cells. However, the therapeutic use of 2ME has been hampered due to its low solubility and bioavailability. Thus, it is necessary to find new ways of administration for 2ME. Zeolites are inorganic aluminosilicates with a porous structure and are considered good adsorbents and sieves in the pharmaceutical field. Here, mordenite-type zeolite nanoparticles were loaded with 2ME to assess its efficiency as a delivery system for prostate cancer treatment. The 2ME-loaded zeolite nanoparticles showed an irregular morphology with a mean hydrodynamic diameter of 250.9 ± 11.4 nm, polydispersity index of 0.36 ± 0.04, and a net negative surface charge of -34 ± 1.73 meV. Spectroscopy with UV-vis and Attenuated Total Reflectance Infrared Fourier-Transform was used to elucidate the interaction between the 2ME molecules and the zeolite framework showing the formation of a 2ME-zeolite conjugate in the nanocomposite. The studies of adsorption and liberation determined that zeolite nanoparticles incorporated 40% of 2ME while the liberation of 2ME reached 90% at pH 7.4 after 7 days. The 2ME-loaded zeolite nanoparticles also decreased the viability and increased the mRNA of the 2ME-target gene F-spondin, encoded by SPON1, in the human prostate cancer cell line LNCaP. Finally, the 2ME-loaded nanoparticles also decreased the viability of primary cultures from mouse prostate cancer. These results show the development of 2ME-loaded zeolite nanoparticles with physicochemical and biological properties compatible with anticancer activity on the human prostate and highlight that zeolite nanoparticles can be a good carrier system for 2ME.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Denisse Mena-Silva
- Laboratorio de Inmunología de la Reproducción, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago 9160000, Chile
| | - Aline Alfaro
- Laboratorio de Inmunología de la Reproducción, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago 9160000, Chile
- Centro para el Desarrollo de la Nanociencia y la Nanotecnología CEDENNA, Santiago 9160000, Chile
| | - Andrea León
- Faculty of Chemistry and Food Chemistry, Technische Universitat Dresden, Bergstrasse 66c, 01069 Dresden, Germany
| | - Emanuel Guajardo-Correa
- Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDIS), Facultad de Ciencias Químicas y Farmacéuticas y Universidad de Chile, Santiago 8380000, Chile
| | - Estefania Elgueta
- Laboratorio de Inmunología de la Reproducción, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago 9160000, Chile
- Centro para el Desarrollo de la Nanociencia y la Nanotecnología CEDENNA, Santiago 9160000, Chile
| | - Patricia Diaz
- Centro para el Desarrollo de la Nanociencia y la Nanotecnología CEDENNA, Santiago 9160000, Chile
| | - Cristian Vilos
- Centro para el Desarrollo de la Nanociencia y la Nanotecnología CEDENNA, Santiago 9160000, Chile
- Laboratory of Nanomedicine and Targeted Delivery, School of Medicine, Universidad de Talca, Talca 3460000, Chile
- Center for Nanomedicine, Diagnostic & Drug Development (cND3), Universidad de Talca, Talca 3460000, Chile
| | - Hugo Cardenas
- Laboratorio de Inmunología de la Reproducción, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago 9160000, Chile
| | - Juliano C Denardin
- Centro para el Desarrollo de la Nanociencia y la Nanotecnología CEDENNA, Santiago 9160000, Chile
- Departamento de Física, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago 9160000, Chile
| | - Pedro A Orihuela
- Laboratorio de Inmunología de la Reproducción, Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago 9160000, Chile
- Centro para el Desarrollo de la Nanociencia y la Nanotecnología CEDENNA, Santiago 9160000, Chile
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Al-Qahtani SD, Bin-Melaih HH, Atiya EM, Fahmy UA, Binmahfouz LS, Neamatallah T, Al-Abbasi FA, Abdel-Naim AB. Self-Nanoemulsifying Drug Delivery System of 2-Methoxyestradiol Exhibits Enhanced Anti-Proliferative and Pro-Apoptotic Activities in MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cells. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12091369. [PMID: 36143405 PMCID: PMC9503162 DOI: 10.3390/life12091369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
(1) Background: 2-Methoxyestradiol (2ME) is a metabolite of estrogens and possesses promising anti-proliferative and cytotoxic activities. However, it suffers unfavorable pharmacokinetic characteristics such as absorption after oral administration. The aim of this study was to prepare an optimized 2ME self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (2ME-SNEDDS) and evaluate its cytotoxicity and pro-apoptotic activities in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. (2) Methods: For optimization of the 2ME-SNEDDS, a three-component system was used in the D-optimal mixture experimental study. MCF-7 cells were incubated with the 2ME-SNEDDS and subjected to an assessment of growth inhibition, cell cycle progression, annexin V staining, caspase-3 concentration, Bax, Bcl-2, and cyclin D1 mRNA expression, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. (3) Results: The optimized formula had a globule size of 94.97 ± 4.35 nm. Zeta potential was found to be −3.4 ± 1.2 mV with a polydispersity index (PDI) of 0.34. In addition, 96.3 ± 4.3% of 2ME was released from the 2ME-SNEDDS within 24 h using the activated analysis bag technique. Moreover, the prepared 2ME-SNEDDS exhibited a significant enhancement of the anti-proliferative activity against MCF-7 cells in comparison to raw 2ME. This was associated with cyclin D1 expression down-regulation and the accumulation of cells in the G0/G1 and G2/M phases. The pro-apoptotic activities of the 2ME-SNEDDS were confirmed by annexin V staining, which indicated enhanced early and late cell death. This accompanied modulation of the mRNA expression of Bax and Bcl-2 in favor of apoptosis. The 2ME-SNEDDS significantly enhanced cleaved caspase-3 concentration in comparison to raw 2ME. In addition, the 2ME-SNEDDS significantly increased the generation of ROS in MCF-7 cells. (4) Conclusions: The 2ME-SNEDDS exhibits enhanced cytotoxicity and pro-apoptotic activity in MCF-7 cells. This is mediated by, at least partially, ROS generation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Salwa D. Al-Qahtani
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Science, Majmaah University, Majmaah 11952, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hawazen H. Bin-Melaih
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Eman M. Atiya
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Usama A. Fahmy
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Lenah S. Binmahfouz
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Thikryat Neamatallah
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fahad A. Al-Abbasi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ashraf B. Abdel-Naim
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
2-Methoxyestradiol TPGS Micelles Attenuate Cyclosporine A-Induced Nephrotoxicity in Rats through Inhibition of TGF-β1 and p-ERK1/2 Axis. Antioxidants (Basel) 2022; 11:antiox11081499. [PMID: 36009218 PMCID: PMC9405159 DOI: 10.3390/antiox11081499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The immunosuppressant cyclosporine A (CSA) has been linked to serious renal toxic effects. Although 2-methoxyestradiol (2ME) possesses a wide range of pharmacological abilities, it suffers poor bioavailability after oral administration. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential of 2ME loaded D-ɑ-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS) micelles to prevent CSA-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. A 2ME-TPGS was prepared and showed particle size of 44.3 ± 3.5 nm with good entrapment efficiency and spherical structures. Male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups, namely: Control, Vehicle, CSA, CSA + 2ME-Raw, and CSA + 2ME-Nano. CSA was injected daily at a SC dose of 20 mg/kg. Both 2ME-Raw and 2ME-Nano were given daily at oral doses of 5 mg/kg. Treatments continued for three successive weeks. 2ME-TPGS exerted significant protective effects against CSA nephrotoxicity. This was evidenced in ameliorating deterioration of renal functions, attenuation of pathological changes in kidney tissues, exerting significant anti-fibrotic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects together with significant anti-apoptotic effects. Western blot analyses showed both 2ME-Raw and 2ME-Nano significantly inhibited protein expression of TGF-β1 and phospho-ERK (p-ERK). It was observed that 2ME-TPGS, in almost all experiments, exerted superior protective effects as compared with 2ME-Raw. In conclusion, 2ME loaded in a TPGS nanocarrier possesses significant protective activities against CSA-induced kidney injury in rats. This is attributable to 2ME anti-fibrotic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic activities which are mediated at least partly by inhibition of TGF-β1/p-ERK axis.
Collapse
|