Guibitang, a traditional herbal medicine, induces apoptotic death in A431 cells by regulating the activities of mitogen-activated protein kinases

Inhibition of LDHA suppresses cell proliferation and increases mitochondrial apoptosis via the JNK signaling pathway in cervical cancer cells

The Warburg effect or aerobic glycolysis is a hallmark of cancer. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), which catalyzes conversion of pyruvate into lactate, serves a critical role during Warburg effect. LDH A chain (LDHA), a member of the LDH family, is upregulated in multiple types of cancer and serves a vital role in tumor growth and progression. However, its expression and function in cervical cancer has not been characterized. The present study evaluated LDHA expression in The Cancer Genome Atlas database and found that LDHA was upregulated in cervical cancer compared with normal tissue. To clarify the role of LDHA in cervical cancer HeLa and SiHa cells, lentiviral shRNA was used to stably knockdown LDHA and oxamate, a small-molecule inhibitor of LDHA, was used to inhibit the activity of LDHA. Glucose uptake assay, lactate production measurement and ATP detection assay demonstrated LDHA inhibition notably decreased glucose consumption, lactate production and ATP levels in both HeLa and SiHa cells. Furthermore, the effect of LDHA inhibition on cell proliferation, cell cycle and apoptosis was investigated by MTT, BrdU incorporation, colony formation assay, flow cytometry and western blotting; LDHA knockdown or oxamate treatment led to decreased cell proliferation and increased apoptosis. Inhibition of LDHA induced G₂/M cell cycle arrest and activated the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. Mechanistically, the JNK signaling pathway was key for LDHA inhibition-mediated cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Collectively, these results indicated that LDHA was involved in cervical cancer pathogenesis and may be a promising therapeutic target for treatment.

Protective effect of water extract of guibi-tang against pulmonary inflammation induced by cigarette smoke and lipopolysaccharide

Water extract of guibi-tang (GB), a traditional Chinese, Japanese, and Korean herbal medicine, is used to treat memory impairment, insomnia, and peptic ulcers. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of GB on pulmonary inflammation induced by cigarette smoke (CS) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). C57BL/6 mice were used to develop a pulmonary inflammation model by exposing them to CS for 1 h per day for 7 days. LPS was intranasally administered to mice under mild anesthesia on day 5. GB was administered 1 h before CS exposure at doses of 50 or 100 mg/kg for 7 days. Our results showed that GB suppressed the CS and LPS induced elevation in inflammatory cell counts in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), with significant reductions in protein, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, and interleukin (IL)-6 levels. Histological studies revealed that GB decreased the inflammatory cell infiltration into lung tissue caused by CS- and LPS-exposure. GB also significantly decreased the CS and LPS-induced expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the lung tissue. Taken together, GB effectively attenuated airway inflammation caused by CS and LPS. These results indicate that GB is a potential therapeutic herbal formula for pulmonary inflammatory disease.

Apoptosis and antimigration induction in human skin cancer cells by rhodomyrtone

Rhodomyrtone is a bioactive compound extracted from Rhodomyrtus tomentosa leaves. It has been used as a traditional herb medicine for many years. Rhodomyrtone exhibits antibacterial activity, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. However, the anticancer activity of rhodomyrtone has not been previously reported. The present study investigated the anticancer effect of rhomyrtone on human epidermoid carcinoma A431 cells. The cytotoxic and antiproliferative effects of rhodomyrtone on A431 cells were investigated by an MTT assay. Cell morphological alterations and apoptotic cells were observed with Hoechst 33342 staining following rhodomyrtone treatment. Flow cytometry and western blotting were performed to detect cell cycle and apoptosis induction. The results demonstrated that rhodomyrtone inhibited proliferation of A431 cells in a dose-dependent manner with IC⁵⁰ value of 8.04±0.11 µg/ml. The results also indicated that rhodomyrtone increased chromatin condensation, nuclear fragmentation and apoptotic bodies in treated A431 cells in a time-dependent manner. Apoptosis was also induced through the activation of caspase-7 and poly (ADP-Ribose) polymerase cleavage. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that rhodomyrtone induced cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase. Notably, the non-toxic concentration of rhodomyrtone markedly inhibited A431 cell migration in a dose- and time-dependent manner. These finding suggested that rhodomyrtone may be used as an anticancer agent for human skin cancer.

The effects of Ciji-Hua'ai-Baosheng on immune function of mice with H22 hepatocellular carcinoma receiving chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

Ciji-Hua'ai-Baosheng Decoction (CHBD) is a traditional Chinese formula that may attenuate the toxicity and side-effects of chemotherapy. The formula may also prolong the life of cancer patients. Whether CHBD should be employed as adjunctive therapy for cancer patients receiving chemotherapy has yet to be determined as does the mechanism whereby CHBD exerts its beneficial effects.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To document the potential effects of CHBD on tumor growth and immune function in a murine model of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) receiving chemotherapy.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Sixty Kunming mice were injected subcutaneously with H₂₂ hepatoma cells in the right anterior armpit. After seven days, the mice with formed tumors were injected with Cytoxan (CTX) (200 mg/kg) to establish the chemotherapy model. These mice were randomly divided into 5 groups: model (untreated controls), control (CTX,33.33 mg/kg), and high CHBD (H) (117 g/kg), moderate CHBD (M) (58.5 g/kg) and low CHBD (L) (29.25 g/kg) treated groups. Tumor weights and inhibitory ratio (decrease in tumor dimensions), histology of tumor, colon, spleen and liver, and biochemical tests of liver and kidney function were documented after 10 days. Serum and tumor IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-6, and TNF-α levels were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and Western blot respectively. The potential bioactive compounds in CHBD were characterized by UHPLC-MS.

RESULTS

Although tumor weights were decreased in CTX alone and CHBD (H) and CHBD (M) groups (-66%, -41% and -25% respectively), tumor cell density was reduced to the greatest extent in the CHBD (H) group. CHBD had no evident effects on liver and kidney function. CTX-induced colon inflammation and decrease in spleen lymphocytes were attenuated with CHBD treatment. CHBD increased serum IL-2, IFN-γ and TNF-α, but decreased IL-6 levels in serum and tumor tissue. UHPLC-MS analysis of CHBD revealed the presence of 11 bioactive compounds.

CONCLUSIONS

In this murine model of HCC receiving chemotherapy, CHBD inhibited tumor growth, improved immune function and pro-inflammatory cytokine responses while attenuating CTX-associated side effects.

Alterations of Gefitinib Pharmacokinetics by Co-administration of Herbal Medications in Rats

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the potential pharmacokinetic interactions of the anticancer agent gefitinib (Iressa®) and the oriental medications Guipi Decoction (, GPD, Guibi-tang in Korean) and Bawu Decoction (, BWD, Palmul-tang in Korean).

METHODS

Methylcellulose (MC, control), GPD (1,200 mg/kg), or BWD (6,000 mg/kg) was orally administered to rats either as a single dose or multiple doses prior to gefitinib administration. To examine the effects of a single dose of the herbal medicines, gefitinib (10 mg/kg) was orally administered after 5 min or 1 h of MC or the herbal medicine pretreatments. To examine the effects of the multiple doses of the herbal medicines, gefitinib (10 mg/kg) was orally administered following 7 consecutive days of the administration of MC or each herbal medicine. The plasma concentrations of gefitinib were determined with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry assay. The plasma concentration-time profiles of gefitinib were analyzed with a noncompartmental analysis.

RESULTS

Gefitinib was rapidly absorbed and showed a monoexponential decline with an elimination half-life of 3.7-4.1 h. The pharmacokinetics of gefitinib was not affected by GPD pretreatment. However, a significantly lower maximum plasma concentration (C_max, P<0.05) and area under the curve (P<0.05), and a delayed time to reach C_max (T_max, P<0.01) were observed in both single- and multipledose BWD-pretreated rats compared with the control rats.

CONCLUSIONS

BWD and not GPD might delay and interfere with gefitinib absorption. Further evaluations of the clinical significance of these findings are needed.

Enhancement of anticancer activity and drug delivery of chitosan-curcumin nanoparticle via molecular docking and simulation analysis

Computational analyses followed by traditional wet-bench experiments have become a method of choice due to successful results. To enhance the solubility and bioavailability of curcumin within chitosan nanoparticle, we have exploited computational methodologies i.e. docking, BBD-RSM and MD simulation for the polymer selection, NPs' formulation, optimization and their stability confirmation in an aqueous medium, respectively. Formulated CSCur NPs were assessed for in-vitro release, which exhibited a sustained release pattern and four-fold higher cytotoxic activity in a nanoparticulated system. Enhanced uptake, apoptotic effect of CSCur NPs were established by morphological changes in cells as observed by fluorescence microscopy and FE-SEM. DNA damage, cell-cycle blockage and elevated ROS levels further confirm the anticancer activity of the CSCur NPs following apoptotic pathways. In-vivo study on Danio rerio, for uptake and toxicity reveal the particle's biocompatibility and nontoxicity. Therefore, CSCur NPs could be the potential formulation for a safe chemotherapeutic drug for cancer.

Therapeutic targets of Traditional Chinese Medicine for colorectal cancer

OBJECTIVE

To explore the role of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) in the prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer and identify possible therapeutic targets of TCM to provide clues for the use of TCM for colorectal cancer prevention and treatment in the clinic and to find novel directions for new drug discovery for colorectal cancer.

METHODS

We used PubMed and Google to search for and collect scientific publications for a full evalu- ation of current evidence in the literature indicating the potential role of Chinese herbal medicines and their respective ingredients as effective candidates for colorectal cancer prevention and treatment.

RESULTS

We extracted a detailed description of potential therapeutic Chinese herbal medicines and their constituent ingredients that target different mechanisms in colorectal cancer such as gene mutation, dysregulation of signaling pathways, metabolism disorders, and the inflammatory microenvironment, including both conventional and non-conventional approaches.

CONCLUSION

TCM may be a promising complementary and alternative therapy for the treatment of colorectal cancer.

Effects of methylglyoxal and glyoxalase I inhibition on breast cancer cells proliferation, invasion, and apoptosis through modulation of MAPKs, MMP9, and Bcl-2

Emerging evidence indicates that methylglyoxal (MG) can inhibit tumorigenesis. Glyoxalase I (GLOI), a MG degradation enzyme, is implicated in the progression of human malignancies. However, little is known about the roles of MG and GLOI in breast cancer. Our purpose was to investigate the anticancer effects of MG and inhibition of GLOI on breast cancer cells and the underlying mechanisms of these effects. Our findings demonstrate that cell viability, migration, invasion, colony formation, and tubule formation were significantly restrained by addition of MG or inhibition of GLOI, while apoptosis was significantly increased. Furthermore, the expression of p-JNK, p-ERK, and p-p38 was markedly upregulated by addition of MG or inhibition of GLOI, whereas MMP-9 and Bcl-2 expression levels were dramatically decreased. These effects were augmented by combined treatment with MG and inhibition of GLOI. Collectively, these data indicate that MG or inhibition of GLOI induces anticancer effects in breast cancer cells and that these effects are potentiated by combination of the 2. These effects were modulated by activation of the MAPK family and downregulation of Bcl-2 and MMP-9. These findings may provide a new approach for the treatment of breast cancer.

In-vitro Optimization of Nanoparticle-Cell Labeling Protocols for In-vivo Cell Tracking Applications

Recent advances in theranostic nanomedicine can promote stem cell and immune cell-based therapy. Gold nanoparticles (GNPs) have been shown to be promising agents for in-vivo cell-tracking in cell-based therapy applications. Yet a crucial challenge is to develop a reliable protocol for cell upload with, on the one hand, sufficient nanoparticles to achieve maximum visibility of cells, while on the other hand, assuring minimal effect of particles on cell function and viability. Previous studies have demonstrated that the physicochemical parameters of GNPs have a critical impact on their efficient uptake by cells. In the current study we have examined possible variations in GNP uptake, resulting from different incubation period and concentrations in different cell-lines. We have found that GNPs effectively labeled three different cell-lines - stem, immune and cancer cells, with minimal impairment to cell viability and functionality. We further found that uptake efficiency of GNPs into cells stabilized after a short period of time, while GNP concentration had a significant impact on cellular uptake, revealing cell-dependent differences. Our results suggest that while heeding the slight variations within cell lines, modifying the loading time and concentration of GNPs, can promote cell visibility in various nanoparticle-dependent in-vivo cell tracking and imaging applications.