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Wu KC, Chu PC, Cheng YJ, Li CI, Tian J, Wu HY, Wu SH, Lai YC, Kao HH, Hsu AL, Lin HW, Lin CH. Development of a traditional Chinese medicine-based agent for the treatment of cancer cachexia. J Cachexia Sarcopenia Muscle 2022; 13:2073-2087. [PMID: 35718751 PMCID: PMC9397559 DOI: 10.1002/jcsm.13028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite recent advances in understanding the pathophysiology of cancer cachexia, prevention/treatment of this debilitating disease remains an unmet medical need. METHODS We developed an integrated, multi-tiered strategy involving both in vitro and in vivo muscle atrophy platforms to identify traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)-based anti-cachectic agents. In the initial screening, we used inflammatory cytokine-induced atrophy of C2C12 myotubes as a phenotypic screening platform to assess the protective effects of TCMs. The selected TCMs were then evaluated for their abilities to protect Caenorhabditis elegans from age-related reduction of mobility and contractility, followed by the C-26 colon adenocarcinoma mouse model of cachexia to confirm the anti-muscle atrophy effects (body/skeletal muscle weights, fibre size distribution, grip strengths, and serum IL-6). Transcriptome analysis, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, and immunoblotting were performed to gain understanding of the potential mechanism(s) by which effective TCM protected against C26 tumour-induced muscle atrophy. RESULTS Of 29 widely used TCMs, Dioscorea radix (DR) and Mu Dan Pi (MDP) showed a complete protection (all P values, 0.0002) vis-à-vis C26 conditioned medium control in the myotube atrophy platform. MDP exhibited a unique ability to ameliorate age-associated decreases in worm mobility, accompanied by improved total body contractions, relative to control (P < 0.0001 and <0.01, respectively), which, however, was not noted with DR. This differential in vivo protective effect between MDP and DR was also confirmed in the C-26 mouse model. MDP at 1000 mg/kg (MDP-H) was effective in protecting body weight loss (P < 0.05) in C-26 tumour-bearing mice without changing food or water intake, accompanied by the restoration of the fibre size distribution of hindleg skeletal muscles (P < 0.0001) and the forelimb grip strength (P < 0.05). MDP-treated C-26-tumour-bearing mice were alert, showed normal posture and better body conditions, and exhibited lower serum IL-6 levels (P = 0.06) relative to vehicle control. This decreased serum IL-6 was associated with the in vitro suppressive effect of MDP (25 and 50 μg/mL) on IL-6 secretion into culture medium by C26 cells. RNA-seq analysis, followed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and/or immunoblotting, shows that MDP's anti-cachectic effect was attributable to its ability to reverse the C-26 tumour-induced re-programming of muscle homoeostasis-associated gene expression, including that of two cachexia drivers (MuRF1 and Atrogin-1), in skeletal muscles. CONCLUSIONS All these findings suggest the translational potential of MDP to foster new strategies for the prevention and/or treatment of cachexia. The protective effect of MDP on other types of muscle atrophy such as sarcopenia might warrant investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kun-Chang Wu
- School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Research Center for Healthy Aging, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Po-Chen Chu
- Department of Cosmeceutics and Graduate Institute of Cosmeceutics, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Jung Cheng
- Department of Physical Therapy and Graduate Institute of Rehabilitation Science, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Department of Rehabilitation, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Ing Li
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Department of Medical Research, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Jingkui Tian
- Institute of Cancer and Basic Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Cancer Hospital of the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, China.,College of Biomedical Engineering & Instrument Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hsing-Yu Wu
- Institute of Biological Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Szu-Hsien Wu
- School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Institute of New Drug Development, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chun Lai
- Research Center for Healthy Aging, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Hsiang-Han Kao
- Department of Family Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Ao-Lin Hsu
- Research Center for Healthy Aging, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,PhD Program for Aging, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Geriatrics & Palliative Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Hsiang-Wen Lin
- School of Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Department of Pharmacy, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.,Department of Pharmacy System, Outcomes and Policy, College of Pharmacy, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Chih-Hsueh Lin
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.,Department of Geriatric Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan
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Ewald CY. Drug Screening Implicates Chondroitin Sulfate as a Potential Longevity Pill. FRONTIERS IN AGING 2021; 2:741843. [PMID: 35821992 PMCID: PMC9261418 DOI: 10.3389/fragi.2021.741843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Discovering compounds that promote health during aging ("geroprotectors") is key to the retardation of age-related pathologies and the prevention of chronic age-related diseases. In in-silico and model organisms' lifespan screens, chondroitin sulfate has emerged as a geroprotective compound. Chondroitin sulfate is a glycosaminoglycan attached to extracellular matrix proteins and is naturally produced by our body. Oral supplementation of chondroitin sulfate shows a high tolerance in humans, preferable pharmacokinetics, a positive correlation with healthy human longevity, and efficacy in deceleration of age-related diseases in randomized clinical trials. We have recently shown that chondroitin sulfate supplementation increases the lifespan of C. elegans. Thus, chondroitin sulfate holds the potential to become a geroprotective strategy to promote health during human aging. This review discusses the two major potential mechanisms of action, extracellular matrix homeostasis and inhibition of inflammation, that counteract age-related pathologies upon chondroitin sulfate supplementation.
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Cavanah P, Itou J, Rusman Y, Tahara N, Williams JM, Salomon CE, Kawakami Y. A nontoxic fungal natural product modulates fin regeneration in zebrafish larvae upstream of FGF-WNT developmental signaling. Dev Dyn 2020; 250:160-174. [PMID: 32857425 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The regeneration of larvae zebrafish fin emerged as a new model of regeneration in the last decade. In contrast to genetic tools to study fin regeneration, chemical probes to modulate and interrogate regeneration processes are not well developed. RESULTS We set up a zebrafish larvae fin regeneration assay system and tested activities of natural product compounds and extracts, prepared from various microbes. Colomitide C, a recently isolated product from a fungus obtained from Antarctica, inhibited larvae fin regeneration. Using fluorescent reporter transgenic lines, we show that colomitide C inhibited fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling and WNT/β-catenin signaling, which were activated after larvae fin amputation. By using the endothelial cell reporter line and immunofluorescence, we showed that colomitide C did not affect migration of the blood vessel and nerve into the injured larvae fin. Colomitide C did not show any cytotoxic activities when tested against FGF receptor-amplified human cancer cell lines. CONCLUSION Colomitide C, a natural product, modulated larvae fin regeneration likely acting upstream of FGF and WNT signaling. Colomitide C may serve as a template for developing new chemical probes to study regeneration and other biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Cavanah
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Junji Itou
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.,Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.,Developmental Biology Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Yudi Rusman
- Center for Drug Design, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Naoyuki Tahara
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.,Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.,Developmental Biology Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Jessica M Williams
- Center for Drug Design, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Christine E Salomon
- Center for Drug Design, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Yasuhiko Kawakami
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.,Stem Cell Institute, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA.,Developmental Biology Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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Wang W, Lv H, Zhao Y. Predicting DNA binding protein-drug interactions based on network similarity. BMC Bioinformatics 2020; 21:322. [PMID: 32689927 PMCID: PMC7372772 DOI: 10.1186/s12859-020-03664-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The study of DNA binding protein (DBP)-drug interactions can open a breakthrough for the treatment of genetic diseases and cancers. Currently, network-based methods are widely used for protein-drug interaction prediction, and many hidden relationships can be found through network analysis. We proposed a DCA (drug-cluster association) model for predicting DBP-drug interactions. The clusters are some similarities in the drug-binding site trimmers with their physicochemical properties. First, DBPs-drug binding sites are extracted from scPDB database. Second, each binding site is represented as a trimer which is obtained by sliding the window in the binding sites. Third, the trimers are clustered based on the physicochemical properties. Fourth, we build the network by generating the interaction matrix for representing the DCA network. Fifth, three link prediction methods are detected in the network. Finally, the common neighbor (CN) method is selected to predict drug-cluster associations in the DBP-drug network model. RESULT This network shows that drugs tend to bind to positively charged sites and the binding process is more likely to occur inside the DBPs. The results of the link prediction indicate that the CN method has better prediction performance than the PA and JA methods. The DBP-drug network prediction model is generated by using the CN method which predicted more accurately drug-trimer interactions and DBP-drug interactions. Such as, we found that Erythromycin (ERY) can establish an interaction relationship with HTH-type transcriptional repressor, which is fitted well with silico DBP-drug prediction. CONCLUSION The drug and protein bindings are local events. The binding of the drug-DBPs binding site represents this local binding event, which helps to understand the mechanism of DBP-drug interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wang
- Department of Computer Science and Technology, College of Computer and Information Engineering, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, 453007, China. .,Big Data Engineering Laboratory for Teaching Resources & assessment of Education Quality, Henan Province, Xinxiang, China.
| | - Hehe Lv
- Department of Computer Science and Technology, College of Computer and Information Engineering, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, 453007, China
| | - Yuan Zhao
- Department of Computer Science and Technology, College of Computer and Information Engineering, Henan Normal University, Xinxiang, 453007, China
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Ji J, Yuan J, Guo X, Ji R, Quan Q, Ding M, Li X, Liu Y. Harmine suppresses hyper-activated Ras-MAPK pathway by selectively targeting oncogenic mutated Ras/Raf in Caenorhabditis elegans. Cancer Cell Int 2019; 19:159. [PMID: 31198408 PMCID: PMC6558680 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-019-0880-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mutationally activated Ras proteins are closely linked to a wide variety of human cancers. Hence, there has been an intensive search for anti-Ras therapies for cancer treatment. The sole Ras gene, which encodes LET-60, in Caenorhabditis elegans regulates vulval development. While the loss of let-60 function leads to failure of vulva formation, the let-60(n1046gf) allele, which contains a missense mutation mimicking a Ras codon 13 mutation found in human cancers, results in extra vulval tissue, a phenotype named Muv (multiple vulvas). Methods By taking advantage of the easy-to-score Muv phenotype of let-60(n1046gf), we used a step-by-step screening approach (from crude extract to active fraction to active natural compound) to search for inhibitors of oncogenic Ras. Mutants of other key components in the Ras-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway were used to identify other candidate targets. Results The natural compound harmine, isolated from the plant Peganum harmala, was found to suppress the Muv phenotype of let-60(n1046gf). In addition, harmine targets the hyper-activation of the Ras/MAPK pathway specifically caused by overexpression or mutated forms of LET-60/Ras and its immediate downstream molecule LIN-45/Raf. Finally, harmine can be absorbed into the worm body and probably functions in its native form, rather than requiring metabolic activation. Conclusion In sum, we have revealed for the first time the anti-Ras activity of harmine in a C. elegans model system. Our results revealed the potential anti-cancer mechanism of harmine, which may be useful for the treatment of specific human cancers that are associated with oncogenic Ras mutations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaojiao Ji
- 1Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jiang Yuan
- 1Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyu Guo
- 1Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Ruifang Ji
- 1Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Qinghua Quan
- 1Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Mei Ding
- 2State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xia Li
- 2State Key Laboratory of Molecular Developmental Biology, Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yonggang Liu
- 1Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
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Prasanth MI, Venkatesh D, Murali D, Bhaskar JP, Krishnan V, Balamurugan K. Understanding the role of DAF-16 mediated pathway in Caenorhabditis elegans during UV-A mediated photoaging process. Arch Gerontol Geriatr 2019; 82:279-285. [DOI: 10.1016/j.archger.2019.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Revised: 03/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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Dönertaş HM, Fuentealba M, Partridge L, Thornton JM. Identifying Potential Ageing-Modulating Drugs In Silico. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2019; 30:118-131. [PMID: 30581056 PMCID: PMC6362144 DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2018.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2018] [Revised: 11/23/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Increasing human life expectancy has posed increasing challenges for healthcare systems. As people age, they become more susceptible to chronic diseases, with an increasing burden of multimorbidity, and the associated polypharmacy. Accumulating evidence from work with laboratory animals has shown that ageing is a malleable process that can be ameliorated by genetic and environmental interventions. Drugs that modulate the ageing process may delay or even prevent the incidence of multiple diseases of ageing. To identify novel, anti-ageing drugs, several studies have developed computational drug-repurposing strategies. We review published studies showing the potential of current drugs to modulate ageing. Future studies should integrate current knowledge with multi-omics, health records, and drug safety data to predict drugs that can improve health in late life.
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Affiliation(s)
- Handan Melike Dönertaş
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton CB10 1SD, UK; These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Matías Fuentealba
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton CB10 1SD, UK; Institute of Healthy Aging, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK; These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Linda Partridge
- Institute of Healthy Aging, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, UK; Max Planck Institute for Biology of Aging, Cologne, Germany
| | - Janet M Thornton
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton CB10 1SD, UK.
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Fuentealba M, Dönertaş HM, Williams R, Labbadia J, Thornton JM, Partridge L. Using the drug-protein interactome to identify anti-ageing compounds for humans. PLoS Comput Biol 2019; 15:e1006639. [PMID: 30625143 PMCID: PMC6342327 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1006639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2018] [Revised: 01/22/2019] [Accepted: 11/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Advancing age is the dominant risk factor for most of the major killer diseases in developed countries. Hence, ameliorating the effects of ageing may prevent multiple diseases simultaneously. Drugs licensed for human use against specific diseases have proved to be effective in extending lifespan and healthspan in animal models, suggesting that there is scope for drug repurposing in humans. New bioinformatic methods to identify and prioritise potential anti-ageing compounds for humans are therefore of interest. In this study, we first used drug-protein interaction information, to rank 1,147 drugs by their likelihood of targeting ageing-related gene products in humans. Among 19 statistically significant drugs, 6 have already been shown to have pro-longevity properties in animal models (p < 0.001). Using the targets of each drug, we established their association with ageing at multiple levels of biological action including pathways, functions and protein interactions. Finally, combining all the data, we calculated a ranked list of drugs that identified tanespimycin, an inhibitor of HSP-90, as the top-ranked novel anti-ageing candidate. We experimentally validated the pro-longevity effect of tanespimycin through its HSP-90 target in Caenorhabditis elegans. Human life expectancy is continuing to increase worldwide, as a result of successive improvements in living conditions and medical care. Although this trend is to be celebrated, advancing age is the major risk factor for multiple impairments and chronic diseases. As a result, the later years of life are often spent in poor health and lowered quality of life. However, these effects of ageing are not inevitable, because very long-lived people often suffer rather little ill-health at the end of their lives. Furthermore, laboratory experiments have shown that animals fed with specific drugs can live longer and with fewer age-related diseases than their untreated companions. We therefore need to identify drugs with anti-ageing properties for humans. We have used publically available data and a computer-based approach to search for drugs that affect components and processes known to be important in human ageing. This approach worked, because it was able to re-discover several drugs known to increase lifespan in animal models, plus some new ones, including one that we tested experimentally and validated in this study. These drugs are now a high priority for animal testing and for exploring effects on human ageing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matías Fuentealba
- Institute of Healthy Ageing, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Handan Melike Dönertaş
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Rhianna Williams
- Institute of Healthy Ageing, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Johnathan Labbadia
- Institute of Healthy Ageing, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Janet M. Thornton
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Linda Partridge
- Institute of Healthy Ageing, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Environment, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing, Cologne, Germany
- * E-mail:
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