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Isowa M, Hamaguchi R, Narui R, Morikawa H, Okamoto T, Wada H. Exploring the Potential Use of Natural Products Together with Alkalization in Cancer Therapy. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:787. [PMID: 38931908 PMCID: PMC11207558 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16060787] [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: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 05/31/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer treatment is a significant focus in medicine, owing to the increasing global incidence of cancers. Patients with advanced cancers that do not respond to conventional therapies have limited options and an unfavorable prognosis. Consequently, researchers are investigating complementary approaches to conventional treatments. One such approach is alkalization therapy, which aims to neutralize the acidic tumor microenvironment (TME) by increasing its pH level. The acidic TME promotes inflammation, tumor progression, and drug resistance. Alkalization therapy has been demonstrated to be effective for various cancers. In addition, natural products, such as triterpenoids, parthenolides, fulvic acid, Taxus yunnanensis, and apple pectin have the potential to alleviate symptoms, maintain physical fitness, and improve treatment outcomes of cancer patients through their anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and anticancer properties. In this review, we focus on the effects of alkalization therapy and natural products on cancer. Furthermore, we present a case series of advanced cancer patients who received alkalization therapy and natural products alongside standard treatments, resulting in long-term survival. We posit that alkalization therapy together with supplementation with natural products may confer benefits to cancer patients, by mitigating the side effects of chemotherapy and complementing standard treatments. However, further research is warranted to validate these clinical findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahide Isowa
- Japanese Society on Inflammation and Metabolism in Cancer, 119 Nishioshikouji-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto 604-0842, Japan; (M.I.); (R.N.); (H.M.); (H.W.)
| | - Reo Hamaguchi
- Japanese Society on Inflammation and Metabolism in Cancer, 119 Nishioshikouji-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto 604-0842, Japan; (M.I.); (R.N.); (H.M.); (H.W.)
| | - Ryoko Narui
- Japanese Society on Inflammation and Metabolism in Cancer, 119 Nishioshikouji-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto 604-0842, Japan; (M.I.); (R.N.); (H.M.); (H.W.)
| | - Hiromasa Morikawa
- Japanese Society on Inflammation and Metabolism in Cancer, 119 Nishioshikouji-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto 604-0842, Japan; (M.I.); (R.N.); (H.M.); (H.W.)
| | - Toshihiro Okamoto
- Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH 44195, USA;
| | - Hiromi Wada
- Japanese Society on Inflammation and Metabolism in Cancer, 119 Nishioshikouji-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto 604-0842, Japan; (M.I.); (R.N.); (H.M.); (H.W.)
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Chen X, Zhang T, He YQ, Miao TW, Yin J, Ding Q, Yang M, Chen FY, Zeng HP, Liu J, Zhu Q. NGEF is a potential prognostic biomarker and could serve as an indicator for immunotherapy and chemotherapy in lung adenocarcinoma. BMC Pulm Med 2024; 24:248. [PMID: 38764064 PMCID: PMC11102621 DOI: 10.1186/s12890-024-03046-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/21/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neuronal guanine nucleotide exchange factor (NGEF) plays a key role in several cancers; however, its role in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of NGEF as a prognostic biomarker and potential therapeutic target for LUAD. METHODS NGEF expression data for multiple cancers and LUAD were downloaded from multiple databases. The high- and low-NGEF expression groups were constructed based on median NGEF expression in LUAD samples, and then performed Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from the two NGEF expression groups were screened and applied to construct a protein-protein interaction network. The primary pathways were obtained using gene set enrichment analysis. The associations between NGEF expression and clinical characteristics, immune infiltration, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), sensitivity to chemotherapy, and tumor mutation burden (TMB) were investigated using R. Levels of NGEF expression in the lung tissue was validated using single-cell RNA sequencing, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), immunohistochemical staining, and western blot analysis. RESULTS The expression of NGEF mRNA was upregulated in multiple cancers. mRNA and protein expression levels of NGEF were higher in patients with LUAD than in controls, as validated using qPCR and western blot. High NGEF expression was an independent prognostic factor for LUAD and was associated with advanced tumor stage, large tumor size, more lymph node metastasis, and worse overall survival (OS). A total of 182 overlapping DEGs were screened between The Cancer Genome Atlas and GSE31210, among which the top 20 hub genes were identified. NGEF expression was mainly enriched in the pathways of apoptosis, cell cycle, and DNA replication. Moreover, elevated NGEF expression were associated with a high fraction of activated memory CD4+ T cells and M0 macrophages; elevated expression levels of the ICIs: programmed cell death 1 and programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 expression; higher TMB; and better sensitivity to bortezomib, docetaxel, paclitaxel, and parthenolide, but less sensitivity to axitinib and metformin. CONCLUSION NGEF expression is upregulated in LUAD and is significantly associated with tumor stages, OS probability, immune infiltration, immunotherapy response, and chemotherapy response. NGEF may be a potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarker and therapeutic target in LUAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Chen
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Zigong First People's Hospital, Zigong, China.
| | - Tao Zhang
- Department of Intensive Care Unit, Chongqing General Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chongqing, China
| | - Yan-Qiu He
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Zigong First People's Hospital, Zigong, China
| | - Ti-Wei Miao
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Zigong First People's Hospital, Zigong, China
| | - Jie Yin
- School of Automation & Information Engineering, Sichuan university of Science & Engineering, Zigong, China
| | - Qian Ding
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Zigong First People's Hospital, Zigong, China
| | - Mei Yang
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Zigong First People's Hospital, Zigong, China
| | - Fang-Ying Chen
- Department of Tuberculosis, The Third People's Hospital of Tibet Autonomous Region, Lhasa, China
| | - Hong-Ping Zeng
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Zigong First People's Hospital, Zigong, China
| | - Jie Liu
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Zigong First People's Hospital, Zigong, China
| | - Qi Zhu
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Zigong First People's Hospital, Zigong, China
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Damare R, Engle K, Kumar G. Targeting epidermal growth factor receptor and its downstream signaling pathways by natural products: A mechanistic insight. Phytother Res 2024; 38:2406-2447. [PMID: 38433568 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.8166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/05/2024]
Abstract
The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a transmembrane receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) that maintains normal tissues and cell signaling pathways. EGFR is overactivated and overexpressed in many malignancies, including breast, lung, pancreatic, and kidney. Further, the EGFR gene mutations and protein overexpression activate downstream signaling pathways in cancerous cells, stimulating the growth, survival, resistance to apoptosis, and progression of tumors. Anti-EGFR therapy is the potential approach for treating malignancies and has demonstrated clinical success in treating specific cancers. The recent report suggests most of the clinically used EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors developed resistance to the cancer cells. This perspective provides a brief overview of EGFR and its implications in cancer. We have summarized natural products-derived anticancer compounds with the mechanistic basis of tumor inhibition via the EGFR pathway. We propose that developing natural lead molecules into new anticancer agents has a bright future after clinical investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rutuja Damare
- Department of Natural Products, Chemical Sciences, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research-Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India
| | - Kritika Engle
- Department of Natural Products, Chemical Sciences, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research-Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India
| | - Gautam Kumar
- Department of Natural Products, Chemical Sciences, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research-Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India
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Huang L, Liu F, Liu X, Niu L, Sun L, Fang F, Ma K, Hu P. Parthenolide inhibits the proliferation and migration of cervical cancer cells via FAK/GSK3β pathway. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2024; 93:203-213. [PMID: 38141074 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-023-04621-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Cervical cancer (CC) ranks as the fourth most prevalent malignancy among women worldwide, necessitating effective therapeutic interventions to mitigate its detrimental impact on both physical and mental health. Parthenolide (PTL), a natural product of the sesquiterpene lactone derived from Feverfew leaves, has exhibited promising anti-tumor properties in previous studies; however, its precise effects and underlying molecular mechanisms in CC remain elusive. METHODS In this work, we investigated the effect of PTL on the proliferation and migration of CC cells. Western blot analysis and Reverse transcription‑quantitative PCR were used for mechanistic elucidation. RESULTS Our findings indicated that PTL substantially inhibited the proliferation of HeLa and SiHa CC cell lines in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Moreover, PTL significantly suppressed the migration of CC cells by down-regulating the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), metastasis-associated protein 1 (MTA1), and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1). Mechanistically, PTL blocked the phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β) induced by epidermal growth factor (EGF). Further investigations revealed that PTL suppressed the proliferation of CC cells by inhibiting the EGF-mediated phosphorylation of the FAK/GSK3β signaling pathway. CONCLUSION Taken together, the present in vitro results suggest that PTL may inhibit the proliferation and migration of CC cells through down-regulating the FAK/GSK3β signaling pathway, providing new insights for the application of PTL in the treatment of CC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liru Huang
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Nanchang University, 1299 Xuefu Avenue, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330001, People's Republic of China
- School of Pharmacy, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, People's Republic of China
| | - Fuhong Liu
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Nanchang University, 1299 Xuefu Avenue, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330001, People's Republic of China
| | - Xukai Liu
- School of Future Technology, Nanchang University, 1299 Xuefu Avenue, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330001, People's Republic of China
| | - Liyan Niu
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Nanchang University, 1299 Xuefu Avenue, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330001, People's Republic of China
| | - Longhua Sun
- Department of Respiratory, The First Affiliated Hospital, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330001, People's Republic of China
| | - Fang Fang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jiangxi Maternal and Child Health Hospital, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330006, People's Republic of China
| | - Kun Ma
- Queen Mary College of Nanchang University, 1299 Xuefu Avenue, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330001, People's Republic of China
| | - Ping Hu
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Nanchang University, 1299 Xuefu Avenue, Nanchang, Jiangxi, 330001, People's Republic of China.
- School of Pharmacy, Jiangxi Medical College, Nanchang University, Nanchang, 330031, People's Republic of China.
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Denda Y, Matsuo Y, Sugita S, Eguchi Y, Nonoyama K, Murase H, Kato T, Imafuji H, Saito K, Morimoto M, Ogawa R, Takahashi H, Mitsui A, Kimura M, Takiguchi S. The Natural Product Parthenolide Inhibits Both Angiogenesis and Invasiveness and Improves Gemcitabine Resistance by Suppressing Nuclear Factor κB Activation in Pancreatic Cancer Cell Lines. Nutrients 2024; 16:705. [PMID: 38474833 DOI: 10.3390/nu16050705] [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: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 02/18/2024] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
We previously established pancreatic cancer (PaCa) cell lines resistant to gemcitabine and found that the activity of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) was enhanced upon the acquisition of gemcitabine resistance. Parthenolide, the main active ingredient in feverfew, has been reported to exhibit antitumor activity by suppressing the NF-κB signaling pathway in several types of cancers. However, the antitumor effect of parthenolide on gemcitabine-resistant PaCa has not been elucidated. Here, we confirmed that parthenolide significantly inhibits the proliferation of both gemcitabine-resistant and normal PaCa cells at concentrations of 10 µM and higher, and that the NF-κB activity is significantly inhibited, even by 1 µM parthenolide. In Matrigel invasion assays and angiogenesis assays, the invasive and angiogenic potentials were higher in gemcitabine-resistant than normal PaCa cells and were inhibited by a low concentration of parthenolide. Furthermore, Western blotting showed suppressed MRP1 expression in gemcitabine-resistant PaCa treated with a low parthenolide concentration. In a colony formation assay, the addition of 1 µM parthenolide improved the sensitivity of gemcitabine-resistant PaCa cell lines to gemcitabine. These results suggest that parthenolide may be used as a novel therapeutic agent for the treatment of gemcitabine-resistant PaCa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Denda
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1-Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan
| | - Yoichi Matsuo
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1-Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan
| | - Saburo Sugita
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1-Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan
| | - Yuki Eguchi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1-Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan
| | - Keisuke Nonoyama
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1-Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan
| | - Hiromichi Murase
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1-Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan
| | - Tomokatsu Kato
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1-Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Imafuji
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1-Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan
| | - Kenta Saito
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1-Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan
| | - Mamoru Morimoto
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1-Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan
| | - Ryo Ogawa
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1-Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan
| | - Hiroki Takahashi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1-Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan
| | - Akira Mitsui
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1-Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan
| | - Masahiro Kimura
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1-Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan
| | - Shuji Takiguchi
- Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1-Kawasumi, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan
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Ma SB, Liu L, Li X, Xie YH, Shi XP, Wang SW. Virtual screening-molecular docking-activity evaluation of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) swingle bark in the treatment of ulcerative colitis. BMC Complement Med Ther 2023; 23:197. [PMID: 37322476 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-03991-0] [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: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The dried bark of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of ulcerative colitis. The objective of this study was to explore the therapeutic basis of the dried bark of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle for the treatment of ulcerative colitis based on Virtual Screening-Molecular Docking-Activity Evaluation technology. METHODS By searching the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology TCMSP Database and Analysis Platform, 89 compounds were obtained from the chemical components of the dried bark of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle. Then, after preliminarily screening the compounds based on Lipinski's rule of five and other relevant conditions, the AutoDock Vina molecular docking software was used to evaluate the affinity of the compounds to ulcerative colitis-related target proteins and their binding modes through use of the scoring function to identify the best candidate compounds. Further verification of the compound's properties was achieved through in vitro experiments. RESULTS Twenty-two compounds obtained from the secondary screening were molecularly docked with ulcerative colitis-related target proteins (IL-1R, TLR, EGFR, TGFR, and Wnt) using AutoDock Vina. The free energies of the highest scoring compounds binding to the active cavity of human IL-1R, TLR, EGFR, TGFR, and Wnt proteins were - 8.7, - 8.0, - 9.2, - 7.7, and - 8.5 kcal/mol, respectively. The potential compounds, dehydrocrebanine, ailanthone, and kaempferol, were obtained through scoring function and docking mode analysis. Furthermore, the potential compound ailanthone (1, 3, and 10 µM) was found to have no significant effect on cell proliferation, though at 10 µM it reduced the level of pro-inflammatory factors caused by lipopolysaccharide. CONCLUSION Among the active components of the dried bark of Ailanthus altissima (Mill.) Swingle, ailanthone plays a major role in its anti-inflammatory properties. The present study shows that ailanthone has advantages in cell proliferation and in inhibiting of inflammation, but further animal research is needed to confirm its pharmaceutical potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan-Bo Ma
- The College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, 229 Taibai Road, Xi'an, 710069, Shaanxi, China
| | - Lun Liu
- The College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, 229 Taibai Road, Xi'an, 710069, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xiang Li
- The College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, 229 Taibai Road, Xi'an, 710069, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yan-Hua Xie
- The College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, 229 Taibai Road, Xi'an, 710069, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xiao-Peng Shi
- Department of Pharmacy, Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, 710032, China.
| | - Si-Wang Wang
- The College of Life Sciences, Northwest University, 229 Taibai Road, Xi'an, 710069, Shaanxi, China.
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Xu JB, Yu J, Zhang WQ, Zhu CG, Guo HW, Feng SH, Yi P, Luo H, Yan C. Constituents from Chloranthus multistachys and their cytotoxic activities against various human cancer cell lines. JOURNAL OF ASIAN NATURAL PRODUCTS RESEARCH 2023; 25:330-341. [PMID: 35788164 DOI: 10.1080/10286020.2022.2092474] [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: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Two new furanoeremophilane sesquiterpenoids, namely, 6,9-dioxo-1α,4α-dihydroxy-furanoeremophilane (1) and 4α,5α-epoxy-6,9-dioxo-1α-hydroxyl-furanoeremophilane (2), and 10 known compounds were isolated from the whole plant of Chloranthus multistachys, and compound 3 was converted to derivative 3a. Their structures were determined based on extensive spectroscopic analysis. All compounds were evaluated by using five cancer cell lines: PC3, LNcap, A549, K562, and HEL. The derivative 3a exhibited excellent cytotoxic activities, with the IC50 against HEL cells being the lowest at 1.322 ± 0.08 μM, which was comparable to that of the positive control (doxorubicin). Mechanism studies showed that the anticancer activity of 3a may be associated with cell cycle regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji-Bing Xu
- Department of Pharmacy, An Shun City People's Hospital, Anshun 561000, China
| | - Jia Yu
- The Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province and Chinese Academic of Sciences, Guiyang 550014, China
| | - Wei-Qing Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, An Shun City People's Hospital, Anshun 561000, China
| | - Cheng-Guang Zhu
- Department of Pharmacy, An Shun City People's Hospital, Anshun 561000, China
- School of Pharmacy, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Hong-Wei Guo
- Department of Pharmacy, An Shun City People's Hospital, Anshun 561000, China
| | - Shu-Hui Feng
- Department of Pharmacy, An Shun City People's Hospital, Anshun 561000, China
- School of Pharmacy, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Ping Yi
- The Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province and Chinese Academic of Sciences, Guiyang 550014, China
| | - Heng Luo
- The Key Laboratory of Chemistry for Natural Products of Guizhou Province and Chinese Academic of Sciences, Guiyang 550014, China
| | - Chen Yan
- Department of Pharmacy, An Shun City People's Hospital, Anshun 561000, China
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Dogra A, Kumar J. Biosynthesis of anticancer phytochemical compounds and their chemistry. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1136779. [PMID: 36969868 PMCID: PMC10034375 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1136779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a severe health issue, and cancer cases are rising yearly. New anticancer drugs have been developed as our understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind diverse solid tumors, and metastatic malignancies have increased. Plant-derived phytochemical compounds target different oncogenes, tumor suppressor genes, protein channels, immune cells, protein channels, and pumps, which have attracted much attention for treating cancer in preclinical studies. Despite the anticancer capabilities of these phytochemical compounds, systemic toxicity, medication resistance, and limited absorption remain more significant obstacles in clinical trials. Therefore, drug combinations of new phytochemical compounds, phytonanomedicine, semi-synthetic, and synthetic analogs should be considered to supplement the existing cancer therapies. It is also crucial to consider different strategies for increased production of phytochemical bioactive substances. The primary goal of this review is to highlight several bioactive anticancer phytochemical compounds found in plants, preclinical research, their synthetic and semi-synthetic analogs, and clinical trials. Additionally, biotechnological and metabolic engineering strategies are explored to enhance the production of bioactive phytochemical compounds. Ligands and their interactions with their putative targets are also explored through molecular docking studies. Therefore, emphasis is given to gathering comprehensive data regarding modern biotechnology, metabolic engineering, molecular biology, and in silico tools.
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Zhu S, Sun P, Bennett S, Charlesworth O, Tan R, Peng X, Gu Q, Kujan O, Xu J. The therapeutic effect and mechanism of parthenolide in skeletal disease, cancers, and cytokine storm. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1111218. [PMID: 37033622 PMCID: PMC10080395 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1111218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Parthenolide (PTL or PAR) was first isolated from Magnolia grandiflora and identified as a small molecule cancer inhibitor. PTL has the chemical structure of C15H20O3 with characteristics of sesquiterpene lactones and exhibits the biological property of inhibiting DNA biosynthesis of cancer cells. In this review, we summarise the recent research progress of medicinal PTL, including the therapeutic effects on skeletal diseases, cancers, and inflammation-induced cytokine storm. Mechanistic investigations reveal that PTL predominantly inhibits NF-κB activation and other signalling pathways, such as reactive oxygen species. As an inhibitor of NF-κB, PTL appears to inhibit several cytokines, including RANKL, TNF-α, IL-1β, together with LPS induced activation of NF-κB and NF-κB -mediated specific gene expression such as IL-1β, TNF-α, COX-2, iNOS, IL-8, MCP-1, RANTES, ICAM-1, VCAM-1. It is also proposed that PTL could inhibit cytokine storms or hypercytokinemia triggered by COVID-19 via blocking the activation of NF-κB signalling. Understanding the pharmacologic properties of PTL will assist us in developing its therapeutic application for medical conditions, including arthritis, osteolysis, periodontal disease, cancers, and COVID-19-related disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sipin Zhu
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
- *Correspondence: Sipin Zhu, ; Jiake Xu,
| | - Ping Sun
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
- Department of Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Samuel Bennett
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Oscar Charlesworth
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Renxiang Tan
- The State Key Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Institute of Functional Biomolecules, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xing Peng
- Research Center for Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qiang Gu
- Research Center for Drug Discovery, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Omar Kujan
- UWA Dental School, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Jiake Xu
- Department of Orthopaedics, The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
- School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia
- *Correspondence: Sipin Zhu, ; Jiake Xu,
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LIU X, WANG X. Recent advances on the structural modification of parthenolide and its derivatives as anticancer agents. Chin J Nat Med 2022; 20:814-829. [DOI: 10.1016/s1875-5364(22)60238-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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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 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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Miao TW, Chen FY, Du LY, Xiao W, Fu JJ. Signature based on RNA-binding protein-related genes for predicting prognosis and guiding therapy in non-small cell lung cancer. Front Genet 2022; 13:930826. [PMID: 36118863 PMCID: PMC9479344 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.930826] [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: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Studies have reported that RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) are dysregulated in multiple cancers and are correlated with the progression and prognosis of disease. However, the functions of RBPs in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain unclear. The present study aimed to explore the function of RBPs in NSCLC and their prognostic and therapeutic value.Methods: The mRNA expression profiles, DNA methylation data, gene mutation data, copy number variation data, and corresponding clinical information on NSCLC were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas, Gene Expression Omnibus, and the University of California Santa Cruz Xena databases. The differentially expressed RBPs were identified between tumor and control tissues, and the expression and prognostic value of these RBPs were systemically investigated by bioinformatics analysis. A quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was performed to validate the dysregulated genes in the prognostic signature.Results: A prognostic RBP-related signature was successfully constructed based on eight RBPs represented as a risk score using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis. The high-risk group had a worse overall survival (OS) probability than the low-risk group (p < 0.001) with 1-, 3-, and 5-year area under the receiver operator characteristic curve values of 0.671, 0.638, and 0.637, respectively. The risk score was associated with the stage of disease (p < 0.05) and was an independent prognostic factor for NSCLC when adjusted for age and UICC stage (p < 0.001, hazard ratio (HR): 1.888). The constructed nomogram showed a good predictive value. The P53, focal adhesion, and NOD-like receptor signaling pathways were the primary pathways in the high-risk group (adjusted p value <0.05). The high-risk group was correlated with increased immune infiltration (p < 0.05), upregulated relative expression levels of programmed cell death 1 (PD1) (p = 0.015), cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 (CTLA4) (p = 0.042), higher gene mutation frequency, higher tumor mutational burden (p = 0.034), and better chemotherapy response (p < 0.001). The signature was successfully validated using the GSE26939, GSE31210, GSE30219, and GSE157009 datasets. Dysregulation of these genes in patients with NSCLC was confirmed using the qPCR in an independent cohort (p < 0.05).Conclusion: An RBP-related signature was successfully constructed to predict prognosis in NSCLC, functioning as a reference for individualized therapy, including immunotherapy and chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ti-Wei Miao
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Fang-Ying Chen
- West China School of Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Long-Yi Du
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Wei Xiao
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Juan-Juan Fu
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Juan-Juan Fu,
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Miao TW, Yang DQ, Gao LJ, Yin J, Zhu Q, Liu J, He YQ, Chen X. Construction of a redox-related gene signature for overall survival prediction and immune infiltration in non-small-cell lung cancer. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:942402. [PMID: 36052170 PMCID: PMC9425056 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.942402] [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: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: An imbalance in the redox homeostasis has been reported in multiple cancers and is associated with a poor prognosis of disease. However, the prognostic value of redox-related genes in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unclear. Methods: RNA sequencing data, DNA methylation data, mutation, and clinical data of NSCLC patients were downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus databases. Redox-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were used to construct the prognostic signature using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis. Kaplan–Meier survival curve and receiver operator characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were applied to validate the accuracy of the gene signature. Nomogram and calibration plots of the nomogram were constructed to predict prognosis. Pathway analysis was performed using gene set enrichment analysis. The correlations of risk score with tumor stage, immune infiltration, DNA methylation, tumor mutation burden (TMB), and chemotherapy sensitivity were evaluated. The prognostic signature was validated using GSE31210, GSE26939, and GSE68465 datasets. Real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to validate dysregulated genes in NSCLC. Results: A prognostic signature was constructed using the LASSO regression analysis and was represented as a risk score. The high-risk group was significantly correlated with worse overall survival (OS) (p < 0.001). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) at the 5-year stage was 0.657. The risk score was precisely correlated with the tumor stage and was an independent prognostic factor for NSCLC. The constructed nomogram accurately predicted the OS of patients after 1-, 3-, and 5-year periods. DNA replication, cell cycle, and ECM receptor interaction were the main pathways enriched in the high-risk group. In addition, the high-risk score was correlated with higher TMB, lower methylation levels, increased infiltrating macrophages, activated memory CD4+ T cells, and a higher sensitivity to chemotherapy. The signature was validated in GSE31210, GSE26939, and GSE68465 datasets. Real-time PCR validated dysregulated mRNA expression levels in NSCLC. Conclusions: A prognostic redox-related gene signature was successfully established in NSCLC, with potential applications in the clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ti-wei Miao
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Zigong First People’s Hospital, Zigong, China
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - De-qing Yang
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Li-juan Gao
- Division of Pulmonary Diseases, Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jie Yin
- School of Automation and Information Engineering, Sichuan University of Science and Engineering, Zigong, China
| | - Qi Zhu
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Zigong First People’s Hospital, Zigong, China
| | - Jie Liu
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Zigong First People’s Hospital, Zigong, China
| | - Yan-qiu He
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xin Chen
- Department of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Zigong First People’s Hospital, Zigong, China
- *Correspondence: Xin Chen,
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Blevins HM, Xu Y, Biby S, Zhang S. The NLRP3 Inflammasome Pathway: A Review of Mechanisms and Inhibitors for the Treatment of Inflammatory Diseases. Front Aging Neurosci 2022; 14:879021. [PMID: 35754962 PMCID: PMC9226403 DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.879021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 57.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The NLRP3 inflammasome is a multiprotein complex that plays a pivotal role in regulating the innate immune system and inflammatory signaling. Upon activation by PAMPs and DAMPs, NLRP3 oligomerizes and activates caspase-1 which initiates the processing and release of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-18. NLRP3 is the most extensively studied inflammasome to date due to its array of activators and aberrant activation in several inflammatory diseases. Studies using small molecules and biologics targeting the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway have shown positive outcomes in treating various disease pathologies by blocking chronic inflammation. In this review, we discuss the recent advances in understanding the NLRP3 mechanism, its role in disease pathology, and provide a broad review of therapeutics discovered to target the NLRP3 pathway and their challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Shijun Zhang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
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15
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Zhuang J, Chen Z, Chen Z, Chen J, Liu M, Xu X, Liu Y, Yang S, Hu Z, He F. Construction of an immune-related lncRNA signature pair for predicting oncologic outcomes and the sensitivity of immunosuppressor in treatment of lung adenocarcinoma. Respir Res 2022; 23:123. [PMID: 35562727 PMCID: PMC9101821 DOI: 10.1186/s12931-022-02043-4] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Although immunotherapy has shown clinical activity in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), LUAD prognosis has been a perplexing problem. We aimed to construct an immune-related lncRNA pairs (IRLPs) score for LUAD and identify what immunosuppressor are appropriate for which group of people with LUAD. Methods Based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)-LUAD cohort, IRLPs were identified to construct an IRLPs scoring system by Cox regression and validated in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) dataset using log-rank test and the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC). Next, we used spearman’s correlation analysis, t-test, signaling pathways analysis and gene mutation analysis to explore immune and molecular characteristics in different IRLP subgroups. The “pRRophetic” package was used to predict the sensitivity of immunosuppressant. Results The IRLPs score was constructed based on eight IRLPs calculated as 2.12 × (MIR31HG|RRN3P2) + 0.43 × (NKX2-1-AS1|AC083949.1) + 1.79 × (TMPO-AS1|LPP-AS2) + 1.60 × (TMPO-AS1|MGC32805) + 1.79 × (TMPO-AS1|PINK1-AS) + 0.65 × (SH3BP5-AS1|LINC01137) + 0.51 × (LINC01004|SH3PXD2A-AS1) + 0.62 × (LINC00339|AGAP2-AS1). Patients with a lower IRLPs risk score had a better overall survival (OS) (Log-rank test PTCGA train dataset < 0.001, PTCGA test dataset = 0.017, PGEO dataset = 0.027) and similar results were observed in the AUCs of TCGA dataset and GEO dataset (AUC TCGA train dataset = 0.777, AUC TCGA test dataset = 0.685, AUC TCGA total dataset = 0.733, AUC GEO dataset = 0.680). Immune score (Cor = -0.18893, P < 0.001), stoma score (Cor = -0.24804, P < 0.001), and microenvironment score (Cor = -0.22338, P < 0.001) were significantly decreased in the patients with the higher IRLP risk score. The gene set enrichment analysis found that high-risk group enriched in molecular changes in DNA and chromosomes signaling pathways, and in this group the tumor mutation burden (TMB) was higher than in the low-risk group (P = 0.0015). Immunosuppressor methotrexate sensitivity was higher in the high-risk group (P = 0.0052), whereas parthenolide (P < 0.001) and rapamycin (P = 0.013) sensitivity were lower in the high-risk group. Conclusions Our study established an IRLPs scoring system as a biomarker to help in the prognosis, the identification of molecular and immune characteristics, and the patient-tailored selection of the most suitable immunosuppressor for LUAD therapy. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12931-022-02043-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinman Zhuang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.,Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Microbiology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.,Fujian Digital Tumor Data Research Center, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zhongwu Chen
- Department of Interventional Therapy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zishan Chen
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.,Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Microbiology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.,Fujian Digital Tumor Data Research Center, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jin Chen
- Department of Interventional Therapy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Maolin Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.,Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Microbiology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.,Fujian Digital Tumor Data Research Center, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xinying Xu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.,Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Microbiology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.,Fujian Digital Tumor Data Research Center, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yuhang Liu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.,Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Microbiology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.,Fujian Digital Tumor Data Research Center, Fuzhou, China
| | - Shuyan Yang
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.,Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Microbiology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China.,Fujian Digital Tumor Data Research Center, Fuzhou, China
| | - Zhijian Hu
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China. .,Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Microbiology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China. .,Fujian Digital Tumor Data Research Center, Fuzhou, China.
| | - Fei He
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Statistics, School of Public Health, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China. .,Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Microbiology, Fujian Medical University, Fuzhou, China. .,Fujian Digital Tumor Data Research Center, Fuzhou, China.
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Zhang Z, Zhang K, Zhang M, Zhang X, Zhang R. Parthenolide Suppresses T Helper 17 and Alleviates Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis. Front Immunol 2022; 13:856694. [PMID: 35514960 PMCID: PMC9066638 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.856694] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
T helper (Th) cells play crucial roles in inflammation and adaptive immune system. Importantly, Th17 cells, a major pathogenic Th cell subset, are involved in the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS) and its classical animal modal experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Previous studies have shown that parthenolide (PTL), a sesquiterpene lactone, possesses potent anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activities. However, the immunosuppressive effect of PTL on the pathogenic Th17 cell and MS is unclear. In this study, we showed that PTL treatment could alleviate clinical symptoms by inhibiting inflammatory cell infiltration, reducing inflammation and demyelination of CNS. In addition, the mRNA expression of cytokines and inflammatory factors in CD4+ T cells, especially Th1 and Th17 cells, reduced in both CNS and peripheral immune tissue of EAE mice. Furthermore, PTL could inhibit the reactivation of MOG-specific T cells and the differentiation of naïve CD4+ T cells into Th17 cells in vitro. We also found that PTL inhibited nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling and retinoid-related orphan receptor-γt (RORγt) in mouse Th17 cell and human Jurkat cell line. Taken together, our data demonstrated a critical immune-suppressive effect of PTL on autoimmune inflammation through regulating Th17 cells and the NF-κB/RORγt pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihui Zhang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Kai Zhang
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, Ryerson University, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Mi Zhang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaomin Zhang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Rongxin Zhang
- Guangdong Province Key Laboratory for Biotechnology Drug Candidates, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China.,Department of Biotechnology, School of Life Sciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
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17
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An T, Yin H, Lu Y, Liu F. The Emerging Potential of Parthenolide Nanoformulations in Tumor Therapy. Drug Des Devel Ther 2022; 16:1255-1272. [PMID: 35517982 PMCID: PMC9063801 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s355059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Plant-derived sesquiterpene lactones are promising natural sources for the discovery of anti-cancer drugs. As an extensively studied sesquiterpene lactone, the tumor suppression effect of parthenolide (PTL) has been clarified by targeting a number of prominent signaling pathways and key protein regulators in carcinogenesis. Notably, PTL was also the first small molecule reported to eradicate cancer stem cells. Nevertheless, the clinical application of PTL as an antitumor agent remains limited, owing to some disadvantages such as low water solubility and poor bioavailability. Thus, nanomedicine has attracted much interest because of its great potential for transporting poorly soluble drugs to desired body sites. In view of the significant advantages over their free small-molecule counterparts, nanoparticle delivery systems appear to be a potential solution for addressing the delivery of hydrophobic drugs, including PTL. In this review, we summarized the key anticancer mechanisms underlined by PTL as well as engineered PTL nanoparticles synthesized to date. Therefore, PTL nanoformulations could be an alternative strategy to maximize the therapeutic value of PTL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao An
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Huanhuan Yin
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanting Lu
- College of TCM, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Feng Liu
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory for Applied Technology of Sophisticated Analytical Instruments of Shandong Province, Shandong Analysis and Test Center (SDATC), Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, Shandong Province, People's Republic of China
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Reptiles as Promising Sources of Medicinal Natural Products for Cancer Therapeutic Drugs. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14040874. [PMID: 35456708 PMCID: PMC9025323 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14040874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Natural products have historically played an important role as a source of therapeutic drugs for various diseases, and the development of medicinal natural products is still a field with high potential. Although diverse drugs have been developed for incurable diseases for several decades, discovering safe and efficient anticancer drugs remains a formidable challenge. Reptiles, as one source of Asian traditional medicines, are known to possess anticancer properties and have been used for a long time without a clarified scientific background. Recently, it has been reported that extracts, crude peptides, sera, and venom isolated from reptiles could effectively inhibit the survival and proliferation of various cancer cells. In this article, we summarize recent studies applying ingredients derived from reptiles in cancer therapy and discuss the difficulties and prospective development of natural product research.
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Parthenolide and Its Soluble Analogues: Multitasking Compounds with Antitumor Properties. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10020514. [PMID: 35203723 PMCID: PMC8962426 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10020514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to its chemical properties and multiple molecular effects on different tumor cell types, the sesquiterpene lactone parthenolide (PN) can be considered an effective drug with significant potential in cancer therapy. PN has been shown to induce either classic apoptosis or alternative caspase-independent forms of cell death in many tumor models. The therapeutical potential of PN has been increased by chemical design and synthesis of more soluble analogues including dimethylaminoparthenolide (DMAPT). This review focuses on the molecular mechanisms of both PN and analogues action in tumor models, highlighting their effects on gene expression, signal transduction and execution of different types of cell death. Recent findings indicate that these compounds not only inhibit prosurvival transcriptional factors such as NF-κB and STATs but can also determine the activation of specific death pathways, increasing intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and modifications of Bcl-2 family members. An intriguing property of these compounds is its specific targeting of cancer stem cells. The unusual actions of PN and its analogues make these agents good candidates for molecular targeted cancer therapy.
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Yang L, Wang Z. Natural Products, Alone or in Combination with FDA-Approved Drugs, to Treat COVID-19 and Lung Cancer. Biomedicines 2021; 9:689. [PMID: 34207313 PMCID: PMC8234041 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9060689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
As a public health emergency of international concern, the highly contagious coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has been identified as a severe threat to the lives of billions of individuals. Lung cancer, a malignant tumor with the highest mortality rate, has brought significant challenges to both human health and economic development. Natural products may play a pivotal role in treating lung diseases. We reviewed published studies relating to natural products, used alone or in combination with US Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs, active against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and lung cancer from 1 January 2020 to 31 May 2021. A wide range of natural products can be considered promising anti-COVID-19 or anti-lung cancer agents have gained widespread attention, including natural products as monotherapy for the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 (ginkgolic acid, shiraiachrome A, resveratrol, and baicalein) or lung cancer (daurisoline, graveospene A, deguelin, and erianin) or in combination with FDA-approved anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents (cepharanthine plus nelfinavir, linoleic acid plus remdesivir) and anti-lung cancer agents (curcumin and cisplatin, celastrol and gefitinib). Natural products have demonstrated potential value and with the assistance of nanotechnology, combination drug therapies, and the codrug strategy, this "natural remedy" could serve as a starting point for further drug development in treating these lung diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liyan Yang
- School of Physics and Physical Engineering, Qufu Normal University, Qufu 273165, China;
| | - Zhonglei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Green Natural Products and Pharmaceutical Intermediates in Colleges and Universities of Shandong Province, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qufu Normal University, Qufu 273165, China
- Key Laboratory of Life-Organic Analysis of Shandong Province, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qufu Normal University, Qufu 273165, China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
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