Breast cancer pathogenesis is linked to the intra-tumoral estrogen sulfotransferase (hSULT1E1) expressions regulated by cellular redox dependent Nrf-2/NFκβ interplay

Estrogen sulfotransferase and sulfatase in steroid homeostasis, metabolic disease, and cancer

Sulfation and desulfation of steroids are opposing processes that regulate the activation, metabolism, excretion, and storage of steroids, which account for steroid homeostasis. Steroid sulfation and desulfation are catalyzed by cytosolic sulfotransferase and steroid sulfatase, respectively. By modifying and regulating steroids, cytosolic sulfotransferase (SULT) and steroid sulfatase (STS) are also involved in the pathophysiology of steroid-related diseases, such as hormonal dysregulation, metabolic disease, and cancer. The estrogen sulfotransferase (EST, or SULT1E1) is a typical member of the steroid SULTs. This review is aimed to summarize the roles of SULT1E1 and STS in steroid homeostasis and steroid-related diseases.

Significant impact of redox regulation of estrogen-metabolizing proteins on cellular stress responses

The ultimate driving force, stress, promotes adaptability/evolution in proliferating organisms, transforming tumorigenic growth. Estradiol (E2) regulates both phenomena. In this study, bioinformatics-tools, site-directed-mutagenesis (human estrogen-sulfotransferase/hSULT1E1), HepG2 cells tested with N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC/thiol-inducer) or buthionine-sulfoxamine (BSO/thiol-depletory) were evaluated for hSULT1E1 (estradiol-sulphating/inactivating) functions. Reciprocal redox regulation of steroid sulfatase (STS, E2-desulfating/activating) results in the Cys-formylglycine transition by the formylglycine-forming enzyme (FGE). The enzyme sequences and structures were examined across the phylogeny. Motif/domain and the catalytic conserve sequences and protein-surface-topography (CASTp) were investigated. The E2 binding to SULT1E1 suggests that the conserved-catalytic-domain in this enzyme has critical Cysteine 83 at position. This is strongly supported by site-directed mutagenesis/HepG2-cell research. Molecular-docking and superimposition studies of E2 with the SULT1E1 of representative species and to STS reinforce this hypothesis. SULT1E1-STS are reciprocally activated in response to the cellular-redox-environment by the critical Cys of these two enzymes. The importance of E2 in organism/species proliferation and tissue tumorigenesis is highlighted.

Effects of theaflavin-gallate in-silico binding with different proteins of SARS-CoV-2 and host inflammation and vasoregulations referring an experimental rat-lung injury

Background SARS-CoV-2 claimed 5,209,104 lives, infected 260,997,910 individuals, globally. Infection is caused due to exposure or susceptibility; deaths occur due to age,comorbidity,higher-viral-load, immuno-suppression, inflammation, and multi-organ failure. Theaflavin-gallate, the major black tea component, showed previous evidence to inhibit HIV-1. Purpose As theaflavin-gallate prevents experimental rat-lung injury, the study of inhibitory effects of theaflavin-gallate was done, on SARS-CoV-2proteins and various host proteins related to some adverse effects in COVID-19 patients. Study Design Currently, some prospective phytochemical, black-tea (Camellia-sinensis) extract (BTE) was initially tested in vivo in strong oxidant-mutagen arsenic-induced model rat lung injury similar to that of COVID-19 manifestations like severe inflammation, oxidative stress, lung tissue degenerations, and apoptotic death. In silico, extensive bioinformatics and molecular docking experiments were performed on all catechin or theaflavin derivatives of C. sinensis, and finally theaflavin-3'-O-gallate (TFMG) were screened for blocking or inactivation of several proteins of SARS CoV-2 and host adversely-acting proteins or factors. Methods In vivo experiments in DNA stability (ladder, comet assay), free radicals attack (malondialdehyde; MDA, superoxide dismutase SOD, catalase gel-zymogram assay), extra cellular matrix damage (matrix metalloprotease; MMP2and9 zymogram assay) and inflammation (TNF-α, ELISA). In silico experiments- molecular docking by AutoDock-Patchdock analysis, Surface Topology Calculation by CASTp, Grid-value calculation, and Ramachandran Plot study. Results The BTE showed strong protection of lung DNA and cell-matrix by decreasing MMPs, TNF-α, and free radicals, the same factors affecting COVID-19 patients. In silico data suggest that TFMG significantly blocked the entry, exit, and amino acids at catalytic active-site of more than thirty proteins including viral (nsp1,nsp2,Mainpro,∼-9.0 kcal/mol) and host inflammatory, oxidants, apoptotic, vaso-destabilizer molecules (FAS, CD40R, BCL2, TLR2, ∼ -10 and ACE1or2 ∼ -9.0 and AT1or2∼ -7.5 kcal/mol and more). When the binding energy of TFMG ranged from -7 to -11.7 kcal/mol(average -9.0) the same for hydroxy‑Chloroquine ranged (-2.5 to -7 average -4.5) and dexamethasone (-3.0 to -6.0, average -4.0 kcal/mol). Conclusions TFMG has some novel physicochemical or structural properties like (ACE values of binding to all tested proteins, -300 to -625), (for TFMG H-bond acceptor or donor: 15/10, for TFDG 20/13). Their topological-polar-surface-area (264Ų and 351Ų) and travel depth/height; 17.0/9.6 Å and 15.4/11.3 Å, respectively) were more potent than other compounds. Conclusively, the efficacy of TFMG may be further verified.

Nutrigenetics, nutrigenomics and phenotypic outcomes of dietary low-dose alcohol consumption in the suppression and induction of cancer development: evidence from in vitro studies

It is known that the intake of alcoholic beverages may impair genetic and epigenetic regulatory events with consequent crucial effects on cell phenotypes and that its association with selected genotypes can lead to a different risk of cancer in the population. The aim of this review is to pick up selected studies on this topic and recapitulate some of the biochemical and nutrigenetic/nutrigenomic aspects involved in the impact of dietary low-dose alcohol consumption on the switching-on or -off of tumorigenic pathways. These include i) the existence of predisposing or protective human genotypes and the relationship between dietary compounds and alcohol in the promotion or inhibition of carcinogenesis; ii) the effects of other components of alcoholic drinks in the modulation of the expression of oncogenes and oncosuppressors, the autophagic flux and the onset of apoptosis, with examples of their cytospecificity; and iii) the role of alcoholic beverage consumption within particular dietary regimens, including the Mediterranean diet. Taking all the data into account, several alcohol-associated bioactive dietary compounds appear capable to modulate peculiar intracellular pathways predisposing to or protecting from cancer. Advances in the nutrigenetic, nutrigenomic and nutriepigenetic knowledge complementing the biochemical and molecular approaches will help in unveiling their impact on health outcome.

Active-site Molecular docking of Nigellidine with nucleocapsid- NSP2-MPro of COVID-19 and to human IL1R-IL6R and strong antioxidant role of Nigella-sativa in experimental rats

The recent outbreak of SARS CoV-2 has changed the global scenario of human lives/economy. A significant number of the non-survivors showed cardiac-renal-vasculature dysfunction. A 'cytokine storm' namely, interleukin IL6-IL1 receptors i.e. IL6R-IL1R over-functioning was reported. Here, nigellidine, an indazole-alkaloid and key-component of Nigella Sativa L. (NS) commonly known as black-cumin-seed was analyzed for COVID-19 protein-targeting and IL1R-IL6R inhibition through molecular-docking-study and biochemical-study in experimental-rat to evaluate antioxidative-capacity. The NMR/X-ray-crystallographic/Electron-microscopic structures of COVID-19 Main-protease (6LU7)/Spike-glycoprotein(6vsb)/NSP2(QHD43415_2)/Nucleocapsid(QHD43423), Human IL1R(1itb)-IL6R(1pm9) from PDB were retrieved-analyzed for receptor-ligand interaction. Then those structures were docked with nigellidine using Autodock and Patchdock-server. A brief comparison was made with nigellicine-thymoquinone from N. sativa. Where nigellidine showed highest binding-energy of -6.6 (kcal/mol), ligand-efficiency of -0.3 with COVID19 Nsp2 forming bonds with amino acid CYS240 present in binding-pocket. Nigellidine showed strong interaction with main-protease (BE:-6.38/LE:-0.29). Nigellidine showed affinity to IL1R (-6.23). The NS treated rat showed marked decline in ALP-SGPT-SGOT-malondialdehyde(MDA) than the basal-levels. From the Western-blot and activity-analysis it was observed that Nigellidine (sulfuryl-group-drug) showed no impact on Phenol-catalyzing ASTIV and Steroid-catalyzing estrogen-sulfotransferase expressions and activities in liver-tissue and thus has no influence in sulfation-mediated adverse metabolic-processes. Conclusively, nigellidine has hepato-reno-protective/antioxidant-immunomodulatory/anti-inflammatory activities with inhibit-potentials of COVID-19 proteins. Further validation is necessary.

Dependence between estrogen sulfotransferase (SULT1E1) and nuclear transcription factor Nrf-2 regulations via oxidative stress in breast cancer

Human estrogen sulfotransferase (SULT1E1) and nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf-2) expression influences each other in advanced human breast carcinogenesis. The difference in the metabolism of estradiol (E2) in pre- and post-menopausal women remains to be connected with post-menopausal breast cancer. A synergism between ROS production and E2 generation has been demonstrated. No definite mechanism for simultaneous functions of Nrf2, oxidative stress E2 regulating enzymes (SULT1E1) has been yet clarified. Our present review demonstrates that ROS dependent regulation of Nrf-2 is one of the most important determinants of E2 regulation by altering SULT1E1 expression. This study also focuses the idea that estrogen receptor cased subtypes of cancer may have different molecular environments which has an impact on the therapeutic efficacy.