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Nabi N, Singh S, Saffeullah P. An updated review on distribution, biosynthesis and pharmacological effects of artemisinin: A wonder drug. PHYTOCHEMISTRY 2023; 214:113798. [PMID: 37517615 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2023.113798] [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: 02/12/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
Plant-based drugs have been used for centuries for treating different ailments. Malaria, one of the prevalent threats in many parts of the world, is treated mainly by artemisinin-based drugs derived from plants of genus Artemisia. However, the distribution of artemisinin is restricted to a few species of the genus; besides, its yield depends on ontogeny and the plant's geographical location. Here, we review the studies focusing on biosynthesis and distributional pattern of artemisinin production in species of the genus Artemisia. We also discussed various agronomic and in vitro methods and molecular approaches to increase the yield of artemisinin. We have summarized different mechanisms of artemisinin involved in its anti-malarial, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and anti-viral activities (like against Covid-19). Overall the current review provides a synopsis of a global view of the distribution of artemisinin, its biosynthesis, and pharmacological potential in treating various diseases like malaria, cancer, and coronavirus, which may provoke future research efforts in drug development. Nevertheless, long-term trials and molecular approaches, like CRISPR-Cas, are required for in-depth research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neelofer Nabi
- Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, 190006, India
| | - Seema Singh
- Department of Botany, University of Kashmir, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, 190006, India
| | - Peer Saffeullah
- Department of Botany, Jamia Hamdard, New Delhi, 110062, India.
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2
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Li Y. Inactivation of PDH can Reduce Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer Cells' Sensitivity to Artemisinin. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2022; 22:1753-1760. [PMID: 34515013 DOI: 10.2174/1871520621666210910100803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2021] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 08/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Anaplastic Thyroid Cancer (ATC) is a rare subtype of thyroid tumors with a high mortality rate. Targeted therapies against ATC are ineffective and mostly transient. Artemisinin has shown excellent anti-tumor activity in several cancers, but its effects on ATC are still unknown. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of artemisinin on ATC cells and assess the mechanism underlying drug resistance. METHODS The viability and proliferation rates of the artemisinin-treated CAL-62 and BHT-101 cells were analyzed by MTT and EdU incorporation assays. The protein expression levels were determined by Tandem Mass Tag (TMT) labeling quantitative proteomics and western blotting. RESULTS Artemisinin treatment significantly decreased the expression levels of COX2 and COX7A2 and increased that of COX14, YEM1l1, ALAS1, and OAT after 48h. In addition, FTL was upregulated in the CAL-62 cells and downregulated in BHT-101 cells. The CAL-62 cells showed transient and reversible resistance to artemisinin, which was correlated to time-dependent changes in HIF1α, PDK1, and PDHA levels. CONCLUSION Artemisinin targets the mitochondrial respiratory chain proteins in ATC cells. CAL-62 cells show transient resistance to artemisinin via PDH downregulation, indicating that PDH activation may enhance the cytotoxic effects of artemisinin on ATC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yitian Li
- Research Department of Jining Medical University, Jining, Shandong, China
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3
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Li X, Gao S, Zhang Y, Xin M, Zuo C, Yan N, Xia Q, Zhang M. Dihydroartemisinin Inhibits Laser-Induced Choroidal Neovascularization in a Mouse Model of Neovascular AMD. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:838263. [PMID: 35250585 PMCID: PMC8894668 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.838263] [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: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose: Choroidal neovascularization (CNV) is the main pathogenic process and a leading cause of severe vision loss in neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). We investigated the antiangiogenic efficacy of dihydroartemisinin (DHA) in an experimental laser-induced CNV mouse model. Methods: After fluorescein angiography confirmed that CNV was induced by laser photocoagulation in C57BL/6J mice, DHA or vehicle was given by intragastric administration once a day. On day 6 and day 12, fluorescein angiography, optic coherence tomography, and flat-mounting analysis were performed to grade CNV leakage, measure CNV thickness and evaluate CNV areas, respectively. Immunofluorescence staining and Western blot analysis were performed to evaluate the expression of NF-κB, VEGF, and VEGFR2. To confirm the safety of intragastric DHA application, changes in retinal morphology and neural cell apoptosis were tested by histopathological examination and TUNEL assay, and retinal function was determined by electroretinogram (ERG). Results: Intragastric administration of DHA significantly suppressed CNV leakage and CNV formation in both thickness and area. Immunofluorescence showed that DHA suppressed VEGFR2 and NF-κB p65 expression in laser-induced lesions. Compared to the normal group, the protein expression of VEGF, VGFER2, NF-κB p65, and NF-κB1 p50 increased significantly in the vehicle group after laser photocoagulation, while it was profoundly inhibited by DHA treatment. In addition, histopathological examination, TUNEL analysis, and ERG test showed no obvious evidence of retinal toxicity caused by DHA. Conclusion: Systemic administration of DHA can effectively inhibit laser-induced CNV formation in mice, which might be due to the suppression of the classic NF-κB signaling pathway and downregulation of VEGFR2 and VEGF expression. The current results suggest that DHA could be a natural potential alternative therapeutic strategy for neovascular AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xun Li
- Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Research Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Research Laboratory of Macular Disease, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Sheng Gao
- Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Research Laboratory of Macular Disease, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yun Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Research Laboratory of Macular Disease, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Mei Xin
- Department of Ophthalmology, Chengdu First People’s Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Cheng Zuo
- Department of Ophthalmology, The Third People’s Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, China
| | - Naihong Yan
- Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Research Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qingjie Xia
- Laboratory of Neurological Disease, Translational Neuroscience Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Meixia Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- Research Laboratory of Macular Disease, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Meixia Zhang,
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Bader S, Wilmers J, Ontikatze T, Ritter V, Jendrossek V, Rudner J. Loss of pro-apoptotic Bax and Bak increases resistance to dihydroartemisinin-mediated cytotoxicity in normoxia but not in hypoxia in HCT116 colorectal cancer cells. Free Radic Biol Med 2021; 174:157-170. [PMID: 34403740 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2021.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/12/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Tumor hypoxia is a major biological factor that drives resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. We previously demonstrated that the pro-oxidative drug dihydroartemisinin (DHA) efficiently targeted normoxic and hypoxic cancer cells. Although well studied in normoxia, the mechanism behind DHA-mediated cytotoxicity in hypoxia is insufficiently explored. Here, we analyzed the effect of DHA in HCT116 wild type (wt) cells and in HCT116 Bax-/-Baksh cells with a defective intrinsic apoptosis pathway. Normoxic HCT116 wt cells underwent apoptosis shortly after treatment with DHA. Autophagy-associated cell death contributes to short-term cytotoxicity of DHA in normoxia. These cells switched to an apoptosis- and autophagy-independent cell death after treatment with DHA in hypoxia and displayed similar long-term survival in response to DHA in normoxia and hypoxia. In HCT116 Bax-/-Baksh cells, DHA induced cell cycle arrest shortly after treatment irrespective of oxygen levels. Later, HCT116 Bax-/-Baksh cells induced a delayed cell death after treatment with DHA in hypoxia followed by return to normoxia, while treatment with DHA in normoxia was hardly toxic. We identified lower glutathione levels in hypoxic HCT116 cells which correlated with higher lipid peroxidation after treatment with DHA. Moreover, insufficient expression of Bax/Bak counteracted hypoxia-mediated downregulation of mitochondrial function, thereby adding to DHA-induced ROS production and lipid peroxidation in hypoxia. In summary, DHA-mediated cytotoxicity in normoxia depended on Bax/Bak expression, while cytotoxicity after treatment with DHA in hypoxia was regulated independently of Bax/Bak in HCT116 colorectal cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sina Bader
- Institute of Cell Biology (Cancer Research), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Julia Wilmers
- Institute of Cell Biology (Cancer Research), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Teona Ontikatze
- Institute of Cell Biology (Cancer Research), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Violetta Ritter
- Institute of Cell Biology (Cancer Research), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Verena Jendrossek
- Institute of Cell Biology (Cancer Research), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Justine Rudner
- Institute of Cell Biology (Cancer Research), University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany.
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Abstract
Terpenoids are the largest class of natural products, most of which are derived from plants. Amongst their numerous biological properties, their anti-tumor effects are of interest for they are extremely diverse which include anti-proliferative, apoptotic, anti-angiogenic, and anti-metastatic activities. Recently, several in vitro and in vivo studies have been dedicated to understanding the 'terpenoid induced autophagy' phenomenon in cancer cells. Light has already been shed on the intricacy of apoptosis and autophagy relationship. This latter crosstalk is driven by the delicate balance between activating or silencing of certain proteins whereby the outcome is expressed via interrelated signaling pathways. In this review, we focus on nine of the most studied terpenoids and on their cell death and autophagic activity. These terpenoids are grouped in three classes: sesquiterpenoid (artemisinin, parthenolide), diterpenoids (oridonin, triptolide), and triterpenoids (alisol, betulinic acid, oleanolic acid, platycodin D, and ursolic acid). We have selected these nine terpenoids among others as they belong to the different major classes of terpenoids and our extensive search of the literature indicated that they were the most studied in terms of autophagy in cancer. These terpenoids alone demonstrate the complexity by which these secondary metabolites induce autophagy via complex signaling pathways such as MAPK/ERK/JNK, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, AMPK, NF-kB, and reactive oxygen species. Moreover, induction of autophagy can be either destructive or protective in tumor cells. Nevertheless, should this phenomenon be well understood, we ought to be able to exploit it to create novel therapies and design more effective regimens in the management and treatment of cancer.
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Luo R, Zhang Z, Han L, Xue Z, Zhang K, Liu F, Feng F, Xue J, Liu W, Qu W. An albumin-binding dimeric prodrug nanoparticle with long blood circulation and light-triggered drug release for chemo-photodynamic combination therapy against hypoxia-induced metastasis of lung cancer. Biomater Sci 2021; 9:3718-3736. [PMID: 34008617 DOI: 10.1039/d1bm00284h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been widely used in cancer therapy, but its therapeutic effect is reduced by the aggravating hypoxic microenvironment via upregulating hypoxia-associated proteins and promoting tumor metastasis. To mitigate these issues, we designed an albumin-binding and light-triggered core-shell dimeric prodrug nanoparticle to inhibit hypoxia-induced tumor metastasis and enhance the PDT efficacy. The prodrug nanoparticles, Ce6&DHA-S-DHA@CMN NPs (CDC NPs), were prepared using a single thioether-linked dihydroartemisinin (DHA) dimer co-encapsulated with Chlorin e6 (Ce6) and stabilized by albumin-capturing maleimide- and hypoxia-sensitive 2-nitroimidazole-modified carboxymethyl chitosan (CMCTS-MAL&NI, CMN for short). Upon laser irradiation, Ce6 could generate reactive oxygen species (ROS), which not only exerted the effect of the PDT but also broke the ROS-sensitive single thioether bridge in the dimeric prodrug DHA-S-DHA, thus accelerating the disassembly of the nanoparticles. DHA-S-DHA served as both an ROS-responsive carrier for Ce6 and a chemotherapeutic drug, synergizing with PDT and inhibiting tumor metastasis by downregulating hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α)/vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Polyethylene glycol (PEG) modification has been widely used to stabilize hydrophobic prodrug nanoparticles and prolong the circulation time, but the PEGylated nanoparticles always suffer from accelerated blood clearance (ABC), a phenomenon which restricts their application severely. In this study, PEG was replaced by an amphipathic micelle, CMN, which could specifically capture albumin in the blood, conferring the nanoparticles long circulation and no ABC phenomenon. Under the aggravating hypoxic condition during PDT, the conversion of 2-nitroimidazole groups to 2-aminoimidazole groups in CMN could destabilize the structure of the shell and accelerate drug release. Results showed that the novel CDC NPs exhibited unique advantages in chemo-photodynamic combination therapy, such as long systemic circulation, high tumor accumulation, light-triggered drug release, HIF-1α/VEGF downregulation, and anti-metastasis efficacy, which provided a new route to overcome the ABC phenomenon of the PEGylated prodrug nanoparticles and reverse the hypoxia-induced metastasis simultaneously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renjie Luo
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
| | - Zhongtao Zhang
- Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China.
| | - Lingfei Han
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
| | - Zhen Xue
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
| | - Kexin Zhang
- Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China.
| | - Fulei Liu
- Tumor Precise Intervention and Translational Medicine Laboratory, Taian City Central Hospital, Taian, 271000, China. and Pharmaceutical Department, Taian City Central Hospital, Taian, 271000, China
| | - Feng Feng
- Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China. and Jiangsu Food and Pharmaceutical Science College, Huaian, 223003, China
| | - Jingwei Xue
- Tumor Precise Intervention and Translational Medicine Laboratory, Taian City Central Hospital, Taian, 271000, China.
| | - Wenyuan Liu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 210009, China.
| | - Wei Qu
- Department of Natural Medicinal Chemistry, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China.
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Artemisinin protects DPSC from hypoxia and TNF-α mediated osteogenesis impairments through CA9 and Wnt signaling pathway. Life Sci 2021; 277:119471. [PMID: 33811898 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.119471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) possess the ability of multi-lineage differentiation, and are excellent sources of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine. Oxygen concentration and inflammation are two critical environmental factors that affect the osteogenic differentiation of DPSCs. We aimed to study the role of the antimalarial drug artemisinin on the osteogenic differentiation of human DPSCs under the hypoxia and inflammation conditions. We demonstrated that hypoxia (5% O2) and inflammation (20 ng/mL TNF-α), alone or in combination, significantly diminished in vitro cell survival and increased apoptotic rates. Notably, hypoxia and TNF-α exerted accumulative effect in suppressing the osteogenic differentiation of DPSCs, as evidenced by reduced expression levels of osteogenesis-associated genes including ALP, RUNX2 and OCN in osteogenic condition, as well as reduced mineral nodules formation as indicated by alizarin red staining. Artemisinin at the dose of 40 μM markedly reversed the suppression in cell survival caused by hypoxia or inflammation, and reduced apoptotic rates and the expressions of pro-apoptotic proteins. Additionally, artemisinin restored osteogenic differentiation of DPSCs under the hypoxia or/and inflammation conditions. Moreover, the beneficial effect of artemisinin was dependent on upregulated expression of CA9 and CA9-mediated antioxidant responses, as CA9 knockdown abolished the protective role of artemisinin on DPSC osteogenesis. Furthermore, while hypoxia or/and inflammation significantly inactivated the Wnt/β-catenin signaling in DPSCs, additional exposure to artemisinin re-activated this pathway to promote osteogenic differentiation of DPSCs. Our results provide novel insight on the link between artemisinin and DPSC osteogenesis, and suggest promising artemisinin-based strategies for better dentin/pulp tissue engineering.
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Bai G, Gao Y, Liu S, Shui S, Liu G. pH-dependent rearrangement determines the iron-activation and antitumor activity of artemisinins. Free Radic Biol Med 2021; 163:234-242. [PMID: 33359684 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2020.12.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Revised: 12/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
The action mechanisms of artemisinins remains elusive for decades, and one long-standing question is whether the indispensable peroxide group is activated by iron or heme. Although heme usually reacts faster with artemisinins than iron does, we have found that rearrangement of dihydroartemisinin (DHA) into monoketo-aldehyde-peroxyhemiacetal (MKA) under physiological conditions can significantly enhance its reaction towards iron. The rearrangement is pH-dependent and the derived MKA is identified by LC-MS in the cellular metabolites of DHA in cancer cells. MKA reacts quickly with ferrous irons to afford reactive carbon-centered radicals and can inhibit enzyme activities in vitro. Moreover, MKA oxidizes ferrous irons to ferric irons, which may explain the effect of DHA on decreasing cellular labile iron pool (LIP). Both addition of exogenous iron and increase in LIP via triggering ferroptosis can enhance the cytotoxicity of DHA against cancer cells. While artesunate (ATS) can also decompose to MKA after hydrolyzing into DHA, the other artemisinins of lower antitumor activity, e.g. artemisinin (ART), artemether (ATM) and arteether (ATE), exhibit negligible hydrolysis and rearrangement under the same conditions. Our study reveals the vital role of molecular rearrangement to the activation and activity of artemisinins and provides a new strategy for designing antitumor molecules containing endoperoxide group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangcan Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Yibo Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Sijin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Sufang Shui
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Guoquan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China.
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Dolivo D, Weathers P, Dominko T. Artemisinin and artemisinin derivatives as anti-fibrotic therapeutics. Acta Pharm Sin B 2021; 11:322-339. [PMID: 33643815 PMCID: PMC7893118 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2020.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibrosis is a pathological reparative process that can occur in most organs and is responsible for nearly half of deaths in the developed world. Despite considerable research, few therapies have proven effective and been approved clinically for treatment of fibrosis. Artemisinin compounds are best known as antimalarial therapeutics, but they also demonstrate antiparasitic, antibacterial, anticancer, and anti-fibrotic effects. Here we summarize literature describing anti-fibrotic effects of artemisinin compounds in in vivo and in vitro models of tissue fibrosis, and we describe the likely mechanisms by which artemisinin compounds appear to inhibit cellular and tissue processes that lead to fibrosis. To consider alternative routes of administration of artemisinin for treatment of internal organ fibrosis, we also discuss the potential for more direct oral delivery of Artemisia plant material to enhance bioavailability and efficacy of artemisinin compared to administration of purified artemisinin drugs at comparable doses. It is our hope that greater understanding of the broad anti-fibrotic effects of artemisinin drugs will enable and promote their use as therapeutics for treatment of fibrotic diseases.
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Key Words
- ALP, alkaline phosphatase
- ALT, alanine aminotransferase
- AMPK, AMP-activated protein kinase
- ASP, aspartate aminotransferase
- Artemisia
- Artemisinin
- Artesunate
- BAD, BCL-2-associated agonist of cell death
- BDL, bile duct ligation
- BSA, bovine serum albumin
- BUN, blood urea nitrogen
- CCl4, carbon tetrachloride
- CTGF, connective tissue growth factor
- Col I, type I collagen
- DHA, dihydroartemisinin
- DLA, dried leaf Artemisia
- ECM, extracellular matrix
- EMT, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition
- FLS, fibroblast-like synoviocyte
- Fibroblast
- Fibrosis
- HA, hyaluronic acid
- HSC, hepatic stellate cell
- HUVEC, human umbilical vein endothelial cell
- LAP, latency-associated peptide
- LDH, lactate dehydrogenase
- MAPK, mitogen-activated protein kinase
- MI, myocardial infarction
- MMP, matrix metalloproteinase
- Myofibroblast
- NAG, N-acetyl-β-d-glucosaminidase
- NICD, Notch intracellular domain
- PCNA, proliferating cell nuclear antigen
- PHN, passive heymann nephritis
- ROS, reactive oxygen species
- STZ, streptozotocin
- Scar
- TGF, β-transforming growth factor-β
- TGF-β
- TIMP, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase
- UUO, unilateral ureteral obstruction
- i.p., intraperitoneal
- mTOR, mechanistic target of rapamycin
- sCr, serum creatinine
- α-SMA, smooth muscle α-actin
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Affiliation(s)
- David Dolivo
- Department of Surgery, Northwestern University-Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Pamela Weathers
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA 01609, USA
| | - Tanja Dominko
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Worcester, MA 01609, USA
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Rizeq B, Gupta I, Ilesanmi J, AlSafran M, Rahman MDM, Ouhtit A. The Power of Phytochemicals Combination in Cancer Chemoprevention. J Cancer 2020; 11:4521-4533. [PMID: 32489469 PMCID: PMC7255361 DOI: 10.7150/jca.34374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Conventional therapies for cancer treatment have posed many challenges, including toxicity, multidrug resistance and economic expenses. In contrast, complementary alternative medicine (CAM), employing phytochemicals have recently received increased attention owing to their capability to modulate a myriad of molecular mechanisms with a less toxic effect. Increasing evidence from preclinical and clinical studies suggest that phytochemicals can favorably modulate several signaling pathways involved in cancer development and progression. Combinations of phytochemicals promote cell death, inhibit cell proliferation and invasion, sensitize cancerous cells, and boost the immune system, thus making them striking alternatives in cancer therapy. We previously investigated the effect of six phytochemicals (Indol-3-Carbinol, Resveratrol, C-phycocyanin, Isoflavone, Curcumin and Quercetin), at their bioavailable levels on breast cancer cell lines and were compared to primary cell lines over a period of 6 days. This study showed the compounds had a synergestic effect in inhibiting cell proliferation, reducing cellular migration and invasion, inducing both cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Despite the vast number of basic science and preclinical cancer studies involving phytochemicals, the number of CAM clinical trials in cancer treatment still remains nascent. In this review, we summarize findings from preclinical and clinical studies, including our work involving use of phytochemicals, individually as well as in combination and further discuss the potential of these phytochemicals to pave way to integrate CAM in primary health care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balsam Rizeq
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
- Biomedical Research Center, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Ishita Gupta
- College of Medicine, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Josephine Ilesanmi
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Mohammed AlSafran
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - MD Mizanur Rahman
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
| | - Allal Ouhtit
- Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar
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Zhang C, Fortin PY, Barnoin G, Qin X, Wang X, Fernandez Alvarez A, Bijani C, Maddelein ML, Hemmert C, Cuvillier O, Gornitzka H. An Artemisinin-Derivative-(NHC)Gold(I) Hybrid with Enhanced Cytotoxicity through Inhibition of NRF2 Transcriptional Activity. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020; 59:12062-12068. [PMID: 32304346 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202002992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
A family of hybrid complexes combining two biologically active motifs, an artemisinin derivative and a cationic bis(NHC)-gold(I) unit, has been synthesized. One of these complexes, 2 a, has been analyzed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. 2 a shows strong anticancer activities on a large panel of human cancer cell models (prostate, breast, lung, liver, bladder, bone, acute and chronic myeloid leukemias) with GI50 values in the nm range, together with a high selectivity. An original and distinctive mechanism of action, that is, through inhibition of the redox antioxidant NRF2 transcription factor (strongly associated with aggressiveness and resistance to cancer therapies) has been evidenced. 2 a could remarkably sensitize to sorafenib in HepG2 liver cells, in which dysregulated NRF2 signaling is linked to primary and acquired drug resistance. 2 a also inhibited NF-κB and HIF transcriptional activities, which are also associated with progression and resistance in cancer. Our findings provide evidence that hybrid (NHC)gold(I) compounds represent a new class of organometallic hybrid molecules that may yield new therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Zhang
- LCC-CNRS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France.,Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France.,Present address: Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design, State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, China
| | - Pierre-Yves Fortin
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | | | - Xue Qin
- LCC-CNRS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Xing Wang
- LCC-CNRS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | | | | | - Marie-Lise Maddelein
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | | | - Olivier Cuvillier
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Heinz Gornitzka
- LCC-CNRS, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, UPS, Toulouse, France
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12
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Zhang C, Fortin P, Barnoin G, Qin X, Wang X, Fernandez Alvarez A, Bijani C, Maddelein M, Hemmert C, Cuvillier O, Gornitzka H. An Artemisinin‐Derivative–(NHC)Gold(I) Hybrid with Enhanced Cytotoxicity through Inhibition of NRF2 Transcriptional Activity. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ange.202002992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Chen Zhang
- LCC-CNRS Université de Toulouse CNRS, UPS Toulouse France
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale Université de Toulouse CNRS, UPS Toulouse France
- Present address: Shanghai Key Laboratory of New Drug Design State Key Laboratory of Bioreactor Engineering School of Pharmacy East China University of Science and Technology Shanghai 200237 China
| | - Pierre‐Yves Fortin
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale Université de Toulouse CNRS, UPS Toulouse France
| | | | - Xue Qin
- LCC-CNRS Université de Toulouse CNRS, UPS Toulouse France
| | - Xing Wang
- LCC-CNRS Université de Toulouse CNRS, UPS Toulouse France
| | | | | | - Marie‐Lise Maddelein
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale Université de Toulouse CNRS, UPS Toulouse France
| | | | - Olivier Cuvillier
- Institut de Pharmacologie et de Biologie Structurale Université de Toulouse CNRS, UPS Toulouse France
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13
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Dihydroartemisinin inhibits endothelial cell tube formation by suppression of the STAT3 signaling pathway. Life Sci 2019; 242:117221. [PMID: 31881224 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2019.117221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Revised: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 12/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Endothelial cell (EC) tube formation is crucial for tumor angiogenesis, which becomes a target for chemotherapy. The anti-malaria agent dihydroartemisinin (DHA) inhibited tumor growth and angiogenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of DHA on EC tube formation and the underlying mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured with different concentrations of DHA, and the tube formation was measured by in vitro angiogenesis assay. The protein levels of signal transducer and activator of transcription factor 3 (STAT3), phosphorylated STAT3 and fatty acid synthase (FASN) were detected by Western blotting. The gene expression of FASN was determined by real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The FASN siRNA and STAT3 (Y705D) vector were introduced into HUVECs by lipofectin transfection. KEY FINDINGS DHA treatment inhibited tube formation, and the phosphorylation of STAT3 on Y705 of HUVECs. The expression of FASN was down-regulated by DHA and STAT3 inhibitor. The inhibitory effect of DHA on FASN expression in HUVECs was eliminated by co-treatment with the STAT3 inhibitor. Over-expression of STAT3 (Y705D) relieved the inhibitory effect of DHA on tube-formation and FASN expression. Under hypoxia condition, expression of FASN was up-regulated but inhibited by DHA treatment in HUVECs through suppression of STAT3 phosphorylation. SIGNIFICANCE We demonstrate that DHA inhibits the protein level of FASN via attenuation of the Y705 phosphorylation of STAT3, and subsequently inhibits tube formation of HUVECs. Our results support the therapeutic potential of DHA on angiogenesis.
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14
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Resolving neuroinflammation, the therapeutic potential of the anti-malaria drug family of artemisinin. Pharmacol Res 2018; 136:172-180. [DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2018.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2018] [Revised: 09/01/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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15
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Tsuda K, Miyamoto L, Hamano S, Morimoto Y, Kangawa Y, Fukue C, Kagawa Y, Horinouchi Y, Xu W, Ikeda Y, Tamaki T, Tsuchiya K. Mechanisms of the pH- and Oxygen-Dependent Oxidation Activities of Artesunate. Biol Pharm Bull 2018; 41:555-563. [PMID: 29607928 DOI: 10.1248/bpb.b17-00855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Artemisinin was discovered in 1971 as a constituent of the wormwood genus plant (Artemisia annua). This plant has been used as an herbal medicine to treat malaria since ancient times. The compound artemisinin has a sesquiterpene lactone bearing a peroxide group that offers its biological activity. In addition to anti-malarial activity, artemisinin derivatives have been reported to exert antitumor activity in cancer cells, and have attracted attention as potential anti-cancer drugs. Mechanisms that might explain the antitumor activities of artemisinin derivatives reportedly induction of apoptosis, angiogenesis inhibitory effects, inhibition of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) activation, and direct DNA injury. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation is involved in many cases. However, little is known about the mechanism of ROS formation from artemisinin derivatives and what types of ROS are produced. Therefore, we investigated the iron-induced ROS formation mechanism by using artesunate, a water-soluble artemisinin derivative, which is thought to be the underlying mechanism involved in artesunate-mediated cell death. The ROS generated by the coexistence of iron(II), artesunate, and molecular oxygen was a hydroxyl radical or hydroxyl radical-like ROS. Artesunate can reduce iron(III) to iron(II), which enables generation of ROS irrespective of the iron valence. We found that reduction from iron(III) to iron(II) was activated in the acidic rather than the neutral region and was proportional to the hydrogen ion concentration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katsunori Tsuda
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Tokushima Graduate School
| | - Licht Miyamoto
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Tokushima Graduate School
| | - Shuichi Hamano
- Department of Cell and Immunity Analytics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Tokushima Graduate School
| | - Yuri Morimoto
- Major in Laboratory Science, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tokushima University
| | - Yumi Kangawa
- Major in Laboratory Science, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tokushima University
| | - Chika Fukue
- Major in Laboratory Science, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tokushima University
| | - Yoko Kagawa
- Major in Laboratory Science, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Tokushima University
| | - Yuya Horinouchi
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Tokushima Graduate School
| | - Wenting Xu
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Tokushima Graduate School
| | - Yasumasa Ikeda
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Tokushima Graduate School
| | - Toshiaki Tamaki
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Tokushima Graduate School
| | - Koichiro Tsuchiya
- Department of Medical Pharmacology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Tokushima Graduate School
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16
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Dihydroartemisinin suppresses pancreatic cancer cells via a microRNA-mRNA regulatory network. Oncotarget 2018; 7:62460-62473. [PMID: 27613829 PMCID: PMC5308739 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.11517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2015] [Accepted: 08/08/2016] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite improvements in surgical procedures and chemotherapy, pancreatic cancer remains one of the most aggressive and fatal human malignancies, with a low 5-year survival rate of only 8%. Therefore, novel strategies for prevention and treatment are urgently needed. Here, we investigated the mechanisms underlying the anti-pancreatic cancer effects dihydroartemisinin (DHA). Microarray and systematic analysis showed that DHA suppressed proliferation, inhibited angiogenesis and promoted apoptosis in two different human pancreatic cancer cell lines, and that 5 DHA-regulated microRNAs and 11 of their target mRNAs were involved in these effects via 19 microRNA-mRNA interactions. Four of these microRNAs, 9 of the mRNAs and 17 of the interactions were experimentally verified. Furthermore, we found that the anti-pancreatic caner effects of DHA in vivo involved 4 microRNAs, 9 mRNAs and 17 microRNA-mRNA interactions. These results improve the understanding of the mechanisms by which DHA suppresses proliferation and angiogenesis and promotes apoptosis in pancreatic cancer cells and indicate that DHA, an effective antimalarial drug, might improve pancreatic cancer treatments.
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17
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Li X, Gao Y, Zhang Q, Hu N, Han D, Ning S, Ao Z. Dihydroartemisinin-regulated mRNAs and lncRNAs in chronic myeloid leukemia. Oncotarget 2017; 9:2543-2552. [PMID: 29416790 PMCID: PMC5788658 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.23274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2017] [Accepted: 12/04/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Chronic myelocytic leukemia (CML) is characterized by increased and unregulated growth of predominantly myeloid cells in the bone marrow, and accumulation of these cells in blood. We investigated the effects of an anti-malarial drug, dihydroartemisinin (DHA), on K562 CML cells. We identified 34 mRNAs and eight lncRNAs dysregulated following DHA treatment in pure and hemin-induced K562 cells. Up- or downregulation of these potential DHA targets increased with increasing DHA concentration. We also constructed and analyzed a DHA-related mRNA-lncRNA regulation network in K562 cells, and found that four DHA-modulated mRNAs regulated by four lncRNAs participated in the steroid biosynthesis pathway. Some estrogen-related drugs, such as tamoxifen, shared common targets with DHA. We inferred that DHA exerted anti-cancer effects on K562 cells by influencing estrogen levels. Our findings indicate that DHA has potential not only as an anti-malarial drug, but also as an anti-CML chemotherapeutic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Li
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Yue Gao
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Qiang Zhang
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Nan Hu
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China.,Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengde Medical University, Chengde 066000, China
| | - Dong Han
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Shangwei Ning
- College of Bioinformatics Science and Technology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China
| | - Zhuo Ao
- CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China
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18
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Wang Y, Xu X, Wu X, Chen W, Huang F, Gui X. Dihydroartemisinin treatment of multiple myeloma cells causes activation of c-Jun leading to cell apoptosis. Oncol Lett 2017; 15:2562-2566. [PMID: 29434974 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2017.7582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2016] [Accepted: 10/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of dihydroartemisinin (DHA) on a multiple myeloma cell line. An MTT assay, flow cytometry and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) were used for the analysis of cell viability, cell cycle distribution and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) expression, respectively. Treatment of U266 cells using DHA caused a significant (P<0.05) decrease in cell viability compared with the control cells. An increase in the concentration of DHA from 1 to 100 µmol/l reduced cell viability from 87 to 35% compared with 100% in the control cultures at 48 h. A significant (P<0.05) increase was observed in the sub-G0/G1 phase population of the U266 cells with an increase in DHA concentration from 1 to 100 µmol/l. Treatment with 1, 3, 10, 30 and 100 µmol/l concentrations of DHA increased the sub-G0/G1 phase cell population to 3.13, 8.25, 24.91, 31.47 and 38.54%, respectively. RT-PCR analysis of DHA-treated or -untreated U266 cells after 48 h demonstrated a significant (P<0.01) increase in caspase-3 expression. Treatment of the cells for 48 h with DHA led to a significant increase in c-Jun expression. DHA treatment at 1, 3, 10, 30 and 100 µmol/l concentrations caused an increase in the level of c-Jun by 0.174±0.001, 0.254±0.002, 0.387±0.001, 0.502±0.003 and 0.679±0.005, respectively, compared with 0.982±0.001 in the control cells. The addition of SP600125 to the cells incubated with DHA resulted in a significant decrease in the caspase-3 and c-Jun expression levels compared with those cells incubated with DHA alone. These findings confirm that treatment with DHA increased caspase-3 and c-Jun expression in the U266 cells through activation of the JNK signaling pathway. Thus, DHA inhibited proliferation of multiple myeloma cells by interfering with the JNK signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Wang
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiujiang University College of Medicine, Jiujiang, Jiangxi 332000, P.R. China.,Key Laboratory of System Bio-Medicine of Jiangxi, Jiujiang University, Jiujiang, Jiangxi 332000, P.R. China
| | - Xiaoyuan Xu
- Key Laboratory of System Bio-Medicine of Jiangxi, Jiujiang University, Jiujiang, Jiangxi 332000, P.R. China
| | - Xiaojian Wu
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiujiang University College of Medicine, Jiujiang, Jiangxi 332000, P.R. China
| | - Weibin Chen
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiujiang University College of Medicine, Jiujiang, Jiangxi 332000, P.R. China
| | - Fangmei Huang
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiujiang University College of Medicine, Jiujiang, Jiangxi 332000, P.R. China
| | - Xiaomin Gui
- Department of Hematology, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiujiang University College of Medicine, Jiujiang, Jiangxi 332000, P.R. China
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19
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Zyad A, Tilaoui M, Jaafari A, Oukerrou MA, Mouse HA. More insights into the pharmacological effects of artemisinin. Phytother Res 2017; 32:216-229. [PMID: 29193409 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.5958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2017] [Revised: 09/26/2017] [Accepted: 09/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Artemisinin is one of the most widely prescribed drugs against malaria and has recently received increased attention because of its other potential biological effects. The aim of this review is to summarize recent discoveries of the pharmaceutical effects of artemisinin in basic science along with its mechanistic action, as well as the intriguing results of recent clinical studies, with a focus on its antitumor activity. Scientific evidence indicates that artemisinin exerts its biological activity by generating reactive oxygen species that damage the DNA, mitochondrial depolarization, and cell death. In the present article review, scientific evidence suggests that artemisinin is a potential therapeutic agent for various diseases. Thus, this review is expected to encourage interested scientists to conduct further preclinical and clinical studies to evaluate these biological activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdelmajid Zyad
- Laboratory of Biological Engineering, Team of Natural Substances and Cellular and Molecular Immuno-pharmacology, Immuno-biology of Cancer Cells, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Beni-Mellal, Morocco
| | - Mounir Tilaoui
- Laboratory of Biological Engineering, Team of Natural Substances and Cellular and Molecular Immuno-pharmacology, Immuno-biology of Cancer Cells, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Beni-Mellal, Morocco
| | - Abdeslam Jaafari
- Laboratory of Biological Engineering, Team of Natural Substances and Cellular and Molecular Immuno-pharmacology, Immuno-biology of Cancer Cells, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Beni-Mellal, Morocco
| | - Moulay Ali Oukerrou
- Laboratory of Biological Engineering, Team of Natural Substances and Cellular and Molecular Immuno-pharmacology, Immuno-biology of Cancer Cells, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Beni-Mellal, Morocco
| | - Hassan Ait Mouse
- Laboratory of Biological Engineering, Team of Natural Substances and Cellular and Molecular Immuno-pharmacology, Immuno-biology of Cancer Cells, Sultan Moulay Slimane University, Faculty of Science and Technology, Beni-Mellal, Morocco
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20
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Xu CH, Liu Y, Xiao LM, Guo CG, Zheng SY, Zeng EM, Li DH. Dihydroartemisinin treatment exhibits antitumor effects in glioma cells through induction of apoptosis. Mol Med Rep 2017; 16:9528-9532. [PMID: 29152657 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2017.7832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2016] [Accepted: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate the effect of dihydroartemisinin on the proliferation of chemotherapy‑resistant C6 rat glioma cells. The results revealed that incubation of C6 glioma cells with a range of dihydroartemisinin concentrations for 48 h led to a significant (P<0.02) reduction in the cell number. There was a ‑0.8-fold reduction in the cell count following treatment with 20 µM dihydroartemisinin when compared with the control cultures. Analysis of DNA synthesis using bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) staining demonstrated a reduction in the BrdU‑labeling index (LI) following treatment with 20 µM dihydroartemisinin. There was a 6‑fold reduction in the BrdU‑LI compared with the control cultures. Incubation of the C6 glioma cells with dihydroartemisinin led to a concentration dependent reduction in the level of cyclic adenosine 3',5'‑monophosphate following 48 h. The percentage of apoptotic cells in the cultures incubated with 20 µM dihydroartemisinin was 54.78% compared with 2.57% in the control cultures. Incubation of the C6 glioma cells with dihydroartemisinin for 48 h led to a reduction in the percentage of cells in G2/M phase with an increase in G0/G1 phase. The control cells exhibited spindle‑shaped morphology and were actively undergoing mitosis following 48 h of culture. The morphological characteristics of the cells treated with dihydroartemisinin were demonstrated to be round with small surface projections. Therefore, treatment of glioma cells with dihydroartemisinin exhibited an antitumor effect by the induction of apoptosis. Therefore, dihydroartemisinin should be evaluated further in the animal models for the treatment of glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun-Hua Xu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Yue Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Li-Min Xiao
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Chang-Gui Guo
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Su-Yue Zheng
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Er-Ming Zeng
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
| | - Dong-Hai Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330006, P.R. China
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21
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From ancient herb to modern drug: Artemisia annua and artemisinin for cancer therapy. Semin Cancer Biol 2017; 46:65-83. [DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2017.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 341] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2017] [Revised: 02/15/2017] [Accepted: 02/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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22
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Qu C, Ma J, Liu X, Xue Y, Zheng J, Liu L, Liu J, Li Z, Zhang L, Liu Y. Dihydroartemisinin Exerts Anti-Tumor Activity by Inducing Mitochondrion and Endoplasmic Reticulum Apoptosis and Autophagic Cell Death in Human Glioblastoma Cells. Front Cell Neurosci 2017; 11:310. [PMID: 29033794 PMCID: PMC5626852 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2017.00310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2016] [Accepted: 09/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most advanced and aggressive form of gliomas. Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) has been shown to exhibit anti-tumor activity in various cancer cells. However, the effect and molecular mechanisms underlying its anti-tumor activity in human GBM cells remain to be elucidated. Our results proved that DHA treatment significantly reduced cell viability in a dose- and time-dependent manner by CCK-8 assay. Further investigation identified that the cell viability was rescued by pretreatment either with Z-VAD-FMK, 3-methyladenine (3-MA) or in combination. Moreover, DHA induced apoptosis of GBM cells through mitochondrial membrane depolarization, release of cytochrome c and activation of caspases-9. Enhanced expression of GRP78, CHOP and eIF2α and activation of caspase 12 were additionally confirmed that endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress pathway of apoptosis was involved in the cytotoxicity of DHA. DHA-treated GBM cells exhibited the morphological and biochemical changes typical of autophagy. Co-treatment with chloroquine (CQ) significantly induced the above effects. Furthermore, ER stress and mitochondrial dysfunction were involved in the DHA-induced autophagy. Further study revealed that accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was attributed to the DHA induction of apoptosis and autophagy. The illustration of these molecular mechanisms will present a novel insight for the treatment of human GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengbin Qu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Liaoning Clinical Medical Research Center in Nervous System Disease, Shenyang, China.,Liaoning Key Laboratory of Neuro-Oncology, Shenyang, China
| | - Jun Ma
- Department of Neurobiology, College of Basic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Ministry of Public Health of China, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology, Ministry of Education of China, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xiaobai Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Liaoning Clinical Medical Research Center in Nervous System Disease, Shenyang, China.,Liaoning Key Laboratory of Neuro-Oncology, Shenyang, China
| | - Yixue Xue
- Department of Neurobiology, College of Basic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Ministry of Public Health of China, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology, Ministry of Education of China, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Jian Zheng
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Liaoning Clinical Medical Research Center in Nervous System Disease, Shenyang, China.,Liaoning Key Laboratory of Neuro-Oncology, Shenyang, China
| | - Libo Liu
- Department of Neurobiology, College of Basic Medicine, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Ministry of Public Health of China, China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Key Laboratory of Medical Cell Biology, Ministry of Education of China, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Jing Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Liaoning Clinical Medical Research Center in Nervous System Disease, Shenyang, China.,Liaoning Key Laboratory of Neuro-Oncology, Shenyang, China
| | - Zhen Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Liaoning Clinical Medical Research Center in Nervous System Disease, Shenyang, China.,Liaoning Key Laboratory of Neuro-Oncology, Shenyang, China
| | - Lei Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Liaoning Clinical Medical Research Center in Nervous System Disease, Shenyang, China.,Liaoning Key Laboratory of Neuro-Oncology, Shenyang, China
| | - Yunhui Liu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China.,Liaoning Clinical Medical Research Center in Nervous System Disease, Shenyang, China.,Liaoning Key Laboratory of Neuro-Oncology, Shenyang, China
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23
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Wong YK, Xu C, Kalesh KA, He Y, Lin Q, Wong WSF, Shen HM, Wang J. Artemisinin as an anticancer drug: Recent advances in target profiling and mechanisms of action. Med Res Rev 2017. [PMID: 28643446 DOI: 10.1002/med.21446] [Citation(s) in RCA: 149] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Artemisinin and its derivatives (collectively termed as artemisinins) are among the most important and effective antimalarial drugs, with proven safety and efficacy in clinical use. Beyond their antimalarial effects, artemisinins have also been shown to possess selective anticancer properties, demonstrating cytotoxic effects against a wide range of cancer types both in vitro and in vivo. These effects appear to be mediated by artemisinin-induced changes in multiple signaling pathways, interfering simultaneously with multiple hallmarks of cancer. Great strides have been taken to characterize these pathways and to reveal their anticancer mechanisms of action of artemisinin. Moreover, encouraging data have also been obtained from a limited number of clinical trials to support their anticancer property. However, there are several key gaps in knowledge that continue to serve as significant barriers to the repurposing of artemisinins as effective anticancer agents. This review focuses on important and emerging aspects of this field, highlighting breakthroughs in unresolved questions as well as novel techniques and approaches that have been taken in recent studies. We discuss the mechanism of artemisinin activation in cancer, novel and significant findings with regards to artemisinin target proteins and pathways, new understandings in artemisinin-induced cell death mechanisms, as well as the practical issues of repurposing artemisinin. We believe these will be important topics in realizing the potential of artemisinin and its derivatives as safe and potent anticancer agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yin Kwan Wong
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chengchao Xu
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Karunakaran A Kalesh
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Yingke He
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Qingsong Lin
- Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - W S Fred Wong
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University Health System, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Han-Ming Shen
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jigang Wang
- Department of Physiology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
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24
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Shao YY, Zhang TL, Wu LX, Zou HC, Li S, Huang J, Zhou HH. AKT Axis, miR-21, and RECK Play Pivotal Roles in Dihydroartemisinin Killing Malignant Glioma Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2017; 18:ijms18020350. [PMID: 28208619 PMCID: PMC5343885 DOI: 10.3390/ijms18020350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2016] [Revised: 01/04/2017] [Accepted: 01/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Dihydroartemisinin (DHA), a semi-synthetic derivative of artemisinin, is known to play important roles in inhibiting proliferation rate, inducing apoptosis, as well as hindering the metastasis and invasion of glioma cells, but the underlying mechanisms are still unclear so far. In this study, methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT), colony-forming, wound healing, invasion, and apoptosis assays were performed to investigate the effect of DHA on malignant glioma cells. Results showed that DHA induced apoptosis of malignant glioma cells through Protein Kinase B (AKT) axis, induced death of malignant glioma cells by downregulating miR-21, and inhibited the invasion of malignant glioma cells corresponding with up-regulation of the reversion-inducing-cysteine-rich protein with kazal motifs (RECK). These results revealed that AKT axis, miR-21, and RECK play pivotal roles in DHA killing malignant glioma cells, suggesting that DHA is a potential agent for treating glioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Ying Shao
- Institute of Life Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, 1 Yixueyuan Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing 400016, China.
| | - Tao-Lan Zhang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China.
| | - Lan-Xiang Wu
- Institute of Life Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, 1 Yixueyuan Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing 400016, China.
| | - He-Cun Zou
- Institute of Life Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, 1 Yixueyuan Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing 400016, China.
| | - Shuang Li
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China.
| | - Jin Huang
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
- Hunan Key Laboratory of Pharmacogenetics, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Central South University, Changsha 410078, China.
| | - Hong-Hao Zhou
- Institute of Life Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, 1 Yixueyuan Road, Yuzhong District, Chongqing 400016, China.
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The Glutaminase-1 Inhibitor 968 Enhances Dihydroartemisinin-Mediated Antitumor Efficacy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0166423. [PMID: 27835669 PMCID: PMC5105986 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0166423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2016] [Accepted: 10/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Reprogrammed metabolism and redox homeostasis are potential targets of cancer therapy. Our previous study demonstrated that the kidney form of glutaminase (GLS1) is highly expressed in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells and can be used as a target for effective anticancer therapy. Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) increases intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels leading to cytotoxicity in cancer cells. However, the heterogeneity of cancer cells often leads to differing responses to oxidative lesions. For instance, cancer cells with high ratio of GSH/GSSG, a critical ROS scavenger, are resistant to ROS-induced cytotoxicity. We postulate that a combinatorial strategy firstly disrupting redox homeostasis followed by DHA might yield a profound antitumor efficacy. In this study, when HCC cells were treated with a GLS1 inhibitor 968, the ROS elimination capacity was significantly reduced in HCC cells, which rendered HCC cells but not normal endothelial cells more sensitive to DHA-mediated cytotoxicity. We further confirmed that this synergistic antitumor efficacy was mediated by excessive ROS generation in HCC cells. NAC, a ROS inhibitor, partly rescued the combinatorial cytotoxic effect of 968 and DHA. Given that GLS1 is a potential antitumor target and DHA has been safely used in clinic, our findings provide new insight into liver cancer therapy targeting glutamine metabolism combined with the ROS generator DHA, which can be readily translated into cancer clinical trials.
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Uhl M, Schwab S, Efferth T. Fatal Liver and Bone Marrow Toxicity by Combination Treatment of Dichloroacetate and Artesunate in a Glioblastoma Multiforme Patient: Case Report and Review of the Literature. Front Oncol 2016; 6:204. [PMID: 27774434 PMCID: PMC5053977 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2016.00204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2016] [Accepted: 09/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
A 52-year-old male patient was treated with standard radiochemotherapy with temozolomide for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). After worsening of his clinical condition, further tumor-specific treatment was unlikely to be successful, and the patient seeked help from an alternative practitioner, who administered a combination of dichloroacetate (DCA) and artesunate (ART). A few days later, the patient showed clinical and laboratory signs of liver damage and bone marrow toxicity (leukopenia, thrombocytopenia). Despite successful restoration of laboratory parameters upon symptomatic treatment, the patient died 10 days after the infusion. DCA bears a well-documented hepatotoxic risk, while ART can be considered as safe concerning hepatotoxicity. Bone marrow toxicity can appear upon ART application as reduced reticulocyte counts and disturbed erythropoiesis. It can be assumed that the simultaneous use of both drugs caused liver injury and bone marrow toxicity. The compassionate use of DCA/ART combination therapy outside of clinical trials cannot be recommended for GBM treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Uhl
- Department of Neurology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg , Erlangen , Germany
| | - Stefan Schwab
- Department of Neurology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg , Erlangen , Germany
| | - Thomas Efferth
- Institute of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, Johannes Gutenberg University , Mainz , Germany
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Shen R, Li J, Ye D, Wang Q, Fei J. Combination of onconase and dihydroartemisinin synergistically suppresses growth and angiogenesis of non-small-cell lung carcinoma and malignant mesothelioma. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2016; 48:894-901. [PMID: 27590062 DOI: 10.1093/abbs/gmw082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2016] [Accepted: 07/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Onconase (Onc) is a cytotoxic ribonuclease derived from leopard frog oocytes or early embryos, and has been applied to the treatment of malignant mesothelioma in clinics. Onc also exhibits effective growth suppression of human non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Artemisinin (Art) and its derivatives are novel antimalarial drugs that exhibit antitumor and antivirus activities. In this study, we investigated the antitumor effects of combinations of Onc and an Art derivative, dihydroartemisinin (DHA), both in vitro and in vivo Isobologram analyses showed synergistic effects on the proliferation of NSCLC cells under the treatment with Onc and DHA. In vivo experiments also showed that the antitumor effect of Onc was markedly enhanced by DHA in mouse xenograft models. No obvious adverse effect was observed after the treatment. The density of microvasculature in the tumor tissues treated with Onc/DHA combination was lower than those treated with Onc or DHA alone. The above results are consistent with the results of the matrigel plug test for angiogenesis suppression using the Onc/DHA combination. These results imply that the anti-angiogenesis effects may make important contributions to the in vivo antitumor effects of the Onc/DHA combination treatment. The Onc/DHA combination therapy may have the potential to become a novel regimen for NSCLC and mesothelioma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruling Shen
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China Shanghai Research Center for Model Organisms, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jun Li
- Shanghai Research Center for Model Organisms, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Danrong Ye
- Shanghai Research Center for Model Organisms, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Qingcheng Wang
- Shanghai Research Center for Model Organisms, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Jian Fei
- School of Life Science and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China Shanghai Research Center for Model Organisms, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 201203, China
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Hepatotoxicity by combination treatment of temozolomide, artesunate and Chinese herbs in a glioblastoma multiforme patient: case report review of the literature. Arch Toxicol 2016; 91:1833-1846. [DOI: 10.1007/s00204-016-1810-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2016] [Accepted: 08/04/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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29
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Perez DR, Smagley Y, Garcia M, Carter MB, Evangelisti A, Matlawska-Wasowska K, Winter SS, Sklar LA, Chigaev A. Cyclic AMP efflux inhibitors as potential therapeutic agents for leukemia. Oncotarget 2016; 7:33960-82. [PMID: 27129155 PMCID: PMC5085131 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.8986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2016] [Accepted: 04/16/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Apoptotic evasion is a hallmark of cancer. We propose that some cancers may evade cell death by regulating 3'-5'-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), which is associated with pro-apoptotic signaling. We hypothesize that leukemic cells possess mechanisms that efflux cAMP from the cytoplasm, thus protecting them from apoptosis. Accordingly, cAMP efflux inhibition should result in: cAMP accumulation, activation of cAMP-dependent downstream signaling, viability loss, and apoptosis. We developed a novel assay to assess cAMP efflux and performed screens to identify inhibitors. In an acute myeloid leukemia (AML) model, several identified compounds reduced cAMP efflux, appropriately modulated pathways that are responsive to cAMP elevation (cAMP-responsive element-binding protein phosphorylation, and deactivation of Very Late Antigen-4 integrin), and induced mitochondrial depolarization and caspase activation. Blocking adenylyl cyclase activity was sufficient to reduce effects of the most potent compounds. These compounds also decreased cAMP efflux and viability of B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) cell lines and primary patient samples, but not of normal primary peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Our data suggest that cAMP efflux is a functional feature that could be therapeutically targeted in leukemia. Furthermore, because some of the identified drugs are currently used for treating other illnesses, this work creates an opportunity for repurposing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominique R. Perez
- University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
- University of New Mexico Center for Molecular Discovery, Albuquerque, NM, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Yelena Smagley
- University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
- University of New Mexico Center for Molecular Discovery, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Matthew Garcia
- University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
- University of New Mexico Center for Molecular Discovery, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Mark B. Carter
- University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
- University of New Mexico Center for Molecular Discovery, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Annette Evangelisti
- University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
- University of New Mexico Center for Molecular Discovery, Albuquerque, NM, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Ksenia Matlawska-Wasowska
- University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Stuart S. Winter
- University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Larry A. Sklar
- University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
- University of New Mexico Center for Molecular Discovery, Albuquerque, NM, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Alexandre Chigaev
- University of New Mexico Comprehensive Cancer Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
- University of New Mexico Center for Molecular Discovery, Albuquerque, NM, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, NM, USA
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Greenshields AL, Shepherd TG, Hoskin DW. Contribution of reactive oxygen species to ovarian cancer cell growth arrest and killing by the anti-malarial drug artesunate. Mol Carcinog 2016; 56:75-93. [PMID: 26878598 DOI: 10.1002/mc.22474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 125] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2015] [Revised: 01/07/2016] [Accepted: 01/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Ovarian cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death in women and the most lethal gynecological malignancy in the developed world. The morbidity and mortality of ovarian cancer underscore the need for novel treatment options. Artesunate (ART) is a well-tolerated anti-malarial drug that also has anti-cancer activity. In this study, we show that ART inhibited the in vitro growth of a panel of ovarian cancer cell lines, as well as the growth of ovarian cancer cells isolated from patients. Moreover, ART decreased tumor growth in vivo in a mouse model of ovarian cancer. ART-treated ovarian cancer cells showed a strong induction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reduced proliferation. ROS-dependent cell cycle arrest occurred in the G2/M phase whereas ROS-independent cell cycle arrest occurred in the G1 phase, depending on the concentration of ART to which ovarian cancer cells were exposed. The anti-proliferative effect of ART was associated with altered expression of several key cell cycle regulatory proteins, including cyclin D3, E2F-1, and p21, as well as inhibition of mechanistic target of rapamycin signaling. Exposure of ovarian cancer cells to higher concentrations of ART resulted in ROS-dependent DNA damage and cell death. Pretreatment of ovarian cancer cells with a pan-caspase inhibitor or ferroptosis inhibitor decreased but did not completely eliminate ART-mediated cytotoxicity, suggesting the involvement of both caspase-dependent and caspase-independent pathways of killing. These data show that ART has potent anti-proliferative and cytotoxic effects on ovarian cancer cells, and may therefore be useful in the treatment of ovarian cancer. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Trevor G Shepherd
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Oncology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada
| | - David W Hoskin
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.,Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.,Department of Surgery, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
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31
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Legendre C, Garcion E. Iron metabolism: a double-edged sword in the resistance of glioblastoma to therapies. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2015; 26:322-31. [PMID: 25936466 DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2015.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2015] [Revised: 03/27/2015] [Accepted: 03/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM), the deadliest primary tumor of the central nervous system (CNS), is a clear illustration of the resistance of cancer cells to conventional therapies. Application of combinatorial strategies able to overcome pivotal factors of GBM resistance, particularly within the resection margins, represents an essential issue. This review focuses on the role of iron metabolism in GBM progression and resistance to therapy, and the impact of its pharmaceutical modulation on the disease. Iron, through its involvement in many biological processes, is a key factor in the control of cell behavior and cancer biology. Therefore, targeting cellular iron signaling or taking advantage of its dysregulation in cancer cells may lead to new opportunities for improving treatments and drug delivery in GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Legendre
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U1066, Bio-Inspired Micro and Nanomedicines (MINT), Angers, France; L'Université Nantes Angers Le Mans (LUNAM), Université d'Angers, Angers, France
| | - Emmanuel Garcion
- Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) U1066, Bio-Inspired Micro and Nanomedicines (MINT), Angers, France; L'Université Nantes Angers Le Mans (LUNAM), Université d'Angers, Angers, France.
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32
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Abstract
The anti-malarial drug artemisinin has shown anticancer activity in vitro and animal experiments, but experience in human cancer is scarce. However, the ability of artemisinins to kill cancer cells through a variety of molecular mechanisms has been explored. A PubMed search of about 127 papers on anti-cancer effects of antimalarials has revealed that this class of drug, including other antimalarials, have several biological characteristics that include anticancer properties. Experimental evidences suggest that artemisinin compounds may be a therapeutic alternative in highly aggressive cancers with rapid dissemination, without developing drug resistance. They also exhibit synergism with other anticancer drugs with no increased toxicity toward normal cells. It has been found that semisynthetic artemisinin derivatives have much higher antitumor activity than their monomeric counterparts via mechanisms like apoptosis, arrest of cell cycle at G0/G1, and oxidative stress. The exact mechanism of activation and molecular basis of these anticancer effects are not fully elucidated. Artemisinins seem to regulate key factors such as nuclear factor-kappa B, survivin, NOXA, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α, and BMI-1, involving multiple pathways that may affect drug response, drug interactions, drug resistance, and associated parameters upon normal cells. Newer synthetic artemisinins have been developed showing substantial antineoplastic activity, but there is still limited information regarding the mode of action of these synthetic compounds. In view of the emerging data, specific interactions with established chemotherapy need to be further investigated in different cancer cells and their phenotypes and validated further using different semisynthetic and synthetic artemisinin derivatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- A K Das
- Department of Medicine, Assam Medical College, Dibrugarh, Assam, India
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33
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Lin CXC, Jambhrunkar S, Yuan P, Zhou CHC, Zhao GXS. Design and synthesis of periodic mesoporous organosilica materials with a multi-compartment structure. RSC Adv 2015. [DOI: 10.1039/c5ra16497d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Multi-compartment periodic mesoporous organosilica materials show desirable properties as anticancer drug carrier with high loading capacity and slow release rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chun Xiang Cynthia Lin
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology
- The University of Queensland
- Brisbane
- Australia
| | - Siddharth Jambhrunkar
- Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology
- The University of Queensland
- Brisbane
- Australia
| | - Pei Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing
- China University of Petroleum
- Beijing 102249
- China
| | - Chun Hui Clayton Zhou
- Research Group for Advanced Materials & Sustainable Catalysis (AMSC), College of Chemical Engineering
- Zhejiang University of Technology
- Hangzhou
- China
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34
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Synthesis, characterization, and in vitro evaluation of artesunate-β-cyclodextrin conjugates as novel anti-cancer prodrugs. Carbohydr Res 2014; 400:19-25. [PMID: 25457606 DOI: 10.1016/j.carres.2014.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2014] [Revised: 08/06/2014] [Accepted: 08/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
A novel series of artesunate-β-cyclodextrin (ATS-β-CD) conjugates, in which artesunate (ATS) was coupled covalently to one of the primary hydroxyl groups of β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) through amino bond formation, were synthesized and characterized by (1)H NMR, HRMS, 2D NMR (ROESY), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results showed that the aqueous solubility of ATS-β-CD conjugates was 26-45 times better than that of free ATS. The cytotoxicity of the ATS-β-CD conjugates was evaluated on human colon cancer cell lines HCT116, LOVO, SW480, and HT-29, and the results indicated that ATS-2NβCD exhibited a very high cytotoxicity against HCT116, LOVO, and HT-29 with IC50 values of 0.58, 1.62, and 5.18μmol/L, respectively. In addition, the supposition of better cytotoxicity was further supported by the control experiment of fluorescent cyclodextrin.
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Ontikatze T, Rudner J, Handrick R, Belka C, Jendrossek V. Dihydroartemisinin is a Hypoxia-Active Anti-Cancer Drug in Colorectal Carcinoma Cells. Front Oncol 2014; 4:116. [PMID: 24904829 PMCID: PMC4032948 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2014.00116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2014] [Accepted: 05/04/2014] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor hypoxia is one main biological factor that drives resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. To develop a novel strategy for overcoming hypoxia-induced therapy resistance, we examined the anti-neoplastic activity of the reactive oxygen donor dihydroartemisinin (DHA) in human colon cancer cell lines in normoxia and severe hypoxia. In addition, we analyzed the involvement of the intrinsic apoptosis pathway for DHA-mediated cytotoxicity in HCT116 cells in short-term and long-term in vitro assays. When applied at lower concentrations (≤25 μM), DHA induced apoptosis in Colo205, HCT15, and HCT116 cells, whereas necrotic cell death was increased when cells were treated with higher DHA concentrations (50 μM). However, no preference for DHA-induced apoptosis or necrosis could be detected between the treatment under normoxic or hypoxic conditions. Moreover, DHA potently reduced clonogenic survival of HCT116 cells in normoxia and hypoxia. Treatment of HCT116 cells with 25 μM DHA resulted in activation of Bax under normoxic and hypoxic conditions. Interestingly, cytochrome c release from the mitochondria and caspase-activation were observed only under normoxic conditions, whereas, under hypoxic conditions DHA induced a caspase-independent apoptosis-like cell death. However, under both conditions, generation of reactive oxygen species was an important mediator of DHA-induced toxicity. Further molecular analysis suggests that DHA-mediated cell death involves different sets of pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members. The pronounced cytotoxic activity of DHA in severe hypoxia as well as normoxia offers new perspectives for targeting the hypoxic tumor cell fraction to improve treatment outcome for cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teona Ontikatze
- Institute of Cell Biology (Cancer Research), Faculty of Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen , Essen , Germany
| | - Justine Rudner
- Institute of Cell Biology (Cancer Research), Faculty of Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen , Essen , Germany
| | - René Handrick
- Institute of Cell Biology (Cancer Research), Faculty of Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen , Essen , Germany ; Institute of Applied Biotechnology, University of Applied Sciences , Biberach , Germany
| | - Claus Belka
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Ludwig-Maximilian University Munich , Munich , Germany
| | - Verena Jendrossek
- Institute of Cell Biology (Cancer Research), Faculty of Medicine, University of Duisburg-Essen , Essen , Germany
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Artemisinins: Pharmacological actions beyond anti-malarial. Pharmacol Ther 2014; 142:126-39. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2013.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 309] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2013] [Accepted: 11/26/2013] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Feng X, Li L, Jiang H, Jiang K, Jin Y, Zheng J. Dihydroartemisinin potentiates the anticancer effect of cisplatin via mTOR inhibition in cisplatin-resistant ovarian cancer cells: involvement of apoptosis and autophagy. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2014; 444:376-81. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2014.01.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2014] [Accepted: 01/15/2014] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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Hooft van Huijsduijnen R, Guy RK, Chibale K, Haynes RK, Peitz I, Kelter G, Phillips MA, Vennerstrom JL, Yuthavong Y, Wells TNC. Anticancer properties of distinct antimalarial drug classes. PLoS One 2013; 8:e82962. [PMID: 24391728 PMCID: PMC3877007 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0082962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2013] [Accepted: 10/22/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
We have tested five distinct classes of established and experimental antimalarial drugs for their anticancer potential, using a panel of 91 human cancer lines. Three classes of drugs: artemisinins, synthetic peroxides and DHFR (dihydrofolate reductase) inhibitors effected potent inhibition of proliferation with IC50s in the nM- low µM range, whereas a DHODH (dihydroorotate dehydrogenase) and a putative kinase inhibitor displayed no activity. Furthermore, significant synergies were identified with erlotinib, imatinib, cisplatin, dasatinib and vincristine. Cluster analysis of the antimalarials based on their differential inhibition of the various cancer lines clearly segregated the synthetic peroxides OZ277 and OZ439 from the artemisinin cluster that included artesunate, dihydroartemisinin and artemisone, and from the DHFR inhibitors pyrimethamine and P218 (a parasite DHFR inhibitor), emphasizing their shared mode of action. In order to further understand the basis of the selectivity of these compounds against different cancers, microarray-based gene expression data for 85 of the used cell lines were generated. For each compound, distinct sets of genes were identified whose expression significantly correlated with compound sensitivity. Several of the antimalarials tested in this study have well-established and excellent safety profiles with a plasma exposure, when conservatively used in malaria, that is well above the IC50s that we identified in this study. Given their unique mode of action and potential for unique synergies with established anticancer drugs, our results provide a strong basis to further explore the potential application of these compounds in cancer in pre-clinical or and clinical settings.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - R. Kiplin Guy
- St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Kelly Chibale
- Department of Chemistry and Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | - Richard K. Haynes
- Centre of Excellence for Pharmaceutical Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | | | | | - Margaret A. Phillips
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
| | - Jonathan L. Vennerstrom
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Yongyuth Yuthavong
- BIOTEC, National Science and Technology Development Agency, Thailand Science Park, Pathumthani, Thailand
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Odaka Y, Xu B, Luo Y, Shen T, Shang C, Wu Y, Zhou H, Huang S. Dihydroartemisinin inhibits the mammalian target of rapamycin-mediated signaling pathways in tumor cells. Carcinogenesis 2013; 35:192-200. [PMID: 23929438 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgt277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Dihydroartemisinin (DHA), an antimalarial drug, has previously unrecognized anticancer activity, and is in clinical trials as a new anticancer agent for skin, lung, colon and breast cancer treatment. However, the anticancer mechanism is not well understood. Here, we show that DHA inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in rhabdomyosarcoma (Rh30 and RD) cells, and concurrently inhibited the signaling pathways mediated by the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), a central controller for cell proliferation and survival, at concentrations (<3 μM) that are pharmacologically achievable. Of interest, in contrast to the effects of conventional mTOR inhibitors (rapalogs), DHA potently inhibited mTORC1-mediated phosphorylation of p70 S6 kinase 1 and eukaryotic initiation factor 4E binding protein 1 but did not obviously affect mTORC2-mediated phosphorylation of Akt. The results suggest that DHA may represent a novel class of mTORC1 inhibitor and may execute its anticancer activity primarily by blocking mTORC1-mediated signaling pathways in the tumor cells.
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40
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Du XX, Li YJ, Wu CL, Zhou JH, Han Y, Sui H, Wei XL, Liu L, Huang P, Yuan HH, Zhang TT, Zhang WJ, Xie R, Lang XH, Jia DX, Bai YX. Initiation of apoptosis, cell cycle arrest and autophagy of esophageal cancer cells by dihydroartemisinin. Biomed Pharmacother 2013; 67:417-24. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2013.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2013] [Accepted: 01/24/2013] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
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41
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Deferoxamine: emerging, new neuro-protective benefits. Neurol Sci 2013; 34:2069-70. [PMID: 23609462 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-013-1441-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2013] [Accepted: 04/11/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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MAO HAITING, GU HONGTAO, QU XUN, SUN JINTANG, SONG BINGFENG, GAO WENJUAN, LIU JIA, SHAO QIANQIAN. Involvement of the mitochondrial pathway and Bim/Bcl-2 balance in dihydroartemisinin-induced apoptosis in human breast cancer in vitro. Int J Mol Med 2012; 31:213-8. [DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2012.1176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2012] [Accepted: 10/05/2012] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
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Development of artemisinin compounds for cancer treatment. Invest New Drugs 2012; 31:230-46. [DOI: 10.1007/s10637-012-9873-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 155] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2012] [Accepted: 08/21/2012] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Ba Q, Zhou N, Duan J, Chen T, Hao M, Yang X, Li J, Yin J, Chu R, Wang H. Dihydroartemisinin exerts its anticancer activity through depleting cellular iron via transferrin receptor-1. PLoS One 2012; 7:e42703. [PMID: 22900042 PMCID: PMC3416848 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0042703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2012] [Accepted: 07/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Artemisinin and its main active metabolite dihydroartemisinin, clinically used antimalarial agents with low host toxicity, have recently shown potent anticancer activities in a variety of human cancer models. Although iron mediated oxidative damage is involved, the mechanisms underlying these activities remain unclear. In the current study, we found that dihydroartemisinin caused cellular iron depletion in time- and concentration-dependent manners. It decreased iron uptake and disturbed iron homeostasis in cancer cells, which were independent of oxidative damage. Moreover, dihydroartemisinin reduced the level of transferrin receptor-1 associated with cell membrane. The regulation of dihydroartemisinin to transferrin receptor-1 could be reversed by nystatin, a cholesterol-sequestering agent but not the inhibitor of clathrin-dependent endocytosis. Dihydroartemisinin also induced transferrin receptor-1 palmitoylation and colocalization with caveolin-1, suggesting a lipid rafts mediated internalization pathway was involved in the process. Also, nystatin reversed the influences of dihydroartemisinin on cell cycle and apoptosis related genes and the siRNA induced downregulation of transferrin receptor-1 decreased the sensitivity to dihydroartemisinin efficiently in the cells. These results indicate that dihydroartemisinin can counteract cancer through regulating cell-surface transferrin receptor-1 in a non-classical endocytic pathway, which may be a new action mechanism of DHA independently of oxidative damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Ba
- Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Metabolism, Institute for Nutritional Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Naiyuan Zhou
- China National Center for Biotechnology Development, Beijing, China
| | - Juan Duan
- Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Metabolism, Institute for Nutritional Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Tao Chen
- Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Metabolism, Institute for Nutritional Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Miao Hao
- Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Metabolism, Institute for Nutritional Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinying Yang
- Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Metabolism, Institute for Nutritional Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Junyang Li
- Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Metabolism, Institute for Nutritional Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Yin
- Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Metabolism, Institute for Nutritional Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Ruiai Chu
- Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Metabolism, Institute for Nutritional Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - Hui Wang
- Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Metabolism, Institute for Nutritional Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China
- * E-mail:
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Antitumor activity of artemisinin and its derivatives: from a well-known antimalarial agent to a potential anticancer drug. J Biomed Biotechnol 2011; 2012:247597. [PMID: 22174561 PMCID: PMC3228295 DOI: 10.1155/2012/247597] [Citation(s) in RCA: 234] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2011] [Accepted: 08/29/2011] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Improvement of quality of life and survival of cancer patients will be greatly enhanced by the development of highly effective drugs to selectively kill malignant cells. Artemisinin and its analogs are naturally occurring antimalarials which have shown potent anticancer activity. In primary cancer cultures and cell lines, their antitumor actions were by inhibiting cancer proliferation, metastasis, and angiogenesis. In xenograft models, exposure to artemisinins substantially reduces tumor volume and progression. However, the rationale for the use of artemisinins in anticancer therapy must be addressed by a greater understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved in their cytotoxic effects. The primary targets for artemisinin and the chemical base for its preferential effects on heterologous tumor cells need yet to be elucidated. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the recent advances and new development of this class of drugs as potential anticancer agents.
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D’Alessandro S, Basilico N, Corbett Y, Scaccabarozzi D, Omodeo-Salè F, Saresella M, Marventano I, Vaillant M, Olliaro P, Taramelli D. Hypoxia modulates the effect of dihydroartemisinin on endothelial cells. Biochem Pharmacol 2011; 82:476-84. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2011.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2011] [Revised: 05/30/2011] [Accepted: 06/02/2011] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
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Clark RL, Brannen KC, Sanders JE, Hoberman AM. Artesunate and artelinic acid: association of embryotoxicity, reticulocytopenia, and delayed stimulation of hematopoiesis in pregnant rats. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 92:52-68. [PMID: 21312322 DOI: 10.1002/bdrb.20282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
The artemisinin antimalarials cause embryo death and malformations in animals by killing embryonic erythroblasts. Groups of pregnant rats (N = 4) were administered 35 and 48 µmol/kg artesunate and 17.2, 28.7, 48, 96, and 191 µmol/kg artelinic acid as a single oral dose on gestational day (GD) 12. Litters were examined on GD21. The ED(50) for embryo death with artelinic acid (23.4 µmol/kg) was just slightly lower than that for decreased reticulocyte count at 24 hr postdose (33.5 µmol/kg) and both had similarly steep dose responses (maximal effects of total litter loss and ∼60% decreases in reticulocyte count at 48 µmol/kg). Results with artesunate were similar. The correlation coefficient between embryo death and decreased reticulocyte count was 0.82 (p<0.01). The close relationship between embryotoxicity and reticulocytopenia is suggestive of a common mechanism-artemisinin-induced mitochondrial damage leading to cell death. At 9 days postdose, treatment with artesunate and artelinic acid also caused increases in counts of reticulocytes, lymphocytes, basophils, and monocytes (up to 3.7 ×, 1.7 ×, 4.7 ×, and 1.7 × control, respectively). This stimulation of hematopoiesis may have been mediated by the direct oxidative conversion of artesunate or artelinic acid to the artemisininyl hydroperoxide within the bone marrow cells or by an indirect increase in reactive oxygen species. The high correlation between embryotoxicity and reticulocytopenia further supports the assertion that therapeutic dosage regimens of artemisinins that cause decreases in reticulocyte count in pregnant women during the putative critical period (approximately postconception wk 3 to 9) are at risk of also causing adverse effects on the embryo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert L Clark
- Artemis Pharmaceutical Research, Lansdale, PA 19446, USA.
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Wang SJ, Sun B, Cheng ZX, Zhou HX, Gao Y, Kong R, Chen H, Jiang HC, Pan SH, Xue DB, Bai XW. Dihydroartemisinin inhibits angiogenesis in pancreatic cancer by targeting the NF-κB pathway. Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2011; 68:1421-30. [PMID: 21479633 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-011-1643-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2011] [Accepted: 03/26/2011] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) has recently shown antitumor activity in human pancreatic cancer cells. However, its effect on antiangiogenic activity in pancreatic cancer is unknown, and the mechanism is unclear. This study was aimed to investigate whether DHA would inhibit angiogenesis in human pancreatic cancer. METHODS Cell viability and proliferation, tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), nuclear factor (NF)-κB DNA-binding activity, expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), interleukin (IL)-8, cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 were examined in vitro. The effect of DHA on antiangiogenic activity in pancreatic cancer was also assessed using BxPC-3 xenografts subcutaneously established in BALB/c nude mice. RESULTS DHA inhibited cell proliferation and tube formation of HUVECs in a time- and dose-dependent manner and also reduced cell viability in pancreatic cancer cells. DHA significantly inhibited NF-κB DNA-binding activity, so as to tremendously decrease the expression of NF-κB-targeted proangiogenic gene products: VEGF, IL-8, COX-2, and MMP-9 in vitro. In vivo studies, DHA remarkably reduced tumor volume, decreased microvessel density, and down-regulated the expression of NF-κB-related proangiogenic gene products. CONCLUSIONS Inhibition of NF-κB activation is one of the mechanisms that DHA inhibits angiogenesis in human pancreatic cancer. We also suggest that DHA could be developed as a novel agent against pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang-Jia Wang
- Department of Pancreatic and Biliary Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 23 Youzheng Str, Nangang, Harbin, People's Republic of China
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Interruption of the MEK/ERK signaling cascade promotes dihydroartemisinin-induced apoptosis in vitro and in vivo. Apoptosis 2011; 16:511-23. [DOI: 10.1007/s10495-011-0580-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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50
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Ji Y, Zhang YC, Pei LB, Shi LL, Yan JL, Ma XH. Anti-tumor effects of dihydroartemisinin on human osteosarcoma. Mol Cell Biochem 2011; 351:99-108. [PMID: 21234653 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-011-0716-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2010] [Accepted: 01/04/2011] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) exhibits antitumor activity against a wide spectrum of cancer cells. However, whether DHA has anti-tumor effect on human osteosarcoma cells remains unknown. This study aims to investigate the anti-tumor activity of DHA and the underlying mechanisms in human osteosarcoma cell lines with different p53 mutation statuses. Four human osteosarcoma cell lines were treated with different concentrations of DHA. Then, cell proliferation was determined by the CCK-8 viability assay; apoptosis and cell cycle progression were evaluated by flow cytometry; protein expression was analyzed by western blot assay; and NF-kB activity was examined by luciferase assay. The results demonstrated that DHA treatment could inhibit the proliferation of four osteosarcoma cell lines in a dose-dependent manner. P53 wild-type osteosarcoma cells were more sensitive to DHA. Moreover, the percentage of apoptotic cell and cell arrest in G₂/M phase was increased upon DHA treatment in a dose-dependent manner. Mechanistically, DHA activated caspase-3, caspase-8, and caspase-9; upregulated the expression of Bax, FAS, and cyclin D1; downregulated the expression of Bcl-2, Cdc25B, and cyclin B1; and inhibited the activity of NF-кB. In conclusion, DHA has significant anticancer effects against human osteosarcoma cells, which include induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. The p53 gene may play a certain role in the DHA-induced human osteosarcoma apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. DHA is a novel anti-osteosarcoma drug candidate that merits further study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ye Ji
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, No. 23, Youzheng St., Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang 150001, China
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