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Jia L, Zhu S, Zhu M, Nie R, Huang L, Xu S, Luo Y, Su H, Huang S, Tan Q. Celastrol inhibits angiogenesis and the biological processes of MDA-MB-231 cells via the DEGS1/S1P signaling pathway. Biol Chem 2024; 405:267-281. [PMID: 38081222 DOI: 10.1515/hsz-2023-0324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 04/02/2024]
Abstract
Celastrol (Cel) shows potent antitumor activity in various experimental models. This study examined the relationship between Cel's antivascular and antitumor effects and sphingolipids. CCK-8 assay, transwell assay, Matrigel, PCR-array/RT-PCR/western blotting/immunohistochemistry assay, ELISA and HE staining were used to detect cell proliferation, migration and invasion, adhesion and angiogenesis, mRNA and protein expression, S1P production and tumor morphology. The results showed that Cel could inhibit proliferation, migration or invasion, adhesion and angiogenesis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and MDA-MB-231 cells by downregulating the expression of degenerative spermatocyte homolog 1 (DEGS1). Transfection experiments showed that downregulation of DEGS1 inhibited the above processes and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) production of HUVECs and MDA-MB-231 cells, while upregulation of DEGS1 had the opposite effects. Coculture experiments showed that HUVECs could promote proliferation, migration and invasion of MDA-MB-231 cells through S1P/sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor (S1PR) signaling pathway, while Cel inhibited these processes in MDA-MB-231 cells induced by HUVECs. Animal experiments showed that Cel could inhibit tumor growth in nude mice. Western blotting, immunohistochemistry and ELISA assay showed that Cel downregulated the expression of DEGS1, CD146, S1PR1-3 and S1P production. These data confirm that DEGS1/S1P signaling pathway may be related to the antivascular and antitumor effects of cel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lulu Jia
- Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacology Research Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, 541001 Guilin, Guangxi Province, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine in Liver Injury and Repair, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, 541001 Guilin, Guangxi Province, China
- Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, 541001 Guilin, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Shengnan Zhu
- Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacology Research Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, 541001 Guilin, Guangxi Province, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine in Liver Injury and Repair, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, 541001 Guilin, Guangxi Province, China
- Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, 541001 Guilin, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Mingfei Zhu
- Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacology Research Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, 541001 Guilin, Guangxi Province, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine in Liver Injury and Repair, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, 541001 Guilin, Guangxi Province, China
- Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, 541001 Guilin, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Rongrong Nie
- Rehabilitation Department, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, 541001 Guilin, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Lingyue Huang
- Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacology Research Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, 541001 Guilin, Guangxi Province, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine in Liver Injury and Repair, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, 541001 Guilin, Guangxi Province, China
- Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, 541001 Guilin, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Siyuan Xu
- Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacology Research Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, 541001 Guilin, Guangxi Province, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine in Liver Injury and Repair, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, 541001 Guilin, Guangxi Province, China
- Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, 541001 Guilin, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Yuqin Luo
- Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacology Research Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, 541001 Guilin, Guangxi Province, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine in Liver Injury and Repair, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, 541001 Guilin, Guangxi Province, China
- Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, 541001 Guilin, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Huazhen Su
- Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacology Research Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, 541001 Guilin, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Shaoyuan Huang
- Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacology Research Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, 541001 Guilin, Guangxi Province, China
| | - Qinyou Tan
- Clinical Pharmacy & Pharmacology Research Institute, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, 541001 Guilin, Guangxi Province, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine in Liver Injury and Repair, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, 541001 Guilin, Guangxi Province, China
- Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, 541001 Guilin, Guangxi Province, China
- Guangxi Health Commission Key Laboratory of Basic Research in Sphingolipid Metabolism Related Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, 541001 Guilin, Guangxi Province, China
- China-USA Lipids in Health and Disease Research Center, Guilin Medical University, 541001 Guilin, Guangxi Province, China
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Ning JY, Ma B, Huang JY, Han L, Shao YH, Wang FY. Integrated network pharmacology and metabolomics reveal the action mechanisms of vincristine combined with celastrol against colon cancer. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2024; 239:115883. [PMID: 38044218 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2023.115883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Colon cancer is associated with a high mortality rate. Vincristine (VCR) is a commonly used chemotherapeutic drug. Celastrol (CEL) is an effective component which exerts inhibitory effects on colon cancer. Combination treatment improves resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs and enhances their efficacy. Therefore, we aimed to explore the molecular mechanisms of VCR combined with CEL in colon cancer treatment. We verified the effects of VCR combined with CEL on the proliferation, cell cycle, and apoptosis of HCT-8 cells. Non-targeted metabolomic techniques were used to analyse the changes in cellular metabolites after administration. Finally, network pharmacology technology was used to screen the potential targets and pathways. VCR combined with CEL had synergistic inhibitory effects on HCT-8 colon cancer cells. Cell metabolomics identified 12 metabolites enriched in metabolic pathways, such as the phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis pathways. Network pharmacology revealed that MAPK1, AKT1, PIK3CB, EGFR, and VEGFA were the key targets. Western blotting revealed that VCR combined with CEL activated the P53 pathway by suppressing the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway activation and Bcl-2 expression, promoting the Bax expression. Therefore, VCR combined with CEL potentially treats colon cancer by increasing the apoptosis, improving energy metabolism, and inhibiting PI3K/AKT pathway in colon cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Yu Ning
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Bo Ma
- Department of Gastroenterology, The East Division of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510700, China
| | - Jing-Yi Huang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Liang Han
- School of Health, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yan-Hua Shao
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Feng-Yun Wang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
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Villani S, Fallarini S, Rezzi SJ, Di Martino RMC, Aprile S, Del Grosso E. Selective inhibition of indoleamine and tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenases: Comparative study on kynurenine pathway in cell lines via LC-MS/MS-based targeted metabolomics. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2024; 237:115750. [PMID: 37804639 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2023.115750] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023]
Abstract
In the last decade, the kynurenine pathway, which is the primary metabolic route for tryptophan (TRP) catabolism, has sparked great interest in the pharmaceutical sciences due to its role in immune regulation and cancer immunoediting. In this context, the development of cell-based assays might represent a tool to: i) characterize the cell secretome according to cell types; ii) gain more insight into the role of kynurenines in different disease scenarios; iii) screen hIDO1 (human indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase) inhibitors and evaluate their effect on downstream TRP-catabolizing enzymes. This paper reports a validated Liquid Chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method to simultaneously quantify TRP, L-kynurenine (KYN), xanthurenic acid (XA), 3-hydroxykynurenine (3OHKYN), kynurenic acid (KA), 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid (3OHAA), anthranilic acid (AA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin, 5HT) and tryptamine (TRYP) in Dulbecco's Modified Eagle and Eagle's Minimum Essential Media (DMEM and EMEM, respectively). The quantitative method was validated according to FDA, ICH and EMA guidelines, later applied: i) to assess the impact of selective inhibition of hIDO1 or hTDO (human tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase) on the kynurenine pathway in A375 (melanoma), MDA-MB-231 (breast cancer), and U87 (glioblastoma) cell lines using multivariate analysis (MVA); ii) to determine the IC50 values of both well-known (i.e., epacadostat, linrodostat) and the novel hIDO1 inhibitor (i.e., BL5) in the aforementioned cell lines. The proposed LC-MS/MS method is reliable and robust. Furthermore, it is highly versatile and suitable for applications in the preclinical drug research and in vitro assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Villani
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale, Largo Donegani 2, 28100, Novara, Italy
| | - Silvia Fallarini
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale, Largo Donegani 2, 28100, Novara, Italy
| | - Sarah Jane Rezzi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale, Largo Donegani 2, 28100, Novara, Italy
| | | | - Silvio Aprile
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale, Largo Donegani 2, 28100, Novara, Italy
| | - Erika Del Grosso
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Piemonte Orientale, Largo Donegani 2, 28100, Novara, Italy.
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Ji H, Qiao O, Zhang Y, Wang W, Han X, Zhang X, Liu C, Gao W. Dual targeting of wild-type p53 and gut microbiota by Magnolol represses key metabolic process and kills CRC cells. Phytother Res 2023. [PMID: 37326338 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.7924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Cancer cells consume considerable glucose quantities and majorly employ glycolysis for ATP generation. This metabolic signature (the Warburg effect) allows cancer cells to channel glucose to biosynthesis to support and maintain their dramatic growth along with proliferation. Currently, our understanding of the metabolic and mechanistic implications of the Warburg effect along with its relationship with biosynthesis remains unclear. Herein, we illustrate that the tumor repressor p53 mediate Magnolol (MAG) triggers colon cancer cell apoptosis. And MAG regulates the glycolytic and oxidative phosphorylation steps through transcriptional modulation of its downstream genes TP53-induced glycolysis modulator and biosynthesis of cytochrome c oxidase, attenuating cell proliferation and tumor growth in vivo and in vitro. Meanwhile, we show that MAG cooperates with its own intestinal microflora characteristic metabolites to repress tumors, especially remarkably declined kynurenine (Kyn)/tryptophan (Trp) ratio. Besides, strong relationships of MAG influenced genes, microbiota, as well as metabolites, were explored. Therefore, we established that p53-microbiota-metabolites function as a mechanism, which enable therapy approaches against metabolism-implicated colorectal cancer, in particular MAG as a prospective candidate for treating colorectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haixia Ji
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, North University of China, Taiyuan, China
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Ou Qiao
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Wenzhe Wang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaoyin Han
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xinyu Zhang
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Changxiao Liu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
| | - Wenyuan Gao
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, China
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Wang C, Dai S, Zhao X, Zhang Y, Gong L, Fu K, Ma C, Peng C, Li Y. Celastrol as an emerging anticancer agent: Current status, challenges and therapeutic strategies. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 163:114882. [PMID: 37196541 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2023] [Revised: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Celastrol is a pentacyclic triterpenoid extracted from the traditional Chinese medicine Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F., which has multiple pharmacological activities. In particular, modern pharmacological studies have demonstrated that celastrol exhibits significant broad-spectrum anticancer activities in the treatment of a variety of cancers, including lung cancer, liver cancer, colorectal cancer, hematological malignancies, gastric cancer, prostate cancer, renal carcinoma, breast cancer, bone tumor, brain tumor, cervical cancer, and ovarian cancer. Therefore, by searching the databases of PubMed, Web of Science, ScienceDirect and CNKI, this review comprehensively summarizes the molecular mechanisms of the anticancer effects of celastrol. According to the data, the anticancer effects of celastrol can be mediated by inhibiting tumor cell proliferation, migration and invasion, inducing cell apoptosis, suppressing autophagy, hindering angiogenesis and inhibiting tumor metastasis. More importantly, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, Bcl-2/Bax-caspase 9/3, EGFR, ROS/JNK, NF-κB, STAT3, JNK/Nrf2/HO-1, VEGF, AR/miR-101, HSF1-LKB1-AMPKα-YAP, Wnt/β-catenin and CIP2A/c-MYC signaling pathways are considered as important molecular targets for the anticancer effects of celastrol. Subsequently, studies of its toxicity and pharmacokinetic properties showed that celastrol has some adverse effects, low oral bioavailability and a narrow therapeutic window. In addition, the current challenges of celastrol and the corresponding therapeutic strategies are also discussed, thus providing a theoretical basis for the development and application of celastrol in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Key Laboratory of Standardization for Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Shu Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Key Laboratory of Standardization for Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Xingtao Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Key Laboratory of Standardization for Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Yafang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Key Laboratory of Standardization for Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Lihong Gong
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Key Laboratory of Standardization for Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Ke Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Key Laboratory of Standardization for Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Cheng Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Key Laboratory of Standardization for Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China
| | - Cheng Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Key Laboratory of Standardization for Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China.
| | - Yunxia Li
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Key Laboratory of Standardization for Chinese Herbal Medicine, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China.
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Wu X, Xu J, Yang X, Wang D, Xu X. Integrating Transcriptomics and Metabolomics to Explore the Novel Pathway of Fusobacterium nucleatum Invading Colon Cancer Cells. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12020201. [PMID: 36839472 PMCID: PMC9967813 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12020201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a malignancy with a very high incidence and mortality rate worldwide. Fusobacterium nucleatum bacteria and their metabolites play a role in inducing and promoting CRC; however, no studies on the exchange of information between Fusobacterium nucleatum extracellular vesicles (Fnevs) and CRC cells have been reported. Our research shows that Fusobacterium nucleatum ATCC25586 secretes extracellular vesicles carrying active substances from parental bacteria which are endocytosed by colon cancer cells. Moreover, Fnevs promote the proliferation, migration, and invasion of CRC cells and inhibit apoptosis; they also improve the ability of CRC cells to resist oxidative stress and SOD enzyme activity. The genes differentially expressed after transcriptome sequencing are mostly involved in the positive regulation of tumor cell proliferation. After detecting differential metabolites using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, Fnevs were found to promote cell proliferation by regulating amino acid biosynthesis in CRC cells and metabolic pathways such as central carbon metabolism, protein digestion, and uptake in cancer. In summary, this study not only found new evidence of the synergistic effect of pathogenic bacteria and colon cancer tumor cells, but also provides a new direction for the early diagnosis and targeted treatment of colon cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Wu
- Key Laboratory of Dairy Science, Ministry of Education, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
- College of Food Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
| | - Jinzhao Xu
- Key Laboratory of Dairy Science, Ministry of Education, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
- College of Food Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
| | - Xiaoying Yang
- Key Laboratory of Dairy Science, Ministry of Education, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
- College of Food Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
| | - Danping Wang
- Key Laboratory of Dairy Science, Ministry of Education, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
- College of Food Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
| | - Xiaoxi Xu
- Key Laboratory of Dairy Science, Ministry of Education, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
- College of Food Science, Northeast Agricultural University, Harbin 150030, China
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-0451-55191827
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Cao F, Wang Y, Song Y, Xu F, Xie Q, Jiang M, Liu X, Zhang D, Xu L. Celastrol Treatment Ameliorated Acute Ischemic Stroke-Induced Brain Injury by Microglial Injury Inhibition and Nrf2/HO-1 Pathway Activations. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2023; 2023:1076522. [PMID: 37082194 PMCID: PMC10113063 DOI: 10.1155/2023/1076522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 01/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
Background Stroke is the third main reason of mortality, which is the leading reason for adult disability in the globe. Poststroke inflammation is well known to cause acute ischemic stroke- (AIS-) induced brain injury (BI) exacerbation. Celastrol (CL) has exhibited anti-inflammatory activities in various inflammatory traits though underlying mechanisms remain unknown. So, the present investigation is aimed at studying CL protective mechanism against AIS-induced BI. Methods A mouse model regarding middle cerebral artery occlusion and an oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) cell model with or not CL treatment were constructed to study CL protective effects. NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) was then silenced in BV2 microglia cells (BV2) to study Nrf2 role regarding CL-mediated neuroprotection. Results The results showed that CL treatment suppressed AIS-induced BI by inhibiting NLRP3/caspase-1 pathway activations and induction of apoptosis and pyroptosis in vivo and in vitro. NLRP3/caspase-1 pathway blocking activation suppressed OGD-induced cell pyroptosis and apoptosis. Also, CL treatment reversed OGD-induced microglial injury by promoting Nrf2/heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) pathway activations. Nrf2 downregulation reversed CL protective effects against OGD-induced microglial injury, pyroptosis, and apoptosis. Conclusion The findings advise that CL treatment ameliorated AIS-induced BI by inhibiting microglial injury and activating the Nrf2/HO-1 pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fanfan Cao
- Sino-French Cooperative Central Lab, Gongli Hospital of Shanghai Pudong New Area, No. 207, Juye Rd., Pudong New District, Shanghai 200135, China
| | - Ying Wang
- Sino-French Cooperative Central Lab, Gongli Hospital of Shanghai Pudong New Area, No. 207, Juye Rd., Pudong New District, Shanghai 200135, China
| | - Yuting Song
- Sino-French Cooperative Central Lab, Gongli Hospital of Shanghai Pudong New Area, No. 207, Juye Rd., Pudong New District, Shanghai 200135, China
- Ningxia Medical University, Ningxia 750000, China
| | - Fengxia Xu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Gongli Hospital of Shanghai Pudong New Area, 207 Juye Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 200135, China
| | - Qiuhua Xie
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Gongli Hospital of Shanghai Pudong New Area, 207 Juye Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 200135, China
| | - Mei Jiang
- Department of Neurology, Gongli Hospital of Shanghai Pudong New Area, Shanghai 200135, China
| | - Xinghui Liu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Gongli Hospital of Shanghai Pudong New Area, 207 Juye Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 200135, China
| | - Denghai Zhang
- Sino-French Cooperative Central Lab, Gongli Hospital of Shanghai Pudong New Area, No. 207, Juye Rd., Pudong New District, Shanghai 200135, China
- Ningxia Medical University, Ningxia 750000, China
| | - Limin Xu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Gongli Hospital of Shanghai Pudong New Area, 207 Juye Road, Pudong New Area, Shanghai 200135, China
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Guo W, Cao P, Wang X, Hu M, Feng Y. Medicinal Plants for the Treatment of Gastrointestinal Cancers From the Metabolomics Perspective. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:909755. [PMID: 35833022 PMCID: PMC9271783 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.909755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2022] [Accepted: 05/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastrointestinal cancer (GIC), primarily including colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, and esophageal cancer, is one of the most common causes of cancer-related deaths with increasing prevalence and poor prognosis. Medicinal plants have been shown to be a great resource for the treatment of GIC. Due to their complex manifestations of multi-component and multi-target, the underlying mechanisms how they function against GIC remain to be completely deciphered. Cell metabolism is of primary importance in the initialization and development of GIC, which is reported to be a potential target. As an essential supplement to the newest “omics” sciences, metabolomics focuses on the systematic study of the small exogenous and endogenous metabolites involved in extensive biochemical metabolic pathways of living system. In good agreement with the systemic perspective of medicinal plants, metabolomics offers a new insight into the efficacy assessment and action mechanism investigation of medicinal plants as adjuvant therapeutics for GIC therapy. In this review, the metabolomics investigations on metabolism-targeting therapies for GIC in the recent 10 years were systematically reviewed from five aspects of carbohydrate, lipid, amino acid, and nucleotide metabolisms, as well as other altered metabolisms (microbial metabolism, inflammation, and oxidation), with particular attention to the potential of active compounds, extracts, and formulae from medicinal plants. Meanwhile, the current perspectives and future challenges of metabolism-targeting therapies of medicinal plants for GIC were also discussed. In conclusion, the understanding of the action mechanisms of medicinal plants in GIC from the metabolomics perspective will contribute to the clinical application of potential candidates from the resourceful medicinal plants as novel and efficient adjuvant therapeutics for GIC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Guo
- Department of Pharmacy, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Clinical Research Center for Precision Medicine for Critical Illness, Wuhan, China
| | - Peng Cao
- Department of Pharmacy, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Clinical Research Center for Precision Medicine for Critical Illness, Wuhan, China
| | - Xuanbin Wang
- Laboratory of Chinese Herbal Pharmacology, Department of Pharmacy, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, China
| | - Min Hu
- Department of Pharmacy, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
- Hubei Province Clinical Research Center for Precision Medicine for Critical Illness, Wuhan, China
- *Correspondence: Min Hu, ; Yibin Feng,
| | - Yibin Feng
- School of Chinese Medicine, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- *Correspondence: Min Hu, ; Yibin Feng,
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Evidence for Anticancer Effects of Chinese Medicine Monomers on Colorectal Cancer. Chin J Integr Med 2022; 28:939-952. [PMID: 35419728 DOI: 10.1007/s11655-022-3466-2] [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] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer is one of the most commonly occurring cancers worldwide. Although clinical reports have indicated the anticancer effects of Chinese herbal medicine, the multiple underlying molecular and biochemical mechanisms of action remain to be fully characterized. Chinese medicine (CM) monomers, which are the active components of CM, serve as the material basis of the functional mechanisms of CM. The aim of this review is to summarize the current experimental evidence from in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies for the effects of CM monomers in colorectal cancer prevention and treatment, providing some useful references for future research.
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Dai M, Peng W, Zhang T, Zhao Q, Ma X, Cheng Y, Wang C, Li F. Metabolomics reveals the role of PPARα in Tripterygium Wilfordii-induced liver injury. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2022; 289:115090. [PMID: 35143937 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2022.115090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2021] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Tripterygium glycosides tablets (TGT) and Tripterygium wilfordii tablets (TWT) have been used to treat autoimmune diseases clinically, however, the side effects of TWT are higher than TGT, especially for hepatotoxicity. THE AIM OF THE STUDY This study aims to determine the mechanism of TWT-induced liver injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS We performed metabolomic analysis of samples from mice with liver injury induced by TGT and TWT. Ppara-null mice were used to determine the role of PPARα in TWT-induced liver injury. RESULTS The results indicated that TWT induced the accumulation of medium- and long-chain carnitines metabolism, which was associated with the disruption of PPARα-IL6-STAT3 axis. PPARα agonists fenofibrate could reverse the liver injury from TWT and TP/Cel, and its protective role could be attenuated in Ppara-null mice. The toxicity difference of TWT and TGT was due to the different ratio of triptolide (TP) and celastrol (Cel) in the tablet in which TP/Cel was lower in TWT than TGT. The hepatotoxicity induced by TP and Cel also inhibited PPARα and upregulated IL6-STAT3 axis, which could be alleviated following by PPARα activation. CONCLUSIONS These results indicated that PPARα plays an important role in the hepatotoxicity of Tripterygium wilfordii, and PPARα activation may offer a promising approach to prevent hepatotoxicity induced by the preparations of Tripterygium wilfordii.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manyun Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; Laboratory of Metabolomics and Drug-induced Liver Injury, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Wan Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; Laboratory of Metabolomics and Drug-induced Liver Injury, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China; Institute of Rare Diseases, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Ting Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; Laboratory of Metabolomics and Drug-induced Liver Injury, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Qi Zhao
- Laboratory of Metabolomics and Drug-induced Liver Injury, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Xiaofang Ma
- Laboratory of Metabolomics and Drug-induced Liver Injury, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Yan Cheng
- Laboratory of Metabolomics and Drug-induced Liver Injury, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Chunyan Wang
- Laboratory of Metabolomics and Drug-induced Liver Injury, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China
| | - Fei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China; Laboratory of Metabolomics and Drug-induced Liver Injury, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China; Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Sichuan University-University of Oxford Huaxi Joint Centre for Gastrointestinal Cancer, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-Related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610041, China.
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11
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Zhang H, Zhao X, Shang F, Sun H, Zheng X, Zhu J. Celastrol inhibits the proliferation and induces apoptosis of colorectal cancer cells via downregulating NF-κB/COX-2 signaling pathways. Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2021; 22:1921-1932. [PMID: 34732120 DOI: 10.2174/1871520621666211103103530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 07/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third-ranked malignant tumor in the world that contributes to the death of a major population of the world. Celastrol, a bioactive natural product isolated from the medicinal plant Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, has been proved to be an effective anti-tumor inhibitor for multiple tumors. OBJECTIVE To reveal the therapeutic effect and underlying mechanisms of celastrol on CRC cells. METHODS CCK-8 and clonogenic assay were used to analyze the cell proliferation in CRC cells. Flow cytometry analysis was conducted to assess the cell cycle and cell apoptosis. Wound-healing and cell invasion assay were used to evaluate the migrating and invasion capability of CRC cells. The potential antitumor mechanism of celastrol was investigated by qPCR, western blot, and confocal immunofluorescence analyses. RESULTS Celastrol effectively inhibited CRC cell proliferation by activating caspase-dependent cell apoptosis and facilitating G1 cell cycle arrest in a dose-dependent manner, as well as cell migration and invasion by downregulating the MMP2 and MMP9. Mechanistic protein expression revealed that celastrol suppressed the expression of COX-2 by inhibiting the phosphorylation of NF-κB p65 and subsequently leading to cytoplasmic retention of p65 protein, thereby inhibiting its nuclear translocation and transcription activities. CONCLUSION These findings indicate that celastrol is an effective inhibitor for CRC, regulating the NF-κB/COX-2 pathway, leading to the inhibition of cell proliferation characterized by cell cycle arrest and caspase-dependent apoptosis, providing a potential alternative therapeutic agent for CRC patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Zhang
- Department of anus & intestine surgery, The Affiliated Renhe Hospital, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443000. China
| | - Xiaojin Zhao
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Affiliated Renhe Hospital, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443000. China
| | - Fajun Shang
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Affiliated Renhe Hospital, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443000. China
| | - Huan Sun
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Affiliated Renhe Hospital, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443000. China
| | - Xu Zheng
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Affiliated Renhe Hospital, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443000. China
| | - Jiabin Zhu
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Affiliated Renhe Hospital, China Three Gorges University, Yichang 443000. China
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12
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Wagh PR, Desai P, Prabhu S, Wang J. Nanotechnology-Based Celastrol Formulations and Their Therapeutic Applications. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:673209. [PMID: 34177584 PMCID: PMC8226115 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.673209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Celastrol (also called tripterine) is a quinone methide triterpene isolated from the root extract of Tripterygium wilfordii (thunder god vine in traditional Chinese medicine). Over the past two decades, celastrol has gained wide attention as a potent anti-inflammatory, anti-autoimmune, anti-cancer, anti-oxidant, and neuroprotective agent. However, its clinical translation is very challenging due to its lower aqueous solubility, poor oral bioavailability, and high organ toxicity. To deal with these issues, various formulation strategies have been investigated to augment the overall celastrol efficacy in vivo by attempting to increase the bioavailability and/or reduce the toxicity. Among these, nanotechnology-based celastrol formulations are most widely explored by pharmaceutical scientists worldwide. Based on the survey of literature over the past 15 years, this mini-review is aimed at summarizing a multitude of celastrol nanoformulations that have been developed and tested for various therapeutic applications. In addition, the review highlights the unmet need in the clinical translation of celastrol nanoformulations and the path forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pushkaraj Rajendra Wagh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA, United States
| | - Preshita Desai
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA, United States
| | - Sunil Prabhu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA, United States
| | - Jeffrey Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Western University of Health Sciences, Pomona, CA, United States
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13
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Zhang J, Wang R, Cheng L, Xu H. Celastrol inhibit the proliferation, invasion and migration of human cervical HeLa cancer cells through down-regulation of MMP-2 and MMP-9. J Cell Mol Med 2021; 25:5335-5338. [PMID: 33945201 PMCID: PMC8178258 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.16488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study evaluated the anticancer potential of celastrol through down-regulation of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9. HeLa cells were incubated with different concentrations of celastrol (1, 10 and 100 µM) for 48h. Doxorubicin was used as a reference drug. Cancer cell migration, apoptosis, cell viability and mitochondrial fragmentation were evaluated following celastrol treatment. In addition, the expression level of MMP-2, MMP-9 and caspase-3 was evaluated following celastrol treatment. HeLa cell viability was 94.1 ± 7, 53.4 ± 4 and 36.3 ± 2% at 1-100 µM of celastrol, respectively. Apoptotic cell numbers were increased, and inhibition of larger wounds in cancer cells was observed following celastrol treatment. Celastrol-treated cells showed condensed nuclei and clumped mitochondria. Reduced expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and increased expression of caspase-3 were observed following celastrol treatment. Based on the experimental results, we are concluding that the celastrol was effective against HeLa cervical cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyXiangyang Central HospitalAffiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and ScienceXiangyangChina
| | - Ranran Wang
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyXiangyang Central HospitalAffiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and ScienceXiangyangChina
| | - Li Cheng
- Department of Obstetrics and GynecologyXiangyang Central HospitalAffiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and ScienceXiangyangChina
| | - Haisheng Xu
- Department of OncologyXiangyang Central HospitalAffiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and ScienceXiangyangChina
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14
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Tang Y, Zhang Y, Li L, Xie Z, Wen C, Huang L. Kunxian Capsule for Rheumatoid Arthritis: Inhibition of Inflammatory Network and Reducing Adverse Reactions Through Drug Matching. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:485. [PMID: 32362827 PMCID: PMC7181472 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.00485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2019] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Tripterygium wilfordii Hook.f and Tripterygium hypoglaucum (H.Lév.) Hutch is effective herbs to prevent aggravation of Rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, both of them show severe side effects in the reproductive system and other systems. Kunxian Capsule (KX), a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) patent prescription, comprised of 4 herbs, including H.Lév. Hutch, is reported to be an available prescription in treating RA with fewer side effects as compares to Tripterygium tablets. To reveal the pharmacological mechanism of KX in RA treatment and side effect alleviation, we collected related information of KX from open-access databases and performed various analyses. 1354 targets were identified in KX. These targets were enriched in the calcium signaling pathway, cAMP signaling pathway, cGMP-PKG signaling pathway and PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, forming biological functions, such as cofactor binding, coenzyme binding, etc. These pathways or functions mostly affect cell cycle, differentiation, and maturation of Th17 cells, macrophage, and synovial fibroblast. These targets also act on the IL-17 signaling pathway, Th17 cell differentiation signaling pathway and TNF signaling pathway, which is related to inflammation response inhibition. Next, a disease network was constructed, which indicated IMPDH2, MTHFD1 are the key genes answering for the side effects of H.Lév. Hutch. The side effect–related genes lead to the negative regulation of nucleic acid, which could be restored by the rest 3 herbs through some positive amino acid metabolism. In conclusion, KX is a relatively safe alternative approach in RA intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujun Tang
- College of Basic Medical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- College of Basic Medical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lin Li
- College of Basic Medical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Zhijun Xie
- College of Basic Medical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chengping Wen
- College of Basic Medical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lin Huang
- College of Basic Medical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
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15
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Zhu B, Wei Y. Antitumor activity of celastrol by inhibition of proliferation, invasion, and migration in cholangiocarcinoma via PTEN/PI3K/Akt pathway. Cancer Med 2020; 9:783-796. [PMID: 31957323 PMCID: PMC6970044 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.2719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2019] [Revised: 10/02/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
AIM Cholangiocarcinoma is a malignant tumor originating from bile duct epithelium. Currently, the treatment strategy is very limited and the prognosis is poor. Recent studies reported celastrol exhibits antigrowth and antimetastasis properties in many tumors. Our study aimed to assess the anti-CCA effects of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) and the mechanisms involved in it. METHODS In this study, the long-term and short-term antiproliferation effects was determined using colony formation and Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assays, respectively. Flow cytometry was performed to quantify apoptosis. Furthermore, wound healing and transwell assays were performed to determine the cell migration and invasion capabilities, respectively. To further find the mechanism involved in the celastrol-induced biological functions, LY204002, a PI3K/Akt signaling inhibitor, and an Akt-1 overexpression plasmid were employed to find whether PI3K/Akt pathway was involved in the celastrol-induced CCA cell inhibition. Additionally, short interfering RNA (siRNA) was also used to investigate the mechanism involved in the celastrol-induced PI3K/Akt signaling inhibition. Western blotting and immunofluorescence assays were also performed to detect the degree of relative proteins. Moreover, we validated the antiproliferation and antimetastasis effects of celastrol in vivo by constructing subcutaneous and lung metastasis nude mice models. RESULTS We discovered that celastrol effectively induced apoptotic cell death and inhibited the capacity of migration and invasion in CCA cells. Further mechanistic study identified that celastrol regulated the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, and the antitumor efficacy was likely due to the upregulation of PTEN, a negative regulator of PI3K/Akt. Blockage of PTEN abolished the celastrol-induced PI3K/Akt signaling inhibition. Additionally, in vivo experiments conformed celastrol inhibited the tumor growth and lung metastasis with no serious side effects. CONCLUSIONS Overall, our study elucidated a mechanistic framework for the anti-CCA effects of celastrol via PTEN/PI3K/Akt pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biqiang Zhu
- Department of Oncology and Laparoscopy SurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityHarbinHeilongjiangChina
- Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern ChinaHarbinHeilongjiangChina
| | - Yunwei Wei
- Department of Oncology and Laparoscopy SurgeryThe First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical UniversityHarbinHeilongjiangChina
- Translational Medicine Research and Cooperation Center of Northern ChinaHarbinHeilongjiangChina
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16
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Belghasem M, Roth D, Richards S, Napolene MA, Walker J, Yin W, Arinze N, Lyle C, Spencer C, Francis JM, Thompson C, Andry C, Whelan SA, Lee N, Ravid K, Chitalia VC. Metabolites in a mouse cancer model enhance venous thrombogenicity through the aryl hydrocarbon receptor-tissue factor axis. Blood 2019; 134:2399-2413. [PMID: 31877217 PMCID: PMC6933294 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2019001675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 10/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Patients with malignancy are at 4- to 7-fold higher risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE), a potentially fatal, yet preventable complication. Although general mechanisms of thrombosis are enhanced in these patients, malignancy-specific triggers and their therapeutic implication remain poorly understood. Here we examined a colon cancer-specific VTE model and probed a set of metabolites with prothrombotic propensity in the inferior vena cava (IVC) ligation model. Athymic mice injected with human colon adenocarcinoma cells exhibited significantly higher IVC clot weights, a biological readout of venous thrombogenicity, compared with the control mice. Targeted metabolomics analysis of plasma of mice revealed an increase in the blood levels of kynurenine and indoxyl sulfate (tryptophan metabolites) in xenograft-bearing mice, which correlated positively with the increase in the IVC clot size. These metabolites are ligands of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) signaling. Accordingly, plasma from the xenograft-bearing mice activated the AHR pathway and augmented tissue factor (TF) and plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-1) levels in venous endothelial cells in an AHR-dependent manner. Consistent with these findings, the endothelium from the IVC of xenograft-bearing animals revealed nuclear AHR and upregulated TF and PAI-1 expression, telltale signs of an activated AHR-TF/PAI-1 axis. Importantly, pharmacological inhibition of AHR activity suppressed TF and PAI-1 expression in endothelial cells of the IVC and reduced clot weights in both kynurenine-injected and xenograft-bearing mice. Together, these data show dysregulated tryptophan metabolites in a mouse cancer model, and they reveal a novel link between these metabolites and the control of the AHR-TF/PAI-1 axis and VTE in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Daniel Roth
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine and
| | - Sean Richards
- Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
| | | | - Joshua Walker
- Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
| | - Wenqing Yin
- Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
| | - Nkiruka Arinze
- Department of Surgery, Boston University Medical Center, Boston, MA
| | - Chimera Lyle
- Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
| | | | - Jean M Francis
- Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
| | - Cristal Thompson
- Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
- Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
| | | | | | - Norman Lee
- Chemical Instrumentation Center, Boston University, Boston, MA
| | - Katya Ravid
- Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
- Whitaker Cardiovascular Institute, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
| | - Vipul C Chitalia
- Department of Medicine, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
- Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA; and
- Global Co-Creation Labs, Institute of Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
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17
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Li Q, Qu X, Pang X, Song Y, Chen L, Xiao Q, Sun L, Wang X, Zhang H, Qi D, Wang Z. Berberine Protects Mice Against Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colitis by Activating mTORC1 Pathway. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:786. [PMID: 31354497 PMCID: PMC6637288 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Berberine is a plant alkaloid that can be extracted from many Chinese herbs. It has been reported that berberine could protect mice from ulcerative colitis, but the mechanism remains unclear. The current study’s aim was to determine the potential mechanism by which berberine exhibits its anti-inflammatory function. Mice with colitis induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) were administered with berberine at 50 mg/kg by gavage. Berberine significantly increased the proportion of regulatory T cells (Treg cells). The targeted metabolomics analysis was then performed to find that glutamine and glutamate metabolism played an important role in the process of regulating immune response. mTORC1 pathway was reported to closely relate with glutamine metabolism. As a result, the relative expression levels of downstream effector genes of mTORC were further determined, and data obtained showed that berberine could significantly increase the relative expression levels of S6K1 and 4EBP1. In addition, rapamycin was used to inhibit mTORC1 signaling, and it was found that colon length, disease associated index (DAI), and proportion of Treg cells of mice in the rapamycin-DSS group were not different from those of mice in the rapamycin/berberine-DSS group. Together, these results suggest that berberine exhibits significant protective effects against DSS colitis by activating the mTORC1 pathway to increase the proportion of Treg cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingjun Li
- Experimental Center, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China.,Key Laboratory of Basic Research of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Shandong Province, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Xinyan Qu
- Laboratory of Immunology for Environment and Health, Shandong Analysis and Test Center, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China
| | - Xiaogang Pang
- Experimental Center, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Yue Song
- Laboratory of Immunology for Environment and Health, Shandong Analysis and Test Center, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, China
| | - Liyuan Chen
- College of Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Qiuyue Xiao
- College of Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Linlin Sun
- Experimental Center, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Xiaolong Wang
- Experimental Center, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Huimin Zhang
- Shandong Academy of Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Dongmei Qi
- Experimental Center, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China.,Key Laboratory of Basic Research of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Shandong Province, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Zhenguo Wang
- School of Information Management, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
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18
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Song X, Zhang Y, Dai E, Du H, Wang L. Mechanism of action of celastrol against rheumatoid arthritis: A network pharmacology analysis. Int Immunopharmacol 2019; 74:105725. [PMID: 31276975 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2019.105725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2019] [Revised: 06/16/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Network pharmacology uses bioinformatics to broaden our understanding of drug actions and thereby to advance drug discovery. Here we apply network pharmacology to generate testable hypotheses about the multi-target mechanism of celastrol against rheumatoid arthritis. We reconstructed drug-target pathways and networks to predict the likely protein targets of celastrol and the main interactions between those targets and the drug. Then we validated our predictions of four candidate targets (IKK-β, JNK, COX-2, MEK1) by performing docking studies with celastrol. The results suggest that celastrol acts against rheumatoid arthritis by regulating the function of several signaling proteins, including MMP-9, COX-2, c-Myc, TGF-β, c-JUN, JAK-1, JAK-3, IKK-β, SYK, MMP-3, JNK and MEK1, which regulate the functions of Th1 and Th2 cells, macrophages, fibroblasts and endothelial cells in rheumatoid arthritis. Celastrol is predicted to affect networks involved mainly in cancer, connective tissue disorders, organismal injury and abnormalities, tissue development, cell death and survival. This network pharmacology strategy may be useful for discovery of multi-target drugs against complex diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinqiang Song
- Department of Biological Sciences, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China; Institute for Conservation and Utilization of Agro-bioresources in Dabie Mountains, Xinyang 464000, China.
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China
| | - Erqin Dai
- Department of Biological Sciences, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China
| | - Hongtao Du
- Department of Biological Sciences, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Xinyang Normal University, Xinyang 464000, China.
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19
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Leja-Szpak A, Góralska M, Link-Lenczowski P, Czech U, Nawrot-Porąbka K, Bonior J, Jaworek J. The Opposite Effect of L-kynurenine and Ahr Inhibitor Ch223191 on Apoptotic Protein Expression in Pancreatic Carcinoma Cells (Panc-1). Anticancer Agents Med Chem 2019; 19:2079-2090. [PMID: 30987575 DOI: 10.2174/1871520619666190415165212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2019] [Revised: 03/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND L-kynurenine, derivate of L-tryptophan, is synthetized by indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO). The effects of L-kynurenine depend on its binding to an aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to investigate the changes within the apoptotic pathway in PANC-1 cells subjected to L-kynurenine or L-tryptophan considering the production of anti-apoptotic proteins from the IAPs and Bcl-2 family, as well as the regulation of NF-κB signaling. METHODS The investigated substances were added alone or in combination with the AhR inhibitor (CH223191) to cultures of PANC-1 cells. Cytoplasmic and nuclear proteins were analyzed by immunoblotting and cells were incubated with the investigated substances to determine cytotoxicity and proliferative effects. RESULTS Incubation of PANC-1 cells with L-kynurenine or L-tryptophan resulted in the increase in antiapoptotic cIAP-1, cIAP-2, XIAP and Bcl-2 expression and a decrease in pro-apoptotic Bax. These changes were accompanied by the reduction of active caspases -9, -3 and PARP-1. The treatment leads to translocation and enhanced production of nuclear NF-κB p50 and Bcl-3. Incubation of the cells with AhR blocker either alone or together with L-kynurenine or L-tryptophan resulted in the opposite effect, leading to the downregulation of IAPs and Bcl-2, upregulation of Bax and caspases expression. CONCLUSION 1) L-kynurenine and its precursor promote anti-apoptotic effects through the modulation of IDOdependent pathway and regulation of IAPs, Bcl-2 and NF-κB family members in pancreatic carcinoma cells 2) inhibition of AhR by CH223191 exerts an apoptosis-promoting effect, and this observation might suggest the potential use of this compound in pancreatic cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Leja-Szpak
- Department of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Marta Góralska
- Department of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Paweł Link-Lenczowski
- Department of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Urszula Czech
- Department of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Nawrot-Porąbka
- Department of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Joanna Bonior
- Department of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
| | - Jolanta Jaworek
- Department of Medical Physiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Krakow, Poland
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