Sulforaphane potentiates RNA damage induced by different xenobiotics

Sulforaphane and bladder cancer: a potential novel antitumor compound

Bladder cancer (BC) is a common form of urinary tract tumor, and its incidence is increasing annually. Unfortunately, an increasing number of newly diagnosed BC patients are found to have advanced or metastatic BC. Although current treatment options for BC are diverse and standardized, it is still challenging to achieve ideal curative results. However, Sulforaphane, an isothiocyanate present in cruciferous plants, has emerged as a promising anticancer agent that has shown significant efficacy against various cancers, including bladder cancer. Recent studies have demonstrated that Sulforaphane not only induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in BC cells, but also inhibits the growth, invasion, and metastasis of BC cells. Additionally, it can inhibit BC gluconeogenesis and demonstrate definite effects when combined with chemotherapeutic drugs/carcinogens. Sulforaphane has also been found to exert anticancer activity and inhibit bladder cancer stem cells by mediating multiple pathways in BC, including phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB), nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2), zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1)/beta-catenin (β-Catenin), miR-124/cytokines interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R)/transcription 3 (STAT3). This article provides a comprehensive review of the current evidence and molecular mechanisms of Sulforaphane against BC. Furthermore, we explore the effects of Sulforaphane on potential risk factors for BC, such as bladder outlet obstruction, and investigate the possible targets of Sulforaphane against BC using network pharmacological analysis. This review is expected to provide a new theoretical basis for future research and the development of new drugs to treat BC.

Effects of grape seed procyanidins on antioxidant function, barrier function, microbial community, and metabolites of cecum in geese

The gut is the first line of defense for body health and is essential to the overall health of geese. Grape seed procyanidins (GSPs) are proverbial for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and microflora-regulating capabilities. This study aimed to inquire into the influences of dietary GSPs on the intestinal antioxidant function, barrier function, microflora, and metabolites of geese based on 16S rRNA sequencing and metabolomics. In total, 240 twenty-one-day-old Sichuan white geese were randomly divided into 4 groups, each of which was supplied with 1 of 4 diets: basal diet or a basal diet supplemented with 50, 100, or 150 mg/kg GSPs. Diets supplemented with GSPs at different concentrations significantly increased the total antioxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase activity in cecal mucosa (P < 0.001). Dietary supplementation with 50 or 100 mg/kg GSPs significantly increased catalase activity (P < 0.001). The serum diamine oxidase, D-lactic acid, and endotoxin concentrations were decreased by GSP supplementation in the goose diet. Dietary GSP supplementation increased microbial richness and diversity, enhanced the relative abundance of Firmicutes, and decreased that of Bacteroidetes in the cecum. Diets supplemented with 50 or 100 mg/kg GSPs enriched Eubacterium coprostanoligenes and Faecalibacterium. Dietary GSPs substantially raised the acetic and propionic acid concentrations in the cecum. The butyric acid concentration increased when the GSP dosage was 50 or 100 mg/kg. Additionally, dietary GSPs increased the levels of metabolites that belong to lipids and lipid-like molecules or organic acids and derivatives. Dietary GSP supplementation at 100 or 150 mg/kg reduced the levels of spermine (a source of cytotoxic metabolites) and N-acetylputrescine, which promotes in-vivo inflammation. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with GSPs was beneficial to gut health in geese. Dietary GSPs improved antioxidant activity; protected intestinal barrier integrity; increased the abundance and diversity of cecal microflora; promoted the proliferation of some beneficial bacteria; increased the production of acetic, propionic, and butyric acids in the cecum; and downregulated metabolites associated with cytotoxicity and inflammation. These results offer a strategy for promoting intestinal health in farmed geese.

Current perspectives on the clinical implications of oxidative RNA damage in aging research: challenges and opportunities

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules can be easily attacked by reactive oxygen species (ROS), which are produced during normal cellular metabolism and under various oxidative stress conditions. Numerous findings report that the amount of cellular 8-oxoG, the most abundant RNA damage biomarker, is a promising target for the sensitive measurement of oxidative stress and aging-associated diseases, including neuropsychiatric disorders. Most importantly, available data suggest that RNA oxidation has important implications for various signaling pathways and gene expression regulation in aging-related diseases, highlighting the necessity of using combinations of RNA oxidation adducts in both experimental studies and clinical trials. In this review, we primarily describe evidence for the effect of oxidative stress on RNA integrity modulation and possible quality control systems. Additionally, we discuss the profiles and clinical implications of RNA oxidation products that have been under intensive investigation in several aging-associated medical disorders.

Sulforaphane Potentiates Anticancer Effects of Doxorubicin and Cisplatin and Mitigates Their Toxic Effects

The success of cancer therapy is often compromised by the narrow therapeutic index of many anticancer drugs and the occurrence of drug resistance. The association of anticancer therapies with natural compounds is an emerging strategy to improve the pharmaco-toxicological profile of cancer chemotherapy. Sulforaphane, a phytochemical found in cruciferous vegetables, targets multiple pathways involved in cancer development, as recorded in different cancers such as breast, brain, blood, colon, lung, prostate, and so forth. As examples to make the potentialities of the association chemotherapy raise, here we highlight and critically analyze the information available for two associations, each composed by a paradigmatic anticancer drug (cisplatin or doxorubicin) and sulforaphane.

Sulforaphane protection against the development of doxorubicin-induced chronic heart failure is associated with Nrf2 Upregulation

BACKGROUND

Doxorubicin (DOX) is an anthracycline antitumor drug. However, its clinical use is limited by dose-dependent cardiotoxicity and even progresses to chronic heart failure (CHF).

OBJECTIVE

This study aims to investigate whether the Nrf2 activator, sulforaphane (SFN), can prevent DOX-induced CHF.

METHODS

Male Sprague-Dawley rats which received treatment for 6 weeks were divided into four groups (n=30 per group): control, SFN, DOX and DOX plus SFN group.

RESULTS

Results revealed that DOX induced progressive cardiac damage as indicated by increased cardiac injury markers, cardiac inflammation, fibrosis and oxidative stress. SFN significantly prevented DOX-induced progressive cardiac dysfunction between 2-6 weeks and prevented DOX-induced cardiac function deterioration. Furthermore, it significantly decreased ejection fraction and increased the expression of brain natriuretic peptide. SFN also almost completely prevented DOX-induced cardiac oxidative stress, inflammation and fibrosis. SFN upregulated NF-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) expression and transcription activity, which was reflected by the increased mRNA expression of Nrf2 and its downstream genes. Furthermore, in cultured H9c2 cardiomyocytes, the protective effect of SFN against DOX-induced fibrotic and inflammatory responses was abolished by Nrf2 silencing.

CONCLUSION

We arrived at the conclusion that DOX-induced CHF can be prevented by SFN through the upregulation of Nrf2 expression and transcriptional function.

Role of Oxidative RNA Damage in Chronic-Degenerative Diseases

Normal cellular metabolism and exposure to ionizing and ultraviolet radiations and exogenous agents produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). Due to their reactivity, they can interact with many critical biomolecules and induce cell damage. The reaction of ROS with free nucleobases, nucleosides, nucleotides, or oligonucleotides can generate numerous distinct modifications in nucleic acids. Oxidative damage to DNA has been widely investigated and is strongly implicated in the development of many chronic-degenerative diseases. In contrast, RNA damage is a poorly examined field in biomedical research. In this review, I discuss the importance of RNA as a target of oxidative damage and the role of oxidative damage to RNA in the pathogenesis of some chronic-degenerative diseases, such as neurological disorders, atherosclerosis, and cancer. Furthermore, I review recent evidence suggesting that RNA may be the target for toxic agents and indicating RNA degradation as a powerful tool to treat any pathology in which there is an aberrant expression of mRNA and/or its gene products.

Benefits and risks of the hormetic effects of dietary isothiocyanates on cancer prevention

The isothiocyanate (ITC) sulforaphane (SFN) was shown at low levels (1–5 µM) to promote cell proliferation to 120–143% of the controls in a number of human cell lines, whilst at high levels (10–40 µM) it inhibited such cell proliferation. Similar dose responses were observed for cell migration, i.e. SFN at 2.5 µM increased cell migration in bladder cancer T24 cells to 128% whilst high levels inhibited cell migration. This hormetic action was also found in an angiogenesis assay where SFN at 2.5 µM promoted endothelial tube formation (118% of the control), whereas at 10–20 µM it caused significant inhibition. The precise mechanism by which SFN influences promotion of cell growth and migration is not known, but probably involves activation of autophagy since an autophagy inhibitor, 3-methyladenine, abolished the effect of SFN on cell migration. Moreover, low doses of SFN offered a protective effect against free-radical mediated cell death, an effect that was enhanced by co-treatment with selenium. These results suggest that SFN may either prevent or promote tumour cell growth depending on the dose and the nature of the target cells. In normal cells, the promotion of cell growth may be of benefit, but in transformed or cancer cells it may be an undesirable risk factor. In summary, ITCs have a biphasic effect on cell growth and migration. The benefits and risks of ITCs are not only determined by the doses, but are affected by interactions with Se and the measured endpoint.

Bazedoxifene-scaffold-based mimetics of solomonsterols A and B as novel pregnane X receptor antagonists

Pregnane X receptor (PXR), a member of the NR1I nuclear receptor family, acts as a xenobiotic sensor and a paramount transcriptional regulator of drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters. The overexpression of PXR in various cancer cells indicates the importance of PXR as a drug target for countering multidrug resistance in anticancer treatments. We describe the discovery of novel bazedoxifene-scaffold-based PXR antagonists inspired by the marine sulfated steroids solomonsterol A and B as natural leads. A luciferase reporter assay on a PXR-transfected HepG2 cell line identified compounds 19-24 as promising PXR antagonists. Further structure-activity relationship studies of the most active PXR antagonist from the series (compound 20, IC50 = 11 μM) revealed the importance of hydroxyl groups as hydrogen-bond donors for PXR antagonistic activity. PXR antagonists 20 and 24 (IC50 = 14 μM), in addition to the downregulation of PXR expression, exhibited inhibition of PXR-induced CYP3A4 expression, which illustrates their potential to suppress PXR-regulated phase-I drug metabolism.

Exploring the effects of isothiocyanates on chemotherapeutic drugs

INTRODUCTION

Chemoprevention has emerged as a promising strategy to reduce the risk and to control cancer. In this context, isothiocyanates (ITCs), found in abundance in the form of glucosinolates in cruciferous vegetables, have gained increasing consideration for their chemopreventive activity. ITCs exert their effects mainly by inducing carcinogen metabolism or by inhibiting tumor cell proliferation.

AREAS COVERED

In recent years, novel combination treatments, by coupling chemopreventive agents and typical chemotherapeutics, have been exploited to increase the antitumor activities. The aim of this article is to examine the foremost studies carried out, so far, on the effects of dietary and synthetic ITCs on different signaling pathways involved in the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of chemotherapeutic agents, in order to enhance their effectiveness.

EXPERT OPINION

Undoubtedly, the beneficial anticarcinogenic potential of ITCs, both singly and in combination, has emerged in in vitro and in vivo studies. However, only a few clinical trials have been carried out so far with ITCs, which try to better define both the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic impacts in humans. More toxicological evaluations after long-term administration of ITCs in different species are required for the clinical development of ITCs as anticarcinogenic agents.