Icaritin inhibits JAK/STAT3 signaling and growth of renal cell carcinoma. PLoS One. 2013;8:e81657. [PMID: 24324713 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0081657]

The role of natural products versus miRNA in renal cell carcinoma: implications for disease mechanisms and diagnostic markers

Natural products are chemical compounds produced by living organisms. They are isolated and purified to determine their function and can potentially be used as therapeutic agents. The ability of some bioactive natural products to modify the course of cancer is fascinating and promising. In the past 50 years, there have been advancements in cancer therapy that have increased survival rates for localized tumors. However, there has been little progress in treating advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC), which is resistant to radiation and chemotherapy. Oncogenes and tumor suppressors are two roles played by microRNAs (miRNAs). They are involved in important pathogenetic mechanisms like hypoxia and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT); they control apoptosis, cell growth, migration, invasion, angiogenesis, and proliferation through target proteins involved in various signaling pathways. Depending on their expression pattern, miRNAs may identify certain subtypes of RCC or distinguish tumor tissue from healthy renal tissue. As diagnostic biomarkers of RCC, circulating miRNAs show promise. There is a correlation between the expression patterns of several miRNAs and the prognosis and diagnosis of patients with RCC. Potentially high-risk primary tumors may be identified by comparing original tumor tissue with metastases. Variations in miRNA expression between treatment-sensitive and therapy-resistant patients' tissues and serum allow for the estimation of responsiveness to target therapy. Our knowledge of miRNAs' function in RCC etiology has a tremendous uptick. Finding and validating their gene targets could have an immediate effect on creating anticancer treatments based on miRNAs. Several miRNAs have the potential to be used as biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis. This review provides an in-depth analysis of the current knowledge regarding natural compounds and their modes of action in combating cancer. Also, this study aims to give information about the diagnostic and prognostic value of miRNAs as cancer biomarkers and their involvement in the pathogenesis of RCC.

Listeria-vectored cervical cancer vaccine candidate strains reduce MDSCs via the JAK-STAT signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

Immunosuppressive status is prevalent in cancer patients and increases the complexity of tumor immunotherapy. It has been found that Listeria-vectored tumor vaccines had the potential ability of two-side regulatory effect on the immune response during immunotherapy.

RESULTS

The results show that the combined immunotherapy with the LM∆E6E7 and LI∆E6E7, the two cervical cancer vaccine candidate strains constructed by our lab, improves the antitumor immune response and inhibits the suppressive immune response in tumor-bearing mice in vivo, confirming the two-sided regulatory ability of the immune response caused by Listeria-vectored tumor vaccines. The immunotherapy reduces the expression level of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs)-inducing factors and then inhibits the phosphorylation level of STAT3 protein, the regulatory factor of MDSCs differentiation, to reduce the MDSCs formation ability. Moreover, vaccines reduce the expression of functional molecules associated with MDSCs may by inhibiting the phosphorylation level of the JAK1-STAT1 and JAK2-STAT3 pathways in tumor tissues to attenuate the immunosuppressive function of MDSCs.

CONCLUSIONS

Immunotherapy with Listeria-vectored cervical cancer vaccines significantly reduces the level and function of MDSCs in vivo, which is the key point to the destruction of immunosuppression. The study for the first to elucidate the mechanism of breaking the immunosuppression.

Phytochemicals Showing Antiangiogenic Effect in Pre-clinical Models and their Potential as an Alternative to Existing Therapeutics

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from a pre-existing vascular network, is an important hallmark of several pathological conditions, such as tumor growth and metastasis, proliferative retinopathies, including proliferative diabetic retinopathy and retinopathy of prematurity, age-related macular degeneration, rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, and endometriosis. Putting a halt to pathology-driven angiogenesis is considered an important therapeutic strategy to slow down or reduce the severity of pathological disorders. Considering the attrition rate of synthetic antiangiogenic compounds from the lab to reaching the market due to severe side effects, several compounds of natural origin are being explored for their antiangiogenic properties. Employing pre-clinical models for the evaluation of novel antiangiogenic compounds is a promising strategy for rapid screening of antiangiogenic compounds. These studies use a spectrum of angiogenic model systems that include HUVEC two-dimensional culture, nude mice, chick chorioallantoic membrane, transgenic zebrafish, and dorsal aorta from rats and chicks, depending upon available resources. The present article emphasizes the antiangiogenic activity of the phytochemicals shown to exhibit antiangiogenic behavior in these well-defined existing angiogenic models and highlights key molecular targets. Different models help to get a quick understanding of the efficacy and therapeutics mechanism of emerging lead molecules. The inherent variability in assays and corresponding different phytochemicals tested in each study prevent their immediate utilization in clinical studies. This review will discuss phytochemicals discovered using suitable preclinical antiangiogenic models, along with a special mention of leads that have entered clinical evaluation.

Identification of hub genes associated with prognosis of lung cancer via integrated bioinformatics and in vitro approach

Lung cancer is a severe health problem that affects more men than women around the world. The goal of this study was to identify the biomarker hub genes for lung cancer in order to ascertain the biological pathway and protein- protein interaction networks. The microarray datasets GSE80796, GSE68571, GSE118370 and GSE43458 were retrieved from the GEO database and were analysed using GEO2R. STRING, Cytoscape, and cytoHubba were used to construct the PPI network and hub genes. GEPIA was used to obtain the overall survival and expression level in LUAD/LUSC and normal tissue. The MTT assay was used to examine antiproliferative activity. PI staining was used to determine the cell cycle arrest. qPCR was used to analyse gene expressions. The datasets revealed a total of 401 common DEGs, with 258 up-regulated genes and 143 down-regulated genes. Further, in-vitro study of gallic acid cytotoxic effect in human lung cancer cell line A549 indicated that gallic acid dramatically suppressed cell growth in A549 cells. Gallic acid also, significantly promoted programmed cell death by halting cells in the G0/G1 phase of the cell cycle. Taken together, our study indicated that gallic acid is a promising natural STAT1 inhibitor as it hindered lung cancer progression by inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis which can be employed to increase the therapeutic efficacy of existing lung cancer treatments and to improve overall patient survival.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Icaritin inhibits endometrial carcinoma cells by suppressing O-GlcNAcylation of FOXC1

BACKGROUND

Icaritin has a wide range of pharmacological activities, including significant an-titumor activity. However, the mechanism of action of icaritin in endometrial cancer (UCEC) remains unknown. FOX proteins are a highly conserved transcription factor superfamily that play important roles in epithelial cell differentiation, tumor metastasis, angiogenesis, and cell cycle regulation. FOXC1 is an important member of the FOX protein family. FOXC1 is aberrantly expressed in endometrial cancer and may play a role in the migration and invasion of endometrial cancer; however, its mechanism of action has not yet been reported. O-GlcNAc glycosylation is a common post-translational modification. In endometrial cancer, high levels of O-GlcNAcylation promote cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. Cancer development is often accompanied by O-GlcNAc modification of proteins; however, O-GlcNAc modification of the transcription factor FOXC1 has not been reported to date.

PURPOSE

To investigate the inhibitory effects of icaritin on RL95-2 and Ishikawa endometrial cancer cells in vitro and in vivo and to elucidate the possible molecular mechanisms.

METHODS/STUDY DESIGN

CCK8, colony formation, migration, and invasion assays were used to determine the inhibitory effects of icaritin on endometrial cancer cells in vitro. Cell cycle regulation was assayed by flow cytometry. Protein levels were measured based on western blotting. The level of FOXC1 expression in endometrial cancer tissues was determined by immunohistochemistry. To assess whether icaritin also has activity in vivo, its effect on tumor xenografts was evaluated.

RESULTS

Immunohistochemical analysis of clinical samples revealed that FOXC1 expression was significantly higher in endometrial cancer tissues than in normal tissues. Downregulation of FOXC1 inhibited the proliferative, colony formation, migration, and invasive abilities of RL95-2 and Ishikawa endometrial cancer cells. Icaritin inhibited the proliferation, colony formation, migration, and invasion of endometrial cancer cells and blocked the cell cycle in S phase. Icaritin affected O-GlcNAc modification of FOXC1 and thus the stability of FOXC1, which subsequently triggered the inhibition of endometrial cancer cell proliferation.

CONCLUSION

The anti-endometrial cancer effect of icaritin is related to the inhibition of abnormal O-GlcNAc modification of FOXC1, which may provide an important theoretical foundation for the use of icaritin against endometrial cancer.

Flavonoids as promising anticancer therapeutics: Contemporary research, nanoantioxidant potential, and future scope

Flavonoids are natural polyphenolic compounds considered safe, pleiotropic, and readily available molecules. It is widely distributed in various food products such as fruits and vegetables and beverages such as green tea, wine, and coca-based products. Many studies have reported the anticancer potential of flavonoids against different types of cancers, including solid tumors. The chemopreventive effect of flavonoids is attributed to various mechanisms, including modulation of autophagy, induction of cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and antioxidant defense. Despite of significant anticancer activity of flavonoids, their clinical translation is limited due to their poor biopharmaceutical attributes (such as low aqueous solubility, limited permeability across the biological membranes (intestinal and blood-brain barrier), and stability issue in biological systems). A nanoparticulate system is an approach that is widely utilized to improve the biopharmaceutical performance and therapeutic efficacy of phytopharmaceuticals. The present review discusses the significant anticancer potential of promising flavonoids in different cancers and the utilization of nanoparticulate systems to improve their nanoantioxidant activity further to enhance the anticancer activity of loaded promising flavonoids. Although, various plant-derived secondary metabolites including flavonoids have been recommended for treating cancer, further vigilant research is warranted to prove their translational values.

Solamargine induces apoptosis of human renal carcinoma cells via downregulating phosphorylated STAT3 expression

Solamargine (SM), an active compound derived from Solanum nigrum, triggers apoptosis and inhibits the metastatic and oxidative activities of various types of tumor cells. However, the effect of SM on human renal carcinoma cells remains unknown. In the present study, the molecular mechanisms underlying the antitumor effects of SM on ACHN and 786-O cells were elucidated. Specifically, MTT and colony formation assays were conducted to evaluate the impact of SM treatment on the proliferation of ACHN and 786-O cells, and flow cytometry was conducted to determine the influence of SM on the apoptosis rates of these cells. In addition, the expression of target proteins was determined by western blotting. The results revealed that SM not only inhibited cell viability but also promoted the apoptosis of ACHN and 786-O cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Moreover, treatment of ACHN and 786-O cells with SM significantly enhanced the caspase-3, caspase-8 and caspase-9 activities. Furthermore, SM downregulated the expression of phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (p-STAT3) and Bcl-2 but increased the expression of cleaved caspase-3, -8, -9 and Bax. BAY2353, a p-STAT3 inhibitor, inhibited the viability of ACHN and 786-O cells, increased the expression of cleaved caspase-9 and Bax and decreased the expression of p-STAT3 and Bcl-2. Further experiments demonstrated that SM inhibited tumor growth in xenograft nude mice without causing specific toxicity to the major organs. Collectively, these findings indicated that SM not only inhibited the viability but also promoted the apoptosis of ACHN and 786-O cells, through a mechanism involving downregulation of p-STAT3 expression.

Exploring the material basis and mechanism of action of clinacanthus nutans in treating renal cell carcinoma based on metabolomics and network pharmacology

BACKGROUND

Clinacanthus nutans (for abbreviation thereafter) is often used as medicine in the form of fresh juice in the folk to treat many kinds of cancers, including renal cell carcinoma (RCC). It is speculated that its active ingredient may have heat sensitivity, but there are currently no reports on this aspect. Therefore, based on the folk application for fresh juice of C nutans, this study used metabonomics and network pharmacology to explore the material basis and mechanism of action of C nutans against RCC.

METHODS

Firstly, untargeted metabolomics profiling was performed by Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to screen the metabolites down-regulated by heat in the extract of C nutans. Secondly, we collected the targets of metabolites in the Swiss Target Prediction platform. In addition, the targets of RCC were obtained in the GeneCards database. The "component-target-disease" network was established by Cytoscape3.9.0 software. Then we constructed a protein-protein interaction network in the STRING network platform to screen core targets. The gene ontology and kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes enrichment analysis of core targets were carried out to predict the relevant pathway of C nutans in the treatment of RCC. Finally, the molecular docking verification of the core targets were carried out.

RESULTS

In this study, 35 potential active ingredients and 125 potential targets were obtained. And the core targets were Cellular tumor antigen p53, Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, and so on. Then, 48 biological processes, 30 cell components, and 36 molecular functions were obtained by gene ontology enrichment analysis. Besides, 44 pathways were obtained by Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes enrichment analysis, including Pathway in cancer, PI3K-Akt signal pathway, P53 signal pathway, and so on. The docking model between the core target and its corresponding components was stable.

CONCLUSION

This research is based on the folk application of C nutans, showed its potential active ingredients by metabonomics, and predicted the potential mechanism of C nutans in the treatment of RCC by network pharmacology. It provides new references for follow-up research and new drug development.

Metabolomics and serum pharmacochemistry revealed the preventive mechanism of Gushudan in kidney-yang-deficiency-syndrome rats

Kidney-yang-deficiency-syndrome (KYDS) is a metabolic disease caused by neuroendocrine disorder. Gushudan (GSD) is a traditional Chinese medicine prescription with the effect of nourishing kidney and strengthening bones. In this study, the mechanism of preventive effect of GSD on KYDS was explored by integrating metabolomics and serum pharmacochemistry. Reversed-phase/hydrophilic interaction chromatography-ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-Quadrupole-Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (RP/HILIC-UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS)-based serum metabolomics indicated metabolic disturbances of KYDS rats, and 50 potential biomarkers including l-threonine, succinic acid and phytosphingosine were obtained, which were mainly involved in alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism, citrate cycle (tricarboxylic acid cycle) and glycerophospholipid metabolism, among others. Serum pharmacochemistry identified 29 prototypical ingredients and 9 metabolites of GSD after administration, such as icaritin and xanthotoxol. The combination of 10 serum migration ingredients in GSD, including icaritin and osthole, with 7 important targets, including AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT1) and MAPK14, was found to be key for GSD to prevent KYDS in the network pharmacology study. This study provided a new idea for the research of pathogenesis of diseases and the pharmacodynamic mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine.

A pan-cancer analysis of the expression of STAT family genes in tumors and their relationship to the tumor microenvironment

Background

The signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) protein family, a group of seven members (STAT1, STAT2, STAT3, STAT4, STAT5A, STAT5B, and STAT6), has been widely used to investigate numerous biological functions including cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and immune regulation. However, not much is known about the role of the STAT family genes in pan-cancer.

Methods

Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER), Sangerbox, cBioPortal, GSCALite, Xena Shiny, GeneMANIA, Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA), and Metascape were used to analyze the relationship between STAT gene expression, clinical outcome, gene variation, methylation status, pathway activity, tumor immune infiltration, and microenvironment in different cancer types and screened drugs that could potentially influence STATs.

Results

The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) pan-cancer data showed that most STAT family genes were extensively changed in most tumors compared to the adjacent normal tissues. We also found that STAT gene expression could be used to predict patient survival in various cancers. The STAT gene family formed a network of interaction networks that was associated with several pathways. By mining the of Genomics Drug Sensitivity in Cancer (GDSC) database, we discovered a number of potential drugs that might target STAT regulators. Importantly, the close correlation between STATs and immunocell infiltration suggested the important role of dysregulation of STATs in tumor immune escape. Finally, the relation between STAT gene expression and the tumor microenvironment (TME) indicated that the higher expression of STAT regulators, the higher the degree of tumor stem cells.

Conclusion

Considering these genomic alterations and clinical features of STAT family members across cancer types, it will be possible to change the relationship between STATs and tumorigenesis. It was beneficial to treat cancer by targeting these STAT regulators.

Icaritin inhibits CDK2 expression and activity to interfere with tumor progression

Icaritin has shown antitumor activity in a variety of human solid tumors and myeloid leukemia cells. However, the direct target of icaritin and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In our study, CDK2 was found to be a direct target of icaritin in tumor cells. On one hand, icaritin interacted with CDK2 and interfered with CDK2/CyclinE complex formation, resulting in downregulation of CDK2 activity as illustrated with attenuated phosphorylation of FOXO1, Rb, and P27, and E2F/Rb dissociation. On the other hand, icaritin reduced the stability and translation efficiency of CDK2-mRNA by modulating microRNA-597 expression. To be of functional importance, icaritin inhibited proliferation and promoted apoptosis of tumor cells in vitro and in vivo, which was consistent with CDK2 inhibitors—k03861. Our data revealed CDK2 as the direct target of icaritin for its antitumor effects, which may suggest new therapeutics of icaritin or combinational therapeutics involving both icaritin and CDK2 inhibitors for cancers.

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Icaritin can interact with CDK2 and affect the biological role of CDK2

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Icaritin inhibits the formation of CDK2/cyclin E complex and the activity of CDK2

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Icaritin enhance the inhibitory effect of P27 on CDK2

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Icaritin regulates tumor cell proliferation and apoptosis in a CDK2-dependent manner

Comprehensive analysis of the prognostic and immunotherapeutic implications of STAT family members in human colorectal cancer

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent cancer worldwide and the second leading cause of cancer mortality. Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) proteins are a group of transcription factors implicated in cell signal transduction and gene transcription in several cancer types. However, the level of expression, genetic alterations, and biological function of different STATs, as well as their prognostic and immunotherapeutic value in CRC remain unclear.

Methods: The mRNA and protein expression levels, genetic alterations, prognostic value, gene–gene and protein–protein interaction networks, and biological function of STATs in CRC were studied using the GEPIA, HPA, cBioPortal, PrognoScan, Kaplan–Meier plotter, GeneMANIA, STRING, and Metascape databases. The expression of STATs in CRC was confirmed using immunohistochemistry (IHC). Finally, the relationship between STAT expression and immune infiltration as well as immunotherapy-associated indicators was also investigated.

Results: The expression levels of STAT2/5A/5B are downregulated in CRC, and the STAT1/3/4/5B expressions were significantly associated with the tumor stage of patients with CRC. The abnormal expression of STAT2/4/5B in patients with CRC is related to the prognosis of patients with CRC. The STATs and their neighboring proteins are primarily associated with lymphocyte activation, cytokine-mediated signaling pathways, positive regulation of immune response, regulation of cytokine production, and growth hormone receptor signaling pathways in cancer. The expression of STATs was significantly associated with immune infiltration and immunotherapy response-associated indicators.

Conclusion: This study may help further understand the molecular mechanism of CRC and provide new prognostic biomarkers and immunotherapy targets in patients with CRC.

Phytochemicals for the Prevention and Treatment of Renal Cell Carcinoma: Preclinical and Clinical Evidence and Molecular Mechanisms

Simple Summary

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most frequently diagnosed kidney cancer. Once RCC metastasizes, successful treatment is difficult to achieve. There is an apparent need for novel approaches to prevent and treat RCC. Phytochemicals are naturally derived compounds gaining increasing scientific interest due to their cancer preventive and chemotherapeutic properties. These phytochemicals have been shown to exhibit a multitude of anticancer effects against RCC. In this systematic review, we critically evaluate the potential these natural compounds possess for the prevention and treatment of RCC and discuss the future implications this may have in the fight against kidney cancer.

Abstract

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is associated with about 90% of renal malignancies, and its incidence is increasing globally. Plant-derived compounds have gained significant attention in the scientific community for their preventative and therapeutic effects on cancer. To evaluate the anticancer potential of phytocompounds for RCC, we compiled a comprehensive and systematic review of the available literature. Our work was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses criteria. The literature search was performed using scholarly databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and ScienceDirect and keywords such as renal cell carcinoma, phytochemicals, cancer, tumor, proliferation, apoptosis, prevention, treatment, in vitro, in vivo, and clinical studies. Based on in vitro results, various phytochemicals, such as phenolics, terpenoids, alkaloids, and sulfur-containing compounds, suppressed cell viability, proliferation and growth, showed cytotoxic activity, inhibited invasion and migration, and enhanced the efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs in RCC. In various animal tumor models, phytochemicals suppressed renal tumor growth, reduced tumor size, and hindered angiogenesis and metastasis. The relevant antineoplastic mechanisms involved upregulation of caspases, reduction in cyclin activity, induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis via modulation of a plethora of cell signaling pathways. Clinical studies demonstrated a reduced risk for the development of kidney cancer and enhancement of the efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs. Both preclinical and clinical studies displayed significant promise of utilizing phytochemicals for the prevention and treatment of RCC. Further research, confirming the mechanisms and regulatory pathways, along with randomized controlled trials, are needed to establish the use of phytochemicals in clinical practice.

Recent advances in the synthesis of natural products containing the phloroglucinol motif

Covering: June 2009 to 2021Natural products containing a phloroglucinol motif include simple and oligomeric phloroglucinols, polycyclic polyprenylated acylphloroglucinols, phloroglucinol-terpenes, xanthones, flavonoids, and coumarins. These compounds represent a major class of secondary metabolites which exhibit a wide range of biological activities such as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and hypoglycaemic properties. A number of these compounds have been authorized for therapeutic use or are currently being studied in clinical trials. Their structural diversity and utility in both traditional and conventional medicine have made them popular synthetic targets over the years. In this review, we compile and summarise the recent synthetic approaches to the natural products bearing a phloroglucinol motif. Focus has been given on ingenious strategies to functionalize the phloroglucinol moiety at multiple positions. The isolation and bioactivities of the compounds are also provided.

Insights into the role of STAT3 in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (Review)

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is a primary malignant liver tumour whose incidence is second only to that of hepatocellular carcinoma. ICC is a highly heterogeneous disease arising from neoplastic transformation of intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells (cholangiocytes), and it is characterized by a very poor prognosis. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is an important oncogene that is widely expressed in numerous cancers. STAT3 is a candidate target for the treatment of ICC. However, studies on STAT3 and the occurrence and development of ICC require improvements. Therefore, the present review summarized the mechanism of STAT3 in ICC and provided a theoretical basis for STAT3 to become an effective target for determining the prognosis and treatment of ICC.

Icaritin Inhibits Migration and Invasion of Human Ovarian Cancer Cells via the Akt/mTOR Signaling Pathway

Ovarian cancer (OC) is the most lethal of all gynecologic malignancies with poor survival rates. Although surgical treatment and chemotherapy had advanced to improve survival, platinum-based chemoresistance remains a major hurdle in the clinical treatment of OC. The search for novel active ingredients for the treatment of drug-resistant OC is urgently needed. Here, we demonstrated that icaritin, the main active ingredient derived from the traditional Chinese herb Epimedium genus, significantly suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion of both drug-susceptible and cisplatin-resistant OC cells in vitro. Mechanistically, icaritin at 20 μM significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of Akt and mTOR, as well as decreased the expression of vimentin and increased the expression of E-cadherin. Our data indicate that icaritin, a prenylated flavonoid natural product, could serve as a potential inhibitor of cisplatin-resistant OC by inhibiting the Akt/mTOR signaling pathway.

Screening and characterization of a GH78 α-l-rhamnosidase from Aspergillus terreus and its application in the bioconversion of icariin to icaritin with recombinant β-glucosidase

In this study, a GH78 α-L-rhamnosidase AtRha from Aspergillus terreus CCF3059 was screened and expressed in Pichia pastoris KM71H. The maximum enzyme activity of AtRha was 1000 U/mL after 12 days. AtRha was most active at 65 °C and pH 6.5, displaying excellent thermal stability and pH stability. The kinetic parameters Km, Vmax, kcat and kcat/Km values for pNPR were 0.481 mM, 659 μmol/min·mg, 1065 s-1 and 2214 s-1mM-1, respectively. AtRha could be inhibited by Fe2+, Hg2+ and Cu2+. Moreover, it displayed good tolerance to organic reagents with 52.6% activity in 15%(w/v) methanol. AtRha can hydrolyze icariin containing the α-1 rhamnoside linkage. Furthermore, AtRha and β-glucosidase TthBg3 showed excellent selectivity to cleave the rhamnose at the 3rd position and the glucosyl at the C-7 group of icariin, which established an effective and green method to produce the more pharmacological active icaritin. In addition, the optimal enzyme addition schemes and the reaction conditions were screened and optimized. After a two-stage transformation under optimized conditions, 0.5 g/L of icariin was transformed into 0.25 g/L of icaritin, with a corresponding molar conversion rate of 91.2%. Our findings provide a new, specific and cost-effective method for the production of icaritin in the industry.

Icaritin inhibits lung cancer-induced osteoclastogenesis by suppressing the expression of IL-6 and TNF-a and through AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway

Bone metastasis is one of the common phenomena in the late stage of lung cancer. Inhibition of bone metastasis can improve the survival of lung cancer patients. However, the current drugs for the treatment of bone metastasis have shown little effect on overall survival. Therefore, there is an urgent necessity to identify novel drugs capable of preventing and treating bone metastasis of lung cancer. Our study determined that icaritin (ICT) can inhibit lung cancer-mediated osteoclastogenesis and induce the apoptosis of osteoclasts. Exposure to ICT increased the activation of adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), reduced the activation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and decreased the expression of bcl-2. The bioactivity of ICT on osteoclastogenesis was associated with the regulation of the AMPK/mTOR signaling pathway. Blocking AMPK significantly increased osteoclast differentiation, decreased osteoclast apoptosis and canceled the effects of ICT on the phosphorylation of AMPK as well as the inhibition of mTOR and bcl-2. Furthermore, ICT decreased the levels of IL-6 and TNF-α in osteoclasts, while the AMPK inhibitor compound C significantly abolished the inhibitory effects of ICT on IL-6 and TNF-α. Thus, the present study demonstrated that ICT may be a potential natural agent for the treatment of bone metastasis in patients with lung cancer.

A comparative study on the in vitro and in vivo antitumor efficacy of icaritin and hydrous icaritin nanorods

Icaritin (ICT) and hydrous icaritin (HICT) are two similar flavonoids compounds isolated from Epimedium Genus. This is the first comparative study on their in vitro and in vivo antitumor effects. Nanorods (NRs) were prepared for ICT and HICT by anti-solvent precipitation method using D-alpha tocopherol acid polyethylene glycol succinate (TPGS) as a stabilizer. The prepared ICT-NRs and HICT-NRs had similar diameter (155.5 nm and 201.7 nm), high drug loading content (43.30 ± 0.22% and 41.08 ± 0.19%), excellent stability and a similar sustaining drug release manner. Nanorods improved the in vitro toxicity against 4 different cancer cells in contrast to free ICT or free HICT; however, no significant difference was observed in this regard between ICT-NRs and HICT NRs. In the in vivo study on the anticancer efficacy on MCF-7 and PLC/PRE/5 tumor-bearing mice model, HICR-NRs displayed certain advantage over ICT NRs with higher tumor inhibition rate.

Inflammation-Mediated Angiogenesis in Ischemic Stroke

Stroke is the leading cause of disability and mortality in the world, but the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke (IS) is not completely clear and treatments are limited. Mounting evidence indicate that neovascularization is a critical defensive reaction to hypoxia that modulates the process of long-term neurologic recovery after IS. Angiogenesis is a complex process in which the original endothelial cells in blood vessels are differentiated, proliferated, migrated, and finally remolded into new blood vessels. Many immune cells and cytokines, as well as growth factors, are directly or indirectly involved in the regulation of angiogenesis. Inflammatory cells can affect endothelial cell proliferation, migration, and activation by secreting a variety of cytokines via various inflammation-relative signaling pathways and thus participate in the process of angiogenesis. However, the mechanism of inflammation-mediated angiogenesis has not been fully elucidated. Hence, this review aimed to discuss the mechanism of inflammation-mediated angiogenesis in IS and to provide new ideas for clinical treatment of IS.

Efficacy of Alkaloids in Alleviating Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in Rats: A Meta-Analysis of Animal Studies

Background

Animal models are well established for studying the effects of alkaloids in preventing myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. However, few studies have investigated the therapeutic effects of alkaloids in humans. This meta-analysis and systematic review assessed the efficacy of alkaloids in attenuating infarct size in rats with myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Methods

An integrated literature search including the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases was performed to identify studies that evaluated the therapeutic effects of alkaloids on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats. The main outcome was infarct size, and SYRCLE's risk of bias tool was used to assess the quality of the studies.

Results

22 studies were brought into the meta-analysis. Compared with the effects of vehicle, alkaloids significantly reduced infarct size (standardized mean difference (SMD) = -0.45; 95% confidence interval (CI) = -0.64 to - 0.26). In subgroup analyses, isoquinoline alkaloids (SMD = -0.43; 95%CI = -0.70 to - 0.16) significantly reduced infarct size versus the control.

Conclusion

Isoquinoline alkaloids can potentially alleviate myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. This meta-analysis and systematic review supply a reference for research programs aiming to develop alkaloid-based clinical drugs. This trial is registered with CRD42019135489.

Prenylated flavonoids in foods and their applications on cancer prevention

Functional foods play an important role in health care and chronic diseases prevention, particularly cancer. Prenylated flavonoids are presented in many food resources. They are recognized as neutraceuticals due to their diverse health benefits. Up to now, more than 1000 prenylated flavonoids have been identified in plants. Their food resources are reviewed in this paper. Due to the good safety and cancer prevention effect of prenylated flavonoids, this paper reviews the cancer prevention activities and mechanisms reported in last decade. The structure-activity relationship is discussed. Due to the limited availability in nature, the heterologously biosynthetic technique of prenylated flavonoids is discussed in this review. Inclusion of dietary prenylated flavonoids into human diet is highly desirable. This paper combines the up-to-date information and give a clear image regarding prenylated flavonoids as neutraceuticals.

STAT3 transcription factor as target for anti-cancer therapy

STATs constitute a large family of transcription activators and transducers of signals that have an important role in many cell functions as regulation of proliferation and differentiation of the cell also regulation of apoptosis and angiogenesis. STAT3 as a member of that family, recently was discovered to have a vital role in progression of different types of cancers. The activation of STAT3 was observed to regulate multiple gene functions during cancer-like cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, metastasis, inflammation, immunity, cell survival, and angiogenesis. The inhibition of STAT3 activation has been an important target for cancer therapy. Inhibitors of STAT3 have been used for a long time for treatment of many types of cancers like leukemia, melanoma, colon, and renal cancer. In this review article, we summarize and discuss different drugs inhibiting the action of STAT3 and used in treatment of different types of cancer.

Nanotechnology for angiogenesis: opportunities and challenges

Angiogenesis plays a critical role within the human body, from the early stages of life (i.e., embryonic development) to life-threatening diseases (e.g., cancer, heart attack, stroke, wound healing). Many pharmaceutical companies have expended huge efforts on both stimulation and inhibition of angiogenesis. During the last decade, the nanotechnology revolution has made a great impact in medicine, and regulatory approvals are starting to be achieved for nanomedicines to treat a wide range of diseases. Angiogenesis therapies involve the inhibition of angiogenesis in oncology and ophthalmology, and stimulation of angiogenesis in wound healing and tissue engineering. This review aims to summarize nanotechnology-based strategies that have been explored in the broad area of angiogenesis. Lipid-based, carbon-based and polymeric nanoparticles, and a wide range of inorganic and metallic nanoparticles are covered in detail. Theranostic and imaging approaches can be facilitated by nanoparticles. Many preparations have been reported to have a bimodal effect where they stimulate angiogenesis at low dose and inhibit it at higher doses.

Icaritin enhances the efficacy of cetuximab against triple-negative breast cancer cells

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) has a greater risk of recurrence and metastasis along with a worse prognosis compared with other subtypes of breast cancer. Studies have revealed that mitogenic estrogen signaling is involved in the malignant proliferation of TNBC cells through a novel variant of the estrogen receptor, estrogen receptor α-36 (ER-α36). The results of the present study demonstrated that knockdown of ER-α36 expression in TNBC cells using short hairpin RNA inhibited rapid estrogen signaling bypass activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Moreover, the ER-α36 modulator icaritin inhibited the proliferation of TNBC cells both in vitro and in vivo. Here, it was revealed that the combination of icaritin and cetuximab, a therapeutic epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) neutralizing antibody, induced apoptosis and inhibited cell proliferation synergistically in TNBC cells. The results of the present study improved the understanding of the underlying mechanisms of TNBC progression and supported the therapeutic potential of combined treatment targeting the ER-α36 and EGFR.

Highlighted STAT3 as a potential drug target for cancer therapy

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a cytoplasmic transcription factor that regulates cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, angiogenesis, inflammation and immune responses. Aberrant STAT3 activation triggers tumor progression through oncogenic gene expression in numerous human cancers, leading to promote tumor malignancy. On the contrary, STAT3 activation in immune cells cause elevation of immunosuppressive factors. Accumulating evidence suggests that the tumor microenvironment closely interacts with the STAT3 signaling pathway. So, targeting STAT3 may improve tumor progression, and anti-cancer immune response. In this review, we summarized the role of STAT3 in cancer and the tumor microenvironment, and present inhibitors of STAT3 signaling cascades.

Induction of ROS and DNA damage-dependent senescence by icaritin contributes to its antitumor activity in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Context: Icaritin (ICT), a prenylflavonoid derivative extracted from the Epimedium (Berberidaceae) genus, has been identified to exhibit antitumor effect in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells by inducing apoptosis. However, its effect on cellular senescence has not been elucidated. Objective: To investigate the mechanism for low concentrations of ICT exerting antitumor activity through induction of cellular senescence. Materials and methods: Human HepG2 and Huh7 cells were treated with low concentrations of ICT (1 and 2 μM) once per day for a week. Cellular senescence was evaluated through cell viability and senescence-associated-β-galactosidase activity. Cell cycle distribution and ROS levels were measured with flow cytometry. Gene expression was detected using qRT-PCR and western blotting. Fluorescent punctuates formation of γH2AX was analyzed by immunofluorescence. Results: ICT (1 and 2 μM) promoted cellular senescence in HepG2 and Huh7 cells, as observed by enlarged and flattened morphology and increased senescence-associated-β-galactosidase activity (∼7-8-fold and ∼11-12-fold of vehicle controls, respectively), accompanied by significant cell cycle arrest and decrease in DNA synthesis. Mechanistically, ICT-induced senescence occurred through accumulation of ROS (∼1.3-fold and ∼1.8-fold of vehicle controls in response to 1 and 2 μM ICT, respectively), which further resulted in DNA damage response, as evidenced by strong induction of γH2AX through immunofluorescence and western blotting assays. Pharmacological inhibition of ROS production with N-acetylcysteine attenuated ICT-induced γH2AX and senescence-associated-β-galactosidase activity (∼0.28-0.30-fold decrease, p < 0.05). Discussion and conclusions: Induction of cellular senescence by ICT defines a novel anticancer mechanism of ICT and provides a rationale for generalizing the study design to a broader study population to further developing ICT as a novel therapeutic agent for treatment of HCC.

Pharmacokinetics and metabolism of icaritin in rats by UPLC-MS/MS

Icaritin (ICT) has distinct bioactivities, especially known for its beneficial effects on bone-related degenerative disorders; however, its pharmacokinetic properties remain unknown. A novel developed UPLC-MS/MS method for the determination of ICT and its main metabolite glucuronidated icaritin (GICT) was firstly applied to pharmacokinetic and metabolism studies of ICT in female rats, which were intraperitoneally given 40 mg/kg ICT. Following the protein precipitation of plasma samples with acetonitrile, ICT and GICT were separated on a C18 column using gradient elution mode and quantified in the multiple reaction monitoring mode. The linearities were acceptable for ICT (r = 0.9960) and GICT (r = 0.9968), and the lower limit of quantification values was 0.5 and 5 ng/ml, respectively. The accuracy fell in the range of 92.0%-103.1% and precisions were within 9.5%. Good linearity, accuracy, precision, and recovery were achieved for the UPLC-MS/MS method. ICT was predominantly and rapidly biotransformed to GICT which was slowly eliminated in vivo with a terminal half-life value of 4.51 hr. Pharmacokinetics of pure ICT eliminated biotransformation interference of Epimedium extract and disclosed genuine pharmacokinetic manner of ICT, as well as firstly elucidated low concentration and bioavailability of ICT in rat plasma.

Anticancer effect of icaritin on prostate cancer via regulating miR-381-3p and its target gene UBE2C

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common health-related issues in the male individuals of western countries. Icaritin (ICT) is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine that exhibits antitumor efficacy in variety of cancers including PCa. However, the precise function and detailed molecular mechanism of ICT in the regression of PCa remain unclear. Ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2C (UBE2C) is an anaphase-promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C)-specific ubiquitin conjugating enzyme, which acts as an oncogene in PCa progression. The function of ICT in PCa was investigated in transgenic adenocarcinoma mouse prostate (TRAMP) mice using survival analysis, hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining, TUNEL assay, and immunohistochemistry and in human PCa cell lines using various molecular techniques and functional assays including plasmid construction and transfection. Bioinformatic analyses were performed to identify the interaction between miRNA and UBE2C via the TargetScan algorithm. We demonstrated that ICT inhibited the development and progression of PCa in TRAMP mice by improving the survival rate and tumor differentiation. Furthermore, we found that ICT could significantly inhibit cell proliferation and invasion and induce apoptosis in PCa cells. Consistently, downregulation of UBE2C suppressed the proliferation and invasion of PCa cells. Moreover, a luciferase reporter assay confirmed that UBE2C was a direct target of miR-381-3p. Meanwhile, ICT simultaneously downregulated UBE2C expression and upregulated miR-381-3p levels in human PCa cells. Altogether, our findings provide a strong rationale for the clinical application of ICT as a potential oncotherapeutic agent against PCa via a novel molecular mechanism of regulating the miR-381-3p/UBE2C pathway.

Interleukin4Rα (IL4Rα) and IL13Rα1 Are Associated with the Progress of Renal Cell Carcinoma through Janus Kinase 2 (JAK2)/Forkhead Box O3 (FOXO3) Pathways

Specific kinds of interleukin (IL) receptors are known to mediate lymphocyte proliferation and survival. However, recent reports have suggested that the high expression of IL4Rα and IL13Rα1 in tumor tissue might be associated with tumorigenesis in several kinds of tumor. We found that a significant association between mRNA level of IL4Rα or IL13Rα1 and the poor prognosis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) from the public database (http://www.oncolnc.org/). Then, we evaluated the clinicopathological significance of the immunohistochemical expression of IL4Rα and IL13Rα1 in 199 clear cell RCC (CCRCC) patients. The individual and co-expression patterns of IL4Rα and IL13Rα1 were significantly associated with cancer-specific survival (CSS) and relapse-free survival (RFS) in univariate analysis. Multivariate analysis indicated IL4Rα-positivity and co-expression of IL4Rα and IL13Rα1 as the independent indicators of shorter CSS and RFS of CCRCC patients. For the in vitro evaluation of the oncogenic role of IL4Rα and IL13Rα1 in RCC, we knock-downed IL4Rα or IL13Rα1 and observed that the cell proliferation rate was decreased, and the apoptosis rate was increased in A498 and ACHN cells. Furthermore, we examined the possible role of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2), well-known down-stream tyrosine kinase under the heterodimeric receptor complex of IL4Rα and IL13Rα1. Interestingly, JAK2 interacted with Forkhead box O3 (FOXO3) to cause tyrosine-phosphorylation of FOXO3. Silencing IL4Rα or JAK2 in A498 and ACHN cells reduced the interaction between JAK2 and FOXO3. Moreover, pharmacological inhibition of JAK2 induced the nuclear localization of FOXO3, leading to increase apoptosis and decrease cell proliferation rate in A498 and ACHN cells. Taken together, these results suggest that IL4Rα and IL13Rα1 might be involved in the progression of RCC through JAK2/FOXO3 pathway, and their expression might be used as the novel prognostic factor and therapeutic target for RCC patients.

Icaritin inhibits glioblastoma cell viability and glycolysis by blocking the IL-6/Stat3 pathway

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a common and aggressive brain tumor that is associated with significant increase in glycolysis for energy production. Icaritin is a natural compound and exhibits anticancer activity in GBM. However, the effect of icaritin on glycolysis in GBM cells remains unclear. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of icaritin on glycolysis in GBM cells. The human GBM cell lines U87 and T98G were treated with icaritin or the inhibitor of Stat3 (S3I-201) in the presence or absence of recombinant human interleukin (IL)-6. Cell viability was measured using the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5 diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. The glycolysis was analyzed by detecting the glucose consumption and lactate production. The Western blot analysis was conducted to detect the expressions of hexokinase 2 (HK2), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (Stat3), p-Stat3, and B lymphoma Mo-MLV insertion region 1 (Bmi-1). Results showed that icaritin inhibited the viability of U87 and T98G cells in a dose-dependent manner. The decreased glucose consumption and lactate production, accompanied by reduced expressions of HK2, were found in both U87 and T98G cells. Icaritin inhibited the IL-6/Stat3 pathway, which is evidenced by the decreased expressions of p-Stat3 and Bmi-1. IL-6 treatment induced the phosphorylation of Stat3 and Bmi-1 expression, increased cell viability, as well as elevated glucose consumption, lactate production, and HK2 expression; however, the effects of IL-6 were attenuated by icaritin or S3I-201 treatment. In conclusion, icaritin exerted inhibitory effects on cell viability and glycolysis in GBM cells, which was mediated by the IL-6/Stat3 pathway.

Identification of Chinese Herbal Compounds with Potential as JAK3 Inhibitors

The Janus kinases (JAKs) consist of four similar tyrosine kinases and function as key hubs in the signaling pathways that are implicated in both innate and adaptive immunity. Among the four members, JAK3 is probably the more attractive target for treatment of inflammatory diseases because its inhibition demonstrates the greatest immunosuppression and most profound effect in the treatment of such disorders. Although many JAK3 inhibitors are already available, certain shortcomings have been identified, mostly acquired drug resistance or unwanted side effects. To discover and identify new promising lead candidates, in this study, the structure of JAK3 (3LXK) was obtained from the Protein Data Bank and used for simulation modeling and protein-ligand interaction analysis. The ~36,000 Chinese herbal compounds obtained from TCM Database@Taiwan were virtually screened by AutoDock Vina docking program and filtered with Lipinski's Rules and ADME/T virtual predictions. Because of high occurrence of fake hits during docking, we selected 12 phytochemicals which have demonstrated modulating JAKs expressions among the top 50 chemicals from docking results. To validate whether these compounds are able to directly mediate JAK3 kinase, we have investigated the inhibitory activity using enzymatic activity assays, western blot, and HEK 293 cell STAT5 transactivity assays. The molecular analysis included docking and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations in order to investigate structural conformations and to explore the key amino acids in the interaction between JAK3 kinase and its putative ligands. The results demonstrated that Cryptotanshinone, Icaritin, and Indirubin exhibited substantial inhibitory activity against JAK3 kinase in vitro. The results also provide binding models of the protein-ligand interaction, detailing the interacting amino acid residues at the active ATP-binding domains of JAK3 kinase. In conclusion, our work discovered 3 potential natural inhibitors of JAK3 kinase and could provide new possibilities and stimulate new insights for the treatment of JAK3-targeted diseases.

Icaritin: A Novel Natural Candidate for Hematological Malignancies Therapy

Hematological malignancies including leukemia and lymphoma can severely impact human health. With the current therapies combined with chemotherapy, stem cell transplantation, radiotherapy, and immunotherapy, the prognosis of hematologic malignancies improved significantly. However, most hematological malignancies are still incurable. Therefore, research for novel treatment options was continuing with the natural product as one source. Icaritin is a compound extracted from a traditional Chinese herb, Epimedium Genus, and demonstrated an antitumor effect in various neoplasms including hematological malignancies such as leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma. In hematological malignancies, icaritin showed multiple cytotoxic effects to induce apoptosis, arrest the cell cycle, inhibit proliferation, promote differentiation, restrict metastasis and infiltration, and suppress the oncogenic virus. The proved underlying mechanisms of the cytotoxic effects of icaritin are different in various cell types of hematological malignancies but associated with the critical cell signal pathway, including PI3K/Akt, JAK/STAT3, and MAPK/ERK/JNK. Although the primary target of icaritin is still unspecified, the existing evidence indicates that icaritin is a potential novel therapeutic agent for neoplasms as with hematological malignancies. Here, in the field of hematology, we reviewed the reported activity of icaritin in hematologic malignancies and the underlying mechanisms and recognized icaritin as a candidate for therapy of hematological malignancies.

Reactive oxygen species induced by icaritin promote DNA strand breaks and apoptosis in human cervical cancer cells

Increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a distinct feature of various types of cancer. ROS drive tumor progression and render cancer cells vulnerable to additional oxidative insult. The various natural herb compounds have been shown to induce additional production of ROS in cancer cells, although the physiological implications of ROS under these conditions are not fully determined. In the present study, icaritin, a natural compound derived from the medicinal plants Epimedium, was demonstrated to potently suppresses the proliferation of human HeLa and SiHa cervical cancer cells, without similar affects on non-cancerous CCD-1095Sk fibroblasts and 293 cells, as measured by MTT and colony formation assays. Icaritin treatment caused a rapid increase in ROS in HeLa and SiHa cells, which was followed by a prominent increase in the number of DNA strand breaks. Consequently, the levels of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax and activated caspase 3 and 9 enzymes were increased, while the levels of the anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and XIAP were downregulated. These protein expression changes were accompanied by marked induction of apoptosis in icaritin-treated cancer cells. The results suggested that the icaritin-induced ROS overload promoted cancer cell death via induction of extensive oxidative DNA damage, which subsequently resulted in large numbers of DNA strand breaks and the activation of the intrinsic apoptotic pathway.

HO-1 Overexpressed Mesenchymal Stem Cells Ameliorate Sepsis-Associated Acute Kidney Injury by Activating JAK/stat3 Pathway

Background

Stem cell therapy has been increasingly used in the treatment of sepsis-associated acute kidney injury (AKI). Engineering stem cells, through genetic method, for optimized therapeutic outcome is a desirable strategy, which requires clear understanding of molecular mechanism underlying the interaction between stem cells and damaged kidney. The aim of this study is to evaluate the therapeutic effects of HO-1 overexpressed mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in AKI and investigate the role of JAK/stat3 pathway in the treatment strategy.

Method

HO-1 was overexpressed in human MSCs with transfection of the expression plasmid. Quantitative RT-PCR was used to validate HO-1 overexpression. Sepsis was induced by the Cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) in mice. Survival of the treated mice were monitored and compared to that of the untreated mice. Biochemical analysis of serum biomarkers including colony forming unit (CFU), Creatinine (Cr) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) was acquired and acute tubular necrosis (ATN) was measured. The extent of kidney injury was assessed through H&E staining of the kidney sections. Inflammatory factors were also compared between the two groups. Western blot was used to analyze the role of JAK/stat3 signaling pathway in this treatment strategy.

Results

MSCs with HO-1 overexpression markedly improved the survival of the AKI mice, accompanied by decreasing of CFU, Cr BUN in serum and ATN scores. H&E staining validated that kidney tissue demonstrated morphology that was similar to normal kidney in HO-1 MSC treated group. Inflammatory factors were also reduced by HO-1 MSC treatment. Western blot analysis indicated an upregulation of key proteins in the JAK/stat3 pathway.

Conclusions

HO-1 overexpression enhances therapeutic effect of MSCs in AKI, which is presumably attributed to the activation of JAK/stat3 signaling pathway.

Regulation of miR-155 affects the invasion and migration of gastric carcinoma cells by modulating the STAT3 signaling pathway

Studies investigating the effects of microRNA (miR)-155 on the behavior of tumor cells have concentrated primarily on proliferation and apoptosis. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of miR-155 inhibitor on the metastatic and invasive ability of gastric carcinoma cells and whether this effect is mediated via the signal transduction and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway. The miR-155 inhibitor and miR-155 negative control (NC) were transfected into the AGs and MKN-45 cell lines. The migratory and invasive abilities of the cells were analyzed. The level of phosphorylated (p-)STAT3 and the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 (SOCS1) were also detected. For the AGS cell line, the cell counts (mean ± standard deviation) for the Transwell migration assay were 98.99±9.13 in the miR-155 NC group and 45.32±4.32 in the miR-155 inhibitor group (P<0.01). For the MKN-45 cell line, the cell counts for the migration assay were 129.99±10.12 and 50.36±5.2 in the miR-155 NC and miR-155 inhibitor groups, respectively (P<0.01). The cell counts of the AGS cell line for the invasion assay were 70.25±7.94 in the miR-155 NC group and 40.68±4.73 in the miR-155 inhibitor group (P<0.05). For the MKN-45 cell line, the cell counts for the invasion assay were 84.63±8.12 and 40.35±4.29 in the miR-155 NC and miR-155 inhibitor groups, respectively (P<0.05). Transfection with the miR-155 inhibitor was able to significantly decrease the level of p-STAT3 in the AGS and MKN-45 cell lines compared with the negative control group (all P<0.05). The levels of MMP2 and MMP9 expression were decreased following transfection with miR-155 in AGS and MKN-45 cells (both P<0.05). Notably, transfection with the miR-155 inhibitor was able to decrease the level of VEGF expression, whilst increasing the SOCS1 expression level compared with the negative control group (both P<0.05). Additionally, the downregulation of miR-155 expression in gastric carcinoma cell lines was able to significantly decrease the expression of VEGF, MMP2 and MMP9, thereby inhibiting the invasion and metastasis of gastric carcinoma cells.

Ellagic acid induces HeLa cell apoptosis via regulating signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signaling

Ellagic acid has been reported to possess various activities, including anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative, antiviral and anticancer abilities. However, the effect and underlying molecular mechanism of ellagic acid on cervical carcinoma remain unclear. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the effects of ellagic acid on human cervical carcinoma cells and the molecular mechanism involved. The present study assessed the survival of HeLa cells cultured in vitro using an MTT assay. Apoptosis rate and cell cycle of HaLa cells were measured using an Annexin V-Fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide Apoptosis Detection and Cell Cycle Analysis kits, respectively, following treatment with varying concentrations of ellagic acid. Further effects of ellagic acid on HeLa cells was assessed using flow cytometry and western blotting. Ellagic acid treatment significantly inhibited cell proliferation of the human cervical carcinoma HeLa, SiHa and C33A cells. In HeLa cells, it was observed that ellagic acid arrested the cell cycle at G1 phase, induced cell apoptosis, suppressed the phosphorylation of Janus kinase 2 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), as well as modulated the expression of associated proteins. Collectively, the results of the present study provide evidence that ellagic acid inhibits cervical carcinoma cell proliferation, and induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest at G1 phase possibly via the regulation of STAT3 signaling.

Targeting the IL-6/JAK/STAT3 signalling axis in cancer

The IL-6/JAK/STAT3 pathway is aberrantly hyperactivated in many types of cancer, and such hyperactivation is generally associated with a poor clinical prognosis. In the tumour microenvironment, IL-6/JAK/STAT3 signalling acts to drive the proliferation, survival, invasiveness, and metastasis of tumour cells, while strongly suppressing the antitumour immune response. Thus, treatments that target the IL-6/JAK/STAT3 pathway in patients with cancer are poised to provide therapeutic benefit by directly inhibiting tumour cell growth and by stimulating antitumour immunity. Agents targeting IL-6, the IL-6 receptor, or JAKs have already received FDA approval for the treatment of inflammatory conditions or myeloproliferative neoplasms and for the management of certain adverse effects of chimeric antigen receptor T cells, and are being further evaluated in patients with haematopoietic malignancies and in those with solid tumours. Novel inhibitors of the IL-6/JAK/STAT3 pathway, including STAT3-selective inhibitors, are currently in development. Herein, we review the role of IL-6/JAK/STAT3 signalling in the tumour microenvironment and the status of preclinical and clinical investigations of agents targeting this pathway. We also discuss the potential of combining IL-6/JAK/STAT3 inhibitors with currently approved therapeutic agents directed against immune-checkpoint inhibitors.

Icaritin inhibits the expression of alpha-fetoprotein in hepatitis B virus-infected hepatoma cell lines through post-transcriptional regulation

Although it has showed that icaritin can apparently suppress growth of HCC by reducing the level of AFP, the intrinsic mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we explored the possible mechanism of miRNAs on post-transcriptional regulation of AFP gene, as well as the effects of HBV infection and icaritin in hepatoma cells. The results showed that miR-620, miR-1236 and miR-1270 could bind target sites in the range of 9–18 nt and 131–151 nt downstream of the stop codon in the AFP mRNA 3′-UTR to suppress the expression of AFP. Mutation of these target sites could reverse the effects of these miRNAs. Icaritin (10 μM) might reduce the stability and translational activity of AFP mRNA by increasing the expression levels of these mentioned miRNAs. HBV infection resulted in apparent decreases of these miRNAs and, consequently, increased AFP expression. The results indicated that miR-620, miR-1236 and miR-1270 are critical factors in the post-transcriptional regulation of AFP. Icaritin can counteract the effect of HBV. These findings will contribute to full understanding of the regulatory mechanism of AFP expression in hepatoma cells. And also it revealed a synergistic mechanism of HBV infection and elevation of AFP in the pathogenesis of HCC, as well as the potential clinical significance of icaritin on the therapy of HCC induced by HBV.

The Role of Compounds Derived from Natural Supplement as Anticancer Agents in Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Review

Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC) is the most prominent kidney cancer derived from renal tubules and accounts for roughly 85% of all malignant kidney cancer. Every year, over 60,000 new cases are registered, and about 14,000 people die from RCC. The incidence of this has been increasing significantly in the U.S. and other countries. An increased understanding of molecular biology and the genomics of RCC has uncovered several signaling pathways involved in the progression of this cancer. Significant advances in the treatment of RCC have been reported from agents approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that target these pathways. These agents have become drugs of choice because they demonstrate clinical benefit and increased survival in patients with metastatic disease. However, the patients eventually relapse and develop resistance to these drugs. To improve outcomes and seek approaches for producing long-term durable remission, the search for more effective therapies and preventative strategies are warranted. Treatment of RCC using natural products is one of these strategies to reduce the incidence. However, recent studies have focused on these chemoprevention agents as anti-cancer therapies given they can inhibit tumor cell grow and lack the severe side effects common to synthetic compounds. This review elaborates on the current understanding of natural products and their mechanisms of action as anti-cancer agents. The present review will provide information for possible use of these products alone or in combination with chemotherapy for the prevention and treatment of RCC.

Effects of cell-cell crosstalk on gene expression patterns in a cell model of renal cell carcinoma lung metastasis

The median survival rate of patients with metastatic renal carcinoma is approximately 10 to 12 months, with up to 50% of patients developing metastases in the lung parenchyma. The molecular basis for metastatic development remains unclear. In the present study, we used renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cells and bronchial epithelial cells, representing metastasis target organ cells, conditioned medium and co-culture models to identify specific gene expression changes responsible for cancer cell viability in a metastatic microenvironment. RCC cell proliferation and migration increased when the culture was supplemented with conditioned medium from lung fibroblasts or pleural epithelial cells. Healthy epithelial cells were, in turn, also stimulated with conditioned medium from RCC cell lines. The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), interleukin (IL)-6, and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) signaling pathways were identified as deregulated upon cell‑cell interaction. Thus, cell-cell communication may contribute to the development of the metastatic niche. The identified deregulated signaling pathways may be considered as potential therapeutic targets in metastatic renal carcinoma.

Prenylated flavonoids and dihydrophenanthrenes from the leaves of Epimedium brevicornu and their cytotoxicity against HepG2 cells

Phytochemical study on the leaves of Epimedium brevicornu finally led to the isolation of four prenylated flavonoids (1-4) and three dihydrophenanthrenes (5-7), of which 1, 2, 5 and 7 were new compounds. The structures of these compounds were established mainly by spectroscopic techniques, including NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. These isolates exhibited the cytotoxic activities against HepG2 cells with the IC₅₀ values of 32.8-87.3 μM.

G6PD promotes renal cell carcinoma proliferation through positive feedback regulation of p-STAT3

Ectopic Glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) expression plays important role in tumor cell metabolic reprogramming and results in poor prognosis of multiple malignancies. Our previous study indicated that G6PD is overexpressed in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), the most common subtype of RCC. However, its role in RCC is still unclear. Here, we demonstrate that G6PD is not only up-regulated in all types of RCC specimens but also displays higher activities in RCC cell lines. G6PD overexpression promoted RCC cell proliferation, altered cell cycle distribution, and enhanced xenografted RCC development. G6PD up-regulated ROS generation by facilitating NADPH-dependent NOX4 activation, which led to increased expression of p-STAT3 and CyclinD1. Enhanced ROS generation rescued the p-STAT3 and CyclinD1 expression reduction in G6PD-knockdown cells, while ROS scavengers reversed the up-regulated p-STAT3 and CyclinD1 expression in G6PD-overexpressing cells. Furthermore, p-STAT3 activated G6PD gene expression via binding to the G6PD promoter, demonstrating that p-STAT3 forms a positive feedback regulatory loop for G6PD overexpression. G6PD expression was up or down-regulated in response to the impact of p-STAT3 activators or inhibitors. Therefore, G6PD may be an effective RCC therapeutic target.

Antitumoral action of icaritin in LNCaP prostate cancer cells by regulating PEA3/HER2/AR signaling

Human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2) and androgen receptor (AR) are critical factors for prostate cancer (PCa) progression. These factors regulate tumor cell survival and proliferation, and remain as crucial drivers of castration-resistant PCa progression. Icaritin (ICT) is a prenyl flavonoid derived from the Epimedium genus, which has many biological and pharmacological effects. Using androgen-sensitive human prostate carcinoma LNCaP cell lines, we found that 35 μg/ml of ICT could inhibit more than 50% of cell proliferation, induce cell apoptosis, and lead to a strong G1 phase arrest by targeting cyclin-related proteins and suppressing the ability of cell invasion. Moreover, ICT exerts its potent anticancer efficacy by inducing polyomavirus enhancer activator 3 (PEA3) to inhibit the aberrantly activated HER2/AR signaling. In addition, after PEA3 expression was silenced by specific small-interference RNA, we found that both the ICT-inhibited effect on LNCaP cell proliferation and the ICT-induced cell apoptosis rate decreased. These results provide alternative mechanisms for the antitumor actions of ICT, indicating that ICT might be a promising therapeutic agent, as well as a preventive agent, for hormone therapy-resistant PCa.

The roles of signal transducer and activator of transcription factor 3 in tumor angiogenesis

Angiogenesis is the development of new blood vessels, which is required for tumor growth and metastasis. Signal transducer and activator of transcription factor 3 (STAT3) is a transcription factor that regulates a variety of cellular events including proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis. Previous studies revealed that activation of STAT3 promotes tumor angiogenesis. In this review, we described the activities of STAT3 signaling in different cell types involved in angiogenesis. Particularly, we elucidated the molecular mechanisms of STAT3-mediated gene regulation in angiogenic endothelial cells in response to external stimulations such as hypoxia and inflammation. The potential for STAT3 as a therapeutic target was also discussed. Overall, this review provides mechanistic insights for the roles of STAT3 signaling in tumor angiogenesis.

Estrogen receptor-α36 is involved in icaritin induced growth inhibition of triple-negative breast cancer cells

A sub-class of ER-negative breast cancer that is negative for ER, PR and HER2 expression known as triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is highly malignant and lacks effective treatment. Recently, it has been reported that an isoform of estrogen receptor-alpha ER-α36 is expressed and plays a critical role in development of TNBC. ER-α36 forms a positive regulatory loop with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which promotes malignant growth of TNBC cells. Thus, ER-α36 has been proposed as an important target for development of novel drugs for TNBC. In this study, we evaluated the effects of icaritin, a prenylflavonoid derivant purified from Epimedium Genus, on growth of TNBC cells and examined the possible underlying mechanisms. Our study demonstrated that icartin decreased both ER-α36 and EGFR protein expression, and induced apoptosis in TNBC MDA-MB-231 and MDA-MB-453 cells. We also found that icaritin inhibited ER-α36-mediated MAPK/ERK pathway and cyclin D1 induction by estrogen. Our results thus indicated that icaritin has a potential to be developed into a novel therapeutic agent for human TNBC.

Multidrug-resistant cancer cells and cancer stem cells hijack cellular systems to circumvent systemic therapies, can natural products reverse this?

Chemotherapy is one of the most effective and broadly used approaches for cancer management and many modern regimes can eliminate the bulk of the cancer cells. However, recurrence and metastasis still remain a major obstacle leading to the failure of systemic cancer treatments. Therefore, to improve the long-term eradication of cancer, the cellular and molecular pathways that provide targets which play crucial roles in drug resistance should be identified and characterised. Multidrug resistance (MDR) and the existence of tumor-initiating cells, also referred to as cancer stem cells (CSCs), are two major contributors to the failure of chemotherapy. MDR describes cancer cells that become resistant to structurally and functionally unrelated anti-cancer agents. CSCs are a small population of cells within cancer cells with the capacity of self-renewal, tumor metastasis, and cell differentiation. CSCs are also believed to be associated with chemoresistance. Thus, MDR and CSCs are the greatest challenges for cancer chemotherapy. A significant effort has been made to identify agents that specifically target MDR cells and CSCs. Consequently, some agents derived from nature have been developed with a view that they may overcome MDR and/or target CSCs. In this review, natural products-targeting MDR cancer cells and CSCs are summarized and clustered by their targets in different signaling pathways.