Tripartite Motif-Containing 44 is Involved in the Tumorigenesis of Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma, and its Expression is Downregulated by Nuciferine

Multifaceted role of TRIM28 in health and disease

The TRIM (tripartite motif) family, with TRIM28 as a key member, plays a vital role in regulating health and disease. TRIM28 contains various functional domains essential for transcriptional regulation, primarily through its interaction with KRAB-ZNF proteins, which influence chromatin remodeling and gene expression. Despite extensive research, the precise mechanisms by which TRIM28 impacts health and disease remain elusive. This review delves into TRIM28's multifaceted roles in maintaining health, contributing to a variety of diseases, and influencing cancer progression. In cancers, TRIM28 exhibits a dual nature, functioning as both a tumor promoter and suppressor depending on the cellular context and cancer type. The review also explores its critical involvement in processes such as DNA repair, cell cycle regulation, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and the maintenance of stem cell properties. By uncovering TRIM28's complex roles across different cancers and other diseases, this review underscores its potential as a therapeutic target. The significance of TRIM28 as a versatile regulator opens the door to innovative therapeutic strategies, particularly in cancer treatment and the management of other diseases. Ongoing research into TRIM28 may yield key insights into disease progression and novel treatment options.

Natural aporphine alkaloids: A comprehensive review of phytochemistry, pharmacokinetics, anticancer activities, and clinical application

BACKGROUND

Cancer is the most common cause of death and is still a serious public health problem. Alkaloids, a class of bioactive compounds widely diffused in plants, especially Chinese herbs, are used as functional ingredients, precursors, and lead compounds in food and clinical applications. Among them, aporphine alkaloids (AAs), as an important class of isoquinoline alkaloids, exert a strong anticancer effect on multiple cancer types.

AIM OF REVIEW

This review aims to comprehensively summarize the phytochemistry, pharmacokinetics, and bioavailability of seven subtypes of AAs and their derivatives from various plants and highlight their anticancer bioactivities and mechanisms of action. Key Scientific Concepts of Review. The chemical structures and botanical diversity of AAs are elucidated, and promising results are highlighted regarding the potent anticancer activities of AAs and their derivatives, contributing to their pharmacological benefits. This work provides a better understanding of AAs and combinational anticancer therapies involving them, thereby improving the development of functional food containing plant-derived AA and the clinical application of AAs.

Nuciferine Inhibits Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Partially through Suppressing the STAT3 Signaling Pathway

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) poses a significant obstacle to the worldwide healthcare system. Discovering efficient and non-toxic medications is crucial for managing OSCC. Nuciferine, an alkaloid with an aromatic ring, is present in the leaves of Nelumbo nucifera. It has been proven to play a role in multiple biological processes, including the inhibition of inflammation, regulation of the immune system, formation of osteoclasts, and suppression of tumors. Despite the demonstrated inhibitory effects of nuciferine on different types of cancer, there is still a need for further investigation into the therapeutic effects and potential mechanisms of nuciferine in OSCC. Through a series of in vitro experiments, it was confirmed that nuciferine hindered the growth, movement, and infiltration, while enhancing the programmed cell death of OSCC cells. Furthermore, the administration of nuciferine significantly suppressed the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway in comparison to other signaling pathways. Moreover, the activation of the STAT3 signaling pathway by colivelin resulted in the reversal of nuciferine-suppressed OSCC behaviors. In vivo, we also showed the anti-OSCC impact of nuciferine using the cell-based xenograft (CDX) model in nude mice. Nonetheless, colivelin diminished the tumor-inhibiting impact of nuciferine, suggesting that nuciferine might partially impede the advancement of OSCC by suppressing the STAT3 signaling pathway. Overall, this research could offer a fresh alternative for the pharmaceutical management of OSCC.

Cardiac-specific Trim44 knockout in rat attenuates isoproterenol-induced cardiac remodeling via inhibition of AKT/mTOR pathway

When pathological hypertrophy progresses to heart failure (HF), the prognosis is often very poor. Therefore, it is crucial to find new and effective intervention targets. Here, myocardium-specific Trim44 knockout rats were generated using CRISPR-Cas9 technology. Cardiac phenotypic observations revealed that Trim44 knockout affected cardiac morphology at baseline. Rats with Trim44 deficiency exhibited resistance to cardiac pathological changes in response to stimulation via isoproterenol (ISO) treatment, including improvement of cardiac remodeling and dysfunction by morphological and functional observations, reduced myocardial fibrosis and reduced expression of molecular markers of cardiac stress. Furthermore, signal transduction validation associated with growth and hypertrophy development in vivo and in vitro demonstrated that Trim44 deficiency inhibited the activation of signaling pathways involved in myocardial hypertrophy, especially response to pathological stress. In conclusion, the present study indicates that Trim44 knockout attenuates ISO-induced pathological cardiac remodeling through blocking the AKT/mTOR/GSK3β/P70S6K signaling pathway. This is the first study to demonstrate the function and importance of Trim44 in the heart at baseline and under pathological stress. Trim44 could be a novel therapeutic target for prevention of cardiac hypertrophy and HF.

Summary: This is the first study to demonstrate the function of Trim44 in the heart at baseline and under pathological stress. Trim44 could be a novel therapeutic target for prevention of cardiac hypertrophy.

Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) and Its Bioactive Phytocopounds: A Tribute to Cancer Prevention and Intervention

Simple Summary

The plant Nelumbo nucifera (Gaertn.), commonly known as lotus, sacred lotus, Indian lotus, water lily, or Chinese water lily, is an aquatic perennial crop belonging to the family of Nelumbonaceae. N. nucifera has traditionally been used as an herbal medicine and functional food in many parts of Asia. It has been found that different parts of this plant consist of various bioactive phytocompounds. Within the past few decades, N. nucifera and its phytochemicals have been subjected to intense cancer research. In this review, we critically evaluate the potential of N. nucifera phytoconstituents in cancer prevention and therapy with related mechanisms of action.

Abstract

Cancer is one of the major leading causes of death worldwide. Accumulating evidence suggests a strong relationship between specific dietary habits and cancer development. In recent years, a food-based approach for cancer prevention and intervention has been gaining tremendous attention. Among diverse dietary and medicinal plants, lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn., family Nymphaeaceae), also known as Indian lotus, sacred lotus or Chinese water lily, has the ability to effectively combat this disease. Various parts of N. nucifera have been utilized as a vegetable as well as an herbal medicine for more than 2000 years in the Asian continent. The rhizome and seeds of N. nucifera represent the main edible parts. Different parts of N. nucifera have been traditionally used to manage different disorders, such as fever, inflammation, insomnia, nervous disorders, epilepsy, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, and hyperlipidemia. It is believed that numerous bioactive components, including alkaloids, polyphenols, terpenoids, steroids, and glycosides, are responsible for its various biological and pharmacological activities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, immune-modulatory, antiviral, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, and hypoglycemic activities. Nevertheless, there is no comprehensive review with an exclusive focus on the anticancer attributes of diverse phytochemicals from different parts of N. nucifera. In this review, we have analyzed the effects of N. nucifera extracts, fractions and pure compounds on various organ-specific cancer cells and tumor models to understand the cancer-preventive and therapeutic potential and underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms of action of this interesting medicinal and dietary plant. In addition, the bioavailability, pharmacokinetics, and possible toxicity of N. nucifera-derived phytochemicals, as well as current limitations, challenges and future research directions, are also presented.

Nuciferine, an active ingredient derived from lotus leaf, lights up the way for the potential treatment of obesity and obesity-related diseases

Obesity, is an increasingly global public health problem associated complications. However, the proven anti-obesity agents are inefficient with adverse side effects; hence attention is being paid to novel drugs from natural resources to manage obesity and obesity-related diseases. Nuciferine (NF) is a high-quality aporphine alkaloid present in lotus leaf. Unlike the chemical drugs, NF elicits anti-obesity, anti-dyslipidemia, anti-hyperglycemic, anti-hypouricemic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-tumor effects, and affinity to neural receptors, and protection against obesity-related diseases. The underlying mechanism of NF includes the regulation of targeted molecules and pathways related to metabolism, inflammation, and cancer and modulation of Ca²⁺ flux, gut microbiota, and ferroptosis. Besides, the clinical application, availability, pharmacokinetics, pharmaceutics, and security of NF have been established, highlighting the potential of developing NF as an anti-obesity agent. Therefore, this review provides a comprehensive summarization, which sheds light on future research in NF.