Updates on drug designing approach through computational strategies: a review

Ion Channel and Transporter Involvement in Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neurotoxicity

The peripheral nervous system can encounter alterations due to exposure to some of the most commonly used anticancer drugs (platinum drugs, taxanes, vinca alkaloids, proteasome inhibitors, thalidomide), the so-called chemotherapy-induced peripheral neurotoxicity (CIPN). CIPN can be long-lasting or even permanent, and it is detrimental for the quality of life of cancer survivors, being associated with persistent disturbances such as sensory loss and neuropathic pain at limb extremities due to a mostly sensory axonal polyneuropathy/neuronopathy. In the state of the art, there is no efficacious preventive/curative treatment for this condition. Among the reasons for this unmet clinical and scientific need, there is an uncomplete knowledge of the pathogenetic mechanisms. Ion channels and transporters are pivotal elements in both the central and peripheral nervous system, and there is a growing body of literature suggesting that they might play a role in CIPN development. In this review, we first describe the biophysical properties of these targets and then report existing data for the involvement of ion channels and transporters in CIPN, thus paving the way for new approaches/druggable targets to cure and/or prevent CIPN.

Lysine-Rich Polypeptide Modulates Forkhead Box O3 and Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase-Protein Kinase B Pathway To Induce Apoptosis in Breast Cancer

The PI3K/AKT/FOXO3 pathway is one of the most frequently involved signaling pathways in cancer, including breast cancer. Therefore, we synthesized a novel lysine-rich polypeptide (Lys-PP) using de novo assembly method and evaluated its anticancer effect. We characterized the structural and physicochemical properties of Lys-PP using various techniques. Later, we used integrated approaches such as in silico, in vitro, and in vivo analysis to confirm the anticancer and therapeutic effect of Lys-PP. First, RNA sequencing suggests Lys-PP disrupted the central carbon metabolic pathway through the modulation of prolactin signaling. Additionally, docking analysis also confirmed the significant association of PI3K/AKT and FOXO3 pathway to induce an apoptotic effect on cancer. Second, Lys-PP exhibited a significant cytotoxicity effect against MDA-MB-231 but no cytotoxic effects on RAW 264.7 and HEK-293, respectively. The cytotoxic effect of Lys-PP-induced apoptosis by an increase in FOXO3a protein expression and a decrease in PI3K/AKT pathway was confirmed by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, immunoblotting, and fluorescent microscopy. Later, immunohistochemistry and hematoxylin and eosin staining on MDA-MD-231 showed increased FOXO3a expression and cell death in the xenograft mice model. Further, liver function, metabolic health, or lipid profile upon Lys-PP showed the absence of significant modulation in the biomarkers except for kidney-related biomarkers. Overall, our comprehensive study provides the first evidence of Lys-PP antibreast cancer action, which could serve as a potential treatment in an alternative or complementary medicine practice.

Tripterygium wilfordii Hook.f induced kidney injury through mediating inflammation via PI3K-Akt/HIF-1/TNF signaling pathway: A study of network toxicology and molecular docking

We intend to explore potential mechanisms of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook.f (TwHF) induced kidney injury (KI) using the methods of network toxicology and molecular docking. We determined TwHF potential compounds with its targets and KI targets, obtained the TwHF induced KI targets after intersecting targets of TwHF and KI. Then we conducted protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, gene expression analysis, gene ontology (GO) function and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis to explore the mechanism of TwHF-induced KI. Finally we conducted molecular docking to verify the core toxic compounds and the targets. We obtained 12 TwHF toxic compounds and 62 TwHF-induced KI targets. PPI network, gene expression analysis and GO function enrichment analysis unveiled the key biological process and suggested the mechanism of TwHF-induced KI might be associated with inflammation, immune response, hypoxia as well as oxidative stress. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis indicated PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, HIF-1 signaling pathway and TNF signaling pathway were key signaling pathways of TwHF induced KI. Molecular docking showed that the binding energy of core targets and toxic compounds was all less than -6.5 kcal/mol that verified the screening ability of network pharmacology and provided evidence for modifying TwHF toxic compounds structure. Through the study, we unveiled the mechanism of TwHF induce KI that TwHF might activate PI3K-Akt signaling pathway as well as TNF signaling pathway to progress renal inflammation, mediate hypoxia via HIF-1 signaling pathway to accelerate inflammatory processes, and also provided a theoretical basis for modifying TwHF toxic compounds structure as well as supported the follow-up research.

Evaluation of Anticancer Activity of 76 Plant Species Collected in Andalusia (Spain) against Lung Cancer Cells

Every year, cancer kills millions of people around the world. Finding more selective anticancer agents is essential to improve the low survival rates of patients with metastatic cancers. Since the research of natural products is a valuable approach to the discovery of new compounds and the Iberian flora offers a rich source of unstudied plants, we have carried out a random screening of 76 plant species from 43 families collected in Andalusia (South of Spain). Using non-malignant cells (HaCaT) and lung cancer cells (A549), we found that the extract from Arum italicum Mill. subsp. italicum (Araceae), Mandragora autumnalis Bertol. (Solanaceae), Rhamnus alaternus L. (Rhamnaceae), and Lomelosia simplex (Desf.) Raf. subsp. dentata (Jord. & Fourr.) Greuter & Burdet (Dipsacaceae) showed selective cytotoxicity against lung cancer cells. Extracts of plant species belonging to the Iridaceae family showed high selective activity against cancer cells, highlighting that the Xiphion xiphium (L.) M.B. Crespo, Mart.-Azorín & Mavrodiev flower extract was more selective against lung cancer cells than the standard anticancer drugs, cisplatin and 5-fluorouracil. This extract also showed modest selective cytotoxicity against bladder carcinoma cells (T24). The number of cells in the G1 phase increased after treatment with the extract from Xiphion xiphium. Our research indicates that various plants are potential sources for the isolation and development of new anticancer drugs.