Inhibitory Effects of Esculetin on Liver Cancer Through Triggering NCOA4 Pathway-Mediation Ferritinophagy in vivo and in vitro

Ferritinophagy and Ferroptosis in Cerebral Ischemia Reperfusion Injury

Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI) is the second leading cause of death worldwide, posing a huge risk to human life and health. Therefore, investigating the pathogenesis underlying CIRI and developing effective treatments are essential. Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent mode of cell death, which is caused by disorders in iron metabolism and lipid peroxidation. Previous studies demonstrated that ferroptosis is also a form of autophagic cell death, and nuclear receptor coactivator 4(NCOA4) mediated ferritinophagy was found to regulate ferroptosis by interfering with iron metabolism. Ferritinophagy and ferroptosis are important pathogenic mechanisms in CIRI. This review mainly summarizes the link and regulation between ferritinophagy and ferroptosis and further discusses their mechanisms in CIRI. In addition, the potential treatment methods targeting ferritinophagy and ferroptosis for CIRI are presented, providing new ideas for the prevention and treatment of clinical CIRI in the future.

Environmentally relevant levels of Cd and Mo coexposure induces ferroptosis and excess ferritinophagy through AMPK/mTOR axis in duck myocardium

Cadmium (Cd) and excess molybdenum (Mo) are multiorgan toxic, but the detrimental impacts of Cd and/or Mo on poultry have not been fully clarified. Thence, a 16-week sub-chronic toxic experiment was executed with ducks to assess the toxicity of Cd and/or Mo. Our data substantiated that Cd and Mo coexposure evidently reduced GSH-Px, GSH, T-SOD, and CAT activities and elevated H2O2 and MDA concentrations in myocardium. What is more, the study suggested that Cd and Mo united exposure synergistically elevated Fe2+ content in myocardium and activated AMPK/mTOR axis, then induced ferroptosis by obviously upregulating ACSL4, PTGS2, and TFRC expression levels and downregulating SLC7A11, GPX4, FPN1, FTL1, and FTH1 expression levels. Additionally, Cd and Mo coexposure further caused excessive ferritinophagy by observably increasing autophagosomes, the colocalization of endogenous FTH1 and LC3, ATG5, ATG7, LC3II/LC3I, NCOA4, and FTH1 expression levels. In brief, this study for the first time substantiated that Cd and Mo united exposure synergistically induced ferroptosis and excess ferritinophagy by AMPK/mTOR axis, finally augmenting myocardium injure in ducks, which will offer an additional view on united toxicity between two heavy metals on poultry.

Therapeutic potential of esculetin in various cancer types (Review)

Esculetin (Esc), a coumarin derivative and herbal medicinal compound used in traditional Chinese medicine, is extracted from Fraxinus chinensis. Esc has shown notable potential in the inhibition of proliferation, metastasis and cell cycle arrest in various cancer cell lines. The present review is based on research articles regarding Esc in the field of carcinoma, published between 2009 and 2023. These studies have unanimously demonstrated that Esc can effectively inhibit cancer cell proliferation through diverse mechanisms and modulate multiple signaling pathways, such as Wnt/β-catenin, PI3K/Akt, MAPK and janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription-3. In addition, the safety profile of Esc has been demonstrated in credible animal experiments, which has indicated Esc as an effective compound. Furthermore, the combination therapy of Esc with commonly used chemotherapeutic drugs holds great promise. The aim of the present review was to encourage further studies and applications of Esc in cancer therapy.

Liver cancer wars: plant-derived polyphenols strike back

Liver cancer currently represents the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. The majority of liver cancer arises in the context of chronic inflammation and cirrhosis. Surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy have been the guideline-recommended treatment options for decades. Despite enormous advances in the field of liver cancer therapy, an effective cure is yet to be found. Plant-derived polyphenols constitute a large family of phytochemicals, with pleiotropic effects and little toxicity. They can drive cellular events and modify multiple signaling pathways which involves initiation, progression and metastasis of liver cancer and play an important role in contributing to anti-liver cancer drug development. The potential of plant-derived polyphenols for treating liver cancer has gained attention from research clinicians and pharmaceutical scientists worldwide in the last decades. This review overviews hepatic carcinogenesis and briefly discusses anti-liver cancer mechanisms associated with plant-derived polyphenols, specifically involving cell proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy, angiogenesis, oxidative stress, inflammation, and metastasis. We focus on plant-derived polyphenols with experiment-based chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic properties against liver cancer and generalize their basic molecular mechanisms of action. We also discuss potential opportunities and challenges in translating plant-derived polyphenols from preclinical success into clinical applications.

Induction of ferroptosis by natural phenols: A promising strategy for cancer therapy

In recent years, heightened interest surrounds the exploration of natural phenols as potential agents for cancer therapy, specifically by inducing ferroptosis, a unique form of regulated cell death characterized by iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. This review delves into the roles of key natural phenols, flavonoids, phenolic acids, curcumin, and stilbenes, in modulating ferroptosis and their underlying mechanisms. Emphasizing the significance of amino acid, lipid, and iron metabolism, the study elucidates the diverse pathways through which these phenols regulate ferroptosis. Notably, curcumin, a well-known polyphenol, exhibits multifaceted interactions with cellular components involved in ferroptosis regulation, providing a distinctive therapeutic avenue. Stilbenes, another phenolic class, demonstrate promising potential in influencing lipid metabolism and iron-dependent processes, contributing to ferroptotic cell death. Understanding the intricate interplay between these natural phenols and ferroptosis not only illuminates complex cellular regulatory networks but also unveils potential avenues for novel cancer therapies. Exploring these compounds as inducers of ferroptosis presents a promising strategy for targeted cancer treatment, capitalizing on the delicate balance between cellular metabolism and regulated cell death mechanisms. This article synthesizes current knowledge, aiming to stimulate further research into the therapeutic potential of natural phenols in the context of ferroptosis-mediated cancer therapy.

Natural products targeting macroautophagy signaling in hepatocellular carcinoma therapy: Recent evidence and perspectives

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), presently the second leading cause of global cancer-related mortality, continues to pose significant challenges in the realm of medical oncology, impacting both clinical drug selection and mechanistic research. Recent investigations have unveiled autophagy-related signaling as a promising avenue for HCC treatment. A growing body of research has highlighted the pivotal role of autophagy-modulating natural products in inhibiting HCC progression. In this context, we provide a concise overview of the fundamental autophagy mechanism and delineate the involvement of autophagic signaling pathways in HCC development. Additionally, we review pertinent studies demonstrating how natural products regulate autophagy to mitigate HCC. Our findings indicate that natural products exhibit cytotoxic effects through the induction of excessive autophagy, simultaneously impeding HCC cell proliferation by autophagy inhibition, thereby depriving HCC cells of essential energy. These effects have been associated with various signaling pathways, including PI3K/AKT, MAPK, AMPK, Wnt/β-catenin, Beclin-1, and ferroautophagy. These results underscore the considerable therapeutic potential of natural products in HCC treatment. However, it is important to note that the present study did not establish definitive thresholds for autophagy induction or inhibition by natural products. Further research in this domain is imperative to gain comprehensive insights into the dual role of autophagy, equipping us with a better understanding of this double-edged sword in HCC management.

Ferroptosis: Potential opportunities for natural products in cancer therapy

Cancer cells often exhibit defects in the execution of cell death, resulting in poor clinical outcomes for patients with many cancer types. Ferroptosis is a newly discovered form of programmed cell death characterized by intracellular iron overload and lipid peroxidation in the cell membrane. Increasing evidence suggests that ferroptosis is closely associated with a wide variety of physiological and pathological processes, particularly in cancer. Notably, various bioactive natural products have been shown to induce the initiation and execution of ferroptosis in cancer cells, thereby exerting anticancer effects. In this review, we summarize the core regulatory mechanisms of ferroptosis and the multifaceted roles of ferroptosis in cancer. Importantly, we focus on natural products that regulate ferroptosis in cancer cells, such as terpenoids, polyphenols, alkaloids, steroids, quinones, and polysaccharides. The clinical efficacy, adverse effects, and drug-drug interactions of these natural products need to be evaluated in further high-quality studies to accelerate their application in cancer treatment.