Diosmetin Induces Apoptosis by Downregulating AKT Phosphorylation via P53 Activation in Human Renal Carcinoma ACHN Cells

Diosmin ameliorates inflammation, apoptosis and activates PI3K/AKT pathway in Alzheimer's disease rats

Alzheimer's disease (AD), a prevalent cognitive disorder among the elderly, is frequently linked to the abnormal accumulation of myloid-β (Aβ), which is mainly as a result of neuronal death and inflammation. Diosmin, a flavonoid, is considered a potential drug for the treatment of AD. Our study aimed to uncover the molecular mechanism of diosmin in AD therapy. Here, rats were randomly divided into three groups: control, Aβ25-35, and Aβ25-35 + diosmin groups. AD model rats were induced by Aβ25-35 intraventricular injection, meanwhile 50 mg/kg diosmin was orally administered for 6-week intervention. Morris water maze test assessed learning and memory abilities. Hippocampal neuronal damage was determined by HE, Nissl, and TUNEL staining. These assays indicate that diosmin improves cognitive dysfunction and reduces hippocampal neuronal loss and apoptosis. Western blot showed that diosmin reduced Bax (1.21 ± 0.12) and cleaved caspase-3 (1.27 ± 0.12) expression, and increased Bcl-2 (0.70 ± 0.06), p-PI3K (0.71 ± 0.08), and p-AKT (0.96 ± 0.10) in the hippocampus. ELISA indicated diosmin reduces IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α levels, suggesting anti-inflammation effect. These results suggest that diosmin inhibits neuronal apoptosis and neuroinflammatory responses to improve cognitive dysfunction in AD rats, possibly related to upregulation of the PI3K/AKT pathway, providing a scientific basis for its use in AD treatment.

The Dual Roles of Activating Transcription Factor 3 (ATF3) in Inflammation, Apoptosis, Ferroptosis, and Pathogen Infection Responses

Transcription factors are pivotal regulators in the cellular life process. Activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3), a member of the ATF/CREB (cAMP response element-binding protein) family, plays a crucial role as cells respond to various stresses and damage. As a transcription factor, ATF3 significantly influences signal transduction regulation, orchestrating a variety of signaling pathways, including apoptosis, ferroptosis, and cellular differentiation. In addition, ATF3 serves as an essential link between inflammation, oxidative stress, and immune responses. This review summarizes the recent advances in research on ATF3 activation and its role in regulating inflammatory responses, cell apoptosis, and ferroptosis while exploring the dual functions of ATF3 in these processes. Additionally, this article discusses the role of ATF3 in diseases related to pathogenic microbial infections. Our review may be helpful to better understand the role of ATF3 in cellular responses and disease progression, thus promoting advancements in clinical treatments for inflammation and oxidative stress-related diseases.

Identification of in vivo metabolites of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus by UHPLC-Q/Orbitrap HRMS

INTRODUCTION

Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus has the effects of relieving cough, removing phlegm, and reducing asthma, but little is known about the metabolic and distribution of its chemical constituents in vivo. Therefore, it is necessary to study the metabolism of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus in vivo.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to (1) analyze the distribution of prototype compounds and metabolites of the chemical constituents of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus in rat and (2) infer the metabolites and metabolic pathways of the chemical constituents.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A C18 column (3 × 100 mm, 2.6 μm) was used. The mobile phase was water containing 0.1% formic acid (eluent A) and acetonitrile containing 0.1% formic acid (eluent B) at a discharge rate of 0.3 mL/min. Mass spectra of biological samples were collected in electrospray ionization (ESI) positive ion mode in the m/z 100-1500 scan range. The obtained biological samples were then subjected to chemical analysis, including plasma, urine, feces, and heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, stomach, and small intestine tissues. Prototype compounds and metabolites were identified.

RESULTS

In all, 40 prototype compounds and 78 metabolites, including 26 phase I metabolites and 52 phase II metabolites, were identified using UHPLC-Q/Orbitrap HRMS. Eight possible metabolic pathways (reduction, hydrolysis, dehydration, methylation, hydroxylation, sulfation, glucuronidation, and demethylation) were proposed. The prototype compounds were predominantly distributed in lung tissues. The metabolites were mainly distributed in plasma and kidney tissues.

CONCLUSION

We systematically investigated the metabolites of Citri Sarcodactylis Fructus in vivo. We suggest metabolic pathways that might be relevant for further metabolic studies and screening of active ingredients of Citrus Sarcodactylis Fructus in vivo.

Diosmetin suppresses the progression of ESCC by CDK2/Rb/E2F2/RRM2 pathway and synergies with cisplatin

Cisplatin (CDDP) is the first-line drug in the clinical treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC), which has severe nephrotoxicity. Diosmetin (DIOS) can protect kidney from oxidative damage, however, its function in ESCC is unknown. This study aims to explore the effect and mechanism of DIOS on ESCC and its combined effect with CDDP. Herein, we found that DIOS significantly inhibited the progression of ESCC in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, the anti-tumor effect of DIOS was not statistically different from that of CDDP. Mechanically, transcriptomics revealed that DIOS inhibited the E2F2/RRM2 signaling pathway. The transcriptional regulation of RRM2 by E2F2 was verified by luciferase assay. Moreover, docking model, CETSA, pull-down assay and CDK2 inhibitor assay confirmed that DIOS directly targeted CDK2, leading to significant suppression of ESCC. Additionally, the patient-derived xenografts (PDX) model showed that the combination of DIOS and CDDP significantly inhibited the growth of ESCC. Importantly, the combined treatment with DIOS and CDDP significantly reduced the mRNA expression levels of kidney injury biomarkers KIM-1 and NGAL in renal tissue, as well as the levels of blood urea nitrogen, serum creatinine and blood uric acid compared to the single treatment with CDDP. In conclusion, DIOS could be an effective drug and a potential chemotherapeutic adjuvant for ESCC treatment. Furthermore, DIOS could reduce the nephrotoxicity of CDDP to some extent.

Crosstalk between xanthine oxidase (XO) inhibiting and cancer chemotherapeutic properties of comestible flavonoids- a comprehensive update

Gout is an inflammatory disease caused by metabolic disorder or genetic inheritance. People throughout the world are strongly dependent on ethnomedicine for the treatment of gout and some receive satisfactory curative treatment. The natural remedies as well as established drugs derived from natural sources or synthetically made exert their action by mechanisms that are closely associated with anticancer treatment mechanisms regarding inhibition of xanthine oxidase, feedback inhibition of de novo purine synthesis, depolymerization and disappearance of microtubule, inhibition of NF-ĸB activation, induction of TRAIL, promotion of apoptosis, and caspase activation and proteasome inhibition. Some anti-gout and anticancer novel compounds interact with same receptors for their action, e.g., colchicine and colchicine analogues. Dietary flavonoids, i.e., chrysin, kaempferol, quercetin, fisetin, pelargonidin, apigenin, luteolin, myricetin, isorhamnetin, phloretinetc etc. have comparable IC₅₀ values with established anti-gout drug and effective against both cancer and gout. Moreover, a noticeable number of newer anticancer compounds have already been isolated from plants that have been using by local traditional healers and herbal practitioners to treat gout. Therefore, the anti-gout plants might have greater potentiality to become selective candidates for screening of newer anticancer leads.

Calbindin S100A16 Promotes Renal Cell Carcinoma Progression and Angiogenesis via the VEGF/VEGFR2 Signaling Pathway

Purpose

Recent research has indicated that the calcium-binding protein S100A16 promotes carcinogenesis and tumor growth in several forms of cancer. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between S100A16 and renal cell cancer.

Methods

By using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, the differentially expressed gene S100A16 was identified, and its appearance and link to the prognosis of persons with renal cancer were confirmed. Cox regression was used in multivariate analysis, and a nomogram was developed for internal validation. The correlation between S100A16 and immune cells was analyzed in the TIMER database. Moreover, the potential mechanism of action was investigated utilizing GO and KEGG enrichment analyses. Proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis were investigated in vitro, and the involvement of S100A16 in the undesirable biological events of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) was further explored.

Results

S100A16 was the differentially expressed molecule identified through database screening. Malignant tissues showed higher S100A16 expression than noncancerous tissues, and S100A16 expression was mostly localized in the cytoplasm. According to the TCGA and KM-plotter datasets, patients with RCC and low S100A16 expression had superior OS, PFI, and DSS. The C-index of the nomogram was 0.754 (0.726–0.782), and the accuracy of the prediction model was high. The TIMER database shows that the expression of S100A16 is associated with immune infiltration and may play an important role in promoting tumor cell immune escape in the RCC tumor microenvironment. S100A16 may influence the biological processes of RCC via the VEGF/VEGFR2 signaling route and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and through P53 alteration and cell cycle according to the gene enrichment technique. In vitro cytological experiments demonstrated that S100A16 knockdown can inhibit the proliferation and migration of renal cancer cells and the expression levels of VEGF, VEGFR2, and phosphorylated AKT within renal cancer cells, thereby inhibiting angiogenesis in renal cancer cells and resulting in a poor prognosis of RCC.

Conclusion

A decrease in S100A16 expression may dramatically increase the OS, PFI, and DSS of patients with RCC and may thus be used as a biomarker for predicting RCC. It may be associated with the immune infiltration of RCC and play a crucial role in the immune evasion of tumor cells within the RCC microenvironment. Intervention of s100a16 can promote the progression and angiogenesis of renal cell carcinoma through the VEGF/VEGFR2 signal transduction pathway and lead to poor prognosis of renal cell carcinoma. These findings suggest a potential target for the development of anticancer strategies for renal cancer.

Exploration of the Danggui Buxue Decoction Mechanism Regulating the Balance of ESR and AR in the TP53-AKT Signaling Pathway in the Prevention and Treatment of POF

Objective

The purpose of this study was to explore the molecular mechanism of Danggui Buxue Decoction (DBD) intervening premature ovarian failure (POF).

Methods

The active compounds-targets network, active compounds-POF-targets network, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network were constructed by a network pharmacology approach: Gene Ontology (GO) function and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genome (KEGG) pathway analysis by DAVID 6.8 database. The molecular docking method was used to verify the interaction between core components of DBD and targets. Then, High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis was used to determine whether the DBD contained two key components including quercetin and kaempferol. Finally, the estrous cycle, organ index, ELISA, and western blot were used to verify that mechanism of DBD improved POF induced by cyclophosphamide (CTX) in rats.

Results

Based on the network database including TCMSP, Swiss Target Prediction, DisGeNET, DrugBank, OMIM, and Malacard, we built the active compounds-targets network and active compounds-POF-targets network. We found that 2 core compounds (quercetin and kaempferol) and 5 critical targets (TP53, IL6, ESR1, AKT1, and AR) play an important role in the treatment of POF with DBD. The GO and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the common targets involved a variety of signaling pathways, including the reactive oxygen species metabolic process, release of Cytochrome C from mitochondria and apoptotic signaling pathway, p53 signaling pathway, the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and the estrogen signaling pathway. The molecular docking showed that quercetin, kaempferol, and 5 critical targets had good results regarding the binding energy. Chromatography showed that DBD contained quercetin and kaempferol compounds, which was consistent with the database prediction results. Based on the above results, we found that the process of DBD interfering POF is closely related to the balance of ESR and AR in TP53-AKT signaling pathway and verified animal experiments. In animal experiments, we have shown that DBD and its active compounds can effectively improve estrus cycle of POF rats, inhibit serum levels of FSH and LH, protein expression levels of Cytochrome C, BAX, p53, and IL6, and promote ovary index, uterine index, serum levels of E₂ and AMH, and protein expression levels of AKT1, ESR1, AR, and BCL2.

Conclusions

DBD and its active components could treat POF by regulating the balance of ESR and AR in TP53-AKT signaling pathway.

ZNF219 protects human lens epithelial cells against H2O2-induced injury via targeting SOX9 through activating AKT/GSK3β pathway

Opacity of the lens caused by cataracts could lead to severe visual impairment and even blindness. Oxidative stress caused by exposure of lens epithelial cells to hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) can lead to DNA damage and impair cell function. Therefore, how to prevent lens epithelial cells from being harmed by H₂O₂ is an urgent problem. The ZNF219 gene belongs to the Kruppel like zinc finger gene family, which is involved in a variety of biological processes. In this study, we found the low expression of ZNF219 in H₂O₂-induced HLE-B3 cells. We further noticed ZNF219 could improve the survival rate of H₂O₂-induced HLE-B3 cells, and inhibit the apoptosis and oxidative stress response. Mechanically, ZNF219 protected human lens epithelial cells against H₂O₂-induced injury via targeting SOX9 through activating AKT/GSK3β pathway. We therefore thought ZNF219 was a key protective protein in the oxidative damage of human lens epithelial cells and the pathogenesis of cataract.

Diosmetin induces apoptosis in ovarian cancer cells by activating reactive oxygen species and inhibiting the Nrf2 pathway

The fatality rate of ovarian cancer ranks first among gynecological tumors, and the prognosis is poor. Diosmetin (Dio), a natural flavonoid obtained from citrus fruits, has been shown to have anti-tumor effects in lung, liver, and skin cancers. We aimed to investigate the effects of Dio on ovarian cancer A2780 and SKOV3 cells along with the underlying mechanisms. Our data showed that Dio inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of these cells and induced their apoptosis. Moreover, Dio upregulated the levels of Bax and cleaved Caspase-3 and PARP while downregulating the level of Bcl2. Mechanistically, our results revealed that Dio inhibited Nrf2 and induced the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The ROS scavenger N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) suppressed the inhibitory effect of Dio on the proliferation of the ovarian cancer cells. Additionally, overexpression of Nrf2 partially suppressed the Dio-induced apoptosis and proliferation inhibition in these cells. These findings indicate that Dio exerts an anti-tumor activity by upregulating ROS levels and inhibiting Nrf2, indicating that Dio is a promising chemotherapeutic candidate for the treatment of ovarian cancer.

A global and physical mechanism of gastric cancer formation and progression

Gastric cancer is regarded as a major health issue for human being nowadays. The Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection has been found to accelerate the development of gastritis and gastric cancer. Significant efforts have been made towards the understanding of the biology of gastric cancer on both genetic and epigenetic levels. However the physical mechanism behind the gastric cancer formation is still elusive. In this study, we constructed a model for investigating gastric cancer formation by explored the gastric cancer landscape and the flow flux. We uncovered three stable state attractors on the landscape: normal, gastritis and gastric cancer. The definition of each attractor is based on the biological function and gene expression levels. The global stabilities and the switching processes were quantified through the barrier heights and dominant kinetic paths. To investigate the underlying mechanism of the process from normal through the gastritis to the gastric cancer caused by genetic or epigenetic factors, we simulate the oncogenesis of gastric cancer through changes of several gene regulation strengths and H. pylori infection. The simulated results can illustrate the developmental and metastasis process of gastric cancer. Different H. pylori infection degrees accelerating the process from gastritis to gastric cancer can be quantified. Then we applied global sensitivity analysis, one key gene and four key regulations were found. These results are consist with the experimental results and can be used to design the polygenic anti-cancer agents through multiple key genes or regulations. The landscape approach provides a physical and simple strategy for analyzing gastric cancer in a systematic and quantitative way. It also offers new insight into treatment strategy for gastric cancer by adjusting relevant polygenic genes and regulations.

Metabolism and pharmacological activities of the natural health-benefiting compound diosmin

Diosmin is a famous natural flavonoid for treating chronic venous insufficiency and varicose veins.