Simvastatin in combination with bergamottin potentiates TNF-induced apoptosis through modulation of NF-κB signalling pathway in human chronic myelogenous leukaemia

Bergamottin (Ber) ameliorates the progression of osteoarthritis via the Sirt1/NF-κB pathway

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common chronic disease characterized by progressive cartilage degeneration and secondary synovial inflammation. Bergamottin (Ber) is an important natural derivative of the furanocoumarin compound, extracted from natural foods, such as the pulp of grapefruits and pomelos. Ber exhibits several characteristicsthat are beneficial to human health, such as anti-inflammation, antioxidant, and anti-cancer effects. However, the role of Ber in the treatment of OA has not been elucidated to date. Therefore, in the present study, in vitro experiments were conducted, which demonstrated that Ber reduces the secretion of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), nitric oxide (NO), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) under the stimulation of interleukin-1β (IL-1β). Ber also reversed the IL-1 β-mediated aggrecan and type II collagen degradation within the extracellular matrix (ECM). In addition, in vivo experiments were conducted, in which Ber ameliorated the progression of OA in mice. It was revealed that Ber exerted its cellular effect by activating the Sirt1/NF-kB pathways. In conclusion, the present study demonstrated the therapeutic potential of Ber in the context of OA.

An Overview of Potential Natural Photosensitizers in Cancer Photodynamic Therapy

Cancer is one of the main causes of death worldwide. There are several different types of cancer recognized thus far, which can be treated by different approaches including surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy or a combination thereof. However, these approaches have certain drawbacks and limitations. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is regarded as an alternative noninvasive approach for cancer treatment based on the generation of toxic oxygen (known as reactive oxygen species (ROS)) at the treatment site. PDT requires photoactivation by a photosensitizer (PS) at a specific wavelength (λ) of light in the vicinity of molecular oxygen (singlet oxygen). The cell death mechanisms adopted in PDT upon PS photoactivation are necrosis, apoptosis and stimulation of the immune system. Over the past few decades, the use of natural compounds as a photoactive agent for the selective eradication of neoplastic lesions has attracted researchers' attention. Many reviews have focused on the PS cell death mode of action and photonanomedicine approaches for PDT, while limited attention has been paid to the photoactivation of phytocompounds. Photoactivation is ever-present in nature and also found in natural plant compounds. The availability of various laser light setups can play a vital role in the discovery of photoactive phytocompounds that can be used as a natural PS. Exploring phytocompounds for their photoactive properties could reveal novel natural compounds that can be used as a PS in future pharmaceutical research. In this review, we highlight the current research regarding several photoactive phytocompound classes (furanocoumarins, alkaloids, poly-acetylenes and thiophenes, curcumins, flavonoids, anthraquinones, and natural extracts) and their photoactive potential to encourage researchers to focus on studies of natural agents and their use as a potent PS to enhance the efficiency of PDT.

Bergamottin: location, aggregation and interaction with the plasma membrane

Bioactive furanocoumarins, a group of natural secondary metabolites common in higher plants, are recognized for their benefits to human health and have been shown to have numerous biological properties. However, the knowledge of its biomolecular mechanism is not known. One of the main furanocoumarins is bergamottin (BGM), which is characterized by a planar three-ringed structure and a hydrocarbon chain, which give BGM its high lipid/water partition coefficient. Because of that, and although the biological mechanism of BGM is not known, BGM bioactive properties could be ascribed to its potential to interact with the biological membrane, modulating its structure, changing its dynamics and at the same time that it might interact with lipids. For our goal, we have applied molecular dynamics to determine the position of BGM in a complex membrane and discern the possibility of certain interactions with membrane lipids. Our findings establish that BGM tends to locate in the middle of the hydrocarbon layer of the membrane, inserts in between the hydrocarbon chains of the phospholipids in an oblique position with respect to the membrane plane, increasing the fluidity of the membrane. Significantly, BGM tends to be surrounded by POPC molecules but exclude the molecule of CHOL. Outstandingly, BGM molecules associate spontaneously creating aggregates, which does not preclude them from interacting with and inserting into the membrane. The bioactive properties of BGM could be ascribed to its membranotropic effects and support the improvement of these molecules as therapeutic molecules, giving place to new opportunities for potential medical improvements.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Statins and angiogenesis in non-cardiovascular diseases

Statins inhibit HMG-CoA reductase by competitively inhibiting the active site of the enzyme, thus preventing cholesterol synthesis and reducing the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Many pleiotropic effects of statins have been demonstrated that can be either related or unrelated to their cholesterol-lowering ability. Among these effects are their proangiogenic and antiangiogenic properties that could offer new therapeutic applications. In this regard, pro- and anti-angiogenic properties of statins have been shown to be dose dependent. Statins also appear to have a variety of non-cardiovascular angiogenic effects in many diseases, some examples being ocular disease, brain disease, cancer, preeclampsia, diabetes and bone disease, which are discussed in this review using reports from in vitro and in vivo investigations.

In vitro and in vivo anti-lymphoma effects of Ophiorrhiza pumila extract

Background: Current therapeutic strategies on patients with lymphomas remains limited. Previously we found the suppressive effect of Ophiorrhiza pumila (OPE) on hepatocarcinoma. In present study, the effect of OPE on lymphoma in vitro and in vivo were investigated.

Methods: CCK-8 assay was applied to detect the effect of OPE on cell proliferation. Flow cytometry was used to analyze the effect of OPE on cell cycle distribution and apoptosis. Xenograft mouse model was conducted to determine the anti-tumor activity of OPE. TNUEL assay was performed to detect the apoptosis in tumor tissues. Western blot and immuno-histochemistry were used to determine protein expression.

Results: In vitro tests indicate that OPE suppressed A20 cell proliferation in a dose- and time-dependent manner. OPE treatment induced cell cycle arrest at S phase and elevated apoptosis in A20 cells. OPE displayed a significant inhibition in tumor growth in a mouse xenograft model. OPE promoted apoptosis of tumor cell in the mouse model Cleaved caspase 3 expression and Bax/Bcl2 ratio were also enhanced. In addition, OPE suppressed A20 cell viability partially by reducing phosphorylation of EGFR.

Conclusions: Our data showed that OPE suppressed the proliferation of lymphoma cells and promoted apoptosis in vitro and in vivo, which might be partially mediated by inactivating EGFR signaling.

Some Natural Photosensitizers and Their Medicinal Properties for Use in Photodynamic Therapy

Despite significant advances in early diagnosis and treatment, cancer is one of the leading causes of death. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a therapy for the treatment of many diseases, including cancer. This therapy uses a combination of a photosensitizer (PS), light irradiation of appropriate length and molecular oxygen. The photodynamic effect kills cancer cells through apoptosis, necrosis, or autophagy of tumor cells. PDT is a promising approach for eliminating various cancers but is not yet as widely applied in therapy as conventional chemotherapy. Currently, natural compounds with photosensitizing properties are being discovered and identified. A reduced toxicity to healthy tissues and a lower incidence of side effects inspires scientists to seek natural PS for PDT. In this review, several groups of compounds with photoactive properties are presented. The use of natural products has been shown to be a fruitful approach in the discovery of novel pharmaceuticals. This review focused on the anticancer activity of furanocoumarins, polyacetylenes, thiophenes, tolyporphins, curcumins, alkaloid and anthraquinones in relation to the light-absorbing properties. Attention will be paid to their phototoxic and anti-cancer effects on various types of cancer.

Bergamottin alleviates LPS-induced acute lung injury by inducing SIRT1 and suppressing NF-κB

Acute lung injury (ALI) is associated with a high mortality due to inflammatory cell infiltration and lung edema. The development of ALI commonly involves the activation of NF-κB. Since bergamottin is a natural furanocoumarin showing the ability to inhibit the activation of NF-κB, in this study we aimed to determine the effect of bergamottin on ALI. RAW264.7 mouse macrophages were pre-treated with bergamottin and then stimulated with LPS. Macrophage inflammatory responses were examined. Bergamottin (50 mg/kg body mass) was intraperitoneally administrated to mice 12 h before injection of LPS, and the effect of bergamottin on LPS-induced ALI was evaluated. Our results showed that LPS exposure led to increased production of TNF-α, IL-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), which was impaired by bergamottin pre-treatment. In vivo studies confirmed that bergamottin pre-treatment suppressed LPS-induced lung inflammation and edema and reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in lung tissues and bronchoalveolar lavage fluids. Mechanistically, bergamottin blocked LPS-induced activation of NF-κB signaling in lung tissues. Additionally, bergamottin treatment reduced NF-κB p65 protein acetylation, which was coupled with induction of SIRT1 expression. In conclusion, our results reveal the anti-inflammatory property of bergamottin in preventing ALI. Induction of SIRT1 and inhibition of NF-κB underlies the anti-inflammatory activity of bergamottin.

Bergamottin protects against LPS-induced endotoxic shock by regulating the NF-κB signaling pathway

Bergamottin is a natural furanocoumarin compound that possesses antioxidative and anti-cancer properties; however, the effect of Bergamottin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation response is unknown. In this study, we investigated the protective effects and mechanisms of Bergamottin against LPS-induced inflammatory responses.Raw264.7 cells were pre-treated with Bergamottin, then stimulated with LPS. Morphologic analysis and flow cytometry were used to measure Bergamottin-related cytotoxicity. ELISA and qPCR were performed to measure secretion and transcription activities of inflammatory cytokines. Biochemical analysis was used to determine the expression of tissues damage indicators. Western blots were used to determine protein expression, and immunofluorescence staining was used to determine the co-localization of NF-κB and RelA. Hematoxylin and eosin staining was used to show the pathological damages.Bergamottin had no cytotoxic effects on Raw264.7 cells. Pre-treatment with Bergamottin inhibited inflammatory cytokines expression and secretion induced by LPS, due to the inhibition of LPS-induced NF-κB signaling pathway activation, and improved pathological damages. These findings suggest that Bergamottin protects against LPS-induced endotoxin shock by regulating the NF-κB signaling pathway.

Bergamottin a CYP3A inhibitor found in grapefruit juice inhibits prostate cancer cell growth by downregulating androgen receptor signaling and promoting G0/G1 cell cycle block and apoptosis

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related death in American men. Several therapies have been developed to treat advanced prostate cancer, but these therapies often have severe side effects. To improve the outcome with fewer side effects we focused on the furanocoumarin bergamottin, a natural product found in grapefruit juice and a potent CYP3A inhibitor. Our recent studies have shown that CYP3A5 inhibition can block androgen receptor (AR) signaling, critical for prostate cancer growth. We observed that bergamottin reduces prostate cancer (PC) cell growth by decreasing both total and nuclear AR (AR activation) reducing downstream AR signaling. Bergamottin’s role in reducing AR activation was confirmed by confocal microscopy studies and reduction in prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels, which is a marker for prostate cancer. Further studies revealed that bergamottin promotes cell cycle block and accumulates G0/G1 cells. The cell cycle block was accompanied with reduction in cyclin D, cyclin B, CDK4, P-cdc2 (Y15) and P-wee1 (S642). We also observed that bergamottin triggers apoptosis in prostate cancer cell lines as evident by TUNEL staining and PARP cleavage. Our data suggests that bergamottin may suppress prostate cancer growth, especially in African American (AA) patients carrying wild type CYP3A5 often presenting aggressive disease.

Statins: a repurposed drug to fight cancer

As competitive HMG-CoA reductase (HMGCR) inhibitors, statins not only reduce cholesterol and improve cardiovascular risk, but also exhibit pleiotropic effects that are independent of their lipid-lowering effects. Among them, the anti-cancer properties of statins have attracted much attention and indicated the potential of statins as repurposed drugs for the treatment of cancer. A large number of clinical and epidemiological studies have described the anticancer properties of statins, but the evidence for anticancer effectiveness of statins is inconsistent. It may be that certain molecular subtypes of cancer are more vulnerable to statin therapy than others. Whether statins have clinical anticancer effects is still an active area of research. Statins appear to enhance the efficacy and address the shortcomings associated with conventional cancer treatments, suggesting that statins should be considered in the context of combined therapies for cancer. Here, we present a comprehensive review of the potential of statins in anti-cancer treatments. We discuss the current understanding of the mechanisms underlying the anti-cancer properties of statins and their effects on different malignancies. We also provide recommendations for the design of future well-designed clinical trials of the anti-cancer efficacy of statins.

Bergamottin Induces DNA Damage and Inhibits Malignant Progression in Melanoma by Modulating miR-145/Cyclin D1 Axis

Background

Melanoma is a prevalent skin cancer with the high rate of metastasis and mortality, affecting the increasing number of people worldwide. Bergamottin (BGM) is a natural furanocoumarin derived from grapefruits and presents the potential anti-cancer activity in several tumor models. However, the role of BGM in the development of melanoma remains unclear. Here, we aimed to explore the effect of BGM on the DNA damage and progression of melanoma.

Methods

The effect of BGM on the melanoma progression was analyzed by CCK-8 assays, colony formation assays, transwell assays, Annexin V-FITC Apoptosis Detection Kit, cell-cycle analysis, in vivo tumorigenicity analysis. The mechanism investigation was performed using luciferase reporter gene assays, qPCR assays, and Western blot analysis.

Results

We identified that BGM repressed cell proliferation, migration, and invasion of melanoma cells. BGM induced cell cycle arrest at the G0/G1 phase and enhanced apoptosis of melanoma cells. The DNA damage in the melanoma cells was stimulated by the BGM treatment. Meanwhile, BGM was able to up-regulate the expression of miR-145 and miR-145 targeted Cyclin D1 in the melanoma cells. Furthermore, BGM inhibited the progression of melanoma by targeting miR-145/Cyclin D1 axis in vitro. BGM attenuated the tumor growth of melanoma in vivo.

Conclusion

Thus, we conclude that BGM induces DNA damage and inhibits tumor progression in melanoma by modulating the miR-145/Cyclin D1 axis. Our finding provides new insights into the mechanism by which BGM modulates the development of melanoma. BGM may be applied as a potential anti-tumor candidate for the clinical treatment of melanoma.

Role of Photoactive Phytocompounds in Photodynamic Therapy of Cancer

Cancer is one of the greatest life-threatening diseases conventionally treated using chemo- and radio-therapy. Photodynamic therapy (PDT) is a promising approach to eradicate different types of cancers. PDT requires the administration of photosensitisers (PSs) and photoactivation using a specific wavelength of light in the presence of molecular oxygen. This photoactivation exerts an anticancer effect via apoptosis, necrosis, and autophagy of cancer cells. Recently, various natural compounds that exhibit photosensitising potentials have been identified. Photoactive substances derived from medicinal plants have been found to be safe in comparison with synthetic compounds. Many articles have focused on PDT mechanisms and types of PSs, but limited attention has been paid to the phototoxic activities of phytocompounds. The reduced toxicity and side effects of natural compounds inspire the researchers to identify and use plant extracts or phytocompounds as a potent natural PS candidate for PDT. This review focusses on the importance of common photoactive groups (furanocoumarins, polyacetylenes, thiophenes, curcumins, alkaloids, and anthraquinones), their phototoxic effects, anticancer activity and use as a potent PS for an effective PDT outcome in the treatment of various cancers.

Anticancer Potential of Furanocoumarins: Mechanistic and Therapeutic Aspects

Cancer is one of the most extreme medical conditions in both developing and developed countries around the world, causing millions of deaths each year. Chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy are key for treatment approaches, but both have numerous adverse health effects. Furthermore, the resistance of cancerous cells to anticancer medication leads to treatment failure. The rising burden of cancer overall requires novel efficacious treatment modalities. Natural medications offer feasible alternative options against malignancy in contrast to western medication. Furanocoumarins' defensive and restorative impacts have been observed in leukemia, glioma, breast, lung, renal, liver, colon, cervical, ovarian, and prostate malignancies. Experimental findings have shown that furanocoumarins activate multiple signaling pathways, leading to apoptosis, autophagy, antioxidant, antimetastatic, and cell cycle arrest in malignant cells. Additionally, furanocoumarins have been shown to have chemo preventive and chemotherapeutic synergistic potential when used in combination with other anticancer drugs. Here, we address different pathways which are activated by furanocoumarins and their therapeutic efficacy in various tumors. Ideally, this review will trigger interest in furanocoumarins and their potential efficacy and safety as a cancer lessening agents.

Long noncoding RNA LINC01234 silencing exerts an anti-oncogenic effect in esophageal cancer cells through microRNA-193a-5p-mediated CCNE1 downregulation

BACKGROUND

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are transcribed pervasively in the genome and act to regulate chromatin remodeling and gene expression. Dysregulated lncRNA expression has been reported in many cancers, but the role of lncRNAs in esophageal cancer (EC) has so far remained poorly understood. In this study, we aimed to understand the effect of lncRNA LINC01234 on EC development through competitively binding to microRNA-193a-5p (miR-193a-5p).

METHODS

The Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database was used for microarray-based EC expression profiling. Gain- and loss-of-function analyses were carried out in human EC-derived Eca-109 and EC9706 cells. Expression analyses of miR-193a-5p, LINC01234, CCNE1, caspase-3, p21, Bax, cyclinD1 and Bcl-2 were performed using RT-qPCR and Western blotting. Cell proliferation, colony formation and apoptosis analyses were carried out using MTT, Hoechst 33258 and flow cytometry assays. A xenograft EC model in nude mice was used to evaluate in vivo tumor growth and CCNE1 expression.

RESULTS

Microarray-based analyses revealed that LINC01234 expression was increased in primary EC samples, whereas that of miR-193a-5p was decreased. We found that CCNE1 was a target of miR-193a-5p and that LINC01234, in turn, sponges miR-193a-5p. After treatment with si-LINC01234 or miR-193a-5p mimic, EC cells (Eca-109 and EC9706) exhibited cyclinD1 and Bcl-2 downregulation, and caspase-3, p21, Bax and cleaved caspase-3 upregulation. LINC01234 silencing or miR-193a-5p upregulation resulted in decreased proliferation and colony formation, and increased apoptosis of EC cells. In addition, LINC01234 silencing or miR-193a-5p upregulation resulted in reduced in vivo EC tumor growth and CCNE1 expression in nude mice.

CONCLUSIONS

We found that silencing of LINC01234 suppresses EC development by inhibiting CCNE1 through competitively binding to miR-193a-5p, which suggests that LINC01234 may represent a novel target for EC therapy.

Synthesis of Spin-Labelled Bergamottin: A Potent CYP3A4 Inhibitor with Antiproliferative Activity

Bergamottin (BM, 1), a component of grapefruit juice, acts as an inhibitor of some isoforms of the cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme, particularly CYP3A4. Herein, a new bergamottin containing a nitroxide moiety (SL-bergamottin, SL-BM, 10) was synthesized; chemically characterized, evaluated as a potential inhibitor of the CYP2C19, CYP3A4, and CYP2C9 enzymes; and compared to BM and known inhibitors such as ketoconazole (KET) (3A4), warfarin (WAR) (2C9), and ticlopidine (TIC) (2C19). The antitumor activity of the new SL-bergamottin was also investigated. Among the compounds studied, BM showed the strongest inhibition of the CYP2C9 and 2C19 enzymes. SL-BM is a more potent inhibitor of CYP3A4 than the parent compound; this finding was also supported by docking studies, suggesting that the binding positions of BM and SL-BM to the active site of CYP3A4 are very similar, but that SL-BM had a better ∆G_bind value than that of BM. The nitroxide moiety markedly increased the antitumor activity of BM toward HeLa cells and marginally increased its toxicity toward a normal cell line. In conclusion, modification of the geranyl sidechain of BM can result in new CYP3A4 enzyme inhibitors with strong antitumor effects.

Identification of key candidate targets and pathways for the targeted treatment of leukemia stem cells of chronic myelogenous leukemia using bioinformatics analysis

Background

Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) is a myeloproliferative neoplasm that arises from the acquisition of constitutively active BCR‐ABL tyrosine kinase in hematopoietic stem cells. The persistence of bone marrow leukemia stem cells (LSCs) is the main cause of TKI resistance and CML relapse. Therefore, finding a key target or pathway to selectively target LSCs is of great significance for the thorough treatment of CML.

Methods

In this study, we aimed to identify key microRNAs, microRNA targets and pathways for the treatment of CML LSCs by integrating analyses of three microarray data profiles. We identified 51 differentially expressed microRNAs through integrated analysis of GSE90773 and performed functional gene predictions for microRNAs. Then, GSE11889 and GSE11675 were integrated to obtain differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and the overlapping DEGs were used as models to identify predictive functional genes. Finally, we identified 116 predictive functional genes. Clustering and significant enrichment analysis of 116 genes was based on function and signaling pathways. Subsequently, a protein interaction network was constructed, and module analysis and topology analysis were performed on the network.

Results

A total of 11 key candidate targets and 33 corresponding microRNAs were identified. The key pathways were mainly concentrated on the PI3K/AKT, Ras, JAK/STAT, FoxO and Notch signaling pathways. We also found that LSCs negatively regulated endogenous and exogenous apoptotic pathways to escape from apoptosis.

Conclusion

We identified key candidate targets and pathways for CML LSCs through bioinformatics methods, which improves our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of CML LSCs. These candidate genes and pathways may be therapeutic targets for CML LSCs.

Botanical Sources, Chemistry, Analysis, and Biological Activity of Furanocoumarins of Pharmaceutical Interest

The aim of this work is to provide a critical review of plant furanocoumarins from different points of view, including their chemistry and biosynthetic pathways to their extraction, analysis, and synthesis, to the main biological activities found for these active compounds, in order to highlight their potential within pharmaceutical science. The limits and the possible improvements needed for research involving these molecules are also highlighted and discussed.

Biomolecular Targets of Oxyprenylated Phenylpropanoids and Polyketides

Oxyprenylated secondary metabolites (e.g. phenylpropanoids and polyketides) represent a rare class of natural compounds. Over the past two decades, this group of phytochemicals has become a topic of intense research activity by several teams worldwide due to their in vitro and in vivo pharmacological activities, and to their great therapeutic and nutraceutical potential for the chemoprevention of acute and chronic diseases affecting humans. Such investigations have provided evidence that oxyprenylated secondary metabolites are able to interact with several biological targets at different levels accounting for their observed anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, immunomodulatory, antihypertensive, and metabolic effects. The aim of the present contribution is to provide a detailed survey of the so far reported data on the capacities of selected oxyprenylated phenylpropanoids and polyketides to trigger receptors, enzymes, and other types of cellular factors for which they exhibit a high degree of affinity and therefore evoke specific responses. With respect to the rather small amounts of these compounds available from natural sources, their chemical synthesis is also highlighted.

Pharmacological Utilization of Bergamottin, Derived from Grapefruits, in Cancer Prevention and Therapy

Cancer still remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide. In spite of significant advances in treatment options and the advent of novel targeted therapies, there still remains an unmet need for the identification of novel pharmacological agents for cancer therapy. This has led to several studies evaluating the possible application of natural agents found in vegetables, fruits, or plant-derived products that may be useful for cancer treatment. Bergamottin is a furanocoumarin derived from grapefruits and is also a well-known cytochrome P450 inhibitor. Recent studies have demonstrated potent anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer properties of grapefruit furanocoumarin both in vitro and in vivo. The present review focuses on the potential anti-neoplastic effects of bergamottin in different tumor models and briefly describes the molecular targets affected by this agent.

Bergamottin Suppresses Metastasis of Lung Cancer Cells through Abrogation of Diverse Oncogenic Signaling Cascades and Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition

Bergamottin (BGM) is a naturally occurring furanocoumarin and is known to inhibit the growth of tumor cells. However, there is no available evidence that BGM has an inhibitory effect on cancer metastasis, specifically on the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process in the malignant cells. Here we aimed to evaluate the antimetastatic potential of BGM in human lung adenocarcinoma cells. Our results demonstrate that BGM can block EMT, and observed inhibition was accompanied by downregulation of fibronectin, vimentin, N-cadherin, twist and snail expression, and upregulation of occludin and E-cadherin. Interestingly, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)-induced upregulation of fibronectin, vimentin, N-cadherin, twist and snail, and downregulation of occludin and E-cadherin, were abrogated by BGM treatment. Moreover, the treatment of BGM repressed TGF-β-induced cell invasive potential. BGM treatment also inhibited multiple oncogenic cascades such as PI3K/Akt/mTOR. Overall, the results demonstrate the potential antimetastatic activity of BGM against lung cancer cells.

Bergamottin Inhibits Adipogenesis in 3T3-L1 Cells and Weight Regulation in Diet-Induced Obese Mice

Obesity is a serious and increasing health problem worldwide, and the inhibition of adipogenesis is considered to be a potential therapeutic target for it. Bergamottin (BGM), a component of grapefruit juice, has been reported to regulate lipolysis. However, the physiological role of BGM in obesity has not been evaluated so far. In the present study, we investigated the effects of BGM on obesity in 3T3-L1 cells and in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD). BGM inhibited adipogenic differentiation of 3T3-L1 cells along with a significant decrease in the lipid content by downregulating the expression of two critical adipogenic factors, CCAAT enhancer-binding protein-alpha (C/EBP[Formula: see text]) and peroxisome proliferator activated receptor-gamma (PPAR[Formula: see text]). The expressions of target proteins such as adipocyte fatty acid-binding protein (aP2), adiponectin, and resistin were also decreased by BGM. It activated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) by increasing phosphorylation of AMPK and the downstream target acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), indicating that BGM exerted its antiadipogenic effect through AMPK activation. In the HFD-induced obese mouse model, BGM administration significantly reduced the weight and sizes of white adipose tissue as well as the weight gain of mice fed HFD. Moreover, UCP1 and PGC1[Formula: see text] expressions, well-known as brown adipocyte marker genes, were higher in the BGM-treated HFD mice than that in the HFD-induced obese mice. This study suggests that BGM suppress adipogenesis by AMPK activation in vitro and reduces body weight in vivo.

Bergamottin, a natural furanocoumarin abundantly present in grapefruit juice, suppresses the invasiveness of human glioma cells via inactivation of Rac1 signaling

The aim of the present study was to explore the effect of bergamottin, a natural furanocoumarin obtained from grapefruit juice, on the invasiveness of human glioma cells. The results revealed that treatment with bergamottin for 48 h significantly inhibited wound-healing migration and Matrigel invasion of human glioma cells, compared with untreated cells (P<0.05). Bergamottin treatment caused a significant decrease in the expression and secretion of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 in glioma cells compared with untreated cells (P<0.05). A Rac1-GTP pull-down assay demonstrated that bergamottin-treated glioma cells had a significantly decreased level of active Rac1-GTP compared with untreated cells (P<0.05). However, bergamottin had no significant effect on cell division cycle 42 activity. Expression of constitutively activated Rac1 almost completely restored the migration and invasion of bergamottin-treated glioma cells. In addition, bergamottin-induced downregulation of MMP-9 was prevented by exogenous activated Rac1. The results of the present study demonstrated that bergamottin exhibits anti-invasive activity in human glioma cells through the inactivation of Rac1 and downregulation of MMP-9.

Capsazepine inhibits JAK/STAT3 signaling, tumor growth, and cell survival in prostate cancer

Persistent STAT3 activation is seen in many tumor cells and promotes malignant transformation. Here, we investigated whether capsazepine (Capz), a synthetic analogue of capsaicin, exerts anticancer effects by inhibiting STAT3 activation in prostate cancer cells. Capz inhibited both constitutive and induced STAT3 activation in human prostate carcinoma cells. Capz also inhibited activation of the upstream kinases JAK1/2 and c-Src. The phosphatase inhibitor pervanadate reversed Capz-induced STAT3 inhibition, indicating that the effect of Capz depends on a protein tyrosine phosphatase. Capz treatment increased PTPε protein and mRNA levels. Moreover, siRNA-mediated knockdown of PTPε reversed the Capz-induced induction of PTPε and inhibition of STAT3 activation, indicating that PTPε is crucial for Capz-dependent STAT3 dephosphorylation. Capz also decreased levels of the protein products of various oncogenes, which in turn inhibited proliferation and invasion and induced apoptosis. Finally, intraperitoneal Capz administration decreased tumor growth in a xenograft mouse prostate cancer model and reduced p-STAT3 and Ki-67 expression. These data suggest that Capz is a novel pharmacological inhibitor of STAT3 activation with several anticancer effects in prostate cancer cells.

Bortezomib as a new therapeutic approach for blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm is an aggressive hematologic malignancy with a poor prognosis. No consensus regarding optimal treatment modalities is currently available. Targeting the nuclear factor-kappa B pathway is considered a promising approach since blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm has been reported to exhibit constitutive activation of this pathway. Moreover, nuclear factor-kappa B inhibition in blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm cell lines, achieved using either an experimental specific inhibitor JSH23 or the clinical drug bortezomib, interferes in vitro with leukemic cell proliferation and survival. Here we extended these data by showing that primary blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm cells from seven patients were sensitive to bortezomib-induced cell death. We confirmed that bortezomib efficiently inhibits the phosphorylation of the RelA nuclear factor-kappa B subunit in blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm cell lines and primary cells from patients in vitro and in vivo in a mouse model. We then demonstrated that bortezomib can be associated with other drugs used in different chemotherapy regimens to improve its impact on leukemic cell death. Indeed, when primary blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm cells from a patient were grafted into mice, bortezomib treatment significantly increased the animals’ survival, and was associated with a significant decrease of circulating leukemic cells and RelA nuclear factor-kappa B subunit expression. Overall, our results provide a rationale for the use of bortezomib in combination with other chemotherapy for the treatment of patients with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm. Based on our data, a prospective clinical trial combining proteasome inhibitor with classical drugs could be envisaged.

Chemistry and health effects of furanocoumarins in grapefruit

Furanocoumarins are a specific group of secondary metabolites that commonly present in higher plants, such as citrus plants. The major furanocoumarins found in grapefruits (Citrus paradisi) include bergamottin, epoxybergamottin, and 6′,7′-dihydroxybergamottin. During biosynthesis of these furanocoumarins, coumarins undergo biochemical modifications corresponding to a prenylation reaction catalyzed by the cytochrome P450 enzymes with the subsequent formation of furan rings. Because of undesirable interactions with several medications, many studies have developed methods for grapefruit furanocoumarin quantification that include high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with UV detector or mass spectrometry. The distribution of furanocoumarins in grapefruits is affected by several environmental conditions, such as processing techniques, storage temperature, and packing materials. In the past few years, grapefruit furanocoumarins have been demonstrated to exhibit several biological activities including antioxidative, -inflammatory, and -cancer activities as well as bone health promotion both in vitro and in vivo. Notably, furanocoumarins potently exerted antiproliferative activities against cancer cell growth through modulation of several molecular pathways, such as regulation of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, nuclear factor-κB, phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/AKT, and mitogen-activated protein kinase expression. Therefore, based on this review, we suggest furanocoumarins may serve as bioactive components that contribute, at least in part, to the health benefits of grapefruit.