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Yang C, Wei W, Hu F, Zhao X, Yang H, Song X, Sun Z. Dihydroartemisinin suppresses the tumorigenesis of esophageal carcinoma by elevating DAB2IP expression in a NFIC-dependent manner. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2024:10.1007/s00210-024-03163-y. [PMID: 38789636 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-024-03163-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024]
Abstract
Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) has been identified to have the anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities. Disabled homolog 2 interacting protein (DAB2IP) is a well-recognized tumor suppressor. Both DHA and DAB2IP were proven to have suppressing effects on esophageal carcinoma (ESCA) tumorigenesis. However, whether DHA regulated ESCA cells via DAB2IP and its mechanism are still vague. Functional analyses were conducted using MTT, tube formation, sphere formation, and transwell assays in vitro as well as Tumor formation experiments in mice. Levels of genes and proteins were assayed by qRT-PCR and western blotting analyses. The interaction between DAB2IP and Nuclear Factor I C (NFIC) was confirmed using bioinformatics analysis and dual-luciferase reporter assay. DHA treatment suppressed ESCA cell angiogenesis, stemmess, migration, and invasion. DAB2IP level was decreased in ESCA tissues and cells, and DHA elevated DAB2IP expression in ESCA cells. Functionally, DAB2IP overexpression impaired ESCA cell angiogenesis, stemmess, migration and invasion. Mechanistically, NFIC had binding sites on the promoter region and directly targeted DAB2IP. DHA could up-regulate DAB2IP expression via NFIC. Moreover, NFIC was also decreased in ESCA tissues and cells, and its overexpression had anticancer activity in ESCA cells. In addition, DAB2IP knockdown reversed the anticancer effects of NFIC or DHA on ESCA cells. In further in vivo analysis, DHA also suppressed ESCA growth by regulating DAB2IP expression. DHA suppressed the tumorigenesis of ESCA by elevating DAB2IP expression in an NFIC-dependent manner, suggesting the potential clinical application of DHA in ESCA treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Yang
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and Science, No.136, Jingzhou Street, Xiangcheng District, Xiangyang City, 441021, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Wei
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and Science, No.136, Jingzhou Street, Xiangcheng District, Xiangyang City, 441021, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Fen Hu
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and Science, No.136, Jingzhou Street, Xiangcheng District, Xiangyang City, 441021, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Xing Zhao
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and Science, No.136, Jingzhou Street, Xiangcheng District, Xiangyang City, 441021, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Hanxue Yang
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and Science, No.136, Jingzhou Street, Xiangcheng District, Xiangyang City, 441021, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiujun Song
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and Science, No.136, Jingzhou Street, Xiangcheng District, Xiangyang City, 441021, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhihua Sun
- Department of Thoracic Oncology, Xiangyang Central Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Arts and Science, No.136, Jingzhou Street, Xiangcheng District, Xiangyang City, 441021, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China.
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2
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Luo Y, Zhang J, Jiao Y, Huang H, Ming L, Song Y, Niu Y, Tang X, Liu L, Li Y, Jiang Y. Dihydroartemisinin abolishes cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in vivo. J Nat Med 2024; 78:439-454. [PMID: 38351420 DOI: 10.1007/s11418-024-01783-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Dihydroartemisinin (DHA), a derivative of artemisinin which is primarily used to treat malaria in clinic, also confers protective effect on lipopolysaccharide-induced nephrotoxicity. While, the activities of DHA in cisplatin (CDDP)-caused nephrotoxicity are elusive. To investigate the role and underlying mechanism of DHA in CDDP-induced nephrotoxicity. Mice were randomly separated into four groups: normal, CDDP, and DHA (25 and 50 mg/kg were orally injected 1 h before CDDP for consecutive 10 days). All mice except the normal were single injected intraperitoneally with CDDP (22 mg/kg) for once on the 7th day. Combined with quantitative proteomics and bioinformatics analysis, the impact of DHA on renal cell apoptosis, oxidative stress, biochemical indexes, and inflammation in mice were investigated. Moreover, a human hepatocellular carcinoma cells xenograft model was established to elucidate the impact of DHA on tumor-related effects of CDDP. DHA reduced the levels of creatinine (CREA) (p < 0.01) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) (p < 0.01), reversed CDDP-induced oxidative, inflammatory, and apoptosis indexes (p < 0.01). Mechanistically, DHA attenuated CDDP-induced inflammation by inhibiting nuclear factor κB p65 (NFκB p65) expression, and suppressed CDDP-induced renal cell apoptosis by inhibiting p63-mediated endogenous and exogenous apoptosis pathways. Additionally, DHA alone significantly decreased the tumor weight and did not destroy the antitumor effect of CDDP, and did not impact AST and ALT. In conclusion, DHA prevents CDDP-triggered nephrotoxicity via reducing inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis. The mechanisms refer to inhibiting NFκB p65-regulated inflammation and alleviating p63-mediated mitochondrial endogenous and Fas death receptor exogenous apoptosis pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Luo
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Biofabrication in Tissue Engineering of Jiangxi Province, School of Pharmacy, Scientific Research Center, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Jiaxing Zhang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yue Jiao
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine Basic Research On Prevention and Treatment of Major Diseases, Experimental Research Center, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hao Huang
- National Engineering Research Center for Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine-Hakka Medical Resources Branch, Gannan Medical University, Jiangxi, China
| | - Liangshan Ming
- Institute for Advanced Study, Jiangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangxi, China
| | - Yunlei Song
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Biofabrication in Tissue Engineering of Jiangxi Province, School of Pharmacy, Scientific Research Center, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, China
| | - Yanlong Niu
- National Engineering Research Center for Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine-Hakka Medical Resources Branch, Gannan Medical University, Jiangxi, China
| | - Xiaolu Tang
- Department of Human Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Science, Gannan Medical University, Jiangxi, China
| | - Liwei Liu
- Institute of Basic Research in Clinical Medicine, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Li
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, China.
| | - Yumao Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Prevention and Treatment of Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases, Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Biomaterials and Biofabrication in Tissue Engineering of Jiangxi Province, School of Pharmacy, Scientific Research Center, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, China.
- Artemisinin Research Center, and Institute of Chinese Materia Medical, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100700, China.
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3
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Cierpikowski P, Leszczyszyn A, Bar J. The Role of Hedgehog Signaling Pathway in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Cells 2023; 12:2083. [PMID: 37626893 PMCID: PMC10453169 DOI: 10.3390/cells12162083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth leading malignancy worldwide, with a poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Molecularly targeted therapies for HNSCC are still lacking. However, recent reports provide novel insights about many molecular alterations in HNSCC that may be useful in future therapies. Therefore, it is necessary to identify new biomarkers that may provide a better prediction of the disease and promising targets for personalized therapy. The poor response of HNSCC to therapy is attributed to a small population of tumor cells called cancer stem cells (CSCs). Growing evidence indicates that the Hedgehog (HH) signaling pathway plays a crucial role in the development and maintenance of head and neck tissues. The HH pathway is normally involved in embryogenesis, stem cell renewal, and tissue regeneration. However, abnormal activation of the HH pathway is also associated with carcinogenesis and CSC regulation. Overactivation of the HH pathway was observed in several tumors, including basal cell carcinoma, that are successfully treated with HH inhibitors. However, clinical studies about HH pathways in HNSCC are still rare. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge and recent advances regarding the HH pathway in HNSCC and discuss its possible implications for prognosis and future therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piotr Cierpikowski
- Department of Maxillofacial Surgery, The Ludwik Rydygier Specialist Hospital, Osiedle Zlotej Jesieni 1, 31-826 Krakow, Poland
| | - Anna Leszczyszyn
- Dental Surgery Outpatient Clinic, 4th Military Clinical Hospital, Weigla 5, 53-114 Wroclaw, Poland;
| | - Julia Bar
- Department of Immunopathology and Molecular Biology, Wroclaw Medical University, Bujwida 44, 50-345 Wroclaw, Poland
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Miao Y, Wang X, Lai Y, Huang Y, Yin H, Meng X, Liu H, Hou R, Lin W, Zhang X, Zhang X, Chai BC, Zhang F, Guo L, Yang S. Targeting the mitochondrial calcium uniporter inhibits cancer progression and alleviates cisplatin resistance in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Int J Oncol 2023; 63:82. [PMID: 37264968 PMCID: PMC10552700 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2023.5530] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Cisplatin is the standard chemotherapeutic drug used for the treatment of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Acquired cisplatin resistance is the primary obstacle to prolonging patient survival time. Here, the therapeutic effects of mitochondrial calcium uniporter (MCU) inhibition on tumor growth and cisplatin resistance in ESCC were assessed. MCU was stably overexpressed or knocked down in three ESCC cell lines and three cisplatin‑resistant ESCC cell lines. Then, proliferation, migration, and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) were measured by colony formation, wound healing, Transwell, and JC‑1 staining assays. MCU, MICU2, MICU1, and PD‑L1 levels were detected through western blotting and immunofluorescence. ESCC and cisplatin‑resistant ESCC xenograft mouse models were established. After MCU knockdown, tumor volume was measured. The expression levels of proliferation markers (CyclinD1 and Ki‑67), MICU1/2, PD‑L1, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers (vimentin, β‑catenin, and E‑cadherin), and the angiogenesis marker CD34 were detected through western blotting, immunohistochemistry, or immunofluorescence. The results showed that MCU overexpression significantly promoted proliferation, migration, and MMP in ESCC cells and cisplatin‑resistant ESCC cells. However, proliferation, migration, and MMP were suppressed following MCU knockdown. In ESCC cells, MCU overexpression markedly increased MICU2, MICU1, and PD‑L1 levels, and the opposite results were observed when MCU was stably knocked down. Similarly, MCU inhibition decreased MICU2, MICU1, and PD‑L1 expression in cisplatin‑resistant ESCC cells. Moreover, MCU knockdown substantially decreased tumor growth, EMT, and angiogenesis in ESCC and cisplatin‑resistant ESCC xenograft mice. Collectively, targeting MCU may inhibit cancer progression and alleviate cisplatin resistance in ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Miao
- Department of Gastroenterology, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region 750004
| | - Xiaofei Wang
- Pathology Department, North China University of Science and Technology Affiliated Hospital, Tangshan, Hebie 063000
| | - Yafang Lai
- Department of Gastroenterology, Ordos Central Hospital, Ordos, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region 017000
| | - Ying Huang
- Department of Gastroenterology, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region 750004
| | - Hua Yin
- Department of Gastroenterology, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region 750004
| | - Xiangkun Meng
- Department of Gastroenterology, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region 750004
| | - Hao Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region 750004
| | - Ruirui Hou
- Department of Gastroenterology, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region 750004
| | - Wan Lin
- Department of Gastroenterology, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region 750004
| | - Xiaoxu Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region 750004
| | - Xu Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region 750004
| | - Bei Cho Chai
- Department of Gastroenterology, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region 750004
| | - Feixiong Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region 750004
| | - Le Guo
- Department of Medical Laboratory, School of Clinical Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region 750004, P.R. China
| | - Shaoqi Yang
- Department of Gastroenterology, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region 750004
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5
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Wang H. Network pharmacology- and molecular docking-based approaches to unveil the pharmacological mechanisms of dihydroartemisinin against esophageal carcinoma. Front Genet 2022; 13:1017520. [PMID: 36506308 PMCID: PMC9732420 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.1017520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) is an active metabolite of artemisinin and its derivatives, which is a potent drug extensively applied in clinical treatment of malaria. The antitumor properties of DHA have received increasing attention. However, there is no systematic summary on the pharmacological mechanisms of DHA against esophageal carcinoma (ESCA). The present study implemented network pharmacology- and molecular docking-based approaches to unveil the pharmacological mechanisms of DHA against ESCA. Methods: DHA targets were accessed through integrating the SwissTargetPrediction, HERB, as well as BATMAN-TCM platforms. In TCGA-ESCA dataset, genes with differential expression were screened between 161 ESCA and 11 normal tissue specimens. DHA targets against ESCA were obtained through intersection. Their biological significance was evaluated with functional enrichment analysis. A prognostic signature was established via uni- and multivariate cox regression analyses. DHA-target interactions were predicted via molecular docking. Molecular dynamics simulation was implemented to examine the stability of DHA binding to potential targets. Results: The study predicted 160 DHA targets as well as 821 genes with differential expression in ESCA. Afterwards, 16 DHA targets against ESCA were obtained, which remarkably correlated to cell cycle progression. The ADORA2B- and AURKA-based prognostic signature exhibited the reliability and independency in survival prediction. The stable docking of DHA-ADORA2B and DHA-AURKA was confirmed. Conclusion: Collectively, this study systematically revealed the basis and mechanism of DHA against ESCA through targeting multi-target and multi-pathway mechanisms, and thus offered theoretical and scientific basis for the clinical application of DHA.
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6
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Wong KH, Yang D, Chen S, He C, Chen M. Development of Nanoscale Drug Delivery Systems of Dihydroartemisinin for Cancer Therapy: A Review. Asian J Pharm Sci 2022; 17:475-490. [PMID: 36105316 PMCID: PMC9459003 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajps.2022.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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7
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Jiang M, Wu Y, Qi L, Li L, Song D, Gan J, Li Y, Ling X, Song C. Dihydroartemisinin mediating PKM2-caspase-8/3-GSDME axis for pyroptosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Chem Biol Interact 2021; 350:109704. [PMID: 34655567 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2021.109704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Pyroptosis is a novel type of pro-inflammatory programmed cell death that has been strongly reported to be related to inflammation, immune, and cancer. Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) has good anti-tumor properties. However, the exact mechanism by which DHA induces pyroptosis to inhibit esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unclear. After applying DHA treatment to ESCC, we found that some dying cells exhibited the characteristic morphology of pyroptosis, such as blowing large bubbles from the cell membrane, accompanied by downregulation of pyruvate kinase isoform M2 (PKM2), activation of caspase-8/3, and production of GSDME-NT. Meanwhile, it was accompanied by an increased release of LDH and inflammatory factors (IL-18 and IL-1β). Both knockdown of GSDME and application of caspase-8/3 specific inhibitors (z-ITED-FMK/Ac-DEVD-CHO) significantly inhibited DHA-induced pyroptosis. However, the former did not affect the activation of caspase-3. In contrast, overexpression of PKM2 inhibited caspase-8/3 activation as well as GSDME-N production. Furthermore, both si-GSDME and OE-PKM2 inhibited DHA-induced pyroptosis in vivo and in vitro. Therefore, the results suggest that DHA can induce pyroptosis of ESCC cells via the PKM2-caspase-8/3-GSDME pathway. Implication: In this study, we identified new mechanism of DHA in inhibiting ESCC development and progression, and provide a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingxia Jiang
- Department of Gastroenterology Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, 150 Haping St, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150081, PR China
| | - Yiming Wu
- Department of Gastroenterology Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, 150 Haping St, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150081, PR China
| | - Ling Qi
- Department of Gastroenterology Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, 150 Haping St, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150081, PR China
| | - Lisha Li
- Department of Gastroenterology Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, 150 Haping St, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150081, PR China
| | - Dongfeng Song
- Department of Gastroenterology Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, 150 Haping St, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150081, PR China
| | - Junqing Gan
- Department of Gastroenterology Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, 150 Haping St, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150081, PR China
| | - Yanjing Li
- Department of Gastroenterology Oncology, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, 150 Haping St, Nangang District, Harbin, Heilongjiang, 150081, PR China.
| | - Xiaodong Ling
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150081, China.
| | - Chengxin Song
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Harbin Medical University Cancer Hospital, Harbin, 150081, China.
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Li Q, Ma Q, Xu L, Gao C, Yao L, Wen J, Yang M, Cheng J, Zhou X, Zou J, Zhong X, Guo X. Human Telomerase Reverse Transcriptase as a Therapeutic Target of Dihydroartemisinin for Esophageal Squamous Cancer. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:769787. [PMID: 34744749 PMCID: PMC8569230 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.769787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: To elucidate the oncogenic role of human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) in esophageal squamous cancer and unravel the therapeutic role and molecular mechanism of dihydroartemisinin (DHA) by targeting hTERT. Methods: The expression of hTERT in esophageal squamous cancer and the patients prognosis were analyzed by bioinformatic analysis from TCGA database, and further validated with esophageal squamous cancer tissues in our cohort. The Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8) and colony formation assay were used to evaluate the proliferation of esophageal squamous cancer cell lines (Eca109, KYSE150, and TE1) after hTERT overexpression or treated with indicated concentrations of DHA. Transwell migration assay and scratch assay were employed to determine the migration abilities of cancer cells. Fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry were conducted to measure the intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in cancer cells after treated with DHA. Moreover, RT-PCR and Western blot were performed to test the alteration of associated genes on mRNA and protein level in DHA treated esophageal squamous cancer cell lines, respectively. Furthermore, tumor-bearing nude mice were employed to evaluate the anticancer effect of DHA in vivo. Results: We found that hTERT was significantly upregulated in esophageal squamous cancer both from TCGA database and our cohort also. Overexpression of hTERT evidently promoted the proliferation and migration of esophageal squamous cancer cells in vitro. Moreover, DHA could significantly inhibit the proliferation and migration of esophageal cancer cell lines Eca109, KYSE150, and TE1 in vitro, and significantly down-regulate the expression of hTERT on both mRNA and protein level in a time- and dose-dependent manner as well. Further studies showed that DHA could induce intracellular ROS production in esophageal cancer cells and down-regulate SP1 expression, a transcription factor that bound to the promoter region of hTERT gene. Moreover, overexpression of SP1 evidently promoted the proliferation and migration of Eca109 and TE1 cells. Intriguingly, rescue experiments showed that inhibiting ROS by NAC alleviated the downregulation of SP1 and hTERT in cells treated with DHA. Furthermore, overexpression of SP1 or hTERT could attenuate the inhibition effect of DHA on the proliferation and migration of Eca109 cells. In tumor-bearing nude mice model, DHA significantly inhibited the growth of esophageal squamous cancer xenografts, and downregulated the expression of SP1 and hTERT protein, while no side effects were observed from heart, kidney, liver, and lung tissues by HE stain. Conclusion: hTERT plays an oncogenic role in esophageal squamous cancer and might be a therapeutic target of DHA through regulating ROS/SP1 pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingrong Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China.,Translational Medicine Research Center, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China
| | - Qiang Ma
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China.,Translational Medicine Research Center, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China
| | - Lei Xu
- Translational Medicine Research Center, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China
| | - Chuanli Gao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China.,Translational Medicine Research Center, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China
| | - Lihua Yao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China.,Translational Medicine Research Center, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China
| | - Jilin Wen
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China.,Translational Medicine Research Center, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China
| | - Miyuan Yang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China.,Translational Medicine Research Center, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China
| | - Jibing Cheng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China.,Translational Medicine Research Center, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China
| | - Xi Zhou
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China.,Translational Medicine Research Center, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China
| | - Jiang Zou
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China.,Translational Medicine Research Center, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China
| | - Xiaowu Zhong
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China.,Translational Medicine Research Center, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China
| | - Xiaolan Guo
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China.,Translational Medicine Research Center, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, China
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Yu R, Jin G, Fujimoto M. Dihydroartemisinin: A Potential Drug for the Treatment of Malignancies and Inflammatory Diseases. Front Oncol 2021; 11:722331. [PMID: 34692496 PMCID: PMC8529146 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.722331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) has been globally recognized for its efficacy and safety in the clinical treatment of malaria for decades. Recently, it has been found that DHA inhibits malignant tumor growth and regulates immune system function in addition to anti-malaria. In parasites and tumors, DHA causes severe oxidative stress by inducing excessive reactive oxygen species production. DHA also kills tumor cells by inducing programmed cell death, blocking cell cycle and enhancing anti-tumor immunity. In addition, DHA inhibits inflammation by reducing the inflammatory cells infiltration and suppressing the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Further, genomics, proteomics, metabolomics and network pharmacology of DHA therapy provide the basis for elucidating the pharmacological effects of DHA. This review provides a summary of the recent research progress of DHA in anti-tumor, inhibition of inflammatory diseases and the relevant pharmacological mechanisms. With further research of DHA, it is likely that DHA will become an alternative therapy in the clinical treatment of malignant tumors and inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Yu
- Department of Immunology and Pathogenic Biology, Yanbian University Medical College, Yanji, China
| | - Guihua Jin
- Department of Immunology and Pathogenic Biology, Yanbian University Medical College, Yanji, China
| | - Manabu Fujimoto
- Department of Dermatology, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan.,Laboratory of Cutaneous Immunology, Osaka University Immunology Frontier Research Center, Osaka, Japan
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10
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Advances in understanding the role of P-gp in doxorubicin resistance: Molecular pathways, therapeutic strategies, and prospects. Drug Discov Today 2021; 27:436-455. [PMID: 34624510 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2021.09.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 09/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
P-glycoprotein (P-gp) is a drug efflux transporter that triggers doxorubicin (DOX) resistance. In this review, we highlight the molecular avenues regulating P-gp, such as Nrf2, HIF-1α, miRNAs, and long noncoding (lnc)RNAs, to reveal their participation in DOX resistance. These antitumor compounds and genetic tools synergistically reduce P-gp expression. Furthermore, ATP depletion impairs P-gp activity to enhance the antitumor activity of DOX. Nanoarchitectures, including liposomes, micelles, polymeric nanoparticles (NPs), and solid lipid nanocarriers, have been developed for the co-delivery of DOX with anticancer compounds and genes enhancing DOX cytotoxicity. Surface modification of nanocarriers, for instance with hyaluronic acid (HA), can promote selectivity toward cancer cells. We discuss these aspects with a focus on P-gp expression and activity.
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Chai JY, Sugumar V, Alshanon AF, Wong WF, Fung SY, Looi CY. Defining the Role of GLI/Hedgehog Signaling in Chemoresistance: Implications in Therapeutic Approaches. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:4746. [PMID: 34638233 PMCID: PMC8507559 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13194746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Insight into cancer signaling pathways is vital in the development of new cancer treatments to improve treatment efficacy. A relatively new but essential developmental signaling pathway, namely Hedgehog (Hh), has recently emerged as a major mediator of cancer progression and chemoresistance. The evolutionary conserved Hh signaling pathway requires an in-depth understanding of the paradigm of Hh signaling transduction, which is fundamental to provide the necessary means for the design of novel tools for treating cancer related to aberrant Hh signaling. This review will focus substantially on the canonical Hh signaling and the treatment strategies employed in different studies, with special emphasis on the molecular mechanisms and combination treatment in regard to Hh inhibitors and chemotherapeutics. We discuss our views based on Hh signaling's role in regulating DNA repair machinery, autophagy, tumor microenvironment, drug inactivation, transporters, epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and cancer stem cells to promote chemoresistance. The understanding of this Achilles' Heel in cancer may improve the therapeutic outcome for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Yi Chai
- School of Biosciences, Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, Taylor’s University, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia;
| | - Vaisnevee Sugumar
- School of Medicine, Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, Taylor’s University, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia;
| | - Ahmed F. Alshanon
- Center of Biotechnology Researches, University of Al-Nahrain, Baghdad 10072, Iraq;
| | - Won Fen Wong
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia;
| | - Shin Yee Fung
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur 50603, Malaysia
| | - Chung Yeng Looi
- School of Biosciences, Faculty of Health & Medical Sciences, Taylor’s University, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia;
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Li Y, Xiao X, Wang H, Zhou Q, Jin Z, Zhang Y, Wang Y, Yue F, Zhou S, Yang J. Integrating network pharmacology and experimental models to investigate the mechanisms of dihydroartemisinin in preventing NSCLC progression via mTOR/HIF-1α signaling. Eur J Pharmacol 2021; 909:174411. [PMID: 34390710 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2021.174411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Advanced Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common type of lung cancer with a poor prognosis. The anti-malaria compounds dihydroartemisinin (DHA) have shown to regulate multiple targets and signaling pathways in cancers, but a global view of its mechanism of action remains elusive. In present study, we integrated network pharmacology and in vitro and in vivo experimental models to investigate the mechanisms of DHA in preventing NSCLC proliferation. We first proved that DHA inhibits the growth of lung cancer via inducing cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, then we integrated information from publicly available databases to predict interactions between DHA and its potential targets in NSCLC, as well as the signaling pathways involved. In this way we identified 118 common targets of DHA and NSCLC, and further analyzed with the correlation between these targets by KEGG and GO analysis. Our data indicate that mTOR/HIF-1α signaling is one of potential critical pathways involved in DHA-induced tumor inhibition in NSCLC. Finally, the data from human and mouse lung cancer cell lines and in mouse Lewis lung cancer models showed that DHA does decrease the expression level of mTOR and HIF-1α which supported the potential roles of mTOR/HIF-1α Signaling in NSCLC and deserves further investigation.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Apoptosis/drug effects
- Apoptosis/genetics
- Artemisinins/pharmacology
- Artemisinins/therapeutic use
- Carcinoma, Lewis Lung/drug therapy
- Carcinoma, Lewis Lung/genetics
- Carcinoma, Lewis Lung/pathology
- Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/drug therapy
- Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/genetics
- Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung/pathology
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Disease Progression
- Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic/drug effects
- Humans
- Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1, alpha Subunit/metabolism
- Lung Neoplasms/drug therapy
- Lung Neoplasms/genetics
- Lung Neoplasms/pathology
- Mice
- Network Pharmacology
- Protein Interaction Maps/drug effects
- Protein Interaction Maps/genetics
- Signal Transduction/drug effects
- TOR Serine-Threonine Kinases/metabolism
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanping Li
- College of Basic Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
| | - Xiaoqian Xiao
- College of Basic Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
| | - Huili Wang
- College of Basic Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
| | - Qi Zhou
- College of Basic Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
| | - Zhao Jin
- College of Basic Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
| | - Yuxi Zhang
- College of Basic Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
| | - Yi Wang
- College of Basic Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
| | - Fuping Yue
- School of Medicine and Life Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
| | - Shiyi Zhou
- College of Basic Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
| | - Jiahui Yang
- College of Basic Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China.
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13
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Li Q, Ma Q, Cheng J, Zhou X, Pu W, Zhong X, Guo X. Dihydroartemisinin as a Sensitizing Agent in Cancer Therapies. Onco Targets Ther 2021; 14:2563-2573. [PMID: 33880035 PMCID: PMC8053502 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s297785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is one of the major threats to human health. Although humans have struggled with cancer for decades, the efficacy of treatments for most tumors is still very limited. Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) is a derivative of artemisinin, a first-line antimalarial drug originally developed in China. Beyond the anti-malarial effect, DHA has also been reported to show anti-inflammatory, anti-parasitosis, and immune-modulating properties in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, an increasing number of studies report that DHA possesses anticancer activities on a wide range of cancer types both in vitro and in vivo, as well as enhances the efficacy of chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and even radiotherapy. However, the mechanisms of DHA on different tumors differ in various ways. In this review, we intend to summarize how DHA sensitizes cancer cells to anti-cancer therapies, highlight its molecular mechanisms and pharmacological effects in vitro and in vivo as well as in current clinical trials, and discuss potential issues concerning DHA. Hopefully, more attention will be paid to DHA as a sensitizer for cancer therapy in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingrong Li
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, People's Republic of China.,Translational Medicine Research Center, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, People's Republic of China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiang Ma
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, People's Republic of China.,Translational Medicine Research Center, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, People's Republic of China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, People's Republic of China
| | - Jibing Cheng
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, People's Republic of China.,Translational Medicine Research Center, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, People's Republic of China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, People's Republic of China
| | - Xi Zhou
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, People's Republic of China.,Translational Medicine Research Center, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, People's Republic of China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenjie Pu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, People's Republic of China.,Translational Medicine Research Center, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, People's Republic of China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaowu Zhong
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, People's Republic of China.,Translational Medicine Research Center, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, People's Republic of China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaolan Guo
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Affiliated Hospital of North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, People's Republic of China.,Translational Medicine Research Center, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, People's Republic of China.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, North Sichuan Medical College, Nanchong, 637000, People's Republic of China
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