TMT-Based Quantitative Proteomics Analysis Reveals the Panoramic Pharmacological Molecular Mechanism of β-Elemonic Acid Inhibition of Colorectal Cancer

Effects of Natural Products on Enzymes Involved in Ferroptosis: Regulation and Implications

Ferroptosis is a form of regulated cell death that is characterized by the accumulation of iron-dependent lipid peroxides. The regulation of ferroptosis involves both non-enzymatic reactions and enzymatic mechanisms. Natural products have demonstrated potential effects on various enzymes, including GPX4, HO-1, NQO1, NOX4, GCLC, and GCLM, which are mainly involved in glutathione metabolic pathway or oxidative stress regulation, and ACSL3 and ACSL4, which mainly participate in lipid metabolism, thereby influencing the regulation of ferroptosis. In this review, we have provided a comprehensive overview of the existing literature pertaining to the effects of natural products on enzymes involved in ferroptosis and discussed their potential implications for the prevention and treatment of ferroptosis-related diseases. We also highlight the potential challenge that the majority of research has concentrated on investigating the impact of natural products on the expression of enzymes involving ferroptosis while limited attention is given to the regulation of enzyme activity. This observation underscores the considerable potential and scope for exploring the influence of natural products on enzyme activity.

Altered serum metabolic profile in patients with IgA nephropathy

BACKGROUND

We investigated alterations in the serum metabolomic profile of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) patients and screen biomarkers of IgA nephropathy based on ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS).

METHODS

Serum samples from 65 IgAN patients and 31 healthy controls were analyzed by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS). Univariate and multivariate analysis were performed to screen the differential metabolites. Differential metabolites should meet both the following two criteria: adjusted P < 0.05 in the univariate analysis and VIP value > 1 in the multivariate model. Pathway analysis was performed to reveal the metabolic pathways that were significantly influenced in IgAN. Spearman correlation analysis was applied to explore the correlation between metabolites and between the metabolites and clinicopathological features of IgAN. A random forest model and Logistics regression analysis were conducted to evaluate the predictive ability of the metabolites.

RESULTS

The metabolic profile was significantly altered in IgAN patients compared with healthy controls. Thirty-nine metabolites were identified, including glycerophospholipids, sphingolipids, vitamin K1, vitamin K2, bile acids and amino acids. Sphingolipid metabolism, ubiquinone and other terpenoid-quinone biosynthesis, and glycerophospholipid metabolism were found to be significantly disturbed in the pathway analysis. Differential metabolites were found to be associated with the clinical and pathological features of IgAN patients. Lanosterol, vitamin K1, vitamin K2, and β-elemonic acid were found to have promising predictive ability for IgAN.

CONCLUSIONS

We confirmed the differences in the metabolic profiles of IgAN patients and healthy controls and identified the differential metabolites of IgAN, which may help with the further exploration of the pathogenesis and treatment of IgAN.

Quantifiable peptide library bridges the gap for proteomics based biomarker discovery and validation on breast cancer

Mass spectrometry (MS) based proteomics is widely used for biomarker discovery. However, often, most biomarker candidates from discovery are discarded during the validation processes. Such discrepancies between biomarker discovery and validation are caused by several factors, mainly due to the differences in analytical methodology and experimental conditions. Here, we generated a peptide library which allows discovery of biomarkers in the equal settings as the validation process, thereby making the transition from discovery to validation more robust and efficient. The peptide library initiated with a list of 3393 proteins detectable in the blood from public databases. For each protein, surrogate peptides favorable for detection in mass spectrometry was selected and synthesized. A total of 4683 synthesized peptides were spiked into neat serum and plasma samples to check their quantifiability in a 10 min liquid chromatography-MS/MS run time. This led to the PepQuant library, which is composed of 852 quantifiable peptides that cover 452 human blood proteins. Using the PepQuant library, we discovered 30 candidate biomarkers for breast cancer. Among the 30 candidates, nine biomarkers, FN1, VWF, PRG4, MMP9, CLU, PRDX6, PPBP, APOC1, and CHL1 were validated. By combining the quantification values of these markers, we generated a machine learning model predicting breast cancer, showing an average area under the curve of 0.9105 for the receiver operating characteristic curve.

Xihuang pill in the treatment of cancer: TCM theories, pharmacological activities, chemical compounds and clinical applications

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Xihuang pill as a famous traditional Chinese formula has long been used as an adjuvant therapy for cancer.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study is aimed at summarizing recent advances in research of Xihuang pill's anti-cancer efficacies from the theoretical basis of traditional Chinese medicine, pharmacological activities, chemical components and its clinical application.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The literature information was obtained from several authoritative databases including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, CNKI and Wan Fang before April 30, 2023. We also analyzed the representatively chemical compounds of Xihuang pill in vivo experiments using HPLC-Q/TOF-MS.

RESULTS

The present study indicated that Xihuang pill, a classic anti-tumor prescription, had efficacies of strengthening body resistance, clearing heat and detoxification, and promoting blood circulation for removing blood stasis. Modern basic researches showed that Xihuang pill played anti-cancer roles through inducing cancer cell apoptosis, inhibiting cell proliferation, migration, invasion and angiogenesis, improving immune function and tumor microenvironment, and regulating related signaling pathways. Its chemical components are primarily consisted of amino acids, terpenoids, fatty acids, fatty acid esters, phenolics, bile acids, bile pigments and volatile oil. Clinically, Xihuang pill, as an adjuvant drug for cancer treatment, was mostly combined with chemotherapy, which could prolong survival, enhance response rate, improve patients' life quality, regulate immune function and alleviate chemotherapy-induced toxicities.

CONCLUSIONS

This present study suggests that Xihuang pill may be a promising adjuvant therapy for cancer, and proposes the possibility of future research directions for Xihuang pill based on the current research status.

The Induction Mechanism of Ferroptosis, Necroptosis, and Pyroptosis in Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Colorectal Cancer, and Intestinal Injury

Cell death includes programmed and nonprogrammed cell death. The former mainly includes ferroptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, autophagy, and apoptosis, while the latter refers to necrosis. Accumulating evidence shows that ferroptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis play essential regulatory roles in the development of intestinal diseases. In recent years, the incidence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), colorectal cancer (CRC), and intestinal injury induced by intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (I/R), sepsis, and radiation have gradually increased, posing a significant threat to human health. The advancement in targeted therapies for intestinal diseases based on ferroptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis provides new strategies for treating intestinal diseases. Herein, we review ferroptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis with respect to intestinal disease regulation and highlight the underlying molecular mechanisms for potential therapeutic applications.

Insights on Ferroptosis and Colorectal Cancer: Progress and Updates

Patients with advanced-stage or treatment-resistant colorectal cancer (CRC) benefit less from traditional therapies; hence, new therapeutic strategies may help improve the treatment response and prognosis of these patients. Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent type of regulated cell death characterized by the accumulation of lipid reactive oxygen species (ROS), distinct from other types of regulated cell death. CRC cells, especially those with drug-resistant properties, are characterized by high iron levels and ROS. This indicates that the induction of ferroptosis in these cells may become a new therapeutic approach for CRC, particularly for eradicating CRC resistant to traditional therapies. Recent studies have demonstrated the mechanisms and pathways that trigger or inhibit ferroptosis in CRC, and many regulatory molecules and pathways have been identified. Here, we review the current research progress on the mechanism of ferroptosis, new molecules that mediate ferroptosis, including coding and non-coding RNA; novel inducers and inhibitors of ferroptosis, which are mainly small-molecule compounds; and newly designed nanoparticles that increase the sensitivity of cells to ferroptosis. Finally, the gene signatures and clusters that have predictive value on CRC are summarized.

Mechanism of LncHOTAIR Regulating Proliferation, Apoptosis, and Autophagy of Lymphoma Cells through hsa-miR-6511b-5p/ATG7 Axis

Objective

To explore the role of LncHOTAIR in apoptosis and autophagy in lymphoma.

Methods

The interaction between LncHOTAIR and miR-6511b-5p, as well as between miR-6511b-5p and ATG7, was verified by a dual luciferase assay. LncHOTAIR overexpression lentivirus was transducted and siATG7s were transfected into Raji and BJAB lymphoma cells, and the efficiency was verified by qPCR. Lymphocyte proliferation was detected by the cell counting kit-8 (CCK8) test, and autophagy was detected by transmission electron microscopy. The protein expressions of ULK1, Beclin1, ATG7, LC3, Bax, cleaved-caspase 3, and Bcl-2 were detected using Western blots.

Results

There was a targeting relationship between LncHOTAIR and miR-6511b-5p and between miR-6511b-5p and ATG7. LncHOTAIR overexpression promoted the proliferation and autophagy of Raji and BJAB cells, significantly upregulated ATG7, Beclin1, ULK1, Bcl-2, and LC3-II/LC3-I levels, and downregulated Bax and cleaved-caspase3 levels. siATG7 significantly inhibited the proliferation and autophagy of Raji and BJAB cells and promoted their apoptosis.

Conclusion

LncHOTAIR/hsa-miR-6511b-5p/ATG7 could regulate the proliferation, apoptosis, and autophagy of Raji and BJAB lymphoma cells.