Anti-Angiogenic Effect of Asperchalasine A Via Attenuation of VEGF Signaling

Advances on anticancer fungal metabolites: sources, chemical and biological activities in the last decade (2012-2023)

Among microorganisms, fungi are the ones that have the most imagination in producing secondary metabolites with the most varied structural differences, which are produced through different biosynthetic pathways. Therefore, they synthesize secondary metabolites classifiable into numerous families of natural compounds such as amino acids, alkaloids, anthraquinones, aromatic compounds, cyclohexene epoxides, furanones, macrolides, naphthoquinones, polyketides, pyrones, terpenes, etc. They also produced metabolites with very complex structures that can not be classified in the known families of natural compounds. Many fungal metabolites show different biological activities with potential applications in agriculture, food chemistry, cosmetics, pharmacology and medicine. This review is focused on the fungal secondary metabolites with anticancer activity isolated in the last ten years. For some metabolites, when described, their biosynthetic origin, the mode of action and the results of structure activity relationships studies are also reported.

Modulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 signaling pathways in cancer angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis by natural compounds: a comprehensive and critical review

Tumor cells employ multiple signaling mediators to escape the hypoxic condition and trigger angiogenesis and metastasis. As a critical orchestrate of tumorigenic conditions, hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is responsible for stimulating several target genes and dysregulated pathways in tumor invasion and migration. Therefore, targeting HIF-1 pathway and cross-talked mediators seems to be a novel strategy in cancer prevention and treatment. In recent decades, tremendous efforts have been made to develop multi-targeted therapies to modulate several dysregulated pathways in cancer angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis. In this line, natural compounds have shown a bright future in combating angiogenic and metastatic conditions. Among the natural secondary metabolites, we have evaluated the critical potential of phenolic compounds, terpenes/terpenoids, alkaloids, sulfur compounds, marine- and microbe-derived agents in the attenuation of HIF-1, and interconnected pathways in fighting tumor-associated angiogenesis and invasion. This is the first comprehensive review on natural constituents as potential regulators of HIF-1 and interconnected pathways against cancer angiogenesis and metastasis. This review aims to reshape the previous strategies in cancer prevention and treatment.

Effect of a protein kinase B (Akt) inhibitor on the angiogenesis of HUVECs and corneal neovascularization

BACKGROUND

Corneal neovascularization (CNV) is a vision-threatening disease and an increasing public health concern. It was found that administering an Akt inhibitor in the second phase of retinopathy significantly decreased retinal neovascularization.

METHODS

This study investigated the effect of an Akt inhibitor on the angiogenesis of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and its impacts on the degree of CNV and corneal opacity in a rat keratoplasty model. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assays, tube formation assays, cell scratch experiments, and a fully allogeneic corneal transplant model were performed.

RESULTS

It was found that an Akt inhibitor inhibited the proliferation, angiogenesis, and migration of HUVECs induced by vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). The results showed that both CNV and corneal opacity were decreased in rats after Akt inhibitor administration.

CONCLUSION

The research illustrates the vital role of Akt inhibitors in mediating CNV. The analysis shows that the Akt inhibitor may provide a novel and feasible therapeutic approach to prevent CNV, but its mechanism needs further investigation.

TRAIL-sensitizing Cytochalasins from the Endophytic Fungus Phoma multirostrata

Seven undescribed cytochalasins, multirostratins K - Q (2: -8: ), together with one known analogue, cytochalasin Z3 (1: ), were isolated from the culture of Phoma multirostrata XJ-2-1, an endophytic fungus obtained from the root of Parasenecio albus. Their structures with absolute configurations were determined by 1D and 2D NMR, high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HRESIMS), electronic circular dichroism (ECD), single-crystal X-ray crystallography, and chemical methods. The structure of ascochalasin was revised from Δ ¹³ to Δ ²¹ by detailed analysis of the NMR data and by comparison with the data for 7: . In a TRAIL (tumor necrosis factor related apoptosis inducing ligand)-resistance-overcoming experiment, co-treatment of 2: or 6: with TRAIL reduced the cell viability of A549 cells by 30.3% and 27.5% at 10 µM, respectively.

Efficacy of marine biomolecules on angiogenesis by targeting hypoxia inducible factor/vascular endothelial growth factor signaling in zebrafish model

Marine resources are notably explored for their unique biomolecules that have been designed to be drug targets for their immense potential against various pathologies. These biomolecules are mostly secondary metabolites from different species that include sponges, tunicates, echinoderms, ascidians, algae, and marine symbionts. Among the various biological activities of the marine biomolecules, antiangiogenic property has gained much significance in alternate therapy for treatment against cancer. Hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are the prime signaling pathways related to angiogenesis that are exclusively designated as markers for critical selection of novel inhibitors. This is mainly due to their importance in tumor induction and regulatory control over other interlinked pathways involved in cancer. Small molecular drug screening using the zebrafish model has been an advantage in cancer research in recent times. This review addresses the importance of marine biomolecules and their antiangiogenic efficacy by targeting HIF/VEGF pathways experimented in the zebrafish model in the last decade. Thus, it would provide more clear insights into the role of biomolecules in alternative cancer therapy.

The Role of the VEGF Family in Coronary Heart Disease

The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family, the regulator of blood and lymphatic vessels, is mostly investigated in the tumor and ophthalmic field. However, the functions it enjoys can also interfere with the development of atherosclerosis (AS) and further diseases like coronary heart disease (CHD). The source, regulating mechanisms including upregulation and downregulation, target cells/tissues, and known functions about VEGF-A, VEGF-B, VEGF-C, and VEGF-D are covered in the review. VEGF-A can regulate angiogenesis, vascular permeability, and inflammation by binding with VEGFR-1 and VEGFR-2. VEGF-B can regulate angiogenesis, redox, and apoptosis by binding with VEGFR-1. VEGF-C can regulate inflammation, lymphangiogenesis, angiogenesis, apoptosis, and fibrogenesis by binding with VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-3. VEGF-D can regulate lymphangiogenesis, angiogenesis, fibrogenesis, and apoptosis by binding with VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-3. These functions present great potential of applying the VEGF family for treating CHD. For instance, angiogenesis can compensate for hypoxia and ischemia by growing novel blood vessels. Lymphangiogenesis can degrade inflammation by providing exits for accumulated inflammatory cytokines. Anti-apoptosis can protect myocardium from impairment after myocardial infarction (MI). Fibrogenesis can promote myocardial fibrosis after MI to benefit cardiac recovery. In addition, all these factors have been confirmed to keep a link with lipid metabolism, the research about which is still in the early stage and exact mechanisms are relatively obscure. Because few reviews have been published about the summarized role of the VEGF family for treating CHD, the aim of this review article is to present an overview of the available evidence supporting it and give hints for further research.

Molecular Targeting of VEGF with a Suramin Fragment-DOCA Conjugate by Mimicking the Action of Low Molecular Weight Heparins

Molecular targeting of growth factors has shown great therapeutic potential in pharmaceutical research due to their roles in pathological conditions. In the present study, we developed a novel suramin fragment and deoxycholic acid conjugate (SFD) that exhibited the potential to bind to the heparin-binding site (HBD) of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and to inhibit its pathogenic action for the first time. Notably, SFD was optimally designed for binding to the HBD of VEGF using the naphthalenetrisulfonate group, allowing to observe its excellent binding efficacy in a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) study, showing remarkable binding affinity (K_D = 3.8 nM) as a small molecule inhibitor. In the tubular formation assay, it was observed that SFD could bind to HBD and exhibit antiangiogenic efficacy by inhibiting VEGF, such as heparins. The cellular treatment of SFD resulted in VEGF-inhibitory effects in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Therefore, we propose that SFD can be employed as a novel drug candidate to inhibit the pathophysiological action of VEGF in diseases. Consequently, SFD, which has a molecular structure optimized for binding to HBD, is put forward as a new chemical VEGF inhibitor.

Pchaeglobolactone A, Spiropchaeglobosin A, and Pchaeglobosals A and B: Four Rearranged Cytochalasans from Chaetomium globosum P2-2-2

Four novel rearranged cytochalasans (1-4) were isolated from an endophytic fungus Chaetomium globosum P2-2-2. Pchaeglobolactone A (1) possessed an unprecedented 13-aza-21-oxa-tetracyclo-[10.6.1.2^17,19.0^15,19]henicosane core. Spiropchaeglobosin A (2) was the first example of cytochalasans featuring a novel spiro[5.10]hexadecane unit. Pchaeglobosals A (3) and B (4) featured a unique 5/5/13 fused tricyclic ring system. Compounds 1-4 were tested for their antiproliferative, apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and TRAIL-resistance-overcoming activities on cancer cell lines.

Ergocytochalasin A, a polycyclic merocytochalasan from an endophytic fungus Phoma multirostrata XJ-2-1

Ergocytochalasin A (1), an unprecedented merocytochalasan with a 5/6/14/6/5/6/6/6 fused octacyclic ring system, was isolated from an endophytic fungus Phoma multirostrata XJ-2-1.