The Role of Oxidative Stress and Its Counteractive Utility in Colorectal Cancer (CRC)

The interplay of exercise and polyphenols in cancer treatment: A focus on oxidative stress and antioxidant mechanisms

Exercise has been demonstrated to induce an elevated production of free radicals, leading to the onset of oxidative stress. Numerous studies highlight the positive impacts of aerobic exercise, primarily attributed to the increase in overall antioxidant capacity. The evidence suggests that engaging in aerobic exercise contributes to a reduction in the likelihood of advanced cancer and mortality. Oxidative stress occurs when there is an imbalance between the generation of free radicals and the collective antioxidant defense system, encompassing both enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants. Typically, oxidative stress triggers the formation of reactive oxygen or nitrogen species, instigating or advancing various issues in cancers and other diseases. The pro-oxidant-antioxidant balance serves as a direct measure of this imbalance in oxidative stress. Polyphenols contain a variety of bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, flavanols, and phenolic acids, conferring antioxidant properties. Previous research highlights the potential of polyphenols as antioxidants, with documented effects on reducing cancer risk by influencing processes such as proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. This is primarily attributed to their recognized antioxidant capabilities. Considering the extensive array of signaling pathways associated with exercise and polyphenols, this overview will specifically focus on oxidative stress, the antioxidant efficacy of polyphenols and exercise, and their intricate interplay in cancer treatment.

Exploration of novel isoxazole-fused quinone derivatives as anti-colorectal cancer agents through inhibiting STAT3 and elevating ROS level

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is trending to be a major health problem throughout the world. Therapeutics with dual modes of action have shown latent capacity to create ideal anti-tumor activity. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) has been proved to be a potential target for the development of anti-colon cancer drug. In addition, modulation of tumor redox homeostasis through deploying exogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS)-enhancing agents has been widely applied as anti-tumor strategy. Thus, simultaneously targeting STAT3 and modulation ROS balance would offer a fresh avenue to combat CRC. In this work, we designed and synthesized a novel series of isoxazole-fused quinones, which were evaluated for their preliminary anti-proliferative activity against HCT116 cells. Among these quinones, compound 41 exerted excellent in vitro anti-tumor effect against HCT116 cell line with an IC50 value of 10.18 ± 0.4 nM. Compound 41 was proved to bind to STAT3 by using Bio-Layer Interferometry (BLI) assay, and can significantly inhibit phosphorylation of STAT3. It also elevated ROS of HCT116 cells by acting as a substrate of NQO1. Mitochondrial dysfunction, apoptosis, and cell cycle arrest, which was caused by compound 41, might be partially due to the inhibition of STAT3 phosphorylation and ROS production induced by 41. Moreover, it exhibited ideal anti-tumor activity in human colorectal cancer xenograft model and good safety profiles in vivo. Overall, this study provided a novel quinone derivative 41 with excellent anti-tumor activity by inhibiting STAT3 and elevating ROS level, and gave insights into designing novel anti-tumor therapeutics by simultaneously modulation of STAT3 and ROS.

Effect of a personalized intensive dietary intervention on base excision repair (BER) in colorectal cancer patients: Results from a randomized controlled trial

DNA repair is essential to maintain genomic integrity and may affect colorectal cancer (CRC) patients' risk of secondary cancers, treatment efficiency, and susceptibility to various comorbidities. Bioactive compounds identified in plant foods have the potential to modulate DNA repair mechanisms, but there is limited evidence of how dietary factors may affect DNA repair activity in CRC patients in remission after surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of a 6-month personalized intensive dietary intervention on DNA repair activity in post-surgery CRC patients (stage I-III). The present study included patients from the randomized controlled trial CRC-NORDIET, enrolled 2-9 months after surgery. The intervention group received an intensive dietary intervention emphasizing a prudent diet with specific plant-based foods suggested to dampen inflammation and oxidative stress, while the control group received only standard care advice. The comet-based in vitro repair assay was applied to assess DNA repair activity, specifically base excision repair (BER), in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Statistical analyses were conducted using gamma generalized linear mixed models (Gamma GLMM). A total of 138 CRC patients were included, 72 from the intervention group and 66 from the control group. The BER activity in the intervention group did not change significantly compared to the control group. Our findings revealed a substantial range in both inter- and intra-individual levels of BER. In conclusion, the results do not support an effect of dietary intervention on BER activity in post-surgery CRC patients during a 6-month intervention period.

The association between ambient air pollution and colorectal cancer: a Mendelian randomization study

Mounting epidemiology studies have reported the potential associations between ambient air pollution exposure and colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the genetic association between ambient air pollution and CRC remains unclear. Using the Genome-wide association study (GWAS) data from UK biobank, we explored the genetic association of CRC (5,657 cases and 372,016 controls) with four ambient air pollutants (PM2.5, PM10, NO2, NOx; n = 423,796 to 456,380) under the framework of Mendelian randomization (MR). Our results revealed a significant association between long-term NO2 exposure (per 10 µg/m3) and increased CRC risk, with an odds ratio (OR) of 1.02 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00-1.03), while no statistical association was found between CRC risk and the other air pollutants. Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of the results. It is imperative to consider the impact of air pollution, particularly NO2, in mitigating the risk of CRC.

Silver nanoparticles stimulate 5-Fluorouracil-induced colorectal cancer cells to kill through the upregulation TRPV1-mediated calcium signaling pathways

The involvement of the TRP vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) cation channel on the 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU)-caused Ca2+ signals through the activation of the apoptotic signaling pathway and stimulating the mitochondrial Ca2+ and Zn2+ accumulation-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) productions in several cancer cells, except the colorectal cancer (HT-29) cell line, was recently reported. I aimed to investigate the action of silver nanoparticles (SiNPs) and 5-FU incubations through the activation of TRPV1 on ROS, apoptosis, and cell death in the HT-29 cell line. The cells were divided into four groups: control, SiNP (100 µM for 48 h), 5-FU (25 μM for 24 h), and 5-FU + SiNP. SiNP treatment through TRPV1 activation (via capsaicin) stimulated the oxidant and apoptotic actions of 5-FU in the cells, whereas they were diminished in the cells by the TRPV1 antagonist (capsazepine) treatment. The apoptotic and cell death actions of 5-FU were determined by increasing the propidium iodide/Hoechst rate, caspase-3, -8, and -9 activations, mitochondrial membrane depolarization, lipid peroxidation, and ROS, but decreasing the glutathione and glutathione peroxidase. The increase of cytosolic free Ca2+ and Zn2+ into mitochondria via the stimulation of TRPV1 current density increased oxidant and apoptotic properties of 5-FU in the cells. For the therapy of HT-29 tumor cells, I found that the combination of SiNPs and 5-FU was synergistic via TRPV1 activation.

Engineering aspects of lipid-based delivery systems: In vivo gene delivery, safety criteria, and translation strategies

Defects in the genome cause genetic diseases and can be treated with gene therapy. Due to the limitations encountered in gene delivery, lipid-based supramolecular colloidal materials have emerged as promising gene carrier systems. In their non-functionalized form, lipid nanoparticles often demonstrate lower transgene expression efficiency, leading to suboptimal therapeutic outcomes, specifically through reduced percentages of cells expressing the transgene. Due to chemically active substituents, the engineering of delivery systems for genetic drugs with specific chemical ligands steps forward as an innovative strategy to tackle the drawbacks and enhance their therapeutic efficacy. Despite intense investigations into functionalization strategies, the clinical outcome of such therapies still needs to be improved. Here, we highlight and comprehensively review engineering aspects for functionalizing lipid-based delivery systems and their therapeutic efficacy for developing novel genetic cargoes to provide a full snapshot of the translation from the bench to the clinics. We outline existing challenges in the delivery and internalization processes and narrate recent advances in the functionalization of lipid-based delivery systems for nucleic acids to enhance their therapeutic efficacy and safety. Moreover, we address clinical trials using these vectors to expand their clinical use and principal safety concerns.

Vessel co-option: a unique vascular-immune niche in liver cancer

Tumor vasculature is pivotal in regulating tumor perfusion, immune cell infiltration, metastasis, and invasion. The vascular status of the tumor is intricately linked to its immune landscape and response to immunotherapy. Vessel co-option means that tumor tissue adeptly exploits pre-existing blood vessels in the para-carcinoma region to foster its growth rather than inducing angiogenesis. It emerges as a significant mechanism contributing to anti-angiogenic therapy resistance. Different from angiogenic tumors, vessel co-option presents a distinctive vascular-immune niche characterized by varying states and distribution of immune cells, including T-cells, tumor-associated macrophages, neutrophils, and hepatic stellate cells. This unique composition contributes to an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment that is crucial in modulating the response to cancer immunotherapy. In this review, we systematically reviewed the evidence and molecular mechanisms of vessel co-option in liver cancer, while also exploring its implications for anti-angiogenic drug resistance and the immune microenvironment, to provide new ideas and clues for screening patients with liver cancer who are effective in immunotherapy.

Consumption of Feed Supplemented with Oat Beta-Glucan as a Chemopreventive Agent against Colon Cancerogenesis in Rats

Colorectal cancer (CRC) accounts for 30% of all cancer cases worldwide and is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. CRC develops over a long period of time, and in the early stages, pathological changes can be mitigated through nutritional interventions using bioactive plant compounds. Our study aims to determine the effect of highly purified oat beta-glucan on an animal CRC model. The study was performed on forty-five male Sprague-Dawley rats with azoxymethane-induced early-stage CRC, which consumed feed containing 1% or 3% low molar mass oat beta-glucan (OBG) for 8 weeks. In the large intestine, morphological changes, CRC signaling pathway genes (RT-PCR), and proteins (Western blot, immunohistochemistry) expression were analyzed. Whole blood hematology and blood redox status were also performed. Results indicated that the histologically confirmed CRC condition led to a downregulation of the WNT/β-catenin pathway, along with alterations in oncogenic and tumor suppressor gene expression. However, OBG significantly modulated these effects, with the 3% OBG showing a more pronounced impact. Furthermore, CRC rats exhibited elevated levels of oxidative stress and antioxidant enzyme activity in the blood, along with decreased white blood cell and lymphocyte counts. Consumption of OBG at any dose normalized these parameters. The minimal effect of OBG in the physiological intestine and the high activity in the pathological condition suggest that OBG is both safe and effective in early-stage CRC.

Identification and functional prediction of long non-coding RNAs related to oxidative stress in the jejunum of piglets

OBJECTIVE

Oxidative stress (OS) is a pathological process arising from the excessive production of free radicals in the body. It has the potential to alter animal gene expression and cause damage to the jejunum. However, there have been few reports of changes in the expression of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the jejunum in piglets under OS. The purpose of this research was to examine how lncRNAs in piglet jejunum change under OS.

METHODS

The abdominal cavities of piglets were injected with diquat (DQ) to produce OS. Raw reads were downloaded from the SRA database. RNA-seq was utilized to study the expression of lncRNAs in piglets under OS. Additionally, six randomly selected lncRNAs were verified using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT‒PCR) to examine the mechanism of oxidative damage.

RESULTS

A total of 79 lncRNAs were differentially expressed (DE) in the treatment group compared to the negative control group. The target genes of DE lncRNAs were enriched in gene ontology (GO) terms and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) signaling pathways. Chemical carcinogenesis-reactive oxygen species, the Foxo signaling pathway, colorectal cancer, and the AMPK signaling pathway were all linked to OS.

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrated that DQ-induced OS causes differential expression of lncRNAs, laying the groundwork for future research into the processes involved in the jejunum's response to OS.

Prognostic value of oxidative stress-related genes in colorectal cancer and its correlation with tumor immunity

Oxidative stress (OS) plays an essential role in chronic diseases such as colorectal cancer (CRC). In this study, we aimed to explore the relation between oxidative stress-related genes and CRC prognosis and their involvement in the immune microenvironment. Totally 101 OS-related genes were selected from the MsigDB database. Then, univariate Cox regression was used to explore the prognostic value of the selected genes correlated with the CRC patient survival in the TCGA database. A total of 9 prognostic OS-related genes in CRC were identified. Based on consensus clustering, CRC patients were then categorized into two molecular subtypes. A prognostic risk model containing 8 genes was established using Lasso regression, and CRC patients were divided into high or low-risk groups based on the median risk scores. The predictive value of the 8 genes in CRC prognosis was validated using ROC curves, which indicate that CTNNB1, STK25, RNF112, SFPQ, MMP3, and NOL3 were promising prognostic biomarkers in CRC. Furthermore, the immune cell infiltration levels in different risk groups or CRC subtypes were analyzed. We found that the high-risk or C1 subtype had immunosuppressive microenvironment, which might explain the unfavorable prognosis in the two groups of CRC patients. Additionally, functional experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of OS-related genes on CRC cell proliferation, stemness, and apoptosis. We found that CTNNB1, HSPB1, MMP3, and NOL3 were upregulated in CRC tissues and cells. Knockdown of CTNNB1, HSPB1, MMP3, and NOL3 significantly suppressed CRC cell proliferation, stemness and facilitated CRC cell apoptosis. In conclusion, we established prognostic CRC subtypes and an eight-gene risk model, which may provide novel prognostic indicators and benefit the design of individualized therapeutic strategies for CRC patients.

Association between oxidative stress exposure and colorectal cancer risk in 98,395 participants: results from a prospective study

Background

The intricate role of oxidative stress (OS) in colorectal cancer (CRC) initiation is underscored by an imbalance between pro-oxidants and antioxidants. Utilizing the Oxidative Balance Score (OBS) as a metric, this study aims to investigate the association between OS exposure and CRC risk, while also examining potential sex-specific differences in a large U.S. cohort.

Methods

The study included 98,395 adults from the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial. To construct the OBS, 14 dietary and lifestyle factors intricately associated with oxidative stress were quantified. A higher OBS value indicated a more favorable oxidative balance pattern or diminished OS exposure. Due to sex-specific differences in OBS, associations were evaluated separately for men and women based on Cox regression analysis. Subgroup analyses were conducted to elucidate potential modifiers.

Results

During 867,963.4 person-years of follow-up, 1,054 CRCs occurred. The mean (SD) age and OBS were 65.52 (5.73) years and 14.09 (3.95) points, respectively. In the fully adjusted Cox model, we observed an inverse association between OBS and CRC incidence in women (HRQ5vsQ1: 0.72; 95% CI: 0.52, 0.99; P for trend = 0.018) but not men. Subgroup analyses revealed the inverse association was more pronounced among women without versus with a family history of CRC (HRQ5 vsQ1: 0.66, 95% CI: 0.47-0.93; P for trend = 0.001; P for interaction = 0.001). The results remained robust after several sensitivity analyses.

Conclusion

Higher OBS was associated with lower CRC risk in women but not men; this inverse association was stronger among women without a family history of CRC. These findings suggest exposure to OS may confer sex-specific CRC risk effects, especially for women without a family history of CRC.

Jabbar A, Abdel Aziz Ibrahim I, Almaimani G, AbdulMonam Zainel M, Bamagous GA, Almaimani RA, Almasmoum HA, Ghaith MM, Farrash WF, Almutawif YA. Pinostrobin attenuates azoxymethane-induced colorectal cytotoxicity in rats through augmentation of apoptotic Bax/Bcl-2 proteins and antioxidants

OBJECTIVES

Pinostrobin (5-hydroxy-7-methoxyflavanone; PN) is a natural active ingredient with numerous biological activities extensively utilized in tumour chemotherapy. The present study investigates the chemo-preventive potentials of PN on azoxymethane-mediated colonic aberrant crypt foci in rats.

METHODS

Sprague Dawley rats clustered into five groups, normal control (A) and cancer controls were subcutaneously injected with normal saline and 15 mg/kg azoxymethane, respectively, and nourished on 10% tween 20 and fed on 10% tween 20; reference control (C), injected with 15 mg/kg azoxymethane and injected (intraperitoneal) with 35 mg/kg 5-fluorouracil (5-FU); D and E rat groups received a subcutaneous injection of 15 mg/kg azoxymethane and nourished on 30 and 60 mg/kg of PN, respectively.

RESULTS

The acute toxicity trial showed a lack of any abnormal signs or mortality in rats ingested with 250 and 500 mg/kg of PN. The gross morphology of colon tissues revealed significantly lower total colonic aberrant crypt foci incidence in PN-treated rats than that of cancer controls. Histological examination of colon tissues showed increased aberrant crypt foci availability with bizarrely elongated nuclei, stratified cells and higher depletion of the submucosal glands in cancer controls. PN treatment caused positive modulation of apoptotic (Bax and Bcl-2) proteins and inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-10). Moreover, rats fed on PN had significantly higher antioxidants (superoxide dismutase) and lower malondialdehyde concentrations in their colon tissue homogenates.

CONCLUSION

The chemoprotective efficiency of PN against azoxymethane-induced aberrant crypt foci is shown by lower aberrant crypt foci values and higher aberrant crypt foci inhibition percentage, possibly through augmentation of genes responsible for apoptotic cascade and inflammations originating from azoxymethane oxidative stress insults.

Circ_0071589 contributes to growth, angiogenesis, and metastasis of colorectal cancer through regulating miR-296-5p/EN2 axis

To explore the function and regulation mechanism of circ_0071589 in colorectal cancer (CRC). The expression levels of circ_0071589, microRNA-296-5p (miR-296-5p), and Engrailed-2 (EN2) were detected by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Western blot was performed to check the protein levels of EN2 and apoptosis-related proteins. Cell colony formation and 5-Ethynyl-29-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay were used to exhibit cell proliferation. Cell apoptosis was shown by flow cytometry. Tube formation assay manifested the angiogenesis ability of CRC cells. Transwell assay demonstrated cell migration and invasion. The interaction between miR-296-5p and circ_0071589 or EN2 was identified by dual-luciferase reporter assay. The effect of circ_0071589 on tumor formation was demonstrated by in vivo tumor formation experiments. Immunohistochemical (IHC) assay was used to detect the positive cell rate of Ki67 in tumor tissue. Circ_0071589 was upregulated in CRC tissue and cells. Circ_0071589 knockdown repressed CRC cells proliferation, angiogenesis, migration, invasion, and promoted cell apoptosis. MiR-296-5p was downregulated in CRC tissue and cells. And miR-296-5p inhibitor could reverse the malignant phenotypes and angiogenesis inhibition of CRC cells caused by circ_0071589 knockdown. Additionally, miR-296-5p decreased CRC cell colony formation, EdU-positive cells, angiogenesis, and increased cell apoptosis through reducing the expression level of EN2. Finally, circ_0071589 silencing inhibited tumor formation in vivo. Circ_0071589 upregulated EN2 expression through sponging miR-296-5p, thereby promoting the malignant phenotype and angiogenesis of CRC cells, which provided a new target for the treatment of CRC.

Novel roles of PIWI proteins and PIWI-interacting RNAs in human health and diseases

Non-coding RNA has aroused great research interest recently, they play a wide range of biological functions, such as regulating cell cycle, cell proliferation, and intracellular substance metabolism. Piwi-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) are emerging small non-coding RNAs that are 24-31 nucleotides in length. Previous studies on piRNAs were mainly limited to evaluating the binding to the PIWI protein family to play the biological role. However, recent studies have shed more lights on piRNA functions; aberrant piRNAs play unique roles in many human diseases, including diverse lethal cancers. Therefore, understanding the mechanism of piRNAs expression and the specific functional roles of piRNAs in human diseases is crucial for developing its clinical applications. Presently, research on piRNAs mainly focuses on their cancer-specific functions but lacks investigation of their expressions and epigenetic modifications. This review discusses piRNA's biogenesis and functional roles and the recent progress of functions of piRNA/PIWI protein complexes in human diseases. Video Abstract.

Prospects of new targeted nanotherapy combining liponiosomes with berberine to combat colorectal cancer development: An in vivo experimental model

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most identified and deadly malignancies worldwide. It presents a serious challenge due to its quick growth, which finally culminates in severe malignancy. It is critical to improve the efficacy of berberine (BR) as an anticancer agent to overcome its limited bioavailability. Implementation of a novel, effective nanocarrier system of liponiosomes for BR (LipoNio.BR) can support mechanistic actions associated with its anti-CRC role. Following CRC induction in rats using 1,2 Dimethylhydrazine (40 mg DMH/kg/week), the potency and mechanistic actions of LipoNio.BR were assessed by evaluating the lesion severity and molecular mechanisms controlling oxidative stress, apoptosis, autophagy, and inflammatory responses, and conducting histopathological and immunohistochemistry examinations of colonic tissues. The results indicated that the severity of clinical signs comprising weight gain loss, increased diarrhea and rectal bleeding, and reduced survivability were greatly restored in the LipoNio.BR-treated group. LipoNio.BR remarkably reduced CRC development compared to FBR (free berberine), as it induced apoptosis via upregulating apoptotic genes (Bax and caspase3, increased up to 7.89 and 6.25-fold, respectively) and downregulating the anti-apoptotic gene Bcl-2 by 2.25-fold. LipoNio.BR mitigated the oxidative stress associated with CRC and maintained redox homeostasis. Notably, the excessive inflammatory response associated with CRC was prominently reduced following administration of LipoNio.BR [which decreased iterleukin (IL-B, IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), follistatin, and activin BA (beta-A) expression]. LipoNio.BR modulated the expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), which impacted tumor vascularity (decreased Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression by 2.36-fold). The severity of the histopathological alterations in the colonic tissues, including the development of neoplastic epithelium and the invasion of some neoplastic masses, was greatly reduced in the LipoNio.BR group compared to the FBR-(free berberine) administrated group. Following CRC induction, immunohistochemical staining revealed that the overexpression of cyclin and COX-2 in colonic tissues were suppressed in the LipoNio.BR group. Taken together, these findings suggest that LipoNio.BR has a potential role in reducing CRC progression to a greater extent compared to free BR and could be considered a promising and potent therapy against CRC.

Novel role of folate (vitamin B9) released by fermenting bacteria under Human Intestine like environment

The anaerobic region of the gastrointestinal (GI) tract has been replicated in the anaerobic chamber of a microbial fuel cell (MFC). Electroactive biomolecules released by the facultative anaerobes (Providencia rettgeri) under anoxic conditions have been studied for their potential role for redox balance. MALDI study reveals the presence of vitamin B9 (folate), 6-methylpterin, para-aminobenzoic acid (PABA) and pteroic acid called pterin pool. ATR-FTIR studies further confirm the presence of the aromatic ring and side chains of folate, 6-methylpterin and PABA groups. The photoluminescence spectra of the pool exhibit the maximum emission at 420, 425, 440, and 445 nm when excited by 310, 325, 350, and 365 nm wavelengths (day 20 sample) highlighting the presence of tunable bands. The cyclic voltammetric studies indicate the active participation of pterin pool molecules in the transfer of electrons with redox potentials at - 0.2 V and - 0.4 V for p-aminobenzoate and pterin groups, respectively. In addition, it is observed that under prolonged conditions of continuous oxidative stress (> 20 days), quinonoid tetrahydrofolate is formed, leading to temporary storage of charge. The results of the present study may potentially be useful in designing effective therapeutic strategies for the management of various GI diseases by promoting or blocking folate receptors.

Tripartite motif containing 59 mediates protective anti-oxidative effects in intestinal injury through Nrf2 signaling

Elevated evidence has reported the important role of oxidative stress injury and inflammatory response in the progression of colitis. Tumor Suppressor TSBF1, TRIM59, is a ubiquitin E3 ligase and mediates immune response. However, the underlying molecular function of TRIM59 on regulation of colitis is still not understood. In the current study, we identify the TRIM59 as a critical and novel endogenous suppressor of kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (KEAP1), and we also determine that TRIM59 is a KEAP1-interacting partner protein that catalyses its ubiquitination and degradation in intestinal epithelial cells (IEC). Moreover, IEC-specific loss of the Trim59 disrupts colon metabolic homeostasis, accompanied by intestinal oxidative stress injury, elevated endogenous reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and pro-inflammatory cytokines release, significantly promotes acute or chronic colitis progression. Conversely, transgenic mice with Trim59 overexpression by adeno-associated virus (AAV)-induced Trim59 gene therapeutics mitigates colitis in acute or chronic colitis rodent models and in vitro experiments. Mechanistically, in response to onset of colitis, TRIM59 directly interacts with KEAP1 and promotes ubiquitin-proteasome degradation, thus results in NRF2 activation and its downstream cascade anti-oxidative stress-related pathway activation, which facilitates anti-oxidant defense and reduces tissue damage. All the findings elucidated the potential role of TRIM59 in colitis progression by mediating KEAP1 deactivation and degradation, and could be considered as a therapeutic target for the treatment of such disease.

Stage-specific treatment of colorectal cancer: A microRNA-nanocomposite approach

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is among the leading causes of cancer mortality. The lifetime risk of developing CRC is about 5% in adult males and females. CRC is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage, and at this point therapy has a limited impact on cure rates and long-term survival. Novel and/or improved CRC therapeutic options are needed. The involvement of microRNAs (miRNAs) in cancer development has been reported, and their regulation in many oncogenic pathways suggests their potent tumor suppressor action. Although miRNAs provide a promising therapeutic approach for cancer, challenges such as biodegradation, specificity, stability and toxicity, impede their progression into clinical trials. Nanotechnology strategies offer diverse advantages for the use of miRNAs for CRC-targeted delivery and therapy. The merits of using nanocarriers for targeted delivery of miRNA-formulations are presented herein to highlight the role they can play in miRNA-based CRC therapy by targeting different stages of the disease.

A reactive species reactions module for integration into genome-scale metabolic models for improved insights: Application to cancer

Reactive species (RS) play significant roles in many disease contexts. Despite their crucial roles in diseases including cancer, the RS are not adequately modeled in the genome-scale metabolic (GSM) models, which are used to understand cell metabolism in disease contexts. We have developed a scalable RS reactions module that can be integrated with any Recon 3D-derived human metabolic model, or after fine-tuning, with any metabolic model. With RS-integration, the GSM models of three cancers (basal-like triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), high grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC) and colorectal cancer (CRC)) built from Recon 3D, precisely highlighted the increases/decreases in fluxes (dysregulation) occurring in important pathways of these cancers. These dysregulations were not prominent in the standard cancer models without the RS module. Further, the results from these RS-integrated cancer GSM models suggest the following decreasing order in the ease of ferroptosis-targeting to treat the cancers: TNBC > HGSOC > CRC.

Analysis of the Prognostic Potential of Schlafen 11, Programmed Death Ligand 1, and Redox Status in Colorectal Cancer Patients

The Schlafen 11 (SLFN11) protein has recently emerged as pivotal in DNA damage conditions, with predictive potential for tumor response to cytotoxic chemotherapies. Recent discoveries also showed that the programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) protein can be found on malignant cells, providing an immune evasion mechanism exploited by different tumors. Additionally, excessive generation of free radicals, redox imbalance, and consequential DNA damage can affect intestinal cell homeostasis and lead to neoplastic transformation. Therefore, our study aimed to investigate the significance of SLFN11 and PD-L1 proteins and redox status parameters as prognostic biomarkers in CRC patients. This study included a total of 155 CRC patients. SLFN11 and PD-L1 serum levels were measured with ELISA and evaluated based on redox status parameters, sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, and survival. The following redox status parameters were investigated: spectrophotometrically measured superoxide dismutase (SOD), sulfhydryl (SH) groups, advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP), malondialdehyde (MDA), pro-oxidant-antioxidant balance (PAB), and superoxide anion (O2•-). The prooxidative score, antioxidative score, and OXY-SCORE were also calculated. The results showed significantly shorter survival in patients with higher OXY-SCOREs and higher levels of serum SLFN11, while only histopathology-analysis-related factors showed significant prognostic value. OXY-SCORE and SLFN11 levels may harbor prognostic potential in CRC patients.

The Role of Gut Microbiome-Derived Short-Chain Fatty Acid Butyrate in Hepatobiliary Diseases

The short-chain fatty acid butyrate, produced from fermentable carbohydrates by gut microbiota in the colon, has multiple beneficial effects on human health. At the intestinal level, butyrate regulates metabolism, helps in the transepithelial transport of fluids, inhibits inflammation, and induces the epithelial defense barrier. The liver receives a large amount of short-chain fatty acids via the blood flowing from the gut via the portal vein. Butyrate helps prevent nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, nonalcoholic steatohepatitis, inflammation, cancer, and liver injuries. It ameliorates metabolic diseases, including insulin resistance and obesity, and plays a direct role in preventing fatty liver diseases. Butyrate has different mechanisms of action, including strong regulatory effects on the expression of many genes by inhibiting the histone deacetylases and modulating cellular metabolism. The present review highlights the wide range of beneficial therapeutic and unfavorable adverse effects of butyrate, with a high potential for clinically important uses in several liver diseases.

Inhibition of TRAP1 Accelerates the DNA Damage Response, Activation of the Heat Shock Response and Metabolic Reprogramming in Colon Cancer Cells

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the major causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. The tumor microenvironment plays a significant role in CRC development, progression and metastasis. Oxidative stress in the colon is a major etiological factor impacting tumor progression. Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated protein 1 (TRAP1) is a mitochondrial member of the heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) family that is involved in modulating apoptosis in colon cancer cells under oxidative stress. We undertook this study to provide mechanistic insight into the role of TRAP1 under oxidative stress in colon cells.

METHODS

We first assessed the The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) CRC gene expression dataset to evaluate the expression of TRAP1 and its association with oxidative stress and disease progression. We then treated colon HCT116 cells with hydrogen peroxide to induce oxidative stress and with the TRAP1 inhibitor gamitrinib-triphenylphosphonium (GTPP) to inhibit TRAP1. We examined the cellular proteomic landscape using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) in this context compared to controls. We further examined the impact of treatment on DNA damage and cell survival.

RESULTS

TRAP1 expression under oxidative stress is associated with the disease outcomes of colorectal cancer. TRAP1 inhibition under oxidative stress induced metabolic reprogramming and heat shock factor 1 (HSF1)-dependent transactivation. In addition, we also observed enhanced induction of DNA damage and cell death in the cells under oxidative stress and TRAP1 inhibition in comparison to single treatments and the nontreatment control.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings provide new insights into TRAP1-driven metabolic reprogramming in response to oxidative stress.

Helicase-like transcription factor (HLTF)-deleted CDX/TME model of colorectal cancer increased transcription of oxidative phosphorylation genes and diverted glycolysis to boost S-glutathionylation in lymphatic intravascular metastatic niches

Helicase-like transcription factor (HLTF) also known as SMARCA3, protects genome integrity. A tumor suppressor, HLTF is expressed in tumor cells but not in the tumor microenvironment (TME) in early-stage colorectal cancer (CRC). With disease progression, there is high concordance between epigenetic silencing of HLTF in CRC cells and negligible HLTF expression in the TME. We developed a cell line-derived xenograft (CDX) model and show for the first time that HLTF-deletion in cancer cells and the TME results in metabolic reprogramming that mitigates oxidative stress in lymphatic intravascular metastatic niches. The two metabolic pathways that derive energy from glucose-glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS)-are variously utilized by cancer cells depending upon the TME. HIF-1α, a master regulator of glycolysis, was eliminated from a role in reprogramming metabolism to satisfy CDX energetic requirements by RNAseq and spatial transcriptomics. Variability in the gut microbiome, with a putative role in altered metabolism, was also eliminated. HLTF-deleted cancer cells recovered from DNA damage at a transcriptomic level induction of DNA repair and OXPHOS genes linked to an amoeboid-associated phenotype at the tumor border (confocal microscopy). HLTF-deleted cancer and endothelial cells of lymphatic (PDPN) intravascular niches in the TME shared a site-specific protein S-glutathionylation signature (2D DIGE, MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry) for three glycolytic enzymes (PGK1 Cys379/380, PGAM1 Cys55, ENOA1 Cys119) that diverted glycolysis in support of continued glutathione biosynthesis. The collective absence of HLTF/Hltf from tumor and TME achieved redox homeostasis throughout the CDX and promoted metastasis.

Synthesis of Bis-Chalcones and Evaluation of Its Effect on Peroxide-Induced Cell Death and Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Cytokine Production

Plant secondary metabolites are important sources of biologically active compounds with wide pharmacological potentials. Among the different classes, the chalcones form integral pharmacologically active agents. Natural chalcones and bis-chalcones exhibit high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in various experiments. Studies are also underway to explore more biologically active bis-chalcones by chemical synthesis of these compounds. In this study, the effects of six synthetic bis-chalcones were evaluated in intestinal epithelial cells (IEC-6); further, the anti-inflammatory potentials were studied in lipopolysaccharide-induced cytokine production in macrophages. The synthesized bis-chalcones differ from each other first of all by the nature of the aromatic cores (functional group substitution, and their position) and by the size of a central alicycle. The exposure of IEC-6 cells to peroxide radicals reduced the cell viability; however, pre-treatment with the bis-chalcones improved the cell viability in these cells. The mechanism of action was observed to be the increased levels of glutathione and antioxidant enzyme activities. Further, these bis-chalcones also inhibited the LPS-stimulation-induced inflammatory cytokine production in RAW 264.7 macrophages. Overall, the present study indicated the cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory abilities of synthetic bis-chalcones.

Therapeutic efficacy of α-lactalbumin coated oleic acid based liposomes against colorectal carcinoma in Caco-2 cells and DMH-treated albino rats

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a malignant tumor recognized as a major cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world. Therefore, novel liposomes of oleic acid coated with camel α-lactalbumin (α-LA coated liposomes) were developed for their potential antitumor activity against CRC, both in vitro and in DMH-induced CRC-modeled animal. In vitro results indicated the high safety of α-LA coated liposomes towards normal human cells with potent antitumor activity against Caco-2 cells at an IC50 value of 57.01 ± 3.55 µM with selectivity index of 6.92 ± 0.48. This antitumor activity has been attributed to induction of the apoptotic mechanism, as demonstrated by nuclear condensation and arrest of Caco-2 cells in sub-G1 populations. α-LA coated liposomes also revealed a significant up-regulation of the p53 gene combined with a down-regulation of the Bcl2 gene. Moreover, in vivo results revealed that treatment of induced-CRC modeled animals with α-LA coated liposomes for six weeks markedly improved the CRC-disorders; this was achieved from the significant reduction in the values of AFP, CEA, CA19.9, TNF-α, IL-1β, MDA, and NO coupled with remarkable rise in SOD, GPx, GSH, CAT, and CD4+ levels. The histopathological findings asserted the therapeutic potential of α-LA coated liposomes in the treatment of CRC. Therefore, the present results proved the antitumor activity of α-LA coated liposomes against CRC through the restoration of impaired oxidative stress, improved immune response, and reduced inflammation.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

The preventive and therapeutic effects of anthocyanins on colorectal cancer: A comprehensive review based on up-to-date experimental studies

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most lethal and the third most diagnosed type of cancer worldwide. More than 75% of CRC cases are sporadic and lifestyle-related. Risk factors include diet, physical inactivity, genetics, smoking, alcohol, changes in the intestinal microbiota, and inflammation-related diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and inflammatory bowel diseases. The limits of conventional treatments (surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy), as demonstrated by the side effects and resistance of many CRC patients, are making professionals search for new chemopreventive alternatives. In this context, diets rich in fruits and vegetables or plant-based products, which contain high levels of phytochemicals, have been postulated as complementary therapeutic options. Anthocyanins, phenolic pigments responsible for the vivid colors of most red, purple, and blue fruits and vegetables, have been shown protective effects on CRC. Berries, grapes, Brazilian fruits, and vegetables such as black rice and purple sweet potato are examples of products rich in anthocyanins, which have been able to reduce cancer development by modulating signaling pathways associated with CRC. Therefore, this review has as main objective to present and discuss the potential preventive and therapeutic effects of anthocyanins present in fruits and vegetables, in plant extracts, or in their pure form on CRC, taking into account up-to-date experimental studies (2017-2023). Additionally, a highlight is given towards the mechanisms of action of anthocyanins on CRC.

Hsa_circ_0071589 aggravates stemness and oxaliplatin resistance in colorectal cancer through sponging miR-133b to upregulate SOX13 expression

Hsa_circ_0071589 can exacerbate the malignant behavior of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. However, its function in stemness and oxaliplatin (OXP) resistance of CRC cells remains unclear. To assess the function of hsa_circ_0071589 in stemness and OXP resistance of CRC cells. Western blotting and qRT-PCR were applied to assess protein and mRNA levels. The association between hsa_circ_0071589, miR-133b and SOX13 was explored via a correlation analysis. Sphere formation was used to assess cell stemness. Meanwhile, the viability of CRC cells and OXP-resistant CRC cells was evaluated with the MTT assay. Cell stemness marker (CD133) levels and apoptosis of CRC cells and OXP-resistant CRC cells were tested using flow cytometry. The ALDH level was investigated using the related detection kit. In addition, the association between hsa_circ_0071589 and miR-133b and SOX13 was investigated using the RIP and dual luciferase assay. Finally, in vivo experiments were performed to detect the function of hsa_circ_0071589 in CRC, and the levels of SOX13, Ki67, and CD44 in mice were evaluated via immunohistochemistry staining. The expression of hsa_circ_0071589 and SOX13 was upregulated in CRC, whereas the expression of miR-133b was downregulated. Hsa_circ_0071589 knockdown significantly inhibited CRC stemness via the mediation of miR-133b. Moreover, hsa_circ_0071589 silencing significantly sensitized CRC cells to OXP by upregulating miR-133b. SOX13 was the direct target of miR-133b, and miR-133b could attenuate stemness and OXP resistance in CRC cells by targeting SOX13. Notably, hsa_circ_0071589 knockdown inhibited tumor growth and decreased OXP resistance in mice with CRC. Hsa_circ_0071589 aggravates stemness and OXP resistance by sponging miR-133b to indirectly target SOX13 in CRC. Thus, our study might present a novel treatment strategy against OXP-resistant CRC.

Pharmacological mechanism of quercetin in the treatment of colorectal cancer by network pharmacology and molecular simulation

Colorectal cancer is a serious threat to people's life due to its high incidence and high mortality. Quercetin can effectively treat colorectal carcinoma (CRC), but its exact mechanism of action is still unclear. Then quercetin-related target genes were obtained from Swiss Target Prediction database and Similarity Ensemble Approach (SEA) database, and CRC-related target genes were obtained from GeneCards database, respectively. Common target genes were obtained by FunRich software. String software was used to construct a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. R package was used for gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis. Molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and post-dynamics simulation were used to explore the binding stability of quercetin to key targets. In total, 103 and 141 target information of quercetin were obtained from the Swiss Target Prediction database and SEA database, respectively. 1,649 CRC-related genes were obtained from GeneCards database. FunRich software was used to draw venny map and obtain 36 intersection targets of quercetin and CRC. String software was used to construct the PPI network. The core genes were AKT1, EGFR, MMP9, KDR, MET and PTK2. There were 532 items related to biological processes, 14 items related to cellular components, and 43 items related to molecular functions among the key target GO enrichment items. KEGG enrichment pathways of key targets involved cancer pathways, PI3K-Akt signal pathway, etc. The results of molecular docking, MD simulation and post-dynamics simulation showed they had a good affinity and formed a stable effect. So quercetin may play an important role in the treatment of CRC by acting on AKT1, EGFR, MMP9, KDR, MET and PTK2 to affect the development of CRC.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

USP11-mediated LSH deubiquitination inhibits ferroptosis in colorectal cancer through epigenetic activation of CYP24A1

Ferroptosis is an iron-dependent form of regulated cell death characterized by lipid peroxidation. Colorectal cancer (CRC) cells evade ferroptosis despite their requirement of substantial iron and reactive oxygen species (ROS) to sustain active metabolism and extensive proliferation. However, the underlying mechanism is unclear. Herein, we report the role of lymphoid-specific helicase (LSH), a chromatin-remodeling protein, in suppressing erastin-induced ferroptosis in CRC cells. We demonstrate that erastin treatment leads to dose- and time-dependent downregulation of LSH in CRC cells, and depletion of LSH increases cell sensitivity to ferroptosis. Mechanistically, LSH interacts with and is stabilized by ubiquitin-specific protease 11 (USP11) via deubiquitination; this interaction was disrupted by erastin treatment, resulting in increased ubiquitination and LSH degradation. Moreover, we identified cytochrome P450 family 24 subfamily A member 1 (CYP24A1) as a transcriptional target of LSH. LSH binds to the CYP24A1 promoter, promoting nucleosome eviction and reducing H3K27me3 occupancy, thus leading to transcription of CYP24A1. This cascade inhibits excessive intracellular Ca2+ influx, thereby reducing lipid peroxidation and ultimately conferring resistance to ferroptosis. Importantly, aberrant expression of USP11, LSH, and CYP24A1 is observed in CRC tissues and correlates with poor patient prognosis. Taken together, our study demonstrates the crucial role of the USP11/LSH/CYP24A1 signaling axis in inhibiting ferroptosis in CRC, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic target in CRC treatment.

Metformin and thymoquinone co-treatment enhance 5-fluorouracil cytotoxicity by suppressing the PI3K/mTOR/HIF1α pathway and increasing oxidative stress in colon cancer cells

This study investigated the chemotherapeutic effects of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), metformin (Met), and/or thymoquinone (TQ) single/dual/triple therapies in the HT29, SW480 and SW620 colon cancer (CRC) cell lines. Cell cycle/apoptosis were measured by flow cytometry. The gene and protein expression of apoptosis (PCNA/survivin/BAX/Cytochrome-C/Caspase-3) and cell cycle (CCND1/CCND3/p21/p27) molecules, the PI3K/mTOR/HIF1α oncogenic pathway, and glycolysis regulatory enzymes were measured by quantitative-PCR and Western blot. Markers of oxidative stress were also measured by colorimetric assays. Although all treatments induced anti-cancer effects related to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, the triple therapy showed the highest pro-apoptotic actions that coincided with the lowest expression of CCND1/CCND3/PCNA/survivin and the maximal increases in p21/p27/BAX/Cytochrome-C/Caspase-3 in all cell lines. The triple therapy also revealed the best suppression of the PI3K/mTOR/HIF1α pathway by increasing its endogenous inhibitors (PTEN/AMPKα) in all cell lines. Moreover, the lowest expression of lactate dehydrogenase and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase-1 with the highest expression of pyruvate dehydrogenase were seen with the triple therapy, which also showed the highest increases in oxidative stress markers (ROS/RNS/MDA/protein carbonyl groups) alongside the lowest antioxidant levels (GSH/CAT) in all cell lines. In conclusion, this is the first study to reveal enhanced anti-cancer effects for metformin/thymoquinone in CRC that were superior to all monotherapies and the other dual therapies. However, the triple therapy approach showed the best tumoricidal actions related to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in all cell lines, possibly by enhancing oxidative glycolysis and augmenting oxidative stress through stronger modulation of the PI3K/mTOR/HIF1α oncogenic network.

Transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) mediates reactive oxygen species-induced Ca2+ entry, mitochondrial dysfunction, and caspase-3/7 activation in primary cultures of metastatic colorectal carcinoma cells

Colorectal carcinoma (CRC) represents the fourth most common cancer worldwide and is the third most common cause of malignancy-associated mortality. Distant metastases to the liver and lungs are the main drivers of CRC-dependent death. Pro-oxidant therapies, which halt disease progression by exacerbating oxidative stress, represent an antitumour strategy that is currently exploited by chemotherapy and ionizing radiation. A more selective strategy to therapeutically exploit reactive oxygen species (ROS) signaling would consist in targeting a redox sensor that is up-regulated in metastatic cells and is tightly coupled to the stimulation of cancer cell death programs. The non-selective cation channel, Transient Receptor Potential Ankyrin 1 (TRPA1), serves as a sensor of the cellular redox state, being activated to promote extracellular Ca²⁺ entry by an increase in oxidative stress. Recent work demonstrated that TRPA1 channel protein is up-regulated in several cancer types and that TRPA1-mediated Ca²⁺ signals can either engage an antiapoptotic pro-survival signaling pathway or to promote mitochondrial Ca²⁺ dysfunction and apoptosis. Herein, we sought to assess for the first time the outcome of TRPA1 activation by ROS on primary cultures of metastatic colorectal carcinoma (mCRC cells). We found that TRPA1 channel protein is up-regulated and mediates enhanced hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂)-induced Ca²⁺ entry in mCRC cells as compared to non-neoplastic control cells. The lipid peroxidation product 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) is the main ROS responsible for TRPA1 activation upon mCRC cell exposure to oxidative stress. TRPA1-mediated Ca²⁺ entry in response to H₂O₂ and 4-HNE results in mitochondrial Ca²⁺ overload, followed by mitochondrial depolarization and caspase-3/7 activation. Therefore, targeting TRPA1 could represent an alternative strategy to eradicate metastatic CRC by enhancing its sensitivity to oxidative stress.

Bilirubin, an endogenous antioxidant that affects p53 protein and its downstream apoptosis/autophagy-related genes in LS180 and SW480 cell culture models of colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the commonest neoplasms worldwide, which its pathogenesis is strongly correlated with p53 mutations. Antioxidants are believed to decelerate the CRC progression, possibly through interfering with p53 and its downstream target genes and mechanisms. Regarding the potential antioxidant effects of bilirubin, as an incredible endogenous antioxidant, we sought to investigate how bilirubin affected the expression levels of p53 protein and its downstream target genes, including Mdm2, Bcl-2, BECN1 and LC3, in LS180 and SW480 cell culture models of CRC.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Using the MTT (3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide) assay, 50 and 100 μM concentrations of bilirubin were determined to be non-toxic for both LS180 and SW480 cell lines. Western blot analysis was employed to evaluate the protein expression levels of p53. The results revealed that p53 protein levels were higher in LS180 cells treated with bilirubin compared to the control group. Notwithstanding, in SW480 cells, no considerable changes were observed in p53 protein levels of treated cells compared to the control ones. The quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (q RT-PCR) method was used to measure the mRNA expression levels of the apoptosis/autophagy-related genes, Mdm2, Bcl-2, BECN1, and LC3 , as the p53's downstream target genes. Consequently, the expression of Bcl-2 and Mdm2 genes were affected by p53, while BECN1 and LC3 expression levels were decreased in both cell lines.

CONCLUSION

Bilirubin is an endogenous antioxidant with significant anti-tumor effects in the studied CRC cell lines, probably through the regulation of p53 protein expression levels and subsequent control of apoptosis and autophagy, as two key processes involved in cell survival and progression of tumor cells.

Selenylated Imidazo [1,2-a]pyridine Induces Apoptosis and Oxidative Stress in 2D and 3D Models of Colon Cancer Cells

Colon cancer incidence rates are increasing annually, a scenario aggravated by genetic and epigenetic alterations that promote drug resistance. Recent studies showed that novel synthetic selenium compounds are more efficient and less toxic than conventional drugs, demonstrating biocompatibility and pro-oxidant effects on tumor cells. This study aimed to investigate the cytotoxic effect of MRK-107, an imidazo [1,2- a]pyridine derivative, in 2D and 3D cell culture models of colon cancer (Caco-2 and HT-29). Sulforhodamine B results revealed a GI50 of 2.4 µM for Caco-2, 1.1 µM for HT-29, and 22.19 µM for NIH/3T3 in 2D cultures after 48 h of treatment. Cell recovery, migration, clonogenic, and Ki-67 results corroborated that MRK-107 inhibits cell proliferation and prevents cell regeneration and metastatic transition by selectively reducing migratory and clonogenic capacity; non-tumor cells (NIH/3T3) re-established proliferation in less than 18 h. The oxidative stress markers DCFH-DA and TBARS revealed increased ROS generation and oxidative damage. Caspases-3/7 are activated and induce apoptosis as the main mode of cell death in both cell models, as assessed by annexin V-FITC and acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining. MRK-107 is a selective, redox-active compound with pro-oxidant and pro-apoptotic properties and the capacity to activate antiproliferative pathways, showing promise in anticancer drug research.

Exploring the role of pyroptosis in shaping the tumor microenvironment of colorectal cancer by bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing

BACKGROUND

Emerging studies have shown that pyroptosis plays a non-negligible role in the development and treatment of tumors. However, the mechanism of pyroptosis in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains still unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the role of pyroptosis in CRC.

METHODS

A pyroptosis-related risk model was developed using univariate Cox regression and LASSO Cox regression analyses. Based on this model, pyroptosis-related risk scores (PRS) of CRC samples with OS time > 0 from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database were calculated. The abundance of immune cells in CRC tumor microenvironment (TME) was predicted by single-sample gene-set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA). Then, the responses to chemotherapy and immunotherapy were predicted by pRRophetic algorithm, the tumor immune dysfunction and exclusion (TIDE) and SubMap algorithms, respectively. Moreover, the Cancer Therapeutics Response Portal (CTRP) and PRISM Repurposing dataset (PRISM) were used to explore novel drug treatment strategies of CRC. Finally, we investigated pyroptosis-related genes in the level of single-cell and validated the expression levels of these genes between normal and CRC cell lines by RT-qPCR.

RESULTS

Survival analysis showed that CRC samples with low PRS had better overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). CRC samples with low PRS had higher immune-related gene expression and immune cell infiltration than those with high PRS. Besides, CRC samples with low PRS were more likely to benefit from 5-fluorouracil based chemotherapy and anti-PD-1 immunotherapy. In novel drug prediction, some compounds such as C6-ceramide and noretynodrel, were inferred as potential drugs for CRC with different PRS. Single-cell analysis revealed pyroptosis-related genes were highly expressed in tumor cells. RT-qPCR also demonstrated different expression levels of these genes between normal and CRC cell lines.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, this study provides a comprehensive investigation of the role of pyroptosis in CRC at the bulk RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) levels, advances our understanding of CRC characteristics, and guides more effective treatment regimens.

Vitamin D receptor prevents tumour development by regulating the Wnt/β-catenin signalling pathway in human colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common disease threatening human lives worldwide, and vitamin D receptor (VDR) contributes protective roles in this disease. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying VDR protection in CRC progression require further investigation.

METHODS

In this study, we statistically analyzed the relationship between VDR expression and CRC development in patients and detected invasion and apoptosis in CRC cells with VDR overexpression and interference. We also detected the expression of key genes involved in Wnt/β-catenin signalling (β-catenin, lymphoid enhancer factor (LEF)-1 and cyclin D1) in SW480 cells and nude mice injected with VDR-overexpressing SW480 cells and observed tumour development. Additionally, we performed Co-immunoprecipitation (Co-IP) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) pull-down assays to identify the protein interactions of VDR with β-catenin, dual luciferase (LUC) and chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) to detect the activation of LEF-1 by VDR.

RESULTS

The VDR level was closely related to the development and prognosis of CRC patients. VDR overexpression inhibited invasion but promoted apoptosis in cancer cells. β-catenin shRNA contributed oppositely to cancer cell activity with VDR shRNA. Additionally, VDR interacted with β-catenin at the protein level and blocked its nuclear accumulation. VDR regulated the expression of β-catenin, cyclin D1 and LEF-1 and directly activated LEF-1 transcription in vitro. Furthermore, nude mice injected with VDR-overexpressing SW480 cells revealed suppression of tumour growth and decreased expression of β-catenin, cyclin D1 and LEF-1.

CONCLUSIONS

This study indicated that VDR protected against CRC disease in humans by inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin signalling to control cancer cell invasion and apoptosis, providing new evidence to explore VDR biomarkers or agonists for CRC patient diagnosis and treatment.

Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and Colorectal Cancer: An Overview

Colorectal cancer (CRC) represents the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The pathogenesis of CRC is a complex multistep process. Among other factors, inflammation and oxidative stress (OS) have been reported to be involved in the initiation and development of CRC. Although OS plays a vital part in the life of all organisms, its long-term effects on the human body may be involved in the development of different chronic diseases, including cancer diseases. Chronic OS can lead to the oxidation of biomolecules (nucleic acids, lipids and proteins) or the activation of inflammatory signaling pathways, resulting in the activation of several transcription factors or the dysregulation of gene and protein expression followed by tumor initiation or cancer cell survival. In addition, it is well known that chronic intestinal diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are associated with an increased risk of cancer, and a link between OS and IBD initiation and progression has been reported. This review focuses on the role of oxidative stress as a causative agent of inflammation in colorectal cancer.

The role of oxidative stress, tumor and inflammatory markers in colorectal cancer patients: A one-year follow-up study

Oxidative stress (OS) and inflammation are known to play an important role in colorectal cancer (CRC). This study analyzed tumor, inflammatory and OS markers in CRC patients and in a control group. In addition, the evolution of these markers was evaluated after one-year of follow-up treatment. This was a longitudinal and prospective, observational study in 80 CRC patients who were candidates for tumor resection surgery and/or chemo-radiotherapy treatment and a healthy control group (n = 60). Subsequently, catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH), oxidized glutathione (GSSG) and GSSG/GSH ratio in serum and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) and F2-IsoProstanes (F2-IsoPs) in urine at 1, 6 and 12 months after treatment was analyzed. Tumor markers (CEA and CA 19.9), as well as inflammatory markers-leukocytes, neutrophils, neutrophil/lymphocyte (N/L) index, platelets, fibrinogen, C-reactive protein (CRP), and interleukin 6 (IL6)- were also analyzed. As expected, levels of CEA and CA 19.9 and markers of inflammation, except CRP, were significantly higher in CRC compared to the control group. Regarding OS markers, a decrease in CAT and GSH and an increase in GSSG, GSSG/GSH ratio, 8-oxodG and F2-IsoPs were found in CRC patients compared to healthy controls at baseline. After treatment, an improvement of their inflammation profile was accompanied by a progressive recovery of antioxidant enzyme activities and the decline of oxidative byproducts both in serum and urine. Based on the results obtained, we propose the assay of urinary 8-oxodG and F2-IsoPs, as well as serum CAT, GSH, GSSG as a marker for the evaluation of OS and the clinical follow-up of CRC patients.

SCF-FBXL8 contributes to liver metastasis and stem-cell-like features in colorectal cancer cells by mediating ubiquitination and degradation of TP53

BACKGROUND

FBXL8 is a conserved F-box protein, belonging to the ubiquitin ligase complex, which promotes the development and progression of tumours. However, the regulation function and mechanism of FBXL8's involvement in colorectal cancer (CRC) remain unclear.

METHODS

RT-PCR is used to detect gene expression levels. Protein levels were determined by western blotting and flow cytometry. The bindings of FBXL8 and p53 and ubiquitination levels were detected by cell transfection and immunoprecipitation. The transwell assay was used to measure the ability of cells to migrate and invade. Animal studies were used to verify the function of FBXL8 in vivo.

RESULTS

The expression of FBXL8 was up-regulated in CRC tissues, and its overexpression was associated with poor prognosis in CRC patients. The up-regulation of FBXL8 promoted the proliferation, invasion and migration of CRC tumour cells and maintained the stem-cell characteristics of colorectal tumour cells. Further analysis demonstrated that FBXL8 targeted p53 and reduced its stability through ubiquitination. Knockout of FBXL8 down-regulated the proliferation, migration and stem-like properties of tumour cells. CRC mouse xenograft tumour model confirmed that FBXL8 gene knockout inhibited tumour formation and liver metastasis.

CONCLUSION

FBXL8 was highly expressed in CRC. Mechanism studies have shown that FBXL8 degraded tumour suppressor gene p53 by ubiquitination. FBXL8 knockout inhibited the proliferation and stem characteristics of CRC cells, so SCF-FBXL8-TP53 has potential to be used as a therapeutic target for CRC in subsequent studies.

Anticancer effect of paroxetine and amitriptyline on HT29 and A549 cell lines

INTRODUCTION

Paroxetine is functionally classified as a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor. Paroxetine can induce mitochondria-dependent apoptosis through the ROS-MAPK pathway.Amitriptyline is a tricyclic antidepressant. This drug induces the expression of p53, thereby activating caspase-3. Amitriptyline has also been studied as a potential candidate for inducing oxidative stress and cytotoxicity in cancer cells, which may be more effective than other chemotherapy drugs. This study aims to to investigate the anticancer effects of paroxetine and amitriptyline and their combination treatment on HT29 and A549 cell lines for the first time.

METHODS

In order to investigate the anticancer effect of two drugs, paroxetine and amitriptyline, on inhibiting the growth of A549 and HT29 cancer cells, oxidative stress factors and LDH enzyme and apoptosis tests were performed.

RESULTS

Two drugs, amitriptyline and paroxetine alone, inhibited the growth of cancer cells in such a way that the inhibitory effect of the cells increased with the increase in the dose of the drug. In the simultaneous exposure of these two drugs, the inhibitory effect was much greater than the effect of single drug exposure. Also, these two drugs have caused LDH leakage and induction of apoptosis.

CONCLUSION

According to the results of the study, it was found that these two drugs have the necessary ability to inhibit the growth of cancer cells by inducing apoptosis and LDH leakage and inducing oxidative stress.

Identification of Gene Signature-Related Oxidative Stress for Predicting Prognosis of Colorectal Cancer

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common cancer. Nearly a decade of studies had shown that cancer regimens tailored to molecular and pathological features lead to improved overall survival. Oxidative stress (OS) refers to a state in which oxidation and antioxidant effects are unbalanced in the body. However, the molecular mechanism of OS-related CRC remains unclear.

Methods

Univariate Cox regression analysis gained OS signature genes related to CRC prognosis, and then, different CRC molecular subtypes were obtained by consensus clustering analysis. Differential expression analysis and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) algorithm were used to obtain prognostic-related signature genes. Significantly, risk score was calculated by RiskScore = Σβi × Expi. Moreover, the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, immune cell infiltration, and sensitivity to treatment regimens were performed to assess the model's validity and adaptability. Finally, RiskScore incorporated clinicopathological features to further improve prognostic models and survival prediction.

Results

63 OS-related prognostic genes were obtained, and four distinct molecular subtypes of CRC were identified based on the expression characteristics. 230 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between different molecular subtypes were compressed by LASSO algorithm, and finally, 6 OS-related genes were obtained. The Kaplan-Meier survival analysis indicated that the high RiskScore groups had poorer prognosis and the RiskScore model showed better predictive performance in all three other independent datasets. Moreover, immunotherapy/chemosensitivity analysis found that the low-risk group was more sensitive to different treatment options and could achieve better treatment outcomes.

Conclusion

Oxidative stress-related RiskScore model built in this work has good predictive performance for CRC.

Molecular differences of angiogenic versus vessel co-opting colorectal cancer liver metastases at single-cell resolution

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRCLM) are associated with a poor prognosis, reflected by a five-year survival rate of 14%. Anti-angiogenic therapy through anti-VEGF antibody administration is one of the limited therapies available. However, only a subgroup of metastases uses sprouting angiogenesis to secure their nutrients and oxygen supply, while others rely on vessel co-option (VCO). The distinct mode of vascularization is reflected by specific histopathological growth patterns (HGPs), which have proven prognostic and predictive significance. Nevertheless, their molecular mechanisms are poorly understood.

METHODS

We evaluated CRCLM from 225 patients regarding their HGP and clinical data. Moreover, we performed spatial (21,804 spots) and single-cell (22,419 cells) RNA sequencing analyses to explore molecular differences in detail, further validated in vitro through immunohistochemical analysis and patient-derived organoid cultures.

RESULTS

We detected specific metabolic alterations and a signature of WNT signalling activation in metastatic cancer cells related to the VCO phenotype. Importantly, in the corresponding healthy liver of CRCLM displaying sprouting angiogenesis, we identified a predominantly expressed capillary subtype of endothelial cells, which could be further explored as a possible predictor for HGP relying on sprouting angiogenesis.

CONCLUSION

These findings may prove to be novel therapeutic targets to the treatment of CRCLM, in special the ones relying on VCO.

Vitamin D Receptor Activation Targets ROS-Mediated Crosstalk Between Autophagy and Apoptosis in Hepatocytes in Cholestasic Mice

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Observational epidemiologic studies have associated vitamin D deficiency with cholestasis. We reported previously that activation of the vitamin D/vitamin D receptor (VDR) axis in cholangiocytes mitigates cholestatic liver injury by remodeling the damaged bile duct. However, the function of VDR in hepatocytes during cholestasis remains unclear.

METHODS

Paricalcitol (VDR agonist, 200 ng/kg) was injected intraperitoneally into bile duct-ligated mice every other day for 5 days. Primary hepatocytes and HepG2 hepatoma cells were transfected with Vdr short hairpin RNA, control short hairpin RNA, Vdr plasmid, control vector, Atg5 small interfering RNA (siRNA), and control siRNA. Liver histology, cell proliferation, and autophagy were evaluated.

RESULTS

Treatment with the VDR agonist paricalcitol improved liver injury in bile duct-ligated mice by up-regulating VDR expression in hepatocytes, which in turn reduced hepatocyte apoptosis by inhibiting reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation via suppressing the Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1/reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 1 pathway. Mechanistically, upon exposure to an ROS-inducing compound, Vdr siRNA contributed to apoptosis, whereas the Vdr overexpression caused resistance to apoptosis. Interestingly, up-regulated VDR expression also increased the generation of autophagosomes and macroautophagic/autophagic flux, which was the underlying mechanism for reduced apoptosis following VDR activation. Autophagy depletion impaired the positive effects of VDR overexpression, whereas autophagy induction was synergystic with VDR overexpression. Importantly, up-regulation of VDR promoted autophagy activation by suppressing the activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)/p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38MAPK) pathway. Thus, a p38MAPK inhibitor abrogated the Vdr siRNA-induced decrease in autophagy and the Vdr siRNA-induced increase in apoptosis. In contrast, a Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK)/ERK activator prevented the enhancement of autophagy and decreased apoptosis following Vdr overexpression. Moreover, the ROS inhibitor N-acetylcystein (NAC) blocked Vdr siRNA-enhanced activation of the ERK/p38MAPK pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

VDR activation mitigated liver cholestatic injury by reducing autophagy-dependent hepatocyte apoptosis and suppressing the activation of the ROS-dependent ERK/p38MAPK pathway. Thus, VDR activation may be a potential target for the treatment of cholestatic liver disease.

Machine Learning Predicts the Oxidative Stress Subtypes Provide an Innovative Insight into Colorectal Cancer

So far, it has been reached the academic consensus that the molecular subtypes are via genomic heterogeneity and immune infiltration patterns. Considering that oxidative stress (OS) is involved in tumorigenesis and prognosis prediction, we propose an innovative classification of colorectal cancer- (CRC-) OS subtypes. We obtain three datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas Program (TCGA) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) online databases. 1399 OS-related genes were selected from the GeneCards database. We remove the batch effect before conducting differentially expressed genes (DEGs) analyses between normal and tumor samples. Nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) was used to perform an unsupervised cluster. Lasso regression and Cox regression were used to construct the signature model. DEGs, robust rank aggregation, and protein-protein interaction networks were used to select hub genes, and then use hub genes to predict OS subtypes by random forest algorithms. NMF identifies two OS-related subtypes of CRC patients. Eight OS-related gene signatures were built to predict the outcome of patients, based on the DEGs between two subtypes. A total of 61 DEGs overlap each dataset, and the RRA analysis shows that 17 genes are important in these three datasets, and 15 genes are shared genes between the two methods. PPI network suggests that five hub genes are confirmed, they are SPP1, SERPINE1, CAV1, PDGFRB, and PLAU. These five hub genes could predict the OS-related subtype of CRC accurately with AUC equal to 0.771. In our study, we identify two OS-related subtypes, which will provide an innovative insight into colorectal cancer.

An epithelial-mesenchymal transition-related prognostic model for colorectal cancer based on weighted gene co-expression network analysis

OBJECTIVE

To identify susceptibility modules and genes for colorectal cancer (CRC) using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA).

METHODS

Four microarray datasets were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. We divided the tumor samples into three subgroups based on consensus clustering of gene expression, and analyzed the correlations between the subgroups and clinical features. The genetic features of the subgroups were investigated by gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). A gene expression network was constructed using WGCNA, and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was used to identify the key genes. Gene modules were annotated by Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses.

RESULTS

We divided the cancer cases into three subgroups based on consensus clustering (subgroups I, II, III). The green module identified by WGCNA was correlated with clinical characteristics. Ten key genes were identified according to their degree of connectivity in the protein-protein interaction network: FYN, SEMA3A, AP2M1, L1CAM, NRP1, TLN1, VWF, ITGB3, ILK, and ACTN1.

CONCLUSION

We identified 10 hub genes as candidate biomarkers for CRC. These key genes may provide a theoretical basis for targeted therapy against CRC.

Possible role of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 in the progression of human colon precancerous lesions

BACKGROUND

Increased levels of oxidative stress/cell inflammation contribute to colorectal cancer (CRC) onset. Nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) and its controlled growth factor erv1-like (Gfer) gene regulate redox-sensitive and anti-inflammatory mechanisms, respectively, which can contribute to promoting cancer development.

AIM

We evaluated Nrf2 and Gfer RNA expression and Nrf2 protein expression in colon mucosa in order to establish their possible involvement in the early stage of CRC.

METHODS

Forty subjects were enrolled after a histological evaluation of their colon biopsies. They included 20 subjects with a sporadic colorectal adenoma (SpCA group) and 20 without precancerous lesions (controls). Biopsy samples were processed for gene expression analysis and protein expression, using Real-time PCR and immunofluorescence confocal microscopy, respectively.

RESULTS

Nrf2 and Gfer mRNA expression were significantly reduced (p=0.007 and p<0.003, respectively) in SpCA tissues compared to normal mucosa from controls. Furthermore, immunofluorescence analysis confirmed a relevant reduction of Nrf2 in SpCA tissue compared to normal tissue from controls.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data confirm the hypothesis that Nrf2 and Gfer expression may be involved in the initial hits contributing to the multistep process of colon carcinogenesis. Further larger studies are needed to confirm if Nrf2 and Gfer are potential risk/prognostic factors for cancer development.

Virulence Factors in Colorectal Cancer Metagenomes and Association of Microbial Siderophores with Advanced Stages

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a growing public health challenge, featuring a multifactorial etiology and complex host-environment interactions. Recently, increasing evidence has pointed to the role of the gut microbiota in CRC development and progression. To explore the role of gut microbes in CRC, we retrieved metagenomic data from 156 stools from the European Nucleotide Archive database and mapped them against the VFDB database for virulence factors (VFs). GO annotations of VFs and KEGG pathways were then performed to predict the microbial functions and define functional pathways enriched in the tumor-associated microbiota. Interestingly, 306 VFs were detected in the metagenomic data. We revealed the enrichment of adenomas with VFs involved in cell adhesion, whereas in the early stages of CRC they were enriched in both adhesins and isochorismatase. Advanced stages of CRC were enriched with microbial siderophores, especially enterobactin, which was significantly associated with isochorismate synthase. We highlighted higher abundances of porins and transporters involved in antibiotic resistance and the development of biofilm in advanced stages of CRC. Most VFs detected in CRC, particularly in advanced stages, were shown to be included in siderophore biosynthesis pathways. This enrichment of predicted VFs supports the key role of the gut microbiota in the disease.

Mitochondrial Control in Inflammatory Gastrointestinal Diseases

Mitochondria play a central role in the pathophysiology of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colorectal cancer (CRC). The maintenance of mitochondrial function is necessary for a stable immune system. Mitochondrial dysfunction in the gastrointestinal system leads to the excessive activation of multiple inflammatory signaling pathways, leading to IBD and increased severity of CRC. In this review, we focus on the mitochondria and inflammatory signaling pathways and its related gastrointestinal diseases.

Do we need to change our perspective about gut biomarkers? A public data mining approach to identify differentially abundant bacteria in intestinal inflammatory diseases

Introduction

The gut microbiome is involved in multiple processes that influence host physiology, and therefore, disruptions in microbiome homeostasis have been linked to diseases or secondary infections. Given the importance of the microbiome and the communities of microorganisms that compose it (microbiota), the term biomarkers were coined, which are bacteria correlated with disease states, diets, and the lifestyle of the host. However, a large field in the study of intestinal biomarkers remains unexplored because the bacterial communities associated with a given disease state have not been exactly defined yet.

Methods

Here, we analyzed public data of studies focused on describing the intestinal microbiota of patients with some intestinal inflammatory diseases together with their respective controls. With these analyses, we aimed to identify differentially abundant bacteria between the subjects with the disease and their controls.

Results

We found that frequently reported bacteria such as Fusobacterium, Streptococcus, and Escherichia/Shigella were differentially abundant between the groups, with a higher abundance mostly in patients with the disease in contrast with their controls. On the other hand, we also identified potentially beneficial bacteria such as Faecalibacterium and Phascolarctobacterium, with a higher abundance in control patients.

Discussion

Our results of the differentially abundant bacteria contrast with what was already reported in previous studies on certain inflammatory diseases, but we highlight the importance of considering more comprehensive approaches to redefine or expand the definition of biomarkers. For instance, the intra-taxa diversity within a bacterial community must be considered, as well as environmental and genetic factors of the host, and even consider a functional validation of these biomarkers through in vivo and in vitro approaches. With the above, these key bacterial communities in the intestinal microbiota may have potential as next-generation probiotics or may be functional for the design of specific therapies in certain intestinal diseases.

Wound Healing versus Metastasis: Role of Oxidative Stress

Many signaling pathways, molecular and cellular actors which are critical for wound healing have been implicated in cancer metastasis. These two conditions are a complex succession of cellular biological events and accurate regulation of these events is essential. Apart from inflammation, macrophages-released ROS arise as major regulators of these processes. But, whatever the pathology concerned, oxidative stress is a complicated phenomenon to control and requires a finely tuned balance over the different stages and responding cells. This review provides an overview of the pivotal role of oxidative stress in both wound healing and metastasis, encompassing the contribution of macrophages. Indeed, macrophages are major ROS producers but also appear as their targets since ROS interfere with their differentiation and function. Elucidating ROS functions in wound healing and metastatic spread may allow the development of innovative therapeutic strategies involving redox modulators.