Targeting Autophagy Augments BBR-Mediated Cell Death in Human Hepatoma Cells Harboring Hepatitis C Virus RNA

Cinobufotalin inhibits proliferation, migration and invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma by triggering NOX4/NLRP3/GSDMD-dependent pyroptosis

Introduction

Pyroptosis is an inflammatory form of programmed cell death that plays a significant role in tumorigenesis. Cinobufotalin (CB), a bufadienolide extracted from toad venom, is associated with antitumor effects in various cancers, including liver cancer. However, the role of CB in pyroptosis and its underlying mechanisms have not been well characterized.

Methods

MTT, Colony formation, EdU, Wound healing and Transwell migration and invasion assays were applied to determine the effects of CB on the proliferation, migration, and invasion ability of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells in vitro. The subcutaneous xenograft mouse model and pulmonary metastasis model were used to evaluate the effect of CB on HCC cells in vivo. PCR, western blot, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and ELISA were used to verify the expression of proliferation, migration, pyroptosis, and inflammation related molecules after CB treatment. Using si-RNA and inhibitors to interfere with NOX4 and HLRP3 expression to validate the key signaling pathways of pyroptosis induced by CB treatment.

Results

In vivo experiments using nude mice with xenografted HCC cells and in vitro experiments with HCC cell lines demonstrated that CB treatment significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasiveness of HCC cells. CB treatment also showed dose-dependent activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome complex in HCC cells, leading to gasdermin D-induced pyroptosis. However, these effects were abrogated via the pretreatment of HCC cells with VX-765, a caspase-1 inhibitor. Additionally, CB increased the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and H₂O₂, along with upregulating NOX4 protein expression in HCC cells. Conversely, NOX4 silencing or pretreatment with VAS2870 (an NOX4 inhibitor) or NAC (an ROS scavenger) suppressed the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome complex and pyroptosis in CB-treated HCC cells.

Discussion

Our study demonstrated that CB suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasiveness of HCC cells by inducing pyroptosis through the activation of the NOX4/NLRP3/GSDMD signaling pathway. Therefore, our results suggest that CB is a promising therapeutic agent for HCC.

The potential of the nutraceutical berberine in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma and other liver diseases such as NAFLD and NASH

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common cancer which unfortunately has poor outcomes. Common anti-cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and targeted therapy have not increased patient survival significantly. A common treatment for HCC patients is transplantation, however, it has limitations and complications. Novel approaches are necessary to more effectively treat HCC patients. Berberine (BBR) is a nutraceutical derived from various fruits and trees, which has been used for centuries in traditional medicine to treat various diseases such as diabetes and inflammation. More recently, the anti-proliferation effects of BBR have been investigated in the treatment of patients with various cancers, especially colorectal cancer, and in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). In this review, we will focus on studies with BBR in liver diseases.

[Berberine inhibits autophagy and promotes apoptosis of fibroblast-like synovial cells from rheumatoid arthritis patients through the ROS/mTOR signaling pathway]

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the regulatory effect of berberine on autophagy and apoptosis balance of fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) from patients with in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and explore the mechanism.

METHODS

The inhibitory effect of 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 μmol/L berberine on RA-FLS proliferation was assessed using CCK-8 method. Annexin V/PI and JC-1 immunofluorescence staining was used to analyze the effect of berberine (30 μmol/L) on apoptosis of 25 ng/mL TNF-α- induced RA-FLSs, and Western blotting was performed to detect the changes in the expression levels of autophagy- and apoptosis-related proteins. The cells were further treated with the autophagy inducer RAPA and the autophagy inhibitor chloroquine to observe the changes in autophagic flow by laser confocal detection of mCherry-EGFP-LC3B. RA-FLSs were treated with the reactive oxygen species (ROS) mimic H2O2 or the ROS inhibitor NAC, and the effects of berberine on ROS, mTOR and p-mTOR levels were observed.

RESULTS

The results of CCK-8 assay showed that berberine significantly inhibited the proliferation of RA-FLSs in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Flow cytometry and JC-1 staining showed that berberine (30 μmol/L) significantly increased apoptosis rate (P < 0.01) and reduced the mitochondrial membrane potential of RA-FLSs (P < 0.05). Berberine treatment obviously decreased the ratios of Bcl-2/Bax (P < 0.05) and LC3B-II/I (P < 0.01) and increased the expression of p62 protein in the cells (P < 0.05). Detection of mCherry-EGFP-LC3B autophagy flow revealed obvious autophagy flow block in berberine-treated RA-FLSs. Berberine significantly reduced the level of ROS in TNF-α-induced RA-FLSs and upregulated the expression level of autophagy-related protein p-mTOR (P < 0.01); this effect was regulated by ROS level, and the combined use of RAPA significantly reduced the pro-apoptotic effect of berberine in RA-FLSs (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Berberine can inhibit autophagy and promote apoptosis of RA-FLSs by regulating the ROS-mTOR pathway.

Identification of berberine as a potential therapeutic strategy for kidney clear cell carcinoma and COVID-19 based on analysis of large-scale datasets

Background

Regarding the global coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID)-19 pandemic, kidney clear cell carcinoma (KIRC) has acquired a higher infection probability and may induce fatal complications and death following COVID-19 infection. However, effective treatment strategies remain unavailable. Berberine exhibits significant antiviral and antitumour effects. Thus, this study aimed to provide a promising and reliable therapeutic strategy for clinical decision-making by exploring the therapeutic mechanism of berberine against KIRC/COVID-19.

Methods

Based on large-scale data analysis, the target genes, clinical risk, and immune and pharmacological mechanisms of berberine against KIRC/COVID-19 were systematically investigated.

Results

In total, 1,038 and 12,992 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of COVID-19 and KIRC, respectively, were verified from Gene Expression Omnibus and The Cancer Genome Atlas databases, respectively, and 489 berberine target genes were obtained from official websites. After intersecting, 26 genes were considered potential berberine therapeutic targets for KIRC/COVID-19. Berberine mechanism of action against KIRC/COVID-19 was revealed by protein-protein interaction, gene ontology, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes with terms including protein interaction, cell proliferation, viral carcinogenesis, and the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway. In COVID-19 patients, ACOX1, LRRK2, MMP8, SLC1A3, CPT1A, H2AC11, H4C8, and SLC1A3 were closely related to disease severity, and the general survival of KIRC patients was closely related to ACOX1, APP, CPT1A, PLK1, and TYMS. Additionally, the risk signature accurately and sensitively depicted the overall survival and patient survival status for KIRC. Numerous neutrophils were enriched in the immune system of COVID-19 patients, and the lives of KIRC patients were endangered due to significant immune cell infiltration. Molecular docking studies indicated that berberine binds strongly to target proteins.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated berberine as a potential treatment option in pharmacological, immunological, and clinical practice. Moreover, its therapeutic effects may provide potential and reliable treatment options for patients with KIRC/COVID-19.

Berberine a traditional Chinese drug repurposing: Its actions in inflammation-associated ulcerative colitis and cancer therapy

Berberine (BBR), an isoquinoline alkaloid extracted from Coptidis Rhizoma, has a long history of treating dysentery in the clinic. Over the past two decades, the polytrophic, pharmacological, and biochemical properties of BBR have been intensively studied. The key functions of BBR, including anti-inflammation, antibacterial, antioxidant, anti-obesity, and even antitumor, have been discovered. However, the underlying mechanisms of BBR-mediated regulation still need to be explored. Given that BBR is also a natural nutrition supplement, the modulatory effects of BBR on nutritional immune responses have attracted more attention from investigators. In this mini-review, we summarized the latest achievements of BBR on inflammation, gut microbes, macrophage polarization, and immune responses associated with their possible tools in the pathogenesis and therapy of ulcerative colitis and cancer in recent 5 years. We also discuss the therapeutic efficacy and anti-inflammatory actions of BBR to benefit future clinical applications.

Natural-Product-Mediated Autophagy in the Treatment of Various Liver Diseases

Autophagy is essential for the maintenance of hepatic homeostasis, and autophagic malfunction has been linked to the pathogenesis of substantial liver diseases. As a popular source of drug discovery, natural products have been used for centuries to effectively prevent the progression of various liver diseases. Emerging evidence has suggested that autophagy regulation is a critical mechanism underlying the therapeutic effects of these natural products. In this review, relevant studies are retrieved from scientific databases published between 2011 and 2022, and a novel scoring system was established to critically evaluate the completeness and scientific significance of the reviewed literature. We observed that numerous natural products were suggested to regulate autophagic flux. Depending on the therapeutic or pathogenic role autophagy plays in different liver diseases, autophagy-regulative natural products exhibit different therapeutic effects. According to our novel scoring system, in a considerable amount of the involved studies, convincing and reasonable evidence to elucidate the regulatory effects and underlying mechanisms of natural-product-mediated autophagy regulation was missing and needed further illustration. We highlight that autophagy-regulative natural products are valuable drug candidates with promising prospects for the treatment of liver diseases and deserve more attention in the future.

Autophagy-Related Signatures as Prognostic Indicators for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common and deadly type of liver cancer. Autophagy is the process of transporting damaged or aging cellular components into lysosomes for digestion and degradation. Accumulating evidence implies that autophagy is a key factor in tumor progression. The aim of this study was to determine a panel of novel autophagy-related prognostic markers for liver cancer.

Methods

We conducted a comprehensive analysis of autophagy-related gene (ARG) expression profiles and corresponding clinical information based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) databases. The univariate Cox proportional regression model was used to screen candidate autophagy-related prognostic genes. In addition, a multivariate Cox proportional regression model was used to identify five key prognostic autophagy-related genes (ATIC, BAX, BIRC5, CAPNS1, and FKBP1A), which were used to construct a prognostic signature. Real-time qPCR analysis was used to evaluate the expression levels of ARGs in 20 surgically resected HCC samples and matched tumor-adjacent normal tissue samples. In addition, the effect of FKBP1A on autophagy and tumor progression was determined by performing in vitro and in vivo experiments.

Results

Based on the prognostic signature, patients with liver cancer were significantly divided into high-risk and low-risk groups in terms of overall survival (OS). A subsequent multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that the prognostic signature remained an independent prognostic factor for OS. The prognostic signature possessing a better area under the curve (AUC) displayed better performance in predicting the survival of patients with HCC than other clinical parameters. Furthermore, FKBP1A was overexpressed in HCC tissues, and knockdown of FKBP1A impaired cell proliferation, migration, and invasion through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway.

Conclusion

This study provides a prospective biomarker for monitoring outcomes of patients with HCC.

Apoptosis Induction, a Sharp Edge of Berberine to Exert Anti-Cancer Effects, Focus on Breast, Lung, and Liver Cancer

Cancer is the leading cause of death and one of the greatest barriers to increased life expectancy worldwide. Currently, chemotherapy with synthetic drugs remains one of the predominant ways for cancer treatment, which may lead to drug resistance and normal organ damage. Increasing researches have suggested that apoptosis, a type of programmed cell death, is a promising way for cancer therapy. Furthermore, natural products are important sources for finding new drugs with high availability, low cost and low toxicity. As a well-known isoquinoline alkaloid, accumulating evidence has revealed that berberine (BBR) exerts potential pro-apoptotic effects on multiple cancers, including breast, lung, liver, gastric, colorectal, pancreatic, and ovarian cancers. The related potential signal pathways are AMP-activated protein kinase, mitogen-activated protein kinase, and protein kinase B pathways. In this review, we provide a timely and comprehensive summary of the detailed molecular mechanisms of BBR in treating three types of cancer (breast, lung and liver cancer) by inducing apoptosis. Furthermore, we also discuss the existing challenges and strategies to improve BBR’s bioavailability. Hopefully, this review provides valuable information for the comprehension of BBR in treating three types of cancer and highlight the pro-apoptotic effects of BBR, which would be beneficial for the further development of this natural compound as an effective clinical drug for treating cancers.

Current Advances in Coptidis Rhizoma for Gastrointestinal and Other Cancers

Cancer is a serious disease with an increasing number of reported cases and high mortality worldwide. Gastrointestinal cancer defines a group of cancers in the digestive system, e.g., liver cancer, colorectal cancer, and gastric cancer. Coptidis Rhizoma (C. Rhizoma; Huanglian, in Chinese) is a classical Chinese medicinal botanical drug for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders and has been shown to have a wide variety of pharmacological activity, including antifungal, antivirus, anticancer, antidiabetic, hypoglycemic, and cardioprotective effects. Recent studies on C. Rhizoma present significant progress on its anticancer effects and the corresponding mechanisms as well as its clinical applications. Herein, keywords related to C. Rhizoma, cancer, gastrointestinal cancer, and omics were searched in PubMed and the Web of Science databases, and more than three hundred recent publications were reviewed and discussed. C. Rhizoma extract along with its main components, berberine, palmatine, coptisine, magnoflorine, jatrorrhizine, epiberberine, oxyepiberberine, oxyberberine, dihydroberberine, columbamine, limonin, and derivatives, are reviewed. We describe novel and classic anticancer mechanisms from various perspectives of pharmacology, pharmaceutical chemistry, and pharmaceutics. Researchers have transformed the chemical structures and drug delivery systems of these components to obtain better efficacy and bioavailability of C. Rhizoma. Furthermore, C. Rhizoma in combination with other drugs and their clinical application are also summarized. Taken together, C. Rhizoma has broad prospects as a potential adjuvant candidate against cancers, making it reasonable to conduct additional preclinical studies and clinical trials in gastrointestinal cancer in the future.

Separation, Purification, Structure Analysis, In Vitro Antioxidant Activity and circRNA-miRNA-mRNA Regulatory Network on PRV-Infected RAW264.7 Cells of a Polysaccharide Derived from Arthrospira platensis

To investigate the structure of Arthrospira platensis polysaccharide (PAP) (intracellular polysaccharide) and the antioxidant activity of the first component of PAP (PAP-1) on pseudorabies virus (PRV) -infected RAW264.7 cells. The PAP was separated and purified by the Cellulose DE-52 chromatography column and Sephacryl S-200 high-resolution gel column to obtain PAP-1. The antioxidant activity and regulation of PAP-1 on PRV-infected RAW264.7 cells of circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network were investigated by chemical kit, Q-PCR, and ce-RNA seq. The results indicated that the molecular weight (Mw) of PAP-1, which was mainly composed of glucose and eight other monosaccharides, was 1.48 × 106 Da. The main glycosidic bond structure of PAP-1 was →4)-α-D-Glcp-(1→. PAP-1 may be increased the antioxidant capacity by regulating the circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network in PRV-infected RAW264.7 cells. This study provided a scientific foundation for further exploring the antioxidant activity of PAP-1 based on its structure.

The role of non-apoptotic cell death in the treatment and drug-resistance of digestive tumors

Tumor cell apoptosis evasion is one of the main reasons for easy metastasis occurrence, chemotherapy resistance, and the low five-year survival rate of digestive system tumors. Current research has shown that non-apoptotic cell death plays an important role in tumors of the digestive system. Therefore, increasing the proportion of non-apoptotic tumor cells is one of the effective methods of improving therapeutic efficacies for digestive system tumors. Non-apoptotic cell death modes mainly include autophagic cell death, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, in addition to other cell death modes. This review covers a systematic review relating to the research progress made into autophagic cell death, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and other cell death modes in the treatment of digestive system tumors. It also highlights how treatment is a reasonable prospect based on clinical experience and provides reliable guidance for the further development of digestive system tumor treatments.

A small molecule compound berberine as an orally active therapeutic candidate against COVID-19 and SARS: A computational and mechanistic study

The novel coronavirus disease, COVID-19, has grown into a global pandemic and a major public health threat since its breakout in December 2019. To date, no specific therapeutic drug or vaccine for treating COVID-19 and SARS has been FDA approved. Previous studies suggest that berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid, has shown various biological activities that may help against COVID-19 and SARS, including antiviral, anti-allergy and inflammation, hepatoprotection against drug- and infection-induced liver injury, as well as reducing oxidative stress. In particular, berberine has a wide range of antiviral activities such as anti-influenza, anti-hepatitis C, anti-cytomegalovirus, and anti-alphavirus. As an ingredient recommended in guidelines issued by the China National Health Commission for COVID-19 to be combined with other therapy, berberine is a promising orally administered therapeutic candidate against SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. The current study comprehensively evaluates the potential therapeutic mechanisms of berberine in preventing and treating COVID-19 and SARS using computational modeling, including target mining, gene ontology enrichment, pathway analyses, protein-protein interaction analysis, and in silico molecular docking. An orally available immunotherapeutic-berberine nanomedicine, named NIT-X, has been developed by our group and has shown significantly increased oral bioavailability of berberine, increased IFN-γ production by CD8+ T cells, and inhibition of mast cell histamine release in vivo, suggesting a protective immune response. We further validated the inhibition of replication of SARS-CoV-2 in lung epithelial cells line in vitro (Calu3 cells) by berberine. Moreover, the expression of targets including ACE2, TMPRSS2, IL-1α, IL-8, IL-6, and CCL-2 in SARS-CoV-2 infected Calu3 cells were significantly suppressed by NIT-X. By supporting protective immunity while inhibiting pro-inflammatory cytokines; inhibiting viral infection and replication; inducing apoptosis; and protecting against tissue damage, berberine is a promising candidate in preventing and treating COVID-19 and SARS. Given the high oral bioavailability and safety of berberine nanomedicine, the current study may lead to the development of berberine as an orally, active therapeutic against COVID-19 and SARS.

Compounds isolated from Euonymus spraguei Hayata induce ossification through multiple pathways

The process of bone metabolism includes catabolism of old or mature bone and anabolism of new bone, carried out by osteoclasts and osteoblasts respectively. Any imbalance in this process results in loss of bone mass or osteoporosis. Drugs available to combat osteoporosis have certain adverse effects and are unable to improve bone formation, hence identifying new agents to fulfil these therapeutic gaps is required. To expand the scope of potential agents that enhance bone formation, we identified Euonymus spraguei Hayata as a plant material that possesses robust osteogenic potential using human osteoblast cells. We isolated three compounds, syringaresinol (1), syringin (2), and (−)-epicatechin (3), from E. spraguei. Results demonstrated that syringin (2), and (−)-epicatechin (3), increased alkaline phosphatase activity significantly up to 131.01% and 130.67%, respectively; they also elevated mineral deposition with respective values of up to 139.39% and 138.33%. In addition, 2 and 3 modulated autophagy and the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2 signaling pathway. Our findings demonstrated that 2 and 3 induced osteogenesis by targeting multiple pathways and therefore can be considered as potent multi-targeted drugs for bone formation against osteoporosis.