The Role of the MAPK Signaling, Topoisomerase and Dietary Bioactives in Controlling Cancer Incidence

2'-Hydroxychalcone Induces Autophagy and Apoptosis in Breast Cancer Cells via the Inhibition of the NF-κB Signaling Pathway: In Vitro and In Vivo Studies

2'-Hydroxychalcone is a hydroxyl derivative of chalcones, which are biosynthetic precursors of flavonoids and rich in the human diet. The anticancer activity of 2'-hydroxychalcone has been reported in several cancers but remains to be investigated in breast cancer. In the current study, 2'-hydroxychalcone showed significant cytotoxicity against breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and CMT-1211. It could inhibit breast cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro and suppress tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. Mechanistic investigation revealed that the NF-κB pathway was significantly inhibited by 2'-hydroxychalcone treatment accompanied by an excessive intracellular accumulation of reactive oxygen species, induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress, and activation of JNK/MAPK. In addition, 2'-hydroxychalcone elevated the autophagic levels in breast cancer cells equipped with increasing numbers of autophagy vesicles and complete autophagic flux. Finally, autophagy-dependent apoptosis was observed in 2'-hydroxychalcone-induced cell death. In conclusion, 2'-hydroxychalcone enhances the autophagic levels and induces apoptosis in breast cancer cells, which could be contributed to the inhibition of the pro-survival NF-κB signaling, indicating a promising potential for 2'-hydroxychalcone in future anticancer drug development.

Toxicity, biodegradation, and nutritional intervention mechanism of zearalenone

Zearalenone (ZEA), a global mycotoxin commonly found in a variety of grain products and animal feed, causes damage to the gastrointestinal tract, immune organs, liver and reproductive system. Many treatments, including physical, chemical and biological methods, have been reported for the degradation of ZEA. Each degradation method has different degradation efficacies and distinct mechanisms. In this article, the global pollution status, hazard and toxicity of ZEA are summarized. We also review the biological detoxification methods and nutritional regulation strategies for alleviating the toxicity of ZEA. Moreover, we discuss the molecular detoxification mechanism of ZEA to help explore more efficient detoxification methods to better reduce the global pollution and hazard of ZEA.

SLPI suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma progression via endoplasmic reticulum stress induced apoptosis

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. Secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) has been reported to function as a regulatory factor in several cancers. However, its biological functions and underlying mechanisms in HCC remain to be uncovered. Here, we aimed to explore the effect of SLPI in HCC. In our study, we found that the mRNA and protein expression levels of SLPI were significantly down-regulated in HCC tissues and hepatoma cell lines and low level of SLPI predicted worse survival in our HCC cohorts. In term of function, silencing of SLPI markedly promoted whereas overexpression SLPI suppressed proliferation, migration and invasion capabilities of HCC cells in vitro, and ectopic expression of SLPI inhibited the tumorigenicity of HCC cells in vivo. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that SLPI played a protective role in HCC progression via activating endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress)-mediated apoptosis of hepatoma cells, which could be regulated by MAPK signaling pathways. In summary, our findings highlight that SLPI could serve as a potential prognostic biomarker and putative tumor suppressor by enhancing ER stress-induced apoptosis in HCC cells mediated by MAPK signaling pathways, which provides new insights into promising therapeutic targets for HCC treatment.

Janerin Induces Cell Cycle Arrest at the G2/M Phase and Promotes Apoptosis Involving the MAPK Pathway in THP-1, Leukemic Cell Line

Janerin is a cytotoxic sesquiterpene lactone that has been isolated and characterized from different species of the Centaurea genus. In this study, janerin was isolated form Centaurothamnus maximus, and its cytotoxic molecular mechanism was studied in THP-1 human leukemic cells. Janerin inhibited the proliferation of THP-1 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Janerin caused the cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase by decreasing the CDK1/Cyclin-B complex. Subsequently, we found that janerin promoted THP-1 cell death through apoptosis as indicated by flow cytometry. Moreover, apoptosis induction was confirmed by the upregulation of Bax, cleaved PARP-1, and cleaved caspase 3 and the downregulation of an anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 biomarker. In addition, immunoblotting indicated a dose dependent upregulation of P38-MAPK and ERK1/2 phosphorylation during janerin treatment. In conclusion, we have demonstrated for the first time that janerin may be capable of inducing cell cycle arrest and apoptosis through the MAPK pathway, which would be one of the mechanisms underlying its anticancer activity. As a result, janerin has the potential to be used as a therapeutic agent for leukemia.

α-Cyperone (CYP) down-regulates NF-κB and MAPKs signaling, attenuating inflammation and extracellular matrix degradation in chondrocytes, to ameliorate osteoarthritis in mice

Inflammation and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation have been implicated in the pathological process of osteoarthritis (OA). α-Cyperone is the main active component of the traditional Chinese medicine Cyperus rotundus L. In this study, we found that α-Cyperone abolished the IL-1β-induced production of inflammatory cytokines in isolated rat chondrocytes, such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), in a dose-dependent manner (0.75, 1.5 or 3 μM). Also, the results showed that α-Cyperone downregulated the expression of metalloproteinases (MMPs) and thrombospondin motifs 5 (ADAMTS5), and upregulated the expression of type-2 collagen. Mechanistically, molecular docking tests revealed that α-Cyperone stably and effectively binds to p65, p38, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). α-Cyperone inhibited NF-κB activation by blocking its nuclear transfer, and decreasing the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPKs). In addition, in vivo studies based on a mouse model of arthritis showed that α-Cyperone prevented the development of osteoarthritis. Therefore, α-Cyperone may be a potential anti-OA drug.

Omega-Class Glutathione Transferases of Carcinogenic Liver Fluke, Clonorchis sinensis, Modulate Apoptosis and Differentiation of Host Cholangiocytes

The small liver fluke Clonorchis sinensis causes hepatobiliary ductal infections in humans. Clonorchiasis is characterized histopathologically by ductal dysplasia, hyperplasia and metaplasia, which closely resembles cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). The disruption of programmed cell death is critical for malignant transformation, while molecular events underlying these phenomena have poorly been understood in clonorchiasis-related CCA tumorigenesis. We incorporated recombinant C. sinensis omega-class glutathione transferase (rCsGSTo) 1 or 2 into human intrahepatic biliary epithelial cells (HIBECs) and analyzed pathophysiological alterations of HIBECs upon the application of oxidative stress. rCsGSTos partially but significantly rescued HIBECs from cell death by inhibiting oxidative stress-induced apoptosis (p < 0.01). rCsGSTos modulated transcriptional levels of numerous genes. We analyzed 13 genes involved in programmed cell death (the upregulation of five antiapoptotic and two apoptotic genes, and the downregulation of one antiapoptotic and five apoptotic genes) and 11 genes associated with cell differentiation (the increase in seven and decrease in four genes) that showed significant modifications (p < 0.05). The induction profiles of the mRNA and proteins of these differentially regulated genes correlated well with each other, and mostly favored apoptotic suppression and/or cell differentiation. We detected increased active, phosphorylated forms of Src, PI3K/Akt, NF-κB p65, MKK3/6 and p38 MAPK, but not JNK and ERK1/2. CsGSTos were localized in the C. sinensis-infected rat cholangiocytes, where cytokeratin 19 was distributed. Our results demonstrated that CsGSTos excreted to the biliary lumen are internalized and accumulated in the host cholangiocytes. When cholangiocytes underwent oxidative stressful condition, CsGSTos appeared to be critically involved in both antiapoptotic process and the differentiation of host cholangiocytes through the regulation of target genes following the activation of responsible signal molecules.

Uric acid can enhance MAPK pathway-mediated proliferation in rat primary vascular smooth muscle cells via controlling of mitochondria and caspase-dependent cell death

Hyperuricemia may be a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and atherosclerosis, but the mechanisms underlying uric acid-induced pathological conditions remain unknown. In this study, we investigated the effect of short time and long-term administration of increasing uric acid concentrations on cell viability, proliferative and apoptotic pathways in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Cell viability/proliferation was determined with WST-1 assay. Expression levels of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) (phosphorylated (p)-p38 and p-p44/42 MAPK), extrinsic (caspase 3, caspase 8), and intrinsic (B-cell lymphoma-extra-large (Bcl-xL)) apoptotic pathway proteins were measured by Western blotting. In order to assess the proliferative effects of uric acid incubations on VSMCs, we monitored the proliferative/apoptosis signaling pathways for up to 24 h. Our results indicated that uric acid increases cell viability at time and dose-dependently in VSMCs. Immunoblotting results showed that uric acid treatment elevated the expression level of p-p38 MAPK but did markedly reduce the protein levels of p-p44/42, compared with all the uric acid doses-treated VSMCs, especially at 1 h. Uric acid stimulation increased caspase-3 protein levels and decreased Bcl-xL, but did not alter caspase-8 protein expression at the same dose and time. Furthermore, low uric acid incubations (0-7.5 mg/dL) did not affect any signaling pathways for long time points (6-24 h). In conclusion, our study demonstrates for the first time that VSMCs induced with uric acid can affect cell viability, proliferative, and apoptosis pathways at the widest time and dose range. These findings provide a better understanding of the uric acid effects related to vascular impairments.

Inhibition effect of Caragana sinica root extracts on Osteoarthritis through MAPKs, NF-κB signaling pathway

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common joint disease characterized by degradation and inflammation of cartilage extracellular matrix. We aimed to evaluate the protective effect of Caragana sinica root (CSR) on interleukin (IL)-1β-stimulated rat chondrocytes and a monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced model of OA. In vitro, cell viability of CSR-treated chondrocytes was measured by MTT assay. The mRNA expression of Matrix metallopeptidases (MMPs), a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs (ADAMTSs) and extracellular matrix (ECM) were analyzed by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Moreover, the protein expression of MAPK (phosphorylation of EKR, JNK, p38), inhibitory kappa B (IκBα) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB p65) was detected by western blot analysis. In vivo, the production of nitric oxide (NO) was detected by Griess reagent, while those of inflammatory mediators, MMPs and ECM were detected by ELISA. The degree of OA was evaluated by histopathological analyses, Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI) score and micro-CT analysis. CSR significantly inhibited the expression of MMPs, ADAMTSs and the degradation of ECM in IL-1β-stimulated chondrocytes. Furthermore, CSR significantly suppressed IL-1β-stimulated of MAPKs, NF-κB signaling pathway. In vivo, CSR and Indomethacin inhibited the production of inflammatory mediators, MMPs and degradation of ECM in MIA-induced model of OA. In addition, CSR improved the severity of OA. Taken together, these results suggest CSR is a potential therapeutic active agent in the treatment of OA.

Organophosphorus Compounds and MAPK Signaling Pathways

The molecular signaling pathways that lead to cell survival/death after exposure to organophosphate compounds (OPCs) are not yet fully understood. Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) including the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK), the c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), and the p38-MAPK play the leading roles in the transmission of extracellular signals into the cell nucleus, leading to cell differentiation, cell growth, and apoptosis. Moreover, exposure to OPCs induces ERK, JNK, and p38-MAPK activation, which leads to oxidative stress and apoptosis in various tissues. However, the activation of MAPK signaling pathways may differ depending on the type of OPCs and the type of cell exposed. Finally, different cell responses can be induced by different types of MAPK signaling pathways after exposure to OPCs.

LukS-PV induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis through p38/ERK MAPK signaling pathway in NSCLC cells

Non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) accounts for nearly 85% of lung cancer cases. LukS-PV, one of the two components of Panton-Valentine leucocidin (PVL), is produced by Staphylococcus aureus. The present study showed that LukS-PV can induce apoptosis in human acute myeloid leukemia (AML) lines (THP-1 and HL-60). However, the role of LukS-PV in NSCLC is unclear. In this study, we treated NSCLC cell lines A549 and H460 and a normal lung cell line, 16HBE, with LukS-PV and investigated the biological roles of LukS-PV in NSCLC. Cells were treated with varying concentrations of LukS-PV and cell viability was evaluated by CCK8 and EdU assay. Flow cytometry was used to detect cell apoptosis and analyze the cell cycle, and the expression of apoptosis and cell cycle-associated proteins and genes were identified by western blotting analysis and qRT-polymerase chain reaction, respectively. We found that LukS-PV inhibited the proliferation of NSCLC cells but had little cytotoxicity in normal lung cells. LukS-PV induced NSCLC cell apoptosis and increased the BAX/BCL-2 ratio, triggering S-phase arrest in A549 and H460 cells while increasing P21 expression and decreasing CDK2, cyclin D1, and cyclin A2 expression. We also observed increased P-p38 and P-ERK in NSCLC cells treated with LukS-PV. Treatment of NSCLC with LukS-PV combined with p38 and ERK inhibitors reversed the pro-apoptotic and pro-cell cycle arrest effects of LukS-PV. Overall, these findings indicate that LukS-PV has anti-tumor effects in NSCLC and may contribute to the development of anti-cancer agents.

Berberine inhibits the interleukin-1 beta-induced inflammatory response via MAPK downregulation in rat articular chondrocytes

Osteoarthritis (OA) is one of the most chronic degenerative arthritic diseases, which gradually results in chondrocyte changes, articular cartilage degeneration, subchondral bone sclerosis, joint pain, swelling, and dysfunction. Berberine (BBR) has various confirmed biological activities, such as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. However, the effect of BBR on the production of inflammation-associated proteins, including inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase (Cox)-2, metalloproteinases (MMPs), Collagen II, TNF-α, and IL-6 via the MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinases) pathway in IL-1β-stimulated rat chondrocytes, has not yet been studied. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate whether BBR would decrease the production of inflammation-associated proteins through the MAPK signal pathway. Rat chondrocytes were cultured and pretreated with BBR at different concentrations (0, 25, 50, and 100 μM) and then stimulated with or without IL-1β (10 ng/mL). The mRNA expression of iNOS, COX-2, MMP-3, MMP-13, TNF-α, and IL-6 was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), and the protein expression of iNOS, COX-2, Collagen II, MMP-3,MMP-13, and MAPKs were measured by Western blotting. The results showed that the expression of iNOS, COX-2, MMP-3, MMP-13, TNF-α, and IL-6 increased in the IL-1β-treated group and BBR showed an ability to inhibit the elevated expression under the pretreatment. Furthermore, the IL-1β-induced downregulation of Collagen II could be ameliorated by BBR. Moreover, the expression of MAPKs was significantly decreased by BBR. These results demonstrated that BBR had the anti-catabolic and anti-inflammation abilities that were through the MAPKs in IL-1β-induced rat chondrocytes. These findings may provide a novel therapeutic choice for treatment of OA using BBR.

β-Thujaplicin induces autophagic cell death, apoptosis, and cell cycle arrest through ROS-mediated Akt and p38/ERK MAPK signaling in human hepatocellular carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a common liver malignancy worldwide, has high morbidity and mortality. β-Thujaplicin, a tropolone derivative, has been used in some health-care products and clinical adjuvant drugs, but its use for HCC is unknown. In this study, we found that β-Thujaplicin inhibits the growth of HCC cells, but not normal liver cells, with nanomolar potency. Mechanistically, we found that β-Thujaplicin could induce autophagy, as judged by western blot, confocal microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. Further using β-Thujaplicin combined with an autophagy blocker or agonist treatment HepG2 cells, we found that β-Thujaplicin induced autophagic cell death (ACD) mediated by ROS caused inhibition of the Akt-mTOR signaling pathway. Moreover, β-Thujaplicin triggered HepG2 apoptosis and increased cleaved PARP1, cleaved caspase-3, and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, which indicated that β-Thujaplicin induced apoptosis mediated by the mitochondrial-dependent pathway. We also found that increased expression of p21 and decreased expression of CDK7, Cyclin D1, and Cyclin A2 participating in β-Thujaplicin caused the S-phase arrest. It seems that β-Thujaplicin exerts these functions by ROS-mediated p38/ERK MAPK but not by JNK signaling pathway activation. Consistent with in vitro findings, our in vivo study verified that β-Thujaplicin treatment significantly reduced HepG2 tumor xenograft growth. Taken together these findings suggest that β-Thujaplicin have an ability of anti-HCC cells and may conducively promote the development of novel anti-cancer agents.

The Selective Acetamidine-Based iNOS Inhibitor CM544 Reduces Glioma Cell Proliferation by Enhancing PARP-1 Cleavage In Vitro

Gliomas are the most aggressive adult primary brain tumors. Expression of inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase has been reported as a hallmark of chemoresistance in gliomas and several studies have reported that inhibition of inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase could be related to a decreased proliferation of glioma cells. The present work was to analyze the molecular effects of the acetamidine derivative compound 39 (formally CM544, N-(3-{[(1-iminioethyl)amino]methyl}benzyl) prolinamide dihydrochloride), a newly synthetized iNOS inhibitor, in a C6 rat glioma cell model. There is evidence of CM544 selective binding to the iNOS, an event that triggers the accumulation of ROS/RNS, the expression of Nrf-2 and the phosphorylation of MAPKs after 3 h of treatment. In the long run, CM544 leads to the dephosphorylation of p38 and to a massive cleavage of PARP-1, confirming the block of C6 rat glioma cell proliferation in the G1/S checkpoint and the occurrence of necrotic cell death.

Identification of Functional MKK3/6 and MEK1/2 Homologs from Echinococcus granulosus and Investigation of Protoscolecidal Activity of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Signaling Pathway Inhibitors In Vitro and In Vivo

Cystic echinococcosis is a zoonosis caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato There is an urgent need to develop new drugs for the treatment of this disease. In this study, we identified two new members of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades, MKK3/6 and MEK1/2 homologs (termed EgMKK1 and EgMKK2, respectively), from E. granulosus sensu stricto Both EgMKK1 and EgMKK2 were expressed at the larval stages. As shown by yeast two-hybrid and coimmunoprecipitation analyses, EgMKK1 interacted with the previously identified Egp38 protein but not with EgERK. EgMKK2, on the other hand, interacted with EgERK. In addition, EgMKK1 and EgMKK2 displayed kinase activity toward the substrate myelin basic protein. When sorafenib tosylate, PD184352, or U0126-ethanol (EtOH) was added to the medium for in vitro culture of E. granulosus protoscoleces (PSCs) or cysts, an inhibitory and cytolytic effect was observed via suppressed phosphorylation of EgMKKs and EgERK. Nonviability of PSCs treated with sorafenib tosylate or U0126-EtOH, and not with PD184352, was confirmed through bioassays, i.e., inoculation of treated and untreated protoscoleces into mice. In vivo treatment of E. granulosus sensu stricto-infected mice with sorafenib tosylate or U0126-EtOH for 4 weeks demonstrated a reduction in parasite weight, but the results did not show a significant difference. In conclusion, the MAPK cascades were identified as new targets for drug development, and E. granulosus was efficiently inhibited by their inhibitors in vitro The translation of these findings into in vivo efficacy requires further adjustment of treatment regimens using sorafenib tosylate or, possibly, other kinase inhibitors.

Sinapic Acid Inhibits the IL-1β-Induced Inflammation via MAPK Downregulation in Rat Chondrocytes

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a degenerative joint disease frequently seen in the elderly population. Sinapic acid (SA), a commonly found phenolic acid, has been pharmacologically evaluated for its anti-inflammation effects in various studies. To explore its potential therapeutic role for OA, rat chondrocytes were treated with IL-1β (10 ng/ml) with different concentrations of SA in vitro. Our study revealed that SA could inhibit the IL-1β-induced production of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Consistent with these findings, the increased protein levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and cyclooxygenase (Cox)-2 could also be downregulated by SA. Moreover, SA could also suppress the IL-1β-induced expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, MMP-3, MMP-13, and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs 5 (ADAMTS5) in chondrocytes. Furthermore, our data found that SA could suppress the IL-1β-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway activation. In general, this paper elucidates that sinapic acid inhibits the IL-1β-induced inflammation via MAPK pathways and may be a good agent for the treatment of OA.

Imsnc761 and DDX6 synergistically suppress cell proliferation and promote apoptosis via p53 in testicular embryonal carcinoma cells

Intermediate-sized non-coding RNAs (imsncRNAs) have been shown to play important regulatory roles in the development of several eukaryotic organisms. In the present research, we selected imsncRNA 761 (imsnc761) as a research target. Expression analyses in a previous study showed that imsnc761 was down-regulated in maturation-arrested testis tissues as compared with the level in normal controls. In the present study, we found that imsnc761 could interact with DEAD-box helicase 6 (DDX6) to induce NTERA-2 (NT2 (testicular embryonal carcinoma cell)) cell apoptosis and proliferation inhibition via the p53 pathway. This interaction between imsnc761 and DDX6 also inhibited mitochondrial function and specific gene transcription and translation. To facilitate further research, we used label-free quantitation method to analyze the associated differences in Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways and biological processes. This confirmed the changes in several specific pathways, which matched our molecular experimental results.

Stimulating effect of palmitate and insulin on cell migration and proliferation in PNT1A and PC3 prostate cells: Counteracting role of metformin

BACKGROUND

A potential association between obesity and prostate cancer has been proposed. Metformin, an antidiabetes drug, has antiproliferative effects being proposed for cancer treatment. However, under intense proliferative stimulation conditions such as those found in obesity, its efficacy is still uncertain. Thus, we analyzed the effects of saturated fatty acid and/or insulin under high concentrations, with or without metformin, on the proliferation and migration of prostate cells.

METHODS

Human prostate epithelial cell lines non-tumor (PNT1A) and tumor (PC3) were treated with control media (DMEM, C), palmitate (100 µM, HF), and/or insulin (50 µU, HI) with or without metformin (100 µM) for 24 or 48 h.

RESULTS

Both PNT1A and PC3 cells had greater proliferation when treated with HF, while HI treatment stimulated only PNT1A. Metformin inhibited cell proliferation caused by HF in both cell lines, but it did not block the proliferative action of HI in PNT1A cells. PNT1A increased cell migration after all treatments, while only HF influenced PC3; metformin inhibited the migration stimulated by all obese microenvironments. Both HF and HI treatments in PNT1A and HF treatment in PC3 augmented vimentin expression, resulting in a higher epithelial-mesenchymal transition (which, in turn, could influence cell migration). Metformin inhibited vimentin expression in both normal and tumor cells. Although HF treatment had increased AMPK activation, it also increased the levels of activated ERK1/2, which could be responsible for high cell proliferation in both cell lines. In contrast, HI decreased AMPK activation in both cell lines, whereas it increased ERK1/2 levels in PNT1A and decreased them in PC3 (reflecting greater cell proliferation only in non-tumor cells). Metformin maintained high activation of AMPK and decreased ERK1/2 levels after HF in both cell lines and only after HI in PNT1A, which was able to decrease the cell proliferation triggered by these treatments.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher concentrations of palmitate on PC3 cells and palmitate and insulin on PNT1A cells stimulate cellular activities that could favor cancer progression. Metformin inhibited most of these stimuli, showing the efficacy of this drug for cancer adjuvant therapy in obese patients (a group at increased risk for the development of prostrate cancer).

Tumor Necrosis Factor Receptor-Associated Factor 5 Interacts with the NS3 Protein and Promotes Classical Swine Fever Virus Replication

Classical swine fever, caused by classical swine fever virus (CSFV), is a highly contagious and high-mortality viral disease, causing huge economic losses in the swine industry worldwide. CSFV non-structural protein 3 (NS3), a multifunctional protein, plays crucial roles in viral replication. However, how NS3 exactly exerts these functions is currently unknown. Here, we identified tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 5 (TRAF5) as a novel binding partner of the NS3 protein via yeast two-hybrid, co-immunoprecipitation and glutathione S-transferase pull-down assays. Furthermore, we observed that TRAF5 promoted CSFV replication in porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs). Additionally, CSFV infection or NS3 expression upregulated TRAF5 expression, implying that CSFV may exploit TRAF5 via NS3 for better growth. Moreover, CSFV infection and TRAF5 expression activated p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity, and inhibition of p38 MAPK activation by the SB203580 inhibitor suppressed CSFV replication. Notably, TRAF5 overexpression did not promote CSFV replication following inhibition of p38 MAPK activation. Our findings reveal that TRAF5 promotes CSFV replication via p38 MAPK activation. This work provides a novel insight into the role of TRAF5 in CSFV replication capacity.

The Dual Antioxidant/Prooxidant Effect of Eugenol and Its Action in Cancer Development and Treatment

The formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) during metabolism is a normal process usually compensated for by the antioxidant defense system of an organism. However, ROS can cause oxidative damage and have been proposed to be the main cause of age-related clinical complications and diseases such as cancer. In recent decades, the relationship between diet and cancer has been more studied, especially with foods containing antioxidant compounds. Eugenol is a natural compound widely found in many aromatic plant species, spices and foods and is used in cosmetics and pharmaceutical products. Eugenol has a dual effect on oxidative stress, which can action as an antioxidant or prooxidant agent. In addition, it has anti-carcinogenic, cytotoxic and antitumor properties. Considering the importance of eugenol in the area of food and human health, in this review, we discuss the role of eugenol on redox status and its potential use in the treatment and prevention of cancer.