Impact of Acetazolamide, a Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitor, on the Development of Intestinal Polyps in Min Mice

The Dual Role of NRF2 in Colorectal Cancer: Targeting NRF2 as a Potential Therapeutic Approach

Colorectal cancer (CRC), as the third most common bisexual cancer worldwide, requires urgent research on its underlying mechanisms and intervention methods. NRF2 is an important transcription factor involved in the regulation of redox homeostasis, protein degradation, DNA repair, and other cancer processes, playing an important role in cancer. In recent years, the complex role of NRF2 in CRC has been continuously revealed: on the one hand, it exhibits a chemopreventive effect on cancer by protecting normal cells from oxidative stress, and on the other hand, it also exhibits a protective effect on malignant cells. Therefore, this article explores the dual role of NRF2 and its related signaling pathways in CRC, including their chemical protective properties and promoting effects in the occurrence, development, metastasis, and chemotherapy resistance of CRC. In addition, this article focuses on exploring the regulation of NRF2 in CRC ferroptosis, as well as NRF2 drug modulators (activators and inhibitors) targeting CRC, including natural products, compounds, and traditional Chinese medicine formulations.

Large-scale integration of omics and electronic health records to identify potential risk protein biomarkers and therapeutic drugs for cancer prevention and intervention

Identifying risk protein targets and their therapeutic drugs is crucial for effective cancer prevention. Here, we conduct integrative and fine-mapping analyses of large genome-wide association studies data for breast, colorectal, lung, ovarian, pancreatic, and prostate cancers, and characterize 710 lead variants independently associated with cancer risk. Through mapping protein quantitative trait loci (pQTL) for these variants using plasma proteomics data from over 75,000 participants, we identify 365 proteins associated with cancer risk. Subsequent colocalization analysis identifies 101 proteins, including 74 not reported in previous studies. We further characterize 36 potential druggable proteins for cancers or other disease indications. Analyzing >3.5 million electronic health records, we uncover five drugs (Haloperidol, Trazodone, Tranexamic Acid, Haloperidol, and Captopril) associated with increased cancer risk and two drugs (Caffeine and Acetazolamide) linked to reduced colorectal cancer risk. This study offers novel insights into therapeutic drugs targeting risk proteins for cancer prevention and intervention.

COX 2-inhibitors; a thorough and updated survey into combinational therapies in cancers

Cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes are pivotal in inflammation and cancer development. COX-2, in particular, has been implicated in tumor growth, angiogenesis, and immune evasion. Recently, COX-2 inhibitors have arisen as potential therapeutic agents in cancer treatment. In addition, combining COX inhibitors with other treatment modalities has demonstrated the potential to improve therapeutic efficacy. This review aims to investigate the effects of COX inhibition, both alone and in combination with other methods, on signaling pathways and carcinogenesis in various cancers. In this study, a literature search of all major academic databases was conducted (PubMed, Scholar google), including the leading research on the mechanisms of COX-2, COX-2 inhibitors, monotherapy with COX-2 inhibitors, and combining COX-2-inhibitors with chemotherapeutic agents in tumors. The study encompasses preclinical and clinical evidence, highlighting the positive findings and the potential implications for clinical practice. According to preclinical studies, multiple signaling pathways implicated in tumor cell proliferation, survival, invasion, and metastasis can be suppressed by inhibiting COX. In addition, combining COX inhibitors with chemotherapy drugs, targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and miRNA-based approaches has enhanced anti-tumor activity. These results suggest that combination therapy has the potential to overcome resistance mechanisms and improve treatment outcomes. However, caution must be exercised when selecting and administering combination regimens. Not all combinations of COX-2 inhibitors with other drugs result in synergistic effects; some may even have unfavorable interactions. Therefore, personalized approaches that consider the specific characteristics of the cancer and the medications involved are crucial for optimizing therapeutic strategies. In conclusion, as monotherapy or combined with other methods, COX inhibition bears promise in modulating signaling pathways and inhibiting carcinogenesis in various cancers. Additional studies and well-designed clinical trials are required to completely elucidate the efficacy of COX inhibition and combination therapy in enhancing cancer treatment outcomes. This narrative review study provides a detailed summary of COX-2 monotherapy and combination targeted therapy in cancer treatment.

Coumaryl-sulfonamide moiety: Unraveling their synthetic strategy and specificity toward hCA IX/XII, facilitating anticancer drug development

Currently, cancer is the most grieving threat to society. The cancer-related death rate has had an ascending trend, despite the implementation of numerous treatment strategies or the discovery of an array of potent molecules against several pathways of cancer growth. The need of the hour is to prevent the multidrug resistance toll, and the current efforts have been bestowed upon a versatile small molecule scaffold, coumarin (benz[α]pyrone), a natural compound possessing interesting affinity toward the cancer target human carbonic anhydrase (hCA), focusing on hCA I, II, IX, and XII. Along with coumarin, the age-old known antibacterial drug sulfonamide, when conjugated at positions 3, 7, and 8 of coumarin either with a linker group or as a single entity, has been reported to enhance the affinity of coumarin toward the overexpressed enzymes in tumor cell lines. The sulfonamides have been listed as obsolete drugs due to the severe side effects caused by them; however, their affinity toward the hCA-zinc-binding core has attracted the attention of researchers. Hence, in the process of drug development, coumarin and sulfonamides have remained the choice of last resort. To unveil the synthetic strategy of coumarin-sulfonamide conjugation, their rationale for inhibiting cancer cells/enzymes, and their affinity toward various types of carcinoma have been the sole goal of the researchers. This review specifically focuses on the mechanism of action and the structure-activity relationship through synthetic strategies and the binding affinity of coumaryl-sulfonamide conjugates with the anticancer targets possessing the highest enzyme affinity, since 2008.

Enteric nervous system modulation of luminal pH modifies the microbial environment to promote intestinal health

The enteric nervous system (ENS) controls many aspects of intestinal homeostasis, including parameters that shape the habitat of microbial residents. Previously we showed that zebrafish lacking an ENS, due to deficiency of the sox10 gene, develop intestinal inflammation and bacterial dysbiosis, with an expansion of proinflammatory Vibrio strains. To understand the primary defects resulting in dysbiosis in sox10 mutants, we investigated how the ENS shapes the intestinal environment in the absence of microbiota and associated inflammatory responses. We found that intestinal transit, intestinal permeability, and luminal pH regulation are all aberrant in sox10 mutants, independent of microbially induced inflammation. Treatment with the proton pump inhibitor, omeprazole, corrected the more acidic luminal pH of sox10 mutants to wild type levels. Omeprazole treatment also prevented overabundance of Vibrio and ameliorated inflammation in sox10 mutant intestines. Treatment with the carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, acetazolamide, caused wild type luminal pH to become more acidic, and increased both Vibrio abundance and intestinal inflammation. We conclude that a primary function of the ENS is to regulate luminal pH, which plays a critical role in shaping the resident microbial community and regulating intestinal inflammation.

Vascular homeostasis at high-altitude: role of genetic variants and transcription factors

High-altitude pulmonary edema occurs most frequently in non-acclimatized low landers on exposure to altitude ≥2500 m. High-altitude pulmonary edema is a complex condition that involves perturbation of signaling pathways in vasoconstrictors, vasodilators, anti-diuretics, and vascular growth factors. Genetic variations are instrumental in regulating these pathways and evidence is accumulating for a role of epigenetic modification in hypoxic responses. This review focuses on the crosstalk between high-altitude pulmonary edema-associated genetic variants and transcription factors, comparing high-altitude adapted and high-altitude pulmonary edema-afflicted subjects. This approach might ultimately yield biomarker information both to understand and to design therapies for high-altitude adaptation.

rBMSC/Cav-1F92A Mediates Oxidative Stress in PAH Rat by Regulating SelW/14-3-3η and CA1/Kininogen Signal Transduction

Background/Objectives

Carbonic anhydrase 1 (CA1)/kininogen and selenoprotein W (SelW)/14-3-3η signal transduction orchestrate oxidative stress, which can also be regulated by nitric oxide (NO). The mutated caveolin-1 (Cav-1^F92A) gene may enhance NO production. This study explored the effect of Cav-1^F92A-modified rat bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSC/Cav-1^F92A) on oxidative stress regulation through CA1/kininogen and SelW/14-3-3η signal transduction in a rat model of monocrotaline- (MCT-) induced pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH).

Method

PAH was induced in rats through the subcutaneous injection of MCT. Next, rBMSC/Vector (negative control), rBMSC/Cav-1, rBMSC/Cav-1^F92A, or rBMSC/Cav-1^F92A+L-NAME were administered to the rats. Changes in pulmonary hemodynamic and vascular morphometry and oxidative stress levels were evaluated. CA1/kininogen and SelW/14-3-3η signal transduction, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) dimerization, and eNOS/NO/sGC/cGMP pathway changes were determined through real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot, or immunohistochemical analyses.

Results

In MCT-induced PAH rats, rBMSC/Cav-1^F92A treatment reduced right ventricular systolic pressure, vascular stenosis, and oxidative stress; downregulated CA1/kininogen signal transduction; upregulated SelW/14-3-3η signal transduction; and reactivated the NO pathway.

Conclusions

In a rat model of MCT-induced PAH, rBMSC/Cav-1^F92A reduced oxidative stress by regulating CA1/kininogen and SelW/14-3-3η signal transduction.

Selective COX-2 inhibitors as anticancer agents: a patent review (2014-2018)

INTRODUCTION

COX-2 is a key enzyme in the process of prostaglandins (PGs) synthesis. The products of this enzyme could play a major role as the mediators of the inflammatory response and some other medical states such as cancer. The design and synthesis of novel selective COX-2 inhibitors have always been attractive to researchers. This review discusses the structures of novel COX-2 inhibitors synthesized during the last five years and describes their efficacy as anticancer agents.

AREAS COVERED

It is well established that COX-2 is overexpressed in many different cancers and treatment with selective COX-2 inhibitors could relieve their symptoms and limit their adverse sequences.

EXPERT OPINION

The diversity of selective COX-2 inhibitors is mainly related to the types of scaffolds. Monocyclic, bicyclic, tricyclic, and acyclic scaffolds with different pharmacological effects and toxicological profiles could be found in the family of selective COX-2 inhibitors. The great interest of the researchers in this field is due to the importance of selective COX-2 inhibitors as a relatively safe and effective set of compounds which could present different properties such as antirheumatic, anti-inflammatory, antiplatelet, anti-Alzheimer's disease, anti-Parkinson's disease, and anticancer.

Effects of KEAP1 Silencing on the Regulation of NRF2 Activity in Neuroendocrine Lung Tumors

Background. The KEAP1/NRF2 pathway has been widely investigated in tumors since it was implicated in cancer cells survival and therapies resistance. In lung tumors the deregulation of this pathway is mainly related to point mutations of KEAP1 and NFE2L2 genes and KEAP1 promoter hypermethylation, but these two genes have been rarely investigated in low/intermediate grade neuroendocrine tumors of the lung. Methods. The effects of KEAP1 silencing on NRF2 activity was investigated in H720 and H727 carcinoid cell lines and results were compared with those obtained by molecular profiling of KEAP1 and NFE2L2 in a collection of 47 lung carcinoids. The correlation between methylation and transcript levels was assessed by 5-aza-dC treatment. Results. We demonstrated that in carcinoid cell lines, the KEAP1 silencing induces an upregulation of NRF2 and some of its targets and that there is a direct correlation between KEAP1 methylation and its mRNA levels. A KEAP1 hypermethylation and Loss of Heterozygosity at KEAP1 gene locus was also observed in nearly half of lung carcinoids. Conclusions. This is the first study that has described the effects of KEAP1 silencing on the regulation of NRF2 activity in lung carcinoids cells. The epigenetic deregulation of the KEAP1/NRF2 by a KEAP1 promoter hypermethylation system appears to be a frequent event in lung carcinoids.

Targeting tumor-associated acidity in cancer immunotherapy

Checkpoint inhibitors, such as cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein-4 (CTLA-4) and programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) monoclonal antibodies have changed profoundly the treatment of melanoma, renal cell carcinoma, non-small cell lung cancer, Hodgkin lymphoma, and bladder cancer. Currently, they are tested in various tumor entities as monotherapy or in combination with chemotherapies or targeted therapies. However, only a subgroup of patients benefit from checkpoint blockade (combinations). This raises the question, which all mechanisms inhibit T cell function in the tumor environment, restricting the efficacy of these immunotherapeutic approaches. Serum activity of lactate dehydrogenase, likely reflecting the glycolytic activity of the tumor cells and thus acidity within the tumor microenvironment, turned out to be one of the strongest markers predicting response to checkpoint inhibition. In this review, we discuss the impact of tumor-associated acidity on the efficacy of T cell-mediated cancer immunotherapy and possible approaches to break this barrier.