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Islam F, Nath N, Zehravi M, Khan J, Jashim SBT, Charde MS, Chakole RD, Kumar KP, Babu AK, Nainu F, Khan SL, Rab SO, Emran TB, Wilairatana P. Exploring the role of natural bioactive molecules in genitourinary cancers: how far has research progressed? NATURAL PRODUCTS AND BIOPROSPECTING 2023; 13:39. [PMID: 37843642 PMCID: PMC10579213 DOI: 10.1007/s13659-023-00400-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 09/17/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
The primary approaches to treat cancerous diseases include drug treatment, surgical procedures, biotherapy, and radiation therapy. Chemotherapy has been the primary treatment for cancer for a long time, but its main drawback is that it kills cancerous cells along with healthy ones, leading to deadly adverse health effects. However, genitourinary cancer has become a concern in recent years as it is more common in middle-aged people. So, researchers are trying to find possible therapeutic options from natural small molecules due to the many drawbacks associated with chemotherapy and other radiation-based therapies. Plenty of research was conducted regarding genitourinary cancer to determine the promising role of natural small molecules. So, this review focused on natural small molecules along with their potential therapeutic targets in the case of genitourinary cancers such as prostate cancer, renal cancer, bladder cancer, testicular cancer, and so on. Also, this review states some ongoing or completed clinical evidence in this regard.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fahadul Islam
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, 1207, Bangladesh
| | - Nikhil Nath
- Department of Pharmacy, International Islamic University Chittagong, Kumira, Chittagong, 4318, Bangladesh
| | - Mehrukh Zehravi
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Dentistry & Pharmacy, Buraydah Private Colleges, Buraydah, 51418, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
| | - Jishan Khan
- Department of Pharmacy, International Islamic University Chittagong, Kumira, Chittagong, 4318, Bangladesh
| | - Sumiya Ben-Ta Jashim
- Department of Pharmacy, International Islamic University Chittagong, Kumira, Chittagong, 4318, Bangladesh
| | - Manoj Shrawan Charde
- Government College of Pharmacy, Vidyanagar, Karad, Satara, 415124, Maharashtra, India
| | - Rita Dadarao Chakole
- Government College of Pharmacy, Vidyanagar, Karad, Satara, 415124, Maharashtra, India
| | - K Praveen Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Govt. of NCT of Delhi, Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research University (DPSRU), Mehrauli-Badarpur Road, PushpVihar, Sector 3, New Delhi, 110017, India
| | - A Kishore Babu
- Ratnadeep College of Pharmacy, Ratnapur, Jamkhed, Ahmednagar, 413206, Maharashtra, India
| | - Firzan Nainu
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, 90245, Indonesia
| | - Sharuk L Khan
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, N.B.S. Institute of Pharmacy, Ausa, 413520, Maharashtra, India
| | - Safia Obaidur Rab
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Khalid University, Abha, Saudi Arabia
| | - Talha Bin Emran
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Daffodil International University, Dhaka, 1207, Bangladesh.
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Warren Alpert Medical School & Legorreta Cancer Center, Brown University, Providence, RI, 02912, USA.
| | - Polrat Wilairatana
- Department of Clinical Tropical Medicine, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand.
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2
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Wróblewska-Łuczka P, Cabaj J, Bargieł J, Łuszczki JJ. Anticancer effect of terpenes: focus on malignant melanoma. Pharmacol Rep 2023; 75:1115-1125. [PMID: 37515699 PMCID: PMC10539410 DOI: 10.1007/s43440-023-00512-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
Melanoma is a highly aggressive and life-threatening form of skin cancer that accounts for a significant proportion of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Although conventional cancer therapies, such as surgical excision, chemotherapy, and radiation, have been used to treat malignant melanoma, their efficacy is often limited due to the development of resistance and adverse side effects. Therefore, there is a growing interest in developing alternative treatment options for melanoma that are more effective and less toxic. Terpenes, a diverse group of naturally occurring compounds of plant origin, have emerged as potential anticancer agents due to their ability to inhibit tumor growth and induce apoptosis in cancer cells. In this review, the current understanding of the anticancer effects of terpenes (including, thymoquinone, β-elemene, carvacrol, limonene, α-pinene, β-caryophyllene, perillyl alcohol, taxol, betulinic acid, α-bisabolol, ursolic acid, linalool, lupeol, and artesunate) was summarized, with a special focus on their potential as therapeutic agents for malignant melanoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Wróblewska-Łuczka
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 8B, 20-090, Lublin, Poland
| | - Justyna Cabaj
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 8B, 20-090, Lublin, Poland
| | - Julia Bargieł
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 8B, 20-090, Lublin, Poland
| | - Jarogniew J Łuszczki
- Department of Occupational Medicine, Medical University of Lublin, Jaczewskiego 8B, 20-090, Lublin, Poland.
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3
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Madani F, Kazemi S, Shirafkan F, Lotfi M, Hosseini SM, Moghadamnia AA. Thymoquinone protects against 5-Fluorouracil-induced mucositis by NF-κβ and HIF-1 mechanisms in mice. J Biochem Mol Toxicol 2023; 37:e23405. [PMID: 37338137 DOI: 10.1002/jbt.23405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Mucositis is among the most common side effects of 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) and other cancer therapeutic drugs. Thymoquinone (TQ), a bioactive constituent extracted from Nigella sativa, has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and can modify acute gastrointestinal injury. To investigate the effects of TQ on mucositis induced by 5-FU, studied animals were divided into four groups: control, 5-FU unit dose (300 mg/kg) to cause oral and intestinal mucositis (OM and IM), TQ (2.5 mg/kg) and TQ (2.5 mg/kg) plus 5-FU. Due to The molecular mechanisms, it was confirmed that the expression of NF-κβ and HIF-1 increases in OM. The serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), catalase (CAT), and superoxide dismutase (SOD), as well as pathological parameters, were assessed. Based on our results, the nuclear factor-kappa β gene expression in the tongue was downregulated significantly in the 5-FU + TQ compared to the 5-FU. TQ treatment can diminish MDA, and a reduction in oxidative stress was shown. TQ could also reduce the severity of tissue destruction and damaging effects induced by 5-FU on the tongue and intestine. We also observed lower villus length and width in the intestine of the 5-FU group compared to the control group. According to our research's pathological, biochemical, and molecular results, treatment with TQ as an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compound may be the potential to improve and treat 5-FU-induced OM and IM, and TQ could be used against cancer treatment drugs and exhibit fewer adverse effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Madani
- Student Research Committee, Health Research Center, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Sohrab Kazemi
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Research Center, Health Research Center, Babol University of Medical, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Shirafkan
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Mandana Lotfi
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Seyed M Hosseini
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology, Babol-Branch, Islamic Azad University, Babol, Iran
| | - Ali A Moghadamnia
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
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Yin Z, You B, Bai Y, Zhao Y, Liao S, Sun Y, Wu Y. Natural Compounds Derived from Plants on Prevention and Treatment of Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Literature Review. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2023:e2300025. [PMID: 37607316 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202300025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/24/2023]
Abstract
Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) accounts for roughly 85% of all malignant kidney cancer. Therapeutic options for RCC have expanded rapidly over the past decade. Targeted therapy and immunotherapy have ushered in a new era of the treatment of RCC, which has facilitated the outcomes of RCC. However, the related adverse effects and drug resistance remain an urgent issue. Natural compounds are optional strategies to reduce mobility. Natural compounds are favored by clinicians and researchers due to their good tolerance and low economic burden. Many studies have explored the anti-RCC activity of natural products and revealed relevant mechanisms. In this article, the chemoprevention and therapeutic potential of natural compounds is reviewed and the mechanisms regarding natural compounds are explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenjie Yin
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Sanming First Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Sanming, Fujian, 365001, P. R. China
| | - Bingyong You
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Sanming First Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Sanming, Fujian, 365001, P. R. China
| | - Yuanyuan Bai
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Sanming First Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Sanming, Fujian, 365001, P. R. China
| | - Yu Zhao
- Department of Medical and Radiation Oncology, Affiliated Sanming First Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Sanming, Fujian, 365001, P. R. China
| | - Shangfan Liao
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Sanming First Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Sanming, Fujian, 365001, P. R. China
| | - Yingming Sun
- Department of Medical and Radiation Oncology, Affiliated Sanming First Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Sanming, Fujian, 365001, P. R. China
| | - Yongyang Wu
- Department of Urology, Affiliated Sanming First Hospital, Fujian Medical University, Sanming, Fujian, 365001, P. R. China
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Ashraf W, Ahmad T, Reynoird N, Hamiche A, Mély Y, Bronner C, Mousli M. Natural and Synthetic Anticancer Epidrugs Targeting the Epigenetic Integrator UHRF1. Molecules 2023; 28:5997. [PMID: 37630248 PMCID: PMC10459542 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28165997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Revised: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, and its incidence and mortality are increasing each year. Improved therapeutic strategies against cancer have progressed, but remain insufficient to invert this trend. Along with several other risk factors, abnormal genetic and epigenetic regulations play a critical role in the initiation of cellular transformation, as well as tumorigenesis. The epigenetic regulator UHRF1 (ubiquitin-like, containing PHD and RING finger domains 1) is a multidomain protein with oncogenic abilities overexpressed in most cancers. Through the coordination of its multiple domains and other epigenetic key players, UHRF1 regulates DNA methylation and histone modifications. This well-coordinated dialogue leads to the silencing of tumor-suppressor genes (TSGs) and facilitates tumor cells' resistance toward anticancer drugs, ultimately promoting apoptosis escape and uncontrolled proliferation. Several studies have shown that the downregulation of UHRF1 with natural compounds in tumor cells induces the reactivation of various TSGs, inhibits cell growth, and promotes apoptosis. In this review, we discuss the underlying mechanisms and the potential of various natural and synthetic compounds that can inhibit/minimize UHRF1's oncogenic activities and/or its expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Waseem Ashraf
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Bahauddin Zakariya University, Multan 60800, Pakistan;
| | - Tanveer Ahmad
- Institut Pour L’avancée des Biosciences, Centre de Recherche UGA, INSERM U1209, CNRS 5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38058 Grenoble, France; (T.A.); (N.R.)
| | - Nicolas Reynoird
- Institut Pour L’avancée des Biosciences, Centre de Recherche UGA, INSERM U1209, CNRS 5309, Université Grenoble Alpes, 38058 Grenoble, France; (T.A.); (N.R.)
| | - Ali Hamiche
- Department of Functional Genomics, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), INSERM U1258, CNRS UMR 7104, Université de Strasbourg, Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, 67401 Illkirch, France;
| | - Yves Mély
- Laboratoire de Bioimagerie et Pathologies, UMR 7021 CNRS, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, 67401 Illkirch, France;
| | - Christian Bronner
- Department of Functional Genomics, Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire (IGBMC), INSERM U1258, CNRS UMR 7104, Université de Strasbourg, Equipe Labellisée Ligue Contre le Cancer, 67401 Illkirch, France;
| | - Marc Mousli
- Laboratoire de Bioimagerie et Pathologies, UMR 7021 CNRS, Faculté de Pharmacie, Université de Strasbourg, 67401 Illkirch, France;
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Farrash WF, Aslam A, Almaimani R, Minshawi F, Almasmoum H, Alsaegh A, Iqbal MS, Tabassum A, Elzubier ME, El-Readi MZ, Mahbub AA, Idris S, Refaat B. Metformin and thymoquinone co-treatment enhance 5-fluorouracil cytotoxicity by suppressing the PI3K/mTOR/HIF1α pathway and increasing oxidative stress in colon cancer cells. Biofactors 2023; 49:831-848. [PMID: 36929658 DOI: 10.1002/biof.1947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
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.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wesam F Farrash
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Akhmed Aslam
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Riyad Almaimani
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Faisal Minshawi
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hussain Almasmoum
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Aiman Alsaegh
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammad S Iqbal
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Aisha Tabassum
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohamed E Elzubier
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mahmoud Z El-Readi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
- Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Pharmacy, Al-Azhar University, Assuit, Egypt
| | - Amani A Mahbub
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shakir Idris
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Bassem Refaat
- Laboratory Medicine Department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
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Zhao Z, Liu L, Chen H, Li S, Guo Y, Hou X, Yang J. Thymoquinone affects the gemcitabine sensitivity of pancreatic cancer by regulating collagen via hypoxia inducible factor-1α. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1138265. [PMID: 37324458 PMCID: PMC10264578 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1138265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective: To clarify the potential therapeutic effects of thymoquinone (TQ) on pancreatic cancer and its gemcitabine (GEM) sensitivity. Methods: The expression levels of hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), collagens (COL1A1, COL3A1, and COL5A1), and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFβ1) in pancreatic cancer and para-carcinoma tissues were compared using immunohistochemical methods, and their relationships with TNM staging were analyzed. The effects of TQ on apoptosis, migration, invasion, and GEM sensitivity of pancreatic cancer cells were assessed using in vitro and in vivo experiments. Western blot and immunohistochemistry were used to detect the expression levels of HIF-1α, extracellular matrix (ECM) production pathway-related proteins, and TGFβ/Smad signaling pathway-related proteins. Results: The expression levels of HIF-1α, COL1A1, COL3A1, COL5A1, and TGFβ1 in pancreatic cancer tissues were significantly higher than those in para-carcinoma tissues and correlated with TNM staging (p < 0.05). TQ and GEM administration inhibited the migration and invasion of the human pancreatic cancer cell line PANC-1 and promoted the apoptosis of PANC-1 cells. The combination of TQ and GEM was more effective than GEM alone. Western blot analysis showed that the expression levels of HIF-1α, ECM production pathway-related proteins, and TGFβ/Smad signaling pathway-related proteins were significantly decreased when TQ was used to treat PANC-1 cells (p < 0.05), and the expression levels of these proteins in the TQ + GEM group were significantly more decreased than those in the GEM group. Overexpression or knockdown of HIF-1α in PANC-1 cells showed the same effects as those induced by TQ administration. In vivo experiments showed that in PANC-1 tumor-bearing mice, tumor volume and tumor weight in mice treated with GEM and TQ were significantly lower than those in control or GEM-treated mice, whereas cell apoptosis was significantly increased (p < 0.05). Western blot and immunohistochemistry results showed that the levels of HIF-1α, ECM production pathway-related proteins, and TGFβ/Smad signaling pathway-related proteins in the GEM + TQ treatment group were further decreased compared to the control group or the GEM treatment group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: In pancreatic cancer cells, TQ can promote apoptosis, inhibit migration, invasion, and metastasis, and enhance the sensitivity to GEM. The underlying mechanism may involve the regulation of ECM production through the TGFβ/Smad pathway, in which HIF-1α plays a key role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhanxue Zhao
- Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Department of General Surgery, Qinghai Provincial People’s Hospital, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Linxun Liu
- Department of General Surgery, Qinghai Provincial People’s Hospital, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Hekai Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Peking University BinHai Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Shuai Li
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Affiliated Hospital of Qinghai University, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Yan Guo
- Suzhou Medical College of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
- Department of Pathology, Qinghai Provincial People’s Hospital, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Xiaofan Hou
- Graduate School, Qinghai University, Xining, Qinghai, China
| | - Jinyu Yang
- Department of General Surgery, Qinghai Provincial People’s Hospital, Xining, Qinghai, China
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Cui Y, Li C, Sang F, Cao W, Qin Z, Zhang P. Natural products targeting glycolytic signaling pathways-an updated review on anti-cancer therapy. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1035882. [PMID: 36339566 PMCID: PMC9631946 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1035882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Glycolysis is a complex metabolic process that occurs to convert glucose into pyruvate to produce energy for living cells. Normal cells oxidized pyruvate into adenosine triphosphate and carbon dioxide in the presence of oxygen in mitochondria while cancer cells preferentially metabolize pyruvate to lactate even in the presence of oxygen in order to maintain a slightly acidic micro-environment of PH 6.5 and 6.9, which is beneficial for cancer cell growth and metastasis. Therefore targeting glycolytic signaling pathways provided new strategy for anti-cancer therapy. Natural products are important sources for the treatment of diseases with a variety of pharmacologic activities. Accumulated studies suggested that natural products exhibited remarkable anti-cancer properties both in vitro and in vivo. Plenty of studies suggested natural products like flavonoids, terpenoids and quinones played anti-cancer properties via inhibiting glucose metabolism targets in glycolytic pathways. This study provided an updated overview of natural products controlling glycolytic pathways, which also provide insight into druggable mediators discovery targeting cancer glucose metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuting Cui
- School of Life Sciences and Medicine, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Shandong, China
| | - Chuang Li
- School of Life Sciences and Medicine, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Shandong, China
| | - Feng Sang
- School of Life Sciences and Medicine, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Shandong, China
| | - Weiling Cao
- Department of Pharmacy, Shenzhen Luohu People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- *Correspondence: Weiling Cao, ; Zhuo Qin, ; Peng Zhang,
| | - Zhuo Qin
- Department of Pharmacy, Shenzhen Luohu People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- *Correspondence: Weiling Cao, ; Zhuo Qin, ; Peng Zhang,
| | - Peng Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, Shenzhen Luohu People’s Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
- *Correspondence: Weiling Cao, ; Zhuo Qin, ; Peng Zhang,
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Targeting HIF-1α by Natural and Synthetic Compounds: A Promising Approach for Anti-Cancer Therapeutics Development. Molecules 2022; 27:molecules27165192. [PMID: 36014432 PMCID: PMC9413992 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27165192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Advancement in novel target detection using improved molecular cancer biology has opened up new avenues for promising anti-cancer drug development. In the past two decades, the mechanism of tumor hypoxia has become more understandable with the discovery of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α). It is a major transcriptional regulator that coordinates the activity of various transcription factors and their downstream molecules involved in tumorigenesis. HIF-1α not only plays a crucial role in the adaptation of tumor cells to hypoxia but also regulates different biological processes, including cell proliferation, survival, cellular metabolism, angiogenesis, metastasis, cancer stem cell maintenance, and propagation. Therefore, HIF-1α overexpression is strongly associated with poor prognosis in patients with different solid cancers. Hence, pharmacological targeting of HIF-1α has been considered to be a novel cancer therapeutic strategy in recent years. In this review, we provide brief descriptions of natural and synthetic compounds as HIF-1α inhibitors that have the potential to accelerate anticancer drug discovery. This review also introduces the mode of action of these compounds for a better understanding of the chemical leads, which could be useful as cancer therapeutics in the future.
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10
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Zhang X, Meng T, Cui S, Liu D, Pang Q, Wang P. Roles of ubiquitination in the crosstalk between tumors and the tumor microenvironment (Review). Int J Oncol 2022; 61:84. [PMID: 35616129 PMCID: PMC9170352 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2022.5374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The interaction between a tumor and the tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a key role in tumorigenesis and tumor progression. Ubiquitination, a crucial post-translational modification for regulating protein degradation and turnover, plays a role in regulating the crosstalk between a tumor and the TME. Thus, identifying the roles of ubiquitination in the process may assist researchers to investigate the mechanisms underlying tumorigenesis and tumor progression. In the present review article, new insights into the substrates for ubiquitination that are involved in the regulation of hypoxic environments, angiogenesis, chronic inflammation-mediated tumor formation, and the function of cancer-associated fibroblasts and infiltrating immune cells (tumor-associated macrophages, T-cells, myeloid-derived suppressor cells, dendritic cells, and natural killer cells) are summarized. In addition, the potential targets of the ubiquitination proteasome system within the TME for cancer therapy and their therapeutic effects are reviewed and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuzhen Zhang
- Anti‑aging and Regenerative Medicine Research Institution, School of Life Sciences and Medicine, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Shandong 255000, P.R. China
| | - Tong Meng
- Tongji University Cancer Center, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, P.R. China
| | - Shuaishuai Cui
- School of Life Sciences and Medicine, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Shandong 255000, P.R. China
| | - Dongwu Liu
- Anti‑aging and Regenerative Medicine Research Institution, School of Life Sciences and Medicine, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Shandong 255000, P.R. China
| | - Qiuxiang Pang
- Anti‑aging and Regenerative Medicine Research Institution, School of Life Sciences and Medicine, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, Shandong 255000, P.R. China
| | - Ping Wang
- Tongji University Cancer Center, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital of Tongji University, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, P.R. China
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PI3K-AKT Pathway Modulation by Thymoquinone Limits Tumor Growth and Glycolytic Metabolism in Colorectal Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23042305. [PMID: 35216429 PMCID: PMC8880628 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23042305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cause of death in men and the fourth in women worldwide and is characterized by deranged cellular energetics. Thymoquinone, an active component from Nigella sativa, has been extensively studied against cancer, however, its role in affecting deregulated cancer metabolism is largely unknown. Further, the phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway is one of the most activated pathways in cancer and its activation is central to most deregulated metabolic pathways for supporting the anabolic needs of growing cancer cells. Herein, we provide evidence that thymoquinone inhibits glycolytic metabolism (Warburg effect) in colorectal cancer cell lines. Further, we show that such an abrogation of deranged cell metabolism was due, at least in part, to the inhibition of the rate-limiting glycolytic enzyme, Hexokinase 2 (HK2), via modulating the PI3/AKT axis. While overexpression of HK2 showed that it is essential for fueling glycolytic metabolism as well as sustaining tumorigenicity, its pharmacologic and/or genetic inhibition led to a reduction in the observed effects. The results decipher HK2 mediated inhibitory effects of thymoquinone in modulating its glycolytic metabolism and antitumor effects. In conclusion, we provide evidence of metabolic perturbation by thymoquinone in CRC cells, highlighting its potential to be used/repurposed as an antimetabolite drug, though the latter needs further validation utilizing other suitable cell and/or preclinical animal models.
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12
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Zhan B, Dong X, Yuan Y, Gong Z, Li B. hZIP1 Inhibits Progression of Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma by Suppressing NF-kB/HIF-1α Pathway. Front Oncol 2021; 11:759818. [PMID: 34926261 PMCID: PMC8674186 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.759818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 11/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Accumulating literature has suggested that hZIP1 and HIF-1α play vital roles in the tumor process of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). However, the functional roles of hZIP1 and HIF-1α in ccRCC remain largely unknown. Methods HIF-1α protein level was evaluated by a western blot in ccRCC tissues and cell lines. ccRCC cell lines were transfected with HIF-1α-siRNA to downregulate the expression level of HIF-1α. Then the proliferative, migratory and invasive abilities of ccRCC cells in vitro were detected by real-time cell analysis (RTCA) assay, wound healing assay and transwell assay, respectively. The role of HIF-1α in vivo was explored by tumor implantation in nude mice. Then the effect on glycolysis‐related proteins was performed by western blot after hZIP1 knockdown (overexpression) or HIF-1α knockdown. The effect on NF‐kB pathway was detected after hZIP1 overexpression. Results HIF-1α was markedly downregulated in ccRCC tissues compared with normal areas. But HIF-1α presented almost no expression in HK-2 and ACHN cells. Immunofluorescence indicated HIF-1α and PDK1 expression in both the cytoplasm and nucleus in ccRCC cells. Downregulation of HIF-1α suppressed ccRCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and resulted in smaller implanted tumors in nude mice. Furthermore, hZIP1 knockdown elevated HIF-1α protein levels and PDK1 protein levels in ccRCC cells. Interestingly, a sharp downregulated expression of HIF-1α was observed after hZIP1 overexpression in OSRC-2 and 786-O cells, which resulted from a downtrend of NF-kB1 moving into the cell nucleus. Conclusion Our work has vital implications that hZIP1 suppresses ccRCC progression by inhibiting NF-kB/HIF-1α pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Zhan
- Department of Urology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xiao Dong
- Department of Urology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Yulin Yuan
- Department of Urology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Zheng Gong
- Department of Urology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Bohan Li
- Department of Urology, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
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13
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Phua CYH, Teoh ZL, Goh BH, Yap WH, Tang YQ. Triangulating the pharmacological properties of thymoquinone in regulating reactive oxygen species, inflammation, and cancer: Therapeutic applications and mechanistic pathways. Life Sci 2021; 287:120120. [PMID: 34762903 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2021.120120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2021] [Revised: 10/24/2021] [Accepted: 11/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Cancer is a heterogeneous disease with high morbidity and mortality rate involving changes in redox balance and deregulation of redox signalling. For decades, studies have involved developing an effective cancer treatment to combat treatment resistance. As natural products such as thymoquinone have numerous health benefits, studies are also focusing on using them as a viable method for cancer treatment, as they have minimal toxic effects compared with standard cancer treatments. Thymoquinone studies have shown numerous mechanisms of action, such as regulation of reactive species interfering with DNA structure, modulating various potential targets and their signalling pathways as well as immunomodulatory effects in vitro and in vivo. Thymoquinone's anti-cancer effect is mainly due to the induction of apoptotic mechanisms, such as activation of caspases, downregulation of precancerous genes, inhibition of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), anti-tumour cell proliferation, ROS regulation, hypoxia and anti-metastasis. Insight into thymoquinone's potential as an alternative treatment for chemoprevention and inflammation can be accomplished via compiling these studies, to provide a better understanding on how and why it works, as well as its interactions with common chemotherapeutic treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Yuin Hueii Phua
- School of Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor's University, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia
| | - Zhi Ling Teoh
- School of Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor's University, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia
| | - Bey-Hing Goh
- Biofunctional Molecule Exploratory (BMEX) Research Group, School of Pharmacy, Monash University Malaysia, 47500 Bandar Sunway, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia; College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang University, 866 Yuhangtang Road, Hangzhou 310058, PR China
| | - Wei Hsum Yap
- School of Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor's University, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia; Centre for Drug Discovery and Molecular Pharmacology (CDDMP), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor's University, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia.
| | - Yin-Quan Tang
- School of Biosciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor's University, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia; Centre for Drug Discovery and Molecular Pharmacology (CDDMP), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, Taylor's University, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia.
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Kozal K, Jóźwiak P, Krześlak A. Contemporary Perspectives on the Warburg Effect Inhibition in Cancer Therapy. Cancer Control 2021; 28:10732748211041243. [PMID: 34554006 PMCID: PMC8474311 DOI: 10.1177/10732748211041243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
In the 1920s, Otto Warburg observed the phenomenon of altered glucose metabolism
in cancer cells. Although the initial hypothesis suggested that the alteration
resulted from mitochondrial damage, multiple studies of the subject revealed a
precise, multistage process rather than a random pattern. The phenomenon of
aerobic glycolysis emerges not only from mitochondrial abnormalities common in
cancer cells, but also results from metabolic reprogramming beneficial for their
sustenance. The Warburg effect enables metabolic adaptation of cancer cells to
grow and proliferate, simultaneously enabling their survival in hypoxic
conditions. Altered glucose metabolism of cancer cells includes, inter alia,
qualitative and quantitative changes within glucose transporters, enzymes of the
glycolytic pathway, such as hexokinases and pyruvate kinase, hypoxia-inducible
factor, monocarboxylate transporters, and lactate dehydrogenase. This review
summarizes the current state of knowledge regarding inhibitors of cancer glucose
metabolism with a focus on their clinical potential. The altered metabolic
phenotype of cancer cells allows for targeting of specific mechanisms, which
might improve conventional methods in anti-cancer therapy. However, several
problems such as drug bioavailability, specificity, toxicity, the plasticity of
cancer cells, and heterogeneity of cells in tumors have to be overcome when
designing therapies based on compounds targeted in cancer cell energy
metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Kozal
- Faculty of Biology and
Environmental Protection, Department of Cytobiochemistry, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Paweł Jóźwiak
- Faculty of Biology and
Environmental Protection, Department of Cytobiochemistry, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Anna Krześlak
- Faculty of Biology and
Environmental Protection, Department of Cytobiochemistry, University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
- Anna Krzeslak Faculty of Biology and
Environmental Protection, Department of Cytobiochemistry, University of Lodz,
Pomorska 141/143, Lodz 90-131, Poland.
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15
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Yun BD, Son SW, Choi SY, Kuh HJ, Oh TJ, Park JK. Anti-Cancer Activity of Phytochemicals Targeting Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1 Alpha. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22189819. [PMID: 34575983 PMCID: PMC8467787 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22189819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2021] [Revised: 09/02/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1α) is overexpressed in cancer, leading to a poor prognosis in patients. Diverse cellular factors are able to regulate HIF-1α expression in hypoxia and even in non-hypoxic conditions, affecting its progression and malignant characteristics by regulating the expression of the HIF-1α target genes that are involved in cell survival, angiogenesis, metabolism, therapeutic resistance, et cetera. Numerous studies have exhibited the anti-cancer effect of HIF-1α inhibition itself and the augmentation of anti-cancer treatment efficacy by interfering with HIF-1α-mediated signaling. The anti-cancer effect of plant-derived phytochemicals has been evaluated, and they have been found to possess significant therapeutic potentials against numerous cancer types. A better understanding of phytochemicals is indispensable for establishing advanced strategies for cancer therapy. This article reviews the anti-cancer effect of phytochemicals in connection with HIF-1α regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ba Da Yun
- Department of Biomedical Science and Research Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology, Hallym University, Chunchon 24252, Korea; (B.D.Y.); (S.W.S.); (S.Y.C.)
| | - Seung Wan Son
- Department of Biomedical Science and Research Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology, Hallym University, Chunchon 24252, Korea; (B.D.Y.); (S.W.S.); (S.Y.C.)
| | - Soo Young Choi
- Department of Biomedical Science and Research Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology, Hallym University, Chunchon 24252, Korea; (B.D.Y.); (S.W.S.); (S.Y.C.)
| | - Hyo Jeong Kuh
- Department of Medical Life Sciences, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul 06591, Korea;
| | - Tae-Jin Oh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering and Biotechnology, SunMoon University, 70 Sunmoon-ro 221, Tangjeong-myeon, Asan-si 31460, Korea;
| | - Jong Kook Park
- Department of Biomedical Science and Research Institute for Bioscience & Biotechnology, Hallym University, Chunchon 24252, Korea; (B.D.Y.); (S.W.S.); (S.Y.C.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-33-248-2114
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16
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Zheng X, Fan H, Liu Y, Wei Z, Li X, Wang A, Chen W, Lu Y. Hypoxia boosts aerobic glycolysis of carcinoma:a complex process for tumor development. Curr Mol Pharmacol 2021; 15:487-501. [PMID: 34382521 DOI: 10.2174/1874467214666210811145752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2021] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Hypoxia, a common feature in malignant tumors, is mainly caused by insufficient oxygen supply. Hypoxia is closely related to cancer development, affecting cancer invasion and metastasis, energy metabolism and other pathological processes, and is not conducive to cancer treatment and prognosis. Tumor cells exacerbate metabolic abnormalities to adapt to the hypoxic microenvironment, especially to enhance aerobic glycolysis. Glycolysis leads to an acidic microenvironment in cancer tissues, enhancing cancer metastasis, deterioration and drug resistance. Therefore, hypoxia is a therapeutic target that cannot be ignored in cancer treatment. The adaptation of tumor cells to hypoxia is mainly regulated by hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs), and the stability of HIFs is improved under hypoxic conditions. HIFs can promote the glycolysis of tumors by regulating glycolytic enzymes, transporters, and participates in regulating the TCA (tricarboxylic acid) cycle. In addition, HIFs indirectly affect glycolysis through its interaction with non-coding RNAs. Therefore, targeting hypoxia and HIFs are important tumor therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuqin Zheng
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023. China
| | - Hui Fan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023. China
| | - Yang Liu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023. China
| | - Zhonghong Wei
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023. China
| | - Xiaoman Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023. China
| | - Aiyun Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023. China
| | - Wenxing Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023. China
| | - Yin Lu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023. China
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17
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Dong L, Lin T, Li W, Hong Y, Ren X, Ke Y, Zhang X, Li X. Antioxidative effects of polypyrimidine tract-binding protein-associated splicing factor against pathological retinal angiogenesis through promotion of mitochondrial function. J Mol Med (Berl) 2021; 99:967-980. [PMID: 33770188 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-021-02069-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2020] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/21/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Reactive oxygen species (ROS), a by-product of oxygen metabolism mainly originating from mitochondria, participate in many pathological processes related to ophthalmopathy. Excessive production of ROS leads to oxidative stress, which influences the permeability, proliferation, migration, and tube formation of human retinal microcapillary endothelial cells (HRMECs). The molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of ROS are not clear. In Vldlr-/- mice, we used fundus fluorescein angiography and retinal flat mount staining to observe the effect of polypyrimidine tract-binding protein-associated splicing factor (PSF) on pathological retinal neovascularization in vivo. Additionally, in human retinal microvascular endothelial cells treated with 4-HNE, cell viability, tube formation, wound healing, and Transwell assays were performed to study the effect of PSF on the proliferation, migration, and tube formation of retinal vascular endothelial cells in vitro. Moreover, reactive oxygen species assay, real-time PCR, and Western blot were included to analyze the potential mechanism of PSF in the above series of effects. PSF ameliorated intraretinal neovascularization (IRNV) in vivo in Vldlr-/- mice. Under 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) conditions in vitro, PSF reprogrammed mitochondrial bioenergetic and glycolytic profiles. It also reduced ROS levels and inhibited 4-HNE-induced angiogenesis, which involves the proliferation, migration, and tube formation of HRMECs. These results suggest that PSF participates in the regulation of HRMECs proliferation and migration during the development of pathological angiogenesis. We demonstrated that PSF enhanced Nrf2 activation and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression via extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and Akt signaling in HRMECs, which subsequently resulted in intracellular ROS scavenging. PSF restored endoplasmic reticulum (ER) redox homeostasis, which was indicated by an increase in protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) and Ero-1α and a reduction in GRP78 and C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP). PSF also attenuated ER stress via regulation of the protein kinase R (PKR)-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase PERK/eukaryotic translation factor 2 alpha (eIF2α)/activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) pathway in 4-HNE-treated HRMECs. Our research shows that PSF may be a potential antioxidant that regulates pathological angiogenesis through ERK-AKT/Nrf2/HO-1 and PERK/eIF2α/ATF4 signal regulation. KEY MESSAGES: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) mainly originating from mitochondria is a by-product of oxygen metabolism in the body and participates in the pathological process related to multiple blindness-related ophthalmopathy. Moreover , excessive production of ROS will lead to oxidative stress. Consequently, oxidative stress influences the permeability, proliferation, migration, and tube formation of human retinal microcapillary endothelial cells (HRMECs). The molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of ROS remain unclear. Here, we reveal that Polypyrimidine tract-binding protein-associated splicing factor (PSF) ameliorates intraretinal neovascularization (IRNV) in vivo in Vldlr-/- mice. Furthermore, under 4-HNE conditions in vitro, PSF reprograms mitochondrial bioenergetic and glycolytic profiles, reduces ROS levels, and inhibits 4-HNE-induced angiogenesis, which involves the proliferation, migration, and tube formation of HRMECs, suggesting that it participates in regulating the proliferation and migration of HRMECs during the development of pathological angiogenesis. Furthermore, PSF enhances Nrf2 activation and HO-1 expression through ERK and AKT signaling in HRMECs, resulting in intracellular ROS scavenging. PSF restores endoplasmic reticulum (ER) redox homeostasis, as indicated by an increase in PDI and Ero-1α and a reduction in GRP78 and CHOP. PSF also attenuates ER stress by regulating the PERK/eIF2α/ATF4 pathway in 4-HNE-treated HRMECs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijie Dong
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.
- Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.
- Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, 251 Fukang Road, Nankai district, Tianjin, 300384, People's Republic of China.
| | - Tingting Lin
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
- Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
- Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, 251 Fukang Road, Nankai district, Tianjin, 300384, People's Republic of China
| | - Wenbo Li
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
- Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
- Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, 251 Fukang Road, Nankai district, Tianjin, 300384, People's Republic of China
| | - Yaru Hong
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
- Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
- Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, 251 Fukang Road, Nankai district, Tianjin, 300384, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinjun Ren
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
- Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
- Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, 251 Fukang Road, Nankai district, Tianjin, 300384, People's Republic of China
| | - YiFeng Ke
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
- Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
- Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, 251 Fukang Road, Nankai district, Tianjin, 300384, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaomin Zhang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
- Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Tianjin, People's Republic of China
- Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, 251 Fukang Road, Nankai district, Tianjin, 300384, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaorong Li
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.
- Tianjin Branch of National Clinical Research Center for Ocular Disease, Tianjin, People's Republic of China.
- Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, 251 Fukang Road, Nankai district, Tianjin, 300384, People's Republic of China.
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Zhong JC, Li XB, Lyu WY, Ye WC, Zhang DM. Natural products as potent inhibitors of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α in cancer therapy. Chin J Nat Med 2021; 18:696-703. [PMID: 32928513 DOI: 10.1016/s1875-5364(20)60008-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Hypoxia is a prominent feature of tumors. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), a major subunit of HIF-1, is overexpressed in hypoxic tumor tissues and activates the transcription of many oncogenes. Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that HIF-1α promotes tumor angiogenesis, metastasis, metabolism, and immune evasion. Natural products are an important source of antitumor drugs and numerous studies have highlighted the crucial role of these agents in modulating HIF-1α. The present review describes the role of HIF-1α in tumor progression, summarizes natural products used as HIF-1α inhibitors, and discusses the potential of developing natural products as HIF-1α inhibitors for the treatment of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Cheng Zhong
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Xiao-Bo Li
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Wen-Yu Lyu
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China
| | - Wen-Cai Ye
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
| | - Dong-Mei Zhang
- College of Pharmacy, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China; Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Constituents of Traditional Chinese Medicine and New Drugs Research, Jinan University, Guangzhou 510632, China.
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Sarkar C, Jamaddar S, Islam T, Mondal M, Islam MT, Mubarak MS. Therapeutic perspectives of the black cumin component thymoquinone: A review. Food Funct 2021; 12:6167-6213. [PMID: 34085672 DOI: 10.1039/d1fo00401h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The dietary phytochemical thymoquinone (TQ), belonging to the family of quinones, mainly obtained from the black and angular seeds of Nigella sativa, is one of the promising monoterpenoid hydrocarbons, which has been receiving massive attention for its therapeutic potential and pharmacological properties. It plays an important role as a chemopreventive and therapeutic agent in the treatment of various diseases and illnesses. The aim of this review is to present a summary of the most recent literature pertaining to the use of TQ for the prevention and treatment of various diseases along with possible mechanisms of action, and the potential use of this natural product as a complementary or alternative medicine. Research findings indicated that TQ exhibits numerous pharmacological activities including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, antidiabetic, neuroprotective, and anticancer, among others. Conclusions of this review on the therapeutic aspects of TQ highlight the medicinal and folk values of this compound against various diseases and ailments. In short, TQ could be a novel drug in clinical trials, as we hope.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandan Sarkar
- Department of Pharmacy, Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman Science and Technology University, Gopalganj-8100, Bangladesh.
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Serwetnyk MA, Blagg BS. The disruption of protein-protein interactions with co-chaperones and client substrates as a strategy towards Hsp90 inhibition. Acta Pharm Sin B 2021; 11:1446-1468. [PMID: 34221862 PMCID: PMC8245820 DOI: 10.1016/j.apsb.2020.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 11/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The 90-kiloDalton (kD) heat shock protein (Hsp90) is a ubiquitous, ATP-dependent molecular chaperone whose primary function is to ensure the proper folding of several hundred client protein substrates. Because many of these clients are overexpressed or become mutated during cancer progression, Hsp90 inhibition has been pursued as a potential strategy for cancer as one can target multiple oncoproteins and signaling pathways simultaneously. The first discovered Hsp90 inhibitors, geldanamycin and radicicol, function by competitively binding to Hsp90's N-terminal binding site and inhibiting its ATPase activity. However, most of these N-terminal inhibitors exhibited detrimental activities during clinical evaluation due to induction of the pro-survival heat shock response as well as poor selectivity amongst the four isoforms. Consequently, alternative approaches to Hsp90 inhibition have been pursued and include C-terminal inhibition, isoform-selective inhibition, and the disruption of Hsp90 protein-protein interactions. Since the Hsp90 protein folding cycle requires the assembly of Hsp90 into a large heteroprotein complex, along with various co-chaperones and immunophilins, the development of small molecules that prevent assembly of the complex offers an alternative method of Hsp90 inhibition.
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Key Words
- ADP, adenosine diphosphate
- ATP, adenosine triphosphate
- Aha1, activator of Hsp90 ATPase homologue 1
- CTD, C-terminal domain
- Cdc37, cell division cycle 37
- Disruptors
- Grp94, 94-kD glucose-regulated protein
- HIF-1α, hypoxia-inducing factor-1α
- HIP, Hsp70-interaction protein
- HOP, Hsp70‒Hsp90 organizing protein
- HSQC, heteronuclear single quantum coherence
- Her-2, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2
- Hsp90
- Hsp90, 90-kD heat shock protein
- MD, middle domain
- NTD, N-terminal domain
- Natural products
- PPI, protein−protein interaction
- Peptidomimetics
- Protein−protein interactions
- SAHA, suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid
- SAR, structure–activity relationship
- SUMO, small ubiquitin-like modifier
- Small molecules
- TPR2A, tetratricopeptide-containing repeat 2A
- TRAP1, Hsp75tumor necrosis factor receptor associated protein 1
- TROSY, transverse relaxation-optimized spectroscopy
- hERG, human ether-à-go-go-related gene
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Pal RR, Rajpal V, Singh P, Saraf SA. Recent Findings on Thymoquinone and Its Applications as a Nanocarrier for the Treatment of Cancer and Rheumatoid Arthritis. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:775. [PMID: 34067322 PMCID: PMC8224699 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13060775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 05/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer causes a considerable amount of mortality in the world, while arthritis is an immunological dysregulation with multifactorial pathogenesis including genetic and environmental defects. Both conditions have inflammation as a part of their pathogenesis. Resistance to anticancer and disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) happens frequently through the generation of energy-dependent transporters, which lead to the expulsion of cellular drug contents. Thymoquinone (TQ) is a bioactive molecule with anticancer as well as anti-inflammatory activities via the downregulation of several chemokines and cytokines. Nevertheless, the pharmacological importance and therapeutic feasibility of thymoquinone are underutilized due to intrinsic pharmacokinetics, including short half-life, inadequate biological stability, poor aqueous solubility, and low bioavailability. Owing to these pharmacokinetic limitations of TQ, nanoformulations have gained remarkable attention in recent years. Therefore, this compilation intends to critically analyze recent advancements in rheumatoid arthritis and cancer delivery of TQ. This literature search revealed that nanocarriers exhibit potential results in achieving targetability, maximizing drug internalization, as well as enhancing the anti-inflammatory and anticancer efficacy of TQ. Additionally, TQ-NPs (thymoquinone nanoparticles) as a therapeutic payload modulated autophagy as well as enhanced the potential of other drugs when given in combination. Moreover, nanoformulations improved pharmacokinetics, drug deposition, using EPR (enhanced permeability and retention) and receptor-mediated delivery, and enhanced anti-inflammatory and anticancer properties. TQ's potential to reduce metal toxicity, its clinical trials and patents have also been discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravi Raj Pal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (A Central University), VidyaVihar, Raebareli Road, Lucknow 226025, Uttar Pradesh, India; (R.R.P.); (P.S.)
| | - Vasundhara Rajpal
- Department of Biotechology, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (A Central University), VidyaVihar, Raebareli Road, Lucknow 226025, Uttar Pradesh, India;
| | - Priya Singh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (A Central University), VidyaVihar, Raebareli Road, Lucknow 226025, Uttar Pradesh, India; (R.R.P.); (P.S.)
| | - Shubhini A. Saraf
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University (A Central University), VidyaVihar, Raebareli Road, Lucknow 226025, Uttar Pradesh, India; (R.R.P.); (P.S.)
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Abdullah O, Omran Z, Hosawi S, Hamiche A, Bronner C, Alhosin M. Thymoquinone Is a Multitarget Single Epidrug That Inhibits the UHRF1 Protein Complex. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12050622. [PMID: 33922029 PMCID: PMC8143546 DOI: 10.3390/genes12050622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Silencing of tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) through epigenetic mechanisms, mainly via abnormal promoter DNA methylation, is considered a main mechanism of tumorigenesis. The abnormal DNA methylation profiles are transmitted from the cancer mother cell to the daughter cells through the involvement of a macromolecular complex in which the ubiquitin-like containing plant homeodomain (PHD), and an interesting new gene (RING) finger domains 1 (UHRF1), play the role of conductor. Indeed, UHRF1 interacts with epigenetic writers, such as DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1), histone methyltransferase G9a, erasers like histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1), and functions as a hub protein. Thus, targeting UHRF1 and/or its partners is a promising strategy for epigenetic cancer therapy. The natural compound thymoquinone (TQ) exhibits anticancer activities by targeting several cellular signaling pathways, including those involving UHRF1. In this review, we highlight TQ as a potential multitarget single epidrug that functions by targeting the UHRF1/DNMT1/HDAC1/G9a complex. We also speculate on the possibility that TQ might specifically target UHRF1, with subsequent regulatory effects on other partners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Omeima Abdullah
- College of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia; (O.A.); (Z.O.)
| | - Ziad Omran
- College of Pharmacy, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah 21955, Saudi Arabia; (O.A.); (Z.O.)
| | - Salman Hosawi
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Cancer and Mutagenesis Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Ali Hamiche
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS UMR7104, INSERM U964, Université de Strasbourg, 67404 Illkirch, France; (A.H.); (C.B.)
| | - Christian Bronner
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS UMR7104, INSERM U964, Université de Strasbourg, 67404 Illkirch, France; (A.H.); (C.B.)
| | - Mahmoud Alhosin
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Science, Cancer and Mutagenesis Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +966-597-959-354
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23
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Ansary J, Giampieri F, Forbes-Hernandez TY, Regolo L, Quinzi D, Gracia Villar S, Garcia Villena E, Tutusaus Pifarre K, Alvarez-Suarez JM, Battino M, Cianciosi D. Nutritional Value and Preventive Role of Nigella sativa L. and Its Main Component Thymoquinone in Cancer: An Evidenced-Based Review of Preclinical and Clinical Studies. Molecules 2021; 26:molecules26082108. [PMID: 33916916 PMCID: PMC8067617 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26082108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent times, scientific attention has been paid to different foods and their bioactive components for the ability to inhibit the onset and progress of different types of cancer. Nigella sativa extract, powder and seed oil and its main components, thymoquinone and α-hederin, have showed potent anticancer and chemosensitizing effects against various types of cancer, such as liver, colon, breast, renal, cervical, lung, ovarian, pancreatic, prostate and skin tumors, through the modulation of various molecular signaling pathways. Herein, the purpose of this review was to highlight the anticancer activity of Nigella sativa and it constitutes, focusing on different in vitro, in vivo and clinical studies and projects, in order to underline their antiproliferative, proapoptotic, cytotoxic and antimetastatic effects. Particular attention has been also given to the synergistic effect of Nigella sativa and it constitutes with chemotherapeutic drugs, and to the synthesized analogs of thymoquinone that seem to enhance the chemo-sensitizing potential. This review could be a useful step towards new research on N. sativa and cancer, to include this plant in the dietary treatments in support to conventional therapies, for the best achievement of therapeutic goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johura Ansary
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy; (J.A.); (F.G.); (L.R.); (D.Q.)
| | - Francesca Giampieri
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy; (J.A.); (F.G.); (L.R.); (D.Q.)
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Tamara Y. Forbes-Hernandez
- Nutrition and Food Science Group, Department of Analytical and Food Chemistry, CITACA, CACTI, University of Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain;
| | - Lucia Regolo
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy; (J.A.); (F.G.); (L.R.); (D.Q.)
| | - Denise Quinzi
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy; (J.A.); (F.G.); (L.R.); (D.Q.)
| | - Santos Gracia Villar
- Research Center for Foods, Nutritional Biochemistry and Health, Universidad Europea del Atlántico, Isabel Torres 21, 39011 Santander, Spain; (S.G.V.); (E.G.V.); (K.T.P.)
- Research Center for Foods, Nutritional Biochemistry and Health, Universidad Internacional Iberoamericana, Campeche 24560, Mexico
| | - Eduardo Garcia Villena
- Research Center for Foods, Nutritional Biochemistry and Health, Universidad Europea del Atlántico, Isabel Torres 21, 39011 Santander, Spain; (S.G.V.); (E.G.V.); (K.T.P.)
| | - Kilian Tutusaus Pifarre
- Research Center for Foods, Nutritional Biochemistry and Health, Universidad Europea del Atlántico, Isabel Torres 21, 39011 Santander, Spain; (S.G.V.); (E.G.V.); (K.T.P.)
- Research Center for Foods, Nutritional Biochemistry and Health, Universidad Internacional Iberoamericana, Campeche 24560, Mexico
| | - José M. Alvarez-Suarez
- Departamento de Ingeniería en Alimentos, Colegio de Ciencias e Ingenierías, Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Quito 170157, Ecuador
- King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Correspondence: (J.M.A.-S.); (M.B.); (D.C.); Tel.: +593-2-297-1700 (J.M.A.-S.); +339-071-220-4646 (M.B.); +339-071-220-4136 (D.C.)
| | - Maurizio Battino
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy; (J.A.); (F.G.); (L.R.); (D.Q.)
- International Research Center for Food Nutrition and Safety, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China
- Correspondence: (J.M.A.-S.); (M.B.); (D.C.); Tel.: +593-2-297-1700 (J.M.A.-S.); +339-071-220-4646 (M.B.); +339-071-220-4136 (D.C.)
| | - Danila Cianciosi
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, 60131 Ancona, Italy; (J.A.); (F.G.); (L.R.); (D.Q.)
- Correspondence: (J.M.A.-S.); (M.B.); (D.C.); Tel.: +593-2-297-1700 (J.M.A.-S.); +339-071-220-4646 (M.B.); +339-071-220-4136 (D.C.)
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Butt MS, Imran M, Imran A, Arshad MS, Saeed F, Gondal TA, Shariati MA, Gilani SA, Tufail T, Ahmad I, Rind NA, Mahomoodally MF, Islam S, Mehmood Z. Therapeutic perspective of thymoquinone: A mechanistic treatise. Food Sci Nutr 2021; 9:1792-1809. [PMID: 33747489 PMCID: PMC7958532 DOI: 10.1002/fsn3.2070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2020] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 12/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The higher utilization of fruits and vegetables is well known to cure human maladies due to the presence of bioactive components. Among these compounds, thymoquinone, a monoterpene and significant constituent in the essential oil of Nigella sativa L., has attained attention by the researchers due to their pharmacologies perspectives such as prevention from cancer, antidiabetic and antiobesity, prevention from oxidative stress and cardioprotective disorder. Thymoquinone has been found to work as anticancer agent against different human and animal cancer stages including propagation, migration, and invasion. Thymoquinone as phytochemical also downregulated the Rac1 expression, mediated the miR-34a upregulation, and increased the levels of miR-34a through p53, as well as also regulated the pro- and antiapoptotic genes and decreased the phosphorylation of NF-κB and IKKα/β. In addition, thymoquinone also lowered the metastasis and ERK1/2 and PI3K activities. The present review article has been piled by adapting narrative review method and highlights the diverse aspects of thymoquinone such as hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory, and antiaging through various pathways, and further utilization of this compound in diet has been proven effective against different types of cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masood Sadiq Butt
- Faculty of Food, Nutrition & Home SciencesNational Institute of Food Science and TechnologyUAFFaisalabadPakistan
| | - Muhammad Imran
- Faculty of Allied Health SciencesUniversity Institute of Diet and Nutritional SciencesThe University of LahoreLahorePakistan
| | - Ali Imran
- Department of Food ScienceInstitute of Home and Food SciencesGovernment College UniversityFaisalabadPakistan
| | - Muhammad Sajid Arshad
- Department of Food ScienceInstitute of Home and Food SciencesGovernment College UniversityFaisalabadPakistan
| | - Farhan Saeed
- Department of Food ScienceInstitute of Home and Food SciencesGovernment College UniversityFaisalabadPakistan
| | - Tanweer Aslam Gondal
- School of Exercise and NutritionFaculty of HealthDeakin UniversityBurwoodVic.Australia
| | | | - Syed Amir Gilani
- Faculty of Allied Health SciencesUniversity Institute of Diet and Nutritional SciencesThe University of LahoreLahorePakistan
| | - Tabussam Tufail
- Faculty of Allied Health SciencesUniversity Institute of Diet and Nutritional SciencesThe University of LahoreLahorePakistan
| | - Ishtiaque Ahmad
- Department of Dairy TechnologyUniversity of Veterinary and Animal SciencesLahorePakistan
| | - Nadir Ali Rind
- Department of molecular Biology and GeneticsShaheed Benazir Bhutto UniversityShaheed BenazirabadPakistan
| | - Mohamad Fawzi Mahomoodally
- Department of Health SciencesFaculty of Medicine and Health SciencesUniversity of MauritiusRéduitMauritius
| | - Saiful Islam
- Institute of Nutrition and Food ScienceUniversity of DhakaDhakaBangladesh
| | - Zaffar Mehmood
- School of life SciencesForman Christian College (A Chartered University)LahorePakistan
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Dong L, Li W, Lin T, Liu B, Hong Y, Zhang X, Li X. PSF functions as a repressor of hypoxia-induced angiogenesis by promoting mitochondrial function. Cell Commun Signal 2021; 19:14. [PMID: 33573690 PMCID: PMC7879653 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-020-00684-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Abnormal neovascularization is the most common cause of blindness, and hypoxia alters tissue metabolism, function, and morphology. HIF-1α, the transcriptional activator of VEGF, has intricate mechanisms of nuclear translocation and activation, but its signal termination mechanisms remain unclear. METHODS We investigated the role of polypyrimidine tract-binding protein-associated splicing factor (PSF) in cellular energy production, migration, and proliferation by targeting HIF-1α in vivo and in vitro PSF plasmids were transfected with liposome 2000 transfection reagent. Young C57/BL6J mice were kept in a hyperoxia environment, followed by indoor air, resulting in oxygen-induced retinopathy. Oxygen-induced retinopathy (OIR) animals were randomly divided into three groups: OIR group, OIR + vector group (OIR cubs treated with rAAV vector) and OIR + PSF group (OIR cubs treated with rAAV-PSF). Age-matched C57/BL6J mice were used as controls and exposed to constant normoxic conditions. The animals were executed and their pupils were subjected to subsequent experiments. The metabolic spectrum was analyzed by Seahorse XFe96 flux analyzer, and OCR and extracellular acidification rate were quantified at the same time. RESULTS PSF ameliorated retinal neovascularization and corrected abnormal VEGF expression in mice with oxygen-induced retinopathy and reduced intra-retinal neovascularization in Vldlr - / - mice. PSF reprogrammed mitochondrial bioenergetics and inhibited the transition of endothelial cells after hypoxia, suggesting its involvement in pathological angiogenesis.Ectopic PSF expression inhibited hypoxia-induced HIF-1α activation in the nucleus by recruiting Hakai to the PSF/HIF-1α complex, causing HIF-1α inhibition. PSF knockdown increased hypoxia-stimulated HIF-1α reactions. These hypoxia-dependent processes may play a vital role in cell metabolism, migration, and proliferation. Thus, PSF is a potential treatment target in neovascularization-associated ophthalmopathy. CONCLUSION This is the first study showing that PSF inhibits HIF-1α via recruitment of Hakai, modulates mitochondrial oxidation and glycolysis, and downregulates VEGF expression under hypoxia. We propose a new HIF-1 α/Hakai regulatory mechanism that may play a vital role in the pathogenesis of neovascularization in ophthalmopathy. PSF-Hakai-HIF-1α signaling pathway under hypoxia condition. Schematic diagram showing that the PSF-Hakai-HIF-1α signaling pathway. Under hypoxia condition, PSF-Hakai complex regulate HIF-1α signaling, thus inhibiting downstream target gene VEGF, cell metabolism and angiogenesis eventually. Video Abstract: Detailed information of Materials and Methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijie Dong
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
- Tianjin International Joint Research and Development Centre of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
- Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, 251 Fukang Road, Nankai, Tianjin, 300384 People’s Republic of China
| | - Wenbo Li
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
- Tianjin International Joint Research and Development Centre of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
- Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, 251 Fukang Road, Nankai, Tianjin, 300384 People’s Republic of China
| | - Tingting Lin
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
- Tianjin International Joint Research and Development Centre of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
- Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, 251 Fukang Road, Nankai, Tianjin, 300384 People’s Republic of China
| | - Boshi Liu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
- Tianjin International Joint Research and Development Centre of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
- Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, 251 Fukang Road, Nankai, Tianjin, 300384 People’s Republic of China
| | - Yaru Hong
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
- Tianjin International Joint Research and Development Centre of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
- Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, 251 Fukang Road, Nankai, Tianjin, 300384 People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaomin Zhang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
- Tianjin International Joint Research and Development Centre of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
- Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, 251 Fukang Road, Nankai, Tianjin, 300384 People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaorong Li
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Retinal Functions and Diseases, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
- Tianjin International Joint Research and Development Centre of Ophthalmology and Vision Science, Tianjin, People’s Republic of China
- Eye Institute and School of Optometry, Tianjin Medical University Eye Hospital, 251 Fukang Road, Nankai, Tianjin, 300384 People’s Republic of China
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Zhang S, Zhang M, Chen J, Zhao J, Su J, Zhang X. Ginsenoside Compound K Regulates HIF-1α-Mediated Glycolysis Through Bclaf1 to Inhibit the Proliferation of Human Liver Cancer Cells. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:583334. [PMID: 33363466 PMCID: PMC7753211 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.583334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to demonstrate that ginsenoside compound K (20 (S)-ginsenoside CK; CK) downregulates Bcl-2-associated transcription factor 1 (Bclaf1), which inhibits the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α)-mediated glycolysis pathway to inhibit the proliferation of liver cancer cells. Treatment of hepatoma cells (Bel-7404 and Huh7) under hypoxic conditions with different concentrations of CK showed that CK inhibited the proliferation of hepatoma cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner; furthermore, the ability of the cells to form colonies was reduced, and cell growth was blocked in the G0/G1 phase. CK promoted the degradation of HIF-1α ubiquitination in liver cancer cells by regulating the expression of HIF-1α and related ubiquitination proteins; moreover, it reduced the activity of key enzymes involved in glycolysis, the pressure of cellular glycolysis, and the rate of real-time ATP production, thereby inhibiting the glycolysis pathway. It also decreased the expression of Bclaf1 in hypoxic liver cancer cells and thus reduced the ability of Bclaf1 to bind to HIF-1α. CK treatment of Bel-7404 and Huh7 cells with CRISPR/Cas9-engineered knock out of Bclaf1 gene under hypoxic conditions further suppressed the expression of HIF-1α, promoted HIF-1α ubiquitination, and inhibited the glycolysis pathway. In a rat model of primary liver cancer induced by diethylnitrosamine, positron emission tomography and computed tomography scans showed that after CK administration, tumor tissue volumes were reduced and glucose uptake capacity decreased. Increased Bclaf1 and HIF-1α expression promoted the ubiquitination of HIF-1α and inhibited the glycolysis pathway, thereby inhibiting the proliferation of liver cancer cells. In summary, this study confirmed by in vitro and in vivo experiments that in hypoxic liver cancer cells CK downregulates the expression of Bclaf1, inhibits the HIF-1α-mediated glycolysis pathway, and inhibits cell proliferation, suggesting that the CK-mediated effects on Bclaf1 may represent a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of liver cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silin Zhang
- College of Medicine, Yanbian University, Yanji, China
| | | | - Jiaxin Chen
- College of Medicine, Yanbian University, Yanji, China
| | - Jiaqi Zhao
- College of Medicine, Yanbian University, Yanji, China
| | - Jielin Su
- College of Medicine, Yanbian University, Yanji, China
| | - Xuewu Zhang
- College of Medicine, Yanbian University, Yanji, China
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Wang J, Huang K, Shi L, Zhang Q, Zhang S. CircPVT1 Promoted the Progression of Breast Cancer by Regulating MiR-29a-3p-Mediated AGR2-HIF-1α Pathway. Cancer Manag Res 2020; 12:11477-11490. [PMID: 33223849 PMCID: PMC7672658 DOI: 10.2147/cmar.s265579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Breast cancer (BC) is a great contributor to cancer-related death. Mounting studies have identified that circular RNAs (circRNAs) play vital roles in cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis and invasion. Here, we explored the effect of circPVT1 on BC development as well as its downstream mechanisms. Methods qRT-PCR was used to determine the relative expression levels of circPVT1 and miR-29a-3p in BC tissue samples and cell lines. We also analyzed the relevance between pathological indexes and circPVT1 expression level. Human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 were taken as cell models. Gain- or loss-of-functional assays of circPVT1 and miR-29a-3p were conducted in BC cell lines to investigate their effects on the cell proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion. The protein levels of AGR2, HIF-1α, Bax, Bcl2 and Caspase3 were determined by Western blot. Furthermore, dual-luciferase reporter assay and RNA fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) were used to confirm the targeted relationships between circPVT1 and miR-29a-3p, miR-29a-3p and anterior gradient 2 (AGR2). Results CircPVT1 was highly expressed while miR-29a-3p was lowly expressed in BC tissues and cell lines. Inhibition of circPVT1 or overexpression of miR-29a-3p remarkably suppressed BC cell proliferation, invasion and migration while promoted cell apoptosis. By contrast, circPVT1 upregulation or miR-29a-3p inhibition led to mitigate malignant behaviours of BC cells. Functionally, circPVT1 bound to miR-29a-3p, and AGR2 was a target gene of miR-29a-3p. Overexpressed circPVT1 promoted AGR2 and HIF-1α expression by repressing miR-29a-3p. More importantly, overexpressing AGR2 enhances HIF-1α expression, accompanied with accelerated proliferation, invasion and migration of BC cells. Conclusion CircPVT1 acts as an oncogene in BC via promoting the growth, invasion, migration and inhibiting apoptosis through miR-29a-3p-mediated AGR2-HIF-1α axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wang
- Department ofThyroid and Breast Surgery, The First College of Clinical Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443003, People's Republic of China
| | - Kuo Huang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First College of Clinical Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443003, People's Republic of China
| | - Lang Shi
- The First College of Clinical Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei 443003, People's Republic of China
| | - Qingyong Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First College of Clinical Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443003, People's Republic of China
| | - Shengchu Zhang
- Department ofThyroid and Breast Surgery, The First College of Clinical Medical Science, China Three Gorges University, Yichang, Hubei, 443003, People's Republic of China
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Sun T, Liu Z, Yang Q. The role of ubiquitination and deubiquitination in cancer metabolism. Mol Cancer 2020; 19:146. [PMID: 33004065 PMCID: PMC7529510 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-020-01262-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 202] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Metabolic reprogramming, including enhanced biosynthesis of macromolecules, altered energy metabolism, and maintenance of redox homeostasis, is considered a hallmark of cancer, sustaining cancer cell growth. Multiple signaling pathways, transcription factors and metabolic enzymes participate in the modulation of cancer metabolism and thus, metabolic reprogramming is a highly complex process. Recent studies have observed that ubiquitination and deubiquitination are involved in the regulation of metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells. As one of the most important type of post-translational modifications, ubiquitination is a multistep enzymatic process, involved in diverse cellular biological activities. Dysregulation of ubiquitination and deubiquitination contributes to various disease, including cancer. Here, we discuss the role of ubiquitination and deubiquitination in the regulation of cancer metabolism, which is aimed at highlighting the importance of this post-translational modification in metabolic reprogramming and supporting the development of new therapeutic approaches for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianshui Sun
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, No. 36, Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang, 110004, China
| | - Zhuonan Liu
- Department of Urology, First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | - Qing Yang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, No. 36, Sanhao Street, Heping District, Shenyang, 110004, China.
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Almatroodi SA, Almatroudi A, Alsahli MA, Khan AA, Rahmani AH. Thymoquinone, an Active Compound of Nigella sativa: Role in Prevention and Treatment of Cancer. Curr Pharm Biotechnol 2020; 21:1028-1041. [DOI: 10.2174/1389201021666200416092743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2019] [Revised: 11/30/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Background:
Cancer is the leading cause of death worldwide and the current mode of cancer
treatment causes side effects on normal cells and are still the key challenges in its’ treatment. However,
natural products or active compounds of medicinal plants have shown to be safe, affordable, and
effective in diseases cure.
Methods:
In this context, scientific studies evidence the health-promoting effects of natural products,
which work through its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-cancer activity. Thymoquinone (TM),
a predominant active compound of Nigella sativa, has confirmed anti-neoplastic activity through its
ability to regulate various genetic pathways. In addition, thymoquinone has established anti-cancerous
effects through killing of various cancerous cells,and inhibiting the initiation, migration, invasion, and
progression of the cancer. The anti-cancer effects of TM are chiefly mediated via regulating various
cell signaling pathways such as VEGF, bcl2/bax ratio, p53, NF-kB, and oncogenes.
Results:
The anti-cancer drugs have limitations in efficacy and also causes adverse side effects on
normal cells. The combination of anti-cancer drugs and thymoquinone improves the efficacy of drugs
which is evident by decrease resistance to drugs and regulation of various cell signaling pathways.
Moreover, combination of anti-cancer drugs as well as thymoquinone shows synergistic effect on killing
of cancer cells and cells viability. Thus, TM, in combination with anti-cancer drugs, can be a good
strategy in the management of various types of cancer.
Conclusion:
In this review article, we deliver an outline of thymoquinone role in cancer inhibition and
prevention of cancer-based on in vivo and in vitro studies. Further studies on thymoquinone based on
clinical trials are highly required to explore the benefits of thymoquinone in cancer management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saleh A. Almatroodi
- Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmad Almatroudi
- Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed A. Alsahli
- Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Amjad A. Khan
- Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Arshad H. Rahmani
- Department of Medical Laboratories, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Qassim University, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia
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