Methanolic Extract of Pien Tze Huang Induces Apoptosis Signaling in Human Osteosarcoma MG63 Cells via Multiple Pathways

Pien Tze Huang (PZH) protects endothelial function in diabetic mice

Endothelial dysfunction is the most common pathological feature of cardiovascular diseases, including diabetes mellitus, hypertension and atherosclerosis. It affects both macro- and micro-vasculatures, causing functional impairment of multiple organs. Pien Tze Huang (PZH) is a well-studied traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) with multiple pharmacological properties that produces therapeutic benefits against colorectal cancer, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and neurodegenerative diseases. However, it is unknown how PZH affects vascular function under pathological conditions. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of PZH on endothelial function and the underlying mechanisms in db/db diabetic mice. The results showed that chronic treatment of PZH (250 mg/kg/day, 5 weeks) improved endothelial function by restoring endothelium-dependent relaxation through the activation of the Akt-eNOS pathway and inhibition of endothelial oxidative stress, which increased nitric oxide bioavailability. Furthermore, PZH treatment increased insulin sensitivity and suppressed inflammation in diabetic mice. These new findings suggest that PZH may have vaso-protective properties and the potential to protect against diabetic vasculopathy by preserving endothelial function.

Pien Tze Huang Inhibits Proliferation of Colorectal Cancer Cells through Suppressing PNO1 Expression and Activating p53/p21 Signaling Pathway

OBJECTIVE

To explore the regulatory effect of Pien Tze Huang (PZH) on targeting partner of NOB1 (PNO1) and it's down-stream mediators in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells.

METHODS

Quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed to determine mRNA levels of PNO1, TP53, and CDKN1A. Western blotting was performed to determine protein levels of PNO1, p53, and p21. HCT-8 cells were transduced with a lentivirus over-expressing PNO1. Colony formation assay was used to detect cell survival in PNO1 overexpression of HCT-8 cells after PZH treatment. Cell-cycle distribution, cell viability and cell apoptosis were performed to identify the effect of PNO1 overexpression on cell proliferation and apoptosis of HCT-8 cells after PZH treatment. Xenograft BALB/c nude mice bearing HCT116 cells transduced with sh-PNO1 or sh-Ctrl lentivirus were evaluated. Western blot assay was performed to detect PNO1, p53, p21 and PCNA expression in tumor sections. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labling (TUNEL) assay was used to determine the apoptotic cells in tissues.

RESULTS

PZH treatment decreased cell viability, down-regulated PNO1 expression, and up-regulated p53 and p21 expressions in HCT-8 cells (P<0.05). PNO1 overexpression attenuated the effects of PZH treatment, including the expression of p53 and p21, cell growth, cell viability, cell cycle arrest and cell apoptosis in vitro (P<0.05). PNO1 knockdown eliminated the effects of PZH treatment on tumor growth, inhibiting cell proliferation inhibition and apoptosis induction in vivo (P<0.05). Similarly, PNO1 knockdown attenuated the effects of PZH treatment on the down-regulation of PNO1 and up-regulation of p53 and p21 in vivo (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

The mechanism by which PZH induces its CRC anti-proliferative effect is at least in part by regulating the expression of PNO1 and its downstream targets p53 and p21.

Pien Tze Huang Inhibits Migration and Invasion of Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells by Repressing PDGFRB/YAP/CCN2 Axis Activity

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of Pien Tze Huang (PZH) on the migration and invasion of HCC cells and underlying molecular mechanism.

METHODS

Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) was applied to evaluate the cell viabilities of SMMC-7721, SK-Hep-1, C3A and HL-7702 (6 × 103 cells/well) co-incubated with different concentrations of PZH (0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 mg/mL) for 24 h. Transwell, wound healing assay, CCK-8 and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining were conducted to investigate the effects of PZH on the migration, invasion, proliferation and apoptosis of SK-Hep-1 and SMMC-7721 cells (650 µ g/mL for SK-Hep-1 cells and 330 µ g/mL for SMMC-7721 cells), respectively. In vivo, lung metastasis mouse model constructed by tail vein injection of HCC cells was used for evaluating the anti-metastasis function of PZH. SK-Hep-1 cells (106 cells/200 µ L per mice) were injected into B-NDG mice via tail vein. Totally 8 mice were randomly divided into PZH and control groups, 4 mice in each group. After 2-d inoculation, mice in the PZH group were administered with PZH (250 mg/kg, daily) and mice in the control group received only vehicle (PBS) from the 2nd day after xenograft to day 17. Transcriptome analysis based on RNA-seq was subsequently used for deciphering anti-tumor mechanism of PZH. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot were applied to verify RNA-seq results. Luciferase reporter assay was performed to examine the transcriptional activity of yes-associated protein (YAP).

RESULTS

PZH treatment significantly inhibited the migration, invasion, proliferation and promoted the apoptosis of HCC cells in vitro and in vivo (P<0.01). Transcriptome analysis indicated that Hippo signaling pathway was associated with anti-metastasis function of PZH. Mechanical study showed PZH significantly inhibited the expressions of platelet derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFRB), YAP, connective tissue growth factor (CCN2), N-cadherin, vimentin and matrix metallopeptidase 2 (MMP2, P<0.01). Meanwhile, the phosphorylation of YAP was also enhanced by PZH treatment in vitro and in vivo. Furthermore, PZH played roles in inhibiting the transcriptional activity of YAP.

CONCLUSION

PZH restrained migration, invasion and epithelial-mesenchymal transition of HCC cells through repressing PDGFRB/YAP/CCN2 axis.

Research progress on the pharmacological effects and chemical constituents of Pien Tze Huang and its potential Q-markers

Pien Tze Huang (PTH) was documented as an imperial prescription composed of Notoginseng Radix, Calculus Bovis, Snake Gallbladder, and Musk. It is famous in China and Asian countries due to its excellent effects in heat clearing, detoxifying, swelling reduction, and pain relieving. Modern pharmacological studies demonstrate that PTH shows excellent effects against various inflammatory diseases, liver diseases, and cancers. This review summaries the pharmacological effects, clinical applications, and mainchemical components of PTH. More importantly, its potential quality markers (Q-markers) were then analyzed based on the "five principles" of Q-markers under the guidance of Traditional Chinese Medicine theory, including transfer and traceability, specificity, efficacy, compatibility, and measurability. As a result, ginsenosides Rb1, ginsenoside Rg1, ginsenoside Rd, ginsenoside Re, notoginsenoside R1, dencichine, bilirubin, biliverdin, taurocholic acid, and muscone are considered as the Q-markers of PTH. These findings will provide guidance and assistance for the construction of a quality control system for PTH.

A, Venkidasamy B, Cespedes-Acuna CL, Nile SH, Yan G, Zheng H. Pien-Tze-Huang alleviates CCl4-induced liver fibrosis through the inhibition of HSC autophagy and the TGF-β1/Smad2 pathway

Ethnopharmacological relevance: Pien-Tze-Huang (PZH)—a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) compound—has been employed to treat various liver inflammation and tumors for over 10 decades. Interestingly, most of the pharmacological effects had been validated and explored toward liver ailment along with pro-inflammatory conditions and cancer at the cellular and molecular level to date.

Aim of the study: The present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of PZH on autophagy and TGF-β1 signaling pathways in rats with liver fibrosis and hepatic stellate cell line (HSC).

Materials and methods: Male SD rats with carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis were used as the animal model. Next, PZH treatment was given for 8 weeks. Afterward, the therapeutic effects of PZH were analyzed through a hepatic tissue structure by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E), Van Gieson (VG) staining, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM), activity of ALT and AST by enzyme-associated immunosorbent assay as well. Subsequently, mRNA and protein expression were examined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), Western blotting, and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Then, the cell vitality of PZH-treated HSC and the expression of key molecules prevailing to autophagy were studied in vitro. Meanwhile, SM16 (a novel small molecular inhibitor which inhibits TGFβ-induced Smad2 phosphorylation) was employed to confirm PZH’s effects on the proliferation and autophagy of HSC.

Results: PZH pharmacologically exerted anti-hepatic fibrosis effects as demonstrated by protecting hepatocytes and improving hepatic function. The results revealed the reduced production of extracellular collagen by adjusting the balance of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2, MMP9, and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP1) in PZH-treated CCl4-induced liver fibrosis. Interestingly, PZH inhibited the activation of HSC by down-regulating TGF-β1 and phosphorylating Smad2. Furthermore, PZH down-regulated yeast Atg6 (Beclin-1) and microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3) toward suppressing HSC autophagy, and PZH exhibited similar effects to that of SM16.

Conclusion: To conclude, PZH alleviated CCl4-induced liver fibrosis to reduce the production of extracellular collagen and inhibiting the activation of HSC. In addition, their pharmacological mechanisms related to autophagy and TGF-β1/Smad2 signaling pathways were revealed for the first time.

Extracellular vesicles from bone mesenchymal stem cells transport microRNA-206 into osteosarcoma cells and target NRSN2 to block the ERK1/2-Bcl-xL signaling pathway

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a kind of malignant tumor originating from mesenchymal tissues. Bone mesenchymal stem cells-derived extracellular vesicles (BMSCs-EVs) can play important roles in OS. This study investigated the mechanism of BMSCs-EVs on OS. BMSC surface antigens and adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation were detected by flow cytometry, and oil red O and alizarin red staining. EVs were isolated from BMSCs by differential centrifugation and identified by transmission electron microscopy, nanoparticle tracking analysis, and Western blot (WB). miR-206 and neurensin-2 (NRSN2) levels in human osteoblast hFOB 1.19 or OS cells (143B, MG-63, Saos2, HOS) were detected by RT-qPCR. Human OS cells with lower miR-206 levels were selected and treated with BMSCs-EVs or pSUPER-NRSN2. The uptake of EVs by 143B cells, cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and migration were detected by immunofluorescence, 5-ethynyl-2’-deoxyuridine (EdU) and colony formation assays, flow cytometry, scratch test, and transwell assays. The binding sites between miR-206 and NRSN2 were predicted by Starbase database and verified by dual-luciferase assay. The OS xenograft model was established and treated with BMSCs-EVs. Tumor growth rate and volume, cell proliferation, and p-ERK1/2, ERK1/2, and Bcl-xL levels were detected by vernier caliper, immunohistochemistry, and WB. BMSCs-EVs were successfully extracted. miR-206 was diminished and NRSN2 was promoted in OS cells. BMSCs-EVs inhibited proliferation, migration, and invasion, and promoted apoptosis of OS cells. BMSCs-EVs carried miR-206 into OS cells. Inhibition of miR-206 in EVs partially reversed the inhibitory effect of EVs on malignant behaviors of OS cells. miR-206 targeted NRSN2. Overexpression of NRSN2 reversed the inhibitory effect of EVs on OS cells. NRSN2 activated the ERK1/2-Bcl-xL pathway. BMSC-EVs inhibited OS growth in vivo. In summary, BMSC-EVs targeted NRSN2 and inhibited the ERK1/2-Bcl-xL pathway by carrying miR-206 into OS cells, thus inhibiting OS progression.

Pien Tze Huang (PZH) as a Multifunction Medicinal Agent in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM): a review on cellular, molecular and physiological mechanisms

RELEVANCE

Pien Tze Huang (PZH) is a well-known Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), characterized by a multitude of pharmacological effects, such as hepatoprotection and inhibition of inflammation and cell proliferative conditions. Many of these effects have been validated at the cellular, molecular and physiological levels but, to date, most of these findings have not been comprehensively disclosed.

OBJECTIVES

This review aims to provide a critical summary of recent studies focusing on PZH and its multiple pharmacological effects. As a result, we further discuss some novel perspectives related to PZH's mechanisms of action and a holistic view of its therapeutic activities.

METHODS

A systematic review was performed focusing on PZH studies originated from original scientific resources. The scientific literature retrieved for this work was obtained from International repositories including NCBI/PubMed, Web of Science, Science Direct and China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) databases.

RESULTS

The major active componentes and their potential functions, including hepatoprotective and neuroprotective effects, as well as anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activities, were summarized and categorized accordingly. As indicated, most of the pharmacological effects were validated in vitro and in vivo. The identification of complex bioactive components in PZH may provide the basis for further therapeutic initiatives.

CONCLUSION

Here we have collectively discussed the recent evidences covering most, if not all, pharmacological effects driven by PZH. This review provides novel perspectives on understanding the modes of action and the holistic view of TCM. The rational development of future clinical trials will certainly provide evidence-based medical evidences that will also confirm the therapeutic advantages of PZH, based on the current information available.

Uncovering the Mechanism of the Effects of Pien-Tze-Huang on Liver Cancer Using Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking

Pien-Tze-Huang (PTH) has a long history in the treatment of liver cancer. However, its molecular mechanism of action remains unclear. TCMSP and TCM were used to collect the active ingredients. Bioactive compounds targets were predicted by reverse pharmacophore models. The antiliver cancer targets of PTH were selected by gene comparison of liver cancer in the GEO database. Molecular docking was used to verify the binding activity of the targets and the active ingredients. The DAVID was used to analyze the gene function and signal pathway. A model was built with Cytoscape. The core genes were obtained by PPI network. We screened the 4 main medicinal ingredients of PTH to obtain 16 active ingredient, 190 potential targets, and 6 core genes. We found that active small molecules exert anticancer effects by multiple pathways. The core genes were involved in multiple biological processes. We also found that eight chemical components play a greater role in inhibiting liver cancer. PTH achieves the effect of inhibiting liver cancer through the synergistic effect of multiple components, multiple targets, and multiple pathways. This study provides a potential scientific basis for further elucidating the molecular mechanism of action of PTH against liver cancer.

Therapeutic Potential of Pien-Tze-Huang: A Review on Its Chemical Composition, Pharmacology, and Clinical Application

Pien-Tze-Huang (PTH) is a famous and commonly used traditional Chinese medicine formula in China. It was first formulated by a royal physician of the Ming Dynasty (around 1555 AD). Recently, PTH has attracted attention worldwide due to its beneficial effects against various diseases, especially cancer. This paper systematically reviewed the up-to-date information on its chemical composition, pharmacology, and clinical application. A range of chemical compounds, mainly ginsenosides and bile acids, have been identified and quantified from PTH. Pharmacological studies indicated that PTH has beneficial effects against various cancers, hepatopathy, and ischemic stroke. Furthermore, PTH has been used clinically to treat various diseases in China, such as colorectal cancer, liver cancer, and hepatitis. In summary, PTH is a potential agent with extensive therapeutic effects for the treatment of various diseases. However, the lack of information on the side effects and toxicity of PTH is a non-negligible issue, which needs to be seriously studied in the future.

Ilex hainanensis Merr targets ITGAV to suppress the proliferation and metastasis of osteosarcoma cells

Background: Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary malignant bone tumor. Hence, there is an urgent need to identify effective and safe therapeutic agents against OS. It has been reported that Ilex hainanensis Merr (IME) possesses antitumor properties. Integrin subunit alpha V (ITGAV) is important for the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of tumors.

Purpose: The objective of this study was to whether IME can play a role in the treatment of osteosarcoma by regulating ITGAV.

Methods: Western blot and real-time PCR were used to detect the expression of ITGAV in non-tumorous tissues, osteosarcoma tissues, and metastatic tumors. The expression of ITGAV in MG63, U2OS, and hFOB1. A total of 19 cells was determined through Western blotting and real-time PCR. The expression of ITGAV in OS cells treated with different concentrations of DDP was determined through Western blotting. Agter transfecting with control or si-ITGAV, and subsequently treated with control or 5 μmol/L DDP, MTT assay and transwell assay were used to detect the proliferaion and migration of cells. Western blot was used to detect the expression of ITGAV in cells treated with different concentrations of IME and MTT assay and transwell assay were used to detect the proliferaion and migration of cells. MG63 and U2OS cells were treated with control, 5 μmol/L DDP, 25 μmol/L IME, or 5 μmol/L DDP combined with 25 μmol/L IME, the expression of ITGAV was determined through Western blotting and real-time PCR. MTT assay and transwell assay were used to detect the proliferation and migration of cells. Inhibitory effect of IME on lung metastasis of osteosarcoma in vivo.

Results: ITGAV was highly expressed in tumors, with the highest expression found in metastatic tumors and higher in OS cells. A low concentration of DDP (5 μmol/L) inhibited the expression of ITGAV. However, ITGAV may be related to the development of resistance to DDP. Silencing of ITGAV downregulates the proliferation and migration of OS cells as the effect of low-concentration DDP (5 μmol/L). IME inhibited the proliferation and migration of MG63 and U2OS cells in a concentration-dependent manner and decreased the expression of ITGAV. MTT and Transwell assays showed that 25 μmol/L IME and 5 μmol/L DDP exhibited similar inhibitory effects on the proliferation and migration of OS cells. The combination of IME with DDP resulted in the amplification of these inhibitory effects. Both DDP and IME downregulated the expression of ITGAV, and the inhibition of ITGAV was amplified by the combination of IME with DDP. In-vivo studies have shown that IME and DDP, independently or in combination, may significantly inhibit the metastasis of OS to the lungs.

Conclusion: IME may reduce the resistance of OS cells to DDP to some extent.

Curcumin Analog DK1 Induces Apoptosis in Human Osteosarcoma Cells In Vitro through Mitochondria-Dependent Signaling Pathway

Osteosarcoma is one of the primary malignant bone tumors that confer low survival rates for patients even with intensive regime treatments. Therefore, discovery of novel anti-osteosarcoma drugs derived from natural products that are not harmful to the normal cells remains crucial. Curcumin is one of the natural substances that have been extensively studied due to its anti-cancer properties and is pharmacologically safe considering its ubiquitous consumption for centuries. However, curcumin suffers from a poor circulating bioavailability, which has led to the development of a chemically synthesized curcuminoid analog, namely (Z)-3-hydroxy-1-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-3-phenylprop-2-en-1-one (DK1). In this study, the cytotoxic effects of the curcumin analog DK1 was investigated in both U-2OS and MG-63 osteosarcoma cell lines using 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and cell death was microscopically examined via acridine orange/propidium iodide (AO/PI) double staining. Flow cytometer analysis including Annexin V/Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC), cell cycle analysis and JC-1 were adapted to determine the mode of cell death. Subsequently in order to determine the mechanism of cell death, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and proteome profiling was carried out to measure the expression of several apoptotic-related genes and proteins. Results indicated that DK1 induced U-2 OS and MG-63 morphological changes and substantially reduced cell numbers through induction of apoptosis. Several apoptotic genes and proteins were steadily expressed after treatment with DK1; including caspase 3, caspase 9, and BAX, which indicated that apoptosis occurred through a mitochondria-dependent signaling pathway. In conclusion, DK1 could be considered as a potential candidate for an anti-osteosarcoma drug in the near future, contingent upon its ability to induce apoptosis in osteosarcoma cell lines.

Pien Tze Huang induces apoptosis and inhibits proliferation of 5-fluorouracil-resistant colorectal carcinoma cells via increasing miR-22 expression

The well-known traditional Chinese medicine formula Pien Tze Huang (PZH) has long been used to treat various malignancies, including colorectal cancer (CRC). It was recently reported that PZH possesses the ability to overcome multidrug resistance in CRC cells. In the present study, a 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) resistant human CRC cell line (HCT-8/5-FU) was used to further evaluate the effect of PZH on chemotherapy (chemo)-resistance and investigate the mechanisms through which this occurs. The results identified that PZH significantly reduced the viability and cell density of HCT-8/5-FU cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner (P<0.05). PZH inhibited cell survival, reduced the proportion of cells in S-phase, and suppressed the expression of pro-proliferative proteins cyclin D1 and cyclin-dependent kinase 4. In addition, PZH treatment induced nuclear condensation and fragmentation, activated caspase-9 and -3 and increased the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2-associated X protein/B-cell lymphoma 2 protein ratio. Furthermore, PZH treatment upregulated the expression of microRNA-22 (miR-22) and downregulated the expression of c-Myc (a target gene of miR-22). In conclusion, the findings from the present study suggest that PZH can overcome chemo-resistance in cancer cells, likely through increasing miR-22 expression, and by reversing the imbalance between levels of proliferation and apoptosis.

Two Trichothecene Mycotoxins from Myrothecium roridum Induce Apoptosis of HepG-2 Cells via Caspase Activation and Disruption of Mitochondrial Membrane Potential

Trichothecene mycotoxins are a type of sesquiterpenoid produced by various kinds of plantpathogenic fungi. In this study, two trichothecene toxins, namely, a novel cytotoxic epiroridin acid and a known trichothecene, mytoxin B, were isolated from the endophytic fungus Myrothecium roridum derived from the medicinal plant Pogostemon cablin. The two trichothecene mytoxins were confirmed to induce the apoptosis of HepG-2 cells by cytomorphology inspection, DNA fragmentation detection, and flow cytometry assay. The cytotoxic mechanisms of the two mycotoxins were investigated by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction, western blot, and detection of mitochondrial membrane potential. The results showed that the two trichothecene mycotoxins induced the apoptosis of cancer cell HepG-2 via activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3, up-regulation of bax gene expression, down-regulation of bcl-2 gene expression, and disruption of the mitochondrial membrane potential of the HepG-2 cell. This study is the first to report on the cytotoxic mechanism of trichothecene mycotoxins from M. roridum. This study provides new clues for the development of attenuated trichothecene toxins in future treatment of liver cancer.