Ferroptosis: A New Road towards Cancer Management

Antitumor activity of dictamnine against colorectal cancer through induction of ferroptosis and inhibition of M2 macrophage polarization via the MAPK signaling

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is an aggressive cancer type globally. Surgery and chemotherapy are often ineffective at curing CRC. Dictamnine is a natural product derived from Dictamnus dasycarpus Turcz. root bark and possesses multi-pharmacological properties, including anticancer effects. Nevertheless, the biological roles and the possible mechanism of dictamnine in CRC are still unclear. Here, we demonstrated that dictamnine blocked cell viability and proliferation in DLD-1 human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells and LoVo human colon cancer cells. Dictamnine triggered CRC cell ferroptosis, as evidenced by enhanced levels of reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde, and Fe2+ levels, alongside downregulation of glutathione peroxidase 4 protein expression. In addition, CD163 (HPA ID: HPA046404) was highly expressed and CD68 (HPA ID: CAB000051) was lowly expressed in CRC tissues and CRC cell culture medium-cultured THP-1 monocytes-derived macrophages. The patients with CD163 low-expression lived much longer than those with CD163 high-expression, indicating that M2 polarization of macrophages was related to poor prognosis of CRC. Dictamnine markedly inhibited CD163 protein expression, transforming growth factor-β and arginase 1 mRNA expressions and IL-10 production in macrophages with CRC cell co-culture, suggesting that dictamnine impeded M2 polarization of macrophages. Mechanistically, dictamnine repressed ERK phosphorylation in CRC cells. The treatment with the ERK activator tBHQ counteracted the effects of dictamnine on CRC cell proliferation and ferroptosis, as well as its inhibitory effect on M2 polarization of macrophages. Results of a xenograft model showed that dictamnine effectively hindered CRC tumor growth in vivo. Collectively, these data provide evidence for the clinical trials of dictamnine as a novel drug for CRC therapy.

N6-methyladenosine (m6A) reader YTHDF2 accelerates endothelial cells ferroptosis in cerebrovascular atherosclerosis

Cerebrovascular diseases have extreme high mortality and disability rate worldwide, and endothelial cells injury-induced atherosclerosis acts as the main cause of cerebrovascular disease. Ferroptosis is a novel type of programmed cell death depending on iron-lipid peroxidation. Recent studies have revealed that ferroptosis might promote the progression of atherosclerosis (AS). Here, this research aimed to investigate the function and its profound mechanism on vascular endothelial cells in atherosclerosis. Research results revealed that YTHDF2 expression up-regulated in ox-LDL treated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Gain/loss functional assays indicated that YTHDF2 overexpression inhibited HUVECs' proliferation and accelerated the ferroptosis in ox-LDL-administered HUVECs. Meanwhile, YTHDF2 silencing promoted cell proliferation and reduced the ferroptosis in ox-LDL-administered HUVECs. Mechanistically, in silico analysis suggested that there were potential m6A-modified sites on SLC7A11 mRNA, and YTHDF2 could bind with SLC7A11 mRNA via m6A-dependent manner. YTHDF2 promoted the degradation of SLC7A11 mRNA, thereby reducing its mRNA stability. Taken together, these findings suggest that YTHDF2 accelerates endothelial cells ferroptosis in cerebrovascular atherosclerosis, helping us enhance our comprehension on cerebrovascular disease pathological physiology.

uL3 Regulates Redox Metabolism and Ferroptosis Sensitivity of p53-Deleted Colorectal Cancer Cells

Despite advancements in therapeutic strategies, the development of drug resistance and metastasis remains a serious concern for the efficacy of chemotherapy against colorectal cancer (CRC). We have previously demonstrated that low expression of ribosomal protein uL3 positively correlates with chemoresistance in CRC patients. Here, we demonstrated that the loss of uL3 increased the metastatic capacity of CRC cells in chick embryos. Metabolomic analysis revealed large perturbations in amino acid and glutathione metabolism in resistant uL3-silenced CRC cells, indicating that uL3 silencing dramatically triggered redox metabolic reprogramming. RNA-Seq data revealed a notable dysregulation of 108 genes related to ferroptosis in CRC patients. Solute Carrier Family 7 Member 11 (SLC7A11) is one of the most dysregulated genes; its mRNA stability is negatively regulated by uL3, and its expression is inversely correlated with uL3 levels. Inhibition of SLC7A11 with erastin impaired resistant uL3-silenced CRC cell survival by inducing ferroptosis. Of interest, the combined treatment erastin plus uL3 enhanced the chemotherapeutic sensitivity of uL3-silenced CRC cells to erastin. The antimetastatic potential of the combined strategy was evaluated in chick embryos. Overall, our study sheds light on uL3-mediated chemoresistance and provides evidence of a novel therapeutic approach, erastin plus uL3, to induce ferroptosis, establishing individualized therapy by examining p53, uL3 and SLC7A11 profiles in tumors.

Ferroptosis: a new mechanism of traditional Chinese medicine for cancer treatment

Ferroptosis, distinct from apoptosis, is a novel cellular death pathway characterized by the build-up of lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species (ROS) derived from lipids within cells. Recent studies demonstrated the efficacy of ferroptosis inducers in targeting malignant cells, thereby establishing a promising avenue for combating cancer. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has a long history of use and is widely used in cancer treatment. TCM takes a holistic approach, viewing the patient as a system and utilizing herbal formulas to address complex diseases such as cancer. Recent TCM studies have elucidated the molecular mechanisms underlying ferroptosis induction during cancer treatment. These studies have identified numerous plant metabolites and derivatives that target multiple pathways and molecular targets. TCM can induce ferroptosis in tumor cells through various regulatory mechanisms, such as amino acid, iron, and lipid metabolism pathways, which may provide novel therapeutic strategies for apoptosis-resistant cancer treatment. TCM also influence anticancer immunotherapy via ferroptosis. This review comprehensively elucidates the molecular mechanisms underlying ferroptosis, highlights the pivotal regulatory genes involved in orchestrating this process, evaluates the advancements made in TCM research pertaining to ferroptosis, and provides theoretical insights into the induction of ferroptosis in tumors using botanical drugs.

Study on the Role and Mechanism of SLC3A2 in Tumor-Associated Macrophage Polarization and Bladder Cancer Cells Growth

Background: Solute carrier family 3 member 2 (SLC3A2) is highly expressed in various types of cancers, including bladder cancer (BLCA). However, the role and mechanism of SLC3A2 in the onset and progression of BLCA are still unclear. Methods: The interfering plasmid for SLC3A2 was constructed and transfected into BLCA cells. Cell proliferation, invasion, and migration abilities were assessed to evaluate the impact of SLC3A2 silencing on BLCA cell growth. M1 and M2 macrophage polarization markers were detected to evaluate macrophage polarization. The levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid peroxidation, and Fe2+, as well as the expression of ferroptosis-related proteins, were measured to assess the occurrence of ferroptosis. Ferroptosis inhibitors were used to verify the mechanism. Results: The experimental results showed that SLC3A2 was highly expressed in BLCA cell lines. The proliferation, invasion, and migration of BLCA cells were reduced after interfering with SLC3A2. Interference with SLC3A2 led to increase the expression of M1 macrophage markers and decreased the expression of M2 macrophage markers in M0 macrophages co-cultured with tumor cells. Additionally, interference with SLC3A2 led to increased levels of ROS, lipid peroxidation, and Fe2+, downregulated the expression of solute carrier family 7 member11 (SLC7A11) and glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), while upregulated the expression of acyl-coA synthetase long chain family member 4 (ACSL4) and transferrin receptor 1 (TFR1) in BLCA cells. However, the impact of SLC3A2 interference on cell proliferation and macrophage polarization was impeded by ferroptosis inhibitors. Conclusion: Interference with SLC3A2 inhibited the growth of BLCA cells and the polarization of tumor-associated macrophages by promoting ferroptosis in BLCA cells.

CircRNA and ferroptosis in human disease: Insights for new treatments

Circular RNA (circRNA), classified as a type of non-coding RNA, has gained significant attention in the field of biology due to its distinctive ring structure and functional properties. Recent research has provided evidence that specific circRNAs have the ability to modulate disease progression through diverse mechanisms, one of which is by regulating cellular ferroptosis. Ferroptosis is a form of regulated cell death that is driven by iron dependency and lipid peroxidation, and extensive investigations have revealed a relationship between ferroptosis and disease development. In addition to evidence that both circRNAs and ferroptosis exert critical roles in disease progression, circRNAs have also been shown to actively mediate the process of ferroptosis. The relationship between circRNAs and ferroptosis therefore influences disease progression and offers novel targets for disease treatment. By directly or indirectly modulating the expression of circRNAs that regulate the expression of ferroptosis-related proteins, it may be possible to impact disease progression by promoting or inhibiting ferroptosis. Current research indicates such approaches may hold significant value in a wide variety of common diseases across physiological systems. This review comprehensively summarizes the findings of recent studies investigating the roles of circRNAs in the regulation of ferroptosis in various diseases.

Lymphoid-specific helicase inhibits cervical cancer cells ferroptosis by promoting Nrf2 expression

Background

Cervical cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in women worldwide. The underlying mechanisms of its progression are not well understood. In this study, we investigated the role of lymphoid-specific helicase (HELLS) in cervical cancer.

Methods

We measured HELLS expression in cervical cancer and assessed its function using gain- and loss-of-function experiments. Cell viability was measured using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8 ) assay, and cell proliferation was analyzed using colony formation and EdU assays.

Results

We found that HELLS was significantly increased in cervical cancer and that its overexpression promoted cell viability (P < 0.01) and colony formation (P < 0.001). In contrast, si-HELLS suppressed these effects. Moreover, HELLS overexpression inhibited cell death induced by the ferroptosis inducer erastin (P < 0.01). Mechanistically, we found that HELLS promoted cervical cancer proliferation by regulating nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-mediated ferroptosis.

Conclusion

Our data suggest that HELLS promotes cervical cancer proliferation by inhibiting Nrf2 expression. Therefore, HELLS knockdown may be an effective treatment for cervical cancer.

3,6-Epidioxy-1,10-bisaboladiene and sulfasalazine synergistically induce ferroptosis-like cell death in human breast cancer cell lines

3,6-Epidioxy-1,10-bisaboladiene (EDBD) is an endoperoxide compound isolated from edible wild plants that induces iron-dependent ferroptosis-like cell death in HL-60 cells by decreasing the expression of GPX4 and glutathione. In contrast, sulfasalazine (SSZ), a clinically used anti-inflammatory drug, induces ferroptosis through the system xc-. In this study, we investigated the synergistic effects of these 2 compounds on 3 human breast cancer cell lines (HBC-5, MCF-7, and MDA-MB-231). EDBD-induced cell death was relieved by the lipid peroxidation inhibitor ferrostatin-1 and the iron chelator deferoxamine mesylate (DFOM), indicating that EDBD induced ferroptosis-like cell death. Moreover, cotreatment with EDBD and SSZ synergistically induced cell death in all 3 cell lines. Because the cytotoxicity of the cotreatment was inhibited by DFOM and ferrostatin-1, the combination of EDBD and SSZ synergistically induced ferroptosis. Collectively, EDBD enhanced the effects of SSZ as a clinical anti-inflammatory and anticancer drug candidate.

Metformin induces ferroptosis through the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling in lung cancer

BACKGROUND

Metformin is the most frequently prescribed medication for the treatment of type II diabetes mellitus and has played an anti-tumor potential in a variety of cancer types. Metformin can inhibit the growth of many cancer cells through various mechanisms, including ferroptosis. However, it is still unclear whether metformin can induce ferroptosis in lung cancer.

METHODS

This study evaluated the anti-tumor effect of metformin by detecting the levels of oxidative stress factors, the levels of ferrous ions, and the expression of ferroptosis-related genes in A549 and H1299 lung cancer cell lines treated with or without metformin.

RESULTS

The results showed that metformin treatment increased the levels of MDA, ROS and iron ions, while decreased the levels of GSH, T-SOD and CAT. Meanwhile, metformin treatment reduced the protein expression levels of Gpx4 and SLC7A11, Nrf2 and HO-1, while the addition of ferroptosis inhibitor ferrostatin-1 reversed the reduction.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrated that metformin exerts anti-tumor effects by inducing ferroptosis through the Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway in lung cancer cells, providing a theoretical basis for drug therapy of lung cancer patients.

MiR-148a-3p Promotes Colorectal Cancer Cell Ferroptosis by Targeting SLC7A11

Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of cell death, and dysregulated microRNA (miRNA) expression correlate with colorectal cancer (CRC) development and progression. The tumor suppressor ability of miR-148a-3p has been reported for several cancers. Nevertheless, the role of miR-148a-3p in CRC remains largely undetermined. Here, we aim at investigating the molecular mechanisms and regulatory targets of miR-148a-3p in the CRC cell death mechanism(s). To this end, miR-148a-3p expression was evaluated in SW480 and SW620 cells and normal colon epithelial CCD 841 CoN cells with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Data reported a reduction of miR-148a-3p expression in SW480 and SW620 cells compared to non-tumor cells (p < 0.05). Overexpression of miR-148a selectively inhibited CRC cell viability (p < 0.001), while weakly affecting normal CCD 841 CoN cell survival (p < 0.05). At the cellular level, miR-148a-3p mimics promoted apoptotic cell death via caspase-3 activation (p < 0.001), accumulation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) (p < 0.001), and membrane depolarization (p < 0.001). Moreover, miR-148a-3p overexpression induced lipid peroxidation (p < 0.01), GPX4 downregulation (p < 0.01), and ferroptosis (p < 0.01), as revealed by intracellular and mitochondrial iron accumulation and ACSL4/TFRC/Ferritin modulation. In addition, levels of SLC7A11 mRNA and protein, the cellular targets of miR-148a-3p predicted by bioinformatic tools, were suppressed by miR-148a-3p's overexpression. On the contrary, the downregulation of miR-148a-3p boosted SLC7A11 gene expression and suppressed ferroptosis. Together, these in vitro findings reveal that miR-148a-3p can function as a tumor suppressor in CRC by targeting SLC7A11 and activating ferroptosis, opening new perspectives for the rationale of therapeutic strategies through targeting the miR-148a-3p/SLC7A11 pathway.

High Expression of CDCA7 in the Prognosis of Glioma and Its Relationship with Ferroptosis and Immunity

CDCA7 is a copy number amplification gene that promotes tumorigenesis. However, the clinical relevance and potential mechanisms of CDCA7 in glioma are unclear. CDCA7 expression level data were obtained from the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases, and the enriched genes and related signaling pathways were explored. Data on genes in CDCA7-related signaling pathways and nine marker genes of ferroptosis were retrieved and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis was performed. The correlation of CDCA7 to ferroptosis and tumor infiltration of 22 kinds of human immune cells and the association between CDCA7 and immune checkpoint molecules were analyzed. CDCA7 was significantly increased in gliomas in comparison to healthy tissues. Gene Ontology (GO) and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) revealed the impact of CDCA7 expression on multiple biological processes and signaling pathways. CDCA7 may affect ferroptosis by interacting with genes in the cell cycle pathway and P53 pathway. The increase in CDCA7 was positively correlated with multiple ferroptosis suppressor genes and genes involved in tumor-infiltrating immune cells and immune checkpoint molecules in glioma. CDCA7 can be a new prognostic factor for glioma, which is closely related to ferroptosis, tumor immune cell infiltration, and immune checkpoint.

The applications of nanozymes in cancer therapy: based on regulating pyroptosis, ferroptosis and autophagy of tumor cells

Nanozymes are nanomaterials with catalytic properties similar to those of natural enzymes, and they have recently been collectively identified as a class of innovative artificial enzymes. Nanozymes are widely used in various fields, such as biomedicine, due to their high catalytic activity and stability. Nanozymes can trigger changes in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in cells and the activation of inflammasomes, leading to the programmed cell death (PCD), including the pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and autophagy, of tumor cells. In addition, some nanozymes consume glucose, starving cancer cells and thus accelerating tumor cell death. In addition, the electric charge of the structure and the catalytic activity of nanozymes are sensitive to external factors such as light and electric and magnetic fields. Therefore, nanozymes can be used with different therapeutic methods, such as chemodynamic therapy (CDT), photodynamic therapy (PDT) and sonodynamic therapy (SDT), to achieve highly efficient antitumor effects. Many cancer therapies induce tumor cell death via the pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and autophagy of tumor cells mediated by nanozymes. We review the mechanisms of pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and autophagy in tumor development, as well as the potential application of nanozymes to regulate pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and autophagy in tumor cells.

Evaluation of the association of chronic inflammation and cancer: Insights and implications

Among the most extensively researched processes in the development and treatment of cancer is inflammatory condition. Although acute inflammation is essential for the wound healing and reconstruction of tissues that have been damaged, chronic inflammation may contribute to the onset and growth of a number of diseases, including cancer. By disrupting the signaling processes of cells, which result in cancer induction, invasion, and development, a variety of inflammatory molecules are linked to the development of cancer. The microenvironment surrounding the tumor is greatly influenced by inflammatory cells and their subsequent secretions, which also contribute significantly to the tumor's growth, survivability, and potential migration. These inflammatory variables have been mentioned in several publications as prospective diagnostic tools for anticipating the onset of cancer. Targeting inflammation with various therapies can reduce the inflammatory response and potentially limit or block the proliferation of cancer cells. The scientific medical literature from the past three decades has been studied to determine how inflammatory chemicals and cell signaling pathways related to cancer invasion and metastasis are related. The current narrative review updates the relevant literature while highlighting the specifics of inflammatory signaling pathways in cancer and their possible therapeutic possibilities.

Medicinal and mechanistic overview of artemisinin in the treatment of human diseases

Artemisinin (ART) is a bioactive compound isolated from the plant Artemisia annua and has been traditionally used to treat conditions such as malaria, cancer, viral infections, bacterial infections, and some cardiovascular diseases, especially in Asia, North America, Europe and other parts of the world. This comprehensive review aims to update the biomedical potential of ART and its derivatives for treating human diseases highlighting its pharmacokinetic and pharmacological properties based on the results of experimental pharmacological studies in vitro and in vivo. Cellular and molecular mechanisms of action, tested doses and toxic effects of artemisinin were also described. The analysis of data based on an up-to-date literature search showed that ART and its derivatives display anticancer effects along with a wide range of pharmacological activities such as antibacterial, antiviral, antimalarial, antioxidant and cardioprotective effects. These compounds have great potential for discovering new drugs used as adjunctive therapies in cancer and various other diseases. Detailed translational and experimental studies are however needed to fully understand the pharmacological effects of these compounds.

Cardamonin alleviates chondrocytes inflammation and cartilage degradation of osteoarthritis by inhibiting ferroptosis via p53 pathway

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a common degenerative joint disease, mainly presented by the deterioration of articular cartilage. Amounts of data demonstrated this deterioration is composed of oxidative stress, pro-inflammation and chondrocyte death events. Ferroptosis is a novel form of cell death that differs from apoptosis and autophagy, recent studies have shown that chondrocyte ferroptosis contributes to the development of osteoarthritis. Cardamonin (CAD) has been demonstrated to possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in several diseases, whether CAD may influence the OA progression is still obscure. Therefore, we aimed to determine whether CAD alleviates chondrocyte ferroptosis and its effect on OA with potential mechanism. In this study, we found that inflammation, cartilage degradation and ferroptosis induced by interleukin-1β (IL-1β) were significantly alleviated by CAD. Moreover, the administration of the ferroptosis inhibitor, Deferoxamine (DFO) reversed the inflammatory and cartilage degradation effects of IL-1β as well. Chondrocyte mitochondrial morphology and function were alleviated by both CAD and DFO. We found that CAD increased collagen II, p53, SLC7A11 GPX4 expression and decreased MMP13, iNOS, COX2 expression in chondrocytes, further investigation showed that the P53 signaling pathway was involved. In vivo, intra-articular injection of CAD significantly ameliorated cartilage damage in a rat OA model, induced collagen II and SLC7A11 expression by immunohistochemistry. Our study proves that CAD ameliorated OA cartilage degradation by regulating ferroptosis via P53 signaling pathway, suggesting a potential role of CAD in OA treatment.

Doxorubicin-An Agent with Multiple Mechanisms of Anticancer Activity

Doxorubicin (DOX) constitutes the major constituent of anti-cancer treatment regimens currently in clinical use. However, the precise mechanisms of DOX's action are not fully understood. Emerging evidence points to the pleiotropic anticancer activity of DOX, including its contribution to DNA damage, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, apoptosis, senescence, autophagy, ferroptosis, and pyroptosis induction, as well as its immunomodulatory role. This review aims to collect information on the anticancer mechanisms of DOX as well as its influence on anti-tumor immune response, providing a rationale behind the importance of DOX in modern cancer therapy.

Ferroptosis and Senescence: A Systematic Review

Senescence is a cellular aging process in all multicellular organisms. It is characterized by a decay in cellular functions and proliferation, resulting in increased cellular damage and death. This condition plays an essential role in the aging process and significantly contributes to the development of age-related complications. On the other hand, ferroptosis is a systemic cell death pathway characterized by excessive iron accumulation followed by the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Oxidative stress is a common trigger of this condition and may be induced by various factors such as toxins, drugs, and inflammation. Ferroptosis is linked to numerous disorders, including cardiovascular disease, neurodegeneration, and cancer. Senescence is believed to contribute to the decay in tissue and organ functions occurring with aging. It has also been linked to the development of age-related pathologies, such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer. In particular, senescent cells have been shown to produce inflammatory cytokines and other pro-inflammatory molecules that can contribute to these conditions. In turn, ferroptosis has been linked to the development of various health disorders, including neurodegeneration, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Ferroptosis is known to play a role in the development of these pathologies by promoting the death of damaged or diseased cells and contributing to the inflammation often associated. Both senescence and ferroptosis are complex pathways that are still not fully understood. Further research is needed to thoroughly investigate the role of these processes in aging and disease, and to identify potential interventions to target such processes in order to prevent or treat age-related conditions. This systematic review aims to assess the potential mechanisms underlying the link connecting senescence, ferroptosis, aging, and disease, and whether they can be exploited to block or limit the decay of the physiological functions in elderly people for a healthy longevity.

Can the Correlation of Periodontopathies with Gastrointestinal Diseases Be Used as Indicators in Severe Colorectal Diseases?

Gastrointestinal problems are among the most common health problems which can acutely affect the healthy population and chronically involve health risks, seriously affecting the quality of life. Identifying the risk of gastrointestinal diseases in the early phase by indirect methods can increase the healing rate and the quality of life.: The proposal of this study is to verify a correlation between gastrointestinal and periodontal problems and the risk of inflammatory gastrointestinal diseases (IBD). The study was conducted on 123 people who were observed to have gastrointestinal and psychological problems. The participants were divided into three groups, depending on each one's diagnosis. The control group (CG) was composed of 37 people who did not fit either irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) according to the ROME IV criteria, nor were inflammatory markers positive for IBD. Group 2 (IBS) was composed of 44 participants diagnosed with IBS according to the ROME IV criteria. Group 3 was composed of 42 participants who were diagnosed with IBD. All study participants underwent anthropometric, micro-Ident, and quality of life tests. A directly proportional relationship of the presence of bacteria with IBD patients with the exception of Capnocytophaga spp. and Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans was observed. These two bacteria correlated significantly with IBS. Follow-up of the study participants will help determine whether periodontal disease can be used as an indicator of severe colorectal disease. In addition, this study should be continued especially in the case of IBD more thoroughly to follow and reduce the risk of malignancy.

Clinical and Biological Data in Patients with Pancreatic Cancer vs. Chronic Pancreatitis-A Single Center Comparative Analysis

INTRODUCTION

In some patients with chronic pancreatitis, the diagnosis of pancreatic cancer can be missed. The objective of the study was to identify clinical and paraclinical data with statistical significance in the differential diagnosis between chronic pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective, observational study on a cohort of 120 patients hospitalized over 3 years. The patients were equally distributed in two groups: group A, with 60 patients with pancreatic cancer, and group B, with 60 patients with chronic pancreatitis. The statistical analysis was carried out by using the R program.

RESULTS

The comparative analysis of pancreatic cancer vs. chronic pancreatitis revealed a stronger link between pancreatic cancer, female gender (p = 0.001) and age over 60 years (p < 0.001). Patients with pancreatic cancer had higher serum values of aspartate aminotransferase (p 0.005), alanine aminotransferase (p 0.006), total bilirubin (p < 0.001), direct bilirubin (p < 0.001), alkaline phosphatase (p 0.030), C-reactive protein (p = 0.049) and uric acid (p 0.001), while patients with chronic pancreatitis presented slightly higher values of amylase (p 0.020) and lipase (p 0.029).

CONCLUSIONS

Female gender, advanced age, elevated aminotransferases, cholestasis markers and uric acid were associated with a higher probability of pancreatic cancer.

Radiosensitizing effects of pyrogallol-loaded mesoporous or-ganosilica nanoparticles on gastric cancer by amplified ferroptosis

Radiotherapy (RT) incorporated multidisciplinary treatment is producing excellent clinical results, but its efficacy in treating late-stage gastric cancer is constrained by radioresistance and RT-related toxicity. Especially, since reactive oxygen species are the pivotal effectual molecules of ionizing radiation, improving ROS production by nanoparticles and other pharmacological modulation to amplify oxidation of polyunsaturated fatty acids and subsequent ferroptotic cell death is shown to enhance cancer cell radioresponse. Herein, we constructed a nanosystem by loading Pyrogallol (PG), a polyphenol compound and ROS generator, into mesoporous organosilica nanoparticles named as MON@pG. The nanoparticles exhibit proper size distribution with amplified ROS production and substantial glutathione depletion under X-ray radiation in gastric cancer cell line. Meanwhile, MON@PG enhanced radiosensitivity of gastric cancer in xenograft tumor model by ROS-mediated accumulation of DNA damage and apoptosis. Furthermore, this augmented oxidative process induced mitochondrial dysfunction and ferroptosis. In summary, MON@PG nanoparticles show the capacity to improve RT potency in gastric cancer by disrupting redox balance and augmenting ferroptosis.

Ferroptosis: A new therapeutic target for bladder cancer

Bladder cancer (BC) is the most frequent type of urinary system cancer. The prognosis of BC is poor due to high metastasis rates and multidrug resistance. Hence, development of novel therapies targeting BC cell death is urgently needed. As a novel cell death type with strong antitumor potential, ferroptosis has been investigated by many groups for its potential in BC treatment. As an iron-dependent cell death process, ferroptosis is characterized by excessive oxidative phospholipids. The molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis include iron overload and the system Xc-GSH-GPX4 signaling pathway. A recent study revealed that ferroptosis is involved in the metastasis, treatment, and prognosis of BC. Herein, in this review, we comprehensively summarize the mechanism of ferroptosis, address newly identified targets involved in ferroptosis, and discuss the potential of new clinical therapies targeting ferroptosis in BC.

The neuroprotective effects of fisetin, a natural flavonoid in neurodegenerative diseases: Focus on the role of oxidative stress

Oxidative stress (OS) disrupts the chemical integrity of macromolecules and increases the risk of neurodegenerative diseases. Fisetin is a flavonoid that exhibits potent antioxidant properties and protects the cells against OS. We have viewed the NCBI database, PubMed, Science Direct (Elsevier), Springer-Nature, ResearchGate, and Google Scholar databases to search and collect relevant articles during the preparation of this review. The search keywords are OS, neurodegenerative diseases, fisetin, etc. High level of ROS in the brain tissue decreases ATP levels, and mitochondrial membrane potential and induces lipid peroxidation, chronic inflammation, DNA damage, and apoptosis. The subsequent results are various neuronal diseases. Fisetin is a polyphenolic compound, commonly present in dietary ingredients. The antioxidant properties of this flavonoid diminish oxidative stress, ROS production, neurotoxicity, neuro-inflammation, and neurological disorders. Moreover, it maintains the redox profiles, and mitochondrial functions and inhibits NO production. At the molecular level, fisetin regulates the activity of PI3K/Akt, Nrf2, NF-κB, protein kinase C, and MAPK pathways to prevent OS, inflammatory response, and cytotoxicity. The antioxidant properties of fisetin protect the neural cells from inflammation and apoptotic degeneration. Thus, it can be used in the prevention of neurodegenerative disorders.

Exploring a 7-gene prognostic model based on ferroptosis for efficiently guiding immunotherapy in melanoma patients

PURPOSE

Although skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM) is a relatively immunotherapy-sensitive tumor type, there is still a certain fraction that benefits less from treatment. Ferroptosis has been demonstrated to modulate tumor progression in many cancer types. This study focused on ferroptosis-related genes to construct a prognostic model for SKCM patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Gene expression profiles of SKCM samples were obtained from public databases. Unsupervised consensus clustering was used to determine molecular subtypes related to ferroptosis. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and stepwise Akaike information criterion (stepAIC) were applied to construct a prognostic model based on differentially expressed genes between two molecular subtypes.

RESULTS

C1 and C2 subtypes were identified with differential prognosis and immune infiltration. A 7-gene prognostic model was constructed to classify samples into high-FPRS and low-FPRS groups. Low-FPRS group with favorable prognosis had higher immune infiltration and more enriched immune-related pathways than the high-FPRS group. The two groups showed distinct sensitivity to immunotherapy, with the low-FPRS group predicted to have more positive response to immunotherapy than the high-FPRS group. A nomogram based on the FPRS score and clinical features was built for more convenient use.

CONCLUSIONS

The critical role of ferroptosis involved in SKCM development was further validated in this study. The prognostic model was efficient and stable to be applied in clinical conditions to support clinicians in determining personalized therapy for SKCM patients especially those with metastasis.

Isoprenaline and salbutamol inhibit pyroptosis and promote mitochondrial biogenesis in arthritic chondrocytes by downregulating β-arrestin and GRK2

Rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis overlap many molecular mechanisms of cartilage destruction. Wear and tear in cartilage is chondrocyte-mediated, where chondrocytes act both as effector and target cells. In current study, role of β2-AR was studied in chondrocytes both in vitro and in vivo. High grade inflammation in vitro and in vivo disease models led to decline in anti-inflammatory β2-AR signaling and use of β2-AR agonist attenuated arthritis symptoms. Detailed analysis in chondrocytes revealed that Isoprenaline (ISO) and Salbutamol (SBT) increased cell viability and relative Bcl-2 expression, meanwhile, decreased proteins levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 in arthritic chondrocytes when compared with control, respectively. SBT preserved physiological concentration of antioxidant enzymes (CAT, POD, SOD and GSH) in cartilage homogenates and ISO inhibited IL-1β-mediated genotoxicity in arthritic chondrocytes. Moreover, β2-AR agonist increased mitochondrial biogenesis and proteoglycan biosynthesis by upregulating the gene expression of PGC1-α, NRF2 and COL2A1, Acan, respectively. ISO and SBT inhibited extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation by downregulating the gene expression of MMP1, MMP3, MMP9 and ADAMTS5 in vitro and in vivo study. In mechanism, β2-AR agonists decreased β-arrestin and GRK2 pathway, and as a result mice receiving SBT did not exhibit severe disease. Hence our data suggest β2-AR agonist administered at disease onset can inhibit receptor internalization by downregulating the expression of β-arrestin and GRK2 in chondrocytes.

Neuroprotective Effect of Natural Compounds in Paclitaxel-Induced Chronic Inflammatory Pain

The current study explored the effects of natural compounds, berbamine, bergapten, and carveol on paclitaxel-associated neuroinflammatory pain. Berbamine, an alkaloid obtained from BerberisamurensisRuprhas been previously researched for anticancer and anti-inflammatory potential. Bergapten is 5-methoxsalenpsoralen previously investigated in cancer, vitiligo, and psoriasis. Carveol obtained from caraway is a component of essential oil. The neuropathic pain model was induced by administering 2 mg/kg of paclitaxel (PTX) every other day for a week. After the final PTX injection, a behavioral analysis was conducted, and subsequently, tissue was collected for molecular analysis. Berbamine, bergapten, and carveol treatment attenuated thermal hypersensitivity, improved latency of falling, normalized the changes in body weight, and increased the threshold for pain sensation. The drugs increased the protective glutathione (GSH) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) levels in the sciatic nerve and spinal cord while lowering inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and lipid peroxidase (LPO). Hematoxylin and eosin (H and E) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) examinations confirmed that the medication reversed the abnormal alterations. The aforementioned natural substances inhibited cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κb) overexpression, as evidenced by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) and Western blot and hence provide neuroprotection in chronic constriction damage.