Terpinen-4-ol Induces Ferroptosis of Glioma Cells via Downregulating JUN Proto-Oncogene

A comprehensive review on the pharmacological prospects of Terpinen-4-ol: From nature to medicine and beyond

Owing to their extensive biological potential, essential oils (EOs) and their bioactive phytochemicals have gained attention from the scientific community. Within this domain, Terpinen-4-ol (T-4-ol), a bioactive monoterpene alcohol and the major constituent of tea tree oil (TTO), has made its way into translational research. Recent literature on T-4-ol strongly indicates its diverse pharmacological properties, including but not limited to antimicrobial, antivirulent, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-hypertensive, and anti-cancer effects. Hence, this review is the first to provide a comprehensive overview of the sources, bioavailability, safety, pharmaceutical delivery systems, and multifaceted biological properties of T-4-ol, emphasizing its medicinal potential for widescale application. The antibacterial and antifungal effectiveness of T-4-ol has been discussed, encompassing its role in combating a broad spectrum of bacterial and fungal pathogens. The review delves into the antivirulent prospects of T-4-ol, shedding light on its ability to attenuate virulence and mitigate bacterial pathogenesis. Scientific literature on the anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory activity of T-4-ol highlighting its role in neutralizing reactive oxygen species and modulating inflammatory pathways has also been collated. Furthermore, the review elaborates on the cardioprotective and anti-hypertensive properties of T-4-ol and augments literature on its anti-cancer mechanism against various cancer cell lines. The review also provides in-depth knowledge of the pharmaceutical formulations of T-4-ol and recent knowledge about its application in clinical/field trials. The exploration of these diverse attributes positions T-4-ol as a promising candidate for further research and therapeutic repurposing in various biomedical applications.

Ferroptosis in glioma therapy: advancements in sensitizing strategies and the complex tumor-promoting roles

Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of non-apoptotic regulated cell death, is induced by the accumulation of lipid peroxides on cellular membranes. Over the past decade, ferroptosis has emerged as a crucial process implicated in various physiological and pathological systems. Positioned as an alternative modality of cell death, ferroptosis holds promise for eliminating cancer cells that have developed resistance to apoptosis induced by conventional therapeutics. This has led to a growing interest in leveraging ferroptosis for cancer therapy across diverse malignancies. Gliomas are tumors arising from glial or precursor cells, with glioblastoma (GBM) being the most common malignant primary brain tumor that is associated with a dismal prognosis. This review provides a summary of recent advancements in the exploration of ferroptosis-sensitizing methods, with a specific focus on their potential application in enhancing the treatment of gliomas. In addition to summarizing the therapeutic potential, this review also discusses the intricate interplay of ferroptosis and its potential tumor-promoting roles within gliomas. Recognizing these dual roles is essential, as they could potentially complicate the therapeutic benefits of ferroptosis. Exploring strategies aimed at circumventing these tumor-promoting roles could enhance the overall therapeutic efficacy of ferroptosis in the context of glioma treatment.

Exploring the Anticancer Potential of Origanum majorana Essential Oil Monoterpenes Alone and in Combination against Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer and has the highest mortality rate worldwide despite the remarkable advances in its treatment. Origanum majorana Essential Oil (OMEO) has been shown to be effective against non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells, decreasing their viability and colony growth in vitro, as well as inhibiting tumor growth in chick embryo chorioallantoic membranes (CAM) and nude mice in vivo. OMEO is mainly composed of four monoterpenes, namely terpinen-4-ol, sabinene hydrate, α-terpinene, and γ-terpinene. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential anticancer effects of these monoterpenes, either alone or in combination, on NSCLC. Our findings indicate that these four monoterpenes significantly decreased NSCLC cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner, reduced their colony growth in vitro, and also downregulated survivin expression in these cells. Moreover, different combined mixtures of these monoterpenes further enhanced their anticancer effects on cellular viability, with a terpinen-4-ol and sabinene hydrate combination being the most potent. We also found that terpinen-4-ol, in combination with sabinene hydrate, markedly enhanced the anticancer effect of the individual monoterpenes on NSCLC viability within a shorter treatment duration through, at least in part, survivin downregulation. Furthermore, this combination enhanced the inhibition of colony growth in vitro and the tumor growth of NSCLC cells xenografted onto chick embryo CAM in vivo. Altogether, our study highlights the potential of these monoterpenes for use in further pre-clinical investigations against various cancer hallmarks.

Novel approaches targeting ferroptosis in treatment of glioma

Glioma is a malignant brain tumor with a high mortality rate; hence novel treatment approaches are being explored to improve patient outcomes. Ferroptosis, a newly described form of regulated cell death, is emerging as a potential therapeutic target in glioma. Ferroptosis is characterized by the accumulation of lipid peroxides due to a loss of intracellular antioxidant systems represented by the depletion of glutathione and decreased activity of glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4). Since glioma cells have a high demand for iron and lipid metabolism, modulation of ferroptosis may represent a promising therapeutic approach for this malignancy. Recent studies indicate that ferroptosis inducers like erastin and RSL3 display potent anticancer activity in a glioma model. In addition, therapeutic strategies, including GPX4 targeting, lipid metabolism modulation, inhibition of amino acid transporters, and ferroptosis targeting natural compounds, have shown positive results in preclinical studies. This review will provide an overview of the functions of ferroptosis in glioma and its potential as a suitable target for glioma therapy.

Bioinformatics identification of ferroptosis-related genes and therapeutic drugs in rheumatoid arthritis

Introduction

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic immune disease characterized by synovial inflammation and bone destruction, with a largely unclear etiology. Evidence has indicated that ferroptosis may play an increasingly important role in the onset and development of RA. However, ferroptosis-related genes are still largely unexplored in RA. Therefore, this work focused on identifying and validating the potential ferroptosis-related genes involved in RA through bioinformatics analysis.

Methods

We screened differentially expressed ferroptosis-related genes (DEFGs) between RA patients and healthy individuals based on GSE55235 dataset. Subsequently, correlation analysis, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis, GO, and KEGG enrichment analyses were performed using these DEFGs. Finally, our results were validated by GSE12021 dataset.

Results

We discovered 34 potential DEFGs in RA based on bioinformatics analysis. According to functional enrichment analysis, these genes were mainly enriched in HIF-1 signaling pathway, FoxO signaling pathway, and Ferroptosis pathway. Four genes (GABARPL1, DUSP1, JUN, and MAPK8) were validated to be downregulated by GSE12021 dataset and were diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets for RA via the regulation of ferroptosis.

Discussion

Our results help shed more light on the pathogenesis of RA. Ferroptosis-related genes in RA are valuable diagnostic biomarkers and they will be exploited clinically as therapeutic targets in the future.