Gene Expression Profiling and Protein Analysis Reveal Suppression of the C-Myc Oncogene and Inhibition JAK/STAT and PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling by Thymoquinone in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Cells

Role of Thymoquinone on sleep restriction and its mitigating effect on leptin-mediated signaling pathway in rat brain

BACKGROUND

Sleep and stress interact bidirectionally by acting on brain circuits that affect metabolism. Sleep and its alterations have impact on blood leptin levels, metabolic hormone that regulates appetite. Brain expresses the receptors for the peptide hormone leptin produced from adipocytes. The hypothalamic orexin neurons are low during sleep and active when awake, influenced by a complex interaction with leptin. Thymoquinone was found to be the major bioactive component of Nigella sativa. The aim of this study was to study the role of thymoquinone on sleep restriction and its mitigating effect on leptin-mediated signaling pathway in rat brain.

METHODS AND RESULTS

30 adult male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups with 6 animals in each group: Control; Thymoquinone (TQ); Corn oil; Chronic Sleep restriction (CSR); and CSR + TQ. After 30 days, behavioral analysis, antioxidant, lipid profile, glucose level, liver and kidney function test, neurotransmitters, neuropeptides, and mRNA expression in in vivo studies were also assessed and pharmacokinetic and docking were done for thymoquinone. Thymoquinone has also shown good binding affinity to the target proteins. CSR has induced oxidative stress in the discrete brain regions and plasma. Current study has shown many evidences that sleep restriction has altered the neurobehavioral, antioxidant status, lipid profile, neurotransmitters, neuropeptide levels, and feeding behavior which damage the Orexin-leptin system which regulates the sleep and feeding that leads to metabolic dysfunction.

CONCLUSION

The potentiality of Thymoquinone was revealed in in silico studies, and its action in in vivo studies has proved its effectiveness. The study concludes that Thymoquinone has exhibited its effect by diminishing the metabolic dysfunction by its neuroprotective, antioxidant, and hypolipidemic properties.

UBE2C promotes the proliferation of acute myeloid leukemia cells through PI3K/AKT activation

This study aims to investigate the role and mechanism of tubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2 C (UBE2C) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Initially, UBE2C expression in leukemia was analyzed using the Cancer Genome Atlas database. Further, we silenced UBE2C expression using small-hairpin RNA (sh-RNA). UBE2C expression was detected via the quantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot analysis. Apoptotic events and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels were detected by flow cytometry. A xenograft model of leukemia cells were established, and the protein levels of UBE2C, KI-67, and cleaved-caspase 3 were detected by immunohistochemistry. We reported an overexpression of UBE2C in leukemia patients and cell lines (HL60, THP-1, U937, and KG-1 cells). Moreover, a high expression level of UBE2C was correlated with a dismal prognosis in AML patients. UBE2C knockdown inhibited the viability and promoted apoptosis in AML cells by regulating the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signaling pathway. Furthermore, UBE2C knockdown increased cellular Fe2+ and ROS levels, and enhanced erastin-induced ferroptosis in a proteasome-dependent manner. UBE2C knockdown also suppressed the tumor formation of AML cells in the mouse model. In summary, our findings suggest that UBE2C overexpression promotes the proliferation and inhibits ferroptosis in AML cells by activating the PI3K/AKT pathway.

Signaling pathways governing the behaviors of leukemia stem cells

Leukemia is a malignancy in the blood that develops from the lymphatic system and bone marrow. Although various treatment options have been used for different types of leukemia, understanding the molecular pathways involved in the development and progression of leukemia is necessary. Recent studies showed that leukemia stem cells (LSCs) play essential roles in the pathogenesis of leukemia by targeting several signaling pathways, including Notch, Wnt, Hedgehog, and STAT3. LSCs are highly proliferative cells that stimulate tumor initiation, migration, EMT, and drug resistance. This review summarizes cellular pathways that stimulate and prevent LSCs' self-renewal, metastasis, and tumorigenesis.

Terpenoid-Mediated Targeting of STAT3 Signaling in Cancer: An Overview of Preclinical Studies

Cancer has become one of the most multifaceted and widespread illnesses affecting human health, causing substantial mortality at an alarming rate. After cardiovascular problems, the condition has a high occurrence rate and ranks second in terms of mortality. The development of new drugs has been facilitated by increased research and a deeper understanding of the mechanisms behind the emergence and advancement of the disease. Numerous preclinical and clinical studies have repeatedly demonstrated the protective effects of natural terpenoids against a range of malignancies. Numerous potential bioactive terpenoids have been investigated in natural sources for their chemopreventive and chemoprotective properties. In practically all body cells, the signaling molecule referred to as signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is widely expressed. Numerous studies have demonstrated that STAT3 regulates its downstream target genes, including Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, cyclin D1, c-Myc, and survivin, to promote the growth of cells, differentiation, cell cycle progression, angiogenesis, and immune suppression in addition to chemotherapy resistance. Researchers viewed STAT3 as a primary target for cancer therapy because of its crucial involvement in cancer formation. This therapy primarily focuses on directly and indirectly preventing the expression of STAT3 in tumor cells. By explicitly targeting STAT3 in both in vitro and in vivo settings, it has been possible to explain the protective effect of terpenoids against malignant cells. In this study, we provide a complete overview of STAT3 signal transduction processes, the involvement of STAT3 in carcinogenesis, and mechanisms related to STAT3 persistent activation. The article also thoroughly summarizes the inhibition of STAT3 signaling by certain terpenoid phytochemicals, which have demonstrated strong efficacy in several preclinical cancer models.

Mangifera indica L. kernel ethanol extract inhibits cell viability and proliferation with induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in lung cancer cells

In this study, we investigated the effects of an ethanolic extract of Mangifera indica L. kernel on the viability and proliferation of human lung cancer cells. We utilized MTT and BrdU cell proliferation assays, morphological assessments, cell cycle analyses, and apoptosis assays to investigate the extract's effects on lung cancer (A549 and NCI-H292) and normal lung (MRC-5) cells. The extract demonstrated a toxicity toward cancer cells compared to normal cells with dose-dependent anti-proliferative effect on lung cancer cells. The extract also caused differential effects on the cell cycle, inducing G0/G1 arrest and increasing the Sub-G1 population in both lung cancer and normal lung cells. Notably, the extract induced loss of membrane integrity, shrinkage, membrane blebbing, and apoptosis in lung cancer cells, while normal cells exhibited only early apoptosis. Furthermore, the extract exhibited higher toxicity towards NCI-H292 cells, followed by A549 and normal MRC-5 cells in decreasing order of potency. Our results suggest that the ethanolic extract of M. indica L. kernel has significant potential as a novel therapeutic agent for treating lung cancer cells, given its ability to induce apoptosis in cancer cell lines while causing minimal harm to normal cells.

Effect of IFN‑γ encapsulated liposomes on major signal transduction pathways in the lymphocytes of patients with lung cancer

Globally, lung cancer affected 2.2 million individuals and caused 1.8 million deaths in 2021. Lung cancer is caused by smoking, genetics and other factors. IFN-γ has anticancer activity. However, the mechanism by which IFN-γ has an effect on lung cancer is not fully understood. The present study aimed to assess the effect of IFN-γ on the peripheral lymphocytes of patients with lung cancer compared with healthy controls. The efficacy of IFN-γ against oxidative stress was assessed using a comet repair assay and the effects of IFN-γ on p53, PARP1 and OGG1 genes and protein levels in lymphocytes was evaluated by RT-qPCR and western blotting. DNA damage was significantly reduced in the lymphocytes of patients treated with IFN-γ. However, there was no effect in the cells of healthy individuals after treatment with naked IFN-γ [IFN-γ (N)] and liposomal IFN-γ [IFN-γ (L)]. Following treatment with IFN-γ (N) and IFN-γ (L), the p53, PARP1 and OGG1 protein and gene expression levels were significantly increased (P<0.001). It has been suggested that IFN-γ may induce p53-mediated cell cycle arrest and DNA repair in patients. These findings supported the idea that IFN-γ (N) and IFN-γ (L) may serve a significant role in the treatment of lung cancer, via cell cycle arrest of cancer cells and repair mechanisms.

Artesunate reverses cytarabine resistance in acute myeloid leukemia by blocking the JAK/STAT3 signaling

OBJECTIVES

Although cytarabine (AraC) has greatly contributed to improving the prognosis of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), many patients developed drug resistance and eventually succumbed to AML. Thus, resistance to AraC is a major obstacle to improve the efficacy of chemotherapy in AML. Hence, this study aimed to demonstrate that artesunate (ART) can reliably induce cell death in vitro and block AraC resistance.

METHODS

AML cell lines resistant to AraC were first constructed by repeated dosing for 5 months. Further, we analyzed whether ART intervention affected the sensitivity of AraC-resistant cells to AraC by cell function experiments, mainly including CCK-8 to assess cell viability, flow cytometry to examine apoptosis, and Western blotting to measure the Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducers and activators of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathway protein expression. Furthermore, whether JAK/STAT3 pathway knockdown has a blocking effect on the efficacy of ART was also assessed.

RESULTS

Co-treatment of ART and AraC increased the sensitivity of AML cells to AraC. Also, it effectively reversed the resistance of AML cells to AraC that is shown by the significantly reduced proliferation and increased apoptosis rates. ART intervention suppressed the activation of the JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway in AraC-resistant AML cells, suggesting that the function of ART in reversing AraC resistance is indeed dependent on the JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

In summary, ART enhanced the sensitivity of AML/AraC-resistant cells to AraC by modulating the JAK/STAT3 pathway.

Network pharmacology-based approach to investigate the molecular targets of essential oil obtained from lavender for treating breast cancer

Lavender essential oil (LEO) is known for its medicinal use in the development of pharmaceuticals. Further investigations were demonstrated that LEO has many biological properties including apoptosis. However, The anti-breast cancer activity and mechanism of LEO are still unclear. we aim to elucidate the elusive anti-breast cancer activity and mechanism of LEO by unveiling the intricate molecular targets that it engages with, thereby priming it for effective therapeutic intervention against breast carcinoma. In this paper, we extracted LEO from lavender and analyzed it's chemical constituents by using hydro-distillation and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GS-MS/MS) method, respectively. The active components against breast cancer and it's molecular targets were selected and biological process, molecular function, cellular component and involving pathways were evaluated via network pharmacology approach. Cell viability, apoptosis and cell cycle assay were used to evaluate anti-breast cancer effect of LEO. Employing the western blotting method to validate target protein expression following LEO treatment in vitro. We found the 21 effective components and 213 drug-disease common targets of LEO. Amoung them, 7 active components and 19 targets were identified as potential therapeutic targets. Gene ontology results revealed that the drug-disease common targets of LEO were mainly distributed in membrane region, involved in peptide-tyrosine phosphorylation, and primarily associated with protein tyrosine kinase. We also found that drug-disease common targets might contribute to the regulation of PI3K-AKT signaling pathway by using KEGG pathway analysis. Besides, our study demonstrated reduced cell viability, induced apoptosis in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 treated with LEO while cell cycle arrest was not altered. The AKT1 expression down-regulated while PIK3CA expression was increased in both cell lines. Our findings indicate that LEO has the ability to induce apoptosis by modulating the expression of PI3K-AKT signaling pathway in these cell lines.

Antitumor effect of trimetazidine in a model of solid Ehrlich carcinoma is mediated by inhibition of glycolytic pathway and AKT signaling

Disturbance in glucose metabolism was proposed to be a pathogenetic mechanism of breast cancer. Trimetazidine (TMZ) inhibits β-oxidation of fatty acids through blocking the activity of 3-ketoacylCoA thiolase enzyme, leading to enhancement of glucose oxidation and metabolic respiration. The present study aimed to examine the cytotoxic effect of TMZ in both in vivo and in vitro models of breast cancer, focusing on its impact on the expression of some glycolytic enzymes and AKT signaling. The cytotoxic effect of TMZ was screened against breast (MCF-7) cancer cell line at different concentrations [0.01-100 μM]. In vivo, graded doses (10, 20, 30 mg/kg) of TMZ were tested against solid Ehrlich carcinoma (SEC) in mice. Tumor tissues were isolated for assessment of the expression of glucose transporter-1 (GLUT-1) and glycolytic enzymes by quantitative PCR. The protein expression of AKT and cellular myelocytomatosis (c-Myc) was determined by western blotting, while p53 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Molecular docking study of TMZ effect on AKT and c-Myc was performed using Auto-Dock Vina docking program. TMZ showed a cytotoxic action against MCF-7 cells, having IC50 value of 2.95 μM. In vivo, TMZ reduced tumor weight, downregulated the expression of glycolytic enzymes, suppressed AKT signaling, but increased p53 expression. Molecular docking and in silico studies proposed that TMZ is an AKT and c-Myc selective inhibitor. In conclusion, TMZ demonstrated a viable approach to suppress tumor proliferation in biological models of breast cancer.

SKAP1 Is a Novel Biomarker and Therapeutic Target for Gastric Cancer: Evidence from Expression, Functional, and Bioinformatic Analyses

Gastric cancer (GC) is the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Due to the lack of early symptoms, GC is often diagnosed at an advanced stage when treatment options are limited. There is an urgent need to identify biomarkers for early detection, prognosis evaluation, and targeted treatment of GC. Studies have shown that Src kinase-associated phosphoprotein 1 (SKAP1) promotes cell proliferation and invasion and is associated with poor prognosis in colorectal cancer, malignant fibrous histiocytoma, and breast cancer. However, the role and mechanism of SKAP1 in GC are unclear. Here, analyses of multiple databases and experiments revealed that SKAP1 expression was higher in GC than in adjacent normal tissues. The Cancer Genome Atlas data showed that high SKAP1 expression was associated with poor GC prognosis. SKAP1 expression was higher in GC than in normal gastric epithelial cells. SKAP1 silencing reduced the proliferation, migration and invasion of the GC cell lines MKN45 and HGC27. Rescue experiments suggest that SKAP1 may promote GC progression by activating JAK1/PI3K/AKT signaling and regulating GC cell proliferation, invasion, migration, and other functions. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that SKAP1 was associated with immune cell infiltration and checkpoint expression in GC. High SKAP1 expression was associated with poorer immunotherapy outcomes, suggesting its potential as a predictive biomarker of GC immunotherapy efficacy. In summary, SKAP1 is overexpressed in GC, where it promotes cell proliferation, invasion and migration and is associated with poor prognosis and poor immunotherapy outcomes. SKAP1 may represent a biomarker and therapeutic target in GC and regulates cellular functions through JAK1/PI3K/AKT signaling.

Thymoquinone Enhances Apoptosis of K562 Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Cells through Hypomethylation of SHP-1 and Inhibition of JAK/STAT Signaling Pathway

The epigenetic silencing of tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) is critical in the development of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). SHP-1 functions as a TSG and negatively regulates JAK/STAT signaling. Enhancement of SHP-1 expression by demethylation provides molecular targets for the treatment of various cancers. Thymoquinone (TQ), a constituent of Nigella sativa seeds, has shown anti-cancer activities in various cancers. However, TQs effect on methylation is not fully clear. Therefore, the aim of this study is to assess TQs ability to enhance the expression of SHP-1 through modifying DNA methylation in K562 CML cells. The activities of TQ on cell cycle progression and apoptosis were evaluated using a fluorometric-red cell cycle assay and Annexin V-FITC/PI, respectively. The methylation status of SHP-1 was studied by pyrosequencing analysis. The expression of SHP-1, TET2, WT1, DNMT1, DNMT3A, and DNMT3B was determined using RT-qPCR. The protein phosphorylation of STAT3, STAT5, and JAK2 was assessed using Jess Western analysis. TQ significantly downregulated the DNMT1 gene, DNMT3A gene, and DNMT3B gene and upregulated the WT1 gene and TET2 gene. This led to hypomethylation and restoration of SHP-1 expression, resulting in inhibition of JAK/STAT signaling, induction of apoptosis, and cell cycle arrest. The observed findings imply that TQ promotes apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in CML cells by inhibiting JAK/STAT signaling via restoration of the expression of JAK/STAT-negative regulator genes.

Molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways of black cumin (Nigella sativa) and its active constituent, thymoquinone: a review

BACKGROUND

Nigella sativa and its main bioactive ingredient, thymoquinone, exhibit various pharmacological activities, including neuroprotective, nephroprotective, cardioprotective, gastroprotective, hepatoprotective, and anti-cancer effects. Many studies have been conducted trying to elucidate the molecular signaling pathways that mediate these diverse pharmacological properties of N. sativa and thymoquinone. Accordingly, the goal of this review is to show the effects of N. sativa and thymoquinone on different cell signaling pathways.

METHODS

The online databases Scopus, PubMed and Web of Science were searched to identify relevant articles using a list of related keywords such as Nigella sativa, black cumin, thymoquinone, black seed, signal transduction, cell signaling, antioxidant, Nrf2, NF-κB, PI3K/AKT, apoptosis, JAK/STAT, AMPK, MAPK, etc. Only articles published in the English language until May 2022 were included in the present review article.

RESULTS

Studies indicate that N. sativa and thymoquinone improve antioxidant enzyme activities, effectively scavenges free radicals, and thus protect cells from oxidative stress. They can also regulate responses to oxidative stress and inflammation via Nrf2 and NF-κB pathways. N. sativa and thymoquinone can inhibit cancer cell proliferation through disruption of the PI3K/AKT pathway by upregulating phosphatase and tensin homolog. Thymoquinone can modulate reactive oxygen species levels in tumor cells, arrest the cell cycle in the G2/M phase as well as affect molecular targets including p53, STAT3 and trigger the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. Thymoquinone, by adjusting AMPK, can regulate cellular metabolism and energy hemostasis. Finally, N. sativa and thymoquinone can elevate brain GABA content, and thus it may ameliorate epilepsy.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, the improvement of antioxidant status and prevention of inflammatory process by modulating the Nrf2 and NF-κB signaling and inhibition of cancer cell proliferation through disruption of the PI3K/AKT pathway appear to be the main mechanisms involved in different pharmacological properties of N. sativa and thymoquinone.

The effects of MYC on tumor immunity and immunotherapy

The oncogene MYC is dysregulated in a host of human cancers, and as an important point of convergence in multitudinous oncogenic signaling pathways, it plays a crucial role in tumor immune regulation in the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). Specifically, MYC promotes the expression of immunosuppressive factors and inhibits the expression of immune activation regulators. Undoubtedly, a therapeutic strategy that targets MYC can initiate a new era of cancer treatment. In this review, we summarize the essential role of the MYC signaling pathway in tumor immunity and the development status of MYC-related therapies, including therapeutic strategies targeting MYC and combined MYC-based immunotherapy. These studies have reported extraordinary insights into the translational application of MYC in cancer treatment and are conducive to the emergence of more effective immunotherapies for cancer.

Regulatory Basis of Adipokines Leptin and Adiponectin in Epilepsy: from Signaling Pathways to Glucose Metabolism

Epilepsy is a common and severe neurological disorder in which impaired glucose metabolism leads to changes in neuronal excitability that slow or promote the development of epilepsy. Leptin and adiponectin are important mediators regulating glucose metabolism in the peripheral and central nervous systems. Many studies have reported a strong association between epilepsy and these two adipokines involved in multiple signaling cascades and glucose metabolism. Due to the complex regulatory mechanisms between them and various signal activation networks, their role in epilepsy involves many aspects, including the release of inflammatory mediators, oxidative damage, and neuronal apoptosis. This paper aims to summarize the signaling pathways involved in leptin and adiponectin and the regulation of glucose metabolism from the perspective of the pathogenesis of epilepsy. In particular, we discuss the dual effects of leptin in epilepsy and the relationship between antiepileptic drugs and changes in the levels of these two adipokines. Clinical practitioners may need to consider these factors in evaluating clinical drugs. Through this review, we can better understand the specific involvement of leptin and adiponectin in the pathogenesis of epilepsy, provide ideas for further exploration, and bring about practical significance for the treatment of epilepsy, especially for the development of personalized treatment according to individual metabolic characteristics.

Thymoquinone Inhibits JAK/STAT and PI3K/Akt/ mTOR Signaling Pathways in MV4-11 and K562 Myeloid Leukemia Cells

Constitutive activation of Janus tyrosine kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK/STAT) and Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt/mammalian target of rapamycin (PI3K/Akt/mTOR) signaling pathways plays a crucial role in the development of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Thymoquinone (TQ), one of the main constituents of Nigella sativa, has shown anti-cancer activities in several cancers. However, the inhibitory effect mechanism of TQ on leukemia has not been fully understood. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of TQ on JAK/STAT and PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathways in MV4-11 AML cells and K562 CML cells. FLT3-ITD positive MV4-11 cells and BCR-ABL positive K562 cells were treated with TQ. Cytotoxicity assay was assessed using WSTs-8 kit. The expression of the target genes was evaluated using RT-qPCR. The phosphorylation status and the levels of proteins involved in JAK/STAT and PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathways were investigated using Jess western analysis. TQ induced a dose and time dependent inhibition of K562 cells proliferation. TQ significantly downregulated PI3K, Akt, and mTOR and upregulated PTEN expression with a significant inhibition of JAK/STAT and PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling. In conclusion, TQ reduces the expression of PI3K, Akt, and mTOR genes and enhances the expression of PTEN gene at the mRNA and protein levels. TQ also inhibits JAK/STAT and PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathways, and consequently inhibits proliferation of myeloid leukemia cells, suggesting that TQ has potential anti-leukemic effects on both AML and CML cells.