Ginseng polysaccharide inhibits MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation by activating the inflammatory response

Ginseng Polysaccharide Enhances the Humoral and Cellular Immune Responses to SARS-CoV-2 RBD Protein Subunit Vaccines

The COVID-19 pandemic remarkably accelerated vaccine research progress. The role of adjuvants in enhancing vaccine immune intensity and influencing immune types has been considered. Ginseng polysaccharide (GPS) has been demonstrated to have strong immunoregulatory properties. It is important to explore the feasibility of adding GPS to vaccine adjuvant components to improve the immune response effect of RBD vaccines. Here, we prepared a SARS-CoV-2 RBD antigen using the Escherichia coli expression system and determined that subcutaneous administration of GPS at a dose of 40 mg/kg could effectively activate dendritic cells (DCs) and macrophages (MΦ) in mice. Compared with the RBD group, the RBD+GPS triggered stronger and persistent antibody responses. It is also notable that higher levels of RBD-specific IgG and IgA were distributed in the lungs of RBD+GPS-immunized BALB/c mice. In addition, the RBD+GPS also resulted in lower percentages of IFN-γ+ CD4+ T cells and higher percentages of IFN-γ+ CD8+ T cells and CD8+ Tcm cells. These results suggest that GPS could be a promising vaccine immuno-enhancer for SARS-CoV-2 RBD subunit vaccines to establish stronger systemic and pulmonary mucosal protective immunity.

Novel IKZF3 transcriptomic signature correlates with positive outcomes of skin cutaneous melanoma: A pan-cancer analysis

To investigate the potential relationship between Ikaros family genes and skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM), we undertook a pan-cancer analysis of the transcriptional signature and clinical data of melanoma through multiple databases. First, 10,327 transcriptomic samples from different cancers were included to determine the overall characteristics and clinical prognoses associated with Ikaros gene expression across cancer types. Second, differentially expressed genes analysis, prognostic evaluation, and gene set enrichment analysis were employed to investigate the role of Ikaros (IKZF) genes in SKCM. Third, we evaluated the relationship between Ikaros family genes and SKCM immune infiltrates and verified the findings using the GEO single-cell sequencing dataset. The results show that Ikaros genes were widely expressed among different cancer types with independently similar patterns as follows: 1. IKZF1 and IKZF3, and 2. IKZF2 and IKZF4–5. IKZF2 and IKZF5 were downregulated in the primary tumor, and IKZF1–3 expression decreased significantly as the T-stage or metastasis increased in SKCM. Moreover, high IKZF1–3 expression was associated with better overall survival, disease-specific survival, and progression-free interval. IKZF3 is an independent prognostic factor of SKCM. Among Ikaros genes, the expression of IKZF1 and IKZF3 positively correlated with the infiltration level of CD4⁺ T cells and CD8⁺ T cells, B cells, and Tregs in SKCM and negatively correlated with the infiltration level of M0 and M1 macrophages. Moreover, single-cell sequencing data analysis revealed that IKZF1 and IKZF3 were mainly expressed by immune cells. Correlation analysis shows the immune factors and drug responses associated with IKZF3 expression. In conclusion, the present study is the first, to our knowledge, to identify a pan-cancer genomic signature of the Ikaros gene family among different cancers. Expression of these family members, particularly high levels of IKZF3, indicate positive immunological status and beneficial clinical outcomes of SKCM. IKZF3 may therefore serve as potential targets for immunotherapy of melanoma.

Aqueous Extract and Polysaccharide of Aconiti Lateralis Radix Induce Apoptosis and G0/G1 Phase Cell Cycle Arrest by PI3K/AKT/mTOR Signaling Pathway in Mesangial Cells

Mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (MesPGN) is a common renal disease that lacks effective drug intervention. Aconiti Lateralis Radix (Fuzi), a natural Chinese medical herb, is found with significant therapeutic effects on various diseases in the clinic. However, its effects on MesPGN have not been reported. This study is aimed to discuss the therapeutic effects of the aqueous extract of Aconiti Lateralis Radix (ALR) and the polysaccharides of Aconiti Lateralis Radix (PALR) on MesPGN as well as the underlying mechanism. In this study, we, firstly, studied the anti-MesPGN mechanism of ALR and PALR. ALR and PALR inhibit the proliferation of the mesangial cells through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, induce the G0/G1 phase of block and apoptosis, inhibit the activity of Cyclin E and CDK2, increase the expression of Bax, cleaved caspase-8/caspase-8, and cleaved caspase-3/caspase-3 proteins, and effectively inhibit the growth of the mesangial cells. Overall, our data suggest that ALR and PALR may be potential candidates for MesPGN and that PALR is more effective than ALR.

Detection of hypermethylated BCAT1 and IKZF1 DNA in blood and tissues of colorectal, breast and prostate cancer patients

BACKGROUND: Detection of circulating cell-free DNA (ccfDNA) methylated in BCAT1 and IKZF1 is a sensitive for detection of colorectal cancer (CRC), but it is not known if these biomarkers are present in other common adenocarcinomas. OBJECTIVE: Compare methylation levels of BCAT1 and IKZF1 in tissue and plasma from breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer patients. METHODS: Blood was collected from 290 CRC, 32 breast and 101 prostate cancer patients, and 606 cancer-free controls. Tumor and matched normal tissues were collected at surgery: 26 breast, 9 prostate and 15 CRC. DNA methylation in BCAT1 and IKZF1 was measured in blood and tissues. RESULTS: Either biomarker was detected in blood from 175/290 (60.3%) of CRC patients. The detection rate was higher than that measured in controls (48/606 (8.1%), OR = 18.2, 95%CI: 11.1–29.0). The test positivity rates in breast and prostate cancer patients were 9.4% (3/32) and 6.9% (7/101), respectively, and not significantly different to that measured in gender-matched controls (8.0% (33/382) females (OR = 0.84, 95%CI: 0.23–3.1) and 7.6% (26/318) males (OR = 0.86, 95%CI: 0.65–2.1). In tumor and non-neoplastic tissues, 93.5% (14/15) of CRC tumors were methylated in BCAT1 and/or IKZF1 (p< 0.004). Only 11.5% (3/26) and 44.4% (4/9) (p= 0.083) of breast and prostate tumors were hypermethylated in these two genes. CONCLUSIONS: Detection of circulating DNA methylated in BCAT1 and IKZF1 is sensitive and specific for CRC but not breast or prostate cancer.

Ikaros Proteins in Tumor: Current Perspectives and New Developments

Ikaros is a zinc finger transcription factor (TF) of the Krüppel family member, which significantly regulates normal lymphopoiesis and tumorigenesis. Ikaros can directly initiate or suppress tumor suppressors or oncogenes, consequently regulating the survival and proliferation of cancer cells. Over recent decades, a series of studies have been devoted to exploring and clarifying the relationship between Ikaros and associated tumors. Therapeutic strategies targeting Ikaros have shown promising therapeutic effects in both pre-clinical and clinical trials. Nevertheless, the increasingly prominent problem of drug resistance targeted to Ikaros and its analog is gradually appearing in our field of vision. This article reviews the role of Ikaros in tumorigenesis, the mechanism of drug resistance, the progress of targeting Ikaros in both pre-clinical and clinical trials, and the potential use of associated therapy in cancer therapy.

Comparisons of Isolation Methods, Structural Features, and Bioactivities of the Polysaccharides from Three Common Panax Species: A Review of Recent Progress

Panax spp. (Araliaceae family) are widely used medicinal plants and they mainly include Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, Panax quinquefolium L. (American ginseng), and Panax notoginseng (notoginseng). Polysaccharides are the main active ingredients in these plants and have demonstrated diverse pharmacological functions, but comparisons of isolation methods, structural features, and bioactivities of these polysaccharides have not yet been reported. This review summarizes recent advances associated with 112 polysaccharides from ginseng, 25 polysaccharides from American ginseng, and 36 polysaccharides from notoginseng and it compares the differences in extraction, purification, structural features, and bioactivities. Most studies focus on ginseng polysaccharides and comparisons are typically made with the polysaccharides from American ginseng and notoginseng. For the extraction, purification, and structural analysis, the processes are similar for the polysaccharides from the three Panax species. Previous studies determined that 55 polysaccharides from ginseng, 18 polysaccharides from American ginseng, and 9 polysaccharides from notoginseng exhibited anti-tumor activity, immunoregulatory effects, anti-oxidant activity, and other pharmacological functions, which are mediated by multiple signaling pathways, including mitogen-activated protein kinase, nuclear factor kappa B, or redox balance pathways. This review can provide new insights into the similarities and differences among the polysaccharides from the three Panax species, which can facilitate and guide further studies to explore the medicinal properties of the Araliaceae family used in traditional Chinese medicine.