1
|
Zhou Y, Wang F, Li G, Xu J, Zhang J, Gullen E, Yang J, Wang J. From immune checkpoints to therapies: understanding immune checkpoint regulation and the influence of natural products and traditional medicine on immune checkpoint and immunotherapy in lung cancer. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1340307. [PMID: 38426097 PMCID: PMC10902058 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1340307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is a disease of global concern, and immunotherapy has brought lung cancer therapy to a new era. Besides promising effects in the clinical use of immune checkpoint inhibitors, immune-related adverse events (irAEs) and low response rates are problems unsolved. Natural products and traditional medicine with an immune-modulating nature have the property to influence immune checkpoint expression and can improve immunotherapy's effect with relatively low toxicity. This review summarizes currently approved immunotherapy and the current mechanisms known to regulate immune checkpoint expression in lung cancer. It lists natural products and traditional medicine capable of influencing immune checkpoints or synergizing with immunotherapy in lung cancer, exploring both their effects and underlying mechanisms. Future research on immune checkpoint modulation and immunotherapy combination applying natural products and traditional medicine will be based on a deeper understanding of their mechanisms regulating immune checkpoints. Continued exploration of natural products and traditional medicine holds the potential to enhance the efficacy and reduce the adverse reactions of immunotherapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yibin Zhou
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Fenglan Wang
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Guangda Li
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Xu
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jingjing Zhang
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Elizabeth Gullen
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale Medical School, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Jie Yang
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Zhang S, Qian Y, Ye L. Delineating the twin role of autophagy in lung cancer. Biol Futur 2023:10.1007/s42977-023-00165-4. [PMID: 37120768 DOI: 10.1007/s42977-023-00165-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
Autophagy represents an intracellular defense mechanism equipped within each eukaryotic cells to enable them to cope with variety of physical, chemical, and biological stresses. This mechanism helps to restore the homeostasis and preserve the cellular integrity and function of the cells. In these conditions, such as hypoxia, nutrient deprivation, inhibition of protein synthesis or microbial attack, the process of autophagy is upregulated to maintain cellular homeostasis. The role of autophagy in cancer is an intriguing topic which needs further exploration. This process of autophagy has been many times referred as a double-edged sword in the process of tumorigenesis. In the initial stages, it may act as a tumor suppressor and enable to quench the damaged organelles and harmful molecules generated. In more advanced stages, autophagy has been shown to act as a tumor-promoting system as it may help the cancer cells to cope better with stressful microenvironments. Besides this, autophagy has been associated with development of resistance to anticancer drugs as well as promoting the immune evasion in cancer cells, representing a serious obstacle in cancer treatment and its outcome. Also, autophagy is associated with hallmarks of cancer that may lead to activation of invasion and metastasis. The information on this twin role needs further exploration and deeper understanding of the pathways involved. In this review, we discuss the various aspects of autophagy during tumor development, from early to late stages of tumor growth. Both the protective role of autophagy in preventing tumor growth and the underlying mechanisms adopted with evidence from past studies have been detailed. Further, the role of autophagy in conferring resistance to distinct lung cancer treatment and immune shielding properties has also been discussed. This is essential for further improving on treatment outcome and success rates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shaoqin Zhang
- Department of Chest Surgery, Shengzhou People's Hospital (The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University Shengzhou Branch), Shaoxing, 312400, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ye Qian
- Department of Oncology, Hai 'an Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University, Haian, 226600, Jiangsu, China
| | - Luhai Ye
- Department of Chest Surgery, Xinchang Country Hospital of TCM, Shaoxing, 312500, Zhejiang, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Guo J, Zhao Y, Wu X, Li G, Zhang Y, Song Y, Du Q. Mechanism exploration and prognosis study of Astragali Radix-Spreading hedyotis herb for the treatment of lung adenocarcinoma based on bioinformatics approaches and molecular dynamics simulation. Front Chem 2023; 11:1128671. [PMID: 37065830 PMCID: PMC10090857 DOI: 10.3389/fchem.2023.1128671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Herb pair of Astragali Radix (AR) and Spreading Hedyotis Herb (SH) has been frequently prescribed in clinical for the treatment of lung cancer owing to its favorable efficacy. Yet, the mechanism under the therapeutic effects remained unveiled, which has limited its clinical applications, and new drug development for lung cancer.Methods: The bioactive ingredients of AR and SH were retrieved from the Traditional Chinese Medicine System Pharmacology Database, with the targets of obtained components predicted by Swiss Target Prediction. Genes related to lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) were acquired from GeneCards, OMIM and CTD databases, with the hub genes of LUAD screened by CTD database. The intersected targets of LUAD and AR-SH were obtained by Venn, with David Database employed to perform Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses. Survival analysis of the hub genes of LUAD was carried out using TCGA-LUAD dataset. Molecular docking of core proteins and active ingredients was performed by Auto-Dock Vina software, followed by molecular dynamics simulations of protein-ligand complexes with well-docked conformations.Results: 29 active ingredients were screened out with 422 corresponding targets predicted. It is revealed that AR-SH can act on various targets such as EGFR, MAPK1, and KARS by ursolic acid (UA), Astragaloside IV(ASIV), and Isomucronulatol 7,2′-di-O-glucoside (IDOG) to alleviate the symptoms of LUAD. Biological processes involved are protein phosphorylation, negative regulation of apoptotic process, and pathways involved are endocrine resistance, EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance, PI3K-Akt, and HIF-1 pathway. Molecular docking analysis indicated that the binding energy of most of the screened active ingredients to proteins encoded by core genes was less than −5.6 kcal/mol, with some active ingredients showing even lower binding energy to EGFR than Gefitinib. Three ligand-receptor complexes including EGFR-UA, MAPK1-ASIV, and KRAS-IDOG were found to bind relatively stable by molecular dynamics simulation, which was consistent with the results of molecule docking.Conclusion: We suggested that the herb pair of AR-SH can act on targets like EGFR, MAPK1 and KRAS by UA, ASIV and IDOG, to play a vital role in the treatment and the enhancement of prognosis of LUAD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Junfeng Guo
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuting Zhao
- Laboratory of Metabolomics and Drug-Induced Liver Injury, Frontiers Science Center for Disease-related Molecular Network, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xuanyu Wu
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Ganggang Li
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuwei Zhang
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Yang Song
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- Correspondence: Yang Song, ; Quanyu Du,
| | - Quanyu Du
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- Correspondence: Yang Song, ; Quanyu Du,
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Zafar S, Khan K, Hafeez A, Irfan M, Armaghan M, Rahman AU, Gürer ES, Sharifi-Rad J, Butnariu M, Bagiu IC, Bagiu RV. Ursolic acid: a natural modulator of signaling networks in different cancers. Cancer Cell Int 2022; 22:399. [PMID: 36496432 PMCID: PMC9741527 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-022-02804-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Incidence rate of cancer is estimated to increase by 40% in 2030. Furthermore, the development of resistance against currently available treatment strategies has contributed to the cancer-associated mortality. Scientists are now looking for the solutions that could help prevent the disease occurrence and could provide a pain-free treatment alternative for cancers. Therefore, efforts are now put to find a potent natural compound that could sever this purpose. Ursolic acid (UA), a triterpene acid, has potential to inhibit the tumor progression and induce sensitization to conventional treatment drugs has been documented. Though, UA is a hydrophobic compound therefore it is usually chemically modified to increase its bioavailability prior to administration. However, a thorough literature indicating its mechanism of action and limitations for its use at clinical level was not reviewed. Therefore, the current study was designed to highlight the potential mechanism of UA, its anti-cancer properties, and potential applications as therapeutic compound. This endeavour is a valuable contribution in understanding the hurdles preventing the translation of its potential at clinical level and provides foundations to design new studies that could help enhance its bioavailability and anti-cancer potential for various cancers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sameen Zafar
- grid.412117.00000 0001 2234 2376Department of Healthcare Biotechnology, Atta-Ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Punjab Pakistan
| | - Khushbukhat Khan
- grid.412117.00000 0001 2234 2376Department of Healthcare Biotechnology, Atta-Ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Punjab Pakistan
| | - Amna Hafeez
- grid.412117.00000 0001 2234 2376Department of Healthcare Biotechnology, Atta-Ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Punjab Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Irfan
- grid.412117.00000 0001 2234 2376Department of Healthcare Biotechnology, Atta-Ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Punjab Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Armaghan
- grid.412117.00000 0001 2234 2376Department of Healthcare Biotechnology, Atta-Ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Punjab Pakistan
| | - Anees ur Rahman
- grid.412117.00000 0001 2234 2376Department of Healthcare Biotechnology, Atta-Ur-Rahman School of Applied Biosciences, National University of Sciences and Technology, Islamabad, Punjab Pakistan
| | - Eda Sönmez Gürer
- grid.411689.30000 0001 2259 4311Faculty of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmacognosy, Sivas Cumhuriyet University, Sivas, Turkey
| | - Javad Sharifi-Rad
- grid.442126.70000 0001 1945 2902Facultad de Medicina, Universidad del Azuay, Cuenca, Ecuador
| | - Monica Butnariu
- University of Life Sciences “King Mihai I” from Timisoara, 300645 Calea Aradului 119, Timis, Romania
| | - Iulia-Cristina Bagiu
- grid.22248.3e0000 0001 0504 4027Department of Microbiology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania ,Multidisciplinary Research Center on Antimicrobial Resistance, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Radu Vasile Bagiu
- grid.22248.3e0000 0001 0504 4027Department of Microbiology, Victor Babes University of Medicine and Pharmacy of Timisoara, Timisoara, Romania ,Preventive Medicine Study Center, Timisoara, Romania
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Kornel A, Nadile M, Tsiani E. Evidence of the Beneficial Effects of Ursolic Acid against Lung Cancer. Molecules 2022; 27:7466. [PMID: 36364289 PMCID: PMC9655894 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27217466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally. Despite current treatment approaches that include surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapies, lung cancer accounted for 1.79 million deaths worldwide in 2020, emphasizing the urgent need to find novel agents and approaches for more effective treatment. Traditionally, chemicals derived from plants, such as paclitaxel and docetaxel, have been used in cancer treatment, and in recent years, research has focused on finding other plant-derived chemicals that can be used in the fight against lung cancer. Ursolic acid is a polyphenol found in high concentrations in cranberries and other fruits and has been demonstrated to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anticancer properties. In this review, we summarize recent research examining the effects of ursolic acid and its derivatives on lung cancer. Data from in vitro cell culture and in vivo animal studies show potent anticancer effects of ursolic acid and indicate the need for clinical studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Kornel
- Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, Canada
| | - Matteo Nadile
- Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, Canada
| | - Evangelia Tsiani
- Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, Canada
- Centre for Bone and Muscle Health, Brock University, St. Catharines, ON L2S 3A1, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Wu T, Yan D, Hou W, Jiang H, Wu M, Wang Y, Chen G, Tang C, Wang Y, Xu H. Biomimetic Red Blood Cell Membrane-Mediated Nanodrugs Loading Ursolic Acid for Targeting NSCLC Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14184520. [PMID: 36139680 PMCID: PMC9496832 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14184520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2022] [Revised: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Lung cancer is the second most common cancer after breast cancer. Non-small-cell lung cancer, which represents more than 85% of all lung cancer subtypes, is known for its tumor progression and metastasis, resulting in poor clinical outcomes. Conventional therapies for NSCLC, such as surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, always fail due to therapeutic resistance. In recent years, ursolic acid (UA), a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid compound, has been shown to be a promising antitumor drug by regulating multiple signaling pathways in cancers. Unfortunately, the poor water solubility, low bioavailability, and systemic toxicity of UA limit its clinical application. In this study, a biomimetic red blood cell membrane nanocarrier was developed to deliver UA to targeted tumor sites efficiently, and it inhibited tumor growth by inducing the apoptosis and autophagy of cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. Abstract As one of the most common cancers worldwide, non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment always fails owing to the tumor microenvironment and resistance. UA, a traditional Chinese medicine, was reported to have antitumor potential in tumor models in vitro and in vivo, but showed impressive results in its potential application for poor water solubility. In this study, a novel biomimetic drug-delivery system based on UA-loaded nanoparticles (UaNPs) with a red blood cell membrane (RBCM) coating was developed. The RBCM-coated UANPs (UMNPs) exhibited improved water solubility, high stability, good biosafety, and efficient tumor accumulation. Importantly, the excellent antitumor efficiency of the UMNPs was confirmed both in vitro and in vivo in cancer models. In addition, we further investigated the antitumor mechanism of UMNPs. The results of Western blotting showed that UMNPs exerted an anticancer effect by inducing the apoptosis and autophagy of NSCLC cells, which makes it superior to free UA. In addition, body weight monitoring, hematoxylin and eosin (HE) analysis, and immunohistochemical (IHC) analysis showed no significant difference between UMNPs and the control group, indicating the safety of UMNPs. Altogether, the preparation of biomimetic UMNPs provides a promising strategy to improve outcomes in NSCLC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ting Wu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Cancer Research, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Nanjing 210009, China
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211116, China
| | - Dan Yan
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211116, China
| | - Wenjun Hou
- Department of Dermatology, Drum Tower Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing 211116, China
| | - Hui Jiang
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211116, China
| | - Min Wu
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211116, China
| | - Yanling Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211116, China
| | - Gang Chen
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Affiliated Jiangning Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211199, China
| | - Chunming Tang
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211116, China
| | - Yijun Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211116, China
- Correspondence: (Y.W.); (H.X.)
| | - Huae Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Molecular and Translational Cancer Research, Jiangsu Institute of Cancer Research, Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Cancer Hospital, Nanjing 210009, China
- Department of Pharmaceutics, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211116, China
- Correspondence: (Y.W.); (H.X.)
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Wu K, Wu X, Liang Y, Wang T, Wu D, Li L, Wang Z. Inhibitory effects of total triterpenoids isolated from the Hedyotis diffusa willd on H1975 cells. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:922477. [PMID: 36188592 PMCID: PMC9515512 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.922477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
It is estimated that non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is responsible for 80% of human deaths related to lung cancer worldwide. Currently, it has been discovered that two transcription factors. Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) were the main factors affecting inflammation and cancer, and their activation promoted lung cancer cell proliferation. Hedyotis diffusa Willd. (H. diffusa) is an herbal Chinese medicine, which has always been used for the treatment of malignant tumors in clinical. Previous research found that H. diffusa could inhibit the proliferation of H1975 cells, but the specific mechanisms remain elusive. We investigated the effects of total triterpenes extracted from H. diffusa (TTH) on the migration, proliferation and apoptosis of H1975 cells. Cell-cycle and immunofluorescence analysis showed that TTH could block H1975 cells at G0/G1 phase and induce apoptosis of experimental cells. The protein levels of Bcl-2 were decreased, while the levels of pro-apoptotic Bax were increased. In addition, TTH could also inhibit the migration of H1975 cells through downregulated MMP-2 and MMP-9 and upregulated TIMP-2. Further research found that the level of phospho-STAT3 was significantly decreased after administration of TTH. And protein expression level of NF-κB in nucleus was decreased after TTH treatment, while NF-κB in cytoplasm increased. These results suggested that TTH could inhibit the proliferation and migration of H1975 cells, and also could induce cell apoptosis. These effects were closely connected to the activation of NF-κB and the phosphorylation of STAT3.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kenan Wu
- Shaanxi Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, State Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Characteristic Qin Medicine Resources (Cultivation), Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xian Yang, China
| | - Xue Wu
- Medical Experiment Center, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xian Yang, China
| | - Yanni Liang
- Shaanxi Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, State Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Characteristic Qin Medicine Resources (Cultivation), Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xian Yang, China
| | - Ting Wang
- Shaanxi Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, State Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Characteristic Qin Medicine Resources (Cultivation), Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xian Yang, China
| | - Dongzhi Wu
- Shaanxi Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, State Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Characteristic Qin Medicine Resources (Cultivation), Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xian Yang, China
| | - Luhan Li
- Shaanxi Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, State Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Characteristic Qin Medicine Resources (Cultivation), Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xian Yang, China
| | - Zheng Wang
- Shaanxi Collaborative Innovation Center of Chinese Medicinal Resources Industrialization, State Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Characteristic Qin Medicine Resources (Cultivation), Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xian Yang, China
- *Correspondence: Zheng Wang,
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Mudaliar P, Nalawade A, Devarajan S, Aich J. Therapeutic potential of autophagy activators and inhibitors in lung and breast cancer- a review. Mol Biol Rep 2022; 49:10783-10795. [PMID: 35829809 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-022-07711-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 05/22/2022] [Accepted: 06/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Autophagy is a cellular process that eliminates damaged components of cytoplasm via the lysosome. Autophagy supports cells and tissues to remain healthy by recycling old or damaged cellular organelles and proteins with new ones. The breakdown products that follow are directed into cellular metabolism, where they are utilized to produce energy as well as for maintaining homeostasis and stability of the genome. In many cancers, autophagy modulation carries out a dual role in cancer development and suppression. Autophagy suppresses the proliferation of cancer cells by bringing about cell death and limiting cancer cell development, although it also promotes tumorigenesis by encouraging cancer cell growth and formation. Nevertheless, autophagy's implication in cancer remains a paradox. While several autophagy activators, and inhibitors, such as SAH-EJ2, Gefitinib, Ampelopsin hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine, are utilized to regulate autophagy in chemoprevention, the exact intrinsic system of autophagy in cancer deserves further investigation. Despite improved treatment regimens, the incidence rate of both breast and lung cancer has grown, as has the number of recurrence cases. Hence, this review offers a wide overview of autophagy's underlying role in lung and breast cancer, particularly focusing on the various autophagy activators and inhibitors in both cancers, as well as the use of various organic compounds, regular drugs, and natural products in cancer prevention and treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Priyanka Mudaliar
- School of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, DY Patil Deemed to Be University, CBD Belapur, 400614, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Apoorva Nalawade
- School of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, DY Patil Deemed to Be University, CBD Belapur, 400614, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Shine Devarajan
- School of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, DY Patil Deemed to Be University, CBD Belapur, 400614, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Jyotirmoi Aich
- School of Biotechnology and Bioinformatics, DY Patil Deemed to Be University, CBD Belapur, 400614, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Antitumor Effects of Natural Bioactive Ursolic Acid in Embryonic Cancer Stem Cells. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2022; 2022:6737248. [PMID: 35222644 PMCID: PMC8866021 DOI: 10.1155/2022/6737248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Embryonic cancer cells (CSCs) could cause different types of cancer, a skill that makes them even more dangerous than other cancer cells. Identifying CSCs using natural products is a good option as it inhibits the recurrence of cancer with moderate various effects. Ursolic acid (UA) is a pentacyclic triterpenoid extracted from fruit and herbal remedies and has known anticancer functions against various cancer cells. However, its potential against CSCs remains uncertain. This study was planned to examine the induction of cell apoptosis by the UA. For cell signaling studies, we performed experiments, which are real-time qPCR and immunoblotting. Also, various cellular processes were analyzed using flow cytometry. The results raised a barrier to cell proliferation by the UA in NTERA-2 and NCCIT cells. Morphological studies also confirmed the UA's ability to cause cell death in embryonic CSCs. Examination of cell death importation showed that the UA formed the expression of the iNOS and thus the cell generation and mitochondrial reactive oxygen generation, which created a reaction to cellular DNA damage by raising the protein levels of phospho-histone ATR and ATM. In addition, the UA created the binding of the G0/G1 cell cycle to NTERA-2 and NCCIT cells, improved the expression levels of p21 and p27, and reduced the expression levels of CDK4, cyclin D1, and cyclin E, confirming the UA's ability to initiate cell cycle arrest. Finally, the UA created an internal mechanism of apoptosis in the embryonic CSC using BAX and cytochrome c regulation as well as the regulation of BCL-xL and BCL-2 proteins. Therefore, UA could be the best candidate for targeting CSCs and thus suppressing the emergence of cancer.
Collapse
|
10
|
Al-Bari MAA, Ito Y, Ahmed S, Radwan N, Ahmed HS, Eid N. Targeting Autophagy with Natural Products as a Potential Therapeutic Approach for Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:9807. [PMID: 34575981 PMCID: PMC8467030 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22189807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Macro-autophagy (autophagy) is a highly conserved eukaryotic intracellular process of self-digestion caused by lysosomes on demand, which is upregulated as a survival strategy upon exposure to various stressors, such as metabolic insults, cytotoxic drugs, and alcohol abuse. Paradoxically, autophagy dysfunction also contributes to cancer and aging. It is well known that regulating autophagy by targeting specific regulatory molecules in its machinery can modulate multiple disease processes. Therefore, autophagy represents a significant pharmacological target for drug development and therapeutic interventions in various diseases, including cancers. According to the framework of autophagy, the suppression or induction of autophagy can exert therapeutic properties through the promotion of cell death or cell survival, which are the two main events targeted by cancer therapies. Remarkably, natural products have attracted attention in the anticancer drug discovery field, because they are biologically friendly and have potential therapeutic effects. In this review, we summarize the up-to-date knowledge regarding natural products that can modulate autophagy in various cancers. These findings will provide a new position to exploit more natural compounds as potential novel anticancer drugs and will lead to a better understanding of molecular pathways by targeting the various autophagy stages of upcoming cancer therapeutics.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Yuko Ito
- Department of General and Gastroenterological Surgery, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, 2–7 Daigaku-machi, Takatsuki 569-8686, Osaka, Japan;
| | - Samrein Ahmed
- Department of Biosciences and Chemistry, College of Health and Wellbeing and Life Sciences, Sheffield Hallam University, City Campus, Howard Street, Sheffield S1 1WB, UK;
| | - Nada Radwan
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 17666, United Arab Emirates;
| | - Hend S. Ahmed
- Department of Hematology and Blood Transfusion, Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, Omdurman Ahlia University, Khartoum 786, Sudan;
| | - Nabil Eid
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain 17666, United Arab Emirates;
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Xie Q, Chen Y, Tan H, Liu B, Zheng LL, Mu Y. Targeting Autophagy with Natural Compounds in Cancer: A Renewed Perspective from Molecular Mechanisms to Targeted Therapy. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:748149. [PMID: 34512368 PMCID: PMC8427500 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.748149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural products are well-characterized to have pharmacological or biological activities that can be of therapeutic benefits for cancer therapy, which also provide an important source of inspiration for discovery of potential novel small-molecule drugs. In the past three decades, accumulating evidence has revealed that natural products can modulate a series of key autophagic signaling pathways and display therapeutic effects in different types of human cancers. In this review, we focus on summarizing some representative natural active compounds, mainly including curcumin, resveratrol, paclitaxel, Bufalin, and Ursolic acid that may ultimately trigger cancer cell death through the regulation of some key autophagic signaling pathways, such as RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK, PI3K-AKT-mTOR, AMPK, ULK1, Beclin-1, Atg5 and p53. Taken together, these inspiring findings would shed light on exploiting more natural compounds as candidate small-molecule drugs, by targeting the crucial pathways of autophagy for the future cancer therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Xie
- Department of Stomatology, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Yi Chen
- Department of Stomatology, Zigong First People’s Hospital, Zigong, China
| | - Huidan Tan
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Bo Liu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Ling-Li Zheng
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chengdu Medical College, Chengdu, China
| | - Yandong Mu
- Department of Stomatology, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Wang L, Yin Q, Liu C, Tang Y, Sun C, Zhuang J. Nanoformulations of Ursolic Acid: A Modern Natural Anticancer Molecule. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:706121. [PMID: 34295253 PMCID: PMC8289884 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.706121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Ursolic acid (UA) is a natural pentacyclic triterpene derived from fruit, herb, and other plants. UA can act on molecular targets of various signaling pathways, inhibit the growth of cancer cells, promote cycle stagnation, and induce apoptosis, thereby exerting anticancer activity. However, its poor water-solubility, low intestinal mucosal absorption, and low bioavailability restrict its clinical application. In order to overcome these deficiencies, nanotechnology, has been applied to the pharmacological study of UA. Objective: In this review, we focused on the absorption, distribution, and elimination pharmacokinetics of UA in vivo, as well as on the research progress in various UA nanoformulations, in the hope of providing reference information for the research on the anticancer activity of UA. Methods: Relevant research articles on Pubmed and Web of Science in recent years were searched selectively by using the keywords and subheadings, and were summarized systematically. Key finding: The improvement of the antitumor ability of the UA nanoformulations is mainly due to the improvement of the bioavailability and the enhancement of the targeting ability of the UA molecules. UA nanoformulations can even be combined with computational imaging technology for monitoring or diagnosis. Conclusion: Currently, a variety of UA nanoformulations, such as micelles, liposomes, and nanoparticles, which can increase the solubility and bioactivity of UA, while promoting the accumulation of UA in tumor tissues, have been prepared. Although the research of UA in the nanofield has made great progress, there is still a long way to go before the clinical application of UA nanoformulations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Longyun Wang
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Qianqian Yin
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Cun Liu
- College of First Clinical Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Ying Tang
- Department of Hematology, Affiliated Hospital of Weifang Medical University, Weifang, China
| | - Changgang Sun
- Department of Oncology, Weifang Traditional Chinese Hospital, Weifang, China.,Qingdao Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Qingdao, China
| | - Jing Zhuang
- Department of Oncology, Weifang Traditional Chinese Hospital, Weifang, China
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Kang DY, Sp N, Lee JM, Jang KJ. Antitumor Effects of Ursolic Acid through Mediating the Inhibition of STAT3/PD-L1 Signaling in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9030297. [PMID: 33805840 PMCID: PMC7998465 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9030297] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2021] [Revised: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Targeted therapy based on natural compounds is one of the best approaches against non-small cell lung cancer. Ursolic acid (UA), a pentacyclic triterpenoid derived from medicinal herbs, has anticancer activity. Studies on the molecular mechanism underlying UA’s anticancer activity are ongoing. Here, we demonstrated UA’s anticancer activity and the underlying signaling mechanisms. We used Western blotting and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction for molecular signaling analysis. We also used in vitro angiogenesis, wound healing, and invasion assays to study UA’s anticancer activity. In addition, we used tumorsphere formation and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays for binding studies. The results showed that UA inhibited the proliferation of A549 and H460 cells in a concentration-dependent manner. UA exerted anticancer effects by inducing G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. It also inhibited tumor angiogenesis, migration, invasion, and tumorsphere formation. The molecular mechanism underlying UA activity involves UA’s binding to epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), reducing the level of phospho-EGFR, and thus inhibiting the downstream JAK2/STAT3 pathway. Furthermore, UA reduced the expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), metalloproteinases (MMPs) and programmed death ligand-1 (PD-L1), as well as the formation of STAT3/MMP2 and STAT3/PD-L1 complexes. Altogether, UA exhibits anticancer activities by inhibiting MMP2 and PD-L1 expression through EGFR/JAK2/STAT3 signaling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dong Young Kang
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology, Konkuk University, Chungju 27478, Korea; (D.Y.K.); (N.S.)
| | - Nipin Sp
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology, Konkuk University, Chungju 27478, Korea; (D.Y.K.); (N.S.)
| | - Jin-Moo Lee
- Pharmacological Research Division, National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, Osong Health Technology Administration Complex, Cheongju-si 28159, Korea;
| | - Kyoung-Jin Jang
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Institute of Biomedical Science and Technology, Konkuk University, Chungju 27478, Korea; (D.Y.K.); (N.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-2-2030-7839
| |
Collapse
|