Orostachys japonicus inhibits the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 mRNA and modulates the expression of iNOS and COX-2 genes in human PMA-differentiated THP-1 cells via inhibition of NF-κB and MAPK activation

Efficacy of FRO on Acne Vulgaris Pathogenesis

Acne vulgaris is a common skin disease characterized by increased sebum production, inflammation, and Cutibacterium acnes (CA: formerly Propionibacterium acnes) hyperproliferation in pilosebaceous follicles. This study evaluated the efficacy of FRO, a formula composed of fermented Rhus verniciflua Stokes and Orostachys japonicus, against acne pathogenesis via antimicrobial assessment and an in vitro analysis. Stimulated model cells treated with hormones, CA, or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were designed based on the characteristics of acne pathogenesis, including inflammation and sebum hypersecretion. High-performance liquid chromatography, disc diffusion, MTS, and western blotting assays were used to examine potential anti-acne effects. FRO was determined to contain phenolics such as gallic acid, fisetin, quercetin, and kaempferol. FRO exerted antimicrobial activity against CA and inhibited reactive oxygen species production that was otherwise increased by LPS or CA in HaCaT cells. Additionally, FRO exerted anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting iNOS, TNF-α, IL-6, p-STAT-3, and p-NF-κB, which were previously upregulated by LPS or CA in THP-1 and HaCaT cells. FRO inhibited lipogenesis induced by steroid hormones and CA by decreasing FAS and SREBP-1 levels in sebocytes. Additionally, FRO down-regulated the androgen receptor, 5α-reductase, SREBP-1, and FAS levels, which were upregulated by steroid hormone in LNCaP cells. Taken together, our findings suggest that FRO alleviates acne by inhibiting the growth of CA, inflammation, and excess sebum and could be used for functional cosmetics or acne treatments.

Melatonin and 5-fluorouracil combination chemotherapy: opportunities and efficacy in cancer therapy

Combined chemotherapy is a treatment method based on the simultaneous use of two or more therapeutic agents; it is frequently necessary to produce a more effective treatment for cancer patients. Such combined treatments often improve the outcomes over that of the monotherapy approach, as the drugs synergistically target critical cell signaling pathways or work independently at different oncostatic sites. A better prognosis has been reported in patients treated with combination therapy than in patients treated with single drug chemotherapy. In recent decades, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) has become one of the most widely used chemotherapy agents in cancer treatment. This medication, which is soluble in water, is used as the first line of anti-neoplastic agent in the treatment of several cancer types including breast, head and neck, stomach and colon cancer. Within the last three decades, many studies have investigated melatonin as an anti-cancer agent; this molecule exhibits various functions in controlling the behavior of cancer cells, such as inhibiting cell growth, inducing apoptosis, and inhibiting invasion. The aim of this review is to comprehensively evaluate the role of melatonin as a complementary agent with 5-FU-based chemotherapy for cancers. Additionally, we identify the potential common signaling pathways by which melatonin and 5-FU interact to enhance the efficacy of the combined therapy. Video abstract.

Beneficial Actions of Orostachys japonica and Its Compounds against Tumors via MAPK Signaling Pathways

Tumors are one of the most life-threatening diseases, and a variety of cancer treatment options have been continuously introduced in order to overcome cancer and improve conventional therapy. Orostachys japonica (O. japonica), which is a perennial plant belonging to the genus Orostachys of the Crassulaceae family, has been revealed to exhibit pharmacological properties against various tumors in numerous studies. The present review aimed to discuss the biological actions and underlying molecular mechanisms of O. japonica and its representative compounds-kaempferol and quercetin-against tumors. O. japonica reportedly has antiproliferative, anti-angiogenic, and antimetastatic activities against various types of malignant tumors through the induction of apoptosis and cell cycle arrest, a blockade of downstream vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-VEGFR2 pathways, and the regulation of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. In addition, emerging studies have highlighted the antitumor efficacy of kaempferol and quercetin. Interestingly, it was found that alterations of the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling cascades are involved in the pivotal mechanisms of the antitumor effects of O. japonica and its two compounds against cancer cell overgrowth, angiogenesis, and metastasis. In summary, O. japonica could be considered a preventive and therapeutic medicinal plant which exhibits antitumor actions by reversing altered patterns of MAPK cascades, and kaempferol and quercetin might be potential components that can contribute to the efficacy and underlying mechanism of O. japonica.

Orostachys japonicus ethanol extract inhibits 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene-induced atopic dermatitis-like skin lesions in NC/Nga mice and TNF-α/IFN-γ-induced TARC expression in HaCaT cells

The risk of atopic dermatitis (AD)-like skin lesions has increased due to the elevated levels of allergens worldwide. Natural-origin agents, which are effective and safe, show promise for the prevention and treatment of inflammatory conditions. Orostachys japonicus (OJ) A. Berger is an ingredient of traditional herbal medicines for fever, gingivitis, and cancer in Korea, China, and Japan. However, the effect of OJ on AD-like skin lesions is unknown. Therefore, we investigated the effect of OJ ethanol extract (OJEE) on AD-like skin symptoms in mice and cells. OJEE reduced the 2,4-dinitrochlorobenzene-induced AD severity, serum levels of IgE and TARC, and mRNA levels of TARC, TNF-α, and IL-4 in NC/Nga mice. Histopathological analysis showed that OJEE reduced the thickness of the epidermis/dermis and dermal infiltration of inflammatory cells in ear tissue. Furthermore, OJEE suppressed the TNF-α/IFN-γ-increased TARC mRNA level by inhibiting NF-κB and STAT1 activation in HaCaT cells. Taken together, our findings show that OJEE reduced the risk of AD-like skin symptoms by decreasing TARC expression via inhibiting NF-κB and STAT1 activation in skin keratinocytes and thus shows promise as an alternative therapy for AD-like skin lesions.

Crocetin protects against fulminant hepatic failure induced by lipopolysaccharide/D-galactosamine by decreasing apoptosis, inflammation and oxidative stress in a rat model

Fulminant hepatic failure (FHF) is a clinical syndrome characterized by sudden and severe liver dysfunction. Apoptosis and inflammation are essential for the pathogenesis of FHF. Crocetin, the major component present in saffron, has been reported to possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant functions; however, its role in FHF is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to explore the protective effects of crocetin against lipopolysac§§charide (LPS)/D-galactosamine (D-GalN)-induced FHF and the underlying mechanisms in a rat model. For the in vivo study, rats were assigned to the LPS/D-GalN group or to the crocetin pre-treatment+LPS/D- GalN group. Each group was then further divided according to the different LPS/D-GalN treatment times of 0, 6, 12 or 48 h. The results demonstrated that crocetin pre-treatment efficiently protected against LPS/D-GalN-induced FHF by improving liver tissue morphology, reducing total bilirubin generation and decreasing the activities of alanine transaminase and aspartate aminotransferase. Moreover, crocetin pre-treatment significantly decreased hepatocyte apoptosis, p53 mRNA expression and the expression of proteins in the caspase family and the Bcl-2 pro-apoptotic family following LPS/D-GalN treatment. Furthermore, crocetin also decreased the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the serum and in the liver via suppression of NF-κB activation, and also suppressed hepatic oxidative stress. In conclusion, crocetin protected against LPS/D-GalN-induced FHF and inhibited apoptosis, inflammation and oxidative stress. The underlying mechanisms may be related to the regulation of apoptotic proteins in the caspase family and the Bcl-2 family, as well as the modulation of NF-κB expression. Therefore, crocetin may be used as a novel therapy for preventing FHF.

iNOS is associated with tumorigenicity as an independent prognosticator in human intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) has supposed to implicate in inflammation, infection, liver cirrhosis, and neoplastic diseases. This study was designed to explore the biological and clinical function of iNOS in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC).

METHODS

RT-PCR (Real-time quantitative PCR) and immunohistochemical staining were used to analyze the expression of iNOS in ICC and adjacent tissues. CCK8, transwell assays, flow cytometry were conducted to detect the proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle. Western blotting was performed to detect the expression of target proteins. Multivariate analyses were conducted to analysis associates between clinicopathological values and survival.

RESULTS

We found that levels of iNOS mRNA and protein were dramatically increased in ICC samples and positively correlated with complicated bile duct stone, differentiation, pathology T, pathology M, Wip1, MMP-2, and MMP-9. iNOS expression was significantly correlated with the poor survival of ICC patients. Furthermore, iNOS was high expression in ICC cell lines (QBC-939, ICC-9810, SSP-25) compare with human normal biliary epithelium cell line (HIBEpic); both iNOS knockdown and iNOS inhibitor (1400 W) suppressed cell proliferation, invasion, and migration though nitric oxide production in ICC cells. Down-regulation of iNOS also induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and ICC cell apoptosis. Moreover, iNOS knockdown treatment significantly decreased Wip1, MMP-9, and MMP-2 gene expression.

CONCLUSION

Lowly expressed iNOS-inhibited proliferation yet promoted apoptosis of ICC cells. Our data show targeted inhibition of iNOS in ICC may have therapeutic value.

Orostachys japonicus A. Berger Extracts Induce Immunity-Enhancing Effects on Cyclophosphamide-Treated Immunosuppressed Rats

In this study, we evaluated the immunity-enhancing effects of Orostachys japonicus A. Berger (OJ). To examine the immune protective effect in vitro, primary mouse splenocytes were treated with water or ethanol extracts of OJ in the absence or presence of cyclophosphamide (CY), which is a cytotoxic, immunosuppressive agent. The extracts increased the propagation of splenocytes and inhibited CY-induced cytotoxicity. Further, to examine the immunostimulatory effects in vivo, adult Wistar rats were orally administered OJ extracts with or without CY treatment. With the administration of OJ extracts, CY-treated immunosuppressed rats showed improved physical endurance, as assessed by the forced swim test. In addition, extract administration increased not only the number of immunity-related cells but also the levels of plasma cytokines. OJ extracts also recovered splenic histology in CY-treated rats. These findings suggest that an OJ regimen can enhance immunity by increasing immune cell propagation and specific plasma cytokine levels.

Resveratrol raises in vitro anticancer effects of paclitaxel in NSCLC cell line A549 through COX-2 expression

The aim of this study was to determine the raising anticancer effects of resveratrol (Res) on paclitaxel (PA) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell line A549. The 10 µg/ml of Res had no effect on human fetal lung fibroblast MRC-5 cells or on A549 cancer cells and the 5 or 10 µg/ml of PA also had no effect on MRC-5 normal cells. PA-L (5 µg/ml) and PA-H (10 µg/ml) had the growth inhibitory effects in NSCLC cell line A549, and Res increased these growth inhibitory effects. By flow cytometry experiment, after Res (5 µg/ml)+PA-H (10 µg/ml) treatment, the A549 cells showed the most apoptosic cells compared to other group treatments, and after additional treatment with Res, the apoptosic cells of both two PA concentrations were raised. Res+PA could reduce the mRNA and protein expressions of COX-2, and Res+PA could reduce the COX-2 related genes of VEGF, MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-9, NF-κB, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, procollagen I, collagen I, collagen III and CTGF, TNF-α, IL-1β, iNOS and raise the TIMP-1, TIMP-2, TIMP-3, IκB-α, p53, p21, caspase-3, caspase-8, caspase-9, Bax genes compared to the control cells and the PA treated cells. From these results, it can be suggested that Res could raise the anticancer effects of PA in A549 cells, thus Res might be used as a good sensitizing agent for PA.

Bombyx mori hemocyte extract has anti-inflammatory effects on human phorbol myristate acetate-differentiated THP‑1 cells via TLR4-mediated suppression of the NF-κB signaling pathway

Hemolymph is the circulating fluid of insects and is a key component of their immune system. However, little is known concerning hemocyte identification, development, differentiation and related cellular immune responses. The present study aimed to determine whether a hemocyte extract prepared from Bombyx mori larvae had anti-inflammatory effects; THP-1 (a human monocytic leukemia cell line) cells that had been differentiated into macrophage-like cells by treatment with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) were used. THP-1 cells were cultured with different concentrations of a B. mori hemocyte extract prior to exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to induce an inflammatory response. The effects of the B. mori hemocyte extract on anti-inflammatory pathways were determined using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and western blotting to assess the expression of pro-inflammatory molecules. The B. mori hemocyte extract inhibited the LPS-induced mRNA expression of Toll-like receptor 4 in addition to LPS-induced interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8 and tumor necrosis factor-α. Treatment of PMA-differentiated THP-1 cells with B. mori hemocyte extract also inhibited inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 transcription and translation. Nuclear factor-κB activation and phosphorylation also decreased. Further in-depth functional studies are required to understand the mechanism underlying the anti-inflammatory effects of silkworm hemocyte extract.

Melatonin synergizes the chemotherapeutic effect of 5-fluorouracil in colon cancer by suppressing PI3K/AKT and NF-κB/iNOS signaling pathways

5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) is one of the most commonly used chemotherapeutic agents in colon cancer treatment, but has a narrow therapeutic index limited by its toxicity. Melatonin exerts antitumor activity in various cancers, but it has never been combined with 5-FU as an anticolon cancer treatment to improve the chemotherapeutic effect of 5-FU. In this study, we assessed such combinational use in colon cancer and investigated whether melatonin could synergize the antitumor effect of 5-FU. We found that melatonin significantly enhanced the 5-FU-mediated inhibition of cell proliferation, colony formation, cell migration and invasion in colon cancer cells. We also found that melatonin synergized with 5-FU to promote the activation of the caspase/PARP-dependent apoptosis pathway and induce cell cycle arrest. Further mechanism study demonstrated that melatonin synergized the antitumor effect of 5-FU by targeting the PI3K/AKT and NF-κB/inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) signaling. Melatonin in combination with 5-FU markedly suppressed the phosphorylation of PI3K, AKT, IKKα, IκBα, and p65 proteins, promoted the translocation of NF-κB p50/p65 from the nuclei to cytoplasm, abrogated their binding to the iNOS promoter, and thereby enhanced the inhibition of iNOS signaling. In addition, pretreatment with a PI3K- or iNOS-specific inhibitor synergized the antitumor effects of 5-FU and melatonin. Finally, we verified in a xenograft mouse model that melatonin and 5-FU exerted synergistic antitumor effect by inhibiting the AKT and iNOS signaling pathways. Collectively, our study demonstrated that melatonin synergized the chemotherapeutic effect of 5-FU in colon cancer through simultaneous suppression of multiple signaling pathways.

2-Chloroethanol Induced Upregulation of Matrix Metalloproteinase-2 in Primary Cultured Rat Astrocytes Via MAPK Signal Pathways

This study was to explore the mechanisms underlying 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCE) induced brain edema by focusing on alteration of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in rat astrocytes induced by 2-chloroethanol (2-CE), an intermediate metabolite of 1,2-DCE in vivo. Protein and mRNA levels of MMP-2, and the phosphorylated protein levels of p38 MAPK (p-p38), extracellular signal regulated protein kinase (p-ERK1/2) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (p-JNK1/2) in astrocytes were examined by immunostaining, western blot or real-time RT-PCR analysis. Findings from this study disclosed that protein levels of MMP-2 were upregulated by 2-CE in astrocytes. Meanwhile, protein levels of p-p38, p-ERK1/2 and p-JNK1/2 were also increased apparently in the cells treated with 2-CE. Moreover, pretreatment of astrocytes with SB202190 (inhibitor of p38 MAPK), U0126 (inhibitor of ERK1/2) or SP600125 (inhibitor of JNK1/2) could suppress the upregulated expression of p-p38, p-ERK1/2, and p-JNK1/2. In response to suppressed protein levels of p-p38 and p-JNK1/2, the protein levels of MMP-2 also decreased significantly, indicating that activation of MAPK signal pathways were involved in the mechanisms underlying 2-CE-induced upregulation of MMP-2 expression.

Anti-Tumor Effect of Pinus massoniana Bark Proanthocyanidins on Ovarian Cancer through Induction of Cell Apoptosis and Inhibition of Cell Migration

Pinus massoniana bark proanthocyanidins (PMBPs), an active component isolated from Pinus massoniana bark, has been reported to possess a wide range of biochemical properties. Here, we investigated the anti-tumor effect of PMBPs on ovarian cancer. The results indicated that PMBPs significantly reduced the growth of ovarian cancer cells and induced dose-dependent apoptosis. The underlying mechanisms involved were elucidated to include the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, down-regulation of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and the activation of Caspase 3/9, suggesting that PMBPs triggered apoptosis through activation of mitochondria-associated apoptotic pathway. In addition, wound healing and transwell chamber assays revealed that PMBPs could suppress migration and invasion of ovarian cancer cells. PMBPs dramatically inhibited MMP-9 activity and expression, blocked the activity of NFκB and the activation of ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK. Our findings suggest that PMBPs has the potential to be developed as an anti-tumor drug for ovarian cancer treatment and/ or disease management.