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Ruiz de Porras V, Figols M, Font A, Pardina E. Curcumin as a hepatoprotective agent against chemotherapy-induced liver injury. Life Sci 2023; 332:122119. [PMID: 37741319 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.122119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 09/25/2023]
Abstract
Despite significant advances in cancer therapeutics, chemotherapy remains the cornerstone of treatment for many tumors. Importantly, however, chemotherapy-induced toxicity, including hepatotoxicity, can lead to the interruption or discontinuation of potentially effective therapy. In recent years, special attention has been paid to the search for complementary therapies to mitigate chemotherapy-induced toxicity. Although there is currently a lack of specific interventions to mitigate or prevent hepatotoxicity in chemotherapy-treated patients, the polyphenol compound curcumin has emerged as a potential strategy to overcome this adverse effect. Here we review, firstly, the molecular and physiological mechanisms and major risk factors of chemotherapy-induced hepatotoxicity. We then present an overview of how curcumin has the potential to mitigate hepatotoxicity by targeting specific molecular mechanisms. Hepatotoxicity is a well-described side effect of cytotoxic drugs that can limit their clinical application. Inflammation and oxidative stress are the most common mechanisms involved in hepatotoxicity. Several studies have shown that curcumin could prevent and/or palliate chemotherapy-induced liver injury, mainly due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antifibrotic and hypolipidemic properties. Further clinical investigation using bioavailable curcumin formulations is warranted to demonstrate its efficacy as an hepatoprotective agent in cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vicenç Ruiz de Porras
- Grup de Recerca en Toxicologia (GRET), Unitat de Toxicologia, Departament de Farmacologia, Toxicologia i Química Terapèutica, Facultat de Farmàcia i Ciències de l'Alimentació, Universitat de Barcelona, Avda Joan XXIII s/n, 08028 Barcelona, Spain; CARE program, Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Camí de les Escoles, s/n, 08916, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain; Catalan Institute of Oncology, Badalona Applied Research Group in Oncology (B·ARGO), Camí de les Escoles, s/n, 08916, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Mariona Figols
- Medical Oncology Department, Althaia Xarxa Assistencial Universitària de Manresa, C/ Dr. Joan Soler, 1-3, 08243, Manresa, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Albert Font
- CARE program, Germans Trias i Pujol Research Institute (IGTP), Camí de les Escoles, s/n, 08916, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain; Catalan Institute of Oncology, Badalona Applied Research Group in Oncology (B·ARGO), Camí de les Escoles, s/n, 08916, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain; Medical Oncology Department, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Camí de les Escoles, s/n, 08916, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eva Pardina
- Departament de Bioquímica i Biomedicina Molecular, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
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Connexins-Therapeutic Targets in Cancers. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21239119. [PMID: 33266154 PMCID: PMC7730856 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21239119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 11/24/2020] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Connexins (Cx) are members of a protein family that forms intercellular channels localised in gap junction (GJ) plaques and single transmembrane channels called hemichannels. They participate in intercellular communication or communication between the intracellular and extracellular environments. Connexins affect cell homeostasis, growth and differentiation by enabling the exchange of metabolites or by interfering with various signalling pathways. Alterations in the functionality and the expression of connexins have been linked to the occurrence of many diseases. Connexins have been already linked to cancers, cardiac and brain disorders, chronic lung and kidney conditions and wound healing processes. Connexins have been shown either to suppress cancer tumour growth or to increase tumorigenicity by promoting cancer cell growth, migration and invasiveness. A better understanding of the complexity of cancer biology related to connexins and intercellular communication could result in the design of novel therapeutic strategies. The modulation of connexin expression may be an effective therapeutic approach in some types of cancers. Therefore, one important challenge is the search for mechanisms and new drugs, selectively modulating the expression of various connexin isoforms. We performed a systematic literature search up to February 2020 in the electronic databases PubMed and EMBASE. Our search terms were as follows: connexins, hemichannels, cancer and cancer treatment. This review aims to provide information about the role of connexins and gap junctions in cancer, as well as to discuss possible therapeutic options that are currently being studied.
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Tang N, Cai Z, Chen H, Cao L, Chen B, Lin B. Involvement of gap junctions in propylthiouracil-induced cytotoxicity in BRL-3A cells. Exp Ther Med 2019; 17:2799-2806. [PMID: 30906468 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2019.7244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 01/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Gap junctions (GJs), which are important plasma membrane channels for the transfer of signaling molecules between adjacent cells, have been implicated in drug-induced liver injury. However, the influence and the underlying mechanisms of GJs in propylthiouracil (PTU)-induced hepatotoxicity are unclear. In the present study, distinct manipulations were performed to regulate GJ function in the BRL-3A rat liver cell line. The results indicated that the toxic effect of PTU in BRL-3A cells was mediated by GJ intercellular communication, as cell death was significantly attenuated in the absence of functional GJ channels. Furthermore, the specific knockdown of connexin-32 (Cx32; a major GJ component protein in hepatocytes) using small interfering RNA was observed to decrease necrosis, intracellular PTU content and the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) following PTU exposure. These observations demonstrated that suppressing GJ Cx32 could confer protection against PTU-induced cytotoxicity through decreasing the accumulation of PTU and ROS. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to demonstrate the role and possible underlying mechanisms of GJs in the regulation of PTU-induced toxicity in BRL-3A rat liver cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Tang
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, Guangdong 523808, P.R. China
| | - Ziqing Cai
- School of Pharmacy, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, Guangdong 523808, P.R. China
| | - Hongpeng Chen
- School of Information Engineering, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, Guangdong 523808, P.R. China
| | - Longbin Cao
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, Guangdong 523808, P.R. China
| | - Bo Chen
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, Guangdong 523808, P.R. China
| | - Bihua Lin
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, Guangdong 523808, P.R. China
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