Aspirin inhibits the proliferation and migration of gastric cancer cells in p53-knockout mice

Targeting the "hallmarks of aging" to slow aging and treat age-related disease: fact or fiction?

Aging is a major risk factor for a number of chronic diseases, including neurodegenerative and cerebrovascular disorders. Aging processes have therefore been discussed as potential targets for the development of novel and broadly effective preventatives or therapeutics for age-related diseases, including those affecting the brain. Mechanisms thought to contribute to aging have been summarized under the term the "hallmarks of aging" and include a loss of proteostasis, mitochondrial dysfunction, altered nutrient sensing, telomere attrition, genomic instability, cellular senescence, stem cell exhaustion, epigenetic alterations and altered intercellular communication. We here examine key claims about the "hallmarks of aging". Our analysis reveals important weaknesses that preclude strong and definitive conclusions concerning a possible role of these processes in shaping organismal aging rate. Significant ambiguity arises from the overreliance on lifespan as a proxy marker for aging, the use of models with unclear relevance for organismal aging, and the use of study designs that do not allow to properly estimate intervention effects on aging rate. We also discuss future research directions that should be taken to clarify if and to what extent putative aging regulators do in fact interact with aging. These include multidimensional analytical frameworks as well as designs that facilitate the proper assessment of intervention effects on aging rate.

Aspirin modulates 2-hydroxyisobutyrylation of ENO1K281 to attenuate the glycolysis and proliferation of hepatoma cells

Aspirin can efficiently inhibit the glycolysis and proliferation of cancer cells, however, the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. Here, we report that aspirin attenuates the glycolysis and proliferation of hepatoma cells through modulating the levels of lysine 2-hydroxyisobutyrylation (Khib) of enolase 1 (ENO1). We found that aspirin decreased the levels of glucose consumption and lactate production in hepatoma cells. Moreover, 4 mM aspirin reduced the activities of ENO1, a key enzyme of glycolysis, and decreased the levels of ENO1 Khib in the cells. Interestingly, we identified that 4 mM aspirin could decrease the levels of Khib on many proteins by using pan Khib antibody in the cells. Interestingly, the activities of ENO1 could be rescued by the transient overexpression of ENO1, but not by ENO1 mutant (K281R). Moreover, we identified that the C646, an inhibitor of p300 which is a writer of Khib, could reduce the levels of ENO1 Khib, resulting in the decrease of ENO1 activities. The treatment with PDTC, an inhibitor of NF-κB which is a target of aspirin, could work well as C646 in the cells. Both of aspirin and C646 (or PDTC) displayed a stronger effect than the single treatment in the system. Functionally, ENO1, but not ENO1 mutant (K281R), could rescue the aspirin-induced inhibition of proliferation of liver cancer cells in vitro, suggesting that ENO1K281 is involved in the aspirin-mediated inhibition of liver cancer. Our finding provides new insights into the mechanism by which aspirin attenuates the glycolysis and proliferation of hepatoma cells.

Effects of aspirin on the gastrointestinal tract: Pros vs. cons

Acetylsalicylic acid, also known as aspirin, is often used in clinical antipyretic, analgesic and antiplatelet therapy. Aspirin can cause numerous side effects in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, ranging from unpleasant GI symptoms without gastric mucosal lesions to ulcer bleeding and even death. However, recent studies have found that aspirin can significantly prevent GI tumors. Despite impressive advances in cancer research, screening and treatment options, GI tumors remain a leading cause of death worldwide. Prevention is a far better option than treatment for tumors. Therefore, the present review assesses the pros and cons of aspirin on the GI tract and, on this the basis, the appropriate dose of aspirin to protect it.

Mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells with distinct p53 statuses display differential characteristics

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) affect diverse aspects of tumor progression, such as angiogenesis, tumor growth and metastasis. Bone marrow MSCs (BM‑MSCs) are fibroblast‑like cells with multipotent differentiation ability, that localize to areas of tissue damage, including wounds and solid tumors. The tumor suppressor gene, p53, is functionally involved in cell cycle control, apoptosis and genomic stability, and is mutated and inactivated in most human cancers. The present study aimed to investigate the role of p53 in the biology of BM‑MSCs. In the present study, p53 wild‑type (p53+/+), knockdown (p53+/‑) and knockout (p53‑/‑) mouse BM‑MSCs (mBM‑MSCs) were observed to be similar in appearance and in the expression of cell surface biomarkers, but expressed differential p53 protein levels. The p53+/‑ and p53‑/‑ mBM‑MSCs demonstrated an increased proliferation rate compared with mBM‑MSCs derived from p53+/+ mice. mBM‑MSCs from all three groups, representing distinct p53 statuses, were unable to form tumors over a 3‑month period in vivo. The adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation of mBM‑MSCs was increased in the absence of p53. The colony formation and migratory abilities of p53+/‑ and p53‑/‑ mBM‑MSCs were markedly enhanced, and the expression levels of stem cell‑associated proteins were significantly increased compared with p53+/+. The expression levels of microRNA (miR)‑3152 and miR‑337 were significantly increased in p53+/‑ and p53‑/‑ mBM‑MSCs, whereas the expression levels of miR‑221, miR‑155, miR‑1288 and miR‑4669 were significantly decreased. The expression levels of tumor necrosis factor‑α and interferon‑γ‑inducible protein‑10 were significantly upregulated in the supernatant of p53+/‑ and p53‑/‑ mBM‑MSCs. Ubiquitin protein ligase E3 component n‑recognin 2, RING‑finger protein 31 and matrix metalloproteinase 19 were highly expressed in p53+/‑ and p53‑/‑ mBM‑MSCs. The results of the present study indicated that p53 may serve an important role in the biology of mBM‑MSCs, and may provide novel insights into the role of cells with different p53 statuses in cancer progression.

Aspirin inhibits the proliferation of hepatoma cells through controlling GLUT1-mediated glucose metabolism

Aspirin can efficiently inhibit liver cancer growth, but the mechanism is poorly understood. In this study, we report that aspirin modulates glucose uptake through downregulating glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), leading to the inhibition of hepatoma cell proliferation. Our data showed that aspirin significantly decreased the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glucose consumption in hepatoma cells. Interestingly, we identified that GLUT1 and HIF1α could be decreased by aspirin. Mechanically, we demonstrated that the -1008/-780 region was the regulatory element of transcriptional factor NF-κB in GLUT1 promoter by luciferase report gene assays. PDTC, an inhibitor of NF-κB, could suppress the expression of GLUT1 in HepG2 and H7402 cells, followed by affecting the levels of ROS and glucose consumption. CoCl₂-activated HIF1α expression could slightly rescue the GLUT1 expression inhibited by aspirin or PDTC, suggesting that aspirin depressed GLUT1 through targeting NF-κB or NF-κB/HIF1α signaling. Moreover, we found that GLUT1 was highly expressed in clinical HCC tissues relating to their paired adjacent normal tissues. Importantly, we observed that high level of GLUT1 was significantly correlated with the poor relapse-free survival of HCC patients by analysis of public data. Functionally, overexpression of GLUT1 blocked the PDTC-induced or aspirin-induced inhibition of glucose metabolism in HepG2 cells. Conversely, aspirin failed to work when GLUT1 was stably knocked down in the cells. Administration of aspirin could depress the growth of hepatoma cells through controlling GLUT1 in vitro and in vivo. Thus, our finding provides new insights into the mechanism by which aspirin depresses liver cancer.

Aspirin suppresses the abnormal lipid metabolism in liver cancer cells via disrupting an NFκB-ACSL1 signaling

Abnormal lipid metabolism is a hallmark of tumorigenesis. Hence, the alterations of metabolism enhance the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Aspirin is able to inhibit the growth of cancers through targeting nuclear factor κB (NF-κB). However, the role of aspirin in disrupting abnormal lipid metabolism in HCC remains poorly understood. In this study, we report that aspirin can suppress the abnormal lipid metabolism of HCC cells through inhibiting acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 1 (ACSL1), a lipid metabolism-related enzyme. Interestingly, oil red O staining showed that aspirin suppressed lipogenesis in HepG2 cells and Huh7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, aspirin attenuated the levels of triglyceride and cholesterol in the cells, respectively. Strikingly, we identified that aspirin was able to down-regulate ACSL1 at the levels of mRNA and protein. Moreover, we validated that aspirin decreased the nuclear levels of NF-κB in HepG2 cells. Mechanically, PDTC, an inhibitor of NF-κB, could down-regulate ACSL1 at the levels of mRNA and protein in the cells. Functionally, PDTC reduced the levels of lipid droplets, triglyceride and cholesterol in HepG2 cells. Thus, we conclude that aspirin suppresses the abnormal lipid metabolism in HCC cells via disrupting an NFκB-ACSL1 signaling. Our finding provides new insights into the mechanism by which aspirin inhibits abnormal lipid metabolism of HCC. Therapeutically, aspirin is potentially available for HCC through controlling abnormal lipid metabolism.