MicroRNA-146a-5p enhances ginsenoside Rh2-induced anti-proliferation and the apoptosis of the human liver cancer cell line HepG2

Research progress of ginseng in the treatment of gastrointestinal cancers

Cancer has become one of the major causes of human death. Several anticancer drugs are available; howeve their use and efficacy are limited by the toxic side effects and drug resistance caused by their continuous application. Many natural products have antitumor effects with low toxicity and fewer adverse effects. Moreover, they play an important role in enhancing the cytotoxicity of chemotherapeutic agents, reducing toxic side effects, and reversing chemoresistance. Consequently, natural drugs are being applied as potential therapeutic options in the field of antitumor treatment. As natural medicinal plants, some components of ginseng have been shown to have excellent efficacy and a good safety profile for cancer treatment. The pharmacological activities and possible mechanisms of action of ginseng have been identified. Its broad range of pharmacological activities includes antitumor, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-stress, anti-fibrotic, central nervous system modulating, cardioprotective, and immune-enhancing effects. Numerous studies have also shown that throuth multiple pathways, ginseng and its active ingredients exert antitumor effects on gastrointestinal (GI) tract tumors, such as esophageal, gastric, colorectal, liver, and pancreatic cancers. Herein, we introduced the main components of ginseng, including ginsenosides, polysaccharides, and sterols, etc., and reviewed the mechanism of action and research progress of ginseng in the treatment of various GI tumors. Futhermore, the pathways of action of the main components of ginseng are discussed in depth to promote the clinical development and application of ginseng in the field of anti-GI tumors.

Targeting Epigenetic Regulatory Enzymes for Cancer Therapeutics: Novel Small-Molecule Epidrug Development

Dysregulation of the epigenetic enzyme-mediated transcription of oncogenes or tumor suppressor genes is closely associated with the occurrence, progression, and prognosis of tumors. Based on the reversibility of epigenetic mechanisms, small-molecule compounds that target epigenetic regulation have become promising therapeutics. These compounds target epigenetic regulatory enzymes, including DNA methylases, histone modifiers (methylation and acetylation), enzymes that specifically recognize post-translational modifications, chromatin-remodeling enzymes, and post-transcriptional regulators. Few compounds have been used in clinical trials and exhibit certain therapeutic effects. Herein, we summarize the classification and therapeutic roles of compounds that target epigenetic regulatory enzymes in cancer treatment. Finally, we highlight how the natural compounds berberine and ginsenosides can target epigenetic regulatory enzymes to treat cancer.

miR-26b-5p/TCF-4 Controls the Adipogenic Differentiation of Human Adipose-derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells

In this study, we assessed the ability of miR-26b-5p to regulate T cell factor 4 (TCF-4) expression and thereby control human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cell (hADMSC) adipogenic differentiation. Adipogenic medium was used to induce hADMSC differentiation over a 6-d period. The ability of miR-26b-5p to interact with the TCF-4 mRNA was confirmed through both predictive bioinformatics analyses and luciferase reporter assays. Immunofluorescent staining was used to visualize the impact of miR-26b-5p inhibition or overexpression on TCF-4 and β-catenin levels in hADMSCs. Further functional analyses were conducted by transfecting these cells with siRNAs specific for TCF-4 and β-catenin. Adipogenic marker and Wnt/β-catenin pathway gene expression levels were assessed via real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blotting. β-catenin localization was assessed via immunofluorescent staining. As expected, our adipogenic media induced the adipocytic differentiation of hADMSCs. In addition, we confirmed that TCF-4 is an miR-26b-5p target gene in these cells, and that protein levels of both TCF-4 and β-catenin were reduced when these cells were transfected with miR-26b-5p mimics. Overexpression of this microRNA also enhanced hADMSC adipogenesis, whereas TCF-4 and β-catenin overexpression inhibited this process. The enhanced hADMSC adipogenic differentiation that was observed following TCF-4 or β-catenin knockdown was partially reversed when miR-26b-5p expression was inhibited. We found that miR-26b-5p serves as a direct negative regulator of TCF-4 expression within hADMSCs, leading to inactivation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and thereby promoting the adipogenic differentiation of these cells in vitro.

Anti-Tumor Mechanisms Associated With Regulation of Non-Coding RNA by Active Ingredients of Chinese Medicine: A Review

Cancer has become the second leading cause of death worldwide; however, its complex pathogenesis remains largely unclear. Previous research has shown that cancer development and progression are closely associated with various non-coding RNAs, including long non-coding RNAs and microRNAs, which regulate gene expression. Target gene abnormalities are regulated and engaged in the complex mechanism underlying tumor formation, thereby controlling apoptosis, invasion, and migration of tumor cells and providing potentially effective targets for the treatment of malignant tumors. Chemotherapy is a commonly used therapeutic strategy for cancer; however, its effectiveness is limited by general toxicity and tumor cell drug resistance. Therefore, increasing attention has been paid to developing new cancer treatment modalities using traditional Chinese medicines, which exert regulatory effects on multiple components, targets, and pathways. Several active ingredients in Chinese medicine, including ginsenoside, baicalin, and matrine have been found to regulate ncRNA expression levels, thus, exerting anti-tumor effects. This review summarizes the scientific progress made regarding the anti-tumor mechanisms elicited by various active ingredients of Chinese medicine in regulating non-coding RNAs, to provide a theoretical foundation for treating tumors using traditional Chinese medicine.

Anticancer Activities of Ginsenosides, the Main Active Components of Ginseng

Cancer incidence rate has been increasing drastically in recent years. One of the many cancer treatment methods is chemotherapy. Traditional medicine, in the form of complementary and alternative therapy, is actively used to treat cancer, and many herbs and active ingredients of such therapies are being intensely studied to integrate them into modern medicine. Ginseng is traditionally used as a nourishing tonic and for treating various diseases in Asian countries. The therapeutic potential of ginseng in modern medicine has been studied extensively; the main bioactive component of ginseng is ginsenosides, which have gathered attention, particularly for their prospects in the treatment of fatal diseases such as cancer. Ginsenosides displayed their anticancer and antimetastatic properties not only via restricting cancer cell proliferation, viability, invasion, and migration but also by promoting apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and autophagy in several cancers, such as breast, brain, liver, gastric, and lung cancer. Additionally, ginsenosides can work synergistically with already existing cancer therapies. Thus, ginsenosides may be used alone or in combination with other pharmaceutical agents in new therapeutic strategies for cancer. To date however, there is little systematic summary available for the anticancer effects and therapeutic potential of ginsenosides. Therefore, we have reviewed and discussed all available literature in order to facilitate further research of ginsenosides in this manuscript.

Overexpression of miR-664 is associated with poor overall survival and accelerates cell proliferation, migration and invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma

Introduction

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the expression patterns of microRNA-664 (miR-664) in HCC tissues and cells, and assess its clinical significance and functional role in HCC.

Patients and methods

One hundred and thirty-four paired HCC and non-cancerous tissues were collected from patients who underwent surgery in Qianfoshan Hospital affiliated to Shandong University (Shandong, China) between 2009 and 2012. Expression of miR-664 was measured by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Prognostic value of miR-664 in HCC was evaluated using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis and Cox regression analysis. Cell proliferation was analyzed using the CCK-8 assay, and cell migration and invasion of HCC cells was evaluated by the Transwell assay.

Results

Expression of miR-664 was significantly upregulated in HCC tissues and cells when compared with the normal controls (all P<0.05). MiR-664 expression was associated with lymph node metastasis, TNM stage and differentiation (all P<0.05) in the HCC patients. High miR-664 expression predicted poor overall survival (log-rank P=0.004) and acted as an independent prognostic factor (HR =1.945, 95% CI=1.078–3.508, P=0.027). According to cell experiments, the upregulation of miR-664 could promote, whereas the downregulation of miR-664 could inhibit proliferation, migration and invasion of HCC cells (all P<0.05). SIVA1 was predicted as a direct target gene of miR-664 in HCC.

Conclusion

All data indicated that overexpression of miR-664 is associated with poor prognosis of HCC patients, and may enhance tumor progression of HCC by targeting SIVA1. MiR-664 may be a candidate therapeutic target for HCC treatment.