Glutamic acid and its derivatives: candidates for rational design of anticancer drugs. Future Med Chem. 2013;5:961-978. [PMID: 23682571 DOI: 10.4155/fmc.13.62]

Integration of proteomics and metabolomics analysis investigate mechanism of As-induced immune injury in rat spleen

Arsenic (As) is a widespread metalloid and human carcinogen found in the natural environment, and multiple toxic effects have been shown to be associated with As exposure. As can be accumulated in the spleen, the largest peripheral lymphatic organ, and long-term exposure to As can lead to splenic injury. In this study, a Sprague-Dawley (SD) rat model of As-poisoned was established, aiming to explore the molecular mechanism of As-induced immune injury through the combined analysis of proteomics and metabolomics of rats' spleen. After feeding the rats with As diet (50 mg/kg) for 90 days, the spleen tissue of the rats in the As-poisoned group was damaged, the level of As was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.001), and the level of inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) was decreased (P < 0.01). Proteomics and metabolomics results showed that a total of 134 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) (P < 0.05 and fold change > 1.2) and 182 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs) (VIP >1 and P < 0.05) were identified in the spleens of the As poisoned group compared to the control group (As/Ctrl). The proteomic results highlight the role of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF), natural killer cell mediated cytotoxicity, and ribosomes. The major pathways of metabolic disruption included arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism, glycerophospholipid metabolism and folate single-carbon pool. The integrated analysis of these two omics suggested that Hmox1, Stat3, arachidonic acid, phosphatidylcholine and leukotriene B4 may play key roles in the mechanism of immune injury to the spleen by As exposure. The results indicate that As exposure can cause spleen damage in rats. Through proteomic and metabolomic analysis, the key proteins and metabolites and their associated mechanisms were obtained, which provided a basis for further understanding of the molecular mechanism of spleen immune damage caused by As exposure.

Multi-omics analysis reveals a feedback loop amplifying immune responses in acute graft-versus-host disease due to imbalanced gut microbiota and bile acid metabolism

Acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) is primarily driven by allogeneic donor T cells associated with an altered composition of the host gut microbiome and its metabolites. The severity of aGVHD after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is not solely determined by the host and donor characteristics; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, we decoded the immune cell atlas of 12 patients who underwent allo-HSCT: six with aGVHD and six with non-aGVHD. We performed a fecal microbiota (16SrRNA sequencing) analysis to investigate the fecal bacterial composition of 82 patients: 30 with aGVHD and 52 with non-aGVHD. Fecal samples from these patients were analyzed for bile acid metabolism. Through multi-omic analysis, we identified a feedback loop involving "immune cell-gut microbes-bile acid metabolites" contributing to heightened immune responses in patients with aGVHD. The dysbiosis of the gut microbiota and disruption of bile acid metabolism contributed to an exaggerated interleukin-1 mediated immune response. Our findings suggest that resistin and defensins are crucial in mitigating against aGVHD. Therefore, a comprehensive multi-omic atlas incorporating immune cells, gut microbes, and bile acid metabolites was developed in this study and used to propose novel, non-immunosuppressive approaches to prevent aGVHD.

FLI-1-driven regulation of endothelial cells in human diseases

Endothelial cells (ECs) are widely distributed in the human body and play crucial roles in the circulatory and immune systems. ECs dysfunction contributes to the progression of various chronic cardiovascular, renal, and metabolic diseases. As a key transcription factor in ECs, FLI-1 is involved in the differentiation, migration, proliferation, angiogenesis and blood coagulation of ECs. Imbalanced FLI-1 expression in ECs can lead to various diseases. Low FLI-1 expression leads to systemic sclerosis by promoting fibrosis and vascular lesions, to pulmonary arterial hypertension by promoting a local inflammatory state and vascular lesions, and to tumour metastasis by promoting the EndMT process. High FLI-1 expression leads to lupus nephritis by promoting a local inflammatory state. Therefore, FLI-1 in ECs may be a good target for the treatment of the abovementioned diseases. This comprehensive review provides the first overview of FLI-1-mediated regulation of ECs processes, with a focus on its influence on the abovementioned diseases and existing FLI-1-targeted drugs. A better understanding of the role of FLI-1 in ECs may facilitate the design of more effective targeted therapies for clinical applications, particularly for tumour treatment.

Targeting tumor-infiltrating CCR8+ regulatory T cells induces antitumor immunity through functional restoration of CD4+ Tconvs and CD8+ T cells in colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 8 (CCR8) is a chemokine receptor selectively expressed on tumor-infiltrating regulatory T cells (Tregs). Strong immunosuppression mediated by CCR8+ Tregs observed in breast and lung malignancies suggest for their functional significance in cancer therapy. To date, detailed characterization of tumor-infiltrating CCR8+ Tregs cells in colorectal cancer (CRC) is limited.

METHODS

To study the presence and functional involvement of CCR8+ Tregs in CRC, we analyzed the proportions of CCR8-expressing T cells in different T cell subsets in tumor and adjacent normal tissues and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from CRC patients by Flow cytometry. Also, we compared the distribution of CCR8+ T cells in malignant tissues and peripheral lymphoid organs from a subcutaneous CRC murine model. Bioinformatic analysis was performed to address the significance of CCR8 expression levels in CRC prognosis, immune regulatory gene expression profiles and potential molecular mechanisms associated with CCR8+ Tregs in CRC tumors. Further, we administrated an anti-CCR8 monoclonal antibody to CT26 tumor-bearing mice and examined the antitumor activity of CCR8-targeted therapy both in vivo and in an ex vivo confirmative model.

RESULTS

Here, we showed that Tregs was predominantly presented in the tumors of CRC patients (13.4 ± 5.8, p < 0.0001) and the CRC subcutaneous murine model (35.0 ± 2.6, p < 0.0001). CCR8 was found to be preferentially expressed on these tumor-infiltrating Tregs (CRC patients: 63.6 ± 16.0, p < 0.0001; CRC murine model: 65.3 ± 9.5, p < 0.0001), which correlated with poor survival. We found that majority of the CCR8+ Tregs expressed activation markers and exhibited strong suppressive functions. Treatment with anti-CCR8 antibody hampered the growth of subcutaneous CRC tumor through effectively restoring the anti-tumor immunity of CD4+ conventional T cells (CD4+ Tconvs) and CD8+ T cells, which was confirmed in the ex vivo examinations.

CONCLUSIONS

Collectively, these findings illustrate the importance of CCR8+ Tregs for an immunosuppressive microenvironment in CRC tumors by functional inhibition of CD4+ Tconvs and CD8+ T cells, and suggest for the applicable value of CCR8-targeted therapy for CRC.

Lycium barbarum polysaccharides attenuate nonylphenol and octylphenol-induced oxidative stress and neurotransmitter disorders in PC-12 cells

Nonylphenol (NP) and octylphenol (OP) are environmental contaminants with potential endocrine disrupting effects. However, there is limited research on the mechanisms and intervention of combined NP and OP exposure-induced neurotoxicity. This study aims to explore the cytotoxicity of combined NP and OP exposure and evaluate the potential of Lycium barbarum polysaccharides (LBP) in mitigating the aforementioned toxicity. In present study, LBP (62.5, 125 and 250 µg/mL) were applied to intervene rat adrenal pheochromocytoma (PC-12) cells treated with combined NP and OP (NP: OP = 4:1, w/w; 1, 2, 4 and 8 µg/mL). The results showed that NP and OP induced oxidative stress, disrupted the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and cholinergic systems in PC-12 cells. Additionally, they activated the p38 protein kinase (p38) and suppressed the expression of silent information regulation type 1 (SIRT1), monoamine oxidase A (MAOA), phosphorylated cyclic-AMP response binding protein (p-CREB), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and phosphorylated tropomyosin-related kinase receptor type B (p-TrkB). However, N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) treatment counteracted the changes of signalling molecule p38, SIRT1/MAOA and CREB/BDNF/TrkB pathways-related proteins induced by NP and OP. LBP pretreatment ameliorated combined NP and OP exposure-induced oxidative stress and neurotransmitter imbalances. Furthermore, the application of LBP and administration of a p38 inhibitor both reversed the alterations in the signaling molecule p38, as well as the proteins associated to the SIRT1/MAOA and CREB/BDNF/TrkB pathways. These results implied that LBP may have neuroprotective effects via p38-mediated SIRT1/MAOA and CREB/BDNF/TrkB pathways.

A PEDOT: PSS/GO fiber microelectrode fabricated by microfluidic spinning for dopamine detection in human serum and PC12 cells

Rapid and accurate in situ determination of dopamine is of great significance in the study of neurological diseases. In this work, poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): poly (styrenesulfonic acid) (PEDOT: PSS)/graphene oxide (GO) fibers were fabricated by an effective method based on microfluidic wet spinning technology. The composite microfibers with stratified and dense arrangement were continuously prepared by injecting PEDOT: PSS and GO dispersion solutions into a microfluidic chip. PEDOT: PSS/GO fiber microelectrodes with high electrochemical activity and enhanced electrochemical oxidation activity of dopamine were constructed by controlling the structure composition of the microfibers with varying flow rate. The fabricated fiber microelectrode had a low detection limit (4.56 nM) and wide detection range (0.01-8.0 µM) for dopamine detection with excellent stability, repeatability, and reproducibility. In addition, the PEDOT: PSS/GO fiber microelectrode prepared was successfully used for the detection of dopamine in human serum and PC12 cells. The strategy for the fabrication of multi-component fiber microelectrodes is a new and effective approach for monitoring the intercellular neurotransmitter dopamine and has high potential as an implantable neural microelectrode.

Evaluation of drug interactions of Saposhnikoviae Radix and its major components with astragaloside IV and paeoniflorin using in vitro and in vivo experiments

Saposhnikoviae Radix (SR) may enhance the pharmacodynamics of Huangqi Chifeng Tang (HQCFT) in the treatment of cerebral infarction according to our previous research, but the underlying mechanism is unknown. Herein, an in vivo pharmacokinetic assay in rats and in vitro MDCK-MDR1 cell assays were used to investigate the possible mechanism of SR, its main components, and its interactions with Astragali Radix (AR) and Paeoniae Radix (PR). An ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC‒MS/MS)-based analytical method for quantifying astragaloside IV (ASIV) and paeoniflorin (PAE) in microdialysis and transport samples was developed. The pharmacokinetic parameters of SR were determined using noncompartmental analyses CCK-8 assays were used to detect the cytotoxicity of ASIV, PAE, cimifugin (CIM), prim-o-glucosylcimifugin (POG) and their combinations. Moreover, drug transport was studied using MDCK-MDR1 cells. Western blotting was performed to measure the protein expression levels of P-GP and MRP1. Claudin-5, ZO-1, and F-actin expression was determined via immunohistochemical staining of MDCK-MDR1 cells. harmacokinetic studies revealed that, compared with those of Huangqi Chifeng Tang-Saposhnikoviae Radix (HQCFT-SR), the Tmax of ASIV increased by 11.11 %, and the MRT0-t and Tmax of PAE increased by 11.19 % and 20 %, respectively, in the HQCFT group. Transport studies revealed that when ASIV was coincubated with 28 μM CIM or POG, the apparent permeability coefficient (Papp) increased by 71.52 % and 50.33 %, respectively. Coincubation of PAE with 120 μM CIM or POG increased the Papp by 87.62 % and 60.95 %, respectively. Moreover, CIM and POG significantly downregulated P-gp and MRP1 (P < 0.05), inhibited the expression of Claudin-5, ZO-1, and F-actin (P < 0.05), and affected intercellular tight junctions (TJs). In conclusion, our study successfully established a selective, sensitive and reproducible UPLC‒MS/MS analytical method to detect drug‒drug interactions between SR, AR and PR in vivo and in vitro, which is beneficial for enhancing the therapeutic efficacies of AR and PR. Moreover, this study provides a theoretical basis for further research on the use of SR as a drug carrier.

TCL1A-expressing B cells are critical for tertiary lymphoid structure formation and the prognosis of oral squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a malignant tumor with a poor prognosis. Traditional treatments have limited effectiveness. Regulation of the immune response represents a promising new approach for OSCC treatment. B cells are among the most abundant immune cells in OSCC. However, the role of B cells in OSCC treatment has not been fully elucidated.

METHODS

Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis of 13 tissues and 8 adjacent normal tissues from OSCC patients was performed to explore differences in B-cell gene expression between OSCC tissues and normal tissues. We further investigated the relationship between differentially expressed genes and the immune response to OSCC. We utilized tissue microarray data for 146 OSCC clinical samples and RNA sequencing data of 359 OSCC samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) to investigate the role of T-cell leukemia 1 A (TCL1A) in OSCC prognosis. Multiplex immunohistochemistry (mIHC) was employed to investigate the spatial distribution of TCL1A in OSCC tissues. We then investigated the effect of TCL1A on B-cell proliferation and trogocytosis. Finally, lentiviral transduction was performed to induce TCL1A overexpression in B lymphoblastoid cell lines (BLCLs) to verify the function of TCL1A.

RESULTS

Our findings revealed that TCL1A was predominantly expressed in B cells and was associated with a better prognosis in OSCC patients. Additionally, we found that TCL1A-expressing B cells are located at the periphery of lymphatic follicles and are associated with tertiary lymphoid structures (TLS) formation in OSCC. Mechanistically, upregulation of TCL1A promoted the trogocytosis of B cells on dendritic cells by mediating the upregulation of CR2, thereby improving antigen-presenting ability. Moreover, the upregulation of TCL1A expression promoted the proliferation of B cells.

CONCLUSION

This study revealed the role of B-cell TCL1A expression in TLS formation and its effect on OSCC prognosis. These findings highlight TCL1A as a novel target for OSCC immunotherapy.

Integrative analyses of bulk and single-cell transcriptomics reveals the infiltration and crosstalk of cancer-associated fibroblasts as a novel predictor for prognosis and microenvironment remodeling in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) is a highly malignant neoplasm and characterized by desmoplastic matrix. The heterogeneity and crosstalk of tumor microenvironment remain incompletely understood.

METHODS

To address this gap, we performed Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) to identify and construct a cancer associated fibroblasts (CAFs) infiltration biomarker. We also depicted the intercellular communication network and important receptor-ligand complexes using the single-cell transcriptomics analysis of tumor and Adjacent normal tissue.

RESULTS

Through the intersection of TCGA DEGs and WGCNA module genes, 784 differential genes related to CAFs infiltration were obtained. After a series of regression analyses, the CAFs score was generated by integrating the expressions of EVA1A, APBA2, LRRTM4, GOLGA8M, BPIFB2, and their corresponding coefficients. In the TCGA-CHOL, GSE89748, and 107,943 cohorts, the high CAFs score group showed unfavorable survival prognosis (p < 0.001, p = 0.0074, p = 0.028, respectively). Additionally, a series of drugs have been predicted to be more sensitive to the high-risk group (p < 0.05). Subsequent to dimension reduction and clustering, thirteen clusters were identified to construct the single-cell atlas. Cell-cell interaction analysis unveiled significant enhancement of signal transduction in tumor tissues, particularly from fibroblasts to malignant cells via diverse pathways. Moreover, SCENIC analysis indicated that HOXA5, WT1, and LHX2 are fibroblast specific motifs.

CONCLUSIONS

This study reveals the key role of fibroblasts - oncocytes interaction in the remodeling of the immunosuppressive microenvironment in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Subsequently, it may trigger cascade activation of downstream signaling pathways such as PI3K-AKT and Notch in tumor, thus initiating tumorigenesis. Targeted drugs aimed at disrupting fibroblasts-tumor cell interaction, along with associated enrichment pathways, show potential in mitigating the immunosuppressive microenvironment that facilitates tumor progression.

Fusobacterium periodonticum BCT protein targeting glucose metabolism to promote the epithelial-mesenchymal transition of esophageal cancer cells by lactic acid

BACKGROUND

The cancer microbiota was considered the main risk factor for cancer progression. We had proved that Fusobacterium periodonticum (F.p) was higher abundance in Esophageal cancer(EC)tissues. Bioinformation analysis found that BCT was a key virulence protein of F.p. However, little is known about the role and mechanism of BCT in EC. This study aimed to recognize the key virulence protein of F.p and explore the mechanism of BCT in promoting EC.

METHODS

We constructed a eukaryotic expression vector and purified the recombinant protein BCT. CCK8 used to analyzed the activity of EC after treated by different concentration of BCT. UPLC-MS/MS and ELISA used to detect the metabonomics and metabolites. The ability of migration and invasion was completed by transwell assay. RT-QPCR, WB used to analyze the expression of relevant genes.

RESULTS

Our data showed that BCT was higher expression in EC tumor tissues (p < 0.05) and BCT in 20 µg/mL promoted the survival, invasion and migration of EC cells (EC109) (p < 0.05). Meanwhile, UPLC-MS/MS results suggested that BCT resulted in an augmentation of hypotaurine metabolism, arachidonic acid metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, tryptophan metabolism, citrate cycle activity in EC109. The metabolic changes resulted in decreasing in glucose and pyruvate levels but increase in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and lactic acid (LA) as well as the expression of glucose transporter 1, Hexokinase 2, LDH which regulated the glycolysis were all changed (p < 0.05). The BCT treatment upregulated the expression of TLR4, Akt, HIF-1α (p < 0.05) which regulated the production of LA. Furthermore, LA stimulation promoted the expression of GPR81, Wnt, and β-catenin (p < 0.05), thereby inducing EMT and metastasis in EC109 cells.

CONCLUSION

Altogether, these findings identified that impact of BCT in regulation of glycolysis in EC109 and its involves the TLR4/Akt/HIF-1α pathway. Meanwhile, glycolysis increasing the release of LA and promote the EMT of EC109 by GPR81/Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. In summary, our findings underscore the potential of targeting BCT as an innovative strategy to mitigate the development of EC.

Effects of different colors of plastic-film mulching on soil temperature, yield, and metabolites in Platostoma palustre

Platostoma palustre is an annual herb and an important medicinal and edible plant in southern China. Plastic-film mulching is an effective agronomic practice in the cultivation system of P. palustre, of which black-film mulching is the most common. However, fewer researches have been focused on the use of other colors of plastic films in P. palustre cultivation. In this study, different colors (white, black, red, and green) of plastic film were adopted, and the effects of different colors of plastic film mulching on the soil temperature, yield, and metabolites of P. palustre were investigated. The results showed that the fresh weight of a single plant of the green film treatment was significantly higher than that of the white film treatment (n = top 28). Based on the results of three temperature measurements, the soil temperature was almost the highest in the red film treatment and lowest in the white film treatment. The metabolomic analysis revealed that a total of 103 differential metabolites were identified. Among these, the gluconic acid, deoxyribose, and N-Acetylmannosamine in the red film treatment presented the highest abundance compared with the other treatments, meanwhile, the abundances of the five monosaccharides in the red film treatment were significantly higher than those of the green film treatment. Moreover, the sucrose, trehalose, and D-(+)-trehalose in the green film treatment exhibited the highest abundance, and the abundances of eight different amino acids in the red film treatment were almost the lowest while those in the black film treatment were almost the highest. Further analysis of the membership function values indicated that the black and red film treatments might be more suitable for the cultivation and quality production of P. palustre in comparison with the other two treatments. This study will provide a theoretical basis for improving the efficient cultivation technology of P. palustre and forming a theoretical system of P. palustre film mulching cultivation.

Small molecule deoxynyboquinone triggers alkylation and ubiquitination of Keap1 at Cys489 on Kelch domain for Nrf2 activation and inflammatory therapy

Activation of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) by Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) alkylation plays a central role in anti-inflammatory therapy. However, activators of Nrf2 through alkylation of Keap1-Kelch domain have not been identified. Deoxynyboquinone (DNQ) is a natural small molecule discovered from marine actinomycetes. The current study was designed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects and molecular mechanisms of DNQ via alkylation of Keap1. DNQ exhibited significant anti-inflammatory properties both in vitro and in vivo. The pharmacophore responsible for the anti-inflammatory properties of DNQ was determined to be the α, β-unsaturated amides moieties by a chemical reaction between DNQ and N-acetylcysteine. DNQ exerted anti-inflammatory effects through activation of Nrf2/ARE pathway. Keap1 was demonstrated to be the direct target of DNQ and bound with DNQ through conjugate addition reaction involving alkylation. The specific alkylation site of DNQ on Keap1 for Nrf2 activation was elucidated with a synthesized probe in conjunction with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. DNQ triggered the ubiquitination and subsequent degradation of Keap1 by alkylation of the cysteine residue 489 (Cys489) on Keap1-Kelch domain, ultimately enabling the activation of Nrf2. Our findings revealed that DNQ exhibited potent anti-inflammatory capacity through α, β-unsaturated amides moieties active group which specifically activated Nrf2 signal pathway via alkylation/ubiquitination of Keap1-Kelch domain, suggesting the potential values of targeting Cys489 on Keap1-Kelch domain by DNQ-like small molecules in inflammatory therapies.

Integrating single-cell and bulk RNA sequencing data unveils antigen presentation and process-related CAFS and establishes a predictive signature in prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are heterogeneous and can influence the progression of prostate cancer in multiple ways; however, their capacity to present and process antigens in PRAD has not been investigated. In this study, antigen presentation and process-related CAFs (APPCAFs) were identified using bioinformatics, and the clinical implications of APPCAF-related signatures in PRAD were investigated.

METHODS

SMART technology was used to sequence the transcriptome of primary CAFs isolated from patients undergoing different treatments. Differential expression gene (DEG) screening was conducted. A CD4 + T-cell early activation assay was used to assess the activation degree of CD4 + T cells. The datasets of PRAD were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and NCBI Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO), and the list of 431 antigen presentation and process-related genes was obtained from the InnateDB database. Subsequently, APP-related CAFs were identified by nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) based on a single-cell seq (scRNA) matrix. GSVA functional enrichment analyses were performed to depict the biological functions. A risk signature based on APPCAF-related genes (APPCAFRS) was developed by least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis, and the independence of the risk score as a prognostic factor was evaluated by univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. Furthermore, a biochemical recurrence-free survival (BCRFS)-related nomogram was established, and immune-related characteristics were assessed using the ssGSEA function. The immune treatment response in PRAD was further analyzed by the Tumor Immune Dysfunction and Exclusion (TIDE) tool. The expression levels of hub genes in APPCAFRS were verified in cell models.

RESULTS

There were 134 upregulated and 147 downregulated genes, totaling 281 differentially expressed genes among the primary CAFs. The functions and pathways of 147 downregulated DEGs were significantly enriched in antigen processing and presentation processes, MHC class II protein complex and transport vesicle, MHC class II protein complex binding, and intestinal immune network for IgA production. Androgen withdrawal diminished the activation effect of CAFs on T cells. NMF clustering of CAFs was performed by APPRGs, and pseudotime analysis yielded the antigen presentation and process-related CAF subtype CTSK + MRC2 + CAF-C1. CTSK + MRC2 + CAF-C1 cells exhibited ligand‒receptor connections with epithelial cells and T cells. Additionally, we found a strong association between CTSK + MRC2 + CAF-C1 cells and inflammatory CAFs. Through differential gene expression analysis of the CTSK + MRC2 + CAF-C1 and NoneAPP-CAF-C2 subgroups, 55 significant DEGs were identified, namely, APPCAFRGs. Based on the expression profiles of APPCAFRGs, we divided the TCGA-PRAD cohort into two clusters using NMF consistent cluster analysis, with the genetic coefficient serving as the evaluation index. Four APPCAFRGs, THBS2, DPT, COL5A1, and MARCKS, were used to develop a prognostic signature capable of predicting BCR occurrence in PRAD patients. Subsequently, a nomogram with stability and accuracy in predicting BCR was constructed based on Gleason grade (p = n.s.), PSA (p < 0.001), T stage (p < 0.05), and risk score (p < 0.01). The analysis of immune infiltration showed a positive correlation between the abundance of resting memory CD4 + T cells, M1 macrophages, resting dendritic cells, and the risk score. In addition, the mRNA expression levels of THBS2, DPT, COL5A1, and MARCKS in the cell models were consistent with the results of the bioinformatics analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

APPCAFRS based on four potential APPCAFRGs was developed, and their interaction with the immune microenvironment may play a crucial role in the progression to castration resistance of PRAD. This novel approach provides valuable insights into the pathogenesis of PRAD and offers unexplored targets for future research.

Pyrrole: A Decisive Scaffold for the Development of Therapeutic Agents and Structure-Activity Relationship

An overview of pyrroles as distinct scaffolds with therapeutic potential and the significance of pyrrole derivatives for drug development are provided in this article. It lists instances of naturally occurring pyrrole-containing compounds and describes the sources of pyrroles in nature, including plants and microbes. It also explains the many conventional and modern synthetic methods used to produce pyrroles. The key topics are the biological characteristics, pharmacological behavior, and functional alterations displayed by pyrrole derivatives. It also details how pyrroles are used to treat infectious diseases. It describes infectious disorders resistant to standard treatments and discusses the function of compounds containing pyrroles in combating infectious diseases. Furthermore, the review covers the uses of pyrrole derivatives in treating non-infectious diseases and resistance mechanisms in non-infectious illnesses like cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. The important discoveries and probable avenues for pyrrole research are finally summarized, along with their significance for medicinal chemists and drug development. A reference from the last two decades is included in this review.

Curcumin promotes apoptosis of human melanoma cells by caspase 3

Cutaneous melanoma (CM) is a malignant neoplasm with a high metastatic rate that shows poor response to systemic treatments in patients with advanced stages. Recently, studies have highlighted the antineoplastic potential of natural compounds, such as polyphenols, in the adjuvant therapy context to treat CM. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of different concentrations of curcumin (0.1-100 µM) on the metastatic CM cell line SK-MEL-28. The cells were treated for 6 and 24 h with different concentrations of curcumin. Cell viability was assessed by 3-(4,5-dimethyl-2thiazolyl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay and fluorescence microscopy. The apoptotic-inducing potential was detected by annexin V flow cytometry. The wound healing assay was used to verify cell migration after the curcumin exposition. The redox profile was evaluated by levels of the pro-oxidant markers reactive oxygen species (ROS) and Nitric oxide (NOx) and antioxidants of total thiols (PSH) and nonprotein thiols. The gene expression and enzymatic activity of caspase 3 were evaluated by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and a sensitive fluorescence assay, respectively. Curcumin significantly decreased the cell viability of SK-MEL-28 cells at both exposure times. It also induced apoptosis at the highest concentration tested (p < .0001). SK-MEL-28 cell migration was inhibited by curcumin after treatment with 10 µM (p < .0001) and 100 µM (p < .0001) for 6 and 24 h (p = .0006 and p < .0001, respectively). Furthermore, curcumin significantly increased levels of ROS and NOx. Finally, curcumin was capable of increasing the gene expression at 10 µM (p = .0344) and 100 µM (p = .0067) and enzymatic activity at 10 µM (p = .0086) and 100 µM (p < .0001) of caspase 3 after 24 h. For the first time, we elucidated in our study that curcumin increases ROS levels, promoting oxidative stress that activates the caspase pathway and culminates in SK-MEL-28 metastatic CM cell death.

PM2.5 exposure aggravates acute liver injury by creating an inflammatory microenvironment through Kupffer cell

AIM

This work aimed to investigate the impact of PM2.5 exposure on acute liver injury METHODS: C57BL/6 mice were used to examine the hepatic histopathological changes in PM2.5-exposed mice, as well as in CCl4-mediated acute liver injury mice after long-term exposure to PM2.5. During in vitro experiments, Kupffer cells were detected for M1 polarization level after treating with PM2.5, and the activation level of NLRP3 inflammasomes were assessed.

RESULTS

According to our findings, PM2.5 can induce M1 polarization of Kupffer cells in the liver to create an inflammatory microenvironment. Long-term exposure to PM2.5 can aggravate acute liver injury in mice. Treatment with MCC950, an NLRP3 inhibitor, can inhibit the effect of PM2.5. As demonstrated by in vitro analysis, PM2.5 can promote M1 polarization of Kupffer cells.

CONCLUSION

As suggested by our results, long-term exposure to PM2.5 can create an inflammatory microenvironment to aggravate mouse acute liver injury. The effect is related to NLRP3-mediated M1 polarization in Kupffer cells.

COAP-Pd Catalyzed Asymmetric Allylic Alkylation of Azlactones with MBH Carbonates: Access to Unnatural α-Quaternary Stereogenic Glutamic Acid Derivatives

A palladium-catalyzed regioselective and asymmetric allylic alkylation of azlactones with MBH carbonates has been developed with chiral oxalamide-phosphine ligands. The corresponding reaction afforded a range of optically active γ-arylidenyl glutamic acid derivatives bearing an α-chiral quaternary stereocenter in good yields with excellent linear regio- and high enantioselectivity. This protocol furnishes an alternative approach for the construction of enantio-enriched unnatural α-amino acid derivatives.

Antineoplastic effects of cassava-cyanide extract on human glioblastoma (LN229) cells

Several natural compounds reduce tumour cell growth and metastasis by inducing programmed cell death. Cassava (Manihot esculentaCrantz) contains cyanogenic glycosides such as, linamarin and lotaustralin, can be enzymatically cleaved by linamarase to release hydrogen cyanide (HCN), which can have therapeutic benefits against hypertension, asthma, and cancer. We have developed a technology for isolatingbio-active principles from cassava leaves.The present study is designed to analyzethe cytotoxic effect of cassava cyanideextract (CCE) against human glioblastoma cells (LN229). The treatment of CCE demonstrated a dose dependent toxicity on glioblastoma cells. At higher concentration tested, the CCE (400  μg/mL) was found to be cytotoxic, reducing the cell viability to 14.07 ± 2.15% by negatively influencing the mitochondrial activity, and lysosomal and cytoskeletal integrity. Coomassie's brilliant blue staining confirmed cells' morphological aberration after 24 h of treatment with CCE. Moreover, DCFH-DA assay and Griess reagent showed an increase in ROS but a decrease in RNS production at a concentration of CCE. Flow cytometry analysis revealed that CCE interfered with G0/G1, S, and G2/M stages of the cell cycle of glioblastoma, and Annexin/PI staining indicated a dose-dependent increase in cell death, confirming the toxic nature of CCE on LN229 cells. These findings suggest that cassava cyanide extract has potential as an antineoplastic agent against glioblastoma cells, which is an aggressive and difficult-to-treat type of brain cancer. However, it is important to note that the study was conducted in vitro, and further research is necessary to assess the safety and efficacy of CCE in vivo. Additionally, it is essential to establish the optimal dose and potential side effects before considering its use as a therapeutic agent.

Purinergic Activation of Store-Operated Calcium Entry (SOCE) Regulates Cell Migration in Metastatic Ovarian Cancer Cells

Store-operated calcium entry (SOCE) is an important process in calcium signaling. Its role in physiological and pathological events is well recognized. However, in cancerous systems, the importance of SOCE in relation to the degree of cancer aggressiveness, as well as its regulation by ligands such as purinergic molecules, are not well documented. This study aimed to characterize a differential effect of the P2Y2 receptor (promoted by UTP of 10 µM and inhibited by ARC118925XX of 1 µM) on intracellular calcium response between metastatic (SKOV-3) and non-metastatic (CAOV-3) ovarian cell lines in conditions of normal (1.5 mM) and zero extracellular calcium concentration. The sustained calcium influx observed exclusively in SKOV-3 cells was associated with the presence of SOCE (promoted by thapsigargin (74.81 ± 0.94 ΔF) and sensitive to 2-APB (20.60 ± 0.85 ΔF)), whereas its absence in CAOV-3 cells (26.2 ± 6.1 ΔF) was correlated with a low expression of ORAI1. The relevance of SOCE in metastatic SKOV-3 cells was further corroborated when 2-APB significantly inhibited (40.4 ± 2.8% of covered area) UTP-induced cell migration (54.6 ± 3.7% of covered area). In conclusion, our data suggest that SOCE activation elicited by the P2Y2 receptor is involved in the aggressiveness of ovarian cancer cells.

Therapeutic effects on H1N1-induced pneumonia in mice and intestinal bacteria biotransformation of four main flavonoids from Houttuynia cordata Thunb

Flavonoids widely exist in a large number of Chinese herbal medicines with antiviral and anti-inflammatory properties. Houttuynia cordata Thunb. is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine for heat-clearing and detoxification. In our previous research, total flavonoids from H. cordata (HCTF) effectively alleviated H1N1-induced acute lung injury (ALI) in mice. In this study, 8 flavonoids were recognized from HCTF (containing 63.06 % ± 0.26 % of total flavonoids, as quercitrin equivalents) by UPLC-LTQ-MS/MS. Four main flavonoid glycosides in HCTF (rutin, hyperoside, isoquercitrin and quercitrin) and their common aglycone quercetin (100 mg/kg) all showed therapeutic effects on H1N1-induced ALI in mice. The two flavonoids (hyperoside and quercitrin) with higher contents and quercetin showed stronger therapeutic effects on H1N1-induced ALI in mice. Hyperoside, quercitrin and quercetin significantly reduced the levels of pro-inflammatory factors, chemokines, or neuraminidase activity compared with the same dose of HCTF (p < 0.05). The results of mice intestinal bacteria biotransformation in vitro showed that quercetin was the main metabolite. The conversion rates of hyperoside and quercitrin were significantly higher by the intestinal bacteria under the pathological state (0.81 ± 0.02 and 0.91 ± 0.01, respectively) than normal state (0.18 ± 0.01 and 0.18 ± 0.12, respectively, p < 0.001). Our findings showed that hyperoside and quercitrin were the main efficacious components of HCTF for treating H1N1-induced ALI in mice and could be metabolized to quercetin by intestinal bacteria in pathological state to exert their effects.

Identification of Some Glutamic Acid Derivatives with Biological Potential by Computational Methods

Glutamic acid is a non-essential amino acid involved in multiple metabolic pathways. Of high importance is its relationship with glutamine, an essential fuel for cancer cell development. Compounds that can modify glutamine or glutamic acid behaviour in cancer cells have resulted in attractive anticancer therapeutic alternatives. Based on this idea, we theoretically formulated 123 glutamic acid derivatives using Biovia Draw. Suitable candidates for our research were selected among them. For this, online platforms and programs were used to describe specific properties and their behaviour in the human organism. Nine compounds proved to have suitable or easy to optimise properties. The selected compounds showed cytotoxicity against breast adenocarcinoma, lung cancer cell lines, colon carcinoma, and T cells from acute leukaemia. Compound 2Ba5 exhibited the lowest toxicity, and derivative 4Db6 exhibited the most intense bioactivity. Molecular docking studies were also performed. The binding site of the 4Db6 compound in the glutamine synthetase structure was determined, with the D subunit and cluster 1 being the most promising. In conclusion, glutamic acid is an amino acid that can be manipulated very easily. Therefore, molecules derived from its structure have great potential to become innovative drugs, and further research on these will be conducted.

Therapeutic potential of amitriptyline for paraquat-induced pulmonary fibrosis: Involvement of caveolin-1-mediated anti-epithelial-mesenchymal transition and inhibition of apoptosis

OBJECTIVE

Treatment of pulmonary fibrosis caused by paraquat (PQ) poisoning remains problematic. Amitriptyline (AMT) has multiple pharmacological effects. Here we investigated the anti-fibrotic effect of AMT on PQ-induced pulmonary fibrosis and its possible mechanism.

METHODS

C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into control, PQ, PQ + AMT and AMT groups. Histopathology of the lungs, blood gas analysis, and levels of hydroxyproline (HYP), transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) and interleukin 17 (IL-17) were measured. The siRNA transfection inhibited caveolin-1 in A549 cells, which induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by PQ and followed intervention with AMT. E-cadherin, N-cadherin, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and caveolin-1 were studied by immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. The apoptosis rate was measured by flow cytometry.

RESULTS

Compared with the PQ group, the PQ + AMT group displayed mild pathological changes in pulmonary fibrosis, lower HYP, IL-17 and TGF- β1 levels in lung, but high TGF- β1 in serum. Levels of N-cadherin and α-SMA in the lungs were significantly decreased, but caveolin-1 was increased, while SaO₂ and PaO₂ levels were higher. Compared with the PQ group, the apoptosis rate, N-cadherin and α-SMA levels in A549 cells were significantly decreased after PQ treatment and high dose AMT intervention (p < 0.01). The expressions of E-cadherin, N-cadherin and α-SMA in the PQ-induced cells transfected with caveolin-1 siRNA or siControl RNA were significantly different (p < 0.01), but the apoptosis rate was unaltered.

CONCLUSION

AMT inhibited PQ-induced EMT in A549 cells and improved lung histopathology and oxygenation in mice by up-regulating caveolin-1.

Novel fluorinated pyrazole-based heterocycles scaffold: cytotoxicity, in silico studies and molecular modelling targeting double mutant EGFR L858R/T790M as antiproliferative and apoptotic agents

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), also known as hepatoma, is the most prevalent type of primary liver cancer. It begins in the hepatocytes, the liver’s major cell type. Cancer that began in another region of the body but has spread to the liver is known as secondary cancer of life; several still unmet demands for better, less toxic therapy to treat this malignant tumor. Several novel pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine derivatives were synthesized as part of our goal to develop promising anticancer drugs. All the synthesized hybrids have been screened for their cytotoxicity effect against three cancer cell lines which are; HepG-2, HCT-116, and MCF-7. The liver cancer cells were found to be the most sensitive to the effect of the new molecules. A subsequent set of in vitro biological evaluation studies has been conducted on the most promising derivatives to identify their effect on such a cancer type. In HepG-2 cells, four derivatives (8a, 8b, 10c, and 11b) demonstrated good anticancer activity. The most efficacious compounds were 8b and 10c, which had IC50 values of 2.36 ± 0.14 and 1.14 ± 0.063 μM, respectively, higher than the reference medication Imatinib. The latter’s putative molecular effect has been investigated further by looking at its influence on the cell cycle, EGFR, and specific apoptotic and anti-apoptotic markers in HepG-2 cells. These findings indicated that 8b and 10c could trigger apoptosis by upregulating BAX and caspase-3 and cell cycle at the Pre-G1 and G2-M stages. The compounds 8b and 10c showed high potency for EGFR with IC50 equal to 0.098 and 0.079 μM, respectively. Compound 10c had the most effective inhibitory activity for EGFR L858R-TK with IC50 (36.79 nM). Additionally, in silico ADMET and docking studies were done for the most active hits, representing good results.

Graphical Abstract

Targeted PEGylated Chitosan Nano-complex for Delivery of Sodium Butyrate to Prostate Cancer: An In Vitro Study

Introduction: Cancer remains a challenging issue against human health throughout the world; As a result, introducing novel approaches would be beneficial for cancer treatment. In this research, sodium butyrate (Sb) is one of the effective anti-cancer therapeutics (also a potent survival factor for normal cells) that was used for prostate cancer suppression in the platform of modified chitosan (CS) nano-complex (polyethylene glycol (PEG)-folic acid (FA)-Sb-CS). Methods: Different analytical devices including Fourier transform infrared, dynamic light scattering, high-performance liquid chromatography, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy were applied for the characterization of synthetics. On the other hand, biomedical tests including cell viability assay, molecular and functional assay of apoptosis/autophagy pathways, and cell cycle arrest analysis were potentially implemented on human PC3 (folate receptor-negative prostate cancer) and DU145 (folate receptor-positive prostate cancer) and HFF-1 normal cell lines. Results: The quality of the syntheses was effectively verified, and the size range from 140 to 170 nm was determined for the PEG-CS-FA-Sb sample. Also, 75  ±  5% of drug entrapment efficiency with controlled drug release manner (Sb release of 54.21% and 74.04% for pHs 7.4 and 5.0) were determined for nano-complex. Based on MTT results, PEG-CS-FA-Sb has indicated 72.07% and 33.53% cell viability after 24 h of treatment with 9 mM on PC3 and DU145 cell lines, respectively, which is desirable anti-cancer performance. The apoptotic and autophagy genes overexpression was 15-fold (caspase9), 2.5-fold (BAX), 11-fold (ATG5), 2-fold (BECLIN1), and 3-fold (mTORC1) genes in DU145 cancer cells. More than 50% of cell cycle arrest and 45.05% of apoptosis were obtained for DU145 cancer cells after treatment with nano-complex. Conclusion: Hence, the synthesized Sb-loaded nano-complex could specifically suppress prostate cancer cell growth and induce apoptosis and autophagy in the molecular and cellular phases.

Advances in Polymeric Colloids for Cancer Treatment

Polymer colloids have remarkable features and are gaining importance in many areas of research including medicinal science. Presently, the innovation of cancer drugs is at the top in the world. Polymer colloids have been used as drug delivery and diagnosis agents in cancer treatment. The polymer colloids may be of different types such as micelles, liposomes, emulsions, cationic carriers, and hydrogels. The current article describes the state-of-the-art polymer colloids for the treatment of cancer. The contents of this article are about the role of polymeric nanomaterials with special emphasis on the different types of colloidal materials and their applications in targeted cancer therapy including cancer diagnoses. In addition, attempts are made to discuss future perspectives. This article will be useful for academics, researchers, and regulatory authorities.

Insights into the mechanism underlying crystalline silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis via transcriptome-wide m6A methylation profile

Silicosis is one of the most severe interstitial lung fibrosis diseases worldwide, caused by crystalline silica exposure. While the mechanisms and pathogenesis underlying silicosis remained unknown. N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) methylation has received significant attention in a variety of human diseases. However, whether m⁶A methylation is involved in silicosis has not been clarified. In this study, we conducted methylated RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP-Seq) and transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq) to profile the m⁶A modification in normal and silicosis mouse models (n = 3 pairs). The global levels of m⁶A methylation were further assessed by m⁶A RNA methylation quantification kits, and the major regulators of m⁶A RNA methylation were verified by qRT-PCR. Our results showed that long-term exposure to crystalline silica led to silicosis, accompanied by increasing levels of m⁶A methylation. Upregulation of METTL3 and downregulation of ALKBH5, FTO, YTHDF1, and YTHDF3 might contribute to aberrant m⁶A modification. Compared with controls, 359 genes showed differential m⁶A methylation peaks in silicosis (P < 0.05 and FC ≥ 2). Among them, 307 genes were hypermethylated, and 52 genes were hypomethylated. RNA-Seq analysis revealed 1091 differentially expressed genes between the two groups, 789 genes were upregulated and 302 genes were downregulated in the lungs of silicosis mice (P < 0.05 and FC ≥ 2). In the conjoint analysis of MeRIP-Seq and RNA-Seq, we identified that 18 genes showed significant changes in both m⁶A modification and mRNA expression. The functional analysis further noted that these 18 m⁶A-mediated mRNAs regulated pathways that were closely related to "phagosome", "antigen processing and presentation", and "apoptosis". All findings suggested that m⁶A methylation played an essential role in the formation of silicosis. Our discovery with multi-omics approaches not only gives clues for the epigenetic mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of silicosis but also provides novel and viable strategies for the prevention and treatment of silicosis.

Drug Sensitivity Testing for Cancer Therapy, Key Areas

AIMS

Cancer is a high-mortality disease (9.6 million deaths in 2018 worldwide). Given various anticancer drugs, drug selection plays a key role in patient survival in clinical trials.

METHODS

Drug Sensitivity Testing (DST), one of the leading drug selective systems, was widely practiced for therapeutic promotion in the clinic. Notably, DSTs assist in drug selection that benefits drug responses against cancer from 20-22% to 30-35% over the past two decades. The relationship between drug resistance in vitro and drug treatment benefits was associated with different tumor origins and subtypes. Medical theory and underlying DST mechanisms remain poorly understood until now. The study of the clinical scenario, sustainability and financial support for mechanism and technical promotions is indispensable.

RESULTS

Despite the great technical advance, therapeutic prediction and drug selection by DST needs to be miniature, versatility and cost-effective in the clinic. Multi-parameters and automation of DST should be a future trend. Advanced biomedical knowledge and clinical approaches to translating oncologic profiles into drug selection were the main focuses of DST developments. With a great technical stride, the clinical architecture of the DST platform was entering higher levels (drug response testing at any stage of cancer patients and miniaturization of tumor samples).

DISCUSSION

The cancer biology and pharmacology for drug selection mutually benefit the clinic. New proposals to reveal more therapeutic information and drug response prediction at genetic, molecular and omics levels should be estimated overall.

CONCLUSION

By upholding this goal of non-invasive, versatility and automation, DST could save the life of several thousand annually worldwide. In this article, new insights into DST novelty and development are highlighted.

Chemical tools to monitor bladder cancer progression

BackgroundBladder cancer (BCa) is the most common cancer of the urinary system. Due to its high incidence and recurrence, as well as limited progress in the effective treatment, BCa is a challenge for today's medicine.Materials and MethodsWe used a set of chromogenic substrates to differentiate between the stages of bladder cancer progression (G1 (n = 10), G2 (n = 10), G3 (n = 10)). The proteolytic activity in individual the urine samples was determined by absorbance measurements. Then inhibitors of particular classes of enzymes were used to determine which enzymes dominate at a given stage of the neoplastic disease.ResultsThe specific activity of enzymes in the urine of patients with confirmed bladder cancer was determined separately for three (G1, G2, G3) stages of the disease development. What is more, no activity was observed in urine of healthy people (n = 10).DiscussionResearch shows that specific enzymes are associated with the development of specific stages of cancer. We suspect that the differences in the proteolytic activity of urine samples are due to the presence of a different set of enzymes, that are directly related to the particular stage of the disease.ConclusionWe obtained three substrates for monitoring individual stages of bladder cancer development.

Asymmetric α-Allylation of Glycinate with Switched Chemoselectivity Enabled by Customized Bifunctional Pyridoxal Catalysts

Owing to the strong nucleophilicity of the NH₂ group, free-NH₂ glycinates react with MBH acetates to usually deliver N-allylated products even in the absence of catalysts. Without protection of the NH₂ group, chiral pyridoxal catalysts bearing an amide side chain at the C3 position of the naphthyl ring switched the chemoselectivity of the glycinates from intrinsic N-allylation to α-C allylation. The reaction formed chiral multisubstituted glutamic acid esters as S_N 2'-S_N 2' products in good yields with excellent stereoselectivity (up to 86 % yield, >20 : 1 dr, 97 % ee). As compared to pyridoxal catalysts bearing an amide side arm at the C2 position, the pyridoxals in this study have a bigger catalytic cavity to enable effective activation of larger electrophiles, such as MBH acetates and related intermediates. The reaction is proposed to proceed via a cooperative bifunctional catalysis pathway, which accounts for the high level of diastereo- and enantiocontrol of the pyridoxal catalysts.

Contribution of Knoevenagel Condensation Products towards Development of Anticancer Agents: An Updated Review

Knoevenagel condensation is an entrenched, prevailing, prominent arsenal following greener principles in the generation of α, β-unsaturated ketones/carboxylic acids by involving carbonyl functionalities and active methylenes. This reaction has proved to be a major driving force in many multicomponent reactions indicating the prolific utility towards the development of biologically fascinating molecules. This eminent reaction was acclimatised on different pharmacophoric aldehydes (benzimidazole, β-carboline, phenanthrene, indole, imidazothiadiazole, pyrazole etc.) and active methylenes (oxindole, barbituric acid, Meldrum's acid, thiazolidinedione etc.) to generate the library of chemical compounds. Their potential was also explicit to understand the significance of functionalities involved, which thereby evoke further developments in drug discovery. Furthermore, most of these reaction products exhibited remarkable anticancer activity in nanomolar to micromolar ranges by targeting different cancer targets like DNA, microtubules, Topo-I/II, and kinases (PIM, PARP, NMP, p300/CBP) etc. This review underscores the efficiency of the Knoevenagel condensation explored in the past six-year to generate molecules of pharmacological interest, predominantly towards cancer. The present review also provides the aspects of structure-activity relationships, mode of action and docking study with possible interaction with the target protein.

Novel glutamic acid derivatives from the bulbs of Fritillaria verticillate Willd and their antitumor activities

Four previously undescribed glutamic acid derivatives, verticillamines A-D (1-4), together with six known compounds (5-10) were isolated from the bulbs of Fritillaria verticillate Willd. The structures of (1-10) were established on the basis of UV, IR, MS, 1D and 2D NMR, and the absolute configurations of compounds (1-4) were determined by calculated ECD methods. Among them, compounds (1-3) were rare 2-methyl-γ-lactam alkaloid derivatives. Moreover, both γ-lactam alkaloids (1-5) and pyrrolidine alkaloids (6-7) were discovered in Fritillaria for the first time. Compound 8 exhibited moderate cytotoxic activities against A2780 and HepG 2 cells, with IC₅₀ values of 11.7 ± 5.2 μM and 25.6 ± 2.8 μM.

Clinical Translation and Evaluation of a Handheld and Biocompatible Mass Spectrometry Probe for Surgical Use

BACKGROUND

Intraoperative tissue analysis and identification are critical to guide surgical procedures and improve patient outcomes. Here, we describe the clinical translation and evaluation of the MasSpec Pen technology for molecular analysis of in vivo and freshly excised tissues in the operating room (OR).

METHODS

An Orbitrap mass spectrometer equipped with a MasSpec Pen interface was installed in an OR. A "dual-path" MasSpec Pen interface was designed and programmed for the clinical studies with 2 parallel systems that facilitated the operation of the MasSpec Pen. The MasSpec Pen devices were autoclaved before each surgical procedure and were used by surgeons and surgical staff during 100 surgeries over a 12-month period.

RESULTS

Detection of mass spectral profiles from 715 in vivo and ex vivo analyses performed on thyroid, parathyroid, lymph node, breast, pancreatic, and bile duct tissues during parathyroidectomies, thyroidectomies, breast, and pancreatic neoplasia surgeries was achieved. The MasSpec Pen enabled gentle extraction and sensitive detection of various molecular species including small metabolites and lipids using a droplet of sterile water without causing apparent tissue damage. Notably, effective molecular analysis was achieved while no limitations to sequential histologic tissue analysis were identified and no device-related complications were reported for any of the patients.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that the MasSpec Pen system can be successfully incorporated into the OR, allowing direct detection of rich molecular profiles from tissues with a seconds-long turnaround time that could be used to inform surgical and clinical decisions without disrupting tissue analysis workflows.

The Antitumor Efficiency of Zinc Finger Nuclease Combined with Cisplatin and Trichostatin A in Cervical Cancer Cells

BACKGROUND

Persistent infection with the high-risk of human papillomavirus (HR-HPVs) is the primary etiological factor of cervical cancer; HR-HPVs express oncoproteins E6 and E7, both of which play key roles in the progression of cervical carcinogenesis. Zinc Finger Nucleases (ZFNs) targeting HPV E7 induce specific shear of the E7 gene, weakening the malignant biological effects, hence showing great potential for clinical transformation.

OBJECTIVE

Our aim was to develop a new comprehensive therapy for better clinical application of ZFNs. We here explored the anti-cancer efficiency of HPV targeted ZFNs combined with a platinum-based antineoplastic drug Cisplatin (DDP) and an HDAC inhibitor Trichostatin A (TSA).

METHODS

SiHa and HeLa cells were exposed to different concentrations of DDP and TSA; the appropriate concentrations for the following experiments were screened according to cell apoptosis. Then cells were grouped for combined or separate treatments; apoptosis, cell viability and proliferation ability were measured by flow cytometry detection, CCK-8 assays and colony formation assays. The xenograft experiments were also performed to determine the anti-cancer effects of the combined therapy. In addition, the HPV E7 and RB1 expressions were measured by western blot analysis.

RESULTS

Results showed that the combined therapy induced about two times more apoptosis than that of ZFNs alone in SiHa and HeLa cells, and much more inhibition of cell viability than either of the separate treatment. The colony formation ability was inhibited more than 80% by the co-treatment, the protein expression of HPV16/18E7 was down regulated and that of RB1 was elevated. In addition, the xenografts experiment showed a synergistic effect between DDP and TSA together with ZFNs.

CONCLUSION

Our results demonstrated that ZFNs combined with DDP or TSA functioned effectively in cervical cancer cells, and it provided novel ideas for the prevention and treatment of HPV-related cervical malignancies.

Glutamate - A multifaceted molecule: Endogenous neurotransmitter, controversial food additive, design compound for anti-cancer drugs. A critical appraisal

One of the most widely used flavour enhancers in the food industry is monosodium glutamate (MSG). MSG consumption has been on an upward trend, worrying in terms of potential toxic effects. This review is focused on the long-term toxicity of MSG and the experimental evidence that supports it. The article's primary purpose was to survey recently published data regarding the consumption of MSG within safe limits. The administered doses in animal models are very varied and have given rise to controversy. Also, the paper comprises pathways to lower MSG toxicity and highlight other underexploited biological effects, as anti-cancer potential. The administration of MSG, combined with various compounds, has been shown benefit against toxic effects. Several recent studies have identified a possible mechanism that recommends MSG and some derivatives as potential anti-cancer agents. New anti-cancer compounds based on the glutamic acid structure must be studied and further exploited. International regulations require harmonization of safe doses of MSG based on current scientific studies. Replacing MSG with other umami flavour enhancers may be a safer alternative for human health in the future. The biological consequences of MSG consumption or therapeutical administration have not been fully deciphered yet.

Screening and Interaction Analysis of Key Genes in miR-542-3p Over- Expressed Osteosarcoma Cells by Bioinformatics

BACKGROUND

Osteosarcoma is one of the most serious primary malignant bone tumors that threaten the lives of children and adolescents. However, the mechanism underlying and how to prevent or treat the disease have not been well understood.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVE

This aim of the present study was to identify the key genes and explore novel insights into the molecular mechanism of miR-542-3p over-expressed Osteosarcoma.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Gene expression profile data GDS5367 was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened using GEO2R, and Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses were performed using the DAVID database. And protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed by the STRING database. In addition, the most highly connected module was screened by plugin MCODE and hub genes by plugin CytoHubba. Furthermore, UALCAN and The Cancer Genome Atlas were performed for survival analysis.

RESULT

In total, 1421 DEGs were identified, including 598 genes were up-regulated and 823 genes were down-regulated. GO analysis showed that DEGs were classified into three groups and DEGs mainly enriched in Steroid biosynthesis, Ubiquitin mediated proteolysis and p53 signaling pathway. Six hub genes (UBA52, RNF114, UBE2H, TRIP12, HNRNPC, and PTBP1) may be key genes with the progression of osteosarcoma.

CONCLUSION

The results could better understand the mechanism of osteosarcoma, which may facilitate a novel insight into treatment targets.

Cervical Cancer Diagnosis: Insights into Biochemical Biomarkers and Imaging Techniques

Cervical malignancy is known as one of the important cancers which is originated from cervix. This malignancy has been observed in women infected with papillomavirus who had regular oral contraceptives, multiple pregnancies, and sexual relations. Early and fast cervical cancer diagnosis is known as two important aspects of cervical cancer therapy. Several investigations indicated that early and fast detection of cervical cancer could be associated with better treatment process and increasing survival rate of patients with this malignancy. Imaging techniques are very important diagnosis tools that could be employed for diagnosis and following responses to therapy in various cervical cancer stages. Multiple lines of evidence indicated that utilization of imaging techniques is related to some limitations (i.e. high cost, and invasive effects). Hence, it seems that along with using imaging techniques, finding and developing new biomarkers could be useful in the diagnosis and treatment of subjects with cervical cancer. Taken together, many studies showed that a variety of biomarkers including, several proteins, mRNAs, microRNAs, exosomes and polymorphisms might be introduced as prognostic, diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers in cervical cancer therapy. In this review article, we highlighted imaging techniques as well as novel biomarkers for the diagnosis of cervical cancer.

Targeting SLC1A5 blocks cell proliferation through inhibition of mTORC1 in arsenite-treated human uroepithelial cells

Arsenic is an environmental contaminant, which is widely distributed in soil, air, and water. There is sufficient evidence to indicate that arsenic increases the risk of bladder cancer in humans. However, its underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Glutamine (Gln) has multiple functions that promote carcinogenesis. Indeed, Gln transporters on cancer cells surface are often upregulated. Elevated expression levels of Alanine, serine, cysteine-preferring transporter 2 (ASCT2; SLC1A5) have been reported in many types of human tumors. This study characterized the role of SLC1A5 in cell proliferation in arsenite-treated cells. In short-term experiments, SV-40 immortalized human uroepithelial (SV-HUC-1) cells were treated with Sodium arsenite (NaAsO₂) (0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8 μM) for 24 h. In long-term experiments, SV-HUC-1 cells were exposed to 0.5 μM NaAsO₂ for 40 weeks. In both short-term and long-term experiments, arsenite increased expression of SLC1A5 by 1.89-fold and 2.25-fold, respectively. Arsenite increased Gln consumption of SV-HUC-1 cells, and Gln starvation inhibited cell proliferation in long-term arsenite-treated cells. Importantly, inhibiting SLC1A5 blocked cell proliferation by downregulating mTORC1 in long-term arsenite-treated cells. Moreover, SLC1A5 regulated mTORC1 in an αKG-dependent manner. Our results suggest that SLC1A5 plays an important role in cell proliferation of arsenite-treated SV-HUC-1 cells.

The Identification of Three Key Genes Related to Stemness in Thyroid Carcinoma through Comprehensive Analysis

BACKGROUND

Tumor heterogeneity imposes great challenges on cancer treatment. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a leading factor contributing to tumor occurrence. However, the mechanisms underlying the growth of thyroid cancer (TCHA) are still unclear.

METHODS

Key genes regulating the characteristics of THCA, such as stemness were identified by combining gene expressions of samples downloaded from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and were used to establish an mRNA expression stemness index (mRNAsi) through machine learningbased methods. The relationships of mRNAsi, THCA clinical features and molecular subtypes were analyzed. Weighted Gene Co-Expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) was performed to obtain mRNAsi-related gene modules and determine mRNAsi-related differentially co-expressed genes. Key genes related to mRNAsi were screened by protein interaction network. Functional analysis was conducted and expressions of key genes were verified in multiple external data sets.

RESULTS

The mRNAsi score, which was found to be lower in the TCHA tissues than that in normal tissues (p<0.05), was positively correlated with a slow progression of tumor prognosis (p=0.0085). We screened a total of 83 differentially co-expressed genes related to mRNAsi and multiple tumor pathways such as apoptosis, tight junction, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, and cAMP signaling pathway (p<0.05). Finally, 28 protein interaction networks incorporating 32 genes were established, and 3 key genes were identified through network mining. 3 core genes were finally determined, as their low expressions were strongly correlated with the progression of THCA.

CONCLUSION

The study found that NGF, FOS, and GRIA1 are closely related to the characteristics of THCA stem cells. These genes, especially FOS, are highly indicative of the prognosis of THCA patients. Thus, screening therapy could be used to inhibit the stemness of TCHA.

Mass Spectrometry: A Powerful Method for Monitoring Various Type of Leukemia, Especially MALDI-TOF in Leukemia's Proteomics Studies Review

Recent success in studying the proteome, as a source of biomarkers, has completely changed our understanding of leukemia (blood cancer). The identification of differentially expressed proteins, such as relapse and drug resistance proteins involved in leukemia by using various ionization sources and mass analyzers of mass spectrometry techniques, has helped scientists find better diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment strategies. With the aid of this powerful analytical technique, we can investigate the qualification/quantification of proteins, protein-protein interactions, post-translational modifications, and find the correlation between proteins and their genes with the hope of finding the missing parts of the successful therapy puzzle. In this review, we followed different MS sources and analyzers which used for monitoring various type of leukemia, then focused on MALDI-TOF MS as a quick and reliable method for studying proteins. Due to several review published for other techniques, the present review is the first work in this field. Also, by classifying more than 400 proteins, we have found 42 proteins are involved in two or three different stages of leukemia. Finally, we have suggested six specific biomarkers for AML, one for ALL, three biomarkers with a role in the etiology of leukemia and 13 markers with the potential for further studies.

Exploration of the Potential Mechanism of Calculus Bovis in Treatment of Primary Liver Cancer by Network Pharmacology

AIM AND OBJECTIVE

Calculus Bovis (CB) has been employed to treat diseases for a long time. It has been identified to play significant anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor roles. However, the mechanism of treating primary liver cancer (PLC) remains to be revealed. This study aims to clarify the molecules and mechanisms of CB in treating PLC.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

After oral bioavailability (OB) and drug-likeness (DL) screening, 15 small molecules were identified as the potential ingredients against PLC. Following this, related targets network constructions and pathways were applied to clarify the mechanism of CB in treating PLC. An in vitro experiment was carried out to identify the function of CB in treating PLC.

RESULTS

Eleven compounds of CB were identified that play an anti-PLC role, including oleanolic acid, ergosterol, ursolic acid, etc. The potential targets which were observed include IL6, MAPK-8, VEGFA, Caspase-3, etc. Further analysis showed that the mechanism of CB in the treatment of PLC involved apoptosis-related pathways and immune-related pathways.

CONCLUSION

In summary, the current study combines network pharmacology and in vitro experiments to reveal the mechanism of CB against PLC. We concluded that 11 ingredients of CB have an anti-PLC effect. Furthermore, CB plays a key role in treating PLC mainly by apoptosisrelated pathways and immune-related pathways. Our experiment verifies that CB promotes the apoptosis of SMMC-7721.

Screening of Hub Gene Targets for Lung Cancer via Microarray Data

BACKGROUND

Lung cancer is one of the malignancies exhibiting the fastest increase in morbidity and mortality, but the cause is not clearly understood. The goal of this investigation was to screen and identify relevant biomarkers of lung cancer.

METHODS

Publicly available lung cancer data sets, including GSE40275 and GSE134381, were obtained from the GEO database. The repeatability test for data was done by principal component analysis (PCA), and a GEO2R was performed to screen differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which were all subjected to enrichment analysis. Protein-protein interactions (PPIs), and the significant module and hub genes were identified via Cytoscape. Expression and correlation analysis of hub genes was done, and an overall survival analysis of lung cancer was performed. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to test the sensitivity and specificity of the identified hub genes for diagnosing lung cancer.

RESULTS

The repeatability of the two datasets was good and 115 DEGs and 10 hub genes were identified. Functional analysis revealed that these DEGs were associated with cell adhesion, the extracellular matrix, and calcium ion binding. The DEGs were mainly involved with ECM-receptor interaction, ABC transporters, cell-adhesion molecules, and the p53 signaling pathway. Ten genes including COL1A2, POSTN, DSG2, CDKN2A, COL1A1, KRT19, SLC2A1, SERPINB5, DSC3, and SPP1 were identified as hub genes through module analysis in the PPI network. Lung cancer patients with high expression of COL1A2, POSTN, DSG2, CDKN2A, COL1A1, SLC2A1, SERPINB5, and SPP1 had poorer overall survival times than those with low expression (p <0.05). The CTD database showed that 10 hub genes were closely related to lung cancer. Expression of POSTN, DSG2, CDKN2A, COL1A1, SLC2A1, SERPINB5, and SPP1 was also associated with a diagnosis of lung cancer (p<0.05). ROC analysis showed that SPP1 (AUC = 0.940, p = 0.000*, 95%CI = 0.930-0.973, ODT = 7.004), SLC2A1 (AUC = 0.889, p = 0.000*, 95%CI = 0.791-0.865, ODT = 7.123), CDKN2A (AUC = 0.730, p = 0.000*, 95%CI = 0.465-1.000, ODT = 6.071) were suitable biomarkers.

CONCLUSION

Microarray technology represents an effective method for exploring genetic targets and molecular mechanisms of lung cancer. In addition, the identification of hub genes of lung cancer provides novel research insights for the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer.