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Duan P, Yang K, Su X, Fan S, Dong X, Zhang F, Li X, Xing X, Zhu Q, Yu J, Zhou X. HTINet2: herb-target prediction via knowledge graph embedding and residual-like graph neural network. Brief Bioinform 2024; 25:bbae414. [PMID: 39175133 PMCID: PMC11341278 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbae414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 07/13/2024] [Accepted: 08/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Target identification is one of the crucial tasks in drug research and development, as it aids in uncovering the action mechanism of herbs/drugs and discovering new therapeutic targets. Although multiple algorithms of herb target prediction have been proposed, due to the incompleteness of clinical knowledge and the limitation of unsupervised models, accurate identification for herb targets still faces huge challenges of data and models. To address this, we proposed a deep learning-based target prediction framework termed HTINet2, which designed three key modules, namely, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and clinical knowledge graph embedding, residual graph representation learning, and supervised target prediction. In the first module, we constructed a large-scale knowledge graph that covers the TCM properties and clinical treatment knowledge of herbs, and designed a component of deep knowledge embedding to learn the deep knowledge embedding of herbs and targets. In the remaining two modules, we designed a residual-like graph convolution network to capture the deep interactions among herbs and targets, and a Bayesian personalized ranking loss to conduct supervised training and target prediction. Finally, we designed comprehensive experiments, of which comparison with baselines indicated the excellent performance of HTINet2 (HR@10 increased by 122.7% and NDCG@10 by 35.7%), ablation experiments illustrated the positive effect of our designed modules of HTINet2, and case study demonstrated the reliability of the predicted targets of Artemisia annua and Coptis chinensis based on the knowledge base, literature, and molecular docking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengbo Duan
- Institute of Medical Intelligence, Department of Artificial Intelligence, Beijing Key Lab of Traffic Data Analysis and Mining, School of Computer Science & Technology, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Kuo Yang
- Institute of Medical Intelligence, Department of Artificial Intelligence, Beijing Key Lab of Traffic Data Analysis and Mining, School of Computer Science & Technology, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Xin Su
- Institute of Medical Intelligence, Department of Artificial Intelligence, Beijing Key Lab of Traffic Data Analysis and Mining, School of Computer Science & Technology, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Shuyue Fan
- Institute of Medical Intelligence, Department of Artificial Intelligence, Beijing Key Lab of Traffic Data Analysis and Mining, School of Computer Science & Technology, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Xin Dong
- Institute of Medical Intelligence, Department of Artificial Intelligence, Beijing Key Lab of Traffic Data Analysis and Mining, School of Computer Science & Technology, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Fenghui Zhang
- Institute of Medical Intelligence, Department of Artificial Intelligence, Beijing Key Lab of Traffic Data Analysis and Mining, School of Computer Science & Technology, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Xianan Li
- Institute of Medical Intelligence, Department of Artificial Intelligence, Beijing Key Lab of Traffic Data Analysis and Mining, School of Computer Science & Technology, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Xiaoyan Xing
- Institute of Medicinal Plant Development, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100193, China
| | - Qiang Zhu
- Institute of Medical Intelligence, Department of Artificial Intelligence, Beijing Key Lab of Traffic Data Analysis and Mining, School of Computer Science & Technology, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Jian Yu
- Institute of Medical Intelligence, Department of Artificial Intelligence, Beijing Key Lab of Traffic Data Analysis and Mining, School of Computer Science & Technology, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
| | - Xuezhong Zhou
- Institute of Medical Intelligence, Department of Artificial Intelligence, Beijing Key Lab of Traffic Data Analysis and Mining, School of Computer Science & Technology, Beijing Jiaotong University, Beijing 100044, China
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Ma Z, Woon CYN, Liu CG, Cheng JT, You M, Sethi G, Wong ALA, Ho PCL, Zhang D, Ong P, Wang L, Goh BC. Repurposing Artemisinin and its Derivatives as Anticancer Drugs: A Chance or Challenge? Front Pharmacol 2022; 12:828856. [PMID: 35035355 PMCID: PMC8758560 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.828856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer has become a global health problem, accounting for one out of six deaths. Despite the recent advances in cancer therapy, there is still an ever-growing need for readily accessible new therapies. The process of drug discovery and development is arduous and takes many years, and while it is ongoing, the time for the current lead compounds to reach clinical trial phase is very long. Drug repurposing has recently gained significant attention as it expedites the process of discovering new entities for anticancer therapy. One such potential candidate is the antimalarial drug, artemisinin that has shown anticancer activities in vitro and in vivo. In this review, major molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying the anticancer effect of artemisinin and its derivatives are summarised. Furthermore, major mechanisms of action and some key signaling pathways of this group of compounds have been reviewed to explore potential targets that contribute to the proliferation and metastasis of tumor cells. Despite its established profile in malaria treatment, pharmacokinetic properties, anticancer potency, and current formulations that hinder the clinical translation of artemisinin as an anticancer agent, have been discussed. Finally, potential solutions or new strategies are identified to overcome the bottlenecks in repurposing artemisinin-type compounds as anticancer drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhaowu Ma
- School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Clariis Yi-Ning Woon
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chen-Guang Liu
- School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Jun-Ting Cheng
- School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Mingliang You
- Hangzhou Cancer Institute, Key Laboratory of Clinical Cancer Pharmacology and Toxicology Research of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China.,Affiliated Hangzhou Cancer Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Gautam Sethi
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Andrea Li-Ann Wong
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Haematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Paul Chi-Lui Ho
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Daping Zhang
- School of Basic Medicine, Health Science Center, Yangtze University, Jingzhou, China
| | - Peishi Ong
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Lingzhi Wang
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Boon-Cher Goh
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore.,Department of Haematology-Oncology, National University Cancer Institute, Singapore, Singapore
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3
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Zhao S, Li P, Wu W, Wang Q, Qian B, Li X, Shen M. Roles of ferroptosis in urologic malignancies. Cancer Cell Int 2021; 21:676. [PMID: 34922551 PMCID: PMC8684233 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-021-02264-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Ferroptosis, an iron-dependent form of non-apoptotic cell death, is believed to strongly contribute to the pathogenesis of multiple cancers. Recently, the positive association between ferroptosis and urologic malignancies has drawn considerable attention, while a comprehensive review focused on this issue is absent. Based on this review, ferroptosis has been implicated in the development and therapeutic responses of prostate cancer, kidney cancer, and bladder cancer. Mechanistically, a large number of biomolecules and tumor-associated signaling pathways, including DECR1, PANX2, HSPB1, ACOT8, SUV39H1, NCOA4, PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling, VHL/HIF-2α pathway, and Hippo/TAZ signaling pathway, have been reported to regulate ferroptosis in urologic cancers. Ferroptosis inducers, such as erastin, ART, CPNPs, and quinazolinyl-arylurea derivatives, exert potential therapeutic effects per se and/or enhance the anticancer response of other anticancer drugs in urologic oncology. A better understanding of ferroptosis may provide a promising way to treat therapy-resistant urologic cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shankun Zhao
- Department of Urology, Taizhou Central Hospital (Taizhou University Hospital), Taizhou, 318000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Peng Li
- Department of Urology, Qingdao Women and Children's Hospital, Qingdao, 266000, Shandong, China
| | - Weizhou Wu
- Department of Urology, Maoming People's Hospital, Maoming, 525000, Guangdong, China
| | - Qinzhang Wang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shihezi University Medical School, Shihezi, China
| | - Biao Qian
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital of Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, 341000, Jiangxi, China
| | - Xin Li
- Department of Urology, Taizhou Central Hospital (Taizhou University Hospital), Taizhou, 318000, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Maolei Shen
- Department of Urology, Taizhou Central Hospital (Taizhou University Hospital), Taizhou, 318000, Zhejiang, China.
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Tian L, Ke D, Hong Y, Zhang C, Tian D, Chen L, Zhan L, Zong S. Artesunate treatment ameliorates ultraviolet irradiation-driven skin photoaging via increasing β-catenin expression. Aging (Albany NY) 2021; 13:25325-25341. [PMID: 34887359 PMCID: PMC8714151 DOI: 10.18632/aging.203749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Artesunate, a semi-synthetic derivative of artemisinin, exerts various pharmacological activities. Nevertheless, the effects of Art on skin photoaging remain unclear. Herein, we investigated whether Art ameliorated ultraviolet-irradiated skin photoaging in HaCaT cells and mice. METHODS To construct skin photoaging cellular models, HaCaT cells were irradiated by UV (UVB, 20mJ/cm2) for 5 days. HaCaT cells were pretreated with three concentrations of Art (1, 5 and 20 μg/ml) for 2 h each day. After 5 days, cell senescence, ROS production, SOD levels, p16INK4a and β-catenin expression, proliferation and apoptosis were detected in HaCaT cells. Effects of Art on normal cells were investigated. After sh-β-catenin transfection or XAV-939 treatment, HaCaT cells were pretreated with 20 μg/ml Art and irradiated by UVB. After 5 days, skin photoaging was then observed. Furthermore, skin photoaging mouse models were established and the effects of Art and β-catenin silencing on skin photoaging were investigated. RESULTS Art treatment suppressed cell senescence, intracellular ROS production, p16INK4a expression and apoptosis and promoted proliferation and SOD and β-catenin expression in UVB irradiated HaCaT cells. But Art had no toxic effects on normal cells. Silencing β-catenin by sh-β-catenin or XAV-939 exacerbated UVB irradiation-mediated cell senescence, apoptosis, and ROS production in HaCaT cells, which was ameliorated by Art treatment. The therapeutic effects of Art on skin photoaging were also confirmed in mouse models. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggested that Art treatment alleviated UVB irradiation-driven skin photoaging through enhancing β-catenin expression, which offered novel clues for pharmacological activity of Art.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liming Tian
- Department of Dermatology, Wuhan No.1 Hospital, Hospital of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Affiliated to Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan Hospital of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Affiliated to Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Dan Ke
- Department of Dermatology, Chongqing Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Chongqing 400000, China
| | - Yi Hong
- College of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430065, Hubei, China
| | - Chong Zhang
- Institute of Geriatrics, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430065, Hubei, China
| | - Daizhi Tian
- Institute of Geriatrics, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan 430065, Hubei, China
| | - Long Chen
- Department of Dermatology, Wuhan No.1 Hospital, Hospital of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Affiliated to Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan Hospital of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Affiliated to Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Lirui Zhan
- Department of Dermatology, Wuhan No.1 Hospital, Hospital of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Affiliated to Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan Hospital of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Affiliated to Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, Hubei, China
| | - Shiqin Zong
- Department of Dermatology, Wuhan No.1 Hospital, Hospital of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Affiliated to Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan Hospital of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Affiliated to Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, Hubei, China
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Augustin Y, Staines HM, Krishna S. Artemisinins as a novel anti-cancer therapy: Targeting a global cancer pandemic through drug repurposing. Pharmacol Ther 2020; 216:107706. [PMID: 33075360 PMCID: PMC7564301 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2020.107706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2020] [Revised: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Artemisinins are a unique class of antimalarial drugs with significant potential for drug repurposing for a wide range of diseases including cancer. Cancer is a leading cause of death globally and the majority of cancer related deaths occur in Low and Middle Income Countries (LMICs) where conventional treatment options are often limited by financial cost. Drug repurposing can significantly shorten new therapeutic discovery pathways, ensuring greater accessibility and affordability globally. Artemisinins have an excellent safety and tolerability profile as well as being affordable for deployment in Low and Middle Class Income Countries at around USD1 per daily dose. Robust, well designed clinical trials of artemisinin drug repurposing are indicated for a variety of different cancers and treatment settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yolanda Augustin
- Institute of Infection & Immunity, St George's University of London, United Kingdom
| | - Henry M Staines
- Institute of Infection & Immunity, St George's University of London, United Kingdom
| | - Sanjeev Krishna
- Institute of Infection & Immunity, St George's University of London, United Kingdom.
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Luo H, Vong CT, Chen H, Gao Y, Lyu P, Qiu L, Zhao M, Liu Q, Cheng Z, Zou J, Yao P, Gao C, Wei J, Ung COL, Wang S, Zhong Z, Wang Y. Naturally occurring anti-cancer compounds: shining from Chinese herbal medicine. Chin Med 2019; 14:48. [PMID: 31719837 PMCID: PMC6836491 DOI: 10.1186/s13020-019-0270-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 268] [Impact Index Per Article: 53.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous natural products originated from Chinese herbal medicine exhibit anti-cancer activities, including anti-proliferative, pro-apoptotic, anti-metastatic, anti-angiogenic effects, as well as regulate autophagy, reverse multidrug resistance, balance immunity, and enhance chemotherapy in vitro and in vivo. To provide new insights into the critical path ahead, we systemically reviewed the most recent advances (reported since 2011) on the key compounds with anti-cancer effects derived from Chinese herbal medicine (curcumin, epigallocatechin gallate, berberine, artemisinin, ginsenoside Rg3, ursolic acid, silibinin, emodin, triptolide, cucurbitacin B, tanshinone I, oridonin, shikonin, gambogic acid, artesunate, wogonin, β-elemene, and cepharanthine) in scientific databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, Scopus, and Clinical Trials). With a broader perspective, we focused on their recently discovered and/or investigated pharmacological effects, novel mechanism of action, relevant clinical studies, and their innovative applications in combined therapy and immunomodulation. In addition, the present review has extended to describe other promising compounds including dihydroartemisinin, ginsenoside Rh2, compound K, cucurbitacins D, E, I, tanshinone IIA and cryptotanshinone in view of their potentials in cancer therapy. Up to now, the evidence about the immunomodulatory effects and clinical trials of natural anti-cancer compounds from Chinese herbal medicine is very limited, and further research is needed to monitor their immunoregulatory effects and explore their mechanisms of action as modulators of immune checkpoints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Luo
- Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Chi Teng Vong
- Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Hanbin Chen
- Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Yan Gao
- Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Peng Lyu
- Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Ling Qiu
- Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Mingming Zhao
- Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Qiao Liu
- Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Zehua Cheng
- Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Jian Zou
- Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Peifen Yao
- Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Caifang Gao
- Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Jinchao Wei
- Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Carolina Oi Lam Ung
- Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Shengpeng Wang
- Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Zhangfeng Zhong
- Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Yitao Wang
- Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, University of Macau, Macao, China
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Synthesis of novel S-linked dihydroartemisinin derivatives and evaluation of their anticancer activity. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 178:552-570. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2019] [Revised: 05/24/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Lv J, Bai R, Wang L, Gao J, Zhang H. Artesunate may inhibit liver fibrosis via the FAK/Akt/β-catenin pathway in LX-2 cells. BMC Pharmacol Toxicol 2018; 19:64. [PMID: 30326962 PMCID: PMC6192352 DOI: 10.1186/s40360-018-0255-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2018] [Accepted: 10/01/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND An increasing number of studies are investigating the effects of Chinese medicine on hepatic fibrosis, but only few studies have examined the anti-fibrogenic properties of Artesunate (ART). The aim of the present study was to explore the anti-fibrotic effects of ART on LX-2 cells, the human HSC cell line, and to determine potential molecular mechanisms via the focal adhesion kinase (FAK)/ protein kinase B (Akt)/ β-catenin pathway. METHODS LX-2 cells were stimulated with different concentration of ART (0, 12.5, 25 and 50 μg/ml) for 12, 24, 48 or 72 h, their proliferation was analyzed using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay. LX-2 cells were treated with different doses of ART (0, 12.5, 25 and 50 μg/ml) for 24 h, their apoptosis was measured using flow cytometry, the levels of mRNAs encoding collagen I or α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) were determined using reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and the levels of key proteins in the FAK/Akt/β-catenin signaling pathway were assessed by western blotting. Specific inhibitors of FAK were added to the LX-2 cells cultures to explore the potential signaling. RESULTS Exposing LX-2 cells to ART efficiently inhibited their proliferation, significantly promoted early apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner, and markedly downregulated the mRNA expression of α-SMA and collagen I. In addition, ART, similar to FAK inhibitor PF562271 significantly inhibited the FAK/Akt/β-catenin signaling pathway by reducing the levels of phosphorylated FAK, Akt and GSK-3β. CONCLUSIONS Our present study shows that ART could regulate the proliferation, apoptosis and activation of LX-2. Meanwhile, the anti-fibrogenic mechanisms of ART was correlated with FAK/Akt/β-catenin pathway. Future research should verify and extend these findings, as well as explore other molecules and therefore serve as useful therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Lv
- Department of Pharmacy, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Zhang Zhidong Road, Wuhan, Hubei, 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Ruidan Bai
- Department of Pharmacy, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Zhang Zhidong Road, Wuhan, Hubei, 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Li Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Zhang Zhidong Road, Wuhan, Hubei, 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Jiefang Gao
- Department of Pharmacy, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Zhang Zhidong Road, Wuhan, Hubei, 430060, People's Republic of China
| | - Hong Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Zhang Zhidong Road, Wuhan, Hubei, 430060, People's Republic of China.
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Jiang F, Zhou JY, Zhang D, Liu MH, Chen YG. Artesunate induces apoptosis and autophagy in HCT116 colon cancer cells, and autophagy inhibition enhances the artesunate‑induced apoptosis. Int J Mol Med 2018; 42:1295-1304. [PMID: 29901098 PMCID: PMC6089754 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2018.3712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2017] [Accepted: 05/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The present study assessed the antitumor effect of artesunate (ART) in vitro and in vivo, as well as its underlying mechanism of action in HCT116 colon cancer cells. An MTT assay, DAPI staining, flow cytometry, western blotting, immunohistochemistry, transmission electron microscopy and TUNEL assay were performed to study the molecular mechanism underlying the antitumor effects of ART in HCT116 colon cancer cells. ART was observed to inhibit proliferation by inducing the apoptosis of HCT116 cells both in vitro and in vivo. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that treatment with 2 and 4 µg/ml ART for 48 h induced early apoptosis in 22.7 and 33.8% of cells, respectively. In the xenograft tumors of BALB/c nude mice, TUNEL-positive cells increased in the ART group compared with that in the normal saline group. Furthermore,the associated mitochondrial cleaved-caspase 3, poly-ADP ribose polymerase (PARP), caspase 9 and Bcl-2-associated X protein levels increased while B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) decreased both in the cell and animal ART-treated group. ART-treated cells also exhibited autophagy induction, as evidenced by increased protein expression levels of light chain 3 (LC3) and beclin-1, and the presence of autophagosomes. Notably, pharmacological blockade of autophagy activation using hydroxychloroquine markedly enhanced ART-induced apoptosis and increased the protein levels of cleaved caspase 3 and PARP, while decreasing the levels of LC3 and beclin-1. These findings suggested that the ART-induced autophagy may have a cytoprotective effect by suppressing apoptosis. In conclusion, ART may be a potentially clinically useful anticancer drug for human colon cancer. In addition, co-treatment with ART and an autophagy inhibitor may be an effective anticancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Jiang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of TCM, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, P.R. China
| | - Jin-Yong Zhou
- Department of Central Laboratory, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of TCM, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, P.R. China
| | - Dan Zhang
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of TCM, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, P.R. China
| | - Ming-Hao Liu
- No. 1 Clinical Medical College, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210023, P.R. China
| | - Yu-Gen Chen
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of TCM, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210029, P.R. China
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From ancient herb to modern drug: Artemisia annua and artemisinin for cancer therapy. Semin Cancer Biol 2017; 46:65-83. [DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2017.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 341] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2017] [Revised: 02/15/2017] [Accepted: 02/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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