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Abstract
Neuro-inflammation accompanies numerous neurological disorders and conditions where it can be associated with a progressive neurodegenerative pathology. In a similar manner, alterations in sphingolipid metabolism often accompany or are causative features in degenerative neurological conditions. These include dementias, motor disorders, autoimmune conditions, inherited metabolic disorders, viral infection, traumatic brain and spinal cord injury, psychiatric conditions, and more. Sphingolipids are major regulators of cellular fate and function in addition to being important structural components of membranes. Their metabolism and signaling pathways can also be regulated by inflammatory mediators. Therefore, as certain sphingolipids exert distinct and opposing cellular roles, alterations in their metabolism can have major consequences. Recently, regulation of bioactive sphingolipids by neuro-inflammatory mediators has been shown to activate a neuronal NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2) that can provoke damaging oxidation. Therefore, the sphingolipid-regulated neuronal NOX2 serves as a mechanistic link between neuro-inflammation and neurodegeneration. Moreover, therapeutics directed at sphingolipid metabolism or the sphingolipid-regulated NOX2 have the potential to alleviate neurodegeneration arising out of neuro-inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma J Arsenault
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, 03824, USA
| | - Colin M McGill
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alaska Anchorage, Anchorage, AK, 99508, USA
| | - Brian M Barth
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, 03824, USA.
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Belknap KC, Cote AL, McGill CM, Andam CP, Barth BM. The Role of the Microbiome in Cancer and the Development of Cancer Therapeutics. Int J Biopharm Sci 2020; 2:118. [PMID: 33778816 PMCID: PMC7993822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is caused by a compilation of hereditary and environmental factors. In the past decade, next-generation sequencing has revealed the extent to which the microbiome influences the maintenance of homeostasis and therefore the prevention of diseases such as cancer. Current research efforts explore the interaction between cancer and the microbiome, and the results are anticipated to transform how clinicians approach cancer treatment. There is a plausible transition from the use of human genetic biomarkers to microbiomic biomarkers for genomic diagnostics. Considering the expanding knowledge of the ways in which the microbiome can affect the development of cancer, clinicians treating cancer patients should be considerate of how the microbiome can influence the host-drug or microbiome-cancer interactions. Recognition of the importance of the microbiome within the field of oncology is pertinent to understanding and furthering cancer development and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaitlyn C. Belknap
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences,
University of New Hampshire, Durham NH 03824 USA
| | - Andrea L. Cote
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences,
University of New Hampshire, Durham NH 03824 USA
| | - Colin M. McGill
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alaska Anchorage,
Anchorage AK 99508 USA
| | - Cheryl P. Andam
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences,
University of New Hampshire, Durham NH 03824 USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, University at Albany,
State University of New York, Albany, NY 12222 USA
| | - Brian M. Barth
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences,
University of New Hampshire, Durham NH 03824 USA
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McGill CM, Tomco PL, Ondrasik RM, Belknap KC, Dwyer GK, Quinlan DJ, Kircher TA, Andam CP, Brown TJ, Claxton DF, Barth BM. Therapeutic effect of Northern Labrador tea extracts for acute myeloid leukemia. Phytother Res 2018; 32:1636-1641. [PMID: 29701283 PMCID: PMC7992109 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.6091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2017] [Revised: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 03/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive hematological malignancy that is one of the more common pediatric malignancies in addition to occurring with high incidence in the aging population. Unfortunately, these patient groups are quite sensitive to toxicity from chemotherapy. Northern Labrador tea, or Rhododendron tomentosum Harmaja (a.k.a. Ledum palustre subsp. decumbens) or "tundra tea," is a noteworthy medicinal plant used by indigenous peoples in Alaska, Canada, and Greenland to treat a diversity of ailments. However, laboratory investigations of Northern Labrador tea, and other Labrador tea family members, as botanical sources for anticancer compounds have been limited. Utilizing an AML cell line in both in vitro and in vivo studies, as well as in vitro studies using primary human AML patient samples, this study demonstrated for the first time that Northern Labrador tea extracts can exert anti-AML activity and that this may be attributed to ursolic acid as a constituent component. Therefore, this medicinal herb holds the potential to serve as a source for further drug discovery efforts to isolate novel anti-AML compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin M. McGill
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alaska Anchorage,
Anchorage, AK 99508 USA
| | - Patrick L. Tomco
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alaska Anchorage,
Anchorage, AK 99508 USA
| | - Regina M. Ondrasik
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and
Oncology, Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, Penn State College of Medicine,
Hershey, PA 17033 USA
| | - Kaitlyn C. Belknap
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences,
University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824 USA
| | - Gaelen K. Dwyer
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alaska Anchorage,
Anchorage, AK 99508 USA
| | - Daniel J. Quinlan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alaska Anchorage,
Anchorage, AK 99508 USA
| | - Thomas A. Kircher
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alaska Anchorage,
Anchorage, AK 99508 USA
| | - Cheryl P. Andam
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences,
University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824 USA
| | - Timothy J. Brown
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and
Oncology, Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, Penn State College of Medicine,
Hershey, PA 17033 USA
| | - David F. Claxton
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and
Oncology, Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, Penn State College of Medicine,
Hershey, PA 17033 USA
| | - Brian M. Barth
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and
Oncology, Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, Penn State College of Medicine,
Hershey, PA 17033 USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences,
University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824 USA
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McGill CM, Brown TJ, Fisher LN, Gustafson SJ, Dunlap KL, Beck AJ, Toran PT, Claxton DF, Barth BM. Combinatorial Efficacy of Quercitin and Nanoliposomal Ceramide for Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Int J Biopharm Sci 2018; 1:106. [PMID: 30701264 PMCID: PMC6349237 DOI: 10.31021/ijbs.20181106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive hematological malignancy with limited treatment options. Inflammation is often a contributing factor to the development and progression of AML, and related diseases, and can potentiate therapy failure. Previously, we had identified anti-inflammatory roles and anti-AML efficacy for blueberry extracts. The present study extended these observations to determine that the polyphenol quercetin inhibited neutral sphingomyelinase (N-SMase) activity and exerted anti-AML efficacy. Moreover, quercetin was shown to exert combinatorial anti-AML efficacy with nanoliposomal ceramide. Overall, this demonstrated that quercetin could block the pro-inflammatory actions of N-SMase and augment the efficacy of anti-AML therapeutics, including ceramide-based therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin M McGill
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alaska-Anchorage, Anchorage, AK 99508 USA
| | - Timothy J Brown
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033 USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390 USA
| | - Lindsey N Fisher
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033 USA
| | - Sally J Gustafson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Alaska-Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775
| | - Kriya L Dunlap
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Alaska-Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775
| | - Adam J Beck
- Drug Discovery, Development, and Delivery Core, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033 USA
| | - Paul T Toran
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824 USA
| | - David F Claxton
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033 USA
| | - Brian M Barth
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033 USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824 USA
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McGill CM, Brown TJ, Cheng YY, Fisher LN, Shanmugavelandy SS, Gustafson SJ, Dunlap KL, Lila MA, Kester M, Toran PT, Claxton DF, Barth BM. Therapeutic Effect of Blueberry Extracts for Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Int J Biopharm Sci 2018; 1:102. [PMID: 29607443 PMCID: PMC5875929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive hematological malignancy with high incidence in the aging population. In addition, AML is one of the more common pediatric malignancies. Unfortunately, both of these patient groups are quite sensitive to chemotherapy toxicities. Investigation of blueberries specifically as an anti-AML agent has been limited, despite being a prominent natural product with no reported toxicity. In this study, blueberry extracts are reported for the first time to exert a dietary therapeutic effect in animal models of AML. Furthermore, in vitro studies revealed that blueberry extracts exerted anti-AML efficacy against myeloid leukemia cell lines as well as against primary AML, and specifically provoked Erk and Akt regulation within the leukemia stem cell subpopulation. This study provides evidence that blueberries may be unique sources for anti-AML biopharmaceutical compound discovery, further warranting fractionation of this natural product. More so, blueberries themselves may provide an intriguing dietary option to enhance the anti-AML efficacy of traditional therapy for subsets of patients that otherwise may not tolerate rigorous combinations of therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin M. McGill
- Department of Chemistry, University of Alaska-Anchorage, Anchorage, AK 99508 USA
| | - Timothy J. Brown
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033 USA
| | - Yuan-Yin Cheng
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033 USA
| | - Lindsey N. Fisher
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033 USA
| | | | - Sally J. Gustafson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Alaska-Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775 USA
- Plants for Human Health Institute, North Carolina State University, North Carolina Research Campus, Kannapolis, NC 28081 USA
| | - Kriya L. Dunlap
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Alaska-Fairbanks, Fairbanks, AK 99775 USA
| | - Mary Ann Lila
- Plants for Human Health Institute, North Carolina State University, North Carolina Research Campus, Kannapolis, NC 28081 USA
| | - Mark Kester
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033 USA
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22908 USA
| | - Paul T. Toran
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824 USA
| | - David F. Claxton
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033 USA
| | - Brian M. Barth
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Penn State Hershey Cancer Institute, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033 USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033 USA
- Department of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH 03824 USA
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McGill CM, Alba-Rodriguez EJ, Li S, Benson CJ, Ondrasik RM, Fisher LN, Claxton DF, Barth BM. Extracts of Devil's club (Oplopanax horridus) exert therapeutic efficacy in experimental models of acute myeloid leukemia. Phytother Res 2014; 28:1308-14. [PMID: 25340187 DOI: 10.1002/ptr.5129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a group of hematological malignancies defined by expanded clonal populations of immature progenitors (blasts) of myeloid phenotype in blood and bone marrow. Given a typical poor prognostic outlook, there is great need for novel agents with anti-AML activity. Devil’s club (Oplopanax horridus) is one of the most significant medicinal plants used among the indigenous people of Southeast Alaska and the coastal Pacific Northwest, with different linguistic groups utilizing various parts of the plant to treat many different conditions including cancer. Studies identifying medically relevant components in Devil’s club are limited. For this research study, samples were extracted in 70% ethanol before in vitro analysis, to assess effects on AML cell line viability as well as to study regulation of tyrosine phosphorylation and cysteine oxidation. The root extract displayed better in vitro anti-AML efficacy in addition to a noted anti-tyrosine kinase activity independent of an antioxidant effect. In vivo therapeutic studies using an immunocompetent murine model of AML further demonstrated that Devil’s club root extract improved the murine survival while decreasing immunosuppressive regulatory T cells and improving CD8+ T-cell functionality. This study defines for the first time an anti-AML efficacy for extracts of Devil’s club.
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Abstract
The employees of two chloralkali plants were studied to correlate the signs and symptoms of mercury toxicity with levels of exposure. For purposes of comparison, the workers were divided into three groups. These groups were selected on the basis of hours worked in the mercury cell room or in other areas of mercury exposure. The population of the first plant was studied from 1957-1978, and preliminary findings were published in 1964. The second plant's population was studied for 3.5 years beginning in 1976. Time-weighted average exposure levels to mercury vapor in the high exposure group generally ranged between 0.05 to 0.10 mg/m3. No significant differences in the frequency of objective or subjective findings were noted among the three groups except for a lower post exposure systolic and post exposure diastolic blood pressure in the high exposure group in the second plant's population. There was no correlation of mercury vapor exposure with subjective or objective weight loss.
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McGill CM. Industrial back problems. A control program. J Occup Med 1968; 10:174-8. [PMID: 4231057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
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