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Xiong L, Lin K, He T, Liu X, Yuan R, Li X, Zhang J. A novel approach combining network pharmacology and experimental validation to study the protective effect of ginsenoside Rb1 against cantharidin-induced hepatotoxicity in mice. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol 2024; 134:737-749. [PMID: 38477401 DOI: 10.1111/bcpt.13999] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
Cantharidin (CTD) is a widely used anticancer compound, but its clinical use is mainly limited due to hepatotoxicity. Ginsenoside Rb1 (GRb1) shows potential hepatoprotective effects. Nonetheless, the protective effect and underlying mechanism of GRb1 against CTD-induced hepatotoxicity in mice have not been investigated. This study aims to elucidate the effect and mechanism of GRb1 on CTD-induced hepatotoxicity using network pharmacology and in vivo experiments. Network pharmacology studies have shown that 263 targets were the main mechanisms by which GRb1 alleviates CTD-induced hepatotoxicity. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that 75 hub genes were mainly enriched in TNF, IL-17 and apoptosis signalling pathways. Molecular docking analysis showed that GRb1 exhibited high affinity with Akt1, Tnf, Il6, Bcl2 and Caspase3. In addition, results from animal studies demonstrated that GRb1 could ameliorate CTD-induced hepatotoxicity by inhibiting protein expression of Caspase-3, Caspase-8, Bcl-2/Bax, GRP78, ATF6, ATF4, CHOP, IRE1α and PERK. This research revealed the mechanism of GRb1 against CTD-induced hepatotoxicity by inhibiting apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and it may provide a scientific rationale for the potential use of GRb1 in the treatment of hepatotoxicity induced by CTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijuan Xiong
- School of Pharmacy and Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology Ministry Education, Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Kexin Lin
- School of Basic Medicine, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Tianmu He
- School of Basic Medicine, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Xingyan Liu
- School of Pharmacy and Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology Ministry Education, Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Rui Yuan
- School of Pharmacy and Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology Ministry Education, Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Xiaofei Li
- School of Basic Medicine, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Jianyong Zhang
- School of Pharmacy and Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology Ministry Education, Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
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Kumawat R, Tomar RS. Dissecting the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase Hog1 in yeast flocculation. FEBS J 2024. [PMID: 38648231 DOI: 10.1111/febs.17137] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Living organisms are frequently exposed to multiple biotic and abiotic stress forms during their lifetime. Organisms cope with stress conditions by regulating their gene expression programs. In response to different environmental stress conditions, yeast cells activate different tolerance mechanisms, many of which share common signaling pathways. Flocculation is one of the key mechanisms underlying yeast survival under unfavorable environmental conditions, and the Tup1-Cyc8 corepressor complex is a major regulator of this process. Additionally, yeast cells can utilize different mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways to modulate gene expression during stress conditions. Here, we show that the high osmolarity glycerol (HOG) MAPK pathway is involved in the regulation of yeast flocculation. We observed that the HOG MAPK pathway was constitutively activated in flocculating cells, and found that the interaction between phosphorylated Hog1 and the FLO genes promoter region increased significantly upon sodium chloride exposure. We found that treatment of cells with cantharidin decreased Hog1 phosphorylation, causing a sharp reduction in the expression of FLO genes and the flocculation phenotype. Similarly, deletion of HOG1 in yeast cells reduced flocculation. Altogether, our results suggest a role for HOG MAPK signaling in the regulation of FLO genes and yeast flocculation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramesh Kumawat
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO, USA
| | - Raghuvir Singh Tomar
- Laboratory of Chromatin Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal, India
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Xiao Y, Liu R, Zhang X, Li Y, Peng F, Tang W. Analysis of cantharidin-induced kidney injury and the protective mechanism of resveratrol in mice determined by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry-based metabonomics. J Appl Toxicol 2024. [PMID: 38448202 DOI: 10.1002/jat.4596] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2024] [Revised: 02/08/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Cantharidin (CTD) is the main active component in the traditional Chinese medicine Mylabris and an effective anti-tumor agent. However, it is relatively toxic and exhibits nephrotoxicity, which limits its clinical use. However, its toxic mechanism is not clear. The toxic effects of CTD exposure on the kidney and the protective effect of resveratrol (RES) were studied in a mouse model, by determination of serum biochemical and renal antioxidant indicators, histopathological and ultrastructural observation, and metabonomics. After CTD exposure, serum uric acid, creatinine, and tissue oxidative stress indicators increased, and the renal glomerular and tubular epithelial cells showed clear pathological damage. Ultrastructure observation revealed marked mitochondrial swelling, endoplasmic reticulum dilation, and the presence of autophagy lysosomes in glomerular epithelial cells. RES ameliorated the renal injury induced by CTD. Metabonomics analysis indicated that CTD can induce apoptosis and oxidative damage in kidney cells, mainly by disrupting sphingolipid and glutathione metabolism, increasing sphingosine and sphingomyelin levels, and decreasing glutathione levels. RES counteracts these effects by regulating renal cell proliferation, the inflammatory response, oxidative stress, and apoptosis, by improving the levels of phosphatidylcholine (PC), LysoPC, and lysophosphatidyl glycerol in the glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway, thereby reducing CTD-induced nephrotoxicity. The mechanisms of CTD-induced renal injury and the protective effect of RES were revealed by metabonomics, providing a basis for evaluating clinical treatment regimens to reduce CTD-induced nephrotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Xiao
- Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
| | - Ruxia Liu
- Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
| | - Xiaoyue Zhang
- Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
| | - Yaofeng Li
- Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
| | - Fang Peng
- Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
| | - Wenchao Tang
- Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
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Cantharidin topical solution (Ycanth) for molluscum contagiosum. Med Lett Drugs Ther 2024; 66:27-9. [PMID: 38412266 DOI: 10.58347/tml.2024.1696b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
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Zhang L, Cheng S, Chen C, Fang L, Cui C. Application of cantharidin, retinoic acid cream and salicylic acidy in multiple palmoplantar warts. Skin Res Technol 2024; 30:e13586. [PMID: 38279540 PMCID: PMC10818119 DOI: 10.1111/srt.13586] [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] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/28/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Multiple palmoplantar warts, caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, were investigated for clinical efficacy using cantharidin, retinoic acid cream, and salicylic acid cream. METHODS A total of 110 patients with multiple palmoplantar warts were enrolled. The experimental group (54 cases) received a 1:1:1 combination (CRS) of 0.25% cantharidin, 0.1% retinoic acid cream, and 5% salicylic acid, applied with pressurized encapsulation for 8 h every night, three times per week. The control group (56 cases) underwent conventional liquid nitrogen freezing. Monthly follow-ups assessed cure rate, effective rate, dermatological life quality index (DLQI), visual analog scale (VAS), and cost, with evaluations conducted after 3 months. RESULTS The treatment group exhibited a cure rate of 85.19% and a total effective rate of 96.30%, surpassing the control group with rates of 39.29% and 51.79%, respectively (p < 0.05). The treatment group's DLQI score (1.84 ± 1.06) was significantly lower than the control group's score (6.04 ± 1.78) (p = 0.0005). Additionally, the treatment group's VAS score (1.84 ± 1.06) was notably lower than the control group's score (8.56 ± 1.07) (p < 0.0001). The treatment group's total cost (43.20 ± 2.85) was markedly lower than the control group's cost (206.38 ± 90.81), with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION The combination of cantharidin, retinoic acid cream, and salicylic acid with local encapsulation is a safe, effective, economical, and convenient treatment method for multiple palmoplantar warts, exhibiting few side effects and showing promise.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liyin Zhang
- Department of DermatologyWuxi NO 2 People's Hospital, Central Hospital Affiliated to Jiang nan UniversityWuxiJiangsuChina
| | - Shasha Cheng
- Department of DermatologyXishan People's Hospital of Wuxi City, Wuxi Branch of Zhongda Hospital Southeast UniversityWuxiJiangsuChina
| | - Cheng Chen
- Department of DermatologyXishan People's Hospital of Wuxi City, Wuxi Branch of Zhongda Hospital Southeast UniversityWuxiJiangsuChina
| | - Ling Fang
- Department of DermatologyXishan People's Hospital of Wuxi City, Wuxi Branch of Zhongda Hospital Southeast UniversityWuxiJiangsuChina
| | - Chengjun Cui
- Department of DermatologyXishan People's Hospital of Wuxi City, Wuxi Branch of Zhongda Hospital Southeast UniversityWuxiJiangsuChina
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Fabbro SK, Stoff BK. Ethical issues of compounding cantharidin in dermatology. J Am Acad Dermatol 2023; 89:1322-1323. [PMID: 35863469 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaad.2022.07.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 07/10/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie K Fabbro
- Division of Dermatology, OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital, Columbus, Ohio.
| | - Benjamin K Stoff
- Department of Dermatology, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia; Emory Center for Ethics, Atlanta, Georgia
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Lee K, Nada H, Kim M, Park H, Lee K, Seo D, Lee K, Choi Y. Cantharidin-Based Verbenone Derivatives as a Novel Insecticide against Plutella xylostella: Design, Synthesis, Insecticidal Activity Evaluation, and 3D QSAR Study. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1272. [PMID: 37627337 PMCID: PMC10452746 DOI: 10.3390/biom13081272] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 08/11/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The diamondback moth is a detrimental insect pest of brassicaceous crops which was among the first crop insects to be reported as DDT resistant. It has since proven to be significantly resistant to nearly every synthetic insecticide used in the field in many crucifer-producing regions. Due to insecticide control failures in some parts of the world, economically viable crucifer production is now all but impossible. As a result, there has been an increasing effort to identify new compounds with strong pesticidal activity. Cantharidin is one such compound that has been shown to be highly effective against a variety of insect pests. However, its chemical synthesis and potential toxicity to non-target organisms have been a major source of concern. Herein, using rational design approaches, a new series of cantharidin-based verbenone derivatives were synthesized and evaluated for their insecticidal activities against the diamondback moth. Among different compounds screened, compounds 6a, 6h, 6i, and 6q emerged as the most potent compounds exhibiting 100% mortality at a concentration of 100 mg/L after four days. These compounds demonstrated a good anti-feeding effect against the diamondback moth on cabbage leaves. Subsequently, a 3D QSAR study was carried out to identify the key structural features of the synthesized compounds and their correlation with insecticidal activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwanshik Lee
- College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, 145 Anamro, Seungbukgu, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea; (K.L.); (H.P.)
| | - Hossam Nada
- College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University, 32 Donggukro, Ilsandonggu, Goyangsi 10326, Republic of Korea; (H.N.); (M.K.)
| | - Minkyoung Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University, 32 Donggukro, Ilsandonggu, Goyangsi 10326, Republic of Korea; (H.N.); (M.K.)
| | - Hyejun Park
- College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, 145 Anamro, Seungbukgu, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea; (K.L.); (H.P.)
| | - Kiho Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Korea University, 2511, Sejongro, Sejong 30019, Republic of Korea; (K.L.); (D.S.)
| | - Dongho Seo
- College of Pharmacy, Korea University, 2511, Sejongro, Sejong 30019, Republic of Korea; (K.L.); (D.S.)
| | - Kyeong Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Dongguk University, 32 Donggukro, Ilsandonggu, Goyangsi 10326, Republic of Korea; (H.N.); (M.K.)
| | - Yongseok Choi
- College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, 145 Anamro, Seungbukgu, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea; (K.L.); (H.P.)
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Jin D, Huang NN, Wei JX. Hepatotoxic mechanism of cantharidin: insights and strategies for therapeutic intervention. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1201404. [PMID: 37383714 PMCID: PMC10293652 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1201404] [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] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Accepted: 06/01/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Cantharidin (CTD), a natural compound derived from Mylabris, is widely used in traditional Oriental medicine for its potent anticancer properties. However, its clinical application is restricted due to its high toxicity, particularly towards the liver. This review provides a concise understanding of the hepatotoxic mechanisms of CTD and highlights novel therapeutic strategies to mitigate its toxicity while enhancing its anticancer efficacy. We systematically explore the molecular mechanisms underlying CTD-induced hepatotoxicity, focusing on the involvement of apoptotic and autophagic processes in hepatocyte injury. We further discuss the endogenous and exogenous pathways implicated in CTD-induced liver damage and potential therapeutic targets. This review also summarizes the structural modifications of CTD derivatives and their impact on anticancer activity. Additionally, we delve into the advancements in nanoparticle-based drug delivery systems that hold promise in overcoming the limitations of CTD derivatives. By offering valuable insights into the hepatotoxic mechanisms of CTD and outlining potential avenues for future research, this review contributes to the ongoing efforts to develop safer and more effective CTD-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dian Jin
- Department of Pharmacy, Sixth People’s Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, China
| | - Na-Na Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Jing-Xia Wei
- Department of Pharmacy, Sixth People’s Hospital of Chengdu, Chengdu, China
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Chao YC, Ko MJ, Tsai WC, Hsu LY, Wu HY. Comparative efficacy of treatments for molluscum contagiosum: A systematic review and network meta-analysis. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges 2023. [PMID: 37199262 DOI: 10.1111/ddg.15063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Various interventions have been applied to treat molluscum contagiosum, but benefits and efficacy remain unclear. To assess the comparative efficacy and safety of interventions for molluscum contagiosum, a network meta-analysis was performed. PATIENTS AND METHODS Embase, PubMed, and the Cochrane Library were searched for articles published between January 1, 1990, and November 31, 2020. Eligible studies were randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of interventions in immunocompetent children and adults with genital/non-genital molluscum contagiosum lesions. RESULTS Twelve interventions from 25 RCTs including 2,123 participants were assessed. Compared with the placebo, ingenol mebutate had the most significant effect on complete clearance (odds ratio [OR] 117.42, 95% confidence interval [CI] 6.37-2164.88), followed by cryotherapy (OR 16.81, 95% CI 4.13-68.54), podophyllotoxin (OR 10.24, 95% CI 3.36-31.21), and potassium hydroxide (KOH) (OR 10.02, 95% CI 4.64-21.64). Data on adverse effects were too scarce for quantitative synthesis. CONCLUSIONS Ingenol mebutate, cryotherapy, podophyllotoxin, and KOH were more effective than the other interventions in achieving complete clearance, but safety concerns regarding ingenol mebutate have recently been reported. Due to the possibility of spontaneous resolution, observation is also justified for asymptomatic infection. Factors including adverse effects, cost, patient preference, and medical accessibility should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan-Chen Chao
- Department of Dermatology, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Mei-Ju Ko
- Department of Dermatology, Taipei City Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan
- Department of Dermatology, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Wan-Chuan Tsai
- Department of Internal Medicine, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan
- Center for General Education, Lee-Ming Institute of Technology, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Le-Yin Hsu
- Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Hon-Yen Wu
- Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital and College of Medicine, Taipei City, Taiwan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan
- Institute of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei City, Taiwan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei City, Taiwan
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Wu F, Peng J, Ran J, Tian Y, Li X, Ren Y, Gai R, Zhang Y. Quality Evaluation of Traditional Chinese Medicine Mylabris Based on Heavy Metal Risk Assessment and Analysis of Pharmacological Component Contents. Chem Biodivers 2023; 20:e202200563. [PMID: 36573697 DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.202200563] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
As a highly representative traditional Chinese anti-tumor medicinal material, the biomass of Mylabris is collected from the wild. However, the living environments of Mylabris is differ, so Mylabris may be contaminated by heavy metal pollution depending on the environment. These environments may also affect the amount of biosynthesis of its medicinal ingredient, cantharidin, there by affecting the quality of Mylabris. In this study, we determined the heavy metal content in Mylabris from different origins by using ICP-MS, evaluated the risk posed by these heavy metals, and recommended theoretical maximum limits of heavy metals in medicinal Mylabris. The results show that the Cu content in Mylabris is substantially higher than that in Cr, As, Pb, Cd, and Hg. A quantitative risk assessment showed that Mylabris poses no noncarcinogenic risks. The results of the total carcinogenic risk value showed that origins S12 and S13 pose carcinogenic risk by Cr and As, and the rest of the origins were in the human-tolerable carcinogenic risk range. We found large differences in the cantharidin content in Mylabris from different origins. In general, the Mylabris from origins S2, S3 and S4 had a higher in vivo cantharidin content, which proved that the quality of the medicinal materials was higher here than in other production areas. Finally, we providing a reference for the quality evaluation of medicinal Mylabris materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Faming Wu
- College of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, 56300, Zunyi, China
| | - Jie Peng
- College of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, 56300, Zunyi, China
| | - Junfeng Ran
- College of Pharmacy, Southwest Minzu University, 610041, Chengdu, China
| | - Yubo Tian
- College of Pharmacy, Southwest Minzu University, 610041, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiang Li
- College of Pharmacy, Southwest Minzu University, 610041, Chengdu, China
| | - Yan Ren
- College of Pharmacy, Southwest Minzu University, 610041, Chengdu, China
| | | | - Yunying Zhang
- College of Pharmacy, Southwest Minzu University, 610041, Chengdu, China
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Schöpe PC, Zinnow V, Ishfaq MA, Smith J, Herrmann P, Shoemaker RH, Walther W, Stein U. Cantharidin and Its Analogue Norcantharidin Inhibit Metastasis-Inducing Genes S100A4 and MACC1. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24021179. [PMID: 36674695 PMCID: PMC9866560 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24021179] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most prevalent and second deadliest cancer worldwide. In addition, metastasis directly causes up to 90% of all CRC deaths, highlighting the metastatic burden of the disease. Biomarkers such as S100A4 and MACC1 aid in identifying patients with a high risk of metastasis formation. High expression of S100A4 or MACC1 and to a greater extent the combination of both biomarkers is a predictor for metastasis and poor patient survival in CRC. MACC1 is a tumor-initiating and metastasis-promoting oncogene, whereas S100A4 has not been shown to initiate tumor formation but can, nevertheless, promote malignant tumor growth and metastasis formation. Cantharidin is a natural drug extracted from various blister beetle species, and its demethylated analogue norcantharidin has been shown in several studies to have an anti-cancer and anti-metastatic effect in different cancer entities such as CRC, breast cancer, and lung cancer. The impact of the natural compound cantharidin and norcantharidin on S100A4 and MACC1 gene expression, cancer cell migration, motility, and colony formation in vitro was tested. Here, for the first time, we have demonstrated that cantharidin and norcantharidin are transcriptional inhibitors of S100A4 and MACC1 mRNA expression, protein expression, and motility in CRC cells. Our results clearly indicate that cantharidin and, to a lesser extent, its analogue norcantharidin are promising compounds for efficient anti-metastatic therapy targeting the metastasis-inducing genes S100A4 and MACC1 for personalized medicine for cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Curtis Schöpe
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Charité—Universitätsmedizin and Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Viktoria Zinnow
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Charité—Universitätsmedizin and Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Muhammad Ahtisham Ishfaq
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Charité—Universitätsmedizin and Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Janice Smith
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Charité—Universitätsmedizin and Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Pia Herrmann
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Charité—Universitätsmedizin and Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Robert H. Shoemaker
- Chemopreventive Agent Development Research Group, Division of Cancer Prevention, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Wolfgang Walther
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Charité—Universitätsmedizin and Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK Partnersite Berlin), Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ulrike Stein
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Charité—Universitätsmedizin and Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, 13125 Berlin, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK Partnersite Berlin), Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-30-9406-3432
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Navarro-Pérez D, García-Oreja S, Álvaro-Afonso FJ, López-Moral M, García-Madrid M, Lázaro-Martínez JL. Cantharidin-Podophyllin-Salicylic Acid Formulation as a First-Line Treatment for Plantar Warts? A Case Report with Multiple Plantar Warts of Human Papillomavirus Biotype 27 and Previous Failed Treatments. Am J Case Rep 2022; 23:e937867. [PMID: 36348614 PMCID: PMC9662077 DOI: 10.12659/ajcr.937867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plantar warts are benign skin tumors caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). There are multiple treatments, but none ensure absolute success. Successful treatment depends on several factors, such as the location, number of lesions, HPV biotype, and the patient's health condition. This report presents a 53-year-old woman who had multiple recalcitrant plantar warts with HPV biotype 27 that were treated using a cantharidin-podophyllin-salicylic acid (CPS) formulation after 2 failed treatments. CASE REPORT A 53-year-old woman was seen on October 25, 2021. She had 6 plantar warts due to HPV biotype 27, which was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction using a sample of hyperkeratosis scales obtained from the wart after debridement. Five cryotherapy sessions were applied, without clinical improvement. Two sessions of nitric-acid-zinc complex were then applied, from which the patient reported severe pain, without clinical improvement. Finally, 3 sessions of CPS formulation were applied, and the HPV remitted in all warts. CONCLUSIONS Conservative treatments, such as cryotherapy, have not been effective in a case of multiple recalcitrant plantar warts. The combined action of the 3 compounds of CPS formulation was key in the resolution of this case. Plantar wart treatment should be easy to apply, effective, fast, and efficient. In cases of recalcitrant or numerous warts, treatment should be more aggressive from the beginning if the patient's lifestyle allows it. It would be interesting to conduct randomized clinical trials to find out which patients could be indicated for the CPS formulation as a first line of treatment.
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Chillappagari S, Schwarz J, Kesireddy V, Knoell J, Korfei M, Hoetzenecker K, Schmitz ML, Behl C, Bellusci S, Guenther A, Mahavadi P. Therapeutic induction of Bcl2-associated athanogene 3-mediated autophagy in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Clin Transl Med 2022; 12:e935. [PMID: 35834635 PMCID: PMC9282656 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.935] [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] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exaggerated fibroblast proliferation is a well-known feature in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) which may be - in part - due to insufficient autophagy, a lysosome dependent cellular surveillance pathway. Bcl2-associated athanogene 3 (BAG3) is a pivotal co-chaperone of the autophagy pathway. Here, we studied whether therapeutic modulation of BAG3-mediated autophagy can rescue insufficient autophagy and impact IPF fibroblast proliferation. METHODS Primary interstitial fibroblasts or precision cut lung slices (PCLS) of IPF lungs were treated with (1) the antifibrotic drug pirfenidone (Pirf), (2) the demethylating agent 5-azacytidine (Aza), (3) the BAG3 modulator cantharidin (Ctd). Autophagy flux was measured following pretreatment with the autophagy inhibitors or by GFP-RFP-LC3B transfection followed by drug treatments. Proliferation was measured by 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine assay. BAG3, filamin C (FLNC), proliferating-cell-nuclear-antigen (PCNA), collagen1A1 (COL1A1) and autophagy proteins were assessed by immunoblotting or immunofluorescence. Loss of function experiments were performed by siRNA mediated knockdown of BAG3. RESULTS In comparison with healthy donors, increased BAG3 protein was observed in IPF lung homogenates and IPF fibroblasts. In addition, the substrate of BAG3-mediated autophagy, FLNC, was increased in IPF fibroblasts, implying insufficient activation of BAG3-dependent autophagy. Therapeutic modulation of this pathway using Aza and Ctd alone or in combination with the IPF therapy drug Pirf rescued the insufficient BAG3-mediated autophagy and decreased fibroblast proliferation. Such effects were observed upon therapeutic modulation of BAG3 but not upon knock down of BAG3 per se in IPF fibroblasts. Similarly, PCLS of IPF patients showed a significant decrease in collagen deposition in response to these drugs, either alone or in a more potent form in combination with Pirf. CONCLUSIONS Our study reveals that repurposing drugs that modulate autophagy regulating proteins render therapeutic benefits in IPF. Fine tuning of this pathway may hence signify a promising therapeutic strategy to ameliorate antifibrotic properties and augment the efficacy of current IPF therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shashipavan Chillappagari
- Department of Internal Medicine, Justus-Liebig University (JLU) Giessen, Giessen, Hessen, Germany
- Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Member of the German Centre for Lung Research (DZL), Giessen, Hessen, Germany
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, JLU Giessen, Giessen, Hessen, Germany
| | - Julian Schwarz
- Department of Internal Medicine, Justus-Liebig University (JLU) Giessen, Giessen, Hessen, Germany
| | - Vidyasagar Kesireddy
- Department of Internal Medicine, Justus-Liebig University (JLU) Giessen, Giessen, Hessen, Germany
| | - Jessica Knoell
- Department of Internal Medicine, Justus-Liebig University (JLU) Giessen, Giessen, Hessen, Germany
- Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Member of the German Centre for Lung Research (DZL), Giessen, Hessen, Germany
| | - Martina Korfei
- Department of Internal Medicine, Justus-Liebig University (JLU) Giessen, Giessen, Hessen, Germany
- Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Member of the German Centre for Lung Research (DZL), Giessen, Hessen, Germany
| | - Konrad Hoetzenecker
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Vienna General Hospital, Vienna, Austria
- European IPF Network and European IPF Registry, Giessen, Germany
| | - M Lienhard Schmitz
- Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Member of the German Centre for Lung Research (DZL), Giessen, Hessen, Germany
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, JLU Giessen, Giessen, Hessen, Germany
- Member of the Cardio-Pulmonary Institute (CPI), JLU Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Christian Behl
- Institute of Pathobiochemistry, The Autophagy Lab, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Saverio Bellusci
- Department of Internal Medicine, Justus-Liebig University (JLU) Giessen, Giessen, Hessen, Germany
- Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Member of the German Centre for Lung Research (DZL), Giessen, Hessen, Germany
- Member of the Cardio-Pulmonary Institute (CPI), JLU Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Andreas Guenther
- Department of Internal Medicine, Justus-Liebig University (JLU) Giessen, Giessen, Hessen, Germany
- Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Member of the German Centre for Lung Research (DZL), Giessen, Hessen, Germany
- European IPF Network and European IPF Registry, Giessen, Germany
- Member of the Cardio-Pulmonary Institute (CPI), JLU Giessen, Giessen, Germany
- Lung Clinic, Agaplesion Evangelisches Krankenhaus Mittelhessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Poornima Mahavadi
- Department of Internal Medicine, Justus-Liebig University (JLU) Giessen, Giessen, Hessen, Germany
- Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC), Member of the German Centre for Lung Research (DZL), Giessen, Hessen, Germany
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14
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Molfini M, Stefanuto L, Gisondi S, Gasperi T, Di Giulio A, Mancini E, Bologna MA. New Evidence of Canthariphily: Tilloidea transversalis (Coleoptera: Cleridae) Sequestering Cantharidin From Lydus trimaculatus (Coleoptera: Meloidae). J Insect Sci 2022; 22:6618873. [PMID: 35762395 PMCID: PMC9237715 DOI: 10.1093/jisesa/ieac035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Cantharidin (CTD) is a defensive compound autogenously and exclusively produced by two phylogenetically related beetle families: Meloidae and Oedemeridae. Although this molecule usually acts as a strong deterrent against potential predators and parasites, some arthropod species, collectively named 'canthariphilous species', are attracted to CTD. Some species can sequester CTD from the CTD-producing species, using it as a chemical defense against enemies. The present paper focuses on the first-ever description of canthariphilous interactions between a checkered beetle species (Coleoptera: Cleridae) and a CTD -producing species. Field observations revealed individuals of the phytophagous beetle Tilloidea transversalis (Charpentier, 1825) (Coleoptera: Cleridae) biting individuals of the blister beetle Lydus trimaculatus (Fabricius, 1775) (Coleoptera: Meloidae). Laboratory behavioral experiments followed to verify if this peculiar behavior of T. transversalis also occurs on other co-occurring species. Moreover, chemical analyses were performed to assess whether T. transversalis can sequester CTD. Our results show that T. transversalis only attacks CTD-producing species. However, while chemical analyses prove that T. transversalis can sequester CTD from the hemolymph of L. trimaculatus, some clues (based on a CTD-baited traps sampling) suggest that this beetle, contrarily to other canthariphilous species, does not appear to show a high attraction to pure synthetic CTD. Thus, other unknown signals, alone or in combination with CTD, could be implicated in triggering the canthariphilous behaviors of T. transversalis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luca Stefanuto
- Department of Science, University of Roma Tre, Viale Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Gisondi
- Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l’Analisi dell’Economia Agraria, Centro di Ricerca Difesa e Certificazione, Via di Lanciola 12/a, 50125 Firenze, Italy
| | - Tecla Gasperi
- Department of Science, University of Roma Tre, Viale Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Di Giulio
- Department of Science, University of Roma Tre, Viale Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Emiliano Mancini
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies ‘Charles Darwin’, Sapienza University, Viale dell’Università 32, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Marco A Bologna
- Department of Science, University of Roma Tre, Viale Marconi 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
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15
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Heo K, Basu H, Gutnick A, Wei W, Shlevkov E, Schwarz TL. Serine/Threonine Protein Phosphatase 2A Regulates the Transport of Axonal Mitochondria. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:852245. [PMID: 35370563 PMCID: PMC8973303 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.852245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Microtubule-based transport provides mitochondria to distant regions of neurons and is essential for neuronal health. To identify compounds that increase mitochondrial motility, we screened 1,641 small-molecules in a high-throughput screening platform. Indirubin and cantharidin increased mitochondrial motility in rat cortical neurons. Cantharidin is known to inhibit protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A). We therefore tested two other inhibitors of PP2A: LB-100 and okadaic acid. LB-100 increased mitochondrial motility, but okadaic acid did not. To resolve this discrepancy, we knocked down expression of the catalytic subunit of PP2A (PP2CA). This long-term inhibition of PP2A more than doubled retrograde transport of axonal mitochondria, confirming the importance of PP2A as a regulator of mitochondrial motility and as the likely mediator of cantharidin's effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keunjung Heo
- Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Himanish Basu
- Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Amos Gutnick
- Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Wei Wei
- Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Evgeny Shlevkov
- Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Thomas L Schwarz
- Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, United States.,Department of Neurobiology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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16
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Cheng W, Wang Y, Liu J, Li X, Yu M, Duan C, Liu L, Zhang J. Hepatotoxicity of cantharidin is associated with the altered bile acid metabolism. J Appl Toxicol 2021; 42:970-980. [PMID: 34866203 DOI: 10.1002/jat.4267] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 10/29/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Cantharidin (CTD) is an effective antitumor agent. However, it exhibits significant hepatotoxicity, the mechanism of which remains unclear. In this study, biochemical and histopathological analyses complemented with ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS)-based targeted metabolomic analysis of bile acids (BAs) were employed to investigate CTD-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Sixteen male and female Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into two groups: control and CTD (1.0 mg/kg) groups. Serum and liver samples were collected after 28 days of intervention. Biochemical, histopathological, and BA metabolomic analyses were performed for all samples. Further, the key biomarkers of CTD-induced hepatotoxicity were identified via multivariate and metabolic pathway analyses. In addition, metabolite-gene-enzyme network and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses were used to identify the signaling pathways related to CTD-induced hepatotoxicity. The results revealed significantly increased levels of biochemical indices (alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and total bile acid). Histopathological analysis revealed that the hepatocytes were damaged. Further, 20 endogenous BAs were quantitated via UHPLC-MS/MS, and multivariate and metabolic pathway analyses of BAs revealed that hyocholic acid, cholic acid, and chenodeoxycholic acid were the key biomarkers of CTD-induced hepatotoxicity. Meanwhile, primary and secondary BA biosynthesis and taurine and hypotaurine metabolism were found to be associated with the mechanism by which CTD induced hepatotoxicity in rats. This study provides useful insights for research on the mechanism of CTD-induced hepatotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weina Cheng
- School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Yazhi Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Jingxian Liu
- School of Preclinical Medicine, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Xiaofei Li
- School of Preclinical Medicine, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Ming Yu
- School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Cancan Duan
- School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China.,Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of Ministry Education and Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Liu Liu
- School of Preclinical Medicine, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
| | - Jianyong Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China.,Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of Ministry Education and Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China
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17
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Abstract
Common skin warts frequently appear on the fingers of children, a patient population in whom finger-sucking is a prevalent habit. Despite overlap between these two pediatric conditions, there are no well-reported specific precautions against the use of topical blistering wart treatments, such as trichloroacetic acid and cantharidin, in finger-sucking children with warts. We report the case of oral ulcers in a pediatric patient secondary to thumb-sucking after receiving treatment for multiple finger warts with combination cryotherapy, trichloroacetic acid, and cantharidin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer McConnell
- Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Lindsey Claire Epperson
- Division of Medical Toxicology, Department of Emergency Medicine, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Faye Eifert
- Division of Pediatric Dermatology, Department of Pediatrics, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Kim Aldy
- Division of Medical Toxicology, Department of Emergency Medicine, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
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18
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Eichenfield LF, Kwong P, Gonzalez ME, Yan A, D'Arnaud P, Burnett P, Olivadoti M. Safety and Efficacy of VP-102 ( Cantharidin, 0.7% w/v) in Molluscum Contagiosum by Body Region: Post hoc Pooled Analyses from Two Phase III Randomized Trials. J Clin Aesthet Dermatol 2021; 14:42-47. [PMID: 34976290 PMCID: PMC8711618] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
TRIAL REGISTRATION >ClinicalTrials.gov identifier nos. NCT03377790 (for CAMP-1) and NCT03377803 (for CAMP-2). BACKGROUND VP-102 is drug-device combination product containing cantharidin (0.7% w/v) and has undergone Phase III clinical trials for the treatment of molluscum contagiosum (molluscum). Efficacy and safety may differ by body region due to variable skin anatomy. OBJECTIVE We investigated the pooled safety and efficacy of VP-102 by affected body region. METHODS Individuals at least two years of age with molluscum were randomized to topical VP-102 or vehicle once every 21 days until clear (maximum of four applications). Participants were assigned to body region groups where lesions were present at baseline. Body region lesion counts were recorded at each visit. Efficacy was measured by the percentage of participants with complete clearance of lesions by region. Pre-specified adverse events (AEs) were analyzed for those treated in the region on that visit. RESULTS Participants had a mean of two regions affected at baseline. Complete clearance was significantly higher in the VP-102-treated group than with vehicle application in all regions at the last visit (P<0.01 for each region). The incidence of pre-specified AEs was consistent across regions. However, these analyses were post hoc, and individual lesions were not tracked for efficacy. CONCLUSION VP-102 treatment shows consistent safety and efficacy across molluscum body regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence F Eichenfield
- Dr. Eichenfield is with Rady Children's Hospital and the University of California, San Diego, Medical School in San Diego, California
- Dr. Kwong is with Solutions Through Advanced Research in Jacksonville, Florida
- Dr. Gonzalez is with the University of Miami Medical School in Miami, Florida
- Dr. Yan is with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Philadelphia in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Mr. D'Arnaud is with Instat Consulting Inc. in Chatham, New Jersey
- Drs. Burnett and Olivadoti are former employees of Verrica Pharmaceuticals Inc. in West Chester, Pennsylvania
| | - Pearl Kwong
- Dr. Eichenfield is with Rady Children's Hospital and the University of California, San Diego, Medical School in San Diego, California
- Dr. Kwong is with Solutions Through Advanced Research in Jacksonville, Florida
- Dr. Gonzalez is with the University of Miami Medical School in Miami, Florida
- Dr. Yan is with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Philadelphia in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Mr. D'Arnaud is with Instat Consulting Inc. in Chatham, New Jersey
- Drs. Burnett and Olivadoti are former employees of Verrica Pharmaceuticals Inc. in West Chester, Pennsylvania
| | - Mercedes E Gonzalez
- Dr. Eichenfield is with Rady Children's Hospital and the University of California, San Diego, Medical School in San Diego, California
- Dr. Kwong is with Solutions Through Advanced Research in Jacksonville, Florida
- Dr. Gonzalez is with the University of Miami Medical School in Miami, Florida
- Dr. Yan is with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Philadelphia in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Mr. D'Arnaud is with Instat Consulting Inc. in Chatham, New Jersey
- Drs. Burnett and Olivadoti are former employees of Verrica Pharmaceuticals Inc. in West Chester, Pennsylvania
| | - Albert Yan
- Dr. Eichenfield is with Rady Children's Hospital and the University of California, San Diego, Medical School in San Diego, California
- Dr. Kwong is with Solutions Through Advanced Research in Jacksonville, Florida
- Dr. Gonzalez is with the University of Miami Medical School in Miami, Florida
- Dr. Yan is with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Philadelphia in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Mr. D'Arnaud is with Instat Consulting Inc. in Chatham, New Jersey
- Drs. Burnett and Olivadoti are former employees of Verrica Pharmaceuticals Inc. in West Chester, Pennsylvania
| | - Pieter D'Arnaud
- Dr. Eichenfield is with Rady Children's Hospital and the University of California, San Diego, Medical School in San Diego, California
- Dr. Kwong is with Solutions Through Advanced Research in Jacksonville, Florida
- Dr. Gonzalez is with the University of Miami Medical School in Miami, Florida
- Dr. Yan is with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Philadelphia in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Mr. D'Arnaud is with Instat Consulting Inc. in Chatham, New Jersey
- Drs. Burnett and Olivadoti are former employees of Verrica Pharmaceuticals Inc. in West Chester, Pennsylvania
| | - Patrick Burnett
- Dr. Eichenfield is with Rady Children's Hospital and the University of California, San Diego, Medical School in San Diego, California
- Dr. Kwong is with Solutions Through Advanced Research in Jacksonville, Florida
- Dr. Gonzalez is with the University of Miami Medical School in Miami, Florida
- Dr. Yan is with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Philadelphia in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Mr. D'Arnaud is with Instat Consulting Inc. in Chatham, New Jersey
- Drs. Burnett and Olivadoti are former employees of Verrica Pharmaceuticals Inc. in West Chester, Pennsylvania
| | - Melissa Olivadoti
- Dr. Eichenfield is with Rady Children's Hospital and the University of California, San Diego, Medical School in San Diego, California
- Dr. Kwong is with Solutions Through Advanced Research in Jacksonville, Florida
- Dr. Gonzalez is with the University of Miami Medical School in Miami, Florida
- Dr. Yan is with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the Perelman School of Medicine, University of Philadelphia in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Mr. D'Arnaud is with Instat Consulting Inc. in Chatham, New Jersey
- Drs. Burnett and Olivadoti are former employees of Verrica Pharmaceuticals Inc. in West Chester, Pennsylvania
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Díaz-Navarro M, Bolívar P, Andrés MF, Gómez-Muñoz MT, Martínez-Díaz RA, Valcárcel F, García-París M, Bautista LM, González-Coloma A. Antiparasitic Effects of Potentially Toxic Beetles (Tenebrionidae and Meloidae) from Steppe Zones. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:toxins13070489. [PMID: 34357960 PMCID: PMC8310226 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13070489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Arthropods and specifically beetles can synthesize and/or sequester metabolites from dietary sources. In beetle families such as Tenebrionidae and Meloidae, a few studies have reported species with toxic defensive substances and antiparasitic properties that are consumed by birds. Here we have studied the antiparasitic activity of extracts from beetle species present in the habitat of the Great Bustard (Otis tarda) against four pathogen models (Aspergillus niger, Meloidogyne javanica, Hyalomma lusitanicum, and Trichomonas gallinae). The insect species extracted were Tentyria peiroleri, Scaurus uncinus, Blaps lethifera (Tenebrionidae), and Mylabris quadripunctata (Meloidae). M. quadripunctata exhibited potent activity against M. javanica and T. gallinae, while T. peiroleri exhibited moderate antiprotozoal activity. The chemical composition of the insect extracts was studied by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis. The most abundant compounds in the four beetle extracts were hydrocarbons and fatty acids such as palmitic acid, myristic acid and methyl linoleate, which are characteristic of insect cuticles. The presence of cantharidin (CTD) in the M. quadripunctata meloid and ethyl oleate (EO) in T. peiroleri accounted for the bioactivity of their extracts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Díaz-Navarro
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain; (M.D.-N.); (P.B.); (M.G.-P.); (L.M.B.)
- Instituto de Ciencias Agrarias, CSIC, Serrano 115-dpdo, 28006 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Paula Bolívar
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain; (M.D.-N.); (P.B.); (M.G.-P.); (L.M.B.)
- Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - María Fe Andrés
- Instituto de Ciencias Agrarias, CSIC, Serrano 115-dpdo, 28006 Madrid, Spain;
| | | | - Rafael A. Martínez-Díaz
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (UAM), Arzobispo Morcillo S/N, 28029 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Félix Valcárcel
- Grupo de Parasitología Animal, Departamento de Reproducción Animal, CSIC-INIA, 28040 Madrid, Spain;
| | - Mario García-París
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain; (M.D.-N.); (P.B.); (M.G.-P.); (L.M.B.)
| | - Luis M. Bautista
- Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, CSIC, José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain; (M.D.-N.); (P.B.); (M.G.-P.); (L.M.B.)
| | - Azucena González-Coloma
- Instituto de Ciencias Agrarias, CSIC, Serrano 115-dpdo, 28006 Madrid, Spain;
- Correspondence:
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20
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Duan C, Cheng W, Chen Q, Li X, Zhang J. Pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of cantharidin after oral administration of aqueous extracts from Mylabris in rats. Biomed Chromatogr 2021; 35:e5172. [PMID: 33982312 DOI: 10.1002/bmc.5172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
A sensitive gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy method was established for the determination of cantharidin (CTD) in rat plasma and liver homogenates. During the experiment, rats were randomly divided into two groups (low, high) and were administered aqueous extract of Mylabris compound for 7 days. Then, plasma and tissue samples were taken at different time points to study the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution of CTD in rats. The selected reaction monitoring transitions for CTD and clofibrate (internal standard) were m/z 128 → 85 and m/z 169 → 141, respectively. The calibration curve ranged from 10.26 to 3,078 ng/ml for plasma and from 10.26 to 246.24 ng/ml for liver homogenates. The lower limits of quantification were 10.26 ng/ml for both plasma and liver. The intra- and inter-day precision and accuracy were <20% for both plasma and liver homogenates. Extraction recovery ranged from 89.21 to 103.61% for CTD in rat plasma and liver and from 83.79 to 102.74% for IS in rat plasma and liver. Matrix effects ranged from 93.06 to 110.44% for CTD and from 91.65 to 110.80% for IS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cancan Duan
- Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of Ministry of Education and Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China.,School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Weina Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of Ministry of Education and Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China.,School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Qihong Chen
- Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of Ministry of Education and Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China.,School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaofei Li
- School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianyong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Basic Pharmacology of Ministry of Education and Joint International Research Laboratory of Ethnomedicine of Ministry of Education, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, China.,School of Pharmacy, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, Guizhou, People's Republic of China
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21
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Huang X, Tang W, Lin C, Sa Z, Xu M, Liu J, Wang L, Li W, Chen Y, Yang C. Protective mechanism of Astragalus Polysaccharides against Cantharidin-induced liver injury determined in vivo by liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry metabolomics. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol 2021; 129:61-71. [PMID: 33834601 DOI: 10.1111/bcpt.13585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Cantharidin (CTD) is a promising anticancer drug; however, its dosage is limited by hepatotoxicity. We previously showed that Astragalus polysaccharides (APS) effectively improved chemical liver injury. In this study, we established a CTD-induced subacute liver injury mouse model and examined the effects of APS on weight, liver indexes, histopathology, serum biochemical indexes and liver metabolism. Compared with the control group, mice in the CTD model group had obvious liver damage, which was partially prevented by APS. Metabolomics demonstrated that CTD caused liver damage mainly by regulating glycerophospholipid metabolism, ABC transporter pathways and choline metabolism in cancer in vivo. APS regulated primary bile acid biosynthesis and glycerophospholipid metabolism, thus decreasing the liver damage caused by CTD. This study revealed the protective mechanism of APS against CTD-induced liver injury from the perspective of metabolomics. The results provide an important basis for analysing the mechanism of CTD-induced liver toxicity and for assessing clinical treatment options to reduce CTD liver toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoduo Huang
- Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
| | - Wenchao Tang
- Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
| | - Chang Lin
- Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
| | - Zongge Sa
- Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
| | - Mengdan Xu
- Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
| | - Jieying Liu
- Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
| | - Lina Wang
- Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
| | - Wen Li
- Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
| | - Yunzhi Chen
- Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
| | - Changfu Yang
- Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, China
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22
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Yu Z, Li L, Wang C, He H, Liu G, Ma H, Pang L, Jiang M, Lu Q, Li P, Qi H. Cantharidin Induces Apoptosis and Promotes Differentiation of AML Cells Through Nuclear Receptor Nur77-Mediated Signaling Pathway. Front Pharmacol 2020; 11:1321. [PMID: 32982739 PMCID: PMC7485522 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.01321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a hematopoietic malignancy characterized by uncontrolled proliferation and accumulation of myeloblasts in the bone marrow (BM), blood, and other organs. The nuclear receptors Nur77 is a common feature in leukemic blasts and has emerged as a key therapeutic target for AML. Cantharidin (CTD), a main medicinal component of Mylabris (blister beetle), exerts an anticancer effect in multiple types of cancer cells. Purpose This study aims to characterize the anti-AML activity of CTD in vitro and in vivo and explore the potential role of Nur77 signaling pathway. Study Design/Methods The inhibition of CTD on cell viability was performed in different AML cells, and then the inhibition of CTD on proliferation and colony formation was detected in HL-60 cells. Induction of apoptosis and promotion of differentiation by CTD were further determined. Then, the potential role of Nur77 signaling pathway was assessed. Finally, anti-AML activity was evaluated in NOD/SCID mice. Results In our study, CTD exhibited potent inhibition on cell viability and colony formation ability of AML cells. Moreover, CTD significantly induced the apoptosis, which was partially reversed by Z-VAD-FMK. Meanwhile, CTD promoted the cleavage of caspases 8, 3 and PARP in HL-60 cells. Furthermore, CTD obviously suppressed the proliferation and induced the cell cycle arrest of HL-60 cells at G2/M phase. Meanwhile, CTD effectively promoted the differentiation of HL-60 cells. Notably, CTD transiently induced the expression of Nur77 protein. Interestingly, CTD promoted Nur77 translocation from the nucleus to the mitochondria and enhanced the interaction between Nur77 and Bcl-2, resulting in the exposure of the BH3 domain of Bcl-2, which is critical for the conversion of Bcl-2 from an antiapoptotic to a proapoptotic protein. Importantly, silencing of Nur77 attenuated CTD-induced apoptosis, reversed CTD-mediated cell cycle arrest and differentiation of HL-60 cells. Additionally, CTD also exhibited an antileukemic effect in NOD/SCID mice with the injection of HL-60 cells into the tail vein. Conclusions Our studies suggest that Nur77-mediated signaling pathway may play a critical role in the induction of apoptosis and promotion of differentiation by CTD on AML cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zanyang Yu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Li Li
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Chengqiang Wang
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Hui He
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Gen Liu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Haoyue Ma
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lei Pang
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Mingdong Jiang
- Radiotherapy Department, Chongqing Ninth People's Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Qianwei Lu
- Radiotherapy Department, Chongqing Ninth People's Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Pan Li
- Radiotherapy Department, Chongqing Ninth People's Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Hongyi Qi
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
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Naz F, Wu Y, Zhang N, Yang Z, Yu C. Anticancer Attributes of Cantharidin: Involved Molecular Mechanisms and Pathways. Molecules 2020; 25:E3279. [PMID: 32707651 PMCID: PMC7397086 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25143279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Revised: 07/15/2020] [Accepted: 07/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a preeminent threat to the human race, causing millions of deaths each year on the Earth. Traditionally, natural compounds are deemed promising agents for cancer treatment. Cantharidin (CTD)-a terpenoid isolated from blister beetles-has been used extensively in traditional Chinese medicines for healing various maladies and cancer. CTD has been proven to be protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) and heat shock transcription factor 1 (HSF-1) inhibitor, which can be potential targets for its anticancer activity. Albeit, it harbors some toxicities, its immense anticancer potential cannot be overlooked, as the cancer-specific delivery of CTD could help to rescue its lethal effects. Furthermore, several derivatives have been designed to weaken its toxicity. In light of extensive research, the antitumor activity of CTD is evident in both in vitro as well as in vivo cancer models. CTD has also proven efficacious in combination with chemotherapy and radiotherapy and it can also target some drug-resistant cancer cells. This mini-review endeavors to interpret and summarize recent information about CTD anticancer potential and underlying molecular mechanisms. The pertinent anticancer strength of CTD could be employed to develop an effective anticarcinogenic drug.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Zhao Yang
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China; (F.N.); (Y.W.); (N.Z.)
| | - Changyuan Yu
- College of Life Science and Technology, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China; (F.N.); (Y.W.); (N.Z.)
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Zhu K, Zhou L, Zou M, Ning S, Liu S, Zhou Y, Du K, Zhang X, Xia X. 18-GA-Suc Modified Liposome Loading Cantharidin for Augmenting Hepatic Specificity: Preparation, Characterization, Antitumor Effects, and Liver-Targeting Efficiency. J Pharm Sci 2020; 109:2038-47. [PMID: 32173319 DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2020.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2019] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Cantharidin (CTD), a natural Chinese medicine constituent extracted from mylabris, is a potent drug against hepatocellular carcinoma. However, the clinical application of CTD was limited because of its toxicity and low solubility. In this work, a novel CTD-loaded liposome modified with 3-succinyl-30-stearyl glycyrrhetinic acid (18-GA-Suc-CTD-Lip) was prepared to enhance liver-targeting efficiency and antitumor activity. 18-GA-Suc-CTD-Lip and CTD-Lip were successfully prepared by film dispersion method and totally characterized. The antitumor effects in vitro were evaluated by cell proliferation inhibition assay, transwell assay, cell cycle analysis, and an apoptosis test. Pharmacokinetic and biodistribution were all investigated to precisely reveal liver-targeting efficiency of 18-GA-Suc-CTD-Lip in vivo. The IC50 values of 18-GA-Suc-CTD-Lip in HepG2 (3.417 ± 0.165 nmol/L) and Huh-7 (4.478 ± 0.409 nmol/L) cells were much lower than that of CTD-Lip, indicating that antitumor effects of 18-GA-Suc-CTD-Lip were remarkable because of the modification of 18-GA-Suc. The maximum concentration in the liver of 18-GA-Suc-CTD-Lip (1.72 ± 0.14 μg/g) was more than twice CTD-Lip (0.75 ± 0.08 μg/g) at 30 min, illustrating that 18-GA-Suc-CTD-Lip possesses excellent liver-targeting efficiency. Conclusively, 18-GA-Suc-CTD-Lip could be a potential liver-targeting antitumor drug for hepatocellular carcinoma.
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25
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Affiliation(s)
- Philip Lucas
- Department of Primary Healthcare, RAF Odiham, Hook, United Kingdom .,Royal Air Force Centre of Aviation Medicine, Henlow, UK
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26
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Guan DL, Hao XQ, Mi D, Peng J, Li Y, Xie JY, Huang H, Xu SQ. Draft Genome of a Blister Beetle Mylabris aulica. Front Genet 2020; 10:1281. [PMID: 32010178 PMCID: PMC6972506 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.01281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Mylabris aulica is a widely distributed blister beetle of the Meloidae family. It has the ability to synthesize a potent defensive secretion that includes cantharidin, a toxic compound used to treat many major illnesses. However, owing to the lack of genetic studies on cantharidin biosynthesis in M. aulica, the commercial use of this species is less extensive than that of other blister beetle species in China. This study reports a draft assembly and possible genes and pathways related to cantharidin biosynthesis for the M. aulica blister beetle using nanopore sequencing data. The draft genome assembly size was 288.5 Mb with a 467.8 Kb N50, and a repeat content of 50.62%. An integrated gene finding pipeline performed for assembly obtained 16,500 protein coding genes. Benchmarking universal single-copy orthologs assessment showed that this gene set included 94.4% complete Insecta universal single-copy orthologs. Over 99% of these genes were assigned functional annotations in the gene ontology, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes, or Genbank non-redundant databases. Comparative genomic analysis showed that the completeness and continuity of our assembly was better than those of Hycleus cichorii and Hycleus phaleratus blister beetle genomes. The analysis of homologous orthologous genes and inference from evolutionary history imply that the Mylabris and Hycleus genera are genetically close, have a similar genetic background, and have differentiated within one million years. This M. aulica genome assembly provides a valuable resource for future blister beetle studies and will contribute to cantharidin biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- De-Long Guan
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, China
| | - Xiao-Qian Hao
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, China
| | - Da Mi
- NextOmics Biosciences Institute, Wuhan, China
| | - Jiong Peng
- NextOmics Biosciences Institute, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuan Li
- NextOmics Biosciences Institute, Wuhan, China
| | - Juan-Ying Xie
- College of Computer Science, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, China
| | - Huateng Huang
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, China
| | - Sheng-Quan Xu
- College of Life Sciences, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, China
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Zhang X, Lin C, Chan W, Liu K, Lu A, Lin G, Hu R, Shi H, Zhang H, Yang Z. Dual-Functional Liposomes with Carbonic Anhydrase IX Antibody and BR2 Peptide Modification Effectively Improve Intracellular Delivery of Cantharidin to Treat Orthotopic Hepatocellular Carcinoma Mice. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24183332. [PMID: 31547459 PMCID: PMC6767275 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24183332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2019] [Revised: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Liposomal nanotechnology has a great potential to overcome the current major problems of chemotherapy. However, the lack of penetrability and targetability retards the successful delivery of liposomal carriers. Previously, we showed that BR2 peptide modification endowed cantharidin-loaded liposomes with intracellular penetration that enhanced the drug cytotoxic effects. Here, we aimed to improve the targeting delivery of drugs into cancer cells via highly expressed carbonic anhydrase IX (CA IX) receptors by modifying our previous catharidin-loaded BR2-liposomes with anti-CA IX antibody. A higher cellular uptake of dual-functional liposomes (DF-Lp) than other treatments was observed. Induction of CA IX over-expressing resulted in a higher cellular binding of DF-Lp; subsequently, blocking with excess antibodies resulted in a decreased cancer-cell association, indicating a specific targeting property of our liposomes towards CA IX expressed cells. After 3h tracking, most of the liposomes were located around the nucleus which confirmed the involvement of targeting intracellular delivery. Cantharidin loaded DF-Lp exhibited enhanced cytotoxicity in vitro and was most effective in controlling tumor growth in vivo in an orthotopic hepatocellular carcinoma model compared to other groups. Collectively, our results presented the advantage of the BR2 peptide and CA IX antibody combination to elevate the therapeutic potential of cantharidin loaded DF-liposomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Zhang
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225001, China.
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.
- The Key Laboratory of Syndrome Differentiation and Treatment of Gastric Cancer of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yangzhou 225001, China.
| | - Congcong Lin
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Natural Medicine Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, China.
| | - Waikei Chan
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Kanglun Liu
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Aiping Lu
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.
- Changshu Research Institute, Hong Kong Baptist University, Changshu Economic and Technological Development (CETD) Zone, Changshu 215505, China.
| | - Ge Lin
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Rong Hu
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225001, China.
- The Key Laboratory of Syndrome Differentiation and Treatment of Gastric Cancer of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yangzhou 225001, China.
| | - Hongcan Shi
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Medical College, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou 225001, China.
- The Key Laboratory of Syndrome Differentiation and Treatment of Gastric Cancer of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yangzhou 225001, China.
| | - Hongqi Zhang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Zhijun Yang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.
- Changshu Research Institute, Hong Kong Baptist University, Changshu Economic and Technological Development (CETD) Zone, Changshu 215505, China.
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Zhou L, Zou M, Zhu K, Ning S, Xia X. Development of 11-DGA-3- O-Gal-Modified Cantharidin Liposomes for Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Molecules 2019; 24:molecules24173080. [PMID: 31450608 PMCID: PMC6749572 DOI: 10.3390/molecules24173080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2019] [Revised: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Liver cancer is a common malignant tumor worldwide, and its morbidity and mortality increase each year. The disease has a short course and high mortality, making it a serious threat to human health. Purpose: The objective of this study was to create novel liver-targeting nanoliposomes to encapsulate cantharidin (CTD) as a potential treatment for hepatic carcinoma. Methods: 3-Galactosidase-30-stearyl deoxyglycyrrhetinic acid (11-DGA-3-O-Gal)-modified liposomes (11-DGA-3-O-Gal-CTD-lip) for the liver-targeted delivery of CTD were prepared via the film-dispersion method and characterized. In vitro analyses of the effects on cellular cytotoxicity, cell migration, cell cycle, and cell apoptosis were carried out and an in vivo pharmacokinetics study and tissue distribution analysis were performed. Results: Compared with unmodified liposomes (CTD-lip), 11-DGA-3-O-Gal-CTD-lip showed higher cytotoxicity and increased the inhibition of HepG2 cell migration, but they did not increase the apoptotic rate of cells. The inhibition mechanism of 11-DGA-3-O-Gal-CTD-lip on hepatocellular carcinoma was partly through cell cycle arrest at the S phase. Analysis of pharmacokinetic parameters indicated that 11-DGA-3-O-Gal-CTD-lip were eliminated more rapidly than CTD-lip. Regarding tissue distribution, the targeting efficiency of 11-DGA-3-O-Gal-CTD-lip to the liver was (41.15 ± 3.28)%, relative targeting efficiency was (1.53 ± 0.31)%, relative uptake rate was( 1.69 ± 0.37)%, and peak concentration ratio was (2.68 ± 0.12)%. Conclusion: 11-DGA-3-O-Gal-CTD-lip represent a promising nanocarrier for the liver-targeted delivery of antitumor drugs to treat hepatocellular carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Zhou
- School of Pharmacy, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410208, China
| | - Manshu Zou
- School of Pharmacy, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410208, China
| | - Kun Zhu
- School of Pharmacy, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410208, China
| | - Shuangcheng Ning
- School of Pharmacy, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410208, China
| | - Xinhua Xia
- School of Pharmacy, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha 410208, China.
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Pan Y, Zheng Q, Ni W, Wei Z, Yu S, Jia Q, Wang M, Wang A, Chen W, Lu Y. Breaking Glucose Transporter 1/Pyruvate Kinase M2 Glycolytic Loop Is Required for Cantharidin Inhibition of Metastasis in Highly Metastatic Breast Cancer. Front Pharmacol 2019; 10:590. [PMID: 31178738 PMCID: PMC6544055 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2019.00590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2019] [Accepted: 05/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Aerobic glycolysis plays a decisive role in cancer growth. However, its role in cancer metastasis was rarely understood. Cantharidin a natural compound from an arthropod insect cantharis exerts potent anticancer activity. Here we found cantharidin possesses significant anti-metastatic activity on breast cancer dependent on inhibition of aerobic glycolysis. Cantharidin indicates significant inhibition on migration and invasion of breast cancer cells, angiogenesis in vitro, and inhibits breast cancer cells metastasizing to liver and lung in vivo. Subsequent results revealed that cantharidin decreases the extracellular acidification rates (ECAR) but increases the oxygen consumption rates (OCR) in high metastatic cells, leading to suppression of aerobic glycolysis. This was considered to be due to inhibiting the activity of pyruvate kinase (PK) and further blocking pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2) translocation in nucleus. Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate (FBP) and L-cysteine can significantly reverse cantharidin inhibition on breast cancer cell migration, invasion, and PKM2 translocation. Furthermore, glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) forming a metabolic loop with PKM2 is downregulated, as well as epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), the regulator of the glycolytic loop. Totally, cantharidin inhibits the PKM2 nuclear translocation and breaks GLUT1/PKM2 glycolytic loop, resulting in aerobic glycolysis transformation to oxidation and subsequent reversing the metastases in breast cancer. Based on inhibiting multi signals mediated aerobic glycolysis, cantharidin could be prospectively used for prevention of metastasis in breast cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhong Pan
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Qian Zheng
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenting Ni
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhonghong Wei
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Suyun Yu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Qi Jia
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Meng Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Aiyun Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Wenxing Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing, China
| | - Yin Lu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Pharmacology and Safety Evaluation of Chinese Materia Medica, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
- Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Prevention and Treatment of Tumor, Nanjing, China
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Whitman DW, Andrés MF, Martínez-Díaz RA, Ibáñez-Escribano A, Olmeda AS, González-Coloma A. Antiparasitic Properties of Cantharidin and the Blister Beetle Berberomeloe majalis (Coleoptera: Meloidae). Toxins (Basel) 2019; 11:E234. [PMID: 31013660 DOI: 10.3390/toxins11040234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2019] [Revised: 04/16/2019] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cantharidin (CTD) is a toxic monoterpene produced by blister beetles (Fam. Meloidae) as a chemical defense against predators. Although CTD is highly poisonous to many predator species, some have evolved the ability to feed on poisonous Meloidae, or otherwise beneficially use blister beetles. Great Bustards, Otis tarda, eat CTD-containing Berberomeloe majalis blister beetles, and it has been hypothesized that beetle consumption by these birds reduces parasite load (a case of self-medication). We examined this hypothesis by testing diverse organisms against CTD and extracts of B. majalis hemolymph and bodies. Our results show that all three preparations (CTD and extracts of B. majalis) were toxic to a protozoan (Trichomonas vaginalis), a nematode (Meloidogyne javanica), two insects (Myzus persicae and Rhopalosiphum padi) and a tick (Hyalomma lusitanicum). This not only supports the anti-parasitic hypothesis for beetle consumption, but suggests potential new roles for CTD, under certain conditions.
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Maynard-Burrows CL, Mclennan JV, Nicholson-Roberts TC, Takano H. Blister beetle dermatitis caused by cantharidin in South Sudan in Op TRENTON: a case series. J ROY ARMY MED CORPS 2019; 167:362-364. [PMID: 30826753 DOI: 10.1136/jramc-2019-001186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2019] [Revised: 02/12/2019] [Accepted: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Abstract
Cantharidin-producing blister beetles are found worldwide. The pathognomonic feature of their toxin is a blistering dermatitis that presents an environmental health hazard. Cutaneous exposure to cantharidin can produce blistering dermatitis, most commonly seen on exposed skin, in the Bentiu region of South Sudan. This should be treated with appropriate cleaning, debridement and regular dressing changes to cope with extensive initial exudate. The best dressing combinations found were initial treatment with povidone-iodine and hydrocolloid, followed by hydrocolloid only. Hydrocolloid dressings were found to be the most effective at staying in place with South Sudan's high humidity. Prevention strategies should include covering exposed skin, wearing wide-brimmed hats, neck scarves and enclosed footwear, and avoidance of working under white light. Medical personnel should engage with the chain of command to include appropriate force protection education within the arrivals brief.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - J V Mclennan
- Academic Department of Military Emergency Medicine (ADMEM), Royal Centre of Defence Medicine, Birmingham, West Midlands, United Kingdom.,Emergency Department, Royal Stoke University Hospital, Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom
| | - T C Nicholson-Roberts
- Academic Department of Military Anaesthesia and Critical Care, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Birmingham, UK
| | - H Takano
- Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, UK
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Sahu PK, Tomar RS. The natural anticancer agent cantharidin alters GPI-anchored protein sorting by targeting Cdc1-mediated remodeling in endoplasmic reticulum. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:3837-3852. [PMID: 30659098 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.003890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2018] [Revised: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Cantharidin (CTD) is a potent anticancer small molecule produced by several species of blister beetle. It has been a traditional medicine for the management of warts and tumors for many decades. CTD suppresses tumor growth by inducing apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, and DNA damage and inhibits protein phosphatase 2 phosphatase activator (PP2A) and protein phosphatase 1 (PP1). CTD also alters lipid homeostasis, cell wall integrity, endocytosis, adhesion, and invasion in yeast cells. In this study, we identified additional molecular targets of CTD using a Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain that expresses a cantharidin resistance gene (CRG1), encoding a SAM-dependent methyltransferase that methylates and inactivates CTD. We found that CTD specifically affects phosphatidylethanolamine (PE)-associated functions that can be rescued by supplementing the growth media with ethanolamine (ETA). CTD also perturbed endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis and cell wall integrity by altering the sorting of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored proteins. A CTD-dependent genetic interaction profile of CRG1 revealed that the activity of the lipid phosphatase cell division control protein 1 (Cdc1) in GPI-anchor remodeling is the key target of CTD, independently of PP2A and PP1 activities. Moreover, experiments with human cells further suggested that CTD functions through a conserved mechanism in higher eukaryotes. Altogether, we conclude that CTD induces cytotoxicity by targeting Cdc1 activity in GPI-anchor remodeling in the ER.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pushpendra Kumar Sahu
- From the Laboratory of Chromatin Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal, 462066 Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Raghuvir Singh Tomar
- From the Laboratory of Chromatin Biology, Department of Biological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal, 462066 Madhya Pradesh, India
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Swingle MR, Honkanen RE. Inhibitors of Serine/Threonine Protein Phosphatases: Biochemical and Structural Studies Provide Insight for Further Development. Curr Med Chem 2019; 26:2634-2660. [PMID: 29737249 PMCID: PMC10013172 DOI: 10.2174/0929867325666180508095242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2017] [Revised: 02/05/2018] [Accepted: 03/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The reversible phosphorylation of proteins regulates many key functions in eukaryotic cells. Phosphorylation is catalyzed by protein kinases, with the majority of phosphorylation occurring on side chains of serine and threonine residues. The phosphomonoesters generated by protein kinases are hydrolyzed by protein phosphatases. In the absence of a phosphatase, the half-time for the hydrolysis of alkyl phosphate dianions at 25º C is over 1 trillion years; knon ~2 x 10-20 sec-1. Therefore, ser/thr phosphatases are critical for processes controlled by reversible phosphorylation. METHODS This review is based on the literature searched in available databases. We compare the catalytic mechanism of PPP-family phosphatases (PPPases) and the interactions of inhibitors that target these enzymes. RESULTS PPPases are metal-dependent hydrolases that enhance the rate of hydrolysis ([kcat/kM]/knon ) by a factor of ~1021, placing them among the most powerful known catalysts on earth. Biochemical and structural studies indicate that the remarkable catalytic proficiencies of PPPases are achieved by 10 conserved amino acids, DXH(X)~26DXXDR(X)~20- 26NH(X)~50H(X)~25-45R(X)~30-40H. Six act as metal-coordinating residues. Four position and orient the substrate phosphate. Together, two metal ions and the 10 catalytic residues position the phosphoryl group and an activated bridging water/hydroxide nucleophile for an inline attack upon the substrate phosphorous atom. The PPPases are conserved among species, and many structurally diverse natural toxins co-evolved to target these enzymes. CONCLUSION Although the catalytic site is conserved, opportunities for the development of selective inhibitors of this important group of metalloenzymes exist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark R Swingle
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile AL 36688, United States
| | - Richard E Honkanen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of South Alabama, Mobile AL 36688, United States
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Hu MH, Huang TT, Chao TI, Chen LJ, Chen YL, Tsai MH, Liu CY, Kao JH, Chen KF. Serine/threonine protein phosphatase 5 is a potential therapeutic target in cholangiocarcinoma. Liver Int 2018; 38:2248-2259. [PMID: 29797403 DOI: 10.1111/liv.13887] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2017] [Accepted: 05/20/2018] [Indexed: 02/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Few molecules are currently verified to be actionable drug targets in cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Serine/threonine protein phosphatase 5 (PP5) dysregulation is related to several malignancies. However, the role of PP5 in CCA is poorly defined. METHODS Colony and tumorsphere formation assays were conducted to establish the role of PP5 in CCA tumorigenesis. Cantharidin (CTD) and norcantharidin (NCTD), both potent PP5 inhibitors, were used in in vitro and in vivo experiments to validate the potential therapeutic role of PP5. RESULTS Increased cell growth, colony formation and tumorsphere formation were observed in PP5-overexpressing CCA cells, whereas PP5 knockdown by shRNA decreased cell growth and colony formation. Tumours from HuCCT1 xenograft-bearing mice treated with PP5-shRNA showed decreased growth and increased AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) phosphorylation. Furthermore, CTD treatment decreased cell viability, reduced PP5 activity and enhanced AMPK phosphorylation in CCA cell lines. Overexpressing PP5 or enhancing PP5 activity suppressed AMPK phosphorylation and decreased CTD-induced cell death. Suppressing p-AMPK with siRNA or inhibitors also decreased CTD-induced cell death, suggesting a pivotal role for PP5-AMPK cascades in CCA. Immunoprecipitation revealed that PP5 interacted with AMPK. Importantly, treatment of HuCCT1 xenograft-bearing mice with NCTD, a CTD analogue with a lower systemic toxicity in vivo, suppressed PP5 activity, increased p-AMPK and reduced tumour volume. CONCLUSIONS Protein phosphatase 5 negatively regulates AMPK phosphorylation and contributes to CCA aggressiveness; thus, PP5 may be a potential therapeutic target in CCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming-Hung Hu
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Cardinal Tien Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.,School of Medicine, Fu Jen Catholic University, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Ting Huang
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Oncology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-I Chao
- Transplant Medicine & Surgery Research Centre, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, Taiwan
| | - Li-Ju Chen
- Department of Medical Research, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Lin Chen
- Department of Pathology, Cardinal Tien Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Hsien Tsai
- Department of Medical Research, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Chun-Yu Liu
- Division of Medical Oncology, Department of Oncology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei City, Taiwan.,School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Division of Transfusion Medicine, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jia-Horng Kao
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kuen-Feng Chen
- Department of Medical Research, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,National Center of Excellence for Clinical Trial and Research, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan
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Wang S, Xin J, Zhang L, Zhou Y, Yao C, Wang B, Wang J, Zhang Z. Cantharidin-encapsulated thermal-sensitive liposomes coated with gold nanoparticles for enhanced photothermal therapy on A431 cells. Int J Nanomedicine 2018; 13:2143-2160. [PMID: 29692611 PMCID: PMC5901154 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s156240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Plasmonic nanostructure-mediated photothermal therapy (PTT) is a promising alternative therapy for the treatment of skin cancer and other diseases. However, the insufficient efficiency of PTT at irradiation levels tolerable to tissues and the limited biodegradability of nanomaterials are still crucial challenges. In this study, a novel nanosystem for PTT based on liposome–nanoparticle assemblies (LNAs) was established. Materials and methods Thermal-sensitive liposomes (TSLs) encapsulating cantharidin (CTD) were coated with gold nanoparticles (GNPs) and used in near-infrared (NIR) illumination-triggered PTT and thermally induced disruption on A431 cells. Results The coated GNPs disintegrated into small particles of 5–6 nm after disruption of TSLs, allowing their clearance by the liver and kidneys. CTD encapsulated in the TSLs was released into cytoplasm after PTT. The released CTD increased the apoptosis of PTT-treated tumor cells by blocking the heat shock response (HSR) and inhibiting the expression of HSP70 and BAG3 inhibiting the expression of HSP70 and BAG3 with the synergistic enhancement of CTD, the new nanosystem CTD-encapsulated TSLs coated with GNPs (CTD-TSL@GNPs) had an efficient PTT effect using clinically acceptable irradiation power (200 mW//cm2) on A431 cells. Conclusion The developed CTD-TSL@GNPs may be a promising PTT agent for clinical skin cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sijia Wang
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Institute of Biomedical Analytical Technology and Instrumentation, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Xin
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Institute of Biomedical Analytical Technology and Instrumentation, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Luwei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Institute of Biomedical Analytical Technology and Instrumentation, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Yicheng Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Institute of Biomedical Analytical Technology and Instrumentation, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Cuiping Yao
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Institute of Biomedical Analytical Technology and Instrumentation, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Bing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Institute of Biomedical Analytical Technology and Instrumentation, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Jing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Institute of Biomedical Analytical Technology and Instrumentation, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhenxi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering of Ministry of Education, School of Life Science and Technology, Institute of Biomedical Analytical Technology and Instrumentation, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
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Liu YP, Li L, Xu L, Dai EN, Chen WD. Cantharidin suppresses cell growth and migration, and activates autophagy in human non-small cell lung cancer cells. Oncol Lett 2018; 15:6527-6532. [PMID: 29731854 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2018.8141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2017] [Accepted: 12/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cantharidin (CTD), a component of Mylabris (blister beetle), is a traditional Chinese medicine that exerts an anticancer effect in multiple types of cancer cells. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether CTD exhibited anti-metastatic and inhibitory cell proliferation effects against human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) A549 cells, and the possible underlying mechanism by which this occurs. The results of the present study demonstrated that CTD arrested proliferation, suppressed invasion and migration and induced apoptosis in A549 cells in vitro. Alterations of apoptosis-associated protein levels, including B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-associated X (Bax) and active caspase-3, were detected. Furthermore, the present study demonstrated that CTD activated autophagy through downregulation of p62 expression and upregulation of microtubule-associated proteins 1A/1B light chain 3B and Beclin-1 expression. Additionally, western blot analysis identified that CTD inhibited the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/RAC serine/threonine protein kinase (Akt)/mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway in NSCLC, demonstrating that the levels of phosphorylated (p-)Akt, p-mTOR, phosphorylated ribosomal p70S6 protein kinase (p-p70-S6K) and cyclin D1 were significantly decreased following treatment with CTD. In conclusion, the results of the present study indicated that CTD impeded cell growth and migration by inhibiting PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling in NSCLC, and promoted autophagy and apoptosis. CTD exhibited anticancer activity against NSCLC in vitro, revealing it as a potential candidate for the treatment of NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Peng Liu
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong 250033, P.R. China
| | - Ling Li
- Department of Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong 250031, P.R. China
| | - Liang Xu
- Department of Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong 250031, P.R. China
| | - E-Nuo Dai
- Department of Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong Academy of Medical Sciences, Jinan, Shandong 250031, P.R. China
| | - Wei-Da Chen
- Department of Geriatric Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong 250014, P.R. China
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Abstract
The new strategy for chemical toxicity testing and modeling is to use in vitro human cell-based assays in conjunction with quantitative high-throughput screening (qHTS) technology, to identify molecular mechanisms and predict in vivo responses. Stem cells are more physiologically relevant than immortalized cell lines because of their unique proliferation and differentiation potentials. We established a robust two stem cells-two lineages assay system, encompassing human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) along osteogenesis and human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) along hepatogenesis. We performed qHTS phenotypic screening of LOPAC1280 and identified 38 preliminary hits for hMSCs. This was followed by validation of a selected number of hits and determination of their IC50 values and mechanistic studies of idarubicin and cantharidin treatments using proteomics and bioinformatics. In general, hiPSCs were more sensitive than hMSCs to chemicals, and differentiated progenies were less sensitive than their progenitors. We showed that chemical toxicity depends on both stem cell types and their differentiation stages. Proteomics identified and quantified over 3000 proteins for both stem cells. Bioinformatics identified apoptosis and G2/M as the top pathways conferring idarubicin toxicity. Our Omics-based assays of stem cells provide mechanistic insights into chemical toxicity and may help prioritize chemicals for in-depth toxicological evaluations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Han
- Newomics Inc. , Emeryville, California 94608, United States
| | - Jinghua Zhao
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences , Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Ruili Huang
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences , Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Menghang Xia
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences , Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Daojing Wang
- Newomics Inc. , Emeryville, California 94608, United States
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Zhang X, Lin C, Lu A, Lin G, Chen H, Liu Q, Yang Z, Zhang H. Liposomes equipped with cell penetrating peptide BR2 enhances chemotherapeutic effects of cantharidin against hepatocellular carcinoma. Drug Deliv 2017. [PMID: 28644728 PMCID: PMC8241055 DOI: 10.1080/10717544.2017.1340361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
A main hurdle for the success of tumor-specific liposomes is their inability to penetrate tumors efficiently. In this study, we incorporated a cell-penetrating peptide BR2 onto the surface of a liposome loaded with the anticancer drug cantharidin (CTD) to create a system targeting hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells more efficiently and effectively. The in vitro cytotoxicity assay comparing the loaded liposomes’ effects on hepatocellular cancer HepG2 and the control Miha cells showed that CTD-loaded liposomes had a stronger anticancer effect after BR2 modification. The cellular uptake results of HepG2 and Miha cells further confirmed the superior ability of BR2-modified liposomes to penetrate cancer cells. The colocalization study revealed that BR2-modified liposomes could enter tumor cells and subsequently release drugs. A higher efficiency of delivery by BR2 liposomes as compared to unmodified liposomes was evident by evaluation of the HepG2 tumor spheroids penetration and inhibition. The biodistribution studies and anticancer efficacy results in vivo showed the significant accumulation of BR2-modified liposomes into tumor sites and an enhanced tumor inhibition. In conclusion, BR2-modified liposomes improve the anticancer potency of drugs for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Zhang
- a School of Chinese Medicine , Hong Kong Baptist University , Hong Kong , China
| | - Congcong Lin
- a School of Chinese Medicine , Hong Kong Baptist University , Hong Kong , China
| | - Aiping Lu
- a School of Chinese Medicine , Hong Kong Baptist University , Hong Kong , China.,b Changshu Research Institute , Hong Kong Baptist University, Changshu Economic and Technological Development (CETD) Zone , Changshu , Jiangsu Province , China
| | - Ge Lin
- c School of Biomedical Sciences , Chinese University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong , China
| | - Huoji Chen
- d School of Traditional Chinese Medicine , Southern Medical University , Guangzhou , China
| | - Qiang Liu
- d School of Traditional Chinese Medicine , Southern Medical University , Guangzhou , China
| | - Zhijun Yang
- a School of Chinese Medicine , Hong Kong Baptist University , Hong Kong , China.,b Changshu Research Institute , Hong Kong Baptist University, Changshu Economic and Technological Development (CETD) Zone , Changshu , Jiangsu Province , China
| | - Hongqi Zhang
- a School of Chinese Medicine , Hong Kong Baptist University , Hong Kong , China
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Sun Y, Zhang D, Mao M, Lu Y, Jiao N. Roles of p38 and JNK protein kinase pathways activated by compound cantharidin capsules containing serum on proliferation inhibition and apoptosis of human gastric cancer cell line. Exp Ther Med 2017; 14:1809-1817. [PMID: 28810654 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2017.4704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2016] [Accepted: 03/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of the present study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of compound cantharides capsules (CCCs) on the viability and apoptosis of human gastric cancer cell lines, BGC-823 and SGC-7901, and to detect its regulation of gene expression levels, as well as its inhibition mechanisms. Each cell line was grouped into a control group, CCC serum group, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) group, combination therapy group (CCC serum + 5-FU) and serum control group. Growth curves were measured and flow cytometry was used to detect cell apoptosis and cell viability. The mRNA expression level of proliferation-related C-MYC and p53 genes were assayed by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Protein phosphorylation levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, extracellular signal-related kinase 1/2, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and IκB were assayed by western blotting. The combined CCC serum and 5-FU group exhibited a higher inhibition rate in both cell lines and CCC serum therapy demonstrated a similar effect to 5-FU treatment, as demonstrated in the MTT and cell growth assay. Combined therapy significantly decreased the C-MYC mRNA expression levels and increased p53 mRNA expression levels (P<0.05). Combined therapy of 5-FU and CCC was more significant compared with CCC serum or 5-FU only (P<0.05). P38 and JNK-related protein phosphorylation are involved in apoptosis initiated by CCC combined 5-FU therapy. Combined therapy was able to significantly inhibit human gastric cancer cell growth (P<0.05), and advance cell apoptosis compared with CCC serum only. CCC serum resulted in downregulation of the c-Myc gene and upregulation of the p53 gene. p38 and JNK-related protein phosphorylation is involved in the inhibition of cell viability and apoptosis of human gastric cancer cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonghao Sun
- Department of Internal Medicine, Zibo City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zibo, Shandong 255300, P.R. China
| | - Dejuan Zhang
- Clinical Medical Research Laboratory, Zibo City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zibo, Shandong 255300, P.R. China
| | - Mao Mao
- Department of Internal Medicine, Zibo City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zibo, Shandong 255300, P.R. China
| | - Yangping Lu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Zibo City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zibo, Shandong 255300, P.R. China
| | - Ning Jiao
- Department of Internal Medicine, Zibo City Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zibo, Shandong 255300, P.R. China
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Zhang X, Lin CC, Chan WKN, Liu KL, Yang ZJ, Zhang HQ. Augmented Anticancer Effects of Cantharidin with Liposomal Encapsulation: In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation. Molecules 2017; 22:molecules22071052. [PMID: 28672816 PMCID: PMC6152072 DOI: 10.3390/molecules22071052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2017] [Revised: 06/20/2017] [Accepted: 06/21/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
PEGylated liposomes have received much attention as pharmaceutical carriers to deliver chemotherapeutic agents for therapeutic purpose. The aim of this study was to prepare and characterize PEGylated liposome of cantharidin and investigate its therapeutic effect on human hepatocellular carcinoma treatment in vitro and in vivo. Liposomal cantharidin was evaluated for their anticancer effects in vitro using human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells and in vivo using HepG2-bearing nude mice compared to free drug. PEGylated liposome of cantharidin had a particle size of 129.9 nm and a high encapsulation efficacy of approximately 88.9%. The liposomal cantharidin had a higher anti-proliferative effect vis-à-vis free cantharidin in inducing G2/M cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Liposomal cantharidin killed more HepG2 cancer cells at the same concentration equivalent to free cantharidin. Further study in vivo also showed that liposomal cantharidin achieved a higher tumor growth inhibition efficacy than free drug on hepatocellular carcinoma. As our study exhibited enhanced cytotoxicity against HepG2 cells and augmented tumor inhibitory effects in vivo, the results validate the potential value of cantharidin-liposome in improving the therapeutic efficacy of cantharidin for liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xue Zhang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Cong-Cong Lin
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.
| | | | - Kang-Lun Liu
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.
| | - Zhi-Jun Yang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.
- Changshu Research Institute, Hong Kong Baptist University, Changshu Economic and Technological Development (CETD) Zone, Changshu 215500, China.
| | - Hong-Qi Zhang
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China.
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Kuo JH, Huang AC, Lin JJ, Lai KC, Wu RSC, Yang JL, Ji BC, Yang MD, Chu YL, Chung JG. Cantharidin alters the expression of genes associated with the NKG2D-associated immune response in TSGH-8301 human bladder carcinoma cells. Oncol Lett 2017; 14:234-240. [PMID: 28693159 PMCID: PMC5494876 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2017.6168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2016] [Accepted: 02/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Cantharidin (CTD) is a natural toxin in beetles of the Mylabris genus (blister beetle), which has been revealed to induce cell death in various types of human cancer cells. However, to the best of our knowledge, no previous studies have investigated the effect of CTD on the expression of genes and their associated signaling pathways in human bladder carcinoma cells. In the present study, CTD-induced cell morphological changes and apoptosis were observed using phase-contrast microscopy and the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay, respectively, in TSGH-8301 human bladder carcinoma cells. In addition, a complementary DNA microarray analysis demonstrated that CTD treatment led to a >2-fold upregulation of 269 genes. For example, the DNA damage-associated gene DNA-damage-inducible transcript 3 had a 4.75-fold upregulation. Furthermore, another 286 genes were >2-fold downregulated in response to CTD treatment. Matrix-remodeling associated 5, which is associated with cell migration and invasion, was downregulated 7.98-fold.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jehn-Hwa Kuo
- Special Class of Healthcare, Industry Management, Central Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Taichung 40601, Taiwan, R.O.C.,Department of Urology, Jen-Ai Hospital, Taichung 412, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - An-Cheng Huang
- Department of Nursing, St. Mary's Junior College of Medicine, Nursing and Management, Yilan 26644, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Jen-Jyh Lin
- Division of Cardiology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Kuang-Chi Lai
- School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan, R.O.C.,Department of Surgery, China Medical University Beigang Hospital, Yunlin 651, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Rick Sai-Chuen Wu
- School of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan, R.O.C.,Department of Anesthesiology, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Jiun-Long Yang
- Department of Chinese Pharmaceutical Sciences and Chinese Medicine Resources, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Bin-Chuan Ji
- Division of Chest Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua 500, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Mei-Due Yang
- Department of Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 404, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Yung-Lin Chu
- International Master's Degree Program in Food Science, Department of Food Science, International College, National Pingtung University of Science and Technology, Pingtung 91201, Taiwan, R.O.C
| | - Jing-Gung Chung
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan, R.O.C.,Department of Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung 413, Taiwan, R.O.C
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Abstract
The realization of cancer therapeutics specific to cancer cells with less of an effect on normal tissues is our goal. Many trials have been carried out for this purpose, but this goal is still far from being realized. It was found more than 80 years ago that solid cancer nests are acidified, but in vitro studies under acidic conditions have not been extensively studied. Recently, in vitro experiments under acidic conditions were started and anti-cancer drugs specific to acidic areas have been identified. Many genes have been reported to be expressed at a high level under acidic conditions, and such genes may be potent targets for anti-cancer drugs specific to acidic nests. In this review article, recent in vitro, in vivo, and clinical achievements in anti-cancer drugs with marked efficacy under acidic conditions are summarized, and the clinical use of anti-cancer drugs specific to acidic nests is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Kobayashi
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, Chiba 260-8675, Japan.
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Li CC, Yu FS, Fan MJ, Chen YY, Lien JC, Chou YC, Lu HF, Tang NY, Peng SF, Huang WW, Chung JG. Anticancer effects of cantharidin in A431 human skin cancer (Epidermoid carcinoma) cells in vitro and in vivo. Environ Toxicol 2017; 32:723-738. [PMID: 27113412 DOI: 10.1002/tox.22273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2015] [Revised: 03/29/2016] [Accepted: 04/01/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Cantharidin (CTD), a potential anticancer agent of Traditional Chinese Medicine has cytotxic effects in different human cancer cell lines. The cytotoxic effects of CTD on A431 human skin cancer (epidermoid carcinoma) cells in vitro and in A431 cell xenograft mouse model were examined. In vitro, A431 human skin cell were treated with CTD for 24 and 48 h. Cell phase distribution, ROS production, Ca2+ release, Caspase activity and the level of apoptosis associated proteins were measured. In vivo, A431 cell xenograft mouse model were examined. CTD-induced cell morphological changes and decreased percentage of viable A431 cells via G0/G1 phase arrest and induced apoptosis. CTD-induced G0/G1 phase arrest through the reduction of protein levels of cyclin E, CDK6, and cyclin D in A431 cells. CTD-induced cell apoptosis of A431 cells also was confirm by DNA gel electrophoresis showed CTD-induced DNA fragmentation. CTD reduced the mitochondrial membrane potential and stimulated release of cytochrome c, AIF and Endo G in A431 cells. Flow cytometry demonstrated that CTD increased activity of caspase-8, -9 and -3. However, when cells were pretreated with specific caspase inhibitors activity was reduced and cell viability increased. CTD increased protein levels of death receptors such as DR4, DR5, TRAIL and levels of the active form of caspase-8, -9 and -3 in A431 cells. AIF and Endo G proteins levels were also enhanced by CTD. In vivo studies showed that CTD significantly inhibited A431 cell xenograft tumors in mice. Taken together, these in vitro and in vivo results provide insight into the mechanisms of CTD on cell growth and tumor production. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 723-738, 2017.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi-Chuan Li
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, 404
| | - Fu-Shun Yu
- School of Dentistry, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, 404
| | - Ming-Jen Fan
- Department of Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan, 413
| | - Ya-Yin Chen
- Department of Chinese-Western Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, 402
- School of Medicine, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, 402
| | - Jin-Cherng Lien
- School of Pharmacy, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, 404
| | - Yu-Cheng Chou
- Division of Neurosurgical Oncology, Neurological Institute, Taichung Veterans General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan, 407
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan, 114
| | - Hsu-Feng Lu
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, 112
| | - Nou-Ying Tang
- School of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, 402
| | - Shu-Fen Peng
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, 404
| | - Wen-Wen Huang
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, 404
| | - Jing-Gung Chung
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan, 404
- Department of Biotechnology, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan, 413
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Sun X, Cai X, Yang J, Chen J, Guo C, Cao P. Cantharidin Overcomes Imatinib Resistance by Depleting BCR-ABL in Chronic Myeloid Leukemia. Mol Cells 2016; 39:869-876. [PMID: 27989101 PMCID: PMC5223104 DOI: 10.14348/molcells.2016.0023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2016] [Revised: 06/23/2016] [Accepted: 11/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cantharidin (CTD) is an active compound isolated from the traditional Chinese medicine blister beetle and displayed anticancer properties against various types of cancer cells. However, little is known about its effect on human chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) cells, including imatinib-resistant CML cells. The objective of this study was to investigate whether CTD could overcome imatinib resistance in imatinib-resistant CML cells and to explore the possible underlying mechanisms associated with the effect. Our results showed that CTD strongly inhibited the growth of both imatinib-sensitive and imatinib-resistant CML cells. CTD induced cell cycle arrest at mitotic phase and triggered DNA damage in CML cells. The ATM/ATR inhibitor CGK733 abrogated CTD-induced mitotic arrest but promoted the cytotoxic effects of CTD. In addition, we demonstrated that CTD downregulated the expression of the BCR-ABL protein and suppressed its downstream signal transduction. Real-time quantitative PCR revealed that CTD inhibited BCR-ABL at transcriptional level. Knockdown of BCR-ABL increased the cell-killing effects of CTD in K562 cells. These findings indicated that CTD overcomes imatinib resistance through depletion of BCR-ABL. Taken together, CTD is an important new candidate agent for CML therapy.
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MESH Headings
- Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/pharmacology
- Cantharidin/administration & dosage
- Cantharidin/pharmacology
- Cell Cycle Checkpoints/drug effects
- DNA Damage
- Drug Synergism
- Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl/deficiency
- Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl/genetics
- Fusion Proteins, bcr-abl/metabolism
- Gene Knockdown Techniques
- Humans
- Imatinib Mesylate/administration & dosage
- Imatinib Mesylate/pharmacology
- K562 Cells
- Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/drug therapy
- Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/genetics
- Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/metabolism
- Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive/pathology
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyan Sun
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028,
China
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Jiangsu Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, Jiangsu,
China
| | - Xueting Cai
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028,
China
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Jiangsu Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, Jiangsu,
China
| | - Jie Yang
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028,
China
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Jiangsu Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, Jiangsu,
China
| | - Jiao Chen
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028,
China
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Jiangsu Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, Jiangsu,
China
| | - Caixia Guo
- Key Laboratory of Genomics and Precision Medicine, China Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Center, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101,
China
| | - Peng Cao
- Affiliated Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028,
China
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Jiangsu Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210028, Jiangsu,
China
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Lü S, Jiang M, Huo T, Li X, Zhang Y. 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase: an essential actor in the biosynthesis of cantharidin in the blister beetle Epicauta chinensis Laporte. Insect Mol Biol 2016; 25:58-71. [PMID: 26566751 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Cantharidin (C(10)H(12)O(4)) is a monoterpene defensive toxin in insects involved in chemical defence as well as in courtship and mating behaviours. It is relatively well known in the medical literature because of its high anticancer activity and as an effective therapy for molluscum contagiosum. However, little is known about its biosynthesis pathway in vivo, and no enzyme involved in cantharidin biosynthesis has been identified. The purpose of this study was to identify the crucial enzyme that is involved in the biosynthesis of cantharidin. Using the homology cloning method, a 3-hydroxy-3-methyl glutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGR) gene, the rate-limiting enzyme in the mevalonate pathway, was cloned from the blister beetle Epicauta chinensis. Quantitative reverse transcription PCR and gas chromatography methods revealed that the HMGR transcripts had a positive correlation with cantharidin production in the beetles (R = 0.891). RNA interference (RNAi) knockdown of HMGR mRNA expression was achieved by microinjection of a specific double-stranded RNA with more than 90% RNAi efficiency, and an apparent decrease of cantharidin production was observed. Furthermore, the HMGR mRNA was greatly upregulated by exogenous juvenile hormone III (JH III), and cantharidin production was also raised in males; however, when injecting the JH III with RNAi of HMGR mRNA at the same time, cantharidin production did not rise. These results demonstrate that HMGR is an essential enzyme in cantharidin biosynthesis in the blister beetle E. chinensis, which further verifies previous research results demonstrating that cantharidin is synthesized de novo by the mevalonate pathway in blister beetles.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Lü
- Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management, National Ministry of Education, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - M Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management, National Ministry of Education, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - T Huo
- Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management, National Ministry of Education, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - X Li
- Department of Entomology, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Y Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Plant Protection Resources and Pest Management, National Ministry of Education, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
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46
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Chiang LL, Tseng IJ, Lin PY, Sheu SY, Lin CT, Hsieh YH, Lin YJ, Chen HL, Lin MH. Synthesis of Canthardin Sulfanilamides and Their Acid Anhydride Analogues via a Ring-Opening Reaction of Activated Aziridines and Their Associated Pharmacological Effects. Molecules 2016; 21:100. [PMID: 26784163 PMCID: PMC6273973 DOI: 10.3390/molecules21010100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2015] [Revised: 01/06/2016] [Accepted: 01/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The cantharidinimide derivatives, 5a-h, including sulfanilamides containing pyrimidyl, pyrazinyl, hydrogen, thiazolyl, and oxazolyl groups were synthesized. Modification of cantharidinimide by means of the reaction of activated aziridine ring opening led to the discovery of a novel class of antitumor compounds. The analogues 10i-k, 11l-n, 12o-p, and 16q-s were obtained from treating cantharidinimide 6 and analogues (7, 8, and 13) with activated aziridines, which produced a series of ring-opened products including normal and abnormal types. Some of these compounds showed cytotoxic effects in vitro against HL-60, Hep3B, MCF7, and MDA-MB-231 cancer cells. The most potent cytostatic compound, N-cantharidinimido-sulfamethazine (5a), exhibited anti-HL-60 and anti-Hep3B cell activities. Two compounds 5g and 5h displayed slight effects on the Hep3B cell line, while the other compounds produced no response in these four cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling-Ling Chiang
- School of Respiratory Therapy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan.
- Chest Medicine Department, Shuang-Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan.
| | - Ing-Jy Tseng
- Gerontology Health Management, College of Nursing, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan.
| | - Pen-Yuan Lin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan.
| | - Shiow-Yunn Sheu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan.
| | - Ching-Tung Lin
- Department of Chemistry, Tam-Kang University, Danshui 25137, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
| | - Yun-Han Hsieh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan.
| | - Yi-Jing Lin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan.
| | - Hsiao-Ling Chen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan.
| | - Mei-Hsiang Lin
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan.
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47
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Wang Y, Sun W, Zha S, Wang H, Zhang Y. Synthesis and Biological Evaluation of Nor cantharidin Derivatives Possessing an Aromatic Amine Moiety as Antifungal Agents. Molecules 2015; 20:21464-80. [PMID: 26633341 DOI: 10.3390/molecules201219782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2015] [Revised: 11/26/2015] [Accepted: 11/30/2015] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Based on the structure of naturally produced cantharidin, different arylamine groups were linked to the norcantharidin scaffold to provide thirty six compounds. Their structures were confirmed by melting point, ¹H-NMR, (13)C-NMR and HRMS-ESI studies. These synthetic compounds were tested as fungistatic agents against eight phytopathogenic fungi using the mycelium growth rate method. Of these thirty six derivatives, seven displayed stronger antifungal activity than did norcantharidin, seven showed higher activity than did cantharidin and three exhibited more significant activity than that of thiabendazole. In particular, 3-(3'-chloro-phenyl)carbamoyl norcantharidate II-8 showed the most significant fungicidal activity against Sclerotinia fructigena and S. sclerotiorum, with IC50 values of 0.88 and 0.97 μg/mL, respectively. The preliminary structure-activity relationship data of these compounds revealed that: (1) the benzene ring is critical for the improvement of the spectrum of antifungal activity (3-phenylcarbamoyl norcantharidate II-1 vs norcantharidin and cantharidin); (2) among the three sites, including the C-2', C-3' and C-4' positions of the phenyl ring, the presence of a halogen atom at the C-3'position of the benzene ring caused the most significant increase in antifungal activity; (3) compounds with strongly electron-drawing or electron-donating groups substitutions were found to have a poor antifungal activity; and (4) compared with fluorine, bromine and iodine, chlorine substituted at the C-3' position of the benzene ring most greatly promoted fungistatic activity. Thus, compound II-8 has emerged as new lead structure for the development of new fungicides.
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48
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Zhang H, Yan X. Cantharidin modulates the E2F1/MCM7-miR-106b-93/p21-PTEN signaling axis in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. Oncol Lett 2015; 10:2849-2855. [PMID: 26722252 PMCID: PMC4665410 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2015.3681] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2014] [Accepted: 08/18/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Cantharidin (CTD) is one of numerous natural products used in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of cancer. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of CTD on changes in the expression of microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) and to explore its anti-proliferative effect on MCF-7 breast cancer cells. The proliferation of MCF-7 cells was measured by performing an MTT assay. MCF-7 cells were treated with various concentrations of CTD for 48 h, and the expression profiles of miRNAs in CTD-treated and -untreated MCF-7 cells were detected using miRNA microarray chips. The array data were confirmed by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction and protein expression levels were measured by western blot analysis. The 50% inhibitory concentration of CTD was 1.75 µg/ml following treatment for 48 h and CTD significantly inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 cells in a dose-dependent manner (P<0.01). Furthermore, microarray analysis identified 35 miRNAs that were up-regulated (fold change ≥2.0 and P<0.01) and 45 miRNAs that were down-regulated (fold change ≤ 0.5 and P<0.01) in response to CTD treatment. Thus, numerous CTD-induced miRNAs appeared to be associated with breast cancer. Notably, CTD repressed the expression of miR-106b-93, its host gene MCM7 and its transcription factor E2F1. In addition, CTD induced an increase in the protein expression levels of miR-106b-93 target genes p21 and phosphatase and tensin homolog. These observations suggested that the modulation of miRNA expression is an important mechanism underlying the biological effects of CTD in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Zhang
- Research Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine Complexity System, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, P.R. China
| | - Xiuli Yan
- Internal Medicine of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200437, P.R. China
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49
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Hsia TC, Lin JH, Hsu SC, Tang NY, Lu HF, Wu SH, Lin JG, Chung JG. Cantharidin induces DNA damage and inhibits DNA repair-associated protein levels in NCI-H460 human lung cancer cells. Environ Toxicol 2015; 30:1135-1143. [PMID: 24639390 DOI: 10.1002/tox.21986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2013] [Accepted: 03/03/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Cantharidin is one of the major compounds from mylabris and it has cytotoxic effects in many different types of human cancer cells. Previously, we found that cantharidin induced cell death through cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induction in human lung cancer NCI-H460 cells. However, cantharidin-affected DNA damage, repair, and associated protein levels in NCI-H460 cells have not been examined. In this study, we determined whether cantharidin induced DNA damage and condensation and altered levels of proteins in NCI-H460 cells in vitro. Incubation of NCI-H460 cells with 0, 2.5, 5, 10, and 15 μM of cantharidin caused a longer DNA migration smear (comet tail). Cantharidin also increased DNA condensation. These effects were dose-dependent. Cantharidin (5, 10, and 15 μM) treatment of NCI-H460 cells reduced protein levels of ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM), breast cancer 1, early onset (BRCA-1), 14-3-3 proteins sigma (14-3-3σ), DNA-dependent serine/threonine protein kinase (DNA-PK), O(6) -methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT), and mediator of DNA damage checkpoint protein 1 (MDC1). Protein translocation of p-p53, p-H2A.X (S140), and MDC1 from cytoplasm to nucleus was induced by cantharidin in NCI-H460 cells. Taken together, this study showed that cantharidin caused DNA damage and inhibited levels of DNA repair-associated proteins. These effects may contribute to cantharidin-induced cell death in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Te-Chun Hsia
- Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, 404, Taiwan
- Department of Internal Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 404, Taiwan
| | - Ju-Hwa Lin
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, China Medical University, Taichung, 404, Taiwan
| | - Shu-Chun Hsu
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, China Medical University, Taichung, 404, Taiwan
| | - Nou-Ying Tang
- Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, 404, Taiwan
| | - Hsu-Feng Lu
- Department of Clinical Pathology, Cheng Hsin General Hospital, Taipei, 112, Taiwan
| | - Shin-Hwar Wu
- Division of Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua, 500, Taiwan
| | - Jaung-Geng Lin
- Graduate Institute of Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, 404, Taiwan
| | - Jing-Gung Chung
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, China Medical University, Taichung, 404, Taiwan
- Department of Biotechnology, Asia University, Wufeng, Taichung, 413, Taiwan
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50
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Liao YF, Wang Y, Huang Y, Zha SF, Liu JJ, Wang ZK, Yin YP, Liao YF, Wang Y. ISOLATION AND FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS OF McMenA, A GENE ENCODING A 1,4-DIHYDROXY-2-NAPHTHOATE OCTAPRENYLTRANSFERASE IN Mylabris cichorii. Arch Insect Biochem Physiol 2015; 89:127-137. [PMID: 25772016 DOI: 10.1002/arch.21229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Cantharidin is a biomolecule with a role in host defense that can also be used as an anticancer drug. The in vivo biosynthetic pathway for cantharidin has been the subject of debate for several decades and the mechanism is not yet completely understood. To study the biosynthetic pathway of cantharidin in blister beetles, Mylabris cichori, a full-length MenA (McMenA) cDNA was cloned based on the partial sequence of the MenA gene from a suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) library of male and female adult M. cichorii. The cDNA was 1264 base pairs (bp) with an open reading frame of 1026 bp nucleotides encoding a 341 amino acid protein. Analysis of the McMenA amino acid sequence showed that the aspartate rich motif N/DDxxD represented binding sites for prenyl diphosphate via a Mg(2+) ion. Phylogenetic analysis showed that McMenA was most closely related to MenA of Tribolium castaneum, and the amino acid sequence similarity was 86%. The expression pattern of McMenA in adults was analyzed using RT-qPCR, and we found that the highest expression of McMenA occurred during 22-25 days in the sex-separate breeding males, while the lowest expression occurred in females at the same time. Injection with a specific double-strand RNA (dsRNA) of McMenA led to a significant reduction of McMenA mRNA levels after 24 h. Cantharidin and ATP concentrations dropped around the same time. Together, our data showed that the McMenA gene might be involved in cantharidin biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y F Liao
- School of Life Science, Chongqing University, Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticides, Chongqing, China
| | - Y Wang
- School of Life Science, Chongqing University, Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticides, Chongqing, China
| | - Y Huang
- School of Life Science, Chongqing University, Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticides, Chongqing, China
| | - S F Zha
- School of Life Science, Chongqing University, Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticides, Chongqing, China
| | - J J Liu
- School of Life Science, Chongqing University, Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticides, Chongqing, China
| | - Z K Wang
- School of Life Science, Chongqing University, Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticides, Chongqing, China
| | - Y P Yin
- School of Life Science, Chongqing University, Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Fungal Insecticides, Chongqing, China
| | - Y F Liao
- Clinical Medicine College of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Y Wang
- Panzhihua University, Panzhihua, China
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