Network pharmacology and molecular docking-based strategy for predicting anti-tumour mechanism of linarin

The aim was to explore the anti-tumour mechanism of linarin (LIN) based on network pharmacology and molecular docking. PharmMapper database and GeneCards database were used to screen anti-tumour related targets of LIN. Enrichment analysis of GO and KEGG was conducted to predict the key targets and pathways. At last, LIN was docked with the key targets. ESR1, ESR2, EGFR, AR, TGFBR2, F2, MAPK10, MAPK14, CDK2 and HSP90AA1 were identified as the key targets. The key pathways included pathways in cancer, prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer and breast cancer. KEGG pathway maps indicated that the anti-tumour effect of LIN may be mainly achieved by intervening related targets in the following pathways: AR-HSP/AR-AR/PSA/proliferation and evading apoptosis;F2/GPCR/…/ROCK/tissue invasion and metastasis;F2/GPCR/…/Raf/MAPK signalling pathway/proliferation and sustained angiogenesis; EGFR/Grb2/…/Raf/MAPK signalling pathway/proliferation and sustained angiogenesis; ER/Oestrogen signalling pathway/proliferation;TGFBR2/Smad2/3/TGF-β signalling pathway/insensitivity to anti-growth signals; oxidative stress/KEAP1/NRF2/…/proliferation and evading apoptosis. LIN had strong binding activity with ESR2, EGFR, AR, CDK2 and HSP90AA1.

Lumican, a Multifunctional Cell Instructive Biomarker Proteoglycan Has Novel Roles as a Marker of the Hypercoagulative State of Long Covid Disease

This study has reviewed the many roles of lumican as a biomarker of tissue pathology in health and disease. Lumican is a structure regulatory proteoglycan of collagen-rich tissues, with cell instructive properties through interactions with a number of cell surface receptors in tissue repair, thereby regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, inflammation and the innate and humoral immune systems to combat infection. The exponential increase in publications in the last decade dealing with lumican testify to its role as a pleiotropic biomarker regulatory protein. Recent findings show lumican has novel roles as a biomarker of the hypercoagulative state that occurs in SARS CoV-2 infections; thus, it may also prove useful in the delineation of the complex tissue changes that characterize COVID-19 disease. Lumican may be useful as a prognostic and diagnostic biomarker of long COVID disease and its sequelae.

Aspirin and the metabolic hallmark of cancer: novel therapeutic opportunities for colorectal cancer

Aspirin is a well-known nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that has a recognized role in cancer prevention as well as evidence to support its use as an adjuvant for cancer treatment. Importantly there has been an increasing number of studies contributing to the mechanistic understanding of aspirins' anti-tumour effects and these studies continue to inform the potential clinical use of aspirin for both the prevention and treatment of cancer. This review focuses on the emerging role of aspirin as a regulator of metabolic reprogramming, an essential "hallmark of cancer" required to support the increased demand for biosynthetic intermediates needed for sustained proliferation. Cancer cells frequently undergo metabolic rewiring driven by oncogenic pathways such as hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF), wingless-related integration site (Wnt), mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), and nuclear factor kappa light chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), which supports the increased proliferative rate as tumours develop and progress. Reviewed here, cellular metabolic reprogramming has been identified as a key mechanism of action of aspirin and include the regulation of key metabolic drivers, the regulation of enzymes involved in glycolysis and glutaminolysis, and altered nutrient utilisation upon aspirin exposure. Importantly, as aspirin treatment exposes metabolic vulnerabilities in tumour cells, there is an opportunity for the use of aspirin in combination with specific metabolic inhibitors in particular, glutaminase (GLS) inhibitors currently in clinical trials such as telaglenastat (CB-839) and IACS-6274 for the treatment of colorectal and potentially other cancers. The increasing evidence that aspirin impacts metabolism in cancer cells suggests that aspirin could provide a simple, relatively safe, and cost-effective way to target this important hallmark of cancer. Excitingly, this review highlights a potential new role for aspirin in improving the efficacy of a new generation of metabolic inhibitors currently undergoing clinical investigation.

Current understanding and future prospects on Berberine for anticancer therapy

Berberine (BBR) is a potential plant metabolite and has remarkable anticancer properties. Many kinds of research are being focused on the cytotoxic activity of berberine in in vitro and in vivo studies. A variety of molecular targets which lead to the anticancer effect of berberine ranges from p-53 activation, Cyclin B expression for arresting cell cycles; protein kinase B (AKT), MAP kinase and IKB kinase for antiproliferative activity; effect on beclin-1 involved in autophagy; reduced expression of MMP-9 and MMP-2 for the inhibition of invasion and metastasis etc. Berberine also interferes with transcription factor-1 (AP-1) activity responsible for the expression of oncogenes and neoplastic transformation of the cell. It also leads to the inhibition of various enzymes which are directly or indirectly involved in carcinogenesis like N acetyl transferase, Cyclo-oxygenase-2, Telomerase and Topoisomerase. In addition to these actions, Berberine plays a role in, the regulation of reactive oxygen species and inflammatory cytokines in preventing cancer formation. Berberine anticancer properties are demonstrated due to the interaction of berberine with micro-RNA. The summarized information presented in this review article may help and lead the researchers, scientists/industry persons to use berberine as a promising candidate against cancer.

Inhibitory Effects of Esculetin on Liver Cancer Through Triggering NCOA4 Pathway-Mediation Ferritinophagy in vivo and in vitro

Objective

To explore the effects of Esculetin on liver cancer and explore potential mechanisms of Esculetin-inducing cells death.

Methods

Esculetin's effects on the proliferation, migration and apoptosis of HUH7 and HCCLM3 cells were detected by using CCK8, crystal violet staining, wound healing, Transwell^TM and Annexin V-FITC/PI. Flow cytometry, fluorescence staining, Western blot, T-AOC, DPPH radical scavenging assay, hydroxyl radical's inhibitory capability and GSH test were used to examine the esculetin's effects on the ROS level, the oxidation-related substances and proteins' expression in hepatoma cells. In vivo experiment was performed by xenograft model. Ferrostatin-1 was used to determine the death way of hepatoma cells induced by esculetin. Live cell probe, Western blot, Fe²⁺ content, MDA, HE staining, Prussian blue staining and immunohistochemistry were used to examine the ferritinophagy-related phenomenon induced by esculetin in hepatoma cells. The relationship between esculetin and NCOA4-mediated ferritinophagy was confirmed through gene silence and overexpression, immunofluorescence staining and Western blot.

Results

Esculetin suppressed the proliferation, migration and apoptosis of HUH7 and HCCLM3 cells significantly, influenced the oxidative stress level, altered the autophagy and iron metabolism levels in cells, and produced a ferritinophagy-related phenomena. Esculetin increased the levels of cellular lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species. In vivo, esculetin could decrease tumour volume, promote LC3 and NCOA4 expressions, suppresse hydroxyl radical's inhibiting capacity and GSH, increase Fe²⁺ and MDA levels, decrease antioxidant proteins expression in tumour tissue. In addition, Esculetin could also increase the iron deposition of tumour tissues, promote ferritinophagy, and induce tumours' ferroptosis.

Conclusion

Esculetin has an inhibitory effect on liver cancer in vivo and in vitro through triggering NCOA4 pathway-mediation ferritinophagy.

Diosgenin Glucoside Inhibits the Progression of Osteosarcoma MG-63 by Regulating the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway

BACKGROUND

Trillium tschonoskii Maxim (TTM) exerts antitumor effects on a variety of tumour cells. However, the antitumor mechanism of Diosgenin glucoside (DG) extracted from TTM is not clear.

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to investigate the anti-tumour effects of DG-induced osteosarcoma MG-63 cells and their molecular mechanism.

METHODS

CCK-8 assay, HE staining, and flow cytometry were used to detect the effects of DG on the proliferation, apoptosis, and cell cycle of osteosarcoma cells. Wound healing and Transwell invasion assays were used to observe the effect of DG on the migration and invasion of osteosarcoma cells. The anti-tumour mechanism of DG on osteosarcoma cells was investigated by immunohistochemistry, Western blot, and RT-PCR.

RESULTS

DG significantly inhibited osteosarcoma cell activity and proliferation, promoted apoptosis and blocked the G2 phase of the cell cycle. Both wound healing and Transwell invasion assays showed that DG inhibited osteosarcoma cell migration and invasion. Immunohistochemical and western blot results showed that DG inhibited the activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR. We found that DG also significantly downregulated the expression of S6K1 and eIF4F, which might be associated with the inhibition of protein synthesis.

CONCLUSION

DG may inhibit proliferation, migration, invasion, and cell cycle G2 phase arrest of osteosarcoma MG-63 cells and promote apoptosis through the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signalling pathway.

Therapeutic efficacy of an injectable formulation of purinostat mesylate in SU-DHL-6 tumour model

Background: Previous studies have proven that Purinostat Mesylate (PM) is a new HDAC inhibitor and exhibits significant antitumor efficacy. However, the clinical application of PM was greatly limited by its poor solubility in water and low bioavailability.Objective:To increase the solubility of PM through pharmaceutical research, and prepare it into an injection that meets the needs of intravenous use to promote its clinical application.MethodsThe prepared PM/HP-β-CD inclusion complex was studied by computer simulation, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR spectroscopy), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Then, the antitumor effects of PM/HP-β-CD inclusion complex were studied by in vitro cytotoxicity assay, apoptosis assay, pharmacokinetic study and in vivo antitumor assay.Results:Phase Solubility Analysis revealed that PM and HP-β-CD were compatible and the solubility of PM increased almost 220 times, to 2.02 mg/mL. The interaction mechanism studies revealed that PM could be embedded into the cavity of HP-β-CD through the side of the aminobenzene ring. Cell viability and apoptosis assays showed that PM/HP-β-CD complex maintained the good anti-cancer activity of PM, and PM/HP-β-CD complex has a better anti-tumor effect and lower toxicity than LBH589 and Hyper-CVAD/RTX in vivo. All the results suggest that HP-β-CD can solve the problem of PM administration and provide a way for clinical application of PM.Conclusions: In this study, an injectable formulation of PM in HP-β-CD (10% w/v) was prepared to improve its water solubility. Our research provides a way for clinical administration of PM, which has been under phase I clinical trial for the treatment of relapsed or refractory B-cell-related hematologic malignancies in China and the USA.KEY MESSAGESWe developed a preparation of Purinostat Mesylate that can be administered intravenously, reducing the toxicity associated with oral administration.This preparation has an outstanding therapeutic effect on SU-DHL-6 xenograft tumour, indicating its clinical value, which has been under phase I clinical trial for the treatment of relapsed or refractory B-cell-related haematologic malignancies in China and the USA.

Marine-Inspired Drugs and Biomaterials in the Perspective of Pancreatic Cancer Therapies

Despite its low prevalence, pancreatic cancer (PC) is one of the deadliest, typically characterised as silent in early stages and with a dramatically poor prognosis when in its advanced stages, commonly associated with a high degree of metastasis. Many efforts have been made in pursuing innovative therapeutical approaches, from the search for new cytotoxic drugs and other bioactive compounds, to the development of more targeted approaches, including improved drug delivery devices. Marine biotechnology has been contributing to this quest by providing new chemical leads and materials originating from different organisms. In this review, marine biodiscovery for PC is addressed, particularly regarding marine invertebrates (namely sponges, molluscs, and bryozoans), seaweeds, fungi, and bacteria. In addition, the development of biomaterials based on marine-originating compounds, particularly chitosan, fucoidan, and alginate, for the production of advanced cancer therapies, is also discussed. The key role that drug delivery can play in new cancer treatments is highlighted, as therapeutical outcomes need to be improved to give further hope to patients.

Eleutheroside E functions as anti-cervical cancer drug by inhibiting the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase pathway and reprogramming the metabolic responses

OBJECTIVES

Cervical cancer (CC) is the common female malignant tumour with non-negligible morbidity and mortality. Eleutheroside E (EE) has anti-oxidative stress, anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferation effects in diverse disease models. However, its anti-tumour role remains unclear.

METHODS

The cell viability, apoptosis rate and protein expressions were detected by CCK-8, flow cytometry and western blot assays, respectively. The metabolic profile was performed by GC/MS analysis. Furthermore, the effect of EE on CC was verified in nude mice.

KEY FINDINGS

EE notably decreased the viability and increased the cell apoptosis, which could be reversed with 740Y-P treatment. EE treatment changed the metabolic categories of SiHa cells. The fatty acids signalling pathway was the most outstanding differential pathway. Myo-inositol prominently enhanced the level of phosphorylated Akt in a dose-dependent way. Moreover, EE declined the tumour volume and weight and the proliferation, but promoted the apoptosis in vivo. EE reduced the relative expression of phosphorylated PI3K and Akt. However, all these in-vivo results were observably antagonized with myo-inositol treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

EE plays an anti-tumour role in CC via inhibiting the PI3K pathway and reprogramming the metabolic responses.

6-Amino-2,4,5-trimethylpyridin-3-ol and 2-amino-4,6-dimethylpyrimidin-5-ol derivatives as selective fibroblast growth factor receptor 4 inhibitors: design, synthesis, molecular docking, and anti-hepatocellular carcinoma efficacy evaluation

A novel series of aminotrimethylpyridinol and aminodimethylpyrimidinol derivatives were designed and synthesised for FGFR4 inhibitors. Structure-activity relationship on the FGFR4 inhibitory activity of the new compounds was clearly elucidated by an intensive molecular docking study. Anti-cancer activity of the compounds was evaluated using hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell lines and a chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) tumour model. Compound 6O showed FGFR4 inhibitory activity over FGFR1 - 3. Compared to the positive control BLU9931, compound 6O exhibited at least 8 times higher FGFR4 selectivity. Strong anti-proliferative activity of compound 6O was observed against Hep3B, an HCC cell line which was a much more sensitive cell line to BLU9931. In vivo anti-tumour activity of compound 6O against Hep3B-xenografted CAM tumour model was almost similar to BLU9931. Overall, compound 6O, a novel derivative of aminodimethylpyrimidinol, was a selective FGFR4 kinase inhibitor blocking HCC tumour growth.

Second generation β-elemene nitric oxide derivatives with reasonable linkers: potential hybrids against malignant brain glioma

Elemene is a second-line broad-spectrum anti-tumour drug that has been used in China for more than two decades. However, its main anti-tumour ingredient, β-elemene, has disadvantages, including excessive lipophilicity and relatively weak anti-tumour efficacy. To improve the anti-tumour activity of β-elemene, based on its minor molecular weight character, we introduced furoxan nitric oxide (NO) donors into the β-elemene structure and designed six series of new generation β-elemene NO donor hybrids. The synthesised compounds could effectively release NO in vitro, displayed significant anti-proliferative effects on U87MG, NCI-H520, and SW620 cell lines. In the orthotopic glioma model, compound Id significantly and continuously suppressed the growth of gliomas in nude mice, and the brain glioma of the treatment group was markedly inhibited (>90%). In short, the structural fusion design of NO donor and β-elemene is a feasible strategy to improve the in vivo anti-tumour activity of β-elemene.

Natural flavonolignans as potential therapeutic agents against common diseases

OBJECTIVES

Plant-derived flavonolignans had been demonstrated to have various biological functions. They are an important class of natural products combined by a flavonoid unit and a phenylpropanoid unit.

KEY FINDINGS

From the literature survey, 88 constituents from natural resources were identified. Different derivatives of flavonolignans were listed, fused phenylpropanoid unit with dioxane ring, or cyclic ether, or simple ether side chain, or lactone, and so on. Besides, the pharmacological effects of flavonolignans were summarized as well. It has a wide range of anti-tumour, antioxidant, anti-microorganic and anti-inflammatory effects.

SUMMARY

This review had provided a full-scale profile of flavonolignans on its plant sources, phytochemistry and pharmacology, and also proposed some issues and perspectives which may be of concern in the future. It was greatly anticipated that the commercialization of the flavonolignans would lead to uplift the financial abilities of communities attending the growing of the flavonolignans and the relevant and potential production becoming an international herbal and pharmaceutical commodity.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of celastrol derivatives as potent antitumor agents with STAT3 inhibition

Using STAT3 inhibitors as a potential strategy in cancer therapy have attracted much attention. Recently, celastrol has been reported that it could directly bind to and suppress the activity of STAT3 in the cardiac dysfunction model. To explore more effective STAT3 inhibiting anti-tumour drug candidates, we synthesised a series of celastrol derivatives and biologically evaluated them with several human cancer cell lines. The western blotting analysis showed that compound 4 m, the most active derivative, could suppress the STAT3's phosphorylation as well as its downstream genes. SPR analysis, molecular docking and dynamics simulations' results indicated that the 4m could bind with STAT3 protein more tightly than celastrol. Then we found that the 4m could block cell-cycle and induce apoptosis on HCT-116 cells. Furthermore, the anti-tumour effect of 4m was verified on colorectal cancer organoid. This is the first research that discovered effective STAT3 inhibitors as potent anti-tumour agents from celastrol derivatives.

From Antibacterial to Antitumour Agents: A Brief Review on The Chemical and Medicinal Aspects of Sulfonamides

Sulfonamides have been in clinical use for many years, and the development of bioactive substances containing the sulfonamide subunit has grown steadily in view of their important biological properties such as antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic, antioxidant, and antitumour properties. This review addresses the medicinal chemistry aspects of sulfonamides; covering their discovery, the structure- activity relationship and the mechanism of action of the antibacterial sulfonamide class, as well as the physico-chemical and pharmacological properties associated with this class. It also provides an overview of the various biological activities inherent to sulfonamides, reporting research that emphasises the importance of this group in the planning and development of bioactive substances, with a special focus on potential antitumour properties. The synthesis of sulfonamides is considered to be simple and provides a diversity of derivatives from a wide variety of amines and sulfonyl chlorides. The sulfonamide group is a non-classical bioisostere of carboxyl groups, phenolic hydroxyl groups and amide groups. This review highlights that most of the bioactive substances have the sulfonamide group, or a related group such as sulfonylurea, in an orientation towards other functional groups. This structural characteristic was observed in molecules with distinct antibacterial activities, demonstrating a clear structure-activity relationship of sulfonamides. This short review sought to contextualise the discovery of classic antibacterial sulfonamides and their physico-chemical and pharmacological properties. The importance of the sulfonamide subunit in Medicinal Chemistry has been highlighted and emphasised, in order to promote its inclusion in the planning and synthesis of future drugs.

A Novel c-MET-Targeting Antibody-Drug Conjugate for Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer-associated death in the United States and has a 5-year survival rate of <4%. Although much effort has been invested in the research and development of pancreatic cancer drugs over the past 30 years, due to the lack of effective targetable carcinogenic drivers, no new targeted therapies that can improve patient prognosis have been approved for clinical use. SHR-A1403 is a new c-mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (c-MET) antibody-drug conjugate that can be used for the targeted treatment of PDAC with high c-MET expression. This study reports for the first time the application prospects of SHR-A1403 in preclinical models of PDAC. SHR-A1403 significantly inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of pancreatic cancer cells and induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. These changes were caused by inhibition of intracellular cholesterol biosynthesis by SHR-A1403. Therefore, targeting c-MET through SHR-A1403 showed strong preclinical anti-tumour efficacy in pancreatic cancer. Our work suggests the potential application of c-MET-targeted antibody-drug conjugate treatment for PDAC in clinical practise.

Long Non-coding RNA lnc-GNAT1-1 Suppresses Liver Cancer Progression via Modulation of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition

Recent studies have investigated the modulatory roles of long non-coding RNAs in the onset and progression of liver cancer. The present study aimed to elucidate the role of lnc-GNAT1-1 in liver cancer development and to explore the underlying mechanisms. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to measure the expression levels of lnc-GNAT1-1 in cancerous tissues from patients with liver cancer and in liver cancer cell lines. The proliferative ability and apoptotic rates of liver cancer cells were measured using the counting kit-8 (CCK-8), colony formation, and flow cytometry assays. The abilities to invade and migrate were measured using Transwell assays. Epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins, E-cadherin, N-cadherin, and vimentin, were measured using western blotting. A nude mouse model was injected with xenografts to evaluate tumor growth in vivo. Downregulation of lnc-GNAT1-1 was observed in cancerous tissues from patients with liver cancer and in liver cancer cell lines, and low expression levels of lnc-GNAT1-1 were related to advanced TNM stage. Lnc-GNAT1-1 knockdown promoted invasion, migration, and proliferation of liver cancer cells and inhibited apoptosis, while lnc-GNAT1-1 upregulation exerted the opposite effects. The expression levels of lnc-GNAT1-1 negatively correlated with in vivo tumor growth in a xenograft nude mouse model. Mechanistic experiments revealed that lnc-GNAT1-1 exerted anti-tumor effects in liver cancer cells by inhibiting EMT. In conclusion, this study suggests that lnc-GNAT1-1 suppresses liver cancer progression by modulating EMT.

Dioscin elicits anti-tumour immunity by inhibiting macrophage M2 polarization via JNK and STAT3 pathways in lung cancer

Tumour‐associated macrophage (TAM) is an important component in tumour microenvironment. Generally, TAM exhibits the function of M2‐like macrophage, which was closely related to angiogenesis and tumour progression. Dioscin, a natural steroidal saponin, has shown its powerful anti‐tumour activity recently. However, the mechanism of dioscin involved in immune regulation is still obscure. Here, we observed dioscin induced macrophage M2‐to‐M1 phenotype transition in vitro and inhibited IL‐10 secretion. Meanwhile, the phagocytosis of macrophages was enhanced. In subcutaneous lung tumour models, dioscin inhibited the augmentation of M2 macrophage populations. Furthermore, dioscin down‐regulated STAT3 and JNK signalling pathways in macrophages in vitro. In BMDMs, activating JNK and inhibiting STAT3 induce macrophages to M1 polarization while inhibiting JNK and activating STAT3 to M2 polarization. Additionally, condition mediums from dioscin‐pre‐treated macrophages inhibited the migration of 3LL cells and the tube‐formation capacity of HUVECs. What's more, dioscin‐mediated macrophage polarization inhibited the in vivo metastasis of 3LL cells. In conclusion, dioscin may act as a new anti‐tumour agent by inhibiting TAMs via JNK and STAT3 pathways in lung cancer.

Anti-tumour effects of Keratin 6A in lung adenocarcinoma

BACKGROUND

To examine the effects of Keratin 6A (KRT6A) protein on the proliferation, migration and invasion abilities of lung adenocarcinoma cells, and to analyse the relationship between the expression level of KRT6A protein and the survival prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma patients.

METHODS

Western Blot was used to detect the expression of KRT6A protein in lung adenocarcinoma cell lines. CCK-8 experiment and colony formation assays were performed to detect the proliferation ability. Wound healing assay and transwell migration assay were conducted to detect the migration ability. Transwell invasion assay was conducted to detect the invasion ability. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of KRT6A protein in lung adenocarcinoma tissues.

RESULTS

We first found that the expression of KRT6A protein in lung adenocarcinoma cell lines was low. After overexpressed KRT6A protein in lung adenocarcinoma cells, we then found that KRT6A protein could not only inhibit the proliferation ability of lung adenocarcinoma cells but also inhibit them migration and invasion abilities. In addition, we also found that there had obvious difference in the expression of KRT6A protein in between patients. And through further analysis, we finally discovered that high expression of KRT6A protein was related to favourable prognosis in lung adenocarcinoma patients.

CONCLUSIONS

KRT6A protein inhibits the proliferation, migration and invasion abilities of lung adenocarcinoma cells, and high expression of KRT6A protein is a predictor of good prognosis in patients with lung adenocarcinoma.

Isatis tinctoria L. (Woad): A Review of its Botany, Ethnobotanical Uses, Phytochemistry, Biological Activities, and Biotechnological Studies

Isatis tinctoria L. (Brassicaceae), which is commonly known as woad, is a species with an ancient and well-documented history as an indigo dye and medicinal plant. Currently, I. tinctoria is utilized more often as medicinal remedy and also as a cosmetic ingredient. In 2011, I. tinctoria root was accepted in the official European phytotherapy by introducing its monograph in the European Pharmacopoeia. The biological properties of raw material have been known from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Over recent decades, I. tinctoria has been investigated both from a phytochemical and a biological point of view. The modern in vitro and in vivo scientific studies proved anti-inflammatory, anti-tumour, antimicrobial, antiviral, analgesic, and antioxidant activities. The phytochemical composition of I. tinctoria has been thoroughly investigated and the plant was proven to contain many valuable biologically active compounds, including several alkaloids, among which tryptanthrin, indirubin, indolinone, phenolic compounds, and polysaccharides as well as glucosinolates, carotenoids, volatile constituents, and fatty acids. This article provides a general botanical and ethnobotanical overview that summarizes the up-to-date knowledge on the phytochemistry and biological properties of this valuable plant in order to support its therapeutic potential. Moreover, the biotechnological studies on I. tinctoria, which mainly focused on hairy root cultures for the enhanced production of flavonoids and alkaloids as well as on the establishment of shoot cultures and micropropagation protocols, were reviewed. They provide input for future research prospects.

Inhibitory Effects of Ginsenoside Ro on the Growth of B16F10 Melanoma via Its Metabolites

Ginsenoside Ro (Ro), a major saponin derived and isolated from Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer, exerts multiple biological activities. However, the anti-tumour efficacy of Ro remains unclear because of its poor in vitro effects. In this study, we confirmed that Ro has no anti-tumour activity in vitro. We explored the anti-tumour activity of Ro in vivo in B16F10 tumour-bearing mice. The results revealed that Ro considerably suppressed tumour growth with no significant side effects on immune organs and body weight. Zingibroside R1, chikusetsusaponin IVa, and calenduloside E, three metabolites of Ro, were detected in the plasma of Ro-treated tumour-bearing mice and showed excellent anti-tumour effects as well as anti-angiogenic activity. The results suggest that the metabolites play important roles in the anti-tumour efficacy of Ro in vivo. Additionally, the haemolysis test demonstrated that Ro has good biocompatibility. Taken together, the findings of this study demonstrate that Ro markedly suppresses the tumour growth of B16F10-transplanted tumours in vivo, and its anti-tumour effects are based on the biological activity of its metabolites. The anti-tumour efficacy of these metabolites is due, at least in part, to its anti-angiogenic activity.

Potent anti-angiogenesis and anti-tumour activity of pegaptanib-loaded tetrahedral DNA nanostructure

Objectives

Pegaptanib might be a promising anti‐tumour drug targeting VEGF to inhibit tumour vascular endothelial cell proliferation. However, the poor biostability limited its application. In this study, we took tetrahedron DNA nanostructures (TDNs) as drug nanocarrier for pegaptanib to explore the potent anti‐angiogenesis and anti‐tumour activity of this drug delivery system.

Materials and methods

The successful synthesis of TDNs and pegaptanib‐TDNs was determined by 8% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), capillary electrophoresis and dynamic light scattering (DLS). The cytotoxicity of pegaptanib alone and pegaptanib‐TDNs on HUVECs and Cal27 was evaluated by the cell count kit‐8 (CCK‐8) assay. The effect of pegaptanib and pegaptanib‐TDNs on proliferation, migration and tube formation of HUVECs induced by VEGF was examined by CCK‐8 assay, wound healing assay and tubule formation experiment. The cell binding capacity and serum stability were detected by flow cytometry and PAGE, respectively.

Results

Pegaptanib‐TDNs had stronger killing ability than pegaptanib alone, and the inhibiting effect was in a concentration‐dependent manner. What's more, pegaptanib‐loaded TDNs could effectively enhance the ability of pegaptanib to inhibit proliferation, migration and tube formation of HUVECs induced by VEGF. These might attribute to the stronger binding affinity to the cell membrane and greater serum stability of pegaptanib‐TDNs.

Conclusions

These results suggested that pegaptanib‐TDNs might be a novel strategy to improve anti‐angiogenesis and anti‐tumour ability of pegaptanib.

The role of keratins in modulating carcinogenesis via communication with cells of the immune system

Keratins are intermediate filament proteins expressed by epithelial cells and provide mechanical support for diverse epithelia. In our recent study (Sequeira et al., Nat Comm 9(1):3437), we analysed the role of keratin 76 (Krt76) in inflammation and cancer. Krt76 is expressed throughout embryonic development in the differentiated epithelial layers of a subset of stratified epithelia including tongue, palate and stomach. It is significantly downregulated in human oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), correlating strongly with poor prognosis. We have shown that Krt76^−/− mice exhibit systemic inflammation with increased levels of circulating B cells, regulatory T cells and effector T cells. When mice are given a chemical carcinogen in the drinking water, tongue and gastric cancer formation is accelerated in Krt76^−/− mutant mice. Our data suggest that the increased tumour susceptibility of Krt76^−/− mice is in part due to the enhanced accumulation of regulatory T cells in the tumour microenvironment. Our results support the notion that keratins, in addition to their function as cytoskeletal components, regulate immunity and affect tumour susceptibility of epithelial cells.

Anti-tumour Effect and Pharmacokinetics of an Active Ingredient Isolated from Inonotus hispidus

Inonotus hispidus is an anti-tumour drug used in folk medicine. (4S,5S)-4-Hydroxy-3,5-dimethoxycyclohex-2-enone (HDE) is a compound isolated from Inonotus hispidus for the first time. However, the mechanisms underlying its therapeutic effects have not been elucidated. In this study, the in vitro screening, in vivo anti-tumour effects, mechanism of action, pharmacokinetics, and tissue distribution of HDE were investigated. HDE could inhibit the proliferation of HepG2 cells. Additionally, its half-maximal inhibitory concentration was 7.9 µg/mL. Increasing HDE concentrations significantly increased apoptosis rate in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, HDE was rapidly absorbed into mouse plasma, reaching a maximum concentration at 30 min. The area under the plasma HDE concentration-time curves for the studied organs were as follows: spleen > liver > lung > kidney > muscle > thymus > heart > brain. HDE also inhibited tumour growth up to 69%. The weights of organs harvested from HDE-treated mice were not significantly different from those harvested from control mice. Furthermore, HDE upregulated Fas expression and downregulated FasL expression in HepG2 cells. HDE significantly increased caspase-3 and caspase-8 activity. The anti-tumour effect of HDE might be realized by activating the Fas-mediated apoptotic pathway. We also found that HDE undergoes enterohepatic circulation or is quickly absorbed by the body, and the drug is released back into systemic circulation. In conclusion, HDE significantly inhibited H22 hepatocarcinoma cells (H22)tumour growth in mice without damaging organs; therefore, it may be suitable for treating liver cancer.

Zinc binding groups for histone deacetylase inhibitors

Zinc binding groups (ZBGs) play a crucial role in targeting histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACIs) to the active site of histone deacetylases (HDACs), thus determining the potency of HDACIs. Due to the high affinity to the zinc ion, hydroxamic acid is the most commonly used ZBG in the structure of HDACs. An alternative ZBG is benzamide group, which features excellent inhibitory selectivity for class I HDACs. Various ZBGs have been designed and tested to improve the activity and selectivity of HDACIs, and to overcome the pharmacokinetic limitations of current HDACIs. Herein, different kinds of ZBGs are reviewed and their features have been discussed for further design of HDACIs.

Anti-tumour effect of lapatinib in canine transitional cell carcinoma cell lines

Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) accounts for >90% of canine malignant tumours occurring in urinary bladder, and the prognosis is poor. Our previous study, using RNA sequencing, showed that human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) was the most activated upstream regulator related to carcinogenesis in canine TCC. The aim of this study was to examine the anti-tumour effect of lapatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor of HER2, on canine TCC cell lines in vitro and in vivo. Five canine TCC cell lines (TCCUB, Love, Sora, LCTCC, and MCTCC) were used. Western blotting showed that HER2 protein expression was observed in all of the canine TCC cell lines. Lapatinib inhibited phosphorylation of HER2 and cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. Cell cycle analyses using flow cytometry showed that lapatinib significantly increased the sub-G₁ and G₀ /G₁ phase fractions and significantly decreased the S and G₂ /M phase fractions in the cell lines (Sora and TCCUB). For the in vivo experiments, the canine TCC cells (Sora) were subcutaneously injected into nude mice. Six days after inoculation, lapatinib (100 mg/kg) or vehicle was administered daily via intraperitoneal administration for 14 days. Tumour volume was significantly smaller in the lapatinib group compared with the vehicle control group. Histologically, lapatinib significantly increased necrotic areas in the tumour tissues. These findings suggest that lapatinib exerts anti-tumour effects on canine TCC cells by inhibiting HER2 signalling and inducing cell cycle arrest.

Primary biocompatibility tests of poly(lactide-co-glycolide)-(poly-L-orithine/fucoidan) core-shell nanocarriers

Layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly is the technology used in intermolecular static electricity, hydrogen bonds, covalent bonds and other polymer interactions during film assembling. This technology has been widely studied in the drug carrier field. Given their use in drug delivery systems, the biocompatibility of these potential compounds should be addressed. In this work, the primary biocompatibility of poly(lactide-co-glycolide)-(poly-L-orithine/fucoidan) [PLGA-(PLO/fucoidan)] core-shell nanoparticles (NPs) was investigated. Atomic force microscopy revealed the PLGA-(PLO/Fucoidan)₄ NPs to be spherical, with a uniform size distribution and a smooth surface, and the NPs were stable in physiological saline. The residual amount of methylene chloride was further determined by headspace gas chromatography, in which the organic solvent can be volatilized during preparation. Furthermore, cell viability, acridine orange/ethidium bromide staining, haemolysis and mouse systemic toxicity were all assessed to show that PLGA-(PLO/fucoidan)₄ NPs were biocompatible with cells and mice. Therefore, these NPs are expected to have potential applications in future drug delivery systems.

Polycaprolactone nanofibres loaded with 20(S)-protopanaxadiol for in vitro and in vivo anti-tumour activity study

In this work, 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD)-loaded polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibres were successfully fabricated by the electrospinning technique using Tween 80 as a solubilizer. Firstly, smooth and continuous nanofibres were collected using suitable solvents and appropriate spinning conditions. Secondly, nanofibre mats were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric (TG) analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and mechanical testing. Finally, nanofibrous membranes were evaluated using water contact angle, in vitro drug release, biodegradation test, in vitro and in vivo anti-tumour activity and cell apoptosis assay. Scanning electron microscopic observations indicated that the diameter of the drug-loaded nanofibres increased with the increase of drug concentration. TG analysis and mechanical test showed that nanofibres were equipped with great thermal and mechanical properties. Biodegradation test exhibited that the structure of fabricated nanofibres had a certain degree of change after 15 days. An in vitro release study showed that PPD from drug-loaded nanofibres could be released in a sustained and prolonged mode. The cytotoxic effect of drug-loaded nanofibre mats examined on human laryngeal carcinoma cells (Hep-2 cells) demonstrated that the prepared nanofibres had a remarkable anti-tumour effect. Meanwhile, the drug-loaded fibre mats showed a super anti-tumour effect in an in vivo anti-tumour study. All in all, PCL nanofibres could be a potential carrier of PPD for cancer treatment.

Polycaprolactone nanofibres loaded with 20(S)-protopanaxadiol for in vitro and in vivo anti-tumour activity study

In this work, 20(S)-protopanaxadiol (PPD)-loaded polycaprolactone (PCL) nanofibres were successfully fabricated by the electrospinning technique using Tween 80 as a solubilizer. Firstly, smooth and continuous nanofibres were collected using suitable solvents and appropriate spinning conditions. Secondly, nanofibre mats were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric (TG) analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and mechanical testing. Finally, nanofibrous membranes were evaluated using water contact angle, in vitro drug release, biodegradation test, in vitro and in vivo anti-tumour activity and cell apoptosis assay. Scanning electron microscopic observations indicated that the diameter of the drug-loaded nanofibres increased with the increase of drug concentration. TG analysis and mechanical test showed that nanofibres were equipped with great thermal and mechanical properties. Biodegradation test exhibited that the structure of fabricated nanofibres had a certain degree of change after 15 days. An in vitro release study showed that PPD from drug-loaded nanofibres could be released in a sustained and prolonged mode. The cytotoxic effect of drug-loaded nanofibre mats examined on human laryngeal carcinoma cells (Hep-2 cells) demonstrated that the prepared nanofibres had a remarkable anti-tumour effect. Meanwhile, the drug-loaded fibre mats showed a super anti-tumour effect in an in vivo anti-tumour study. All in all, PCL nanofibres could be a potential carrier of PPD for cancer treatment.

ZnO Nanostructures for Drug Delivery and Theranostic Applications

In the last two decades, zinc oxide (ZnO) semiconductor Quantum dots (QDs) have been shown to have fantastic luminescent properties, which together with their low-cost, low-toxicity and biocompatibility have turned these nanomaterials into one of the main candidates for bio-imaging. The discovery of other desirable traits such as their ability to produce destructive reactive oxygen species (ROS), high catalytic efficiency, strong adsorption capability and high isoelectric point, also make them promising nanomaterials for therapeutic and diagnostic functions. Herein, we review the recent progress on the use of ZnO based nanoplatforms in drug delivery and theranostic in several diseases such as bacterial infection and cancer.

Anti-Cancer Activity of Phenyl and Pyrid-2-yl 1,3-Substituted Benzo[1,2,4]triazin-7-ones and Stable Free Radical Precursors

Cell viability studies for benzo[1,2,4]triazin-7-ones and 1,2,4-benzotriazinyl (Blatter-type) radical precursors are described with comparisons made with 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxy (TEMPO). All of the stable free radicals were several orders of magnitude less cytotoxic than the benzo[1,2,4]triazin-7-ones. The synthesis and evaluation of two new pyrid-2-yl benzo[1,2,4]triazin-7-ones are described, where altering the 1,3-substitution from phenyl to pyrid-2-yl increased cytotoxicity against most cancer cell lines, as indicated using National Cancer Institute (NCI) one-dose testing. COMPARE analysis of five-dose testing data from the NCI showed very strong correlations to the naturally occurring anti-cancer compound pleurotin. COMPARE is program, which analyzes similarities in cytotoxicity data of compounds, and enables quantitative expression as Pearson correlation coefficients. Compounds were also evaluated using the independent MTT assay, which was compared with SRB assay data generated at the NCI.

Decorin is a pivotal effector in the extracellular matrix and tumour microenvironment

Decorin (DCN), an extracellular matrix (ECM) protein, belongs to the small leucine-rich proteoglycan family. As a pluripotent molecule, DCN regulates the bioactivities of cell growth factors and participates in ECM assembly. Accumulating evidence has shown that DCN acts as a ligand of various cytokines and growth factors by directly or indirectly interacting with the corresponding signalling molecules involved in cell growth, differentiation, proliferation, adhesion and metastasis and that DCN especially plays vital roles in cancer cell proliferation, spread, pro-inflammatory processes and anti-fibrillogenesis. The multifunctional nature of DCN thus enables it to be a potential therapeutic agent for a variety of diseases and shows good prospects for clinical and research applications.

DCN, an extracellular matrix (ECM) protein that belongs to the small leucine-rich proteoglycan family, is widely distributed and plays multifunctional roles in the stroma and epithelial cells. Originally, DCN was known as an effective collagen-binding partner for fibrillogenesis [1] and to modulate key biomechanical parameters of tissue integrity in the tendon, skin and cornea [2]; thus, it was named decorin (DCN). Since being initially cloned in 1986, DCN was discovered to be a structural constituent of the ECM [3]. However, the paradigm has been shifted; it has become increasingly evident that in addition to being a matrix structural protein, DCN affects a wide range of biological processes, including cell growth, differentiation, proliferation, adhesion, spread and migration, and regulates inflammation and fibrillogenesis [4–7]. Two main themes for DCN functions have emerged: maintenance of cellular structure and regulation of signal transduction pathways, culminating in anti-tumourigenic effects. Here, we review the interaction network of DCN and emphasize the biological correlations between these interactions, some of which are expected to be therapeutic intervention targets.

PEG-coumarin nanoaggregates as π-π stacking derived small molecule lipophile containing self-assemblies for anti-tumour drug delivery

Polymeric self-assemblies formed by non-covalent interactions such as hydrophobic interactions, hydrogen bonding, π-π stacking, host-guest and electrostatic interactions have been utilised widely and exhibit controlled release of encapsulated drug. Beside carrier-carrier interactions, small molecule amphiphiles exhibiting carrier-drug interactions have recently been an area of interest for cancer drug delivery, as most of the hydrophobic anti-tumour drugs are aromatic and exhibit π-π conjugated structure. In the present study PEG-coumarin (PC) conjugates forming self-assembled nanoaggregates were synthesised with PEG (polyethylene glycol) as hydrophilic block and coumarin as small molecule lipophilic segment. Curcumin (CUR) as model conjugated aromatic drug was loaded in to the nanoaggregates via dual hydrophobic and π-π stacking interactions. The interactions between the conjugates and CUR, drug release profile and in vitro anti-tumour efficacy were investigated in detail. CUR-loaded nanoaggregate self-assembly was driven by π-π interactions and a maximum loading level of about 18 wt.% (~60 % encapsulation efficiency) was achieved. The average hydrodynamic diameter (D_av) was in the range of 120-160 nm and a spherical morphology was observed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). A sustained release of CUR was observed for 90 h. Cytotoxicity evaluation of CUR-loaded nanoaggregates on pancreatic cancer cell lines indicated higher efficacy, IC₅₀ ~11 and ~15 μM as compared to free CUR, IC₅₀ ~14 and ~20 μM on human pancreatic carcinoma (MIA PaCa-2) and human pancreatic duct epithelioid carcinoma (PANC-1) cell lines respectively. PC conjugates provided a new strategy of fabricating nanoparticles for drug delivery and may form the basis for the development of advanced biomaterials in near future.

Immunomodulatory glc/man-directed Dolichos lablab lectin (DLL) evokes anti-tumour response in vivo by counteracting angiogenic gene expressions

Neovascularization and jeopardized immunity has been critically emphasized for the establishment of malignant progression. Lectins are the diverse class of carbohydrate interacting proteins, having great potential as immunopotentiating and anti-cancer agents. The present investigation sought to demonstrate the anti-proliferative activity of Dolichos lablab lectin (DLL) encompassing immunomodulatory attributes. DLL specific to glucose and mannose carbohydrate moieties has been purified to homogeneity from the common dietary legume D. lablab. Results elucidated that DLL agglutinated blood cells non-specifically and displayed striking mitogenicity to human and murine lymphocytes in vitro with interleukin (IL)-2 production. The DLL-conditioned medium exerted cytotoxicity towards malignant cells and neoangiogenesis in vitro. Similarly, in-vivo anti-tumour investigation of DLL elucidated the regressed proliferation of ascitic and solid tumour cells, which was paralleled with blockade of tumour neovasculature. DLL-treated mice showed an up-regulated immunoregulatory cytokine IL-2 in contrast to severely declined levels in control mice. Mechanistic validation revealed that DLL has abrogated the microvessel formation by weakening the proangiogenic signals, specifically nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF-1 α), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and 9 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in malignant cells leading to tumour regression. In summary, it is evident that the dietary lectin DLL potentially dampens the malignant establishment by mitigating neoangiogenesis and immune shutdown. For the first time, to our knowledge, this study illustrates the critical role of DLL as an immunostimulatory and anti-angiogenic molecule in cancer therapeutics.

Redox sensitive PEG controlled octaarginine and targeting peptide co-modified nanostructured lipid carriers for enhanced tumour penetrating and targeting in vitro and in vivo

To strengthen the anti-tumour efficacy and weaken the side effects, a nano targeted drug delivery system was constructed. The nanostructured lipid carriers (NLCs) were prepared by the melt-emulsification method. Modified with the octaarginine, thiolytic cleavable polyethylene glycol (PEG) and targeting peptide simultaneously on the surface, this multifunctional NLC could not only actively target to tumour tissues, but also control the cell penetration effect of the octaarginine easily by a safe reducing agent l-cysteine (l-Cys). In the present study, the pharmaceutical characteristics, the cytotoxicity and cellular uptake on NCI-H1299 cells in vitro, the biodistribution and targeting effect and anti-tumour ability in vivo were employed to evaluate the formulations. As the results revealed, various NLCs had a mean particle size of about 40 nm and a positive zeta potential of about 10 mV. The optimum density of cleavable PEG was confirmed as 10% and the best concentration of l-cysteine was determined as 20 mM via the qualitative and quantitative cellular uptake study. Based on these outcomes, the multiply decorated NLC manifested a great cell growth inhibition with the increased concentration of paclitaxel (PTX). Moreover, it preferred to accumulate at tumours, but not normal organs in vivo. Compared with Taxol^®, this preparation demonstrated stronger anti-tumour efficacy and better security. Therefore, the multifunctional NLC can be considered as a promising drug delivery system targeting to tumours.

Design, Synthesis, and Biological Evaluation of Novel PARP-1 Inhibitors Based on a 1H-Thieno[3,4-d] Imidazole-4-Carboxamide Scaffold

A series of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP)-1 inhibitors containing a novel scaffold, the 1H-thieno[3,4-d]imidazole-4-carboxamide moiety, was designed and synthesized. These efforts provided some compounds with relatively good PARP-1 inhibitory activity, and among them, 16l was the most potent one. Cellular evaluations indicated that the anti-proliferative activities of 16g, 16i, 16j and 16l against BRCA-deficient cell lines were similar to that of olaparib, while the cytotoxicities of 16j and 16l toward human normal cells were lower. In addition, ADMET prediction results indicated that these compounds might possess more favorable toxicity and pharmacokinetic properties. This study provides a basis for our further investigation.

Four cytotoxic annonaceous acetogenins from the seeds of Annona squamosa

Four new annonaceous acetogenins (ACGs), squamocin-I (1), II (2) and III (3) and squamoxinone-D (4), together with seven known ACGs (5-11), were isolated from the seeds of Annona squamosa. The structures of all isolates were elucidated and characterised by spectral and chemical methods. Compounds 1-4 were evaluated for their cytotoxicities against Hep G2, SMMC 7721, BEL 7402, BGC 803 and H460 human cancer cell lines. Compound 1 exhibited better potent activity than the positive compound and compound 3 shows selectively cytotoxical activity against H460 with IC50 values of 0.0492 μg/ml.

Investigating the efficacy of bisphosphonates treatment against multiple myeloma induced bone disease using a computational model

Multiple myeloma (MM)-induced bone disease is mortal for most MM patients. Bisphosphonates are first-line treatment for MM-induced bone disease, since it can inhibit osteoclast activity and the resultant bone resorption by suppressing the differentiation of osteoclast precursors into mature osteoclasts, promoting osteoclast apoptosis and disrupting osteoclast function. However, it is still unclear whether bisphosphonates have an anti-tumour effect. In our previous work, a computational model was built to simulate the pathology of MM-induced bone disease. This paper extends this proposed computational model to investigate the efficacy of bisphosphonates treatment and then clear the controversy of this therapy. The extended model is validated through the good agreement between simulation results and experimental data. The simulation results suggest that bisphosphonates indeed have an anti-tumour effect.

Heterologous fermentation of a diterpene from Alternaria brassisicola

A variety of different applications render terpenes and terpenoids attractive research targets. A promising but so far insufficiently explored family of terpenoids are the fusicoccanes that comprise a characteristic 5-8-5 fused tricyclic ring system. Besides herbicidal effects, these compounds also show apoptotic and anti-tumour effects on mammalian cells. The access to fusicoccanes from natural sources is scarce. Recently, we introduced a metabolically engineered Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain to enable the heterologous fermentation of the shared fusicoccane-diterpenoid precursor, fusicocca-2,10(14)-diene. Here, we show experiments towards the identification of bottlenecks in this process. The suppression of biosynthetic by-products via medium optimisation was found to be an important aspect. In addition, the fermentation process seems to be improved under oxygen limitation conditions. Under fed-batch conditions, the fermentation yield was reproducibly increased to approximately 20 mg/L. Furthermore, the impact of the properties of the terpene synthase on the fermentation yield is discussed, and the preliminary studies on the engineering of this key enzyme are presented.

A study on the antitumour effect of total flavonoids from Pteris multifida Poir in H22 tumour-bearing mice

The objective of this paper was to investigate the inhibitory effect of total flavonoids from Pteris multifida Poir on growth of transplanted H22 tumour in mice. H22 tumour-bearing mice model was established; the experimental animals were divide/d into the model group, Pteris multifida Poir total flavonoids high-, low-dose groups, and CTX group. Pteris multifida Poir groups were administered continuously for 10d, and CTX group was administered every other day. Tumour inhibition rate, thymus index and spleen index were calculated. Serum levels of TNF-α and IL-2 were determined, as well as total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in serum. Compared with the model group, the total flavonoids of Pteris multifida Poir can significantly inhibit tumour growth, with tumour inhibition rates of high-and low-dose groups 49.36% and 33.97%, respectively. They can also evidently increase the spleen and thymus indices of tumour-bearing mice, elevate serum TNF-α and IL-2 levels increase serum T-AOC level and reduce serum MDA level in tumour-bearing mice. The study concluded that total flavonoids from Pteris multifida Poir has an obvious inhibitory effect on transplanted H22 tumours; its mechanism of action may be associated with the improvement of immune function and enhancement of antioxidant capacity in mice.

Effects of CD40 ligation combined with chemotherapy drugs on human breast cancer cell lines

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the influence of recombinant human CD40 ligand (rhCD40L) on the biological behaviour of breast cancer cells.

METHODS

MDA-MB-23l and MDA-MB-435 treated with rhCD40L were observed for changes in the cell cycle, in membrane proteins, and in mRNA levels of B cell lymphoma-extra-large (Bcl-xl), Bcl-2 associated X protein (Bax) and regulated upon activation, normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES). Effects of rhCD40L on cell proliferation in the presence or absence of interferon (IFN)-γ (500 IU/ml) and/or doxorubicin (20 ng/ml) were also determined.

RESULTS

rhCD40L dose-dependently inhibited cell proliferation. Combination of rhCD40L with IFN-γ or doxorubicin potentiated the inhibitory activity. After treatment, an increase in cells entering the G₁ phase of the cell cycle was observed, with a significant decrease in the number entering the S phase. Levels of several membrane proteins including CD95L and CD120a were also increased. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction revealed an increase in the Bax/Bcl-xl mRNA ratio and an increase in RANTES.

CONCLUSION

rhCD40L treatment of breast cancer cells mediates a variety of anti-tumour effects, not only by direct cytotoxic activity but also by upregulation of adhesion molecules, co-stimulators and cytokines to rectify T cell immunity.

The determination of changes in the expression of genes for selected specific transcriptional factors in in vitro ductal breast cancer cells under the influence of paclitaxel

This study aimed to determine the changes in the expression of genes for selected specific transcriptional factors that have both activating and repressing functions in in vitro ductal breast cancer cells, under the influence of paclitaxel, applying the microarray technique. The cells are treated with 60 ng/ml and 300 ng/ml doses of paclitaxel that correspond to those applied in breast cancer therapy. About 60 ng/ml doses of paclitaxel cause a statistically significant increase in expression of all the 16 analysed genes coding transcriptional factors, ranging from 1.84-fold (for PO4F2) to 4.65-fold (for LMO4) (p < 0.05) in comparison with the control cells, and enhanced the taxane mechanism of action. The 300 ng/ml doses of paclitaxel cause a cytotoxic effect in the cells. In this article, we argue that these changes in gene expression values may constitute prognostic and predictive factors in ductal breast cancer therapy.

Total synthesis of annonaceous acetogenins belonging to the non-adjacent bis-THF and non-adjacent THF-THP sub-classes

The synthesis of the subgroups of acetogenins containing non-adjacent bis-THF and non-adjacent THF-THP core units is reviewed. Specifically, total syntheses of gigantecin, 4-deoxygigantecin, cis-sylvaticin, squamostatin-C, squamostatin-D, sylvaticin and mucocin are discussed.

Influence of O6-benzylguanine on the anti-tumour activity and normal tissue toxicity of 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea and molecular combinations of 5-fluorouracil and 2-chloroethyl-1-nitrosourea in mice

Previous studies have demonstrated that novel molecular combinations of 5-fluorouracil (5FU) and 2-chloroethyl-1-nitrosourea (CNU) have good preclinical activity and may exert less myelotoxicity than the clinically used nitrosoureas such as 1,3-bis(2-chloroethyl)-1-nitrosourea (BCNU). This study examined the effect of O6-alkylguanine-DNA-alkyltransferase (ATase) depletion by the pseudosubstrate O6-benzylguanine (BG) on the anti-tumour activity and normal tissue toxicity in mice of three such molecular combinations, in comparison with BCNU. When used as single agents at their maximum tolerated dose, all three novel compounds produced a significant growth retardation of BCNU-resistant murine colon and human breast xenografts. This in vivo anti-tumour effect was potentiated by BG, but was accompanied by severe myelotoxicity as judged by spleen colony forming assays. However, while tumour resistance to BCNU was overcome using BG, this was at the expense of enhanced bone marrow, gut and liver toxicity. Therefore, although this ATase-depletion approach resulted in improved anti-tumour activity for all three 5-FU:CNU molecular combinations, the potentiated toxicities in already dose-limiting tissues indicate that these types of agents offer no therapeutic advantage over BCNU when they are used together with BG.