Dietary antioxidant quercetin overcomes the acquired resistance of Sorafenib in Sorafenib-resistant hepatocellular carcinoma cells through epidermal growth factor receptor signaling inactivation

Quercetin alleviates endothelial dysfunction in preeclampsia by inhibiting ferroptosis and inflammation through EGFR binding

Preeclampsia (PE) is a pregnancy-specific complication and there remains no effective treatment. Given the limitations on medication use during pregnancy, exploring natural, safe, and effective drugs for PE is worthwhile. We investigate the causal relationship between ferroptosis, inflammation, and PE, and determine the protective effects of quercetin (QCT), a representative compound that is classified as a flavanol, against endothelial dysfunction. Then, the target of QCT is predicted and verified. The prophylactic addition of a low dose of QCT rescues endothelial dysfunction, aiding in endothelial repair. Furthermore, QCT alleviates PE-like maternal manifestations and endothelial dysfunction in the placenta of the selective reduced uteroplacental perfusion (sRUPP) rat model through binding to the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). The potential applications of QCT are expanded, offering the possibility of further development as a safe and effective preventive molecule for PE.

(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate and Quercetin Inhibit Quiescin Sulfhydryl Oxidase 1 Secretion from Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cells

Liver cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide. The first-line therapeutic drug sorafenib offers only a moderate improvement in patients' conditions. Therefore, an approach to enhancing its therapeutic efficacy is urgently needed. It has been revealed that hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells with heightened intracellular quiescin sulfhydryl oxidase 1 (QSOX1) exhibit increased sensitivity to sorafenib. QSOX1 is a secreted disulfide catalyst, and it is widely recognized that extracellular QSOX1 promotes the growth, invasion, and metastasis of cancer cells through its participation in the establishment of extracellular matrix. Inhibiting QSOX1 secretion can increase intracellular QSOX1 and decrease extracellular QSOX1. Such an approach would sensitize HCC cells to sorafenib but remains to be established. Since (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) has been demonstrated to be an effective inhibitor of α-fetal protein secretion from HCC cells, we screened QSOX1 secretion inhibition using polyphenolic compounds. We examined eight dietary polyphenols (EGCG, quercetin, fisetin, myricetin, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, resveratrol, and theaflavin) and found that EGCG and quercetin effectively inhibited QSOX1 secretion from human HCC cells (HepG2 or Huh7), resulting in high intracellular QSOX1 and low extracellular QSOX1. The combination of EGCG or quercetin, both of which change the cellular distribution of QSOX1, with sorafenib, which has no influence on the cellular distribution of QSOX1, exhibited multiple synergistic effects against the HCC cells, including the induction of apoptosis and inhibition of invasion and metastasis. In conclusion, our current results suggest that dietary EGCG and quercetin have the potential to be developed as adjuvants to sorafenib in the treatment of HCC by modulating the cellular distribution of QSOX1.

Dynamic pH‐Responsive Release and Biological Impact of In Situ Quercetin‐Modified MIL‐101(Fe)‐NH2

A successful investigation was conducted on the in situ modification of MIL‐101(Fe)‐NH2 with quercetin and its controlled release under various pH conditions. MIL‐101(Fe)‐NH2 was synthesized using an electrochemical method at room temperature (15 volts, 30 min). The formation of the material was confirmed through comprehensive analyses, including PXRD, FTIR, and TGA. Nitrogen sorption isotherm measurements revealed that Qu@MIL‐101(Fe)‐NH2 exhibited a smaller surface area compared to MIL‐101(Fe)‐NH2, with both materials classified as mesoporous. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) clearly depicted the materials’ octahedral microspindle morphology. The cumulative percent release (CPR) of quercetin from Qu@MIL‐101(Fe)‐NH2 over 72 h was determined to be 53.45 % at pH 1.2, 19.48 % at pH 4.8, and 5.87 % at pH 7.4. Notably, quercetin release in the acidic microenvironment representative of cancer cells (pH 4.8) was nearly four times higher than under physiological conditions (pH 7.4). Kinetic release studies indicated that quercetin release from Qu@MIL‐101(Fe)‐NH2 followed the Ritger‐Peppas kinetic model, suggesting non‐Fickian diffusion. The MIL‐101(Fe)‐NH2 nanocarriers, with in situ‐loaded quercetin, demonstrated promising potential for pH‐triggered drug release. Additionally, the safety of MIL‐101(Fe)‐NH2 in biological models and the anticancer efficacy of quercetin were evaluated in vitro using two liver cancer cell lines.

ACTR10 Overexpression Facilitates the Progression and Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Resistance in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background

In the present day, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains a formidable threat to human health. Actin-related protein 10 (ACTR10) is related to tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) resistance. A comprehensive analysis of ACTR10 in HCC will further our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying this resistance phenomenon, shedding light on potential therapeutic strategies for combating TKI resistance in HCC.

Methods

We conducted an integration of high-throughput datasets across various centers, analyzing ACTR10 expression using the Cancer Cell Line Encyclopedia (CCLE) and assessing its implications through clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) knockout screen. Pathogenic mechanisms were elucidated through enrichment analysis. Prognostic assessment utilized Kaplan-Meier survival and univariate Cox analyses. An integrated analysis of gene expression profiles related to TKI in HCC was conducted, and TKI resistance mechanisms were explored through enrichment analysis. Potential therapeutic drugs were identified using the Drug Gene Budger database and molecular docking techniques.

Results

The standardized mean difference (SMD) of 0.34 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.22 - 0.45, P < 0.05) and ACTR10-dependent growth in HCC cells confirm its upregulation in HCC. The area under the summary receiver operating characteristic (sROC) curve was 0.69, indicating moderate discriminative ability of ACTR10 in HCC patients. ACTR10 exerts its pro-cancer effect by influencing RNA splicing, mRNA processing and nucleocytoplasmic transport. A hazard ratio of 2.19 (95% CI: 1.56 - 3.08, P < 0.05) identifies ACTR10 as an independent prognostic risk factor. Additionally, the SMD of 0.88 (95% CI: 0.01 - 0.76, P < 0.05) validates ACTR10 as a TKI-resistance gene, mediating resistance via enhanced exocytosis, autophagy, and apoptosis in HCC patients. Trichostatin A emerges as a prospective targeted agent for HCC.

Conclusion

The upregulation of ACTR10 accelerates HCC progression, promotes TKI resistance, and emerges as a prospective target for the treatment of HCC.

A review of Phyllanthus urinaria L. in the treatment of liver disease: viral hepatitis, liver fibrosis/cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma

Due to the pathological production of liver disease in utility particularly complexity, the morbidity and mortality of liver disease including viral hepatitis, liver fibrosis/cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are rapidly increasing worldwide. Considering its insidious onset, rapid progression and drug resistance, finding an effective therapy is particularly worthwhile. Phyllanthus urinaria L. (P. urinaria), an ethnic medicine, can be applied at the stages of viral hepatitis, liver fibrosis/cirrhosis and HCC, which demonstrates great potential in the treatment of liver disease. Currently, there are numerous reports on the application of P. urinaria in treating liver diseases, but a detailed analysis of its metabolites and a complete summary of its pharmacological mechanism are still scarce. In this review, the phytochemical metabolites and ethnopharmacological applications of P. urinaria are summarized. Briefly, P. urinaria mainly contains flavonoids, lignans, tannins, phenolic acids, terpenoids and other metabolites. The mechanisms of P. urinaria are mainly reflected in reducing surface antigen secretion and interfering with DNA polymerase synthesis for anti-viral hepatitis activity, reducing hepatic stellate cells activity, inflammation and oxidative stress for anti-liver fibrosis/cirrhosis activity, as well as preventing tumor proliferation, invasion and angiogenesis for anti-HCC activity via relevant signaling pathways. Accordingly, this review provides insights into the future application of natural products in the trilogy of liver diseases and will provide a scientific basis for further research and rational utilization of P. urinaria.