Synthetic antiprotozoal thiazolide drug induced apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells: implications of IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 and p53/caspases-dependent signaling pathways based on molecular docking and in vitro study

Nitazoxanide and Umbelliferone improves Imiquimod-induced psoriasis in Balb/C mice

Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT) 3 is a significant contributor to the development and pathogenesis of psoriasis (Pso). Research demonstrated STAT3 signalling to be upregulated in Pso. Additionally, Pso results in oxidative stress that activates various signalling pathways like factor nuclear kappa-B (NF-κB). Nitazoxanide (NTZ) is an antiprotozoal drug shown to inhibit the STAT3 pathway. Umbelliferone (UMB) is an antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory and can suppress NF-κB signalling. Therefore, we propose to hypothesize that NTZ and UMB would be effective in treating Pso. Balb/c mice were treated with IMQ to induce Pso. The clinical characteristics of Pso were assessed using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI), back skin thickness, spleen length and mass, and histology of the skin sample tissue. In addition, we measured the levels of interleukin-17 (IL-17), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), STAT3, and NF-κB. Furthermore, to gain the interaction of NTZ and UMB with STAT3, a detailed in-silico study has been performed. The impact of treatment on oxidative stress was evaluated by estimating the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT). The results demonstrate that mice subjected to IMQ-induced Pso exhibited positive responses to treatment with NTZ and UMB. Additionally, IL-17, TNF-α levels, STAT3, and NF-κB were decreased in NTZ and UMB-treated groups. SOD and CAT levels in NTZ and UMB groups were elevated. Our findings show that NTZ and UMB are potential therapeutic medications for Pso.

Repurposing Nitazoxanide for Potential Treatment of Rare Disease Lymphangioleiomyomatosis

Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) is a rare genetic lung disease. Unfortunately, treatment with the mTORC1 inhibitor Rapamycin only slows disease progression, and incomplete responses are common. Thus, there remains an urgent need to identify new targets for the development of curative LAM treatments. Nitazoxanide (NTZ) is an orally bioavailable antiprotozoal small molecule drug approved for the treatment of diarrhea caused by Giardia lamblia or Cryptosporidium parvum in children and adults, with a demonstrated mTORC1 inhibitory effect in several human cell lines. NTZ's excellent safety profile characterized by its more than 20 years of clinical use makes it a promising candidate for repurposing. Our rationale for this study was to further investigate NTZ's effect using in vitro and in vivo LAM models and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanism beyond mTORC1 inhibition. For this purpose, we investigated cell proliferation, cell viability, and changes in protein phosphorylation and expression in primary human cell cultures derived from LAM lung samples before translating our results into a syngeneic mouse model utilizing Tsc2-null cells. NTZ reduced cell growth for all tested cell lines at a dose of about 30 µM. Lower doses than that had no effect on cell viability, but doses above 45 µM lowered the viability by about 10 to 15% compared to control. Interestingly, our western blot revealed no inhibition of mTORC1 and only a mild effect on active ß-Catenin. Instead, NTZ had a pronounced effect on reducing pAkt. In the mouse model, prophylactic NTZ treatment via the intraperitoneal and oral routes had some effects on reducing lung lesions and improving body weight retention, but the results remain inconclusive.

Biological Evaluations and Computer-Aided Approaches of Janus Kinases 2 and 3 Inhibitors for Cancer Treatment: A Review

Cancer remains one of the leading diseases of mortality worldwide. Janus kinases 2/3 (JAK2/3) have been considered a drug target for the development of drugs to treat different types of cancer. JAK2/3 play a critical role in innate immunity, inflammation, and hematopoiesis by mediating the signaling of numerous cytokines, growth factors, and interferons. The current focus is to develop new selective inhibitors for each JAK type. In this review, the current strategies of computer-aided studies, and biological evaluations against JAK2/3 are addressed. We found that the new synthesized JAK2/3 inhibitors are prone to containing heterocyclic aromatic rings such as pyrimidine, pyridine, and pyrazolo [3,4-d]pyrimidine. Moreover, inhibitors of natural origin derived from plant extracts and insects have shown suitable inhibitory capacities. Computer-assisted studies have shown the important features of inhibitors for JAK2/3 binding. Biological evaluations showed that the inhibition of the JAK receptor affects its related signaling pathway. Although the reviewed compounds showed good inhibitory capacity in vitro and in vivo, more in-depth studies are needed to advance toward full approval of cancer treatments in humans.

Evaluation of newly synthesized 2-(thiophen-2-yl)-1H-indole derivatives as anticancer agents against HCT-116 cell proliferation via cell cycle arrest and down regulation of miR-25

In the present study, we prepared new sixteen different derivatives. The first series were prepared (methylene)bis(2-(thiophen-2-yl)-1H-indole) derivatives which have (indole and thiophene rings) by excellent yield from the reaction (2 mmol) 2-(thiophen-2-yl)-1H-indole and (1 mmol) from aldehyde. The second series were synthesized (2-(thiophen-2-yl)-1H-indol-3-yl) methyl) aniline derivatives at a relatively low yield from multicomponent reaction of three components 2-(thiophen-2-yl)-1H-indole, N-methylaniline and desired aldehydes. The anticancer effect of the newly synthesized derivatives was determined against different cancers, colon, lung, breast and skin. The counter screening was done against normal Epithelial cells (RPE-1). The effect on cell cycle and mechanisms underlying of the antitumor effect were also studied. All new compounds were initially tested at a single dose of 100 μg/ml against this panel of 5 human tumor cell lines indicated that the compounds under investigation exhibit selective cytotoxicity against HCT-116 cell line and compounds (4g, 4a, 4c) showed potent anticancer activity against HCT-116 cell line with the inhibitory concentration IC50 values were, 7.1±0.07, 10.5± 0.07 and 11.9± 0.05 μΜ/ml respectively. Also, the active derivatives caused cell cycle arrest at the S and G2/M phase with significant(p < 0.0001) increase in the expression levels of tumor suppressors miR-30C, and miR-107 and a tremendous decrease in oncogenic miR-25, IL-6 and C-Myc levels. It is to conclude that the anticancer activity could be through direct interaction with tumor cell DNA like S-phase-dependent chemotherapy drugs. Which can interact with DNA or block DNA synthesis such as doxorubicin, cisplatin, or 5-fluorouracil and which were highly effective in killing the cancer cells. This data ensures the efficiency of the 3 analogues on inducing cell cycle arrest and preventing cancer cell growth. The altered expressions explained the molecular mechanisms through which the newly synthesized analogues exert their anticancer action.

Identification of Differentially Expressed Genes in Human Colorectal Cancer Using RNASeq Data Validated on the Molecular Level with Real-Time PCR

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a prevalent cancer with high morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. Late diagnosis is a significant contributor to low survival rates in a minority of cases. The study aimed to perform a robust pipeline using integrated bioinformatics tools that will enable us to identify potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for early detection of CRC by exploring differentially expressed genes (DEGs). In addition to, testing the capability of replacing chemotherapy with plant extract in CRC treatment by validating it using real-time PCR. RNA-seq data from cancerous and adjacent normal tissues were pre-processed and analyzed using various tools such as FastQC, Kallisto, DESeq@ R package, g:Profiler, GNEMANIA-CytoScape and CytoHubba, resulting in the identification of 1641 DEGs enriched in various signaling routes. MMP7, TCF21, and VEGFD were found to be promising diagnostic biomarkers for CRC. An in vitro experiment was conducted to examine the potential anticancer properties of 5-fluorouracile, Withania somnifera extract, and their combination. The extract was found to exhibit a positive trend in gene expression and potential therapeutic value by targeting the three genes; however, further trials are required to regulate the methylation promoter. Molecular docking tests supported the findings by revealing a stable ligand-receptor complex. In conclusion, the study's analysis workflow is precise and robust in identifying DEGs in CRC that may serve as biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment. Additionally, the identified DEGs can be used in future research with larger sample sizes to analyze CRC survival.

Targeted regulated cell death with small molecule compounds in colorectal cancer: Current perspectives of targeted therapy and molecular mechanisms

Colorectal cancer (CRC), a tumor of the digestive system, is characterized by high malignancy and poor prognosis. Currently, targeted therapy of CRC is far away from satisfying. The molecular mechanisms of regulated cell death (RCD) have been clearly elucidated, which can be intervened by drug or genetic modification. Numerous studies have provided substantial evidence linking these mechanisms to the progression and treatment of CRC. The RCD includes apoptosis, autophagy-dependent cell death (ADCD), ferroptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis, and immunogenic cell death, etc, which provide potential targets for anti-cancer treatment. For the last several years, small-molecule compounds targeting RCD have been a well concerned therapeutic strategy for CRC. This present review aims to describe the function of small-molecule compounds in the targeted therapy of CRC via targeting apoptosis, ADCD, ferroptosis, necroptosis, immunogenic dell death and pyroptosis, and their mechanisms. In addition, we prospect the application of newly discovered cuproptosis and disulfidptosis in CRC. Our review may provide references for the targeted therapy of CRC using small-molecule compounds targeting RCD, including the potential targets and candidate compounds.

Porcupine quills keratin peptides induces G0/G1 cell cycle arrest and apoptosis via p53/p21 pathway and caspase cascade reaction in MCF-7 breast cancer cells

BACKGROUND

Porcupine quills, a by-product of porcupine pork, are rich in keratin, which is an excellent source of bioactive peptides. The objective of this study was to investigate the underlying mechanism of anti-proliferation effect of porcupine quills keratin peptides (PQKPs) on MCF-7 cells.

RESULTS

Results showed that PQKPs induced MCF-7 cells apoptosis by significantly decreasing the secretion level of anti-apoptosis protein Bcl-2 and increasing the secretion levels of pro-apoptosis proteins Bax, cytochrome c, caspase 9, caspase 3 and PARP. PQKPs also arrested the cell cycle at G0/G1 phase via remarkably reducing the protein levels of CDK4 and enhancing the protein levels of p53 and p21. High-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) analysis identified nine peptides with molecular weights less than 1000 Da in PQKPs. Molecular docking results showed that TPGPPT and KGPAC identified from PQKPs could bind with p53 mutant and Bcl-2 protein by conventional hydrogen bonds, carbon hydrogen bonds and van der Waals force. Furthermore, the anti-proliferation impact of synthesized peptides (TPGPPT and KGPAC) was shown in MCF-7 cells.

CONCLUSION

These findings indicated that PQKPs suppressed the proliferation of MCF-7 breast cancer cells by triggering apoptosis and G0/G1 cell cycle arrest. Moreover, the outcome of this study will bring fresh insights into the production and application of animal byproducts. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry.

Cytotoxicity and apoptosis induction of the marine Conus flavidus venom in HepG2 cancer cell line

Cancer is still an area of continuous research for finding more effective and selective agents, so our study aimed to explore new anticancer medicines from Cone snails' venoms as marine natural products with promising biological activities. Venoms from seven cone snails collected from two locations on the Red Sea coast (Marsa Alam (Ma) and Hurghada (Hu)) were extracted and subjected to SDS for protein concentrations. The venoms of C. vexillum (Ma), C. vexillum (Hu), and C. flavidus were found to have the highest protein concentrations (2.66, 2.618, and 2.611 mg/mL, respectively). The venom of C. vexillum (Ma) was found to be cytotoxic against the lung cancer cell line A549 (IC50 = 4.511 ± 0.03 µg/mL). On the other hand, the venom of C. flavidus showed a strong cytotoxic effect on both liver and lung cancer cell lines (IC50 = 1.593 ± 0.05 and 7.836 ± 0.4 µg/mL, respectively) when compared to their normal cell lines. Investigating the apoptotic cell death of C. flavidus venom on HepG2 cell lines, it showed total apoptotic cell death by 22.42-fold compared to untreated control and arresting the cell cycle at G2/M phase. Furthermore, its apoptotic cell death in HepG2 cells was confirmed through the upregulation of pro-apoptotic markers and down-regulation of Bcl-2 in both gene and protein expression levels. These findings confirmed the cytotoxic activity of C. flavidus venom through apoptotic cell death in HepG2 cells. So, a detailed study highlighting its structure and molecular target for developing new anticancer agents from natural sources is required.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.

Association of cigarette smoking with risk of colorectal cancer subtypes classified by gut microbiota

INTRODUCTION

Both cigarette smoking and gut microbiota play important roles in colorectal carcinogenesis. We explored whether the association between smoking and colorectal cancer (CRC) risk varies by gut microbial enterotypes and how smoking-related enterotypes promote colorectal carcinogenesis.

METHODS

A case-control study was conducted. Fecal microbiota was determined by 16S rDNA sequencing. The cases with CRC or adenoma were subclassified by gut microbiota enterotypes. Multivariate analyses were used to test associations between smoking and the odds of colorectal neoplasm subtypes. Mann-Whitney U tests were used to find differential genera, genes, and pathways between the subtypes.

RESULTS

Included in the study were 130 CRC patients (type I: n=77; type II: n=53), 120 adenoma patients (type I: n=66; type II: n=54), and 130 healthy participants. Smoking increased the odds for type II tumors significantly (all p for trend <0.05) but not for type I tumors. The associations of smoking with increased odds of colorectal neoplasm significantly differed by gut microbiota enterotypes (p<0.05 for heterogeneity). An increase in carcinogenic bacteria (genus Escherichia shigella) and a decrease in probiotics (family Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae) in type II tumors may drive disease progression by upregulating oncogenic signaling pathways and inflammatory/oxidative stress response pathways, as well as protein phospholipase D1/2, cytochrome C, and prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 expression.

CONCLUSIONS

Smoking was associated with a higher odds of type II colorectal neoplasms but not type I tumors, supporting a potential role for the gut microbiota in mediating the association between smoking and colorectal neoplasms.

The GSTP1/MAPKs/BIM/SMAC modulatory actions of nitazoxanide: Bioinformatics and experimental evidence in subcutaneous solid Ehrlich carcinoma-inoculated mice

AIMS

Ehrlich ascites carcinoma and its subcutaneous inoculated solid tumour form (SEC) are reliable models for chemotherapeutic molecular targets exploration. Novel chemotherapeutic approaches are identified as molecular targets for intrinsic apoptosis, like the modulation of the second mitochondria-derived activator of caspases (SMAC). SMAC is a physiological substrate of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). Glutathione-S-transferase P1 (GSTP1) and its close association with MAPKs play an important role in malignant cell proliferation, metastasis, and resistance to chemotherapeutics. Nitazoxanide (NTZ) is an emerging cancer therapy and its targeted GSTP1 evidence remains a knowledge need.

MAIN METHODS

In the present mice-established SEC, the chemotherapeutic roles of oral NTZ (200 mg/kg/day) and 5-fluorouracil (5-FU; 20 mg/kg/day, intraperitoneally) regimens were evaluated by measuring changes in tumour mass, the tumour MAPKs, cytochrome c, Bcl-2 interacting mediator of cell death (BIM), and SMAC signalling pathway in addition to its molecular downstream; caspases 3 and 9.

KEY FINDINGS

Computational analysis for these target protein interactions showed direct-ordered interactions. After individual therapy with NTZ and 5-FU regimens, the histological architecture of the extracted tumour discs revealed decreases in viable tumour regions with significant necrosis surrounds. These findings were consistent with gross tumour sizes. Each separate regimen lowered the remarkable GSTP1 and elevated the low MAPKs expressions, cytochrome c, BIM, SMAC, and caspases 3, and 9 in EST tissues.

SIGNIFICANCE

The chemotherapeutic activity of NTZ in SEC was proven. Additionally, NTZ possesses a SMAC modulatory activity that, following thorough research, should be taken into consideration as a chemotherapeutic approach in solid tumours.

Bioactivity of bacteria associated with Red Sea nudibranchs and whole genome sequence of Nocardiopsis dassonvillei RACA-4

Microorganisms associated with marine invertebrates consider an important source of bioactive products. This study aimed to screen for antimicrobial and anticancer activity of crude extracts of bacteria associated with Red sea nudibranchs and molecular identification of the bioactive isolates using 16Sr RNA sequencing, in addition to whole-genome sequencing of one of the most bioactive bacteria. This study showed that bacteria associated with Red sea nudibranchs are highly bioactive and 16Sr RNA sequencing results showed that two isolates belonged to Firmicutes, and two isolates belonged to Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria. The whole genome sequence data of the isolated Nocardiopsis RACA4 isolate has an estimated genome length of 6,721,839 bp and the taxonomy showed it belongs to the bacteria Nocardiopsis dassonvillei. The De novo assembly of RACA-4 paired reads using Unicycler v0.4.8 initially yielded 97 contigs with an N50 value of 214,568 bp and L50 value of 10, The resulting assembly was further mapped to the reference genome Nocardiopsis dassonvillei strain NCTC10488 using RagTag software v.2.1.0 and a final genome assembly resulted in 39 contigs and N50 value of 6,726,007 and L50 of 1. Genome mining using anti-smash showed around 9.1% of the genome occupied with genes related to secondary metabolites biosynthesis. A wide variety of secondary metabolites belonging to Polyketides, Terpenes, and nonribosomal peptides were predicted with high degree of similarity to known compounds. Non-characterized clusters were also found which suggest new natural compounds discovered by further studies.

The role of IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway in cancers

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine involved in immune regulation. It can activate janus kinase 2 (JAK2)-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling pathway. As one of the important signal transduction pathways in cells, JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway plays a critical role in cell proliferation and differentiation by affecting the activation state of downstream effector molecules. The activation of JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway is involved in tumorigenesis and development. It contributes to the formation of tumor inflammatory microenvironment and is closely related to the occurrence and development of many human tumors. This article focuses on the relationship between IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway and liver cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer and ovarian cancer, hoping to provide references for the research of cancer treatment targeting key molecules in IL-6/JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway.

Mechanism of piR-1245/PIWI-like protein-2 regulating Janus kinase-2/signal transducer and activator of transcription-3/vascular endothelial growth factor signaling pathway in retinal neovascularization

Inhibiting retinal neovascularization is the optimal strategy for the treatment of retina-related diseases, but there is currently no effective treatment for retinal neovascularization. P-element-induced wimpy testis (PIWI)-interacting RNA (piRNA) is a type of small non-coding RNA implicated in a variety of diseases. In this study, we found that the expression of piR-1245 and the interacting protein PIWIL2 were remarkably increased in human retinal endothelial cells cultured in a hypoxic environment, and cell apoptosis, migration, tube formation and proliferation were remarkably enhanced in these cells. Knocking down piR-1245 inhibited the above phenomena. After intervention by a p-JAK2 activator, piR-1245 decreased the expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1α and vascular endothelial growth factor through the JAK2/STAT3 pathway. For in vivo analysis, 7-day-old newborn mice were raised in 75 ± 2% hyperoxia for 5 days and then piR-1245 in the retina was knocked down. In these mice, the number of newly formed vessels in the retina was decreased, the expressions of inflammation-related proteins were reduced, the number of apoptotic cells in the retina was decreased, the JAK2/STAT3 pathway was inhibited, and the expressions of hypoxia inducible factor-1α and vascular endothelial growth factor were decreased. Injection of the JAK2 inhibitor JAK2/TYK2-IN-1 into the vitreous cavity inhibited retinal neovascularization in mice and reduced expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1α and vascular endothelial growth factor. These findings suggest that piR-1245 activates the JAK2/STAT3 pathway, regulates the expression of hypoxia inducible factor-1α and vascular endothelial growth factor, and promotes retinal neovascularization. Therefore, piR-1245 may be a new therapeutic target for retinal neovascularization.

Efficacy and safety of nitazoxanide in treating SARS-CoV-2 infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis of blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trials

Purpose

Nitazoxanide is a broad-spectrum antiparasitic that has been tested for COVID-19 due to its anti-inflammatory effects and in vitro antiviral activity. This study synthesized the best evidence on the efficacy and safety of nitazoxanide in COVID-19.

Methods

Searches for studies were performed in peer-reviewed and grey-literature from January 1, 2020 to May 23, 2022. The following elements were used to define eligibility criteria: (1) Population: individuals with COVID-19; (2) Intervention: nitazoxanide; (3) Comparison: placebo; (4) Outcomes: primary outcome was death, and secondary outcomes were viral load, positive RT-PCR status, serum biomarkers of inflammation, composite measure of disease progression (ICU admission or invasive mechanical ventilation), and any adverse events; (5) Study type: blinded, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trials (RCTs). Treatment effects were reported as relative risk (RR) for dichotomous variables and standardized mean difference (SMD) for continuous variables with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results

Five blinded, placebo-controlled RCTs were included and enrolled individuals with mild or moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection. We found no difference between nitazoxanide and placebo in reducing viral load (SMD =  − 0.16; 95% CI − 0.38 to 0.05) and the frequency of positive RTP-PCR results (RR = 0.92; 95% CI 0.81 to 1.06). In addition, there was no decreased risk for disease progression (RR = 0.63; 95% CI 0.38 to 1.04) and death (RR = 0.81; 95% CI 0.36 to 1.78) among patients receiving nitazoxanide. Patients with COVID-19 treated with nitazoxanide had decreased levels of white blood cells (SMD =  − 0.15; 95% − 0.29 to − 0.02), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (SMD − 0.32; 95% − 0.52 to − 0.13), and D-dimer (SMD − 0.49; 95% CI − 0.68 to − 0.31) compared to placebo, but the magnitude of effect was considered small to moderate.

Conclusion

This systematic review showed no evidence of clinical benefits of the use of nitazoxanide to treat patients with mild or moderate COVID-19. In addition, we found a reduction in WBC, LDH, and D-dimer levels among nitazoxanide-treated patients, but the effect size was considered small to moderate.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00228-022-03380-5.

In Silico and In Vitro Studies for Benzimidazole Anthelmintics Repurposing as VEGFR-2 Antagonists: Novel Mebendazole-Loaded Mixed Micelles with Enhanced Dissolution and Anticancer Activity

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide and its incidence is unfortunately anticipated to rise in the next years. On the other hand, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) is highly expressed in tumor-associated endothelial cells, where it affects tumor-promoting angiogenesis. Therefore, VEGFR-2 is considered one of the most promising therapeutic targets for cancer treatment. Furthermore, some FDA-approved benzimidazole anthelmintics have already shown potential anticancer activities. Therefore, repurposing them against VEGFR-2 can provide a rapid and effective alternative that can be implicated safely for cancer treatment. Hence, 13 benzimidazole anthelmintic drugs were subjected to molecular docking against the VEGFR-2 receptor. Among the tested compounds, fenbendazole (FBZ, 1), mebendazole (MBZ, 2), and albendazole (ABZ, 3) were proposed as potential VEGFR-2 antagonists. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulations were carried out at 200 ns, giving more information on their thermodynamic and dynamic properties. Besides, the anticancer activity of the aforementioned drugs was tested in vitro against three different cancer cell lines, including liver cancer (HUH7), lung cancer (A549), and breast cancer (MCF7) cell lines. The results depicted potential cytotoxic activity especially against both HUH7 and A549 cell lines. Furthermore, to improve the aqueous solubility of MBZ, it was formulated in the form of mixed micelles (MMs) which showed an enhanced drug release with better promising cytotoxicity results compared to the crude MBZ. Finally, an in vitro quantification for VEGFR-2 concentration in treated HUH7 cells has been conducted based on the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The results disclosed that FBZ, MBZ, and ABZ significantly (p < 0.001) reduced the concentration of VEGFR-2, while the lowest inhibition was achieved in MBZ-loaded MMs, which was even much better than the reference drug sorafenib. Collectively, the investigated benzimidazole anthelmintics could be encountered as lead compounds for further structural modifications and thus better anticancer activity, and that was accomplished through studying their structure-activity relationships.

Nitazoxanide, an Antiprotozoal Drug, Reduces Bone Loss in Ovariectomized Mice by Inhibition of RANKL-Induced Osteoclastogenesis

Nitazoxanide (NTZ) is an FDA-approved anti-parasitic drug with broad-spectrum anti-infective, anti-inflammatory, and antineoplastic potential. However, its regulatory effects on osteoclastogenesis and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The present study found that NTZ potently inhibited osteoclast formation at the early stage of receptor activator of NF-κB ligand-induced osteoclastogenesis in a concentration-dependent manner at a non-growth inhibitory concentration. NTZ suppressed actin ring formation and decreased osteoclast marker gene expression, including TRAP, MMP9, and cathepsin K. NTZ significantly impaired the bone resorption activity of osteoclasts. In vivo, ovariectomized mice were treated with 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg/d NTZ for 3 months. NTZ (100 mg/kg/d) administration markedly reduced ovariectomy-induced bone loss by suppressing osteoclast activity. Mechanistically, osteoclastogenesis blockade elicited by NTZ resulted from inhibition of STAT3 phosphorylation, and reduction of the Ca2+ fluorescence intensity and NFATc1 expression. NTZ weakened the binding between STAT3 and the NFATc1 promoter region. Furthermore, enforced NFATc1 expression partly rescued the impaired osteoclast differentiation in NTZ-treated RAW264.7 cells. In summary, NTZ could inhibit osteoclastogenesis and bone loss through modulation of the receptor activator of NF-κB ligand-induced STAT3-NFATc1 signaling pathway, which might be a potential alternative treatment regimen against bone destruction-related diseases including osteoporosis.

Nitazoxanide impairs mitophagy flux through ROS-mediated mitophagy initiation and lysosomal dysfunction in bladder cancer

Bladder cancer is one of the most common malignancy in the urinary tract with high recurrence and drug resistance in clinics. Alternative treatments from existing drugs might be a promising strategy. Nitazoxanide (NTZ), an FDA-approved antiprotozoal drug, has got increasingly noticed because of its favorable safety profile and antitumor potential, yet the effects in bladder cancer and underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Herein, we find that NTZ induces mitochondrial damage and mitophagy initiation through PINK1-generated phospho-ubiquitin(pS65-Ub) and autophagy receptor-mediated pathway even in the absence of Atg5/Beclin1. Meanwhile, NTZ inhibits lysosomal degradation activity, leading to mitophagy flux impairment at late stage. Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production is critical in this process, as eliminating ROS with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) efficiently inhibits PINK1 signaling-mediated mitophagy initiation and alleviates lysosomal dysfunction. Co-treatment with NTZ and autophagy inhibitor Chloroquine (CQ) to aggravate mitophagy flux impairment promotes NTZ-induced apoptosis, while alleviation of mitophagy flux impairment with ROS scavenger reduces cell death. Moreover, we also discover a similar signaling response in the 3D bladder tumor spheroid after NTZ exposure. In vivo study reveals a significant inhibition of orthotopic bladder tumors with no obvious systemic toxicity. Together, our results uncover the anti-tumor activities of NTZ with the involvement of ROS-mediated mitophagy modulation at different stages and demonstrate it as a potential drug candidate for fighting against bladder tumors.

Progress in Redirecting Antiparasitic Drugs for Cancer Treatment

Drug repurposing is a feasible strategy in developing novel medications. Regarding the cancer field, scientists are continuously making efforts to redirect conventional drugs into cancer treatment. This approach aims at exploring new applications in the existing agents. Antiparasitic medications, including artemisinin derivatives (ARTs), quinine-related compounds, niclosamide, ivermectin, albendazole derivatives, nitazoxanide and pyrimethamine, have been deeply investigated and widely applied in treating various parasitic diseases for a long time. Generally, their pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties are well understood, while the side effects are roughly acceptable. Scientists noticed that some of these agents have anticancer potentials and explored the underlying mechanisms to achieve drug repurposing. Recent studies show that these agents inhibit cancer progression via multiple interesting ways, inducing ferroptosis induction, autophagy regulation, mitochondrial disturbance, immunoregulation, and metabolic disruption. In this review, we summarize the recent advancement in uncovering antiparasitic drugs' anticancer properties from the perspective of their pharmacological targets. Instead of paying attention to the previously discovered mechanisms, we focus more on newly emerging ones that are worth noticing. While most investigations are focusing on the mechanisms of their antiparasitic effect, more in vivo exploration in clinical trials in the future is necessary. Moreover, we also paid attention to what limits the clinical application of these agents. For some of these agents like ARTs and niclosamide, drug modification, novel delivery system invention, or drug combination are strongly recommended for future exploration.

A review on possible mechanistic insights of Nitazoxanide for repurposing in COVID-19

The global pandemic of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has brought the world to a grinding halt. A major cause of concern is the respiratory distress associated mortality attributed to the cytokine storm. Despite myriad rapidly approved clinical trials with repurposed drugs, and time needed to develop a vaccine, accelerated search for repurposed therapeutics is still ongoing. In this review, we present Nitazoxanide a US-FDA approved antiprotozoal drug, as one such promising candidate. Nitazoxanide which is reported to exert broad-spectrum antiviral activity against various viral infections, revealed good in vitro activity against SARS-CoV-2 in cell culture assays, suggesting potential for repurposing in COVID-19. Furthermore, nitazoxanide displays the potential to boost host innate immune responses and thereby tackle the life-threatening cytokine storm. Possibilities of improving lung, as well as multiple organ damage and providing value addition to COVID-19 patients with comorbidities, are other important facets of the drug. The review juxtaposes the role of nitazoxanide in fighting COVID-19 pathogenesis at multiple levels highlighting the great promise the drug exhibits. The in silico data and in vitro efficacy in cell lines confirms the promise of nitazoxanide. Several approved clinical trials world over further substantiate leveraging nitazoxanide for COVID-19 therapy.

Potential targets and the action mechanism of food-derived dipeptides on colitis: network pharmacology and bioinformatics analysis

The present study provides an efficient method for screening food-derived dipeptides to attenuate colitis based on the network pharmacology and bioinformatics analysis.

STAT3 and p53: Dual Target for Cancer Therapy

The tumor suppressor p53 is considered the "guardian of the genome" that can protect cells against cancer by inducing cell cycle arrest followed by cell death. However, STAT3 is constitutively activated in several human cancers and plays crucial roles in promoting cancer cell proliferation and survival. Hence, STAT3 and p53 have opposing roles in cellular pathway regulation, as activation of STAT3 upregulates the survival pathway, whereas p53 triggers the apoptotic pathway. Constitutive activation of STAT3 and gain or loss of p53 function due to mutations are the most frequent events in numerous cancer types. Several studies have reported the association of STAT3 and/or p53 mutations with drug resistance in cancer treatment. This review discusses the relationship between STAT3 and p53 status in cancer, the molecular mechanism underlying the negative regulation of p53 by STAT3, and vice versa. Moreover, it underlines prospective therapies targeting both STAT3 and p53 to enhance chemotherapeutic outcomes.

Synthesis, In Silico Prediction and In Vitro Evaluation of Antitumor Activities of Novel Pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidine, Xanthine and Lumazine Derivatives

Ethyl 5-arylpyridopyrimidine-6-carboxylates 3a–d were prepared as a one pot three component reaction via the condensation of different aromatic aldehydes and ethyl acetoacetate with 6-amino-1-benzyluracil 1a under reflux condition in ethanol. Additionally, condensation of ethyl 2-(2-hydroxybenzylidene) acetoacetate with 6-amino-1-benzyluracil in DMF afforded 6-acetylpyridopyrimidine-7-one 3e; a facile, operationally, simple and efficient one-pot synthesis of 8-arylxanthines 6a–f is reported by refluxing 5,6-diaminouracil 4 with aromatic aldehydes in DMF. Moreover, 6-aryllumazines 7a–d was obtained via the reaction of 5,6-diaminouracil with the appropriate aromatic aldehydes in triethyl orthoformate under reflux condition. The synthesized compounds were characterized by spectral (¹H-NMR, ¹³C-NMR, IR and mass spectra) and elemental analyses. The newly synthesized compounds were screened for their anticancer activity against lung cancer A549 cell line. Furthermore, a molecular-docking study was employed to determine the possible mode of action of the synthesized compounds against a group of proteins highly implicated in cancer progression, especially lung cancer. Docking results showed that compounds 3b, 6c, 6d, 6e, 7c and 7d were the best potential docked compounds against most of the tested proteins, especially CDK2, Jak2, and DHFR proteins. These results are in agreement with cytotoxicity results, which shed a light on the promising activity of these novel six heterocyclic derivatives for further investigation as potential chemotherapeutics.