In vitro antimetastatic effect of Changweiqing through antiinvasion of hypoxic colorectal carcinoma LoVo cells

Network pharmacological approach combined with weighted gene co-expression network analysis identifies CDKN2A as the keg target of Changweiqing against colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE

Changweiqing (CWQ) is a Chinese herbal formula for the treatment of the gastrointestinal tract diseases, but its role in the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) has not been clarified. This study aimed to explore the molecular mechanism of CWQ in CRC treatment through bioinformatics analysis and network pharmacology.

METHODS

Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform and SwissTargetPrediction database were used to collect the bioactive components of CWQ. The databases including DisgeNET, GeneCards, MalaCards, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man and Comparative Toxicogenomics were used to obtain CRC-related targets. The Cancer Genome Atlas - colon adenocarcinoma dataset was used to obtain prognosis-related genes in CRC based on weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). A protein-protein interaction network was constructed to screen core targets, with STRING database and Cytoscape software. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses were performed using the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery database. Molecular docking was performed with AutoDock Vina software. Core targets were further analyzed using Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis platform, Human Protein Atlas database, University of ALabama at Birmingham CANcer data analysis Portal (UALCAN) and GeneMANIA database. In vitro experiments were further performed to investigate the effects of quercetin, one of the main components of CWQ, on CRC cells.

RESULTS

6356, 1901 and 2980 CRC-related genes were obtained from differential expression analysis, WGCNA and open access databases, respectively. CWQ contained a total of 70 bioactive ingredients, of which 64 ingredients had a total of 836 therapeutic targets. Functional enrichment analysis indicated that CWQ may be involved in regulating pathways in cancer, MAPK signaling pathway and AGE-RAGE signaling pathway, and further analysis identified 14 core targets of CWQ. These core targets were significantly correlated with cell cycle, p53 signaling pathway, FoxO signaling pathway and pathways in cancer. Among these core targets, cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2 A (CDKN2A) expression was closely associated with shorter overall survival and clinical stage of CRC patients. The main bioactive ingredients of CWQ targeting CDKN2A were quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol, isorhamnetin, 7-O-methylisomucronulatol and 7-Methoxy-2-methyl isoflavone. Additionally, quercetin caused G0/G1 phase arrest and inhibited the viability of CRC cells.

CONCLUSION

The active ingredients of CWQ may play an anti-CRC role through multi-targets and multi-pathways, regulating the cell cycle and cell viability of CRC cells.

A review on plant polysaccharide based on drug delivery system for construction and application, with emphasis on traditional Chinese medicine polysaccharide

Carbohydrate polymers with unique chemical composition, molecular weight and functional chemical groups show multiple potentials in drug delivery. Most carbohydrate polymers such as plant polysaccharides exhibit advantages of biodegradability, ease of modification, low immunogenicity and low toxicity. They can be conjugated, cross-linked or functionally modified, and then used as nanocarrier materials. Polysaccharide drug delivery system can avoid the phagocytosis of the reticuloendothelial system, prevent the degradation of biomolecules, and increase the bioavailability of small molecules, thus exerting effective therapeutic effects. Therefore, they have been fully explored. In this paper, we reviewed the construction methods of drug delivery systems based on carbohydrate polymers (astragalus polysaccharide, angelica polysaccharide, lycium barbarum polysaccharide, ganoderma lucidum polysaccharide, bletilla polysaccharide, glycyrrhiza polysaccharide, and epimedium polysaccharides, etc). The application of polysaccharide drug delivery systems to deliver small molecule chemotherapeutic drugs, gene drugs, and metal ion drugs was also briefly introduced. At the same time, the role of the polysaccharide drug delivery system in tumor treatment, targeted therapy, and wound healing was discussed. In addition, the research of polysaccharide delivery systems based on the therapeutic efficacy of traditional Chinese medicine was also summarized and prospected.

Combating Drug Resistance in Colorectal Cancer Using Herbal Medicines

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most prevalent and lethal cancer types around the world. Most of the CRC patients are treated with chemotherapeutic drugs alone or combined. However, up to 90% of metastatic cancer patients experience the failure of treatment mostly because of the acquired drug resistance, which can be led to multidrug resistance (MDR). In this study, we reviewed the recent literature which studied potential CRC MDR reversal agents among herbal medicines (HMs). Among abundant HMs, 6 single herbs, Andrographis paniculata, Salvia miltiorrhiza, Hedyotis diffusa, Sophora flavescens, Curcuma longa, Bufo gargarizans, and 2 formulae, Pien Tze Huang and Zhi Zhen Fang, were found to overcome CRC MDR by two or more different mechanisms, which could be a promising candidate in the development of new drugs for adjuvant CRC chemotherapy.

Chang-wei-qing, a Chinese herbal formula, ameliorates colitis-associated tumour development via inhibiting NF-κB and STAT3 signalling pathway

CONTEXT

Chang-wei-qing (CWQ) is a Chinese herbal recipe with clinical efficacy. However, the molecular mechanism underlying its recognized therapeutic benefits against colorectal cancer is still elusive.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the potential beneficial effects of CWQ in drug-induced colitis-associated cancer (CAC) model and its mechanistic involvements in this disease.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Colitis-associated cancer model was induced by azoxymethane (AOM) and dextran sulphate sodium (DSS). CWQ was administrated by gavage. Colon length and tumour size were determined after resection. The colitis was systematically scored. The microbiota and population of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (F. prausnitzii) Hauduroy & Duncan was analysed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR). β-Glucuronidase, d-lactose and endotoxin were determined with commercially available kits. Pro-inflammatory cytokines were analysed in the colon tissues. Relative protein expressions were determined by Western blotting.

RESULTS

High concentration CWQ significantly restored the colon length, decreased tumour number and size (1.7 ± 0.6 vs. 2.8 ± 0.4 mm, p < 0.01) and reduced colitis score (11.8 ± 2.1 vs. 18.2 ± 2.3, p < 0.01). CWQ also suppressed expansion of F. prausnitzii population (0.029 ± 0.015% vs. 0.052 ± 0.019%, p < 0.01). CWQ greatly inhibited the activity of β-glucuronidase and leakage of d-lactose and endotoxin. Meanwhile, the pro-inflammatory cytokines were remarkably decreased in CAC mice in response to CWQ treatment. We further demonstrated that CWQ inhibited both NF-κB and STAT3 signalling.

CONCLUSIONS

We for the first time demonstrated the antitumour properties of CWQ in vivo via inhibiting NF-κB and STAT3 signalling.

Dual Effects of Chinese Herbal Medicines on Angiogenesis in Cancer and Ischemic Stroke Treatments: Role of HIF-1 Network

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1)-induced angiogenesis has been involved in numerous pathological conditions, and it may be harmful or beneficial depending on the types of diseases. Exploration on angiogenesis has sparked hopes in providing novel therapeutic approaches on multiple diseases with high mortality rates, such as cancer and ischemic stroke. The HIF-1 pathway is considered to be a major regulator of angiogenesis. HIF-1 seems to be involved in the vascular formation process by synergistic correlations with other proangiogenic factors in cancer and cerebrovascular disease. The regulation of HIF-1-dependent angiogenesis is related to the modulation of HIF-1 bioactivity by regulating HIF-1α transcription or protein translation, HIF-1α DNA binding, HIF-1α and HIF-1α dimerization, and HIF-1 degradation. Traditional Chinese herbal medicines have a long history of clinical use in both cancer and stroke treatments in Asia. Growing evidence has demonstrated potential proangiogenic benefits of Chinese herbal medicines in ischemic stroke, whereas tumor angiogenesis could be inhibited by the active components in Chinese herbal medicines. The objective of this review is to provide comprehensive insight on the effects of Chinese herbal medicines on angiogenesis by regulating HIF-1 pathways in both cancer and ischemic stroke.

JianPi JieDu Recipe Inhibits Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Colorectal Cancer through TGF-β/Smad Mediated Snail/E-Cadherin Expression

JPJD was an ideal alternative traditional Chinese medicine compound in the prevention and treatment of CRC, but its underlying mechanisms has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we demonstrated in vitro that TGF-β-induced EMT promoted the invasion and metastasis of CRC cells, reduced the expression of E-cadherin, and elevated the expression of Vimentin. However, JPJD could inhibit the invasive and migratory ability of TGF-β-stimulated CRC cells in a concentration-dependent manner through increasing the expression of E-cadherin and repressing the expression of Vimentin, as well as the inhibition of TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway. Meanwhile, JPJD reduced the transcriptional activities of EMT-associated factors Snail and E-cadherin during the initiation of TGF-β-induced EMT. In vivo, the results demonstrated that JPJD can significantly inhibit the liver and lung metastasis of orthotopic CRC tumor in nude mice, as well as significantly prolonging the survival time of tumor-bearing in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, JPJD can upregulate the expression of E-cadherin and Smad2/3 in the cytoplasm and downregulate the expression of Vimentin, p-Smad2/3, and Snail in the orthotopic CRC tumor tissues. In conclusions, our new findings provided evidence that JPJD could inhibit TGF-β-induced EMT in CRC through TGF-β/Smad mediated Snail/E-cadherin expression.

Recent highlights of experimental research for inhibiting tumor growth by using Chinese medicine

To give an overview of contemporary experimental research using Chinese medicine (CM) for the treatment of cancer. As an integral part of mainstream medicine in the People's Republic of China, CM emphasizes improvements in holistic physical condition instead of merely killing tumor cells, which is consistent with the current medical model that advocates patient-oriented treatment. Great progress has been made in experimental research, and the principle aspects include anti-tumor angiogenesis, inducing apoptosis and differentiation, reversing multidrug resistance, and improving immune function. As a current hot topic in cancer research, tumor microenvironment (TME) highlights the mutual and interdependent interaction between tumor cells and their surrounding tissues, and the CM treatment concept bears a striking resemblance to it. To date, primary points of TME include extracellular matrix remodeling, inflammation, hypoxia, and angiogenesis, but trials using CM with a focus on TME are rare. Despite considerable recent development, experimental research on CM for solving cancer issues appears insufficient. Greater efforts in this field are urgently needed.