Methyl methanesulfonate induces necroptosis in human lung adenoma A549 cells through the PIG-3-reactive oxygen species pathway

Exploring new drug treatment targets for immune related bone diseases using a multi omics joint analysis strategy

In the field of treatment and prevention of immune-related bone diseases, significant challenges persist, necessitating the urgent exploration of new and effective treatment methods. However, most existing Mendelian randomization (MR) studies are confined to a single analytical approach, which limits the comprehensive understanding of the pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets of these diseases. In light of this, we propose the hypothesis that genetic variations in specific plasma proteins have a causal relationship with immune-related bone diseases through the MR mechanism, and that key therapeutic targets can be accurately identified using an integrated multi-omic analysis approach. This study comprehensively applied a variety of analytical methods. Firstly, the protein quantitative trait locus (pQTLs) data from two large plasma protein databases and the Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS) data of nine immune-related bone diseases were used for Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. At the same time, we employed the Summary-based Mendelian Randomization (SMR) method, combined with the Bayesian colocalization analysis method of coding genes, as well as the Linkage Disequilibrium Score Regression (LDSC) analysis method based on genetic correlation analysis, as methods to verify the genetic association between genes and complex diseases, thus comprehensively obtaining positive results. In addition, a Phenome-wide Association Study (PheWAS) was conducted on significantly positive genes, and their expression patterns in different tissues were also explored. Subsequently, we integrated Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) network analysis, Gene Ontology (GO) analysis. Finally, based on the above analytical methods, drug prediction and molecular docking studies were carried out with the aim of accurately identifying key therapeutic targets. Through a comprehensive analysis using four methods, namely the Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis study, Summary-based Mendelian Randomization (SMR) analysis study, Bayesian colocalization analysis study, and Linkage Disequilibrium Score Regression (LDSC) analysis study. We found that through MR, SMR, and combined with Bayesian colocalization analysis, an association was found between rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and HDGF. Using the combination of MR and Bayesian colocalization analysis, as well as LDSC analysis, it was concluded that RA was related to CCL19 and TNFRSF14. Based on the methods of MR and Bayesian colocalization, an association was found between GPT and Crohn's disease-related arthritis, and associations were found between BTN1A1, EVI5, OGA, TNFRSF14 and multiple sclerosis (MS), and associations were found between ICAM5, CCDC50, IL17RD, UBLCP1 and psoriatic arthritis (PsA). Specifically, in the MR analysis of RA, HDGF (P_ivw = 0.0338, OR = 1.0373, 95%CI = 1.0028-1.0730), CCL19 (P_ivw = 0.0004, OR = 0.3885, 95%CI = 0.2299-0.6566), TNFRSF14 (P_ivw = 0.0007, OR = 0.6947, 95%CI = 0.5634-0.8566); in the MR analysis of MS, BTN1A1 (P_ivw = 0.0000, OR = 0.6101, 95%CI = 0.4813-0.7733), EVI5 (P_ivw = 0.0000, OR = 0.3032, 95%CI = 0.1981-0.4642), OGA (P_ivw = 0.0005, OR = 0.4599, 95%CI = 0.2966-0.7131), TNFRSF14 (P_ivw = 0.0002, OR = 0.4026, 95%CI = 0.2505-0.6471); in the MR analysis of PsA, ICAM5 (P_ivw = 0.0281, OR = 1.1742, 95%CI = 1.0174-1.3552), CCDC50 (P_ivw = 0.0092, OR = 0.7359, 95%CI = 0.5843-0.9269), IL17RD (P_ivw = 0.0006, OR = 0.7887, 95%CI = 0.6886-0.9034), UBLCP1 (P_ivw = 0.0021, OR = 0.6901, 95%CI = 0.5448-0.8741); in the MR analysis of Crohn's disease-related arthritis, GPT (P_ivw = 0.0006, OR = 0.0057, 95%CI = 0.0003-0.1111). In the Bayesian colocalization analysis of RA, HDGF (H4 = 0.8426), CCL19 (H4 = 0.9762), TNFRSF14 (H4 = 0.8016); in the Bayesian colocalization analysis of MS, BTN1A1 (H4 = 0.7660), EVI5 (H4 = 0.9800), OGA (H4 = 0.8569), TNFRSF14 (H4 = 0.8904); in the Bayesian colocalization analysis of PsA, ICAM5 (H4 = 0.9476), CCDC50 (H4 = 0.9091), IL17RD (H4 = 0.9301), UBLCP1 (H4 = 0.8862); in the Bayesian colocalization analysis of Crohn's disease-related arthritis, GPT (H4 = 0.8126). In the SMR analysis of RA, HDGF (p_SMR = 0.0338, p_HEIDI = 0.0628). In the LDSC analysis of RA, CCL19 (P = 0.0000), TNFRSF14 (P = 0.0258). By comprehensively analyzing plasma proteomic and transcriptomic data, we successfully identified key therapeutic targets for various clinical subtypes of immune-associated bone diseases. Our findings indicate that the significant positive genes associated with RA include HDGF, CCL19, and TNFRSF14; the positive gene linked to Crohn-related arthropathy is GPT; for MS, the positive genes are BTN1A1, EVI5, OGA, and TNFRSF14; and for PsA, the positive genes are ICAM5, CCDC50, IL17RD, and UBLCP1. Through this comprehensive analytical approach, we have screened potential therapeutic targets for different clinical subtypes of immune-related bone diseases. This research not only enhances our understanding of the pathogenesis of these conditions but also provides a solid theoretical foundation for subsequent drug development and clinical treatment, with the potential to yield significant advancements in the management of patients with immune-related bone diseases.

In silico interactions and deep neural network modeling for toxicity profile of methyl methanesulfonate

In this study, the toxicity induced by the alkylating agent methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) in Allium cepa L. was investigated. For this aim, bulbs were divided into 4 groups as control and application (100, 500 and 4000 µM MMS) and germinated for 72 h at 22-24 °C. At the end of the germination period root tips were collected and made ready for analysis by applying traditional preparation methods. Germination, root elongation, weight, mitotic index (MI) values, micronucleus (MN) and chromosomal abnormality (CAs) numbers, malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities and anatomical structures of bulbs were used as indicators to determine toxicity. Moreover the extent of DNA fragmentation induced by MMS was determined by comet assay. To confirm the DNA fragmentation induced by MMS, the DNA-MMS interaction was examined with molecular docking. Correlation and principal component analyses (PCA) were performed to examine the relationship between all parameters and understand the underlying structure and relationships among these parameters. In the present study, a deep neural network (DNN) with two hidden layers implemented in Matlab has been developed for the comparison of the estimated data with the real data. The effect of MDA levels, SOD and CAT activities at 4 different endpoints resulting from administration of various concentrations of MMS, including MN, MI, CAs and DNA damage, was attempted to be estimated by DNN model. It is assumed that the predicted results are in close agreement with the actual data. The effectiveness of the model was evaluated using 4 different metrics, MAE, MAPE, RMSE and R2, which together show that the model performs commendably. As a result, the highest germination, root elongation, weight gain and MI were measured in the control group. MMS application caused a decrease in all physiological parameters and an increase in cytogenetic (except MI) and biochemical parameters. MMS application caused an increase in antioxidant enzyme levels (SOD and CAT) up to a concentration of 500 µM and a decrease at 4000 µM. MMS application induced different types of CAs and anatomical damages in root meristem cells. The results of the comet assay showed that the severity of DNA fragmentation increased with increasing MMS concentration. Molecular docking analysis showed a strong DNA-MMS interaction. The results of correlation and PCA revealed significant positive and negative interactions between the studied parameters and confirmed the interactions of these parameters with MMS. It has been shown that the DNN model developed in this study is a valuable resource for predicting genotoxicity due to oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. In addition, this model has the potential to help evaluate the genotoxicity status of various chemical compounds. At the end of the study, it was concluded that MMS strongly supports a versatile toxicity in plant cells and the selected parameters are suitable indicators for determining this toxicity.

Novel, non-conventional pathways of necroptosis in the heart and other organs: Molecular mechanisms, regulation and inter-organelle interplay

Necroptosis, a cell death modality that is defined as a necrosis-like cell death depending on the receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIPK3) and mixed lineage kinase domain-like pseudokinase (MLKL), has been found to underlie the injury of various organs. Nevertheless, the molecular background of this cell loss seems to also involve, at least under certain circumstances, some novel axes, such as RIPK3-PGAM5-Drp1 (mitochondrial protein phosphatase 5-dynamin-related protein 1), RIPK3-CaMKII (Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II) and RIPK3-JNK-BNIP3 (c-Jun N-terminal kinase-BCL2 Interacting Protein 3). In addition, endoplasmic reticulum stress and oxidative stress via the higher production of reactive oxygen species produced by the mitochondrial enzymes and the enzymes of the plasma membrane have been implicated in necroptosis, thereby depicting an inter-organelle interplay in the mechanisms of this cell death. However, the role and relationship between these novel non-conventional signalling and the well-accepted canonical pathway in terms of tissue- and/or disease-specific prioritisation is completely unknown. In this review, we provide current knowledge on some necroptotic pathways being not directly associated with RIPK3-MLKL execution and report studies showing the role of respective microRNAs in the regulation of necroptotic injury in the heart and in some other tissues having a high expression of the pro-necroptotic proteins.

Rapid identification of in vitro cell toxicity using an electrochemical membrane screening platform

This study compares the performance and output of an electrochemical phospholipid membrane platform against respective in vitro cell-based toxicity testing methods using three toxicants of different biological action (chlorpromazine (CPZ), colchicine (COL) and methyl methanesulphonate (MMS)). Human cell lines from seven different tissues (lung, liver, kidney, placenta, intestine, immune system) were used to validate this physicochemical testing system. For the cell-based systems, the effective concentration at 50 % cell death (EC₅₀) values are calculated. For the membrane sensor, a limit of detection (LoD) value was extracted as a quantitative parameter describing the minimum concentration of toxicant which significantly affects the structure of the phospholipid sensor membrane layer. LoD values were found to align well with the EC₅₀ values when acute cell viability was used as an end-point and showed a similar toxicity ranking of the tested toxicants. Using the colony forming efficiency (CFE) or DNA damage as end-point, a different order of toxicity ranking was observed. The results of this study showed that the electrochemical membrane sensor generates a parameter relating to biomembrane damage, which is the predominant factor in decreasing cell viability when in vitro models are acutely exposed to toxicants. These results lead the way to using electrochemical membrane-based sensors for rapid relevant preliminary toxicity screens.

Cell death, therapeutics, and the immune response in cancer

Induction of cell death is inexorably linked with cancer therapy, but this can also initiate wound-healing processes that have been linked to cancer progression and therapeutic resistance. Here we describe the contribution of apoptosis and the lytic cell death pathways in the response to therapy (including chemotherapy and immunotherapy). We also discuss how necroptosis, pyroptosis, and ferroptosis function to promote tumor immunogenicity, along with emerging findings that these same forms of death can paradoxically contribute to immune suppression and tumor progression. Understanding the duality of cell death in cancer may allow for the development of therapeutics that shift the balance towards regression.

Necroptosis: A Pathogenic Negotiator in Human Diseases

Over the past few decades, mechanisms of programmed cell death have attracted the scientific community because they are involved in diverse human diseases. Initially, apoptosis was considered as a crucial mechanistic pathway for programmed cell death; recently, an alternative regulated mode of cell death was identified, mimicking the features of both apoptosis and necrosis. Several lines of evidence have revealed that dysregulation of necroptosis leads to pathological diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular, lung, renal, hepatic, neurodegenerative, and inflammatory diseases. Regulated forms of necrosis are executed by death receptor ligands through the activation of receptor-interacting protein kinase (RIPK)-1/3 and mixed-lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL), resulting in the formation of a necrosome complex. Many papers based on genetic and pharmacological studies have shown that RIPKs and MLKL are the key regulatory effectors during the progression of multiple pathological diseases. This review focused on illuminating the mechanisms underlying necroptosis, the functions of necroptosis-associated proteins, and their influences on disease progression. We also discuss numerous natural and chemical compounds and novel targeted therapies that elicit beneficial roles of necroptotic cell death in malignant cells to bypass apoptosis and drug resistance and to provide suggestions for further research in this field.

Blocked metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 enhances chemosensitivity in hepatocellular carcinoma and attenuates chemotoxicity in the normal liver by regulating DNA damage

DNA damaging agents are used as chemotherapeutics in many cancers, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, they are associated with problems such as low sensitivity to chemotherapy and the induction of liver injury, underscoring the need to identify new therapies. Here, we investigated the differential regulatory effect of metabotropic glutamate receptor 5 (mGlu5) on chemosensitivity in HCC and chemotoxicity to the normal liver. The expression of mGlu5 was higher in HCC than in the normal liver, and correlated with poor prognosis according to The Cancer Genome Atlas database and Integrative Molecular Database of Hepatocellular Carcinoma. Cisplatin, oxaliplatin or methyl methanesulfonate (MMS) caused cell death by decreasing mGlu5 expression in HCC cells and increased mGlu5 expression in hepatic cells. In HCC cells, inhibition of mGlu5 aggravated MMS-induced DNA damage by increasing intracellular Ca2+ overload and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation, thereby promoting cell death, and activation of mGlu5 rescued the effect of MMS. However, in hepatic cells, mGlu5 inhibition alleviated MMS-induced DNA damage by downregulating Ca2+-derived MAPK pathways to advance hepatic cell survival. The opposite effects of mGlu5 overexpression or knockdown on MMS-induced DNA damage supported that cell death is a result of the differential regulation of mGlu5 expression. Inhibition of mGlu5 increased chemosensitivity and decreased chemotoxicity in a rat tumor model. This study suggests that mGlu5 inhibition could act synergistically with HCC chemotherapeutics with minimal side effects, which may improve the treatment of patients with HCC in the future.

Protective effect of kavain in meristematic cells of Allium cepa L

Kavain is one of the main kavalactones of Piper methysticum (Piperaceae) with anxiolytic, analgesic, and antioxidant activities. Therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate the cytotoxic, mutagenic, and antimutagenic potential of kavain in Allium cepa cells. Roots of A. cepa were transferred to the negative (2% acetone) and positive (10 µg/mL of Methylmethanesulfonate, MMS) controls and to the concentrations of kavain (32, 64 and 128 µg/mL) for 48 h. A total of 5,000 meristematic cells were analyzed under an optical microscope to determine the mitotic index, mean number of chromosomal alterations and percentage of damage reduction. Data were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis test (p <0.05). All concentrations of kavain were not cytotoxic and did not show significant chromosomal changes when compared to 2% acetone. Kavain showed a cytoprotective effect in the pre (128 μg/mL) and in the post-treatment (32 and 64 μg/mL) and reduced damage against the mutagenic action of MMS in all concentrations of the pre and simultaneous and at the highest of post (128 μg/mL). Kavain promoted a significant reduction in micronuclei, nuclear buds and chromosomal losses in relation to MMS. The observed data indicate the importance of kavain for the inhibition of damage and chemoprevention.

N6-isopentenyladenosine induces cell death through necroptosis in human glioblastoma cells

Targeting necroptosis is considered a promising therapeutic strategy in cancer, including Glioblastoma Multiforme (GBM), one of the most lethal brain tumors. Necroptosis is a mechanism of programmed cell death overcoming the apoptosis resistance mechanism underlying GBM tumorigenesis and malignant progression. N6-isopentenyladenosine (iPA), adenosine modified with isoprenoid derivative, displays antitumor activity in different cancer models. In previous studies, we demonstrated that iPA interferes with EGFR signaling reducing glioma cell viability. Here, we show that iPA induces necroptosis in glioblastoma cell lines and in primary cells established from tumor explants, without affecting the viability of non-cancerous brain cell lines, (Normal Human Astrocyte). The activation of RIP1, RIP3, and MLKL and the upregulation of necrosome formation were increased upon iPA treatment while caspase-3, caspase-8, and PARP were not activated in GBM cells. Co-treatment with specific necroptosis inhibitor necrostatin-1 (Nec-1) or Necrosulfonamide (NSA) prevented cell death caused by iPA treatment while the general caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-fluoromethylketone (z-VAD-fmk) did not elicit any effect, suggesting that this molecule induces caspase-independent necroptosis. These results suggest that iPA treatment can be able to bypass the apoptosis resistance mechanism in glioblastoma thereby offering higher therapeutic efficacy.

Artemisinin Binds and Inhibits the Activity of Plasmodium falciparum Ddi1, a Retroviral Aspartyl Protease

Reduced sensitivity of the human malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, to Artemisinin and its derivatives (ARTs) threatens the global efforts towards eliminating malaria. ARTs have been shown to cause ubiquitous cellular and genetic insults, which results in the activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathways. The UPR restores protein homeostasis, which otherwise would be toxic to cellular survival. Here, we interrogated the role of DNA-damage inducible protein 1 (PfDdi1), a unique proteasome-interacting retropepsin in mediating the actions of the ARTs. We demonstrate that PfDdi1 is an active A₂ family protease that hydrolyzes ubiquitinated proteasome substrates. Treatment of P. falciparum parasites with ARTs leads to the accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins in the parasites and blocks the destruction of ubiquitinated proteins by inhibiting the PfDdi1 protease activity. Besides, whereas the PfDdi1 is predominantly localized in the cytoplasm, exposure of the parasites to ARTs leads to DNA fragmentation and increased recruitment of the PfDdi1 into the nucleus. Furthermore, we show that Ddi1 knock-out Saccharomycescerevisiae cells are more susceptible to ARTs and the PfDdI1 protein robustly restores the corresponding functions in the knock-out cells. Together, these results show that ARTs act in multiple ways; by inducing DNA and protein damage and might be impairing the damage recovery by inhibiting the activity of PfDdi1, an essential ubiquitin-proteasome retropepsin.

Cytogenotoxicity and protective effect of piperine and capsaicin on meristematic cells of Allium cepa L

Piperine and capsaicin are important molecules with biological and pharmacological activities. This study aimed to evaluate the cytogenotoxic and protective effect of piperine and capsaicin on Allium cepa cells. A. cepa roots were exposed to negative (2% Dimethylsulfoxide) and positive (Methylmethanesulfonate, MMS, 10 µg/mL) controls, and four concentrations (25-200 µM) of piperine or capsaicin (alone) or associated before, simultaneously or after with the MMS. Only the lowest concentration of piperine (25 µM) showed a protective effect because it was not genotoxic. Piperine and capsaicin were cytotoxic (50, 100 and 200 µM). Piperine (50 to 200 µM) caused a significant increase in the total average of chromosomal alterations of in A. cepa cells. For capsaicin, the genotoxic effect was dose-dependent with a significant increase for all concentrations, highlighting the significant presence of micronuclei and nuclear buds for the two isolates. In general, bioactive compounds reduced the total average of chromosomal alterations against damage caused by MMS, mainly micronuclei and/or nuclear buds. Therefore, the two molecules were cytotoxic and genotoxic at the highest concentrations, and did not have cytoprotective action, and the lowest concentration of piperine demonstrated important chemopreventive activity.

Necroptosis triggered by ROS accumulation and Ca2+ overload, partly explains the inflammatory responses and anti-cancer effects associated with 1Hz, 100 mT ELF-MF in vivo

Whereas the anti-neoplastic activity of extremely low frequency magnetic fields (ELF-EMF) is well-documented in literature, little is known about its underlying anti-cancer mechanisms and induced types of cell death. Here, for the first time, we reported induction of necroptosis, a specific type of programed necrotic cell death, in MC4-L2 breast cancer cell lines following a 2 h/day exposure to a 100 Hz, 1 mT ELF-EMF for five days. For in vivo assessment, inbred BALB/c mice bearing established MC-4L2 tumors were exposed to 100 mT, 1 Hz ELF-EMF 2 h daily for a period of 28-day, following which tumors were dissected and fixed for evaluation of tumor biomarkers expression and types of cell death induced using TUNEL assay, Immunohistochemistry and H&E staining. Peripheral blood samples were also collected for assessing pro-inflammatory cytokine profile following exposure. An exaggerated proinflammatory response evident form enhancement of IFN-γ (4.8 ± 0.24 folds) and TNF-α (3.1 ± 0.19 folds) and number of tumors infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), specially CD8⁺ T_h cells (~20 folds), proposed occurrence of necroptosis in vivo. Meanwhile, exposure could effectively suppress tumor growth and expression of Ki-67, CD31, VEGFR2 and MMP-9. In vitro studies on ELF-EMF exposed MC-4L2 cells demonstrated a meaningful increase in phosphorylation of RIPK1/RIPK3/MLKL proteins and cleavage of caspase-9/caspase-3, confirming occurrence of both necroptosis and apoptosis. Complementary in vitro studies by treating ELF-EMF exposed MC-4L2 cells with verapamil (a calcium channel inhibitor), N-acetyl cysteine (a ROS scavenger) or calcium chloride confirmed the role of elevated intracellular calcium and ROS levels in ELF-EMF induced necroptosis.

Evaluation of the genotoxic and antigenotoxic potential of lignin-derivative BP-C2 in the comet assay in vivo

The genotoxic and antigenotoxic potential of BP-C2, a novel lignin-derived polyphenolic composition with ammonium molybdate, was investigated as a radioprotector/radiomitigator for civil applications and as a medical countermeasure for radiation emergencies. Using the alkaline comet assay and methyl methanesulfonate (MMS, 40 mg/kg) as the DNA-damaging agent, these effects of BP-C2 on liver, bone marrow cells and blood leukocytes in rats were studied. The DNA damage was estimated by the DNA content in the comet tail (TDNA, %) 1, 6 and 18 h post exposure to MMS. BP-C2 at doses of 20, 200 and 2000 mg/kg did not exert genotoxic activity in the tested tissues in rats. BP-C2 administered at doses of 20, 100 and 200 mg/kg 1 h before MMS significantly (p < 0.01) mitigated MMS-induced DNA damage, showing a strong genoprotective effect in the liver. In blood leukocytes and bone marrow samples of animals treated with BP-C2, the TDNA % was slightly higher than in the negative control (vehicle) but significantly lower than in the positive control (MMS). Thus, BP-C2 exerted a genoprotective effect against MMS-induced DNA damage to a greater extent towards liver cells, requiring further evaluation of this substance as a genoprotective agent.

Targeting necroptosis in anticancer therapy: mechanisms and modulators

Necroptosis, a genetically programmed form of necrotic cell death, serves as an important pathway in human diseases. As a critical cell-killing mechanism, necroptosis is associated with cancer progression, metastasis, and immunosurveillance. Targeting necroptosis pathway by small molecule modulators is emerging as an effective approach in cancer therapy, which has the advantage to bypass the apoptosis-resistance and maintain antitumor immunity. Therefore, a better understanding of the mechanism of necroptosis and necroptosis modulators is necessary to develop novel strategies for cancer therapy. This review will summarize recent progress of the mechanisms and detecting methods of necroptosis. In particular, the relationship between necroptosis and cancer therapy and medicinal chemistry of necroptosis modulators will be focused on.

Transcriptomic analysis reveals the oncogenic role of S6K1 in hepatocellular carcinoma

The p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1 (S6K1), a serine/threonine kinase, is commonly overexpressed in a variety of cancers. However, its expression level and functional roles in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which ranks as the third leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide, is still largely unknown. In the current report, we show the in vivo and in vitro overexpression of S6K1 in HCC. In the functional analysis, we demonstrate that S6K1 is required for the proliferation and colony formation abilities in HCC. By using comparative transcriptomic analysis followed by gene ontology enrichment analysis and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, we find that the depletion of S6K1 can elevate the expression of a cluster of apoptotic genes, tumor suppressor genes and immune responsive genes. Moreover, the knockdown of S6K1 is predicted to reduce the tumorigenicity of HCC through the regulation of hubs of genes including STAT1, HDAC4, CEBPA and ONECUT1. In conclusion, we demonstrate the oncogenic role of S6K1 in HCC, suggesting the possible use of S6K1 as a therapeutic target for HCC treatment.

Berberine attenuates XRCC1-mediated base excision repair and sensitizes breast cancer cells to the chemotherapeutic drugs

Berberine (BBR) is a natural isoquinoline alkaloid, which is used in traditional medicine for its anti‐microbial, anti‐protozoal, anti‐diarrhoeal activities. Berberine interacts with DNA and displays anti‐cancer activities, yet its effects on cellular DNA repair and on synthetic treatments with chemotherapeutic drugs remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of BBR on DNA repair and on sensitization of breast cancer cells to different types of DNA damage anti‐tumoural drugs. We found BBR arrested cells in the cell cycle S phase and induced DNA breaks. Cell growth analysis showed BBR sensitized MDA‐MB‐231 cells to cisplatin, camptothecin and methyl methanesulfonate; however, BBR had no synergistic effects with hydroxurea and olaparib. These results suggest BBR only affects specific DNA repair pathways. Western blot showed BBR down‐regulated XRCC1 expressions, and the rescued XRCC1 recovered the resistance of cancer cells to BBR. Therefore, we conclude that BBR interferes with XRCC1‐mediated base excision repair to sensitize cancer cells to chemotherapeutic drugs. These finding can contribute to understanding the effects of BBR on cellular DNA repair and the clinical employment of BBR in treatment of breast cancer.

Protective Effects of Silymarin and Silibinin against DNA Damage in Human Blood Cells

Silymarin (SM), a standardized extract derived from Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn, is primarily composed of flavonolignans, with silibinin (SB) as its major active constituent. The present study aimed to evaluate the antigenotoxic activities of SM and SB using the alkaline comet assay in whole blood cells and to assess their effects on the expression of genes associated with carcinogenesis and chemopreventive processes. Different concentrations of SM or SB (1.0, 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 mg/ml) were used in combination with the DNA damage-inducing agent methyl methanesulfonate (MMS, 800 μM) to evaluate their genoprotective potential. To investigate the role of SM and SB in modulating gene expression, we performed quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis of five genes that are known to be involved in DNA damage, carcinogenesis, and/or chemopreventive mechanisms. Treatment with SM or SB was found to significantly reduce the genotoxicity of MMS, upregulate the expression of PTEN and BCL2, and downregulate the expression of BAX and ABL1. We observed no significant changes in ETV6 expression levels following treatment with SM or SB. In conclusion, both SM and SB exerted antigenotoxic activities and modulated the expression of genes related to cell protection against DNA damage.

Selenoprotein S silencing triggers mouse hepatoma cells apoptosis and necrosis involving in intracellular calcium imbalance and ROS-mPTP-ATP

Selenoprotein S (SelenoS) is one of the cellular endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and membrane located selenoproteins, and it has the main functions of anti-oxidation, anti-apoptosis and anti-ER stress. To investigate the effect of SelenoS silencing on mouse hepatoma cell death and the intracellular biological function of SelenoS, we knocked down SelenoS in Hepa1-6 cells, and detected ER stress, intracellular calcium homeostasis, mitochondrial dynamics, apoptosis and necrosis. To further explore whether reactive oxygen species (ROS) has an effect on apoptosis and necrosis under SelenoS silencing, we used NAC (2.5 mM) to pretreat cells, and detected ΔΨm, ATP, and apoptosis and necrosis rates. SelenoS silencing broke the intracellular calcium homeostasis, induced mitochondrial dynamic disorder, ROS accumulation, loss of ΔΨm and ATP, and triggered apoptosis and necrosis in mouse hepatoma cells. The clearance of ROS alleviated the loss of ΔΨm and ATP caused by silencing of SelenoS, reduced cell necrosis and increased apoptosis. However, SelenoS silencing did not cause ER stress in Hepa1-6 cells. These results indicate that SelenoS silencing triggers mouse hepatoma cells apoptosis and necrosis through affecting intracellular calcium homeostasis and ROS-mPTP-ATP participates in cell death transformation from apoptosis to necrosis to rise damage.

Necroptosis in tumorigenesis, activation of anti-tumor immunity, and cancer therapy

While the mechanisms underlying apoptosis and autophagy have been well characterized over recent decades, another regulated cell death event, necroptosis, remains poorly understood. Elucidating the signaling networks involved in the regulation of necroptosis may allow this form of regulated cell death to be exploited for diagnosis and treatment of cancer, and will contribute to the understanding of the complex tumor microenvironment. In this review, we have summarized the mechanisms and regulation of necroptosis, the converging and diverging features of necroptosis in tumorigenesis, activation of anti-tumor immunity, and cancer therapy, as well as attempts to exploit this newly gained knowledge to provide therapeutics for cancer.

NADPH oxidase inhibitor, diphenyleneiodonium prevents necroptosis in HK-2 cells

The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effect of the NADPH oxidase inhibitor, diphenyleneiodonium (DPI) against necroptosis in renal tubular epithelial cells. A necroptosis model of HK-2 cells was established using tumor necrosis factor-α, benzyloxycarbonyl-Val-Ala-Asp-fluoromethylketone and antimycin A (collectively termed TZA), as in our previous research. The necroptosis inhibitor, necrostatin-1 (Nec-1) or the NADPH oxidase inhibitor, DPI were administered to the necroptosis model. Production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) was detected by dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate in the different groups, and the manner of cell death was identified by flow cytometry. Western blot analysis was used to determine the levels of phosphorylation of receptor-interacting protein kinase 3 (RIP-3) and mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL), which are essential to necroptosis. The results revealed that TZA increased the percentages of propidium iodide-positive HK-2 cells from 1.22±0.69 to 8.98±0.73% (P<0.001), and augmented the phosphorylation of RIP-3 and MLKL. ROS levels were increased in the TZA group compared with the control group (27.74±1.60×10⁴ vs. 18.51±1.10×10⁴, respectively; P<0.001), and could be inhibited by Nec-1 (TZA + Nec-1 group, 22.90±2.22×10⁴ vs. TZA group, 27.74±1.60×10⁴; P=0.01). DPI decreased ROS production (TZA + DPI group, 22.13±1.86×10⁴ vs. TZA group, 27.74±1.60×10⁴; P<0.001) and also reduced the proportions of necrosis in the necroptosis model (TZA + DPI group, 4.40±1.51% vs. TZA group, 8.98±0.73%; P<0.001). Phosphorylated RIP-3 and MLKL were also decreased by DPI treatment. The results indicate that ROS production increases in HK-2 cells undergoing necroptosis, and that the NADPH oxidase inhibitor, DPI may protect HK-2 cells from necroptosis via inhibition of ROS production.