Pharmacological significance of the non-canonical NF-κB pathway in tumorigenesis

Cancer chemoprevention: signaling pathways and strategic approaches

Although cancer chemopreventive agents have been confirmed to effectively protect high-risk populations from cancer invasion or recurrence, only over ten drugs have been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Therefore, screening potent cancer chemopreventive agents is crucial to reduce the constantly increasing incidence and mortality rate of cancer. Considering the lengthy prevention process, an ideal chemopreventive agent should be nontoxic, inexpensive, and oral. Natural compounds have become a natural treasure reservoir for cancer chemoprevention because of their superior ease of availability, cost-effectiveness, and safety. The benefits of natural compounds as chemopreventive agents in cancer prevention have been confirmed in various studies. In light of this, the present review is intended to fully delineate the entire scope of cancer chemoprevention, and primarily focuses on various aspects of cancer chemoprevention based on natural compounds, specifically focusing on the mechanism of action of natural compounds in cancer prevention, and discussing in detail how they exert cancer prevention effects by affecting classical signaling pathways, immune checkpoints, and gut microbiome. We also introduce novel cancer chemoprevention strategies and summarize the role of natural compounds in improving chemotherapy regimens. Furthermore, we describe strategies for discovering anticancer compounds with low abundance and high activity, revealing the broad prospects of natural compounds in drug discovery for cancer chemoprevention. Moreover, we associate cancer chemoprevention with precision medicine, and discuss the challenges encountered in cancer chemoprevention. Finally, we emphasize the transformative potential of natural compounds in advancing the field of cancer chemoprevention and their ability to introduce more effective and less toxic preventive options for oncology.

Special correlation between diet and MASLD: positive or negative?

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a chronic and systemic metabolic liver disease characterized by the presence of hepatic steatosis and at least one cardiometabolic risk factor (CMRF). The pathogenesis of MASLD involves multiple mechanisms, including lipid metabolism disorders, insulin resistance, inflammatory responses, and the hepato-intestinal axis of metabolic dysfunction. Among these factors, diet serves as both an inducement and a potential remedy in the disease's development. Notably, a high-lipid diet exacerbates fat accumulation, oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses, thereby promoting the progression of MASLD. Consequently, dietary induction models have become vital tools for studying the pathological mechanisms of MASLD, providing a foundation for identifying potential therapeutic targets. Additionally, we summarize the therapeutic effects of dietary optimization on MASLD and elucidate the role of specific dietary components in regulating the hepato-intestinal axis, lipid metabolism, and inhibiting inflammatory responses. In conclusion, studies utilizing animal models of MASLD offer significant insights into dietary therapy, particularly concerning the regulation of lipid metabolism-related and hepatoenteric axis-related signaling pathways as well as the beneficial mechanism of probiotics in hepatoenteric regulation. By understanding the specific mechanisms by which different dietary patterns affect MASLD, we can assess the clinical applicability of current dietary strategies and provide new directions for research and treatment aimed at disease modification.

Research Progress in In Vitro Screening Techniques for Natural Antithrombotic Medicines

Natural medicines play an indispensable role in treating thrombotic-related diseases and a thorough investigation of their material basis is crucial for medicine development. The rapid advancement in medicine-active component screening technologies has paved new avenues for studying natural medicines, holding significant theoretical and practical value. This review focuses on the application progress of multimodal screening technologies, including high-throughput screening, chip technology, molecular biology methods, fluorescence sensors, and computational biology, in the screening of anticoagulant medicines. The aim is to provide a reference framework for screening and validating active components in natural medicines. The early application of these technologies can swiftly assess the safety and efficacy of medicines, accelerating the medicine development process and reducing the failure rate in clinical trials. Nonetheless, the overall mechanisms of action of natural medicines and the correlation between their chemical components and thrombotic diseases remain challenging areas that require further in-depth exploration and technological innovation.

An updated review summarizing the anticancer potential of flavonoids via targeting NF-kB pathway

Nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) cell signaling pathway is essential for the progression and development of numerous human disorders, including cancer. NF-κB signaling pathway regulates a wide range of physiological processes, such as cell survival, growth, and migration. Deregulated NF-kB signaling resulted in unregulated cell proliferation, viability, movement, and invasion, thus promoting tumor development. Recent findings have increasingly shown that plant derived phytochemicals that inhibit NF-κB signaling have the potential to be employed in cancer therapeutics. Flavonoids are a group of polyphenolic natural compounds present in various plants and their fruits, vegetables, and leaves. These compounds have numerous medicinal properties owing to their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and antitumor characteristics. The main mechanism by which these flavonoids exhibit their anticancer potential is via potent antioxidative and immunomodulatory actions. Current research reports have demonstrated that these flavonoids exhibited their anticancer effects via suppressing the NF-κB signaling. Based on these facts, we have comprehensively outlined the cancer promoting role of NF-κB pathway in various processes including tumor progression, drug resistance, angiogenesis and metastasis. In addition to these, we also summarize the anticancer potential of flavonoids by specifically targeting the NF-κB pathway in various types of cancers.

SERPINA1 promotes the invasion, metastasis, and proliferation of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma via the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathway

Serpin peptidase inhibitor clade A member 1 (SERPINA1) is highly expressed in a variety of solid tumors. However, its role in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains unclear. Here, we report evidence that SERPINA1 acts as a potent oncogene to drive its extremely malignant character. We found that elevated SERPINA1 expression in primary tumors was associated with lymph node metastasis and shorter survival in PDAC patients. Mechanistic investigations revealed that overexpression of SERPINA1 induced nuclear translocation and phosphorylation of the p65 subunit through the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathway, thereby promoting the invasion, metastasis and proliferation of PDAC cells in vitro and in vivo. Conversely, the knockdown of SERPINA1 attenuated this signaling pathway and restored the phenotype of PDAC cells overexpressing SERPINA1. Overall, our study reveals that SERPINA1 affects the properties of PDAC through the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathway, and its activation confers the clinical features of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and proliferation in the disease.

Deubiquitinases as novel therapeutic targets for diseases

Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) regulate substrate ubiquitination by removing ubiquitin or cleaving within ubiquitin chains, thereby maintaining cellular homeostasis. Approximately 100 DUBs in humans counteract E3 ubiquitin ligases, finely balancing ubiquitination and deubiquitination processes to maintain cellular proteostasis and respond to various stimuli and stresses. Given their role in modulating ubiquitination levels of various substrates, DUBs are increasingly linked to human health and disease. Here, we review the DUB family, highlighting their distinctive structural characteristics and chain-type specificities. We show that DUB family members regulate key signaling pathways, such as NF-κB, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, and MAPK, and play crucial roles in tumorigenesis and other diseases (neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular diseases, inflammatory disorders, and developmental diseases), making them promising therapeutic targets Our review also discusses the challenges in developing DUB inhibitors and underscores the critical role of the DUBs in cellular signaling and cancer. This comprehensive analysis enhances our understanding of the complex biological functions of the DUBs and underscores their therapeutic potential.

The noncanonical NFκB pathway: Regulatory mechanisms in health and disease

The noncanonical NFκB signaling pathway mediates the biological functions of diverse cell survival, growth, maturation, and differentiation factors that are important for the development and maintenance of hematopoietic cells and immune organs. Its dysregulation is associated with a number of immune pathologies and malignancies. Originally described as the signaling pathway that controls the NFκB family member RelB, we now know that noncanonical signaling also controls NFκB RelA and cRel. Here, we aim to clarify our understanding of the molecular network that mediates noncanonical NFκB signaling and review the human diseases that result from a deficient or hyper-active noncanonical NFκB pathway. It turns out that dysregulation of RelA and cRel, not RelB, is often implicated in mediating the resulting pathology. This article is categorized under: Immune System Diseases > Molecular and Cellular Physiology Cancer > Molecular and Cellular Physiology Immune System Diseases > Stem Cells and Development.

Noncoding RNAs in rheumatoid arthritis: modulators of the NF-κB signaling pathway and therapeutic implications

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease that causes joint inflammation and gradual tissue destruction. New research has shown how important noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are for changing immune and inflammatory pathways, such as the WNT signaling pathway, which is important for activating synovial fibroblasts and osteoblasts to work. This article examines the current understanding of several ncRNAs, such as miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs, that influence NF-κB signaling in the pathogenesis of RA. We investigate how these ncRNAs impact NF-κB signaling components, altering cell proliferation, differentiation, and death in joint tissues. The paper also looks at how ncRNAs can be used as potential early detection markers and therapeutic targets in RA because they can change important pathogenic pathways. This study highlights the therapeutic potential of targeting ncRNAs in RA therapy techniques, with the goal of reducing inflammation and stopping disease progression. This thorough analysis opens up new possibilities for understanding the molecular foundations of RA and designing novel ncRNA-based treatments.

ACSL6-activated IL-18R1-NF-κB promotes IL-18-mediated tumor immune evasion and tumor progression

Aberrant activation of IL-18 signaling regulates tumor immune evasion and progression. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Here, we report that long-chain acyl-CoA synthase 6 (ACSL6) is highly expressed in liver cancer and correlated with poor prognosis. ACSL6 promotes tumor growth, metastasis, and immune evasion mediated by IL-18, independent of its metabolic enzyme activity. Mechanistically, upon IL-18 stimulation, ACSL6 is phosphorylated by ERK2 at S674 and recruits IL-18RAP to interact with IL-18R1, thereby reinforcing the IL-18R1-IL-18RAP heterodimer and triggering NF-κB-dependent gene expression to facilitate tumor development. Furthermore, the up-regulation of CXCL1 and CXCL5 by ACSL6 promotes tumor-associated neutrophil and tumor-associated macrophage recruitment, thereby inhibiting cytotoxic CD8+ T cell infiltration. Ablation or S674A mutation of ACSL6 potentiated anti-PD-1 therapeutic efficacy by increasing the effector activity of intertumoral CD8+ T cells. We revealed that ACSL6 is a potential adaptor that activates IL-18-NF-κB axis-mediated tumor immune evasion and provides valuable insights for developing effective immunotherapy strategies for cancer.

Se-methylselenocysteine inhibits the progression of non-small cell lung cancer via ROS-mediated NF-κB signaling pathway

Se-methylselenocysteine (MSC) is recognized for its potential in cancer prevention, yet the specific effects and underlying processes it initiates within non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain to be fully delineated. Employing a comprehensive array of assays, including CCK-8, colony formation, flow cytometry, MitoSOX Red staining, wound healing, transwell, and TUNEL staining, we evaluated MSC's effects on A549 and 95D cell lines. Our investigation extended to the ROS-mediated NF-κB signaling pathway, utilizing Western blot analysis, P65 overexpression, and the application of IκB-α inhibitor (BAY11-7082) or N-acetyl-cysteine (NAC) to elucidate MSC's mechanism of action. In vivo studies involving subcutaneous xenografts in mice further confirmed MSC's inhibitory effect on tumor growth. Our findings indicated that MSC inhibited the proliferation of A549 and 95D cells, arresting cell cycle G0/G1 phase and reducing migration and invasion, while also inducing apoptosis and increasing intracellular ROS levels. This was accompanied by modulation of key proteins, including the upregulation of p21, p53, E-cadherin, Bax, cleaved caspase-3, cleaved-PARP, and downregulation of CDK4, SOD2, GPX-1. MSC was found to inhibit the NF-κB pathway, as evidenced by decreased levels of P-P65 and P-IκBα. Notably, overexpression of P65 and modulation of ROS levels with NAC could attenuate MSC's effects on cellular proliferation and metastasis. Moreover, MSC significantly curtailed tumor growth in vivo and disrupted the NF-κB signaling pathway. In conclusion, our research demonstrates that MSC exhibits anticancer effects against NSCLC by modulating the ROS/NF-κB signaling pathway, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic agent in NSCLC treatment.

HMMR triggers immune evasion of hepatocellular carcinoma by inactivation of phagocyte killing

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) acquires an immunosuppressive microenvironment, leading to unbeneficial therapeutic outcomes. Hyaluronan-mediated motility receptor (HMMR) plays a crucial role in tumor progression. Here, we found that aberrant expression of HMMR could be a predictive biomarker for the immune suppressive microenvironment of HCC, but the mechanism remains unclear. We established an HMMR-/- liver cancer mouse model to elucidate the HMMR-mediated mechanism of the dysregulated "don't eat me" signal. HMMR knockout inhibited liver cancer growth and induced phagocytosis. HMMRhigh liver cancer cells escaped from phagocytosis via sustaining CD47 signaling. Patients with HMMRhighCD47high expression showed a worse prognosis than those with HMMRlowCD47low expression. HMMR formed a complex with FAK/SRC in the cytoplasm to activate NF-κB signaling, which could be independent of membrane interaction with CD44. Notably, targeting HMMR could enhance anti-PD-1 treatment efficiency by recruiting CD8+ T cells. Overall, our data revealed a regulatory mechanism of the "don't eat me" signal and knockdown of HMMR for enhancing anti-PD-1 treatment.

Shaping DNA damage responses: Therapeutic potential of targeting telomeric proteins and DNA repair factors in cancer

Shelterin proteins regulate genomic stability by preventing inappropriate DNA damage responses (DDRs) at telomeres. Unprotected telomeres lead to persistent DDR causing cell cycle inhibition, growth arrest, and apoptosis. Cancer cells rely on DDR to protect themselves from DNA lesions and exogenous DNA-damaging agents such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Therefore, targeting DDR machinery is a promising strategy to increase the sensitivity of cancer cells to existing cancer therapies. However, the success of these DDR inhibitors depends on other mutations, and over time, patients develop resistance to these therapies. This suggests the need for alternative approaches. One promising strategy is co-inhibiting shelterin proteins with DDR molecules, which would offset cellular fitness in DNA repair in a mutation-independent manner. This review highlights the associations and dependencies of the shelterin complex with the DDR proteins and discusses potential co-inhibition strategies that might improve the therapeutic potential of current inhibitors.

Brassinin alleviates cancer cachexia by suppressing diverse inflammatory mechanisms in mice

Cancer cachexia is a multifactorial condition that contributes to the death of about 20% of cancer patients. It has the potential to cause weight loss, reduction in muscle mass, and loss of fat tissue, significantly lowering the quality of life. Currently, there are no approved drugs for cancer cachexia. Here, we have explored the possible impact of brassinin (BSN) on cancer cachexia under in vitro and in vivo settings. After differentiation, C2C12 and 3T3-L1 cells were incubated with colorectal carcinoma cells conditioned media or BSN. For preclinical studies, mice were injected with HT-29 cells followed by intraperitoneal administration of BSN, and muscle and adipose tissues were evaluated by Western blotting and hematoxylin and eosin staining. BSN effectively suppressed muscle atrophy by down-regulating the levels of Muscle RING-finger protein-1 and Atrogin-1, while also increasing the expression of myosin heavy chain in cachexia-induced-C2C12 myotubes. The induction of adipogenesis by BSN prevented adipocyte atrophy in cachexia-induced 3T3-L1 adipocytes. We also noted that BSN disrupted the interaction between COX-2 and signaling transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) promoter, leading to down-regulation of STAT3 activation. Moreover, it was found that BSN inhibited weight loss in mice and demonstrated anti-cachexic effects. Overall, our observations indicate that BSN can attenuate cancer cachexia through diverse mechanisms.

Tumour microenvironment programming by an RNA-RNA-binding protein complex creates a druggable vulnerability in IDH-wild-type glioblastoma

Patients with IDH-wild-type glioblastomas have a poor five-year survival rate along with limited treatment efficacy due to immune cell (glioma-associated microglia and macrophages) infiltration promoting tumour growth and resistance. To enhance therapeutic options, our study investigated the unique RNA-RNA-binding protein complex LOC-DHX15. This complex plays a crucial role in driving immune cell infiltration and tumour growth by establishing a feedback loop between cancer and immune cells, intensifying cancer aggressiveness. Targeting this complex with blood-brain barrier-permeable small molecules improved treatment efficacy, disrupting cell communication and impeding cancer cell survival and stem-like properties. Focusing on RNA-RNA-binding protein interactions emerges as a promising approach not only for glioblastomas without the IDH mutation but also for potential applications beyond cancer, offering new avenues for developing therapies that address intricate cellular relationships in the body.

Bilirubin ameliorates osteoarthritis via activating Nrf2/HO-1 pathway and suppressing NF-κB signalling

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic degenerative joint disease that affects worldwide. Oxidative stress plays a critical role in the chronic inflammation and OA progression. Scavenging overproduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) could be rational strategy for OA treatment. Bilirubin (BR) is a potent endogenous antioxidant that can scavenge various ROS and also exhibit anti-inflammatory effects. However, whether BR could exert protection on chondrocytes for OA treatment has not yet been elucidated. Here, chondrocytes were exposed to hydrogen peroxide with or without BR treatment. The cell viability was assessed, and the intracellular ROS, inflammation cytokines were monitored to indicate the state of chondrocytes. In addition, BR was also tested on LPS-treated Raw264.7 cells to test the anti-inflammation property. An in vitro bimimic OA microenvironment was constructed by LPS-treated Raw264.7 and chondrocytes, and BR also exert certain protection for chondrocytes by activating Nrf2/HO-1 pathway and suppressing NF-κB signalling. An ACLT-induced OA model was constructed to test the in vivo therapeutic efficacy of BR. Compared to the clinical used HA, BR significantly reduced cartilage degeneration and delayed OA progression. Overall, our data shows that BR has a protective effect on chondrocytes and can delay OA progression caused by oxidative stress.

Molecular Pathogenesis of Multiple Myeloma: Clinical Implications

Multiple myeloma is a malignancy of bone-marrow-localized, isotype-switched plasma cells that secrete a monoclonal immunoglobulin and cause hyperCalcemia, Anemia, Renal failure, and lytic Bone disease. It is preceded, often for decades, by a relatively stable monoclonal gammopathy lacking these clinical and malignant features. Both conditions are characterized by the presence of types of immunoglobulin heavy gene translocations that dysregulate a cyclin D family gene on 11q13 (CCND1), 6p21 (CCND3), or 12q11 (CCND2), a maf family gene on 16q23 (MAF), 20q11 (MAFB), or 8q24 (MAFA), or NSD2/FGFR3 on 4p16, or the presence of hyperdiploidy. Subsequent loss of function of tumor suppressor genes and mutations activating MYC, RAS, NFkB, and cell cycle pathways are associated with the progression to malignant disease.

TNF-α induced NF-κB mediated LYRM7 expression modulates the tumor growth and metastatic ability in breast cancer

Tumor microenvironment (TME) of solid tumors including breast cancer is complex and contains a distinct cytokine pattern including TNF-α, which determines the progression and metastasis of breast tumors. The metastatic potential of triple negative breast cancer subtypes is high as compared to other subtypes of breast cancer. NF-κB is key transcription factor regulating inflammation and mitochondrial bioenergetics including oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) genes which determine its oxidative capacity and generating reducing equivalents for synthesis of key metabolites for proliferating breast cancer cells. The differential metabolic adaptation and OXPHOS function of breast cancer subtypes in inflammatory conditions and its contribution to metastasis is not well understood. Here we demonstrated that different subunits of NF-κB are differentially expressed in subtypes of breast cancer patients. RELA, one of the major subunits in regulation of the NF-κB pathway is positively correlated with high level of TNF-α in breast cancer patients. TNF-α induced NF-κB regulates the expression of LYRM7, an assembly factor for mitochondrial complex III. Downregulation of LYRM7 in MDA-MB-231 cells decreases mitochondrial super complex assembly and enhances ROS levels, which increases the invasion and migration potential of these cells. Further, in vivo studies using Infliximab, a monoclonal antibody against TNF-α showed decreased expression of LYRM7 in tumor tissue. Large scale breast cancer databases and human patient samples revealed that LYRM7 levels decreased in triple negative breast cancer patients compared to other subtypes and is determinant of survival outcome in patients. Our results indicate that TNF-α induced NF-κB is a critical regulator of LYRM7, a major factor for modulating mitochondrial functions under inflammatory conditions, which determines growth and survival of breast cancer cells.

Methyl-Thiol-Bridged Oxadiazole and Triazole Heterocycles as Inhibitors of NF-κB in Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Cells

Nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-κB) is a transcriptional factor that plays a crucial role in regulating cancer cell proliferation. Therefore, the inhibition of NF-κB activity by small molecules may be beneficial in cancer therapy. In this report, methyl-thiol-bridged oxadiazole and triazole heterocycles were synthesized via click chemistry and it was observed that the lead structure, 2-(((1-(3,4-dichlorophenyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)methyl)thio)-5-(4-methoxybenzyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (4c), reduced the viability of MCF-7 cells with an IC₅₀ value of 7.4 µM. Compound 4c also caused concentration-dependent loss of cell viability in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) cells. Furthermore, compound 4c inhibited the activation of NF-κB in human CML cells as observed by nuclear translocation and DNA binding assays. Functionally, compound 4c produced PARP cleavage and also suppressed expression of Bcl-2/xl, MMP-9, COX-2, survivin, as well as VEGF, resulting in apoptosis of CML cells. Moreover, ChIP assay showed that compound 4c decreased the binding of COX-2 to the p65 gene promoter. Detailed in silico analysis also indicated that compound 4c targeted NF-κB in CML cells. In conclusion, a novel structure bearing both triazole and oxadiazole moieties has been identified that can target NF-κB in CML cells and may constitute a potential novel drug candidate.

Baicalein as Promising Anticancer Agent: A Comprehensive Analysis on Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Perspectives

Despite significant therapeutic advancements for cancer, an atrocious global burden (for example, health and economic) and radio- and chemo-resistance limit their effectiveness and result in unfavorable health consequences. Natural compounds are generally considered safer than synthetic drugs, and their use in cancer treatment alone, or in combination with conventional therapies, is increasingly becoming accepted. Interesting outcomes from pre-clinical trials using Baicalein in combination with conventional medicines have been reported, and some of them have also undergone clinical trials in later stages. As a result, we investigated the prospects of Baicalein, a naturally occurring substance extracted from the stems of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi and Oroxylum indicum Kurz, which targets a wide range of molecular changes that are involved in cancer development. In other words, this review is primarily driven by the findings from studies of Baicalein therapy in several cancer cell populations based on promising pre-clinical research. The modifications of numerous signal transduction mechanisms and transcriptional agents have been highlighted as the major players for Baicalein's anti-malignant properties at the micro level. These include AKT serine/threonine protein kinase B (AKT) as well as PI3K/Akt/mTOR, matrix metalloproteinases-2 & 9 (MMP-2 & 9), Wnt/-catenin, Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), NF-κB, Caspase-3/8/9, Smad4, Notch 1/Hes, Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)/Kelch-like ECH-associated protein-1 (Keap 1), Adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), Src/Id1, ROS signaling, miR 183/ezrin, and Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling cascades. The promise of Baicalein as an anti-inflammatory to anti-apoptotic/anti-angiogenic/anti-metastatic medicinal element for treating various malignancies and its capability to inhibit malignant stem cells, evidence of synergistic effects, and design of nanomedicine-based drugs are altogether well supported by the data presented in this review study.

Mechanism of epithelial-mesenchymal transition in cancer and its regulation by natural compounds

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a complex process with a primordial role in cellular transformation whereby an epithelial cell transforms and acquires a mesenchymal phenotype. This transformation plays a pivotal role in tumor progression and self-renewal, and exacerbates resistance to apoptosis and chemotherapy. EMT can be initiated and promoted by deregulated oncogenic signaling pathways, hypoxia, and cells in the tumor microenvironment, resulting in a loss-of-epithelial cell polarity, cell-cell adhesion, and enhanced invasive/migratory properties. Numerous transcriptional regulators, such as Snail, Slug, Twist, and ZEB1/ZEB2 induce EMT through the downregulation of epithelial markers and gain-of-expression of the mesenchymal markers. Additionally, signaling cascades such as Wnt/β-catenin, Notch, Sonic hedgehog, nuclear factor kappa B, receptor tyrosine kinases, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, Hippo, and transforming growth factor-β pathways regulate EMT whereas they are often deregulated in cancers leading to aberrant EMT. Furthermore, noncoding RNAs, tumor-derived exosomes, and epigenetic alterations are also involved in the modulation of EMT. Therefore, the regulation of EMT is a vital strategy to control the aggressive metastatic characteristics of tumor cells. Despite the vast amount of preclinical data on EMT in cancer progression, there is a lack of clinical translation at the therapeutic level. In this review, we have discussed thoroughly the role of the aforementioned transcription factors, noncoding RNAs (microRNAs, long noncoding RNA, circular RNA), signaling pathways, epigenetic modifications, and tumor-derived exosomes in the regulation of EMT in cancers. We have also emphasized the contribution of EMT to drug resistance and possible therapeutic interventions using plant-derived natural products, their semi-synthetic derivatives, and nano-formulations that are described as promising EMT blockers.

Long noncoding RNAs induced control of ferroptosis: Implications in cancer progression and treatment

A novel kind of nonapoptotic, iron-dependent cell death brought on by lipid peroxidation is known as ferroptosis. Numerous pathological processes, including neurotoxicity, neurological disorders, ischemia-reperfusion damage, and particularly cancer, have been demonstrated to be influenced by changes in the ferroptosis-regulating network. Recent studies have established the critical roles that ferroptosis can play in cancer development and the evolution of resistance to standard chemoradiotherapy, thus suggesting that ferroptosis may be a feasible therapeutic strategy for cancer management. Gene expression may be regulated at the transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels by long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs). They have been implicated in tumorigenesis. Some lncRNAs participate in the biological process of ferroptosis, which represents an exciting alternative to regulate ferroptosis as a means of cancer therapy. Even though there is evidence that lncRNAs have a mechanistic role in the ferroptosis of cancer cells, research on the mechanism and potential treatments for these lncRNAs is still lacking. We elucidate the potential mechanisms by which lncRNAs modulate ferroptosis in cancer and examine the promise and challenges of employing lncRNAs as novel therapeutic targets in cancer.

Brassinin Induces Apoptosis, Autophagy, and Paraptosis via MAPK Signaling Pathway Activation in Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia Cells

Brassinin (BSN), a potent phytoalexin found in cruciferous vegetables, has been found to exhibit diverse anti-neoplastic effects on different cancers. However, the impact of BSN on chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) cells and the possible mode of its actions have not been described earlier. We investigated the anti-cytotoxic effects of BSN on the KBM5, KCL22, K562, and LAMA84 CML cells and its underlying mechanisms of action in inducing programmed cell death. We noted that BSN could induce apoptosis, autophagy, and paraptosis in CML cells. BSN induced PARP cleavage, subG1 peak increase, and early apoptosis. The potential action of BSN on autophagy activation was confirmed by an LC3 expression and acridine orange assay. In addition, BSN induced paraptosis through increasing the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, mitochondria damage, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Moreover, BSN promoted the activation of the MAPK signaling pathway, and pharmacological inhibitors of this signaling pathway could alleviate all three forms of cell death induced by BSN. Our data indicated that BSN could initiate the activation of apoptosis, autophagy, and paraptosis through modulating the MAPK signaling pathway.

Withaferin A: A Pleiotropic Anticancer Agent from the Indian Medicinal Plant Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal

Cancer represents the second most deadly disease and one of the most important public health concerns worldwide. Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immune therapy are the major types of treatment strategies that have been implemented in cancer treatment. Unfortunately, these treatment options suffer from major limitations, such as drug-resistance and adverse effects, which may eventually result in disease recurrence. Many phytochemicals have been investigated for their antitumor efficacy in preclinical models and clinical studies to discover newer therapeutic agents with fewer adverse effects. Withaferin A, a natural bioactive molecule isolated from the Indian medicinal plant Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, has been reported to impart anticancer activities against various cancer cell lines and preclinical cancer models by modulating the expression and activity of different oncogenic proteins. In this article, we have comprehensively discussed the biosynthesis of withaferin A as well as its antineoplastic activities and mode-of-action in in vitro and in vivo settings. We have also reviewed the effect of withaferin A on the expression of miRNAs, its combinational effect with other cytotoxic agents, withaferin A-based formulations, safety and toxicity profiles, and its clinical potential.

Exploring the Core Prescription and Underlying Mechanism of Traditional Chinese Medicine in Treating Allergic Rhinitis in Children: A Real- World Study Based on an Illustrious Senior Traditional Chinese Medicine Practitioner

BACKGROUND

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is widely used to treat allergic rhinitis (AR) in China, especially in children. However, due to the complicated composition rules and unclear underlying mechanisms, effective herbal prescriptions' popularization and application are limited.

PURPOSE

This study tried to detect the core prescription of herbs in treating AR in children, reveal its mechanism based on the ingredients' network, and explore the main signaling pathways.

METHODS

We screened medical records of children patients with AR who were treated by TCM in DongZhiMen Hospital from Aug 2009 to Jan 2020 and adopted a descriptive analysis method on herbal characteristics. We used association rules to mine core prescriptions and used network pharmacology to establish the ingredient-target-pathway network through online databases and TCMSP, Genecards, KEGG pathway, Excel, R-Studio, and Cytoscape software.

RESULTS

The analysis of 1,092 clinical visits highlighted that the principle of formulating prescription was as follows: 'pungent and warm herbs were used more frequently while cold-natured herbs were paid equal attention as warm-natured herbs.' The core prescription was formed by FangFeng, BaiZhi, CangErzi, and ChanTui. These herbs covered 130 underlying targets and 141 signaling pathways of AR, which mainly had an effect on signal transduction and immunoregulation.

CONCLUSION

The core prescription based on these real-world clinical records includes FangFeng, BaiZhi, CangErzi, and ChanTui. It principally acts on targets of signal transduction pathways and immune pathways.

Molecular mechanisms behind ROS regulation in cancer: A balancing act between augmented tumorigenesis and cell apoptosis

ROS include hydroxyl radicals (HO.), superoxide (O2..), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). ROS are typically produced under physiological conditions and play crucial roles in living organisms. It is known that ROS, which are created spontaneously by cells through aerobic metabolism in mitochondria, can have either a beneficial or detrimental influence on biological systems. Moderate levels of ROS can cause oxidative damage to proteins, DNA and lipids, which can aid in the pathogenesis of many disorders, including cancer. However, excessive concentrations of ROS can initiate programmed cell death in cancer. Presently, a variety of chemotherapeutic drugs and herbal agents are being investigated to induce ROS-mediated cell death in cancer. Therefore, preserving ROS homeostasis is essential for ensuring normal cell development and survival. On account of a significant association of ROS levels at various concentrations with carcinogenesis in a number of malignancies, further studies are needed to determine the underlying molecular mechanisms and develop the possibilities for intervening in these processes.

Cucurbitacins as Potent Chemo-Preventive Agents: Mechanistic Insight and Recent Trends

Cucurbitacins constitute a group of cucumber-derived dietary lipids, highly oxidized tetracyclic triterpenoids, with potential medical uses. These compounds are known to interact with a variety of recognized cellular targets to impede the growth of cancer cells. Accumulating evidence has suggested that inhibition of tumor cell growth via induction of apoptosis, cell-cycle arrest, anti-metastasis and anti-angiogenesis are major promising chemo-preventive actions of cucurbitacins. Cucurbitacins may be a potential choice for investigations of synergism with other drugs to reverse cancer cells' treatment resistance. The detailed molecular mechanisms underlying these effects include interactions between cucurbitacins and numerous cellular targets (Bcl-2/Bax, caspases, STAT3, cyclins, NF-κB, COX-2, MMP-9, VEGF/R, etc.) as well as control of a variety of intracellular signal transduction pathways. The current study is focused on the efforts undertaken to find possible molecular targets for cucurbitacins in suppressing diverse malignant processes. The review is distinctive since it presents all potential molecular targets of cucurbitacins in cancer on one common podium.

Nimbolide enhances the antitumor effect of docetaxel via abrogation of the NF-κB signaling pathway in prostate cancer preclinical models

Prostate cancer is the second most frequent type of cancer that affects men. Docetaxel (DTX) administration is the front-line therapy for patients with advanced prostate cancer and unfortunately, half of these patients develop resistance to DTX which could be due to its ability to activate the NF-κB pathway. The combinational effect of DTX and nimbolide on proliferation, apoptosis, activation of NF-κB, DNA binding ability of NF-κB, and expression of NF-κB-targeted gene products was investigated. The antitumor and antimetastatic effect of DTX or NL alone or in combination was also examined. The co-administration of NL and DTX resulted in a significant loss of cell viability with enhanced apoptosis in DTX-sensitive/resistant prostate cancer cells. NL abrogated DTX-triggered NF-κB activation and expression of its downstream antiapoptotic factors (survivin, Bcl-2, and XIAP). The combination of NL and DTX significantly reduced the DNA binding ability of NF-κB in both cell types. NL significantly enhanced the antitumor effect of DTX and reduced metastases in orthotopic models of prostate cancer. NL abolishes DTX-induced-NF-κB activation to counteract cell proliferation, tumor growth, and metastasis in the prostate cancer models.

Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.)-Derived Phytochemicals Target Multiple Signaling Pathways to Confer Oncopreventive and Oncotherapeutic Effects

Cancer is a highly lethal disease, and its incidence has rapidly increased worldwide over the past few decades. Although chemotherapeutics and surgery are widely used in clinical settings, they are often insufficient to provide the cure for cancer patients. Hence, more effective treatment options are highly needed. Although licorice has been used as a medicinal herb since ancient times, the knowledge about molecular mechanisms behind its diverse bioactivities is still rather new. In this review article, different anticancer properties (antiproliferative, antiangiogenic, antimetastatic, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory effects) of various bioactive constituents of licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.) are thoroughly described. Multiple licorice constituents have been shown to bind to and inhibit the activities of various cellular targets, including B-cell lymphoma 2, cyclin-dependent kinase 2, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinases, mammalian target of rapamycin, nuclear factor-κB, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, vascular endothelial growth factor, and matrix metalloproteinase-3, resulting in reduced carcinogenesis in several in vitro and in vivo models with no evident toxicity. Emerging evidence is bringing forth licorice as an anticancer agent as well as bottlenecks in its potential clinical application. It is expected that overcoming toxicity-related obstacles by using novel nanotechnological methods might importantly facilitate the use of anticancer properties of licorice-derived phytochemicals in the future. Therefore, anticancer studies with licorice components must be continued. Overall, licorice could be a natural alternative to the present medication for eradicating new emergent illnesses while having just minor side effects.

A comprehensive review of the multifaceted role of the microbiota in human pancreatic carcinoma

Pancreatic carcinoma is associated with one of the worst clinical outcomes throughout the globe because of its aggressive, metastatic, and drug-resistant nature. During the past decade, several studies have shown that oral, gut, and tumor microbiota play a critical role in the modulation of metabolism and immune responses. Growing pieces of evidence have proved beyond a doubt that the microbiota has a unique ability to influence the tumor microenvironment as well as the metabolism of chemotherapeutic agents or drugs. Given this, microbiota, known as the ecological community of microorganisms, stands to be an avenue of quality research. In this review, we provide detailed and critical information on the role of oral, gut, and pancreatic microbiota disruptions in the development of pancreatic carcinoma. Moreover, we comprehensively discuss the different types of microbiota, their potential role, and mechanism associated with pancreatic carcinoma. The microbiome provides the unique opportunity to enhance the effectiveness of chemotherapeutic agents and immunotherapies for pancreatic cancer by maintaining the right type of microbiota and holds a promising future to enhance the clinical outcomes of patients with pancreatic carcinoma.

Resveratrol in breast cancer treatment: from cellular effects to molecular mechanisms of action

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common cancers in females and is responsible for the highest cancer-related deaths following lung cancer. The complex tumor microenvironment and the aggressive behavior, heterogenous nature, high proliferation rate, and ability to resist treatment are the most well-known features of BC. Accordingly, it is critical to find an effective therapeutic agent to overcome these deleterious features of BC. Resveratrol (RES) is a polyphenol and can be found in common foods, such as pistachios, peanuts, bilberries, blueberries, and grapes. It has been used as a therapeutic agent for various diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, inflammation, and cancer. The anticancer mechanisms of RES in regard to breast cancer include the inhibition of cell proliferation, and reduction of cell viability, invasion, and metastasis. In addition, the synergistic effects of RES in combination with other chemotherapeutic agents, such as docetaxel, paclitaxel, cisplatin, and/or doxorubicin may contribute to enhancing the anticancer properties of RES on BC cells. Although, it demonstrates promising therapeutic features, the low water solubility of RES limits its use, suggesting the use of delivery systems to improve its bioavailability. Several types of nano drug delivery systems have therefore been introduced as good candidates for RES delivery. Due to RES's promising potential as a chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic agent for BC, this review aims to explore the anticancer mechanisms of RES using the most up to date research and addresses the effects of using nanomaterials as delivery systems to improve the anticancer properties of RES.

Curcumin in the treatment of urological cancers: Therapeutic targets, challenges and prospects

Urological cancers include bladder, prostate and renal cancers that can cause death in males and females. Patients with urological cancers are mainly diagnosed at an advanced disease stage when they also develop resistance to therapy or poor response. The use of natural products in the treatment of urological cancers has shown a significant increase. Curcumin has been widely used in cancer treatment due to its ability to trigger cell death and suppress metastasis. The beneficial effects of curcumin in the treatment of urological cancers is the focus of current review. Curcumin can induce apoptosis in the three types of urological cancers limiting their proliferative potential. Furthermore, curcumin can suppress invasion of urological cancers through EMT inhibition. Notably, curcumin decreases the expression of MMPs, therefore interfering with urological cancer metastasis. When used in combination with chemotherapy agents, curcumin displays synergistic effects in suppressing cancer progression. It can also be used as a chemosensitizer. Based on pre-clinical studies, curcumin administration is beneficial in the treatment of urological cancers and future clinical applications might be considered upon solving problems related to the poor bioavailability of the compound. To improve the bioavailability of curcumin and increase its therapeutic index in urological cancer suppression, nanostructures have been developed to favor targeted delivery.

Circular RNAs Involved in the Regulation of the Age-Related Pathways

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are a class of covalently circular noncoding RNAs that have been extensively studied in recent years. Aging is a process related to functional decline that is regulated by signal transduction. An increasing number of studies suggest that circRNAs can regulate aging and multiple age-related diseases through their involvement in age-related signaling pathways. CircRNAs perform several biological functions, such as acting as miRNA sponges, directly interacting with proteins, and regulating transcription and translation to proteins or peptides. Herein, we summarize research progress on the biological functions of circRNAs in seven main age-related signaling pathways, namely, the insulin-insulin-like, PI3K-AKT, mTOR, AMPK, FOXO, p53, and NF-κB signaling pathways. In these pathways, circRNAs mainly function as miRNA sponges. In this review, we suggest that circRNAs are widely involved in the regulation of the main age-related pathways and are potential biomarkers for aging and age-related diseases.

Oroxylin A: A Promising Flavonoid for Prevention and Treatment of Chronic Diseases

There have been magnificent advancements in the understanding of molecular mechanisms of chronic diseases over the past several years, but these diseases continue to be a considerable cause of death worldwide. Most of the approved medications available for the prevention and treatment of these diseases target only a single gene/protein/pathway and are known to cause severe side effects and are less effective than they are anticipated. Consequently, the development of finer therapeutics that outshine the existing ones is far-reaching. Natural compounds have enormous applications in curbing several disastrous and fatal diseases. Oroxylin A (OA) is a flavonoid obtained from the plants Oroxylum indicum, Scutellaria baicalensis, and S. lateriflora, which have distinctive pharmacological properties. OA modulates the important signaling pathways, including NF-κB, MAPK, ERK1/2, Wnt/β-catenin, PTEN/PI3K/Akt, and signaling molecules, such as TNF-α, TGF-β, MMPs, VEGF, interleukins, Bcl-2, caspases, HIF-1α, EMT proteins, Nrf-2, etc., which play a pivotal role in the molecular mechanism of chronic diseases. Overwhelming pieces of evidence expound on the anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, anti-viral, and anti-cancer potentials of this flavonoid, which makes it an engrossing compound for research. Numerous preclinical and clinical studies also displayed the promising potential of OA against cancer, cardiovascular diseases, inflammation, neurological disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, etc. Therefore, the current review focuses on delineating the role of OA in combating different chronic diseases and highlighting the intrinsic molecular mechanisms of its action.

STAT3-EMT axis in tumors: Modulation of cancer metastasis, stemness and therapy response

Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) mechanism is responsible for metastasis of tumor cells and their spread to various organs and tissues of body, providing undesirable prognosis. In addition to migration, EMT increases stemness and mediates therapy resistance. Hence, pathways involved in EMT regulation should be highlighted. STAT3 is an oncogenic pathway that can elevate growth rate and migratory ability of cancer cells and induce drug resistance. The inhibition of STAT3 signaling impairs cancer progression and promotes chemotherapy-mediated cell death. Present review focuses on STAT3 and EMT interaction in modulating cancer migration. First of all, STAT3 is an upstream mediator of EMT and is able to induce EMT-mediated metastasis in brain tumors, thoracic cancers and gastrointestinal cancers. Therefore, STAT3 inhibition significantly suppresses cancer metastasis and improves prognosis of patients. EMT regulators such as ZEB1/2 proteins, TGF-β, Twist, Snail and Slug are affected by STAT3 signaling to stimulate cancer migration and invasion. Different molecular pathways such as miRNAs, lncRNAs and circRNAs modulate STAT3/EMT axis. Furthermore, we discuss how STAT3 and EMT interaction affects therapy response of cancer cells. Finally, we demonstrate targeting STAT3/EMT axis by anti-tumor agents and clinical application of this axis for improving patient prognosis.

Ampelopsin targets in cellular processes of cancer: Recent trends and advances

Cancer is being considered as a serious threat to human health globally due to limited availability and efficacy of therapeutics. In addition, existing chemotherapeutic drugs possess a diverse range of toxic side effects. Therefore, more research is welcomed to investigate the chemo-preventive action of plant-based metabolites. Ampelopsin (dihydromyricetin) is one among the biologically active plant-based chemicals with promising anti-cancer actions. It modulates the expression of various cellular molecules that are involved in cancer progressions. For instance, ampelopsin enhances the expression of apoptosis inducing proteins. It regulates the expression of angiogenic and metastatic proteins to inhibit tumor growth. Expression of inflammatory markers has also been found to be suppressed by ampelopsin in cancer cells. The present review article describes various anti-tumor cellular targets of ampelopsin at a single podium which will help the researchers to understand mechanistic insight of this phytochemical.

Suffrutines A and B Inhibit the Expression of Inflammatory Mediators in LPS-Induced RAW264.7 Cells by Suppressing the NF-κB Signaling Pathway

Flueggea suffruticosa is a traditional Chinese medicine that has been commonly used for the treatment of inflammatory ailments, including rheumatism and lumbago. Suffrutines A and suffrutines B are a pair of novel E,E and Z,E isomeric indolizidine alkaloids isolated from the roots of F. suffruticosa. However, their anti-inflammatory activity has not been reported thus far. The aim of this study was to investigate the inhibitory effect of inflammatory mediators and possible mechanisms of suffrutines A and B in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW264.7 cells. Results showed that suffrutines A and B could remarkably inhibit the production of nitric oxide, prostaglandin E₂, interleukin-6, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and cyclooxygenase-2 in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW264.7 cells. Further evaluation demonstrated that compared with suffrutines A, suffrutines B could more significantly inhibit the phosphorylation of IKKα/β, the degradation of IκBα, and the nuclear translocation of the p65 and p52 subunits in the canonical and non-canonical nuclear factor-κB pathways. Therefore, suffrutines B exhibited more potent inhibitory activity on inflammatory mediators than suffrutines A.

Molecular Landscape of LncRNAs in Prostate Cancer: A focus on pathways and therapeutic targets for intervention

Background

One of the most malignant tumors in men is prostate cancer that is still incurable due to its heterogenous and progressive natures. Genetic and epigenetic changes play significant roles in its development. The RNA molecules with more than 200 nucleotides in length are known as lncRNAs and these epigenetic factors do not encode protein. They regulate gene expression at transcriptional, post-transcriptional and epigenetic levels. LncRNAs play vital biological functions in cells and in pathological events, hence their expression undergoes dysregulation.

Aim of review

The role of epigenetic alterations in prostate cancer development are emphasized here. Therefore, lncRNAs were chosen for this purpose and their expression level and interaction with other signaling networks in prostate cancer progression were examined.

Key scientific concepts of review

The aberrant expression of lncRNAs in prostate cancer has been well-documented and progression rate of tumor cells are regulated via affecting STAT3, NF-κB, Wnt, PI3K/Akt and PTEN, among other molecular pathways. Furthermore, lncRNAs regulate radio-resistance and chemo-resistance features of prostate tumor cells. Overexpression of tumor-promoting lncRNAs such as HOXD-AS1 and CCAT1 can result in drug resistance. Besides, lncRNAs can induce immune evasion of prostate cancer via upregulating PD-1. Pharmacological compounds such as quercetin and curcumin have been applied for targeting lncRNAs. Furthermore, siRNA tool can reduce expression of lncRNAs thereby suppressing prostate cancer progression. Prognosis and diagnosis of prostate tumor at clinical course can be evaluated by lncRNAs. The expression level of exosomal lncRNAs such as lncRNA-p21 can be investigated in serum of prostate cancer patients as a reliable biomarker.

Alphabetti kinase Spaghetti: the complex roles of IKKα and β in the canonical NF-κB pathway

Numerous studies, published over many years, have established the key role that the IκB kinase (IKK) subunits, α and β, play in regulating the Nuclear Factor κB (NF-κB) pathway. This research generally concluded that their functions can be separated, with IKKβ being the critical regulator of the canonical NF-κB pathway, while IKKα functions as the key activating kinase for the non-canonical pathway. However, other roles for these kinases have been described and several reports concluded that this separation of their functions may not always be the case. This commentary discusses the recent report by Biochem J. 479, 305-325, who elegantly demonstrate that in KRAS driven colorectal cancer cell lines, IKKα is an important regulator of the canonical NF-κB pathway. As is so often the case with trying to understand the complexity of NF-κB signalling, cellular context is everything.

Pathobiology and Therapeutic Relevance of GSK-3 in Chronic Hematological Malignancies

Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) is an evolutionarily conserved, ubiquitously expressed, multifunctional serine/threonine protein kinase involved in the regulation of a variety of physiological processes. GSK-3 comprises two isoforms (α and β) which were originally discovered in 1980 as enzymes involved in glucose metabolism via inhibitory phosphorylation of glycogen synthase. Differently from other proteins kinases, GSK-3 isoforms are constitutively active in resting cells, and their modulation mainly involves inhibition through upstream regulatory networks. In the early 1990s, GSK-3 isoforms were implicated as key players in cancer cell pathobiology. Active GSK-3 facilitates the destruction of multiple oncogenic proteins which include β-catenin and Master regulator of cell cycle entry and proliferative metabolism (c-Myc). Therefore, GSK-3 was initially considered to be a tumor suppressor. Consistently, GSK-3 is often inactivated in cancer cells through dysregulated upstream signaling pathways. However, over the past 10–15 years, a growing number of studies highlighted that in some cancer settings GSK-3 isoforms inhibit tumor suppressing pathways and therefore act as tumor promoters. In this article, we will discuss the multiple and often enigmatic roles played by GSK-3 isoforms in some chronic hematological malignancies (chronic myelogenous leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, multiple myeloma, and B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas) which are among the most common blood cancer cell types. We will also summarize possible novel strategies targeting GSK-3 for innovative therapies of these disorders.

NF-κB as a regulator of cancer metastasis and therapy response: A focus on epithelial-mesenchymal transition

Metastasis of tumor cells is a complex challenge and significantly diminishes the overall survival and prognosis of cancer patients. The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a well-known mechanism responsible for the invasiveness of tumor cells. A number of molecular pathways can regulate the EMT mechanism in cancer cells and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) is one of them. The nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 can induce the transcription of several genes involved in EMT induction. The present review describes NF-κB and EMT interaction in cancer cells and their association in cancer progression. Due to the oncogenic role NF-κB signaling, its activation enhances metastasis of tumor cells via EMT induction. This has been confirmed in various cancers including brain, breast, lung and gastric cancers, among others. The ZEB1/2, transforming growth factor-β, and Slug as inducers of EMT undergo upregulation by NF-κB to promote metastasis of tumor cells. After EMT induction driven by NF-κB, a significant decrease occurs in E-cadherin levels, while N-cadherin and vimentin levels undergo an increase. The noncoding RNAs can potentially also function as upstream mediators and modulate NF-κB/EMT axis in cancers. Moreover, NF-κB/EMT axis is involved in mediating drug resistance in tumor cells. Thus, suppressing NF-κB/EMT axis can also promote the sensitivity of cancer cells to chemotherapeutic agents.

Non-coding RNAs and macrophage interaction in tumor progression

The macrophages are abundantly found in TME and their M2 polarization is in favor of tumor malignancy. On the other hand, non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) can modulate macrophage polarization in TME to affect cancer progression. The miRNAs can dually induce/suppress M2 polarization of macrophages and by affecting various molecular pathways, they modulate tumor progression and therapy response. The lncRNAs can affect miRNAs via sponging and other molecular pathways to modulate macrophage polarization. A few experiments have also examined role of circRNAs in targeting signaling networks and affecting macrophages. The therapeutic targeting of these ncRNAs can mediate TME remodeling and affect macrophage polarization. Furthermore, exosomal ncRNAs derived from tumor cells or macrophages can modulate polarization and TME remodeling. Suppressing biogenesis and secretion of exosomes can inhibit ncRNA-mediated M2 polarization of macrophages and prevent tumor progression. The ncRNAs, especially exosomal ncRNAs can be considered as non-invasive biomarkers for tumor diagnosis.

Integrated bioinformatics and network pharmacology to identify the therapeutic target and molecular mechanisms of Huangqin decoction on ulcerative Colitis

Huangqin decoction (HQD) is a Traditional Chinese Medicine formula for ulcerative colitis. However, the pharmacology and molecular mechanism of HQD on ulcerative colitis is still unclear. Combined microarray analysis, network pharmacology, and molecular docking for revealing the therapeutic targets and molecular mechanism of HQD against ulcerative colitis. TCMSP, DrugBank, Swiss Target Prediction were utilized to search the active components and effective targets of HQD. Ulcerative colitis effective targets were obtained by microarray data from the GEO database (GSE107499). Co-targets between HQD and ulcerative colitis are obtained by Draw Venn Diagram. PPI (Protein–protein interaction) network was constructed by the STRING database. To obtain the core target, topological analysis is exploited by Cytoscape 3.7.2. GO and KEGG enrichment pathway analysis was performed to Metascape platform, and molecular docking through Autodock Vina 1.1.2 finished. 161 active components with 486 effective targets of HQD were screened. 1542 ulcerative colitis effective targets were obtained with |Log₂FC|> 1 and adjusted P-value < 0.05. The Venn analysis was contained 79 co-targets. Enrichment analysis showed that HQD played a role in TNF signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway, Th17 cell differentiation, etc. IL6, TNF, IL1B, PTGS2, ESR1, and PPARG with the highest degree from PPI network were successfully docked with 19 core components of HQD, respectively. According to ZINC15 database, quercetin (ZINC4175638), baicalein (ZINC3871633), and wogonin (ZINC899093) recognized as key compounds of HQD on ulcerative colitis. PTGS2, ESR1, and PPARG are potential therapeutic targets of HQD. HQD can act on multiple targets through multi-pathway, to carry out its therapeutic role in ulcerative colitis.

Non-coding RNA-based regulation of inflammation

Inflammation is a multifactorial process and various biological mechanisms and pathways participate in its development. The presence of inflammation is involved in pathogenesis of different diseases such as diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases and even, cancer. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) comprise large part of transcribed genome and their critical function in physiological and pathological conditions has been confirmed. The present review focuses on miRNAs, lncRNAs and circRNAs as ncRNAs and their potential functions in inflammation regulation and resolution. Pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory factors are regulated by miRNAs via binding to 3'-UTR or indirectly via affecting other pathways such as SIRT1 and NF-κB. LncRNAs display a similar function and they can also affect miRNAs via sponging in regulating levels of cytokines. CircRNAs mainly affect miRNAs and reduce their expression in regulating cytokine levels. Notably, exosomal ncRNAs have shown capacity in inflammation resolution. In addition to pre-clinical studies, clinical trials have examined role of ncRNAs in inflammation-mediated disease pathogenesis and cytokine regulation. The therapeutic targeting of ncRNAs using drugs and nucleic acids have been analyzed to reduce inflammation in disease therapy. Therefore, ncRNAs can serve as diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic targets in inflammation-related diseases in pre-clinical and clinical backgrounds.

Embelin: A novel XIAP inhibitor for the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases

Chronic diseases are a serious health concern worldwide, especially in the elderly population. Most chronic diseases like cancer, cardiovascular ailments, neurodegenerative disorders, and autoimmune diseases are caused due to the abnormal functioning of multiple signaling pathways that give rise to critical anomalies in the body. Although a lot of advanced therapies are available, these have failed to entirely cure the disease due to their less efficacy. Apart from this, they have been shown to manifest disturbing side effects which hamper the patient's quality of life to the extreme. Since the last few decades, extensive studies have been done on natural herbs due to their excellent medicinal benefits. Components present in natural herbs target multiple signaling pathways involved in diseases and therefore hold high potential in the prevention and treatment of various chronic diseases. Embelin, a benzoquinone, is one such agent isolated from Embelia ribes, which has shown excellent biological activities toward several chronic ailments by upregulating a number of antioxidant enzymes (e.g., SOD, CAT, GSH, etc.), inhibiting anti-apoptotic genes (e.g., TRAIL, XIAP, survivin, etc.), modulating transcription factors (e.g., NF-κB, STAT3, etc.) blocking inflammatory biomarkers (e.g., NO, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, etc.), monitoring cell cycle synchronizing genes (e.g., p53, cyclins, CDKs, etc.), and so forth. Several preclinical studies have confirmed its excellent therapeutic activities against malicious diseases like cancer, obesity, heart diseases, Alzheimer's, and so forth. This review presents an overview of embelin, its therapeutic prospective, and the molecular targets in different chronic diseases.