Promethazine inhibits proliferation and promotes apoptosis in colorectal cancer cells by suppressing the PI3K/AKT pathway

Lysosomes and LAMPs as Autophagy Drivers of Drug Resistance in Colorectal Cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is among the most malignant pathologies worldwide. A major factor contributing to the poor prognosis of neoplastic diseases is the development of drug resistance. It significantly reduces the utility of most therapeutic protocols and necessitates the search for novel biomarkers and treatment strategies to combat cancer. An evolutionarily conserved catabolic mechanism, autophagy maintains nutrient recycling and metabolic adaptation and is also closely related to carcinogenesis, playing a dual role. Autophagy inhibition can limit the growth of tumors and improve the response to cancer therapeutics. Lysosomes, key players in autophagy, are also considered promising targets for anticancer treatment. There are still insufficient data on the role of poorly studied glycoproteins related to autophagy, such as the lysosome-associated membrane glycoproteins (LAMPs). They can act as multifunctional molecules involved in a multitude of processes like autophagy and cancer development. In the current review, we summarize the recent data on the double-faceted role of autophagy in cancer with a focus on drug resistance in CRC and on the roles of lysosomes and LAMPs in these interconnected processes. Several lysosomotropic drugs are discussed as options to overcome cancer cell chemoresistance. The complex networks that underline defined autophagic pathways in the context of CRC carcinogenesis and the role of autophagy, especially of LAMPs as drivers of drug resistance, are outlined.

Mechanism of Guishao Yigong decoction in treating colorectal cancer based on network pharmacology and experimental validation

OBJECTIVES

To explore the effective components of Guishao Yigong decoction (GYD) in the treatment of colorectal cancer and reveal its potential mechanism of action.

METHODS

Through network pharmacology, the main target and signaling pathway of GYD therapy for colorectal cancer (CRC) were found. Subsequently, the effect of GYD was verified by in vitro cell viability measurements, colony formation, and scratch healing tests. The effects of GYD on metabolic pathways in vivo were found through plasma metabolomics. Finally, flow cytometry and qPCR experiments were used to verify the cycle-blocking effect of GYD on CRC cells.

KEY FINDINGS

Based on the network pharmacological analysis and molecular docking technology, it was found that GYD could restrain the growth of CRC cells by affecting lipid metabolic pathways and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathways. A series of cell experiments showed that GYD could inhibit the proliferation, migration and clonogenic ability of CRC cells. Furthermore, the plasma metabolomics results showed that GYD could affect the production of unsaturated fatty acids in mice. Flow cytometry and qPCR experiments further proved that GYD blocked the CRC cells in the G1 phase and modulated the expression of cell cycle-related targets, such as AKT, TP53, CDKN1A, and CDK2.

CONCLUSIONS

All the results indicated that GYD could regulate the related metabolism of unsaturated fatty acids. Thus, the cell cycle was blocked and the expressions of the key proteins such as AKT and TP53 were regulated, which achieved the purpose of intervention in colorectal cancer.

Enantioselective ecotoxicity of promethazine in two freshwater organisms: daphnia (Daphnia magna) and zebrafish (Danio rerio)

Chiral pharmaceuticals, racemic or enantiomerically pure forms and their metabolites, can reach aquatic ecosystems via wastewater effluents (inefficient treatment operations) or by direct human disposal. They may negatively affect nontarget organisms even at low environmental concentrations. To make an accurate risk evaluation, the (eco)toxicity of both enantiomers needs to be assessed. Promethazine (PMZ) is a chiral antihistamine that has been detected in aquatic ecosystems owing to its high consumption. Promethazine undergoes metabolism in the liver, producing chiral metabolites such as promethazine sulfoxide (PMZSO) and N-desmethylpromethazine (DMPMZ) that reach water bodies. However, knowledge regarding the enantioselective toxicity of PMZ and its metabolites on aquatic organisms is missing. This study aimed to explore the potential enantioselective toxicity of PMZ and its metabolites on two relevant freshwater organisms, daphniid and fish, representing different trophic levels. The half maximal effect concentrations (EC50s) in Daphnia magna of PMZ, DMPMZ, and PMZSO were 2.33, 2.31, > 4 mg L-1, respectively, > 4 and 2.50 mg L-1 for (R) and (S)-PMZ, respectively, and > 4 mg L-1 for the enantiomers of DMPMZ and PMZSO. In studies involving zebrafish, Danio rerio, (R, S)-PMZ showed a median lethal concentration (LC50) of .72 mg L-1, and specific assays revealed that (R)-PMZ exhibited more pronounced adverse effects on larvae at the embryonic, morphological, and biochemical level than the racemate and (S)-PMZ. Toxicity and potential bioaccumulation of these compounds in daphniids and fish were also conducted using in silico tests through proprietary software. The results revealed a concordance between the experimental and predicted EC50 and LC50 values in both species.

To explore the protective mechanism of promethazine against hippocampal neuron injury based on network pharmacology and experimental verification

This study aims to investigate the effect of promethazine (PMZ) on hippocampal neuronal injury through network pharmacology and in vivo experiments. Network pharmacology: The intersection genes of PMZ and Alzheimer Disease (AD) were obtained, and the core genes of PMZ in AD were screened. The intersection genes were enriched by Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses. In the in vitro experiment, mouse hippocampal neurons (HT22) were divided into control, glutamate (GLU) model, and GLU + PMZ treatment groups. The control group was given a complete culture medium, the model group was given GLU for 24 hours, the treatment group was given PMZ pretreatment for 3 hours, and then GLU was administered for 24 hours. Cell viability was determined, cell morphology was observed by microscopy, reactive oxygen species levels and glutathione content were detected, and protein expression of P53, PTGS2, SLC7A11, and GPX4 was detected by western blotting. Network pharmacology: A total of 317 PMZ targets, 1934 AD genes, 125 intersection genes, and 18 core genes, including P53 and PTGS2. Gene Ontology enrichment analysis showed that the effect of PMZ on AD was mainly related to cell proliferation, inflammation, hypoxia, synaptic structure, plasma membrane, and oxidoreductase activity. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes results showed neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, cell senescence, cancer pathway, PI3K-AKT signal pathway, neurodegeneration, and HIF-1 signal pathway. In vitro experiments: PMZ improved the GLU-induced decrease in cell viability and morphological changes in hippocampal neurons. PMZ inhibited reactive oxygen species levels and increased glutathione content in injured hippocampal neurons. Up-regulated of P53, SLC7A11 and GPX4 expression, and inhibited expression of PTGS2. PMZ regulates the SLC7A11-GPX4 antioxidant system to protect hippocampal neurons from oxidative stress injury.

Early pregnancy exposure to Microcystin-LR compromises endometrial decidualization in mice via the PI3K/AKT/FOXO1 signaling pathway

Previous experimental studies have found that exposure to Microcystin-leucine arginine can impact pregnancy outcomes in female mice. The impact of MC-LR on early pregnancy in mammals is not yet well understood. Both mice and humans need to undergo decidualization to maintain pregnancy. In this study, we tried to evaluate whether MC-LR affects decidualization process in mice. Our research showed that MC-LR decreased maternal weight gain, uterine weight, and implantation site weight. These findings suggested that MC-LR exerted adverse effects on decidualization. In mice, we examined decreased number of polyploid decidual cells, but marked proliferation of mouse endometrial stromal cells the expression levels of prolactin (PRL)and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 1 (IGFBP1) were significantly downregulated in the decidual tissue and primary endometrial stromal cells following MC-LR treatment. Furthermore, further in vitro experiments identified that MC-LR promoted endometrial stromal cell division and cycle transition. Lastly, our study demonstrated that MC-LR impaired decidualization through the PI3K/AKT/FOXO1 pathway. Collectively, these data suggested that exposure to MC-LR impaired decidualization during early pregnancy.

Pathophysiological role of histamine signaling and its implications in glioblastoma

Glioblastoma (GBM), an extremely aggressive and prevalent malignant brain tumor, remains a challenge to treat. Despite a multimodality treatment approach, GBM recurrence remains inevitable, particularly with the emergence of temozolomide (TMZ) resistance and limited treatment options. Surprisingly, previous studies show that a history of allergies, atopy, or asthma is inversely associated with GBM risk. Further, the electronic medical record at the University Hospital of Lausanne showed that the GBM patients taking antihistamine during treatment had better survival. Histamine is an essential neurotransmitter in the brain and plays a significant role in regulating sleep, hormonal balance, and cognitive functions. Elevated levels of histamine and increased histamine receptor expression have been found in different tumors and their microenvironments, including GBM. High histamine 1 receptor (HRH1) expression is inversely related to overall and progression-free survival in GBM patients, further emphasizing the role of histamine in disease progression. This review aims to provide insights into the challenges of GBM treatment, the role of histamine in GBM progression, and the rationale for considering antihistamines as targeted therapy. The review concludes by encouraging further investigation into antihistamine mechanisms and their impact on the tumor microenvironment.

Guanine-Rich RNA Sequence Binding Factor 1 Deficiency Promotes Colorectal Cancer Progression by Regulating PI3K/AKT Signaling Pathway

Background

Guanine-rich RNA sequence binding factor 1 (GRSF1), part of the RNA-binding protein family, is now attracting interest due to its potential association with the progression of a variety of human cancers. The precise contribution and molecular mechanism of GRSF1 to colorectal cancer (CRC) progression, however, have yet to be clarified.

Methods

Immunohistochemistry and Western Blot analysis was carried out to detect the expression of GRSF1 in CRC at both mRNA and protein levels and its subsequent effects on prognosis. A series of functional tests were performed to understand its influence on proliferation, migration, and invasion of CRC cells.

Results

The universal downregulation of GRSF1 in CRC was identified, indicating a correlation with poor prognosis. Our functional studies unveiled that the elimination of GRSF1 enhances tumour activities such as proliferation, migration, and invasion of CRC cells, while GRSF1 overexpression curtailed these abilities.

Conclusion

Notably, we uncovered that GRSF1 insufficiency modulates the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and Ras activation in CRC. Therefore, our data suggest GRSF1 operates as a tumor suppressor gene in CRC and may offer promise as a potential biomarker and novel therapeutic target in CRC management.

Exploring the mechanism of fraxetin against acute myeloid leukemia through cell experiments and network pharmacology

OBJECTIVE

Previous studies have shown that fraxetin has antitumor activity in a variety of tumors, but its role in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the anti-AML effect of fraxetin through cell experiments and network pharmacology analysis.

METHODS

The inhibitory and apoptotic effects of fraxetin on AML cells were determined by CCK-8 and flow cytometry experiments. Potential targets of fraxetin and AML-related targets were screened using public databases. PPI network, GO functional enrichment and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were performed to predict the hub targets and signaling pathways by which fraxetin alleviates AML. Molecular docking was used to determine the fraxetin binding sites on hub targets. Using the GEPIA database, the expression of hub targets was analyzed in relation to the overall survival of AML patients.

RESULTS

Cell experiments showed that fraxetin inhibits AML cell proliferation and induces apoptosis. To explore the potential mechanism of fraxetin, 29 shared targets of fraxetin and AML were obtained through screening online public databases. Among them, AKT1, TNF, SRC, etc., are related to AML cell apoptosis. The expression levels of SRC, NOS3, VAV1, LYN, and PTGS1 were associated with the overall survival of AML patients (p value < 0.05). The enrichment analysis results identified the main pathways, namely, focal adhesion and the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, that affected the proliferation and apoptosis of AML cells. The analysis of hub targets of the PPI network showed that AKT1, TNF, CTNNB1, etc., were hub targets, which were related to the proliferation and apoptosis of AML cells. The results of molecular docking showed that the hub targets had good binding with fraxetin.

CONCLUSION

Fraxetin may inhibit AML cell proliferation and induce AML cell apoptosis through multiple targets, such as AKT1, SRC, and EGFR, and multiple pathways, such as focal adhesion and the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway.

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

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

Effect of traditional Chinese medicine in osteosarcoma: Cross-interference of signaling pathways and potential therapeutic targets

Osteosarcoma (OS) has a high recurrence rate, disability rate, mortality and metastasis, it brings great economic burden and psychological pressure to patients, and then seriously affects the quality of life of patients. At present, the treatment methods of OS mainly include radiotherapy, chemotherapy, surgical therapy and neoadjuvant chemotherapy combined with limb salvage surgery. These treatment methods can relieve the clinical symptoms of patients to a certain extent, and also effectively reduce the disability rate, mortality and recurrence rate of OS patients. However, because metastasis of tumor cells leads to new complications, and OS cells become resistant with prolonged drug intervention, which reduces the sensitivity of OS cells to drugs, these treatments still have some limitations. More and more studies have shown that traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has the characteristics of "multiple targets and multiple pathways," and can play an important role in the development of OS through several key signaling pathways, including PI3K/AKT, Wnt/β-catenin, tyrosine kinase/transcription factor 3 (JAK/STAT3), Notch, transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β)/Smad, nuclear transcription factor-κB (NF-κB), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), Hippo/YAP, OPG/RANK/RANKL, Hedgehog and so on. In this paper, the signaling pathways of cross-interference between active ingredients of TCM and OS were reviewed, and the development status of novel OS treatment was analyzed. The active ingredients in TCM can provide therapeutic benefits to patients by targeting the activity of signaling pathways. In addition, potential strategies for targeted therapy of OS by using ferroptosis were discussed. We hope to provide a unique insight for the in-depth research and clinical application of TCM in the fields of OS growth, metastasis and chemotherapy resistance by understanding the signaling crosstalk between active ingredients in TCM and OS.

Sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) attenuates T-2 toxin-induced iron death in LMH cells through the ROS/PI3K/AKT/Nrf2 pathway

T-2 toxin, is a monotrichous mycotoxin commonly found in animal feed and agricultural products that can damage tissues and organs through oxidative stress. Selenium is a trace element with favorable antioxidant effects. However, it is unclear whether T-2 toxin-induces ferroptosis in LMH cells and whether Na2SeO3 has a protective role in this process. To investigate the process of hepatic injury by T-2 toxin and its antagonistic effect by Na2SeO3, we used 20 ng/mL T-2 toxin as well as 160 nmol/L Na2SeO3 to treat the LMH cells. The results demonstrated that exposure to the T-2 toxin induced iron death by increasing the quantity of ROS, leading to oxidative damage, decreasing the quantities of SOD, GPx, and T-AOC, and increasing the accumulation of MDA and H2O2, which resulted in the accumulation of Fe2+ and the down-regulation of the manifestation of linked genes and proteins including FTH1, Gpx4, NQO-1, and HO-1. After the addition of Na2SeO3, the PI3K/AKT/Nrf2 pathway is activated by regulating the selenoproteins gene level, and the above abnormal changes are reversed. In summary, Na2SeO3 alleviated T-2 toxin-induced iron death via the PI3K/AKT/Nrf2 pathway. These study not only broaden the cytotoxic knowledge regarding T-2 toxin, but also serve as a foundation for the use of Na2SeO3 in daily life.

PI3K/Akt signaling in urological cancers: Tumorigenesis function, therapeutic potential, and therapy response regulation

In addition to environmental conditions, lifestyle factors, and chemical exposure, aberrant gene expression and mutations involve in the beginning and development of urological tumors. Even in Western nations, urological malignancies are among the top causes of patient death, and their prevalence appears to be gender dependent. The prognosis for individuals with urological malignancies remains dismal and unfavorable due to the ineffectiveness of conventional treatment methods. PI3K/Akt is a popular biochemical mechanism that is activated in tumor cells as a result of PTEN loss. PI3K/Akt escalates growth and metastasis. Moreover, due to the increase in tumor cell viability caused by PI3K/Akt activation, cancer cells may acquire resistance to treatment. This review article examines the function of PI3K/Akt in major urological tumors including bladder, prostate, and renal tumors. In prostate, bladder, and kidney tumors, the level of PI3K and Akt are notably elevated. In addition, the activation of PI3K/Akt enhances the levels of Bcl-2 and XIAP, hence increasing the tumor cell survival rate. PI3K/Akt ] upregulates EMT pathways and matrix metalloproteinase expression to increase urological cancer metastasis. Furthermore, stimulation of PI3K/Akt results in drug- and radio-resistant cancers, but its suppression by anti-tumor drugs impedes the tumorigenesis.

Targeting PI3K/Akt signaling in prostate cancer therapy

Urological cancers have obtained much attention in recent years due to their mortality and morbidity. The most common and malignant tumor of urological cancers is prostate cancer that imposes high socioeconomic costs on public life and androgen-deprivation therapy, surgery, and combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy are employed in its treatment. PI3K/Akt signaling is an oncogenic pathway responsible for migration, proliferation and drug resistance in various cancers. In the present review, the role of PI3K/Akt signaling in prostate cancer progression is highlighted. The activation of PI3K/Akt signaling occurs in prostate cancer, while PTEN as inhibitor of PI3K/Akt shows down-regulation. Stimulation of PI3K/Akt signaling promotes survival of prostate tumor cells and prevents apoptosis. The cell cycle progression and proliferation rate of prostate tumor cells increase by PI3K/Akt signaling induction. PI3K/Akt signaling stimulates EMT and enhances metastasis of prostate tumor cells. Silencing PI3K/Akt signaling impairs growth and metastasis of prostate tumor cells. Activation of PI3K/Akt signaling mediates drug resistance and reduces radio-sensitivity of prostate tumor cells. Anti-tumor compounds suppress PI3K/Akt signaling in impairing prostate tumor progression. Furthermore, upstream regulators such as miRNAs, lncRNAs and circRNAs regulate PI3K/Akt signaling and it has clinical implications for prostate cancer patients.

Integrating network pharmacology and experimental validation to explore the effect and mechanism of AD-1 in the treatment of colorectal cancer

20 (R)-25-methoxyl-dammarane-3β, 12β, 20-triol (AD-1), a novel ginsenoside isolated from stem and leaf of Panax Notoginseng, has anticancer activity against a variety of malignant tumors. However, the pharmacological mechanism of AD-1 on colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unclear. The purpose of this study was to verify the potential mechanism of action of AD-1 against CRC through network pharmacology and experiments. A total of 39 potential targets were obtained based on the intersection of AD-1 and CRC targets, and key genes were analyzed and identified from the PPI network using Cytoscape software. 39 targets were significantly enriched in 156 GO terms and 138 KEGG pathways, among which PI3K-Akt signaling pathway was identified as one of the most enriched pathways. Based on experimental results, AD-1 can inhibit the proliferation and migration of SW620 and HT-29 cells, and induce their apoptosis. Subsequently, the HPA and UALCAN databases showed that PI3K and Akt were highly expressed in CRC. AD-1 also decreased the expressions of PI3K and Akt. In summary, these results suggest that AD-1 can play an anti-tumor role by inducing cell apoptosis and regulating PI3K-Akt signaling pathway.

Immunotoxicity induced by triclocarban exposure in zebrafish triggering the risk of pancreatic cancer

Owing to frequent application as a broad-spectrum bactericide, triclocarban (TCC) exposure has raised great concern for aquatic organisms and human health. Herein, based on transcriptome sequencing data analysis of zebrafish, we confirmed that TCC induced oxidative stress and dysimmunity through transcriptional regulation of the related genes. With aid of the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) assembler database, 52 common differentially expressed genes, whose functions were related to immunity, were screened out by virtue of the meta-analysis of pancreatic cancer sample data and differential transcription profiles from TCC-exposed larvae. Acute TCC exposure affected formation of the innate immune cells, delayed mature thymic T-cell development, reduced immunoglobulin M (IgM) levels and promoted excessive release of the pro-inflammatory factors (IL-6, IL-1β and tnfα). Under TCC exposure, the expressions of the genes associated with immune cell abundance in pancreatic cancer were significantly down-regulated, while the levels of ROS were prominently increased in concomitant with suppressed antioxidant activity. Moreover, a series of marker genes (pi3k, nrf2, keap1, ho-1 and nqo1) in the PI3K/Nrf2 antioxidant-stress pathway were abnormally expressed under TCC exposure. Interestingly, vitamin C decreased the malformation and increased the survival rate of 120-hpf larvae and effectively alleviated TCC-induced oxidative stress and immune responses. Overall, TCC exposure induced immunotoxicity and increased the risk of pancreatic cancer by inhibiting the antioxidant capacity of the PI3K/Nrf2 signal pathway. These observations enrich our in-depth understanding of the effects of TCC on early embryonic-larval development and immune damage in zebrafish.

The Role of Paxillin Aberrant Expression in Cancer and Its Potential as a Target for Cancer Therapy

Paxillin is a multi-domain adaptor protein. As an important member of focal adhesion (FA) and a participant in regulating cell movement, paxillin plays an important role in physiological processes such as nervous system development, embryonic development, and vascular development. However, increasing evidence suggests that paxillin is aberrantly expressed in many cancers. Many scholars have also recognized that the abnormal expression of paxillin is related to the prognosis, metastases, invasion, survival, angiogenesis, and other aspects of malignant tumors, suggesting that paxillin may be a potential cancer therapeutic target. Therefore, the study of how aberrant paxillin expression affects the process of tumorigenesis and metastasis will help to develop more efficacious antitumor drugs. Herein, we review the structure of paxillin and its function and expression in tumors, paying special attention to the multifaceted effects of paxillin on tumors, the mechanism of tumorigenesis and progression, and its potential role in tumor therapy. We also hope to provide a reference for the clinical prognosis and development of new tumor therapeutic targets.

MIR503HG: A potential diagnostic and therapeutic target in human diseases

LncRNAs are involved in many physiological and pathological processes, including chromatin remodeling, transcription, posttranscriptional gene expression, mRNA stability, translation, and posttranslational modification, and their functions depend on subcellular localization. MIR503HG is a lncRNA as well as a host gene for the miRNAs miR-503 and miR-424. MIR503HG functions independently or synergistically with miR-503. MIR503HG affects cell proliferation, invasion, metastasis, apoptosis, angiogenesis, and other biological behaviors. The mechanism of MIR503HG in disease includes interaction with protein, sponging miRNA to regulate downstream target gene, and participation in NF-κB, TGF-β, ERK/MAPK, and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. In this review, we summarize the molecular mechanisms of MIR503HG in disease and its potential applications in diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. We also raise some unanswered questions in this area, providing insights for future research.

Repurposing Antidepressants and Phenothiazine Antipsychotics as Efflux Pump Inhibitors in Cancer and Infectious Diseases

Multidrug resistance (MDR) is a major obstacle in the therapy of infectious diseases and cancer. One of the major mechanisms of MDR is the overexpression of efflux pumps (EPs) that are responsible for extruding antimicrobial and anticancer agents. EPs have additional roles of detoxification that may aid the development of bacterial infection and the progression of cancer. Therefore, targeting EPs may be an attractive strategy to treat bacterial infections and cancer. The development and discovery of a new drug require a long timeline and may come with high development costs. A potential alternative to reduce the time and costs of drug development is to repurpose already existing drugs. Antidepressants and antipsychotic agents are widely used in clinical practice in the treatment of psychiatric disorders and some somatic diseases. Antidepressants and antipsychotics have demonstrated various beneficial activities that may be utilized in the treatment of infections and cancer. This review aims to provide a brief overview of antibacterial and anticancer effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and phenothiazine antipsychotics, while focusing on EPs. However, it should be noted that the antimicrobial activity of a traditionally non-antibiotic drug may have clinical implications regarding dysbiosis and bacterial MDR.

Calycosin ameliorates spinal cord injury by targeting Hsp90 to inhibit oxidative stress and apoptosis of nerve cells

BACKGROUND

Zhenbao pill is effective in protecting against spinal cord injury (SCI). We attempt to explore the characteristics of calycosin (a main monomer of Zhenbao pill) in SCI and its relative mechanism.

METHODS

The target of calycosin was screened using pharmacological network analysis. The SCI cell model was constructed using hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), and the animal model was developed by compressing spinal cord with a vascular clamp. Flow cytometry was conducted to test reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and cell apoptosis. Detection of malondialdehyde (MDA) activity and Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were performed using relative kits. Heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) was examined using western blot and quantitative real-time PCR. Motor function tests were carried out. The hematoxylin-eosin and Nissl staining were conducted.

RESULTS

In SCI models, ROS, MDA, and cell apoptosis were elevated, SOD and HSP90 levels were restrained, while calycosin addition reversed the above results. Besides, calycosin application or HSP90 overexpression enhanced phosphorylation of protein kinase B (Akt) but weakened that of apoptosis signal-regulating kinase 1 (ASK1) and p38, while HSP90 inhibitor 17-AAG treatment restrained the above results. Meanwhile, the injection of calycosin improved the motor function in SCI model rats. Furthermore, the pathologic results also clarified the positive effect of calycosin on SCI.

CONCLUSION

HSP90 was lowly expressed in SCI models. Calycosin alleviated SCI by promoting HSP90 up-regulation and inhibiting oxidative stress and apoptosis of nerve cells.

Induction of Apoptosis via Inactivating PI3K/AKT Pathway in Colorectal Cancer Cells Using Aged Chinese Hakka Stir-Fried Green Tea Extract

Food extract supplements, with high functional activity and low side effects, play a recognized role in the adjunctive therapy of human colorectal cancer. The present study reported a new functional beverage, which is a type of Chinese Hakka stir-fried green tea (HSGT) aged for several years. The extracts of the lyophilized powder of five HSGT samples with different aging periods were analyzed with high-performance liquid chromatography. The major components of the extract were found to include polyphenols, catechins, amino acids, catechins, gallic acid and caffeine. The tea extracts were also investigated for their therapeutic activity against human colorectal cancer cells, HT-29, an epithelial cell isolated from the primary tumor. The effect of different aging time of the tea on the anticancer potency was compared. Our results showed that, at the cellular level, all the extracts of the aged teas significantly inhibited the proliferation of HT-29 in a concentration-dependent manner. In particular, two samples prepared in 2015 (15Y, aged for 6 years) and 2019 (19Y, aged for 2 years) exhibited the highest inhibition rate for 48 h treatment (cell viability was 50% at 0.2 mg/mL). Further, all the aged tea extracts examined were able to enhance the apoptosis of HT-29 cells (apoptosis rate > 25%) and block the transition of G1/S phase (cell-cycle distribution (CSD) from <20% to >30%) population to G2/M phase (CSD from nearly 30% to nearly 10%) at 0.2 mg/mL for 24 h or 48 h. Western blotting results also showed that the tea extracts inhibited cyclin-dependent kinases 2/4 (CDK2, CDK4) and CylinB1 protein expression, as well as increased poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PRAP) expression and Bcl2-associated X (Bax)/B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl2) ratio. In addition, an upstream signal of one of the above proteins, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT) signalling, was found to be involved in the regulation, as evidenced by the inhibition of phosphorylated PI3K and AKT by the extracts of the aged tea. Therefore, our study reveals that traditional Chinese aged tea (HSGT) may inhibit colon cancer cell proliferation, cell-cycle progression and promoted apoptosis of colon cancer cells by inactivating PI3K/AKT signalling.

StarGazer: A Hybrid Intelligence Platform for Drug Target Prioritization and Digital Drug Repositioning Using Streamlit

Target prioritization is essential for drug discovery and repositioning. Applying computational methods to analyze and process multi-omics data to find new drug targets is a practical approach for achieving this. Despite an increasing number of methods for generating datasets such as genomics, phenomics, and proteomics, attempts to integrate and mine such datasets remain limited in scope. Developing hybrid intelligence solutions that combine human intelligence in the scientific domain and disease biology with the ability to mine multiple databases simultaneously may help augment drug target discovery and identify novel drug-indication associations. We believe that integrating different data sources using a singular numerical scoring system in a hybrid intelligent framework could help to bridge these different omics layers and facilitate rapid drug target prioritization for studies in drug discovery, development or repositioning. Herein, we describe our prototype of the StarGazer pipeline which combines multi-source, multi-omics data with a novel target prioritization scoring system in an interactive Python-based Streamlit dashboard. StarGazer displays target prioritization scores for genes associated with 1844 phenotypic traits, and is available via https://github.com/AstraZeneca/StarGazer.