Berberine derivative DCZ0358 induce oxidative damage by ROS-mediated JNK signaling in DLBCL cells

Saikosaponin A Mediates the Anti-Acute Myeloid Leukemia Effect via the P-JNK Signaling Pathway Induced by Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

Objective

This study aims to investigate the antitumor effects of saikosaponin A (SSA) on acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and elucidate its underlying mechanisms, particularly focusing on the endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)-mediated MAPK-p-JNK signaling pathway.

Methods

The inhibitory effects of SSA on the proliferation of AML cell lines K562 and HL60 were evaluated using CCK8 and EdU assays. Apoptotic effects induced by SSA were analyzed via flow cytometry. RNA sequencing was performed to identify differentially expressed genes and enriched signaling pathways. Western blot analysis was utilized to confirm the involvement of ERS and activation of the MAPK-p-JNK signaling pathway. Further validation of the potential mechanism of SSA-induced apoptosis was conducted using SP600125 and 4PBA. The in vivo anti-AML efficacy of SSA was assessed using a xenograft model.

Results

SSA exhibited significant inhibitory effects on the proliferation of AML cell lines K562 and HL60, with IC50 values at 12, 24, and 48 hours demonstrating time- and dose-dependency (19.84 μM, 17.86 μM, and 15.38 μM for K562; 22.73 μM, 17.02 μM, and 15.25 μM for HL60, respectively). Western blot analysis demonstrated that SSA induces apoptosis in AML cells through the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Transcriptomic profiling and Western blot analyses confirmed that SSA activates the ERS-mediated p-JNK signaling pathway to induce apoptosis in AML, a process that can be reversed by the addition of 4PBA or SP600125. Furthermore, SSA significantly reduced tumor volume and weight in a NOD-SCID mouse xenograft model without causing notable toxicity to the liver, kidneys, lungs, or heart, while also activating the ERS and p-JNK signaling pathways in vivo.

Conclusion

SSA induces apoptosis in AML cells by activating the ERS-mediated p-JNK signaling pathway, exhibiting significant anti-AML effects both in vitro and in vivo, accompanied by a favorable safety profile.

Cucurbitacin E elicits apoptosis in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma by enhancing reactive oxygen species-regulated mitochondrial dysfunction and endoplasmic reticulum stress

Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) is a prevalent head and neck neoplasm with escalating global morbidity and mortality rates. Despite the increasing burden of LSCC, the drugs currently approved for its treatment are limited. Therefore, it is necessary to identify novel and promising drugs that target LSCC. Cucurbitacin E (CuE) is a naturally oxygenated tetracyclic triterpenoid that suppresses several cancers. However, its anti-LSCC activity and the molecular mechanisms of action remain unclear. This study explored its impact on LSCC, revealing cell viability attenuation and apoptosis enhancement in vitro. Further investigations indicated that CuE significantly decreased mitochondrial membrane potential, thereby promoting cytochrome c release, increasing cleaved-Caspase 3 and cleaved-PARP levels, and triggering mitochondria-dependent apoptosis. Concurrently, exposure of LSCC cells to CuE enhanced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, mobilized the protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase/initiation factor 2a/ATF4/C-EBP homologous protein pathway, and induced LSCC cell apoptosis. Finally, CuE markedly elevated intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. When ROS were eliminated with N-acetylcysteine, CuE-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction, ER stress, and cell apoptosis were nearly abolished. Similar outcomes were observed in murine LSCC models. Together, these results highlight that CuE suppresses proliferation while triggering apoptosis in LSCC cells via ROS-regulated mitochondrial dysfunction and the ER stress pathway. Hence, CuE may serve as a promising candidate for LCSS treatment.

ELF5-Regulated lncRNA-TTN-AS1 Alleviates Myocardial Cell Injury via Recruiting PCBP2 to Increase CDK6 Stability in Myocardial Infarction

Myocardial infarction (MI) seriously threatens the health of elderly people, and reducing myocardial injury is of great significance for the treatment of MI. LncRNA-TTN-AS1 shows protective effects on cardiomyocyte injury, while the role of TTN-AS1 in MI remains unknown. CCK8, flow cytometry, and JC-1 staining assessed cell viability, apoptosis and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), respectively. Cellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and secreted lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels were measured. The interactions between ELF5, TTN-AS1, PCBP2 and CDK6 were explored using ChIP, luciferase reporter assay, RIP, and pull-down. The severity of MI in mice was evaluated using TTC, H&E, and TUNEL staining. The data revealed that OGD/R significantly induced ROS, mitochondrial injury and apoptosis in AC16 cells, while overexpression of ELF5 or TTN-AS1 reversed these phenomena. ELF5 transcriptionally activated TTN-AS1 through binding with its promoter. TTN-AS1 increased CDK6 stability via recruiting PCBP2. CDK6 knockdown abolished the inhibitory effects of TTN-AS1 overexpression on OGD/R-induced myocardial injury. Furthermore, overexpression of TTN-AS1 or ELF5 alleviated MI progression in mice by upregulating CDK6. Collectively, TTN-AS1 transcriptionally regulated by ELF5 alleviated myocardial apoptosis and injury during MI via recruiting PCBP2 to increase CDK6 stability, which shed new lights on exploring new strategies against MI.

Dihydrocelastrol induces cell death and suppresses angiogenesis through BCR/AP-1/junb signalling in diffuse large B cell lymphoma

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Although treatment options have improved, a large proportion of patients show low survival rates, highlighting an urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of the new small-molecule compound dihydrocelastrol (DHCE), acquired through the structural modification of celastrol (CE), in the treatment of DLBCL. DHCE showed potent anti-lymphoma efficacy and synergistic effects with doxorubicin. DHCE triggered DLBCL cell apoptosis and G0/G1-phase blockade, thereby hindering angiogenesis. DHCE inhibited B-cell receptor cascade signalling and Jun B and p65 nuclear translocation, thereby suppressing pro-tumourigenic signalling. Finally, DHCE exerted lower toxicity than CE, which showed severe hepatic, renal, and reproductive toxicity in vivo. Our findings support further investigation of the clinical efficacy of DHCE against DLBCL.