Bruceine A induces cell growth inhibition and apoptosis through PFKFB4/GSK3β signaling in pancreatic cancer

Treatment strategies targeting the phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B/mechanistic target of rapamycin pathway against triple-negative breast cancer

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an exceptionally aggressive subtype of breast cancer with a poor prognosis. TNBC patients have limited treatment options beyond conventional chemotherapy, and they face significant challenges associated with disease recurrence and resistance to chemotherapy. The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway plays a pivotal role in cell proliferation, growth, metabolism, and survival. Its aberrant activation is closely linked to the development and progression of TNBC, as well as treatment response and drug resistance. Currently, numerous targeted drugs specifically inhibiting this signaling pathway are being developed and undergoing clinical trials. These include inhibitors targeting PI3K, AKT, or mTOR individually, as well as dual-target or multi-target inhibitors simultaneously targeting different components of this pathway. Encouragingly, some inhibitors have demonstrated promising potential in clinical trials. This review delves into the therapeutic potential of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway for TNBC and explores prospects for drug discovery.

PFKFB4 promotes endometrial cancer by regulating glycolysis through SRC‑3 phosphorylation

The present study aimed to investigate the role of 6‑phosphofructo‑2‑kinase/fructose‑2,6‑biphosphatase 4 (PFKFB4) in endometrial cancer cells and to explore its potential molecular mechanisms. PFKFB4 expression in endometrial cancer tissues was detected by immunohistochemistry. Cell Counting Kit‑8, Transwell assays and flow cytometry were used to detect cell proliferation, invasion and apoptosis in endometrial cancer cells after PFKFB4 knockdown. An enzyme‑linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect the glucose and lactic acid contents. Western blotting was performed to detect the levels of glycolysis‑related enzymes, steroid receptor coactivator‑3 (SRC‑3), and phosphorylated SRC‑3. In vivo experiments were performed to investigate the tumorigenic potential of PFKFB4. PFKFB4 expression was upregulated in endometrial cancer tissues compared with that in normal controls, and its upregulation was positively correlated with the depth of myometrial invasion, lymph node metastasis, surgical pathological stage and vascular invasion. PFKFB4 knockdown significantly inhibited proliferation and invasion, increased apoptosis, and decreased oxygen consumption and lactic acid production in endometrial cancer cells. PFKFB4 knockdown decreased SRC‑3 phosphorylation. After simultaneous PFKFB4 knockdown and SRC‑3 overexpression in cancer cells, oxygen consumption, lactic acid production, and glycolysis‑related protein expression were increased compared with those in control cells. PFKFB4 knockdown inhibited tumor proliferation, apoptosis and the expression of Ki‑67. PFKFB4 may regulate glycolysis in endometrial cancer cells by targeting SRC‑3, thus promoting endometrial cancer progression.

Bruceine A Inhibits Cell Proliferation by Targeting the USP13/PARP1 Signalling Pathway in Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma (MM) is an incurable hematologic malignancy, driving significant interest in the discovery of novel therapeutic strategies. Bruceine A (BA), a tetracyclic triterpene quassinoid derived from Brucea javanica, has shown anticancer properties by modulating multiple intracellular signalling pathways and exhibiting various biological effects. However, the specific pharmacological mechanisms by which it combats MM remain unclear. In this study, we identified USP13 as a potential target of BA. We observed a significant increase in USP13 expression in patients with MM, which was strongly associated with a poorer prognosis. Furthermore, enhanced USP13 expression can stimulate MM cell proliferation both in vitro and in vivo. Mass spectrometry analysis, combined with co-immunoprecipitation and in vitro ubiquitination experiments, revealed PARP1 as a critical downstream target of USP13. USP13 can stabilize PARP1 protein through deubiquitination, promoting PARP1-mediated DNA damage repair (DDR) and facilitating MM progression. Notably, we utilized MM cell lines, an MM Patient-Derived Tumour Xenograft model, and a 5TMM3VT mouse model to determine the anticancer effects of BA on MM progression, revealing its potential to target USP13/PARP1 signalling and disrupt DDR in MM cells. In conclusion, these findings suggest that BA inhibiting USP13/PARP1-mediated DDR might be a promising therapeutic strategy for MM.

Emd-D inhibited ovarian cancer progression via PFKFB4-dependent glycolysis and apoptosis

Ovarian cancer poses a significant threat to women's health, necessitating effective therapeutic strategies. Emd-D, an emodin derivative, demonstrates enhanced pharmaceutical properties and bioavailability. In this study, Cell Counting Kit 8 (CCK8) assays and Ki-67 staining revealed dose-dependent inhibition of cell proliferation by Emd-D. Migration and invasion experiments confirmed its inhibitory effects on OVHM cells, while flow cytometry analysis demonstrated Emd-D-induced apoptosis. Mechanistic investigations elucidated that Emd-D functions as an inhibitor by directly binding to the glycolysis-related enzyme PFKFB4. This was corroborated by alterations in intracellular lactate and pyruvate levels, as well as glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) and hexokinase 2 (HK2) expression. PFKFB4 overexpression experiments further supported the dependence of Emd-D on PFKFB4-mediated glycolysis and SRC3/mTORC1 pathway-associated apoptosis. In vivo experiments exhibited reduced xenograft tumor sizes upon Emd-D treatment, accompanied by suppressed glycolysis and increased expression of Bax/Bcl-2 apoptotic proteins within the tumors. In conclusion, our findings demonstrate Emd-D's potential as an anti-ovarian cancer agent through inhibition of the PFKFB4-dependent glycolysis pathway and induction of apoptosis. These results provide a foundation for further exploration of Emd-D as a promising drug candidate for ovarian cancer treatment.

Proteomics: An In-Depth Review on Recent Technical Advances and Their Applications in Biomedicine

Proteins hold pivotal importance since many diseases manifest changes in protein activity. Proteomics techniques provide a comprehensive exploration of protein structure, abundance, and function in biological samples, enabling the holistic characterization of overall changes in organisms. Nowadays, the breadth of emerging methodologies in proteomics is unprecedentedly vast, with constant optimization of technologies in sample processing, data collection, data analysis, and its scope of application is steadily transitioning from the bench to the clinic. Here, we offer an insightful review of the technical developments in proteomics and its applications in biomedicine over the past 5 years. We focus on its profound contributions in profiling disease spectra, discovering new biomarkers, identifying promising drug targets, deciphering alterations in protein conformation, and unearthing protein-protein interactions. Moreover, we summarize the cutting-edge technologies and potential breakthroughs in the proteomics pipeline and provide the principal challenges in proteomics. Based on these, we aspire to broaden the applicability of proteomics and inspire researchers to enhance our understanding of complex biological systems by utilizing such techniques.

Chemical proteomics accelerates the target discovery of natural products

More than half of the global novel drugs are directly or indirectly derived from natural products (NPs) because of their better selectivity towards proteins. Traditional medicines perform multiple bioactivities through various NPs binding to drug targets, which highlights the opportunities of target discovery for drug development. However, detecting the binding relationship between NPs and targets remains challenging. Chemical proteomics, an interdisciplinary field of chemistry, proteomics, biology, and bioinformatics, has emerged as a potential approach for uncovering drug-target interactions. This review summarizes the principles and characteristics of the current widely applied chemical proteomic technologies, while delving into their latest applications in the target discovery of natural medicine. These endeavours demonstrate the potential of chemical proteomics for target discovery to supply dependable methodologies for the target elucidation of NPs.

The quassinoids bruceines A-M: pharmacology, mechanism of action, synthetic advance, and pharmacokinetics-a review

Bruceines A-L are among the quassinoid representatives found in the medicinal plant Brucea javanica (L.). An overview of their pharmacological activities is still unknown. The given research deals with highlights in their pharmacological result, molecular mechanism of action, synthetic progress, and pharmacokinetics. From previous evidence, bruceine derivatives are potential agents for anticancer treatments, as well as they are appropriate to treat inflammation, diabetes, and parasitic infections, and protect the neurons, kidneys, and lungs. Cytokine inhibitions, oxidative stress responses, and various signaling pathways, such as MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) and NF-κB (nuclear factor-kappa B), have been proposed as the underlying mechanisms of action. Synthetic approaches to synthesize new derivatives with enhancement activities are based on free hydroxyl group modifications. Bruceines seem to be promptly absorbed by both oral and intravenous administrations, but their bioavailability is not high (less than 6%). Pre-clinical and clinical studies to prove their anticancer potential and other activities are urgent. Structural modifications, nano-combinations, and synergistic effects are necessary.

Recent strategies in target identification of natural products: Exploring applications in chronic inflammation and beyond

Natural products are a treasure trove for drug discovery, especially in the areas of infection, inflammation and cancer, due to their diverse bioactivities and complex, and varied structures. Chronic inflammation is closely related to many diseases, including complex diseases such as cancer and neurodegeneration. Improving target identification for natural products contributes to elucidating their mechanism of action and clinical progress. It also facilitates the discovery of novel druggable targets and the elimination of undesirable ones, thereby significantly enhancing the productivity of drug discovery and development. Moreover, the rise of polypharmacological strategies, considered promising for the treatment of complex diseases, will further increase the demand for target deconvolution. This review underscores strategies for identifying natural product targets (NPs) in the context of chronic inflammation over the past 5 years. These strategies encompass computational methodologies for early target discovery and the anticipation of compound binding sites, proteomics-driven approaches for target delineation and experimental biology techniques for target validation and comprehensive mechanistic exploration.

Fibrillarin reprograms glucose metabolism by driving the enhancer-mediated transcription of PFKFB4 in liver cancer

DNA- and RNA-binding proteins (DRBPs) are versatile proteins capable of binding to both DNA and RNA molecules. In this study, we identified fibrillarin (FBL) as a key DRBP that is upregulated in liver cancer tissues vs. normal tissues and is correlated with patient prognosis. FBL promotes the proliferation of liver cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, FBL interacts with the transcription factor KHSRP, thereby regulating the expression of genes involved in glucose metabolism and leading to the reprogramming of glucose metabolism. Specifically, FBL and KHSRP work together to transcriptionally activate the glycolytic enzyme PFKFB4 by co-occupying enhancer and promoter elements, thereby further promoting liver cancer growth. Collectively, these findings provide compelling evidence highlighting the role of FBL as a transcriptional regulator in liver cancer cells, working in conjunction with KHSRP. The FBL/KHSRP-PFKFB4 regulatory axis holds potential as both a prognostic indicator and a therapeutic target for liver cancer. SIGNIFICANCE: A novel role of FBL in the transcriptional activation of PFKFB4, leading to glucose metabolism reprogramming in liver cancer.

Bruceine B Displays Potent Antimyeloma Activity by Inducing the Degradation of the Transcription Factor c-Maf

The oncogenic transcription factor c-Maf has been proposed as an ideal therapeutic target for multiple myeloma (MM), a not-yet-curable malignancy of plasma cells. In the present study, we establish a c-Maf-based luciferase screen system and apply it to screen a homemade library composed of natural products from which bruceine B (BB) is identified to display potent antimyeloma activity. BB is a key ingredient isolated from the Chinese traditional medicinal plant Brucea javanica (L.) Merr. (Simaroubaceae). BB inhibits MM cell proliferation and induces MM cell apoptosis in a caspase-3-dependent manner. The mechanism studies showed that BB inhibits c-Maf transcriptional activity and downregulates the expression of CCND2 and ITGB7, the downstream genes typically modulated by c-Maf. Moreover, BB induces c-Maf degradation via proteasomes by inducing c-Maf for K48-linked polyubiquitination in association with downregulated Otub1 and USP5, two proven deubiquitinases of c-Maf. We also found that c-Maf activates STAT3 and BB suppresses the STAT3 signaling. In the in vivo study, BB displays potent antimyeloma activity and almost suppresses the growth of myeloma xenografts in 7 days but shows no overt toxicity to mice. In conclusion, this study identifies BB as a novel inhibitor of c-Maf by promoting its degradation via the ubiquitin-proteasomal pathway. Given the safety and the successful clinical application of bruceine products in traditional medicine, BB is ensured for further investigation for the treatment of patients with MM.

Bruceine A inhibited breast cancer proliferation and metastasis by inducing autophagy via targeting PI3K-AKT signaling pathway

Although there have been significant advances in cancer treatment, the urgent need to inhibit breast cancer metastasis remained unmet. Bruceine A (BA) is a natural compound extracted from Bruceae Fructus and has long been recognized to have antitumor effects with high safety and biocompatibility. However, the mechanisms and/or targets of BA for metastatic breast cancer treatment are still not fully elucidated. In this study, we systematically investigated the effects of BA on inhibition of breast cancer metastasis and its underlying mechanisms. We found that, in addition to its cytotoxic effects, BA significantly inhibited the invasion and migration capabilities of two types of breast cancer cell lines (MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7) while concurrently promoting apoptosis in these cells. Further mechanistic studies revealed that, by targeting the canonical PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, BA initiated autophagy of both types of breast cancer cell lines in vitro. In vivo results further confirmed the in vitro findings, manifested by shrinkage of size and weight of breast tumor as well as initiation of autophagy (indicated by upregulation of LC3I/II) through targeting PI3K-AKT pathway on mice model. These data collectively demonstrated the potential of BA in antimetastasis of breast cancer cells, suggesting its future clinical transformation in metastatic breast cancer therapy.

Bruceine A: Suppressing metastasis via MEK/ERK pathway and invoking mitochondrial apoptosis in triple-negative breast cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), as the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer, presents a scarcity of miraculous drugs in suppressing its proliferation and metastasis. Bruceine A (BA) is a functional group-rich quassin compound with extensive and distinctive pharmacological activities. Within the present study, we investigated the capabilities of BA in suppressing TNBC proliferation and metastasis as well as its potential mechanisms. The results displayed that BA dramatically repressed the proliferation of MDA-MB-231 and 4T1 cells with corresponding IC50 values of 78.4 nM and 524.6 nM, respectively. Concurrently, BA arrested cells in G1 phase by downregulating cycle-related proteins Cyclin D1 and CDK4. Furthermore, BA distinctly induced mitochondrial dysfunction as manifested by diminished mitochondrial membrane potential, elevated reactive oxygen species generation, minimized ATP production, and Caspase-dependent activation of the mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. Additionally, BA restrained the invasion and metastasis of TNBC cells by repressing MMP9 and MMP2 expression. Intriguingly, after pretreatment with MEK activator C16-PAF, the inhibitory effect of BA on MEK/ERK pathway was notably diminished, while the proliferation suppression and metastasis repression exerted by BA were all strikingly curtailed. Molecular docking illustrated that BA potently combined with residues on the MEK1 protein with the presence of diverse intermolecular interactions. Ultimately, BA effectively suppressed tumor growth in the 4T1 xenograft tumor model with no detectable visceral toxicity in the high-dose group and, astonishingly, repressed tumor metastasis in the 4T1-luc lung metastasis model. Collectively, our study demonstrates that BA is a promising chemotherapeutic agent for treating TNBC and suppressing lung metastasis.

Comparative clinical significance and biological roles of PFKFB family members in oral squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Cancer cells promote glycolysis, which supports rapid cell growth and proliferation. Phosphofructokinase-fructose bisphosphatases (PFKFBs), a family of bidirectional glycolytic enzymes, play key roles in the regulation of glycolysis in many types of cancer. However, their roles in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), the most common type of oral cancer, are still unknown.

METHODS

We compared the gene expression levels of PFKFB family members and analyzed their clinical significance in oral cancer patients, whose clinical data were obtained the Cancer Genome Atlas database. Moreover, real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, assays for cell viability, cell cycle, cell migration and viability of cell spheroid were performed in scramble and PFKFB-silenced cells.

RESULTS

We discovered that PFKFB3 expression in tumor tissues was slightly higher than that in tumor adjacent normal tissues but that PFKFB4 expression was significantly higher in the tumor tissues of oral cancer patients. High PFKFB3 and PFKFB4 expression had different effects on the prognosis of oral cancer patients with different clinicopathological outcomes. Our data showed that PFKFB3 and PFKFB4 play different roles; PFKFB3 is involved in cell viability, G2/M cell cycle progression, invasion, and migration, whereas PFKFB4 is involved in the drug resistance and cancer stemness of OSCC cells. Furthermore, oral cancer patients with co-expressions of PFKFB3/cell cycle or EMT markers and PFKFB4/stemness markers had poor prognosis.

CONCLUSIONS

PFKFB3 and PFKFB4 play different biological roles in OSCC cells, which implying that they might be potential prognostic biomarkers for OSCC patients with certain clinicopathological outcomes.

Structurally diverse (9β-H)-pimarane derivatives with six frameworks from the leaves of Icacina oliviformis and their cytotoxic activities

Thirteen previously undescribed (9β-H)-pimarane derivatives, icacinolides A-G (1-7) and oliviformislactones C-H (8-13), together with four known analogs (14-17), were isolated from the leaves of Icacina oliviformis. Their structures were constructed by extensive spectroscopic analysis, 13C NMR-DP4+ analysis, ECD calculation, single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and chemical methods. These structurally diverse isolates were classified into six framework types: rearranged 3-epi-17-nor-(9β-H)-pimarane, rearranged 17-nor-(9β-H)-pimarane, 16-nor-(9β-H)-pimarane, 17-nor-(9β-H)-pimarane, 17,19-di-nor-(9β-H)-pimarane, and (9β-H)-pimarane. Among them, compounds 1, 5, and 7 were the first examples of three rearranged 3-epi-17-nor-(9β-H)-pimaranes featuring a unique (11S)-carboxyl-9-oxatricyclo[5.3.1.02,7]dodecane motif with contiguous stereogenic centers, whereas their C-3 epimers, compounds 2-4 and 6 were the second examples of four rearranged 17-nor-(9β-H)-pimaranes. Additionally, compounds 8 and 12/13 represented the second examples of a 16-nor-(9β-H)-pimarane and two 17,19-di-nor-(9β-H)-pimaranes, respectively. In cytotoxic bioassay, compound 2 exhibited significant cytotoxic against HT-29 with IC50 values of 7.88 μM, even stronger than 5-fluorouracil, and 15 showed broad-spectrum cytotoxic activities against HepG2, HT-29, and MIA PaCa-2 with IC50 values of 11.62, 9.77, and 4.91 μM, respectively. Meanwhile, a preliminary structure-activity relationship suggested that 3,20-epoxy, 6,19-lactone, 2-OH, 7-OH, and 8-OH in (9β-H)-pimarane derivatives might be active groups, whereas ring C aromatization may decrease the cytotoxic activities.

Advances and Prospects in the Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer

Pancreatic cancer is a highly malignant and incurable disease, characterized by its aggressive nature and high fatality rate. The most common type is pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), which has poor prognosis and high mortality rate. Current treatments for pancreatic cancer mainly encompass surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, targeted therapy, and combination regimens. However, despite efforts to improve prognosis, and the 5-year survival rate for pancreatic cancer remains very low. Therefore, it's urgent to explore novel therapeutic approaches. With the rapid development of therapeutic strategies in recent years, new ideas have been provided for treating pancreatic cancer. This review expositions the advancements in nano drug delivery system, molecular targeted drugs, and photo-thermal treatment combined with nanotechnology for pancreatic cancer. It comprehensively analyzes the prospects of combined drug delivery strategies for treating pancreatic cancer, aiming at a deeper understanding of the existing drugs and therapeutic approaches, promoting the development of new therapeutic drugs, and attempting to enhance the therapeutic effect for patients with this disease.

Phosphorylation of PFKFB4 by PIM2 promotes anaerobic glycolysis and cell proliferation in endometriosis

Endometriosis (EM) is one of the vanquished wonted causes of chronic pelvic sting in women and is closely associated with infertility. The long-term, complex, systemic, and post-treatment recurrence of EM wreaks havoc on women's quality of life. Extensive metabolic reprogramming (aerobic glycolysis, glucose overweening intake, and high lactate production) and cancer-like changes have been found in EM, which bears striking similarities to tumorigenesis. The key glycolysis regulator PFKFB4 is overexpressed in EM. However, the mechanism of PFKFB4 in EM remains unknown. We found that PFKFB4 was upregulated and was closely related to the progression of EM. We identified focus PIM2 as a new pioneering adjoin protein of PFKFB4. Vigorous biochemical methods were used to confirm that PIM2 phosphorylated site Thr140 of PFKFB4. PIM2 also could enhance PFKFB4 protein expression through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway. Moreover, PIM2 expression was really corresponding prevalent with PFKFB4 in endometriosis in vivo. Importantly, phosphorylation of PFKFB4 on Thr140 by PIM2 promoted EM glycolysis and cell growth. Our study demonstrates that PIM2 mediates PFKFB4 Thr140 phosphorylation thus regulating glycolysis and EM progression. We illustrated a new mechanism that PIM2 simulated a central upstream partnership in the regulation of PFKFB4, and reveal a novel means of PIM2-PFKFB4 setting EM growth. Our research provided new theoretical support for further clarifying the reprogramming of EM glucose metabolism, and provided new clues for exploring non-contraceptive treatments for EM.

β-elemene Isopropanolamine Derivative LXX-8250 Induces Apoptosis Through Impairing Autophagic Flux via PFKFB4 Repression in Melanoma Cells

Melanoma is a highly aggressive skin cancer and accounts for most of the skin cancer-related deaths. The efficacy of current therapies for melanoma remains to be improved. The isopropanolamine derivative of β-elemene LXX-8250 was reported to present better water solubility and stronger toxicity to tumor cells than β-elemene. Herein, LXX-8250 treatment showed 4-5-fold more toxicity to melanoma cells than the well-known anti-melanoma drug, Dacarbazine. LXX-8250 treatment induced apoptosis remarkably, which was caused by the impairment of autophagic flux. To clarify the molecular mechanism, microarray analyses were conducted, and PFKFB4 expression was found to be suppressed by LXX-8250 treatment. The cells overexpressed with PFKFB4 exhibited resistance to apoptosis induction and autophagic flux inhibition by LXX-8250 treatment. Moreover, LXX-8250 treatment suppressed glycolysis, to which the cells overexpressed with PFKFB4 were tolerant. LXX-8250 treatment inhibited the growth of melanoma xenografts and suppressed PFKFB4 expression and glycolysis in vivo. Taken together, LXX-8250 treatment induced apoptosis through inhibiting autophagic flux and glycolysis in melanoma cells, which was mediated by suppression of PFKFB4 expression. The study provides a novel strategy to melanoma treatment.

Glycometabolism-related gene signature of hepatocellular carcinoma predicts prognosis and guides immunotherapy

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a severe cancer endangering human health. We constructed a novel glycometabolism-related risk score to predict prognosis and immunotherapy strategies in HCC patients. The HCC data sets were obtained from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and the glycometabolism-related gene sets were obtained from the Molecular Signature Database. The least absolute contraction and selection operator (LASSO) regression model was used to construct a risk score based on glycometabolism-related genes. A simple visual nomogram model with clinical indicators was constructed and its effectiveness in calibration, accuracy, and clinical value was evaluated. We also explored the correlation between glycometabolism-related risk scores and molecular pathways, immune cells, and functions. Patients in the low-risk group responded better to anti-CTLA-4 immune checkpoint treatment and benefited from immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy. The study found that glycometabolism-related risk score can effectively distinguish the prognosis, molecular and immune-related characteristics of HCC patients, and may provide a new strategy for individualized treatment.

Efficacy and safety of Brucea javanica oil emulsion injection as adjuvant therapy for cancer: An overview of systematic reviews and meta-analyses

BACKGROUND

In China, Brucea javanica oil emulsion injection (BJOEI) has been used as adjuvant therapy to treat cancer for many years. Many systematic reviews (SRs) or meta-analyses (MAs) were published to evaluate its efficacy and safety. Nevertheless, uneven quality made it difficult to reach a consensus and there has been no specific review to integrate the evidence of BJOEI for cancer at present. Therefore, a comprehensive evidence map is needed to guide clinicians.

PURPOSE

We, for the first time, conducted an overview to assess the SRs/MAs of BJOEI, and provided a comprehensive evidence map to guide clinicians. Besides, this study provided a promising direction for future research to promote the generation of advanced evidence.

STUDY DESIGN

An overview of SRs or MAs.

METHODS

The pre-defined search strategies were applied to 8 databases. Suitable SRs/MAs were included according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Methodological quality, reporting quality, and risk of bias were assessed. An evidence map was conducted to show the situation of clinical evidence.

RESULTS

27 SRs/MAs in 7 cancer types were included in this overview. The main problems of SRs/MAs were concentrated on the following aspects: without registration or protocol, lacking gray literature retrieval and a list of excluded studies, incomplete description in the literature retrieval strategy or the methods of merging results, the bias of each synthetic result, less exploration in heterogeneity or publication bias, deficiencies in assessing evidence quality and less description in conflict, funding or access to relevant information. Based on the rules of GRADE, the evidence quality of 154 items in 27 SRs/MAs was defined as moderate quality (103 items), low-quality (44 items), and very low-quality (7 items). Especially, risk of bias (154 items), imprecision (27 items), inconsistency (20 items), and publication bias (9 items) were the main downgrading factors.

CONCLUSION

BJOEI may be a promising adjuvant therapy for treating cancer, especially in the digestive system. However, high-quality SRs/MAs are expected to be carried out to improve the reliability of the above conclusion in the future.

A New C22-Quassinoid with Anti-Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma Activity from Seeds of Brucea javanica

An undescribed C22-quassinoid named sergeolide A (1) and fifteen known quassinoids (2-16) were obtained from the seeds of Brucea javanica (Simaroubaceae). All chemical structures were established based on spectroscopic data and X-ray diffraction analysis. Sergeolide A (1) is the first example of a naturally occurring C22-quassinoid bearing a butenolide group fused the A ring of the bruceolide skeleton from Brucea genus. And this is the first report of the NMR data for desmethyl-bruceines B (2) and C (3) and the crystal structure for bruceolide (11). In addition, all isolates were evaluated for their anti-pancreatic adenocarcinoma activity by measuring the growth inhibitory of the MIA PaCa-2 cell lines. Consequently, compounds 1, 7-10, and 12-16 exhibited potent anti-pancreatic cancer activity in vitro (IC₅₀ =0.054∼0.357 μM).

Emodin Ameliorates Intestinal Dysfunction by Maintaining Intestinal Barrier Integrity and Modulating the Microbiota in Septic Mice

Sepsis-induced inflammatory response leads to intestinal damage and secondary bacterial translocation, causing systemic infections and eventually death. Emodin is a natural anthraquinone derivative in many plants with promising bioactivities. However, the effects and mechanisms of emodin on sepsis-induced intestinal dysfunctions have not been well clarified yet. We found that emodin treatment suppressed the inflammatory response in the intestines of septic mice. Intestinal barrier function was also improved by emodin through enhancing ZO-1 and occludin expression, which prevented the secondary translocation of Escherichia coli. By proteome microarray investigation, JNK2 was identified as a direct target of emodin. In vitro study also showed that emodin inhibited LPS-induced inflammatory response in intestinal epithelial cells. Nuclear factors including NF-κB and AP-1 were further identified as downstream effectors of JNK2. Bioinformatic analysis based on 16s rRNA gene sequencing illustrated that emodin treatment significantly increased the alpha- and beta-diversity of gut microbiota in septic mice. Moreover, data according to functional prediction showed that emodin decreased the abundance of potential pathogenic bacteria in gut. Our findings have shown that emodin treatment prevented inflammatory induced barrier dysfunction and decreased the potential pathogenicity of lumen bacteria, reducing the hazard of lumen bacterial translocation during sepsis.

CDK5RAP3, an essential regulator of checkpoint, interacts with RPL26 and maintains the stability of cell growth

PURPOSE AND MATERIALS

CDK5RAP3 (CDK5 regulatory subunit associated protein 3) was originally identified as a binding protein of CDK5. It is a crucial gene controlling biological functions, such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasion, and metastasis. Although previous studies have also shown that CDK5RAP3 is involved in a variety of signalling pathways, however, the mechanism of CDK5RAP3 remains largely undefined. This study utilized MEFs from conditional knockout mice to inhibit CDK5RAP3 and knockdown CDK5RAP3 in MCF7 to explore the role of CDK5RAP3 in cell growth, mitosis, and cell death.

RESULTS

CDK5RAP3 was found to be widely distributed throughout the centrosome, spindle, and endoplasmic reticulum, indicating that it is involved in regulating a variety of cellular activities. CDK5RAP3 deficiency resulted in instability of cell growth. CDK5RAP3 deficiency partly blocks the cell cycle in G₂ /M by downregulating CDK1 (Cyclin-dependent kinase 1) and CCNB1 (Cyclin B1) expression levels. The cell proliferation rate was decreased, thereby slowing down the cell growth rate. Furthermore, the results showed that CDK5RAP3 interacts with RPL26 (ribosome protein L26) to regulate the mTOR pathway. CDK5RAP3 and RPL26 deficiency inhibited mTOR/p-mTOR protein and induce autophagy, resulting in an upregulation of the percentage of apoptosis, and the upregulated percentage of apoptosis also slowed cell growth.

CONCLUSIONS

Our experiments show that CDK5RAP3 interacts with RPL26 and maintains the stability of cell growth. It shows that CDK5RAP3 plays an important role in cell growth and can be used as the target of gene medicine.

Bruceine H Mediates EGFR-TKI Drug Persistence in NSCLC by Notch3-Dependent β-Catenin Activating FOXO3a Signaling

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) targeting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) protein serve as a critical pillar in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), but resistance is universal. Identifying the potential key factors of drug resistance to EGFR-TKIs is essential to treat patients with EGFR mutant lung cancer. Our research here shows that bruceine H suppressed the proliferation, migration, and invasion of lung cancer cells; inhibited the growth of human NSCLC cell xenografts; and enhanced the therapeutic effects of gefitinib in the PC-9/GR xenograft models, possibly by inhibiting Notch3. In order to analyze the potential targets of the combination of Notch3 and EGFR-TKIs on resistance to EGFR, we analyzed the differences of gene expression between NSCLC tissues and EGFR-driven gefitinib-resistant tumoral groups and then identify through the WGCNA key genes that may provide therapeutic targets for TKI-resistant lung cancer xenograft models. We confirmed that EGFR-TKI in combination with Notch3 inhibitor can inhibit the expression of β-catenin and enhance the level of FOXO3a, leading to improved recurrence-free survival and overall survival of the xenotransplantation model. These results support that the combination of gefitinib and bruceine H may provide a promising alternative strategy for treating acquired EGFR-TKI resistance in patients with NSCLC.

Major Constituents From Brucea javanica and Their Pharmacological Actions

Brucea javanica (Ya-dan-zi in Chinese) is a well-known Chinese herbal medicine, which is traditionally used in Chinese medicine for the treatment of intestinal inflammation, diarrhea, malaria, and cancer. The formulation of the oil (Brucea javanica oil) has been widely used to treat various types of cancer. It has also been found that B. javanica is rich in chemical constituents, including quassinoids, triterpenes, alkaloids and flavonoids. Pharmacological studies have revealed that chemical compounds derived from B. javanica exhibit multiple bioactivities, such as anti-cancer, anti-bacterial, anti-diabetic, and others. This review provides a comprehensive summary on the pharmacological properties of the main chemical constituents presented in B. javanica and their underlying molecular mechanisms. Moreover, the review will also provide scientific references for further research and development of B. javanica and its chemical constituents into novel pharmaceutical products for disease management.