Nobiletin inhibits de novo FA synthesis to alleviate gastric cancer progression by regulating endoplasmic reticulum stress

ZIP8 modulates ferroptosis to drive esophageal carcinoma progression

Ferroptosis, a regulated form of cell death characterized by iron-dependent phospholipid peroxidation, remains poorly understood in the context of esophageal cancer development and its regulatory mechanisms. Through comprehensive bioinformatic analyses, we identified ferroptosis-related pathways as crucial mediators in esophageal cancer progression, with ZIP8 emerging as a key regulatory element. We observed significant upregulation of ZIP8 in esophageal cancer specimens, which correlated with poor clinical outcomes. Functional studies demonstrated that ZIP8 depletion significantly attenuated cellular proliferation in vitro. Mechanistically, elevated ZIP8 expression enhanced zinc-dependent phosphorylation of CREB, leading to upregulation of the ferroptosis suppressor GPX4 and inhibition of this iron-dependent cell death modality. Significantly, we discovered that the natural compound Nobiletin targeted ZIP8, inhibiting Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cell growth in vitro and in vivo. Our findings demonstrate ZIP8 as a potential therapeutic target in ESCC and suggest that promoting ferroptosis through ZIP8 inhibition may represent a novel anti-cancer strategy for ESCC therapy.

Astragaloside IV Alleviates Podocyte Injury in Diabetic Nephropathy through Regulating IRE-1α/NF-κ B/NLRP3 Pathway

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of astragaloside IV (AS-IV) on podocyte injury of diabetic nephropathy (DN) and reveal its potential mechanism.

METHODS

In in vitro experiment, podocytes were divided into 4 groups, normal, high glucose (HG), inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE-1) α activator (HG+thapsigargin 1 µmol/L), and IRE-1α inhibitor (HG+STF-083010, 20 µmol/L) groups. Additionally, podocytes were divided into 4 groups, including normal, HG, AS-IV (HG+AS-IV 20 µmol/L), and IRE-1α inhibitor (HG+STF-083010, 20 µmol/L) groups, respectively. After 24 h treatment, the morphology of podocytes and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) was observed by electron microscopy. The expressions of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78) and IRE-1α were detected by cellular immunofluorescence. In in vivo experiment, DN rat model was established via a consecutive 3-day intraperitoneal streptozotocin (STZ) injections. A total of 40 rats were assigned into the normal, DN, AS-IV [AS-IV 40 mg/(kg·d)], and IRE-1α inhibitor [STF-083010, 10 mg/(kg·d)] groups (n=10), respectively. The general condition, 24-h urine volume, random blood glucose, urinary protein excretion rate (UAER), urea nitrogen (BUN), and serum creatinine (SCr) levels of rats were measured after 8 weeks of intervention. Pathological changes in the renal tissue were observed by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blot were used to detect the expressions of GRP78, IRE-1α, nuclear factor kappa Bp65 (NF-κBp65), interleukin (IL)-1β, NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3), caspase-1, gasdermin D-N (GSDMD-N), and nephrin at the mRNA and protein levels in vivo and in vitro, respectively.

RESULTS

Cytoplasmic vacuolation and ER swelling were observed in the HG and IRE-1α activator groups. Podocyte morphology and ER expansion were improved in AS-IV and IRE-1α inhibitor groups compared with HG group. Cellular immunofluorescence showed that compared with the normal group, the fluorescence intensity of GRP78 and IRE-1α in the HG and IRE-1α activator groups were significantly increased whereas decreased in AS-IV and IRE-1α inhibitor groups (P<0.05). Compared with the normal group, the mRNA and protein expressions of GRP78, IRE-1α, NF-κ Bp65, IL-1β, NLRP3, caspase-1 and GSDMD-N in the HG group was increased (P<0.05). Compared with HG group, the expression of above indices was decreased in the AS-IV and IRE-1α inhibitor groups, and the expression in the IRE-1α activator group was increased (P<0.05). The expression of nephrin was decreased in the HG group, and increased in AS-IV and IRE-1α inhibitor groups (P<0.05). The in vivo experiment results revealed that compared to the normal group, the levels of blood glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol, BUN, blood creatinine and urinary protein in the DN group were higher (P<0.05). Compared with DN group, the above indices in AS-IV and IRE-1α inhibitor groups were decreased (P<0.05). HE staining revealed glomerular hypertrophy, mesangial widening and mesangial cell proliferation in the renal tissue of the DN group. Compared with the DN group, the above pathological changes in renal tissue of AS-IV and IRE-1α inhibitor groups were alleviated. Quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot results of GRP78, IRE-1α, NF-κ Bp65, IL-1β, NLRP3, caspase-1 and GSDMD-N were consistent with immunofluorescence analysis.

CONCLUSION

AS-IV could reduce ERS and inflammation, improve podocyte pyroptosis, thus exerting a podocyte-protective effect in DN, through regulating IRE-1α/NF-κ B/NLRP3 signaling pathway.

Jianpi Yangzheng Xiaozheng granule induced ferroptosis to suppress gastric cancer progression through reprogramming lipid metabolism via SCD1/Wnt/β-catenin axis

The incidence of Poorly cohesive carcinoma (PCC) has steadily risen in recent years, posing a significant clinical challenge. To reveal the anti-tumor effects of Jianpi Yangzheng Xiaozheng granule (JPYZXZ) in PCC, an initial investigation was performed using CCK-8, colony formation, scratch, and transwell assays. This was followed by network pharmacology studies to gain a deeper understanding of JPYZXZ's impact on gastric cancer (GC). Then reactive oxygen species (ROS), Fe2+, malondialdehyde (MDA), glutathione (GSH), Oil Red O staining, BODIPY493/503, triglyceride (TG), and cholesterol (TC) assay kits and western blot (Wb) analysis were applied to exam the regulatory effects of JPYZXZ on ferroptosis and lipid metabolism. Additionally, molecular docking studies and Wb analysis were used to further investigate the mechanisms of JPYZXZ on PCC. Finally, in vivo animal studies were conducted. The results show that JPYZXZ can inhibit the proliferation and migration of PCC cell. It increases the levels of ROS, Fe2+, MDA, while declining the content of GSH, TC, TG, and lipid droplet accumulation within cellular compartments. Wb indicates that JPYZXZ can negatively regulate the expression of proteins, including glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4), cystine/glutamate antipoter SLC7A11 (xCT), fatty acid synthase (FASN), and acetyl coenzyme A carboxylase 1 (ACC1). Furthermore, ferrostatin-1 (fer-1) is able to reverse the effects of JPYZXZ on the aforementioned markers of ferroptosis and lipid metabolism. Molecular docking analyses reveal that JPYZXZ exhibits a favorable binding affinity towards Stearoyl-Coenzyme A desaturase 1 (SCD1). Mechanism studies demonstrate that JPYZXZ is capable of down-regulating the expressions of proteins like SCD1, β-catenin, GPX4, and xCT, which is analogous to the effects of SCD1 knockdown and the application of SCD1 inhibitor A939572. Nevertheless, when SCD1 is knocked down, JPYZXZ is unable to further downregulate the expressions of these proteins. Animal studies have corroborated the in vitro tumor-inhibiting effects of JPYZXZ. Therefore, this study offers the first evidence that JPYZXZ inhibits PCC progression by orchestrating ferroptosis and altering lipid metabolism, mediated by the SCD1/Wnt/β-catenin pathway.

Nobiletin regulates the proliferation and migration of ovarian cancer A2780 cells via DPP4 and TXNIP

Nobiletin is an active compound extracted from citrus fruits. Research has indicated that nobiletin has a potential inhibitory effect on ovarian cancer (OV). However, the mechanism of action remains unclear. The OV A2780 cells were treated using nobiletin, cell viability was examined using a cell counting kit-8 experiment, and cell migration was examined with a wound healing experiment. Nobiletin targets were retrieved from target databases. Differentially expressed genes (DEG) and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) were conducted on GSE26712 (OV). The intersection of the critical genes for nobiletin's action on OV and gene enrichment and immune infiltration analyses were performed. The Cancer Genome Atlas-OV data and molecular docking helped validate the findings. After adding nobiletin, cell viability and migration significantly decreased (P < 0.01). A total of 88 nobiletin targets and 1288 DEG were identified. The intersection genes were enriched inflammatory response and response to hypoxia. The most related module obtained from WGCNA contained 414 genes (correlation coefficient = 0.77, P < 0.01). DPP4 and TXNIP were recognized as the hub genes. The abundance of macrophages M2 and mast cells activated significantly enhanced with increased DPP4 expression (P < 0.05). The binding energy between DPP4/TXNIP and nobiletin was - 7.012/ - 7.184 kcal/mol, forming 5/2 hydrogen bonds. Nobiletin effectively suppresses the viability and migration of OV A2780 cells. In this process, DPP4 and TXNIP are the key target, immune regulation, and oxidative stress playing significant roles.

Integrative pharmacological analysis of modified Zuojin formula: Inhibiting the HIF-1α-mediated glycolytic pathway in chronic atrophic gastritis

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Zuojin formula (ZJF) is a well-known herbal medicine in Pharmacopoeia of China, which is widely used for gastritis. Modified Zuojin formula (MZJF) was adapted based on traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) theories concerning gastric atrophy and dysplasia, along with extensive clinical experience, has been clinically employed to treat chronic atrophic gastritis (CAG). However, the underlying mechanisms by which MZJF intervenes in CAG remain to be fully elucidated.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of MZJF intervention in CAG and explore its potential mechanisms.

METHODS

Four induction factors were used to establish a CAG rat model. HE and AB-PAS staining was utilized to assess the effects of MZJF in the intervention of CAG. The stomach weight index and gastric acid pH was used to assess the overall state of stomach. ELISA was used to assess the gastric mucosal inflammatory response. Using transmission electron microscopy to observe chief cells and parietal cells, we evaluated the improvement of ultrastructure by MZJF. Through network pharmacology analysis, the possible regulatory mechanism of MZJF in CAG was preliminarily explored. Binding interactions between MZJF components and predicted targets were explored using molecular docking. Subsequently, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), Western blot, biochemical analysis and TUNEL staining were applied to validate the effect of MZJF on predicted pathway.

RESULTS

MZJF treatment ameliorated gastric mucosal pathology, inflammation, cellular ultrastructural damage and PG levels, halted the exacerbation of CAG in rats, along with a reduction in stomach weight index and gastric acid pH. A total of 79 compounds in MZJF targeting 203 CAG-related molecules were identified through network pharmacology. Enrichment analysis of the core targets was focused on the hypoxia inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) signaling pathway. Molecular docking results identified HIF-1α as stable binding targets for MZJF primary components. Subsequently, PCR, WB, and biochemical results showed that MZJF suppressed the gene and protein expression levels of HIF-1α and its downstream molecules including glycolytic enzymes and transporters, modulated glucose, pyruvic acid and lactate levels in gastric mucosal tissue. Moreover, MZJF induced apoptosis of gastric epithelial cells, as evidenced by the upregulation of cleaved caspase-3, Bax, Bax/Bcl-2 and TUNEL positive cells ratio.

CONCLUSIONS

MZJF suppressed the HIF-1α-mediated glycolytic pathway, and promoted cell apoptosis, thereby halting the malignant transformation of CAG. The study provides a valuable reference point for applying TCM in preventing and treating CAG.

Modulating Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Gastrointestinal Cancers: Insights from Traditional Chinese Medicine

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and the unfolded protein response (UPR) play critical roles in tumorigenesis, cancer progression, and drug resistance. Persistent activation of the ER stress system enhances the survival capacities of malignant tumor cells, including increased proliferation, invasion, and resistance to treatment. Dysregulation of ER function and the resultant stress is a common cellular response to cancer therapies and may lead to cancer cell death. Currently, growing evidence suggests that Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), either as a monotherapy or in combination with other treatments, offers significant advantages in preventing cancer, inhibiting tumor growth, reducing surgical complications, improving drug sensitivity, and mitigating drug-induced damage. Some of these natural products have even entered clinical trials as primary or complementary anticancer agents. In this review, we summarize the anticancer effects of TCM monomers/natural products on the gastrointestinal (GI) tumors and explore their mechanisms through ER stress modulation. We believe that ongoing laboratory research and the clinical development of TCM-based cancer therapies hold considerable potential for advancing future cancer treatments.

Systematic analysis of fatty acid desaturases in breast invasive carcinoma: The prognosis, gene mutation, and tumor immune microenvironment

Breast invasive carcinoma (BRCA) is one of the most common cancers in women, with its malignant progression significantly influenced by intracellular fatty acid (FA) desaturation. Stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase (SCD) and fatty acid desaturase 2 (FADS2) are two key rate-limiting enzymes that catalyze the FA desaturation process and cooperate to accelerate lipid metabolic activities. In this study, we investigated the potential functions of SCD and FADS2 in BRCA using bioinformatic analysis and experimental validation. The gene expression profiling interactive analysis database showed that the expression of SCD or FADS2 genes was positively linked to worse overall survival and disease-free survival in the Cancer Genome Atlas database-BRCA. The University of Alabama at Birmingham cancer data analysis portal database indicates that the expression and methylation levels of SCD or FADS2 are associated with various clinicopathological factors in patients with BRCA. Moreover, the tumor immune estimation resource and TISCH databases showed a significant positive correlation between the expression of SCD and the abundance of CD8+ T cells and macrophage cell infiltration, while the expression of FADS2 was positively correlated with the abundance of B cells. Meanwhile, SCD or FADS2 had a higher expression in monocytes/macrophages analyzed the BRCA_GSE143423 and BRCA_GSE114727_inDrop datasets. Mechanistically, the Search Tool for the Retrieval of Distant Genes and CancerSEA databases showed that SCD and FADS2 were upregulated in several cell biology signaling pathways, particularly in inflammation, apoptosis, and DNA repair. Finally, SCD or FADS2 knockdown inhibited the proliferation of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells. In summary, SCD and FADS2 play significant roles in BRCA development, suggesting that they may serve as potential therapeutic targets for BRCA treatment.

The dual effect of endoplasmic reticulum stress in digestive system tumors and intervention of Chinese botanical drug extracts: a review

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis is essential for maintaining human health, and once imbalanced, it will trigger endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS), which participates in the development of digestive system tumors and other diseases. ERS has dual effect on tumor cells, activating adaptive responses to promote survival or inducing apoptotic pathways to accelerate cell death of the tumor. Recent studies have demonstrated that Chinese botanical drug extracts can affect the tumor process of the digestive system by regulating ERS and exert anticancer effects. This article summarizes the dual effect of ERS in the process of digestive system tumors and the intervention of Chinese botanical drug extracts in recent years, as reference for the combined treatment of digestive system tumors with Chinese and modern medicine.

Exploring the association between inflammatory biomarkers and gastric cancer development: A two-sample mendelian randomization analysis

This study aimed to elucidate the potential causative links between inflammatory biomarkers and gastric cancer risk via a two-sample Mendelian randomization approach. Leveraging genome-wide association study (GWAS) data, we conducted a two-sample Mendelian randomization analysis. Instrumental variable selection for inflammatory markers - namely, tissue factor, monocyte chemotactic protein-1, E-selectin, interleukin 6 receptor, and fatty acid-binding protein 4 - was informed by SNP data from the IEU database. Strongly associated SNPs served as instrumental variables. We applied a suite of statistical methods, including Inverse Variance Weighted (IVW), Weighted Median Estimator (WME), MR-Egger, and mode-based estimates, to compute the odds ratios (ORs) that articulate the impact of these markers on gastric cancer susceptibility. The IVW method revealed that the interleukin 6 receptor was inversely correlated with gastric cancer progression (OR = 0.86, 95% CI = 0.74-0.99, P = .03), whereas fatty acid-binding protein 4 was found to elevate the risk (OR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.05-1.39, P = .03). Instrumental variables comprised 5, 4, 7, 2, and 3 SNPs respectively. Convergent findings from WME, MR-Egger, and mode-based analyses corroborated these associations. Sensitivity checks, including heterogeneity, horizontal pleiotropy assessments, and leave-one-out diagnostics, affirmed the robustness and reliability of our instruments across diverse gastric malignancy tissues without substantial bias. Our research suggests that the interleukin 6 receptor potentially mitigates, while fatty acid-binding protein 4 may contribute to the pathogenesis of gastric cancer (GC). Unraveling the intricate biological interplay between inflammation and oncogenesis offers valuable insights for preemptive strategies and therapeutic interventions in gastric malignancy management.

Reactive Oxygen Species and H. pylori Infection: A Comprehensive Review of Their Roles in Gastric Cancer Development

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fifth most common cancer worldwide and makes up a significant component of the global cancer burden. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is the most influential risk factor for GC, with the International Agency for Research on Cancer classifying it as a Class I carcinogen for GC. H. pylori has been shown to persist in stomach acid for decades, causing damage to the stomach's mucosal lining, altering gastric hormone release patterns, and potentially altering gastric function. Epidemiological studies have shown that eliminating H. pylori reduces metachronous cancer. Evidence shows that various molecular alterations are present in gastric cancer and precancerous lesions associated with an H. pylori infection. However, although H. pylori can cause oxidative stress-induced gastric cancer, with antioxidants potentially being a treatment for GC, the exact mechanism underlying GC etiology is not fully understood. This review provides an overview of recent research exploring the pathophysiology of H. pylori-induced oxidative stress that can cause cancer and the antioxidant supplements that can reduce or even eliminate GC occurrence.