Kuwanon H Inhibits Melanoma Growth through Cytotoxic Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Impaired Autophagy Flux

Mori Folium ethanol extracts induce ferroptosis and suppress gastric cancer progression by inhibiting the AKT/GSK3β/NRF2 axis

BACKGROUND

Mori Folium, the leaf of Morus alba L., is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) known for its diverse pharmacological activities, including anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. While the Morus alba itself has been reported to contain various bioactive compounds with anticancer properties, the anticancer activity of Mori Folium and its underlying mechanisms remain insufficiently understood.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate the effects of Mori Folium ethanol extracts (MFEE) on gastric cancer (GC) and to elucidate its underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

To investigate the anti-GC properties of MFEE, CCK-8, colony formation, EdU, flow cytometry, and soft agar, scratch, and transwell assays were employed. Western blot was employed to analyze the expression of ferroptotic proteins, while ferroptotic cellular events were also assessed, including iron accumulation, GSH levels, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, mitochondrial changes, and lipid peroxidation. The chemical profile of MFEE was characterized using a UPLC-ESI-MS/MS system. Additionally, network pharmacology analysis was performed to investigate the potential anti-GC mechanisms of MFEE. Finally, the in vivo anti-cancer effects of MFEE were evaluated using a subcutaneous mouse model, with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining to assess histopathological and molecular changes.

RESULTS

This study demonstrated that MFEE suppresses GC cell proliferation, blocks the G1-S cell cycle transition, and inhibits migration and invasion by promoting Fe²⁺ accumulation, increasing MDA levels and ROS, depleting GSH, and downregulating the expression of xCT and GPX4, thereby inducing ferroptosis. Chemical analysis identified 1596 phytochemicals, including 35 bioactive compounds. The induction of ferroptosis by MFEE was associated with the inhibition of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, modulating the AKT/GSK3β/NRF2 axis. Activation of AKT by SC79 was found to mitigate MF-induced ferroptosis. Notably, MFEE enhanced the chemosensitivity of GC cells to cisplatin, potentially through ferroptosis induction.

CONCLUSION

This study revealed that MFEE induces ferroptosis in GC cells by modulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, enhancing chemosensitivity to cisplatin, and providing a potential therapeutic strategy for GC.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress regulates swainsonine-induced the autophagy in renal tubular epithelial cells through UPR signaling pathway

Swainsonine (SW), the primary toxic component of locoweed, induces toxic response in grazing livestock. The swainsonine induced toxicity is characterized by symptoms including head tremors, ataxia, and limb paralysis. The mechanisms of the toxicity remained to be investigated. The unfolded protein response (UPR) plays a key role in alleviating endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) by reducing protein synthesis and promoting the degradation of misfolded proteins. ERS is closely associated with both the UPR and autophagy activation. However, the involvement of the UPR signaling pathway in SW-induced ERS and autophagy remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that SW up-regulates the expression of GRP78, XBP1s, LC3-II/I, and ATG5 in both in vitro and in vivo models, suggesting activation of ERS, UPR, and autophagy. To investigate the molecular mechanisms by which the UPR regulates autophagy under ERS in primary rat renal tubular epithelial cells (RTECs), we observed that inhibiting PERK led to increased levels of p62. Inhibition of ATF6 significantly reduced the up-regulation of LC3-II/I, p62, and ATG5. Furthermore, inhibiting IRE1α significantly decreased the expression of LC3-II/I and p62. These findings suggest that PERK and ATF6 regulate autophagy mainly by modulating the expression of autophagy-related genes, while IRE1α likely regulates these genes through the IRE1α-XBP1 pathway. Additionally, autophagy is directly regulated through the IRE1α-JNK signaling pathway.

Cell Death Modalities in Therapy of Melanoma

Melanoma, one of the most lethal cancers, demands urgent and effective treatment strategies. However, a successful therapeutic approach requires a precise understanding of the mechanisms underlying melanoma initiation and progression. This review provides an overview of melanoma pathogenesis, identifies current pathogenic factors contributing to mortality, and explores targeted therapy and checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Furthermore, we examine melanoma classification and corresponding therapies, along with advancements in various cell death mechanisms for melanoma treatment. We also discuss the current treatment status along with some drawbacks encountered during research stages such as resistance and metastasis.

Mulberrin suppresses gastric cancer progression and enhances chemosensitivity to oxaliplatin through HSP90AA1/PI3K/AKT axis

BACKGROUND

Mulberrin, a natural flavonoid featured with two isopentenyl groups, is derived from the mulberry family. Although previous researches have uncovered various properties of mulberrin, including the antioxidant, hypoglycemic, antibacterial, food-preserving, skin-whitening and life-extending effects in nematode, its potential therapeutic application and the underlying mechanism in gastric cancer (GC) remains largely unexplored.

PURPOSE

This research intends to examine the anti-tumoral effects of mulberrin and reveal the molecular mechanism through which mulberrin inhibits the GC progression.

METHODS

To detect the proliferative of GC cells co-incubated with mulberrin, MTT, EdU, and colony formation assays were conducted. The migration and invasion capabilities of GC cells co-incubated with mulberrin were assessed using wound healing and Transwell assay experiments. Flow cytometry and western blot were utilized to depict changes in the cell cycle and protein expression of associated cyclins. The interaction between mulberrin and HSP90AA1 was accomplished through auto-dock molecular docking, CETSA and DARTS assays. The subcutaneous tumor model was constructed with NOD/SCID mice to detect the tumorigenic potential of GC cells. The drug synergetic effect of mulberrin and oxaliplatin was analyzed using the Jin's formula.

RESULTS

Mulberrin effectively inhibited GC cell proliferation by inducing cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase. In addition, mulberrin significantly repressed the migration and invasion capacities of GC cells via reducing HSP90AA1 expression, leading to inhibition of the PI3K/AKT pathway and EMT process, hence curtailing proliferation, migration and invasion capacities of GC cells. Furthermore, mulberrin diminished the tumorigenic potential of GC cells, an effect mitigated by HSP90AA1 restoration. Notably, combining mulberrin with oxaliplatin yielded a synergistic inhibitory effect on GC cells, surpassing the efficacy of either agent used alone.

CONCLUSION

Mulberrin suppresses proliferation, migration and invasion of GC cells by directly targeting and reducing HSP90AA1 to inhibit the PI3K/AKT pathway and EMT process. Additionally, mulberrin increases the sensitivity of GC cells to oxaliplatin. Together, these findings uncover a latent use of mulberrin as a promising therapeutic drug that may be included in anti-GC strategies for the treatment of GC patients.

Maackiain induces apoptosis and autophagy via ROS-mediated endoplasmic reticulum stress in endometrial cancer

Endometrial cancer (EC) is a common gynecological cancer, characterized by increasing incidence and mortality rates. Maackiain (MA), a natural flavonoid compound, has multiple biological activities, but little is known about how it affects EC cells. In the present study, CCK-8, EdU, colony formation, and flow cytometry assays were used to evaluate the effects of MA on EC cell proliferation, apoptosis, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels. The effect of MA on autophagy in EC cells were examined through the observation of cell morphology and ultrastructure, and cells were transfected with AdPlus-mCherry-GFP-LC3B for further analysis. Transcriptomic and western blot analyses revealed the underlying mechanism. To evaluate the anti-EC effect of MA in vivo, a xenograft model was established. The results demonstrated that MA inhibited KLE and Ishikawa cell growth in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, MA significantly suppressed EC xenograft tumor growth in vivo while exhibiting low toxicity. In addition, EC cells treated with MA exhibited pro-apoptotic and pro-autophagic responses, with the latter exhibiting cytoprotective properties. MA also induced the accumulation of ROS, which promoted endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Notably, the use of the N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) ROS scavenger and the 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA) ER stress inhibitor effectively mitigated the autophagy and apoptosis induced by MA. These results collectively implied that MA triggers autophagy and apoptosis in EC cells through ROS-mediated ER stress, highlighting its potential as a therapeutic agent against EC.

Targeting SERCA2 in Anti-Tumor Drug Discovery

SERCA2, a P-type ATPase located on the endoplasmic reticulum of cells, plays an important role in maintaining calcium balance within cells by transporting calcium from the cytoplasm to the endoplasmic reticulum against its concentration gradient. A multitude of studies have demonstrated that the expression of SERCA2 is abnormal in a wide variety of tumor cells. Consequently, research exploring compounds that target SERCA2 may offer a promising avenue for the development of novel anti-tumor drugs. This review has summarized the anti-tumor compounds targeting SERCA2, including thapsigargin, dihydroartemisinin, curcumin, galangin, etc. These compounds interact with SERCA2 on the endoplasmic reticulum membrane, disrupting intracellular calcium ion homeostasis, leading to tumor cell apoptosis, autophagy and cell cycle arrest, ultimately producing anti-tumor effects. Additionally, several potential research directions for compounds targeting SERCA2 as clinical anti-cancer drugs have been proposed in the review. In summary, SERCA2 is a promising anti-tumor target for drug discovery and development.

Targeting Disulfidptosis with Potentially Bioactive Natural Products in Metabolic Cancer Therapy

BACKGROUND

Metabolic cancers are defined by metabolic reprogramming. Although this reprograming drives rapid tumour growth and invasion, it also reveals specific metabolic vulnerabilities that can be therapeutically exploited in cancer therapy. A novel form of programmed cell death, known as disulfidptosis, was identified last year; tumour cells with high SLC7A11 expression undergo disulfidptosis when deprived of glucose. Natural products have attracted increasing attention and have shown potential to treat metabolic cancers through diverse mechanisms.

METHODS

We systematically searched electronic databases involving PubMed, Web of Science, Gooale Scholar. To ensue comprehensive exploration, keywords including metabolic reprogramming, metabolic cancer, disulfidptosis, natural products and some other words were employed.

RESULTS

In this review, we focus on the shared characteristics and metabolic vulnerabilities of metabolic cancers. Additionally, we discuss the molecular mechanisms underlying disulfidptosis and highlight key regulatory genes. Furthermore, we predict bioactive natural products that target disulfidptosis-related genes, offering new perspectives for anticancer strategies through the modulation of disulfidptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

By summarizing current research progress, this review mainly analyzed the potential mechanisms of natural products in the treatment of metabolic cancer.

Innate Immune Cells in Melanoma: Implications for Immunotherapy

The innate immune system, composed of neutrophils, basophils, eosinophils, myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), macrophages, dendritic cells (DCs), mast cells (MCs), and innate lymphoid cells (ILCs), is the first line of defense. Growing evidence demonstrates the crucial role of innate immunity in tumor initiation and progression. Several studies support the idea that innate immunity, through the release of pro- and/or anti-inflammatory cytokines and tumor growth factors, plays a significant role in the pathogenesis, progression, and prognosis of cutaneous malignant melanoma (MM). Cutaneous melanoma is the most common skin cancer, with an incidence that rapidly increased in recent decades. Melanoma is a highly immunogenic tumor, due to its high mutational burden. The metastatic form retains a high mortality. The advent of immunotherapy revolutionized the therapeutic approach to this tumor and significantly ameliorated the patients' clinical outcome. In this review, we will recapitulate the multiple roles of innate immune cells in melanoma and the related implications for immunotherapy.

Moracin D suppresses cell growth and induces apoptosis via targeting the XIAP/PARP1 axis in pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic cancer, a tumor with a high metastasis rate and poor prognosis, is among the deadliest human malignancies. Investigating effective drugs for their treatment is imperative. Moracin D, a natural benzofuran compound isolated from Morus alba L., shows anti-inflammation and anti-breast cancer properties and is effective against Alzheimer's disease. However, the effect and mechanism of Moracin D action in pancreatic cancer remain obscure.

PURPOSE

To investigate the function and molecular mechanism of Moracin D action in repressing the malignant progression of pancreatic cancer.

METHODS

Pancreatic cancer cells were treated with Moracin D, and cell proliferation was evaluated by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and immunofluorescence assays. The clonogenicity of pancreatic cancer cells was assessed based on plate colony formation and soft agar assay. Flow cytometry was used to detect cell apoptosis. The expression of proteins related to the apoptosis pathway was determined by Western blot analysis. Moracin D and XIAP were subjected to docking by auto-dock molecular docking analysis. Ubiquitination levels of XIAP and the interaction of XIAP and PARP1 were assessed by co-immunoprecipitation analysis. Moracin D's effects on tumorigenicity were assessed by a tumor xenograft assay.

RESULTS

Moracin D inhibited cell proliferation, induced cell apoptosis, and regulated the protein expression of molecules involved in caspase-dependent apoptosis pathways. Moracin D suppressed clonogenicity and tumorigenesis of pancreatic cancer cells. Mechanistically, XIAP could interact with PARP1 and stabilize PARP1 by controlling its ubiquitination levels. Moracin D diminished the stability of XIAP and decreased the expression of XIAP by promoting proteasome-dependent XIAP degradation, further blocking the XIAP/PARP1 axis and repressing the progression of pancreatic cancer. Moracin D could dramatically improve the chemosensitivity of gemcitabine in pancreatic cancer cells.

CONCLUSION

Moracin D repressed cell growth and tumorigenesis, induced cell apoptosis, and enhanced the chemosensitivity of gemcitabine through the XIAP/PARP1 axis in pancreatic cancer. Moracin D is a potential therapeutic agent or adjuvant for pancreatic cancer.

Dysregulation of autophagy in gastric carcinoma: Pathways to tumor progression and resistance to therapy

The considerable death rates and lack of symptoms in early stages of gastric cancer (GC) make it a major health problem worldwide. One of the most prominent risk factors is infection with Helicobacter pylori. Many biological processes, including those linked with cell death, are disrupted in GC. The cellular "self-digestion" mechanism necessary for regular balance maintenance, autophagy, is at the center of this disturbance. Misregulation of autophagy, however, plays a role in the development of GC. In this review, we will examine how autophagy interacts with other cell death processes, such as apoptosis and ferroptosis, and how it affects the progression of GC. In addition to wonderful its role in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition, it is engaged in GC metastasis. The role of autophagy in GC in promoting drug resistance stands out. There is growing interest in modulating autophagy for GC treatment, with research focusing on natural compounds, small-molecule inhibitors, and nanoparticles. These approaches could lead to breakthroughs in GC therapy, offering new hope in the fight against this challenging disease.

Huangqi Jiuni decoction prevents acute kidney injury induced by severe burns by inhibiting activation of the TNF/NF-κB pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Huangqi Jiuni decoction (HQJND) is a prescription for the treatment of severe burns provided based on traditional Chinese and Western medicine, which is created by the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University. It consists of 12 herbs and has been used clinically for decades. It has greatly shortened the course of the disease, but the mechanism by which HQJND treats the disease still remains unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

Hence, the objective of this investigation was to utilize modern pharmacological tools to demonstrate the efficacy and mechanism of HQJND in the treatment of acute kidney injury (AKI) caused by severe burns.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In this study, the chemical constituents in HQJND were first examined using liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Then, by using network pharmacology, we screened the targets of drug and disease action, and predicted the signaling pathways acting in the course of drug treatment of disease. Finally, we attempted to verify the efficacy of the drug and explored its therapeutic mechanism after the establishment of an animal model, herbal gavage treatment, collection of rat kidneys and serum for renal function, quantitative real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR), Western Blotting (WB), Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and Immunohistochemistry (IHC).

RESULTS

The 14 important active ingredients in HQJND was analyzed by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, while network pharmacology screening was performed to identify 353 disease-associated marker genes and 286 drug targets, finally identifying the TNF/NF-κB (tumor necrosis factor/nuclear factor kappa-B) signaling site: the key pathway of burn-induced acute kidney injury when HQJND intervened. The serum renal function and histopathology of rats demonstrated that the use of HQJND significantly improved the renal function in severe burns. RT-qPCR and WB confirmed that the TNF/NF-κB signaling pathway was activated in the Model group of rats, and HQJND could curb the signaling pathway because it moderated the expressions of key proteins in the process.

CONCLUSION

Based on modern pharmacology, we explored an effective herbal preparation to ameliorate the impairment of renal function after severe burns, which is most likely to function through the TNF/NF-κB signaling pathway.

Gastrointestinal Cancer Therapeutics via Triggering Unfolded Protein Response and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress by 2-Arylbenzofuran

Gastrointestinal cancers are a major global health challenge, with high mortality rates. This study investigated the anti-cancer activities of 30 monomers extracted from Morus alba L. (mulberry) against gastrointestinal cancers. Toxicological assessments revealed that most of the compounds, particularly immunotoxicity, exhibit some level of toxicity, but it is generally not life-threatening under normal conditions. Among these components, Sanggenol L, Sanggenon C, Kuwanon H, 3'-Geranyl-3-prenyl-5,7,2',4'-tetrahydroxyflavone, Morusinol, Mulberrin, Moracin P, Kuwanon E, and Kuwanon A demonstrate significant anti-cancer properties against various gastrointestinal cancers, including colon, pancreatic, and gastric cancers. The anti-cancer mechanism of these chemical components was explored in gastric cancer cells, revealing that they inhibit cell cycle and DNA replication-related gene expression, leading to the effective suppression of tumor cell growth. Additionally, they induced unfolded protein response (UPR) and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, potentially resulting in DNA damage, autophagy, and cell death. Moracin P, an active monomer characterized as a 2-arylbenzofuran, was found to induce ER stress and promote apoptosis in gastric cancer cells, confirming its potential to inhibit tumor cell growth in vitro and in vivo. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of Morus alba L. monomers in gastrointestinal cancers, especially focusing on Moracin P as a potent inducer of ER stress and apoptosis.

GATA binding protein 6 regulates apoptosis in silkworms through interaction with poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase

The GATA family of genes plays various roles in crucial biological processes, such as development, cell differentiation, and disease progression. However, the roles of GATA in insects have not been thoroughly explored. In this study, a genome-wide characterization of the GATA gene family in the silkworm, Bombyx mori, was conducted, revealing lineage-specific expression profiles. Notably, GATA6 is ubiquitously expressed across various developmental stages and tissues, with predominant expression in the midgut, ovaries, and Malpighian tubules. Overexpression of GATA6 inhibits cell growth and promotes apoptosis, whereas, in contrast, knockdown of PARP mitigates the apoptotic effects driven by GATA6 overexpression. Co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) has demonstrated that GATA6 can interact with Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), suggesting that GATA6 may induce cell apoptosis by activating the enzyme's activity. These findings reveal a dynamic and regulatory relationship between GATA6 and PARP, suggesting a potential role for GATA6 as a key regulator in apoptosis through its interaction with PARP. This research deepens the understanding of the diverse roles of the GATA family in insects, shedding light on new avenues for studies in sericulture and pest management.