Hispidulin induces ER stress-mediated apoptosis in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo by activating AMPK signaling pathway

Chemical profiling and cytotoxic potential of the n-butanol fraction of Tamarix nilotica flowers

BACKGROUND

Cancer represents one of the biggest healthcare issues confronting humans and one of the big challenges for scientists in trials to dig into our nature for new remedies or to develop old ones with fewer side effects. Halophytes are widely distributed worldwide in areas of harsh conditions in dunes, and inland deserts, where, to cope with those conditions they synthesize important secondary metabolites highly valued in the medical field. Several Tamarix species are halophytic including T.nilotica which is native to Egypt, with a long history in its tradition, found in its papyri and in folk medicine to treat various ailments.

METHODS

LC-LTQ-MS-MS analysis and ¹H-NMR were used to identify the main phytoconstituents in the n- butanol fraction of T.nilotica flowers. The extract was tested  in vitro for its cytotoxic effect against breast (MCF-7) and liver cell carcinoma (Huh-7) using SRB assay.

RESULTS

T.nilotica n-butanol fraction of the flowers was found to be rich in phenolic content, where, LC-LTQ-MS-MS allowed the tentative identification of thirty-nine metabolites, based on the exact mass, the observed spectra fragmentation patterns, and the literature data, varying between tannins, phenolic acids, and flavonoids. ¹H-NMR confirmed the classes tentatively identified. The in-vitro evaluation of the n-butanol fraction showed lower activity on MCF-7 cell lines with IC₅₀ > 100 µg/mL, while the higher promising effect was against Huh-7 cell lines with an IC₅₀= 37 µg/mL.

CONCLUSION

Our study suggested that T.nilotica flowers' n-butanol fraction is representing a promising cytotoxic candidate against liver cell carcinoma having potential phytoconstituents with variable targets and signaling pathways.

Protective Effects of Astilbin Against Cadmium-Induced Apoptosis in Chicken Kidneys via Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Signaling Pathway

Cadmium (Cd) can cause endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and apoptosis in animals. The kidney is an organ seriously affected by Cd because it can accumulate metal ions. Astilbin (ASB) is a dihydroflavonol rhamnoside, which has an anti-renal injury effect. This study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of ASB on Cd-induced ERS and apoptosis in the chicken kidney. In this study, a total of 120 1-day-old chickens were randomly divided into 4 groups. Chickens were fed with a basic diet (Con group), ASB 40 mg/kg (ASB group), CdCl₂ 150 mg/kg + ASB 40 mg/kg (ASB/Cd group), and CdCl₂ 150 mg/kg (Cd group) for 90 days. The results showed that Cd exposure induced pathological and ultrastructural damages and apoptosis in chicken kidneys. Compared with the Con group, metallothionein (MT1/MT2) level, nitric oxide (NO) content, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) activity, ERS-related genes 78-kDa glucose-regulated protein (Grp78), protein kinase PKR-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (Perk), activating transcription factor 4 (Atf4) and CAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) homologous protein (Chop), and pro-apoptotic gene B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2)-associated X (Bax), caspase-12, caspase-9, caspase-3 expression levels, and apoptotic rate were significantly increased in the Cd group. The expression level of Bcl-2 was significantly decreased in the Cd group. ASB/Cd combined treatment significantly improves the damage of chicken kidneys by ameliorating Cd-induced kidney ERS and apoptosis. Cd can cause the disorder of the GRP78 signal axis, activate the PERK-ATF4-CHOP pathway, aggravate the structural damage and dysfunction of ER, and promote the apoptosis of chicken kidneys, while the above changes were significantly alleviated in the ASB/Cd group. The results showed that ASB antagonizes the negative effects of Cd and against Cd-induced apoptosis in chicken kidneys via ERS signaling pathway.

Molecular Targets and Mechanisms of Hedyotis diffusa-Scutellaria barbata Herb Pair for the Treatment of Colorectal Cancer Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking

Objective: Hedyotis diffusa-Scutellaria barbata herb pair (HS) has therapeutic effects on a variety of cancers, and this study aims to systematically explore the multiple mechanisms of HS in the treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods. The active ingredients of HS were obtained from TCMSP, and the potential targets related to these ingredients were screened from the STITCH, SuperPred, and Swiss TargetPrediction databases. Targets associated with CRC were retrieved by Drugbank, TTD, DisGeNET, and GeneCards. We used a Venn diagram to screen the intersection targets and used Cytoscape to construct the herb-ingredient-target-disease network, and the core targets were selected. The Go analysis and KEGG pathway annotation were performed by R language software. We used PyMol and Autodock Vina to achieve molecular docking of core ingredients and targets. Results: A total of 33 active ingredients were obtained from the HS, and 762 CRC-related targets were reserved from the four databases. We got 170 intersection targets to construct the network and found that the four ingredients with the most targets were quercetin, luteolin, baicalein, and dinatin, which were the core ingredients. The PPI analysis showed that the core targets were STAT3, TP53, MAPK3, AKT1, JUN, EGFR, MYC, VEGFA, EGF, and CTNNB1. Molecular docking results showed that these core ingredients had good binding potential with core targets, especially the docking of each component with MAPK obtained the lowest binding energy. HS acts simultaneously on various signaling pathways related to CRC, including the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, proteoglycans in cancer, and the MAPK signaling pathway. Conclusions: This study systematically analyzed the active ingredients, core targets, and central mechanisms of HS in the treatment of CRC. It reveals the role of HS targeting PI3K-Akt signaling and MAPK signaling pathways in the treatment of CRC. We hope that our research could bring a new perspective to the therapy of CRC and find new anticancer drugs.

Interaction between COX-2 and ER stress is involved in the apoptosis-induced myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury

PURPOSE

Apoptosis induced by excessive endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is accompanied by the occurrence and progression of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. COX-2 is also known to affect the development of I/R damage in myocardium. However, the interaction between COX-2 and ER stress in aggravating myocardial I/R lesion is not well characterized. Therefore, the purpose of our research was to explore the interaction between COX-2 and ER stress on myocardial apoptosis.

METHODS

The left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery was ligatured with a 6-0# suture for 0.5 hours and subsequently subjected to reperfusion for 3 hours to simulate myocardial I/R in mice. Oxygen glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) was performed on H9c2 cells to construct an in vitro model of this experiment. NS398 (COX-2 specific inhibitor) and Salubrinal (Sal, ER stress inhibitor) were administered to assess the function of COX-2 and ER stress in myocardial I/R impairment. CCK-8 assay was used to evaluate the viability of H9c2 cells under different treatment conditions. TUNEL and Hoechst staining were used to detect the occurrence of apoptosis. Infarct area/area at risk and Hematoxylin-eosin stained sections were assessed after I/R. Protein expressions of glucose-regulated protein 78 (GRP78), COX-2, phosphorylation of eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 alpha (p-eIF2α), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP), and Cleaved caspase 3 in the myocardium were examined using Western blotting. Changes in Cleaved caspase 3 expression in myocardial slices were measured by immunohistochemistry.

RESULTS

Sal or NS398 partly reduced I/R-induced damage as testified by the apparent decrease in infarct size after I/R and reduced cell viability following OGD/R. Sal distinctly increased p-eIF2α, but caused decreased expression of COX-2, Cleaved caspase 3, and ER stress-associated proteins after I/R, suggesting that Sal effectively inhibited ER stress, apoptosis, and COX-2. Pretreatment with NS398 blocked I/R or OGD/R-induced upregulation of COX-2, Cleaved caspase 3, and ER stress-related marker proteins.

CONCLUSIONS

Interaction of COX-2 and ER stress regulates apoptosis and contributes to Myocardial lesion induced by I/R.

Evodiamine suppresses the progression of non-small cell lung carcinoma via endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated apoptosis pathway in vivo and in vitro

BACKGROUND

Evodiamine (EVO) is one of the major components isolated from Evodia rutaecarpa (Juss.). Recent studies have shown that EVO has an anti-cancer effect. However, the pharmacological mechanism by which EVO impacts cancer is still poorly understood.

OBJECTIVES

This study focused on asking the anti-cancer effect of EVO in human non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC), and in particular to investigate whether EVO acts via modulating the endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)-mediated apoptosis pathway.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) tumor-bearing mouse model was treated with low-dose EVO (5 mg/kg) and high-dose EVO (10 mg/kg) intraperitoneally for 14 d. The effects of EVO on tumor growth, apoptosis, and ERS were assessed. In addition, NSCLC A549 and LLC cells were treated with EVO in vitro. The effects of EVO on cell proliferation, apoptosis, and ERS were investigated. Finally, 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA), an ERS inhibitor, was used to validate whether EVO induced apoptosis of NSCLC cells by modulating ERS.

RESULTS

EVO treatment significantly inhibited tumor growth in LLC tumor-bearing mice. H&E staining indicated that EVO treatment reduced the number of tumor cells and the nucleo-plasmic ratio. Immunostaining showed that EVO treatment significantly decreased the expression of Ki-67. TUNEL staining revealed that EVO induced apoptosis in the tumor. Likewise, EVO treatment up-regulated the expression of apoptosis-related genes and proteins and increased activation of the ERS pathway in the tumor. Additionally, EVO inhibited cell proliferation and increased cell apoptotic rates in A549 and LLC cells. EVO also increased the expression levels of genes and proteins associated with ERS-mediated apoptosis pathway in vitro. The effects of EVO on apoptosis were abolished by 4-PBA treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrated that EVO suppresses the progression of NSCLC by modulating the ERS-mediated apoptosis pathway.

Anti-growth and pro-apoptotic effects of dasatinib on human oral cancer cells through multi-targeted mechanisms

Dasatinib is an inhibitor of Src that has anti-tumour effects on many haematological and solid cancers. However, the anti-tumour effects of dasatinib on human oral cancers remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of dasatinib on different types of human oral cancer cells: the non-tumorigenic YD-8 and YD-38 and the tumorigenic YD-10B and HSC-3 cells. Strikingly, dasatinib at 10 µM strongly suppressed the growth and induced apoptosis of YD-38 cells and inhibited the phosphorylation of Src, EGFR, STAT-3, STAT-5, PKB and ERK-1/2. In contrast, knockdown of Src blocked the phosphorylation of EGFR, STAT-5, PKB and ERK-1/2, but not STAT-3, in YD-38 cells. Dasatinib induced activation of the intrinsic caspase pathway, which was inhibited by z-VAD-fmk, a pan-caspase inhibitor. Dasatinib also decreased Mcl-1 expression and S6 phosphorylation while increased GRP78 expression and eIF-2α phosphorylation in YD-38 cells. In addition, to its direct effects on YD-38 cells, dasatinib also exhibited anti-angiogenic properties. Dasatinib-treated YD-38 or HUVEC showed reduced HIF-1α expression and stability. Dasatinib alone or conditioned media from dasatinib-treated YD-38 cells inhibited HUVEC tube formation on Matrigel without affecting HUVEC viability. Importantly, dasatinib's anti-growth, anti-angiogenic and pro-apoptotic effects were additionally seen in tumorigenic HSC-3 cells. Together, these results demonstrate that dasatinib has strong anti-growth, anti-angiogenic and pro-apoptotic effects on human oral cancer cells, which are mediated through the regulation of multiple targets, including Src, EGFR, STAT-3, STAT-5, PKB, ERK-1/2, S6, eIF-2α, GRP78, caspase-9/3, Mcl-1 and HIF-1α.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress: Multiple regulatory roles in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is a basic cellular stress response that maintains cellular protein homeostasis under endogenous or exogenous stimuli, which depends on the stimulus, its intensity, and action time. The ER produces a corresponding cascade reaction for crosstalk of adaptive and/or pro-death regulation with other organelles. Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC) is one of the most common malignant solid tumors with an extremely poor prognosis. Viral hepatitis infection, cirrhosis, and steatohepatitis are closely related to the occurrence and development of HCC, and ER stress has gradually been shown to be a major mechanism. Moreover, an increasing need for protein and lipid products and relative deficiencies of oxygen and nutrients for rapid proliferation and endoplasmic reticulum stress are undoubtedly involved. Therefore, to fully and comprehensively understand the regulatory role of endoplasmic reticulum stress in the occurrence and progression of HCC is of vital importance to explore its pathogenesis and develop novel anti-cancer strategies.

METHODOLOGY

We searched for relevant publications in the PubMed databases using the keywords "Endoplasmic reticulum stress", "hepatocellular carcinoma" in last five years,and present an overview of the current knowledge that links ER stress and HCC, which includes carcinogenesis, progression, and anti-cancer strategies, and propose directions of future research.

RESULT

ER stress were confirmed to be multiple regulators or effectors of cancer, which also be confirmed to drive tumorigenesis and progression of HCC. Targeting ER stress signaling pathway and related molecules could play a critical role for anti-HCC and has become a research hotspot for anti-cancer in recent years.

CONCLUSION

ER stress are critical for the processes of the tumorigenesis and progression of tumors. For HCC, ER stress was associated with tumorigenesis, development, metastasis, angiogenesis and drug resistance, targeting ER stress has emerged as a potential anti-tumor strategy.

Hispidulin inhibits proliferation, migration, and invasion by promoting autophagy via regulation of PPARγ activation in prostate cancer cells and xenograft models

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the important factors of cancer deaths especially in the western countries. Hispidulin (4',5,7-trihydroxy-6-methoxyflavone) is a phenolic flavonoid compound proved to possess anticancer properties, but its effects on PCa are left to be released. The aims of this study were to investigate the effects and the relative mechanisms of Hispidulin on PCa development. Hispidulin administration inhibited proliferation, invasion, and migration, while accelerated apoptosis in Du145 and VCaP cells, which was accompanied by PPARγ activation and autophagy enhancement. The beneficial effects of Hispidulin could be diminished by PPARγ inhibition. Besides, Hispidulin administration suppressed PCa tumorigenicity in Xenograft models, indicating the anticancer properties in vivo. Therefore, our work revealed that the anticancer properties of Hispidulin might be conferred by its activation on PPARγ and autophagy.

Anti-Proliferative and Anti-Migratory Activities of Hispidulin on Human Melanoma A2058 Cells

Melanoma represents less than 5% of skin cancers, but is the most lethal, mainly because of its high-metastatic potential and resistance to various therapies. Therefore, it is important to develop effective treatments, especially chemotherapeutic drugs with cytotoxicity, anti-metastaticity, and few side effects. One such natural product is hispidulin, a flavone distributed in plants of the Asteraceae. Previous studies have demonstrated that hispidulin has various pharmacological benefits, such as anti-tumor, anti-inflammation, and anti-allergic effects. This study aims to explore the effects of hispidulin against melanoma in vitro and in vivo. Results revealed that hispidulin selectively decreased the cell viability of A2058 cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Hispidulin induced cells accumulated in the sub-G1 phase via activating caspase 8 and 9, increased cleaved caspase 3, and cleaved PARP expression. Hispidulin was able to decrease AKT and ERK phosphorylation, which facilitated cell growth and survival. Moreover, hispidulin promoted reactive oxygen species generation in cells and suppressed cell migration through downregulated matrix metalloproteinase-2 expression. Hispidulin significantly inhibited tumor growth in a xenograft model. Based on these results, hispidulin produces its anti-melanoma effects by inducing cancer cell apoptosis and reducing its migration. Therefore, we suggest hispidulin as a potent therapeutic candidate for melanoma treatment.

The Effect of Hispidulin, a Flavonoid from Salvia plebeia, on Human Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma CNE-2Z Cell Proliferation, Migration, Invasion, and Apoptosis

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a common malignant head and neck tumor. Drug resistance and distant metastasis are the predominant cause of treatment failure in NPC patients. Hispidulin is a flavonoid extracted from the bioassay-guided separation of the EtOH extract of Salvia plebeia with strong anti-proliferative activity in nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells (CNE-2Z). In this study, the effects of hispidulin on proliferation, invasion, migration, and apoptosis were investigated in CNE-2Z cells. The [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] (MTT) assay and the colony formation assay revealed that hispidulin could inhibit CNE-2Z cell proliferation. Hispidulin (25, 50, 100 μM) also induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner in CNE-2Z cells. The expression of Akt was reduced, and the expression of the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 was increased. In addition, scratch wound and transwell assays proved that hispidulin (6.25, 12.5, 25 μM) could inhibited the migration and invasion in CNE-2Z cells. The expressions of HIF-1α, MMP-9, and MMP-2 were decreased, while the MMPs inhibitor TIMP1 was enhanced by hispidulin. Moreover, hispidulin exhibited potent suppression tumor growth and low toxicity in CNE-2Z cancer-bearing mice at a dosage of 20 mg/kg/day. Thus, hispidulin appears to be a potentially effective agent for NPC treatment.

Identification and Quantification of Phenolic Compounds from Mexican Oregano (Lippia graveolens HBK) Hydroethanolic Extracts and Evaluation of Its Antioxidant Capacity

Plants have been used for thousands of years for various purposes because they have a wide variety of activities with biological significance. Mexican oregano is an aromatic plant of great importance to Mexico and north of Jalisco state as a spice with important economic value. Chromatographic identification and quantification of phenolic compounds and evaluation of their antioxidant activity were important tools to obtain a better characterization of this spice. Phytochemical analysis indicated the presence of flavonoids, triterpenes, saponins, quinones and tannins, the latter at high concentrations. Through chromatographic assays of Mexican oregano extracts, 62 compounds were identified, the major ones being quantified as: taxifolin, apigenin 7-O-glucoside, phlorizin, eriodictyol, quercetin, naringenin, hispidulin, pinocembrin, galangin and genkwanin (compound for the first time reported for this species). The results can be useful as a precedent to establish the bases of new quality characterization parameters and they have also suggested that Mexican oregano contains a wide variety of compounds with untapped importance for the development of new high value-added products.

6-Methoxylated Flavonoids: Jacein, and 3-demethyljacein from Centaurea schmidii with Their Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Apoptotic Cell Death in Breast Cancer Cells Along with In-silico Analysis

In phytochemical analysis, Jacein derivatives: 5,7,4'-trihydroxy-3,6,3'-trimethoxyflavone-7(β)-D-glucopyranoside (1), and 3-demethyljacein: 3,5,7,4'-tetrahydroxy-6,3'-dimethoxyflavone-7(β)-D-glucopyranoside (2) were isolated from Campylopus schmidii (C. schmidii) for the first time. The structures were determined by interpretation of NMR, UV, and Mass spectra. To check the roles of ER stress and consequent apoptosis in MCF-7 cell by these compounds, UPR signaling pathway was further examined by analysis of expression of ER stress-related genes. In MTT assay, compounds 1-2 showed cytotoxicity activity against MCF-7 (A) and MDA-MB cells (B) with IC₅₀ values (μM) of 1) 60.04 ± 7.98 (A), and > 200 (B); 2) 42.89 ± 1.91 (A), and 85.31 ± 2.68 (B). The Annexin/PI flow cytometry apoptosis of tested compounds 1-2 was increased significantly in a dose-dependent manner. For example, MCF-7 treatment at the concentration of 100 μM of compounds 1, 2 resulted in total apoptosis (early + late) of 42.04 (18.1 + 24.0), and 66.49 (2.7 + 63.8)%, respectively. Fluorescence microscopy analysis detected an increased protein aggregation, indicating induced ER stress with a marked increase in XBP-1, sXBP-1, ATF-4, and CHoP compared to untreated cells. In-silico characterization, suggested that Adenosine diphosphate site (A-site) and quercetin site (Q-Site) in IRE1a enzyme are both available interacting sites of a target for the investigated ligands but with different strengths of interactions. The results indicated that the ligand∼A-Site complexes are stronger than the ligand∼Q-Site complexes, but the already available ADP ligand in cells does not allow other ligands to interact with the A-Site and cause them to bond in Q-Site.

Hispidulin modulates epithelial-mesenchymal transition in breast cancer cells

Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer worldwide. Despite the use of chemotherapeutic drugs, drug resistance has been observed in numerous patients with breast cancer. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is an important initiation step in the process of metastasis, whereby cancer cells move away from the original tumor site. Therefore, the discovery of new substances that suppress EMT is a promising avenue for cancer treatment. The present study investigated the effect of hispidulin, a polyphenolic flavonoid, on EMT in human breast cancer cells in vitro (MCF-7 and HCC38). The EMT-associated mRNA and protein expression levels were measured using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR or western blot analysis. Hispidulin treatment increased the expression levels of EMT-associated epithelial markers and decreased the expression levels of mesenchymal markers in both cells. Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) treatment increased breast cancer cell viability (assessed via MTS assay) and EMT induction. However, hispidulin and TGF-β1 co-treatment increased the expression levels of E-cadherin and occludin, while downregulating vimentin expression. Additionally, hispidulin treatment inhibited TGF-β1-induced Smad2/3 signaling and cell migration in both breast cancer cell lines. Overall, the current findings suggested that hispidulin may inhibit EMT and cell migration by suppressing the Smad2/3 signaling pathway in breast cancer cells.

Protective action of the ginsenoside Rh3 in a rat myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury model by inhibition of apoptosis induced via p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase/caspase-3 signaling

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the protective effects of the ginsenoside Rh3 on rats subjected to myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (MIR) via its impact on caspase-3 and the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway.

METHODS

Fifteen male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly categorized into the MIR group (MY group, n = 5), sham surgery group (SS group, n = 5), and ginsenoside Rh3 group (GR group, n = 5).

RESULTS

The MY group exhibited the largest myocardial infarctions compared with the GR and SS groups. The GR group exhibited significantly higher cell viability of cardiomyocytes and significantly decreased apoptosis compared with the MY group. Fibrils of infarcted tissue in the GR group were disordered but less swollen, with a more organized fibril orientation than those in the MY group. The GR group showed reduced p-p38 MAPK protein and caspase-3 mRNA expression levels compared with the MY and SS groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Rh3 significantly improved myocardial necrosis and caspase-3 levels in myocardial tissues by suppressing the p38 MAPK pathway, thereby inhibiting caspase-3 involvement in apoptosis. Thus, Rh3 was effective in inhibiting the escalated apoptotic pathway in myocardial infarction and can potentially serve as a useful therapeutic agent to rescue myocardial infarction.

Long noncoding RNA RP11-909N17.2 promotes proliferation, invasion, and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma by regulating microRNA-767-3p

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most common causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide, especially in developing countries. Although advances in surgical procedures and targeted medicine have improved the overall survival of patients with HCC, the prognosis is poor. Hence, there is a need to identify novel therapeutic targets for HCC. Here, we report that the expression of RP11-909N17.2, a novel, long, noncoding RNA (lncRNA), is dysregulated in patients with HCC and cell lines. Additionally, this study demonstrated that RP11-909N17.2 facilitates the proliferation and invasion of HCC cells by binding to miRNA-767-3p, a tumor-suppressive microRNA (miRNA). Small integral membrane protein 7 (SMIM7) was identified as the downstream target of miRNA-767-3p. The expression of SMIM7 was upregulated in HCC clinical samples and cell lines. Moreover, SMIM7 was involved in the proliferation and invasion of HCC cells. Furthermore, SMIM7 inhibited the apoptosis of HCC cells, which indicated the oncogenic role of SMIM7 in HCC. The findings of this study suggest that the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA regulatory axis, which regulates the pathogenesis of HCC, can be a potential novel diagnostic and therapeutic target for HCC.

Hispidulin: A novel natural compound with therapeutic potential against human cancers

Cancer is one of the most devastating disease and leading cause of death worldwide. The conventional anticancer drugs are monotarget, toxic, expensive and suffer from drug resistance. Development of multi-targeted drugs from natural products has emerged as a new paradigm to overcome aforementioned conventionally encountered obstacles. Hispidulin (HIS), is a biologically active natural flavone with versatile biological and pharmacological activities. The anticancer, antimutagenic, antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties of HIS have been reported. The aim of this review is to summarize the findings of several studies over the last few decades on the anticancer activity of HIS published in various databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus. HIS has been shown to reduce the growth of cancer cells by inducing apoptosis, arresting cell cycle, inhibiting angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis via modulating multiple signaling pathways implicated in cancer initiation and progression. Multitargeted anticancer activity of HIS remains the strongest point for developing it into potential anticancer drug. We also highlighted the natural sources, anticancer mechanism, cellular targets, and chemo-sensitizing potential of HIS. This review will provide bases for design and conduct of further pre-clinical and clinical trials to develop HIS into a lead structure for future anticancer therapy.

Hispidulin: A promising flavonoid with diverse anti-cancer properties

In recent years, natural products have increasingly attracted more attention because of their potential anticancer activity and low intrinsic toxicity. Hispidulin is a natural flavonoid with a wide range of biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antiplatelet, anticonvulsant, anti-osteoporotic, and notably anticancer activities. Numerous in vivo and in vitro studies have shown that hispidulin, as a potential anticancer drug, affects cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Moreover, hispidulin exhibits synergistic anti-tumor effects when combined with some common clinical anticancer drugs (e.g., gemcitabine, 5-fluoroucil, sunitinib, temozolomide, and TRAIL). The combination of hispidulin and chemotherapeutic drugs reduces the efflux of chemotherapeutic drugs, enhances the chemosensitivity of cancer cells, and reverses drug resistance. Herein, we outlined the anticancer effects of hispidulin in various cancers and its intracellular molecular targets and related mechanisms of its anticancer activity. Based on the available literature, it can be established that hispidulin has significant potential to become an important complementary medicine for cancer prevention and treatment. However, more in-depth in vitro and in vivo studies should be conducted to support its translation from bench to bedside.

Alpinumisoflavone triggers GSDME-dependent pyroptosis in esophageal squamous cell carcinomas

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) presents a common human malignancy in the digestive system. We aimed to explore the critical effects of alpinumisoflavone (AIF) on ESCC in vitro and in vivo. The cell counting kit-8 assay was used to determine cell viability. Colony formation assay was employed to examine the effect of AIF on the long-term growth of ESCC cells. Cell apoptosis was determined by flow cytometry and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling assay. Cell morphologies were observed by light microscopy. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to examine the lactate dehydrogenase release from AIF-treated cells. Immunofluorescent labeling was utilized to examine AIF-induced GSDME expression. Western blot was employed to determine the expression levels of the associated proteins. Immunohistochemistry was performed to determine the localization and expression of the associated proteins in mice tumor tissues. AIF inhibited ESCC cell viability and suppressed cell growth in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. Results showed that AIF promoted apoptosis in ESCC cells. Meanwhile, our results also showed that AIF triggered pyroptotic cell death in ESCC, which was mediated by gasdermin E (GSDME) cleavage. In addition, our experiments provided experimental evidence that AIF-induced GSDME cleavage was dependent on caspase-3 activation. Moreover, the inhibition of GSDSE by knockdown was able to switch the form of cell death from pyroptosis to apoptosis. Furthermore, the results from the xenograft animal model also supported our findings in vitro that AIF was able to promote GSDME-mediated pyroptotic cell death in ESCC. AIF inhibited ESCC growth in vitro and in vivo by triggering GSDME-mediated pyroptotic cell death, which is dependent on caspase-3 activation.

Amentoflavone suppresses cell proliferation and induces cell death through triggering autophagy-dependent ferroptosis in human glioma

AIMS

Glioma is the most common type of malignant tumor of the nervous system, and aggressiveness and recurrence are major obstacles for treatment. This study is designed to explore the effects of amentoflavone (AF) on glioma, and to investigate the underlying mechanism of the anti-cancer activities of AF.

METHODS

Cell morphology was recorded under microscopy. Cell viability and cell death ratio were determined by CCK-8 assay and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay, respectively. Cell cycle progression was assessed by flow cytometry. The levels of iron, MDA (malondialdehyde), lipid ROS, and GSH (reduced glutathione) were assessed by ELISA kit. The cycle-related proteins, ferroptosis-related protein, autophagy-related protein, and the phosphorylation of AMPK, mTOR and p70S6K were analyzed by western blotting. The autophagic flux was observed by transfecting cells with mRFP-GFP-LC3 plasmids. The xenograft murine models were established to analyze the effects of amentoflavone in vivo. The immunohistochemistry assay was performed to analyze the expression of LC3B, Beclin1, ATG5, ATG7, and ferritin heavy chain (FTH).

RESULTS

Our results showed that AF treatment led to reduction in cell viability and cell death. In addition, AF was found to block cell cycle progression in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. Following treatment with AF, the intracellular levels of iron, MDA, and lipid OS were increased, and the levels of GSH and the mitochondrial membrane potential were reduced. In addition, our results showed that AF promoted the autophagic by regulating autophagy-relevant proteins. Our results also showed that the autophagy-induction by AF was associated with regulation of AMPK/mTOR signaling. Mechanistically, the inhibition effects of AF on glioma cell were reversed by DFO, ferreostatin-1 as well as upregulation of FTH. Meanwhile, the FTH levels were increased by compound C and knockdown of ATG7. Moreover, both autophagy inhibitor Baf A1 and knockdown of ATG7 were able to compromising AF-induce ferroptosis and cell death. In vivo, the tumor growth was suppressed by AF in a dose-dependent manner. The level of MDA in the tumor tissue was increased while the level of GSH in tumor tissue was decreased by AF in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, the expression of LC3B, Beclin1, ATG5, ATG7 were increased, and the expression of FTH were decreased by AF in a dose-dependent manner in vivo. Conclusion These results demonstrate that AF triggered ferroptosis in autophagy-dependent manner. Our results suggest that AF has the potential to be considered as a novel treatment agent in glioma.

Hispidulin exhibits potent anticancer activity in vitro and in vivo through activating ER stress in non‑small‑cell lung cancer cells

Hispidulin is a medicinal natural compound isolated from S. involucrata, which exhibits potent anticancer properties. However, there are few reports on its effects on lung cancer cells. Therefore, the current study investigated the effects of hispidulin on cell viability and apoptosis in human non‑small‑cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines NCI‑H460 and A549 in vitro and in vivo. Methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium, colony formation assay, Hoechst 33342 staining, flow cytometry and western blotting were performed on Human NCI‑H460 and A549 cells. A mouse xenograft model was also established using NCI‑H460 cells. The results showed that the growth of NCI‑H460 and A549 cells was inhibited, while apoptosis was promoted by hispidulin via increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in a dose‑dependent manner. Furthermore, hispidulin triggered apoptosis in NSCLC cells through upregulating the expression of cleaved caspase‑3 and cleaved poly [ADP‑ribose] polymerase. All these effects were reversed upon pretreatment with glutathione, a selective ROS inhibitor. In addition, endoplasmic reticulum stress (ER stress) in NCI‑H460 cells was activated by hispidulin. Pretreatment with tauroursodeoxycholic acid, a specific ER stress inhibitor, effectively reduced the cell apoptosis induced by hispidulin. In conclusion, hispidulin induces ROS‑mediated apoptosis via activating the ER stress pathway. The current study provides theoretical basis for the antitumor effect of hispidulin in NSCLC.

Natural Products Targeting ER Stress, and the Functional Link to Mitochondria

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is a dynamic organelle essential for intracellular homeostasis maintenance, controlling synthesis, the folding of secreted and membrane-bound proteins, and transport of Ca²⁺. During cellular stress, ER dysfunction leads to the activation of unfolded protein response (UPR) due to accumulated misfolded proteins in the ER. This condition is referred as ER stress. Mitochondria and ER form a site of close contact (the mitochondria-associated membrane, MAM) which is a major platform exerting important physiological roles in the regulation of intracellular Ca²⁺ homeostasis, lipid metabolism, mitochondrial fission, autophagosome formation, and apoptosis progression. Natural products have been receiving increasing attention for their ability to interfere with ER stress. Research works have focused on the capacity of these bioactive compounds to induce apoptosis by activating ER stress through the ER stress-mediated mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. In this review we discuss the role of natural products in the signaling communication between ER and mitochondria, focusing on the effects induced by ER stress including Ca²⁺ permeability transition and UPR signaling (protein kinase R-like ER kinase/mitofusin 2).

Alpinumisoflavone suppresses hepatocellular carcinoma cell growth and metastasis via NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis

AIM

This research aims to explore the effect of alpinumisoflavone (AIF) as an anti-cancer drug for the treatment of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

Cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) and colony formation assay were used to evaluate the viability of the cells and their clonogenic ability. Cellular migration and their invasion capabilities were detected using the wound-healing and transwell assay, respectively. The release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) was detected using the LDH kit. The expression levels of genes in the cells and tumor tissues were examined by qRT-PCR, western blotting, and immunohistochemical techniques. The cells transfected with mRFP-GFP-LC3 adenoviruses were stained to determine their autophagy status. MCC950 (NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor) and NLRP3 shRNA were used to block NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis. Chloroquine and Atg 5 siRNA were used to inhibit the autophagy of the cells.

RESULTS

AIF suppressed cell proliferation, migration, and invasion capacity of SMMC 7721 and Huh7 cells. The incorporation of AIF induced the formation of NLRP3 inflammasome assembly, pyroptosis, and autophagy of the cells. However, the anti-proliferative and anti-metastatic effects of AIF on the HCC cells were attenuated by NLRP3 inhibitor and knockdown. Furthermore, Atg 5 knockdown inhibited autophagy and enhanced the rate of AIF-induced pyroptosis of the cells. AIF also suppressed tumor growth and increased the levels of pyroptosis-related genes in tumor tissues, which were consistent with in vitro observations.

CONCLUSION

AIF inhibited HCC cell growth and metastasis by inducing NLRP3 inflammasome-mediated pyroptosis. Furthermore, AIF-induced autophagy augmented pyroptosis in HCC.

Chikusetsu saponin IVa alleviated sevoflurane-induced neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment by blocking NLRP3/caspase-1 pathway

BACKGROUND

Neuroinflammation plays a dominant role in the progression of postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). This study was carried out to explore the neuroprotective effect of Chikusetsu saponin IVa (ChIV) against sevoflurane-induced neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment.

METHODS

The neuroprotective activity of ChIV against sevoflurane-induced cognitive dysfunction in aged rats was evaluated by Morris water maze, NOR test and Y-maze test, respectively. The expression of NLRP3, ASC and caspase-1, pro-inflammatory cytokines and apoptotic-related protein were detected in the hippocampus and primary neurons using western blot. TUNEL assay and immunohistochemistry staining were applied to assess the apoptotic cell and number of NLRP3-positive cells in the hippocampus. The oxiSelectIn Vitro ROS/RNS assay kit was used to detect the ROS level. The CCK-8 assay was applied to measure the viability of primary neurons. Flow cytometry was carried out to determine cell apoptosis.

RESULTS

Pretreatment with ChIV significantly alleviated neurological dysfunction in aged rat exposure to sevoflurane. Mechanistically, ChIV treatment significantly alleviated sevoflurane-induced apoptotic cell and neuroinflammation. Of note, the neuroprotective effect of ChIV against sevoflurane-induced neurotoxicity through blocking NLRP3/caspase-1 pathway. In consistent with in vivo studies, ChIV was also able to repress sevoflurane-induced apoptosis and neuroinflammation in primary neurons. Furthermore, pretreatment with NLRP3/caspase-1 pathway inhibitor (MCC950) significantly augmented the neuroprotective effect of ChIV.

CONCLUSION

Our finding confirmed that ChIV provides a neuroprotective effect against sevoflurane-induced neuroinflammation and cognitive impairment by blocking the NLRP3/caspase-1 pathway, which may be an effective strategy for the clinical treatment of elderly patients with POCD induced by anesthesia.

Phytochemicals in Cancer Treatment: From Preclinical Studies to Clinical Practice

Cancer is a severe health problem that continues to be a leading cause of death worldwide. Increasing knowledge of the molecular mechanisms underlying cancer progression has led to the development of a vast number of anticancer drugs. However, the use of chemically synthesized drugs has not significantly improved the overall survival rate over the past few decades. As a result, new strategies and novel chemoprevention agents are needed to complement current cancer therapies to improve efficiency. Naturally occurring compounds from plants known as phytochemicals, serve as vital resources for novel drugs and are also sources for cancer therapy. Some typical examples include taxol analogs, vinca alkaloids such as vincristine, vinblastine, and podophyllotoxin analogs. These phytochemicals often act via regulating molecular pathways which are implicated in growth and progression of cancer. The specific mechanisms include increasing antioxidant status, carcinogen inactivation, inhibiting proliferation, induction of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis; and regulation of the immune system. The primary objective of this review is to describe what we know to date of the active compounds in the natural products, along with their pharmacologic action and molecular or specific targets. Recent trends and gaps in phytochemical based anticancer drug discovery are also explored. The authors wish to expand the phytochemical research area not only for their scientific soundness but also for their potential druggability. Hence, the emphasis is given to information about anticancer phytochemicals which are evaluated at preclinical and clinical level.

Alpinumisoflavone suppresses human Glioblastoma cell growth and induces cell cycle arrest through activating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ

As a common subtype of malignant gliomas, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is associated with poor prognosis. This study is aimed to examine the anticancer activities of alpinumisoflavone (AIF) and its underlying mechanisms. Our results demonstrated that AIF inhibited the proliferation of GBM cells (U373 and T98G) in a time and dose-dependent manner. In addition, flow cytometry analysis not only confirmed AIF arrested cell cycle at the G0/G1 phase but also the induced apoptosis of U373 and T98G cells. Western blotting also confirmed that AIF altered the expression levels of cell cycle-related proteins. Further mechanism studies revealed that AIF inhibited cell proliferation, induced G0/G1 phase arrest and induced apoptosis of U373 and T98G cells through activating PPARγ, as evidenced by the fact that GW9662 (PPARγ inhibitor) could effectively reverse the effects of AIF on U373 and T98G cells. Furthermore, the in vivo study also revealed that AIF suppressed tumor growth and caused cell cycle arrest. Collectively, these results highlighted the potential use of AIF in the treatment of GBM.

Cell death mechanisms in eukaryotes

Like the organism they constitute, the cells also die in different ways. The death can be predetermined, programmed, and cleanly executed, as in the case of apoptosis, or it can be traumatic, inflammatory, and sudden as many types of necrosis exemplify. Nevertheless, there are a number of cell deaths-some of them bearing a resemblance to apoptosis and/or necrosis, and many, distinct from each-that serve a multitude of roles in either supporting or disrupting the homoeostasis. Apoptosis is coordinated by death ligands, caspases, b-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) family proteins, and their downstream effectors. Events that can lead to apoptosis include mitotic catastrophe and anoikis. Necrosis, although it has been considered an abrupt and uncoordinated cell death, has many molecular events associated with it. There are cell death mechanisms that share some standard features with necrosis. These include methuosis, necroptosis, NETosis, pyronecrosis, and pyroptosis. Autophagy, generally a catabolic pathway that operates to ensure cell survival, can also kill the cell through mechanisms such as autosis. Other cell-death mechanisms include entosis, ferroptosis, lysosome-dependent cell death, and parthanatos.

MiR-214 prevents the progression of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma by targeting PD-L1

Objective

We explored the role and mechanism of miR-214 involvement in the progression of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

Methods

The expression levels of miR-214 and PD-L1 in human DLBCL cell lines and in tissue samples from patients with DLBCL were determined using quantitative RT-PCR. The dual-luciferase reporter assay was employed to determine the correlation between the expressions of miR-214 and PD-L1. Cell viability, invasiveness and apoptosis were respectively examined in cells of the DLBCL line OCI-Ly3 using CCK-8, transwell and flow cytometry assays. The expression level of PD-L1 was determined via immunoblotting. Inflammatory cytokine secretion was determined via enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA).

Results

miR-214 was downregulated and PD-L1 was upregulated in DLBCL tissues and cell lines in comparison to normal adjacent tissues or normal B-cell. This indicates a negative correlation in the expression levels. Overexpression of miR-214 inhibited cell viability and invasion and induced apoptosis of OCI-Ly3 cells. Moreover, miR-214 was shown to target PD-L1 mRNA by binding to its 3′-untranslated region (UTR). Knockdown of PD-L1 attenuated the malignant phenotype of OCI-Ly3 cells. Overexpression of miR-214 inhibited tumor growth by targeting PD-L1 in vivo.

Conclusion

By targeting PD-L1, miR-214 regulates the progression of DLBCL in vitro and in vivo.

Anti‑survival and pro‑apoptotic effects of meridianin C derivatives on MV4‑11 human acute myeloid leukemia cells

Meridianin C is a marine natural product with anticancer activity. Several meridianin C derivatives (compounds 7a‑j) were recently synthesized, and their inhibitory effects on pro‑viral integration site for Moloney murine leukemia virus (PIM) kinases, as well as their antiproliferative effects on human leukemia cells, were reported. However, the anti‑leukemic effects and mechanisms of action of meridianin C and its derivatives remain largely unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of meridianin C and its derivatives on MV4‑11 human acute myeloid leukemia cell growth. The parent compound meridianin C did not markedly affect the viability and survival of MV4‑11 cells. By contrast, MV4‑11 cell viability and survival were reduced by meridianin C derivatives, with compound 7a achieving the most prominent reduction. Compound 7a notably inhibited the expression and activity of PIM kinases, as evidenced by reduced B‑cell lymphoma‑2 (Bcl‑2)‑associated death promoter phosphorylation at Ser112. However, meridianin C also suppressed PIM kinase expression and activity, and the pan‑PIM kinase inhibitor AZD1208 only slightly suppressed the survival of MV4‑11 cells. Thus, the anti‑survival effect of compound 7a on MV4‑11 cells was unrelated to PIM kinase inhibition. Moreover, compound 7a induced apoptosis, caspase‑9 and ‑3 activation and poly(ADP‑ribose) polymerase (PARP) cleavage, but did not affect death receptor (DR)‑4 or DR‑5 expression in MV4‑11 cells. Compound 7a also induced the generation of cleaved Bcl‑2, and the downregulation of myeloid cell leukemia (Mcl)‑1 and X‑linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) in MV4‑11 cells. Furthermore, compound 7a increased eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF)‑2α phosphorylation and decreased S6 phosphorylation, whereas GRP‑78 expression was unaffected. Importantly, treatment with a pan‑caspase inhibitor (z‑VAD‑fmk) significantly attenuated compound 7a‑induced apoptosis, caspase‑9 and ‑3 activation, PARP cleavage, generation of cleaved Bcl‑2 and downregulation of Mcl‑1 and XIAP in MV4‑11 cells. Collectively, these findings demonstrated the strong anti‑survival and pro‑apoptotic effects of compound 7a on MV4‑11 cells through regulation of caspase‑9 and ‑3, Bcl‑2, Mcl‑1, XIAP, eIF‑2α and S6 molecules.

Huaier extract suppresses non-small cell lung cancer progression through activating NLRP3-dependent pyroptosis

Recent studies have reported the anticancer activity of huaier extract in various human malignancies. However, little is known about the effect of huaier extract in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and its underlying mechanism. The current study aimed to investigate whether huaier extract affects the progression of NSCLC. mRNA and proteins expression of pyroptotic-related genes (NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18) in NSCLC tissues and cells were, respectively, detected by qRT-PCR and western blot. The effects of huaier extract on NSCLC cell viability and cytotoxicity were evaluated by CCK-8 assay, colony formation assay, and LDH detection kit. Besides, we established a xenograft model to assess the antitumor effect of huaier extract on tumor growth in vivo. Our results showed that the expression of pyroptotic-related genes was downregulated in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. Huaier extract pretreatment inhibited cell viability and the percentage of colony formation of H520 and H358 cells, and upregulated the expression of pyroptotic-related genes. Mechanistically, huaier extract exhibited antitumor effect in NSCLC via inducing NLRP3-dependent pyroptosis in vitro and in vivo. In conclusion, our finding confirmed that huaier extract played an antitumor role in NSCLC progression through promoting pyroptotic cell death, which provided a new potential strategy for NSCLC clinical treatment.

β-elemene enhances cisplatin-induced apoptosis in bladder cancer cells through the ROS-AMPK signaling pathway

Cisplatin-based chemotherapy is the standard regimen for patients with bladder cancer, but its effectiveness is limited by high toxicity and the development of drug resistance. β-elemene (β-ELE), a compound extracted from Rhizoma zedoariae, has antitumor activity in various malignancies and exhibits low toxicity. However, the effects and specific mechanism of β-ELE in bladder cancer remain unclear. The present study aimed to investigate the antitumor activity and possible mechanisms of β-ELE alone and in combination with cisplatin in bladder cancer cells. Cell viability was determined using Cell Counting Kit-8. Cell cycle and reactive oxygen species (ROS) analyses were performed by flow cytometry. Apoptosis was detected by Hoechst 33258 and Annexin-V/propidium iodide staining. Mitochondrial membrane potential was determined by staining with a JC-1 probe, flow cytometry and fluorescence microscopy. Protein expression was detected by western blotting. The results revealed that β-ELE significantly inhibited the proliferation of various bladder cancer cell lines and induced cell cycle arrest at G₀/G₁-phase in T24 and 5637 cells. Compared with cisplatin alone, co-treatment with β-ELE increased cisplatin-mediated cytotoxicity against T24 cells, which resulted in the loss of mitochondrial membrane potential and release of cytochrome c into the cytoplasm. Co-treatment with β-ELE and cisplatin enhanced ROS accumulation and activation of 5′AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), which induced apoptosis. The results of the present study suggested that β-ELE inhibited the proliferation of bladder cancer cells in vitro and enhanced cisplatin-induced mitochondria-dependent apoptosis via the ROS-AMPK signaling pathway. Combination therapy with β-ELE requires further investigation as a potential treatment of bladder cancer.

Amentoflavone suppresses amyloid β1-42 neurotoxicity in Alzheimer's disease through the inhibition of pyroptosis

BACKGROUND

The accumulation of Amyloid β (Aβ) plays key roles in Alzheimer's disease (AD) by inducing intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and neuronal cell death. In this study, we aimed to identify the neuroprotective mechanisms of amentoflavone (AF) in Aβ-induce neuronal cell injury.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The animal model was established by injecting Aβ_1-42 into the bilateral hippocampus. The effect of AF on Aβ_1-42-induced neurological dysfunction was examined using the Y-maze and radical maze tests. The hippocampal neuron viability was examined using Nissl staining and TUNEL assay. On the other hand, in vitro studies were conducted using SH-SY5Y cells. The expression level of marker proteins was measured using western blot. The activity of caspase-1 and the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines were determined using ELISA assay. AMPKα knock down was carried out by transfecting SH-SY5Y cells with siRNA against AMPK transcript.

RESULTS

Neurological tests showed that AF significantly attenuated Aβ_1-42-induced neurological dysfunction. AF suppressed Aβ_1-42-induced pyroptosis in the hippocampal region of the rat model, which was associated with the modulation of AMPK/GSK3β signaling. Similar results were obtained in vitro in SH-SY5Y cells exposed to Aβ_1-42, showing that the neuroprotective activity of AF is mediated by suppressing pyroptosis through AMPK/GSK3β signaling.

CONCLUSION

AF inhibits Aβ_1-42-induced neurotoxicity in animal and cellular models through AMPK/GSK3β-mediated pyroptosis suppression. Our results highlight AF as a clinical compound for the prevention and treatment of AD.

Analysis of competing endogenous RNA network identifies a poorly differentiated cancer-specific RNA signature for hepatocellular carcinoma

Plenty of evidence has suggested that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) play a vital role in competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) networks. Poorly differentiated hepatocellular carcinoma (PDHCC) is a malignant phenotype. This paper aimed to explore the effect and the underlying regulatory mechanism of lncRNAs on PDHCC as a kind of ceRNA. Additionally, prognosis prediction was assessed. A total of 943 messenger RNAs (mRNAs), 86 miRNAs, and 468 lncRNAs that were differentially expressed between 137 PDHCCs and 235 well-differentiated HCCs were identified. Thereafter, a ceRNA network related to the dysregulated lncRNAs was established according to bioinformatic analysis and included 29 lncRNAs, 9 miRNAs, and 96 mRNAs. RNA-related overall survival (OS) curves were determined using the Kaplan-Meier method. The lncRNA ARHGEF7-AS2 was markedly correlated with OS in HCC (P = .041). Moreover, Cox regression analysis revealed that patients with low ARHGEF7-AS2 expression were associated with notably shorter survival time (P = .038). In addition, the area under the curve values of the lncRNA signature for 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival were 0.806, 0.741, and 0.701, respectively. Furthermore, a lncRNA nomogram was established, and the C-index of the internal validation was 0.717. In vitro experiments were performed to demonstrate that silencing ARHGEF7-AS2 expression significantly promoted HCC cell proliferation and migration. Taken together, our findings shed more light on the ceRNA network related to lncRNAs in PDHCC, and ARHGEF7-AS2 may be used as an independent biomarker to predict the prognosis of HCC.

Alpinumisoflavone Inhibits Tumor Growth and Metastasis in Papillary Thyroid Cancer via Upregulating miR-141-3p

Alpinumisoflavone (AIF) as a principal active ingredient of traditional Chinese herb Derris eriocarpa exerts a broad spectrum of anticancer activities against solid tumors. However, little is known about the effect of AIF on papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). Objectives of this study are to investigate the effect of AIF on cell growth, apoptosis, and metastasis of PTC cells and uncover its underlying mechanisms. Results showed that AIF treatment notably suppressed cell viability, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process, as well as induced apoptotic cell death. In addition, microarray analysis results revealed that miR-141-3p level was dramatically elevated upon AIF insulation, suggesting that miR-141-3p may mediate the suppressive role of AIF against PTC. Moreover, miR-141-3p knockdown effectively reversed the effects of AIF on cell growth, migration, invasion, and EMT, while promoted PTC cell apoptosis escape. Furthermore, in vivo findings also confirmed that the antigrowth and antimetastasis activities of AIF were, at least partly, mediated by upregulation of miR-141-3p. Overall, AIF could serve as a potential anticancer compound for PTC treatment. Anat Rec, 2019. © 2019 American Association for Anatomy Anat Rec, 303:1842-1850, 2020. © 2019 American Association for Anatomy.

Bufothionine exerts anti-cancer activities in gastric cancer through Pim3

AIM

Gastric cancer (GC) is the fourth most common cancer globally. Bufothionine is a major active constituent of Cinobufacini (Huachansu), which is extracted from the skin and parotid venom gland of the toad Bufo bufo gargarizans Cantor. It exhibits anti-cancer activities in vitro. However, whether bufothionine exerts anti-cancer activities against GC is unknown. This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of bufothionine in vitro and in vivo.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

MKN28 and AGS cells were chosen as cell models to study the anti-cancer effect of bufothionine. Cell viability was determined by CCK-8 assay, while the effect of bufothionine on cell membrane integrity was examined by LDH assay. Cell apoptosis was detected by Hoechst/PI staining and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining followed by flow cytometry analysis. The expression levels of proteins involved were examined using western blotting. I-Traq analysis was conducted to identify the differentially expressed genes in AGS cells following bufothionine treatment. The anti-growth effect of bufothionine was validated in vivo using a GC xenograft model.

KEY FINDINGS

The results revealed that bufothionine prevented the growth, destroyed cell membrane and promoted apoptotic cell death of GC cells. iTRAQ analysis revealed thatPIM3 might be a molecular target responsible for the anti-cancer effects of bufothionine. It was also found that PIM3 knockdown significantly augmented the anti-growth and pro-apoptotic effects of bufothionine in GC cells. In contrast, ectopic PIM3 expression markedly dampened the anti-neoplastic activities of bufothionine. The expression of PIM3 was also suppressed by bufothionine treatment in xenograft tumor tissue.

SIGNIFICANCE

Bufothionine exhibited anti-cancer activities in vitro and in vivo in GC via downregulating PIM3.

Hispidulin exhibits neuroprotective activities against cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury through suppressing NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis

AIM

Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is the major cause of neurological deficit following stroke. Our previous study showed neuroprotective effects of hispidulin against cerebral ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI). In this study, we further examined the involvement of pyroptosis in this neuroprotective function.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

IRI was simulated in a rat model by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) surgery, and the animals were treated with different doses of hispidulin. The neurological function of the rats was evaluated by the neural function defect score (NFDS), balance beam test and limb placement test. The infarct volume and brain water content were measured 72 h following IRI. Neuronal cell survival and pyroptosis in the ischemic cortex were respectively detected by Nissl staining and TUNEL assay. The relative expression of pyroptosis markers was determined by qRT-PCR, Western blotting and ELISA as appropriate. IRI was simulated in vitro in primary cerebral astrocytes using the OGD/R procedure. AMPKα was blocked genetically or pharmacologically using siRNA and compound C respectively. CCK-8 and LDH release assays were performed using suitable kits.

RESULTS

Hispidulin improved the neurological symptoms of the rats after IRI, in addition to decreasing the infarct size and brain edema. Mechanistically, hispidulin exerted its neuroprotective effects in vivo and in vitro by suppressing NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis by modulating the AMPK/GSK3β signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

Hispidulin is a neuroprotective agent with clinical potential against IR-induced neurological injury.

Benzophenones from Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bge. Exhibit Anticancer Activity in HepG2 Cells via the NF-κB Signaling Pathway

A chemical investigation of the fibrous roots of Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bge. led to the isolation of four benzophenones, including one new compound (1) and three known ones (2–4). Comprehensive ¹D, ²D NMR and HRESIMS data established the structures of the isolated compounds. The absolute configurations were determined by comparison of the calculated optical rotation (OR) with experimental data. All the isolates were evaluated for their cytotoxicities on hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines (HepG2 and Hep3B). Compound 1 showed strong cytotoxicity against HepG2 and Hep3B cells, with IC₅₀ values at 153.1 and 180.6 nM. Through MTT assay, flow cytometry and Western blot analysis, compound 1 demonstrated the ability to stimulate apoptosis via the NF-κB signaling pathway in HepG2 cells. These benzophenones are potential lead compounds for the development of better treatments for hepatocellular carcinoma.

Hispidulin Inhibits Mast Cell-Mediated Allergic Inflammation through Down-Regulation of Histamine Release and Inflammatory Cytokines

Hispidulin (4',5,7-trihydroxy-6-methoxyflavone) is a natural compound derived from traditional Chinese medicinal herbs, and it is known to have an anti-inflammatory effect. Here, we investigated the effect of hispidulin on the immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated allergic responses in rat basophilic leukemia (RBL)-2H3 mast cells. When RBL-2H3 cells were sensitized with anti-dinitrophenyl (anti-DNP) IgE and subsequently stimulated with DNP-human serum albumin (HSA), histamine and β-hexosaminidase were released from the cells by degranulation of activated mast cells. However, pretreatment with hispidulin before the stimulation of DNP-HSA markedly attenuated release of both in anti-DNP IgE-sensitized cells. Furthermore, we investigated whether hispidulin inhibits anti-DNP IgE and DNP-HSA-induced passive cutaneous anaphylaxis (PCA), as an animal model for Type I allergies. Hispidulin markedly decreased the PCA reaction and allergic edema of ears in mice. In addition, activated RBL-2H3 cells induced the expression of inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-4), which are critical for the pathogenesis of allergic disease, through the activation of c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). Inhibition of JNK activation by hispidulin treatment reduced the induction of cytokine expression in the activated mast cells. Our results indicate that hispidulin might be a possible therapeutic candidate for allergic inflammatory diseases through the suppression of degranulation and inflammatory cytokines expression.

The role of monocyte chemotactic protein-induced protein 1 (MCPIP1) in angiotensin II-induced macrophage apoptosis and vulnerable plaque formation

Atherosclerotic plaque rupture is the main cause of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Angiotensin II (Ang II) and macrophage apoptosis are involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We aimed to address the role of monocyte chemotactic protein-induced protein 1 (MCPIP1) in Ang II-induced macrophage apoptosis and vulnerable plaque formation. In mouse peritoneal macrophages, Ang II promoted endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-dependent macrophage apoptosis. Ang II markedly upregulated the expression of MCPIP1 via activating p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK). Treatment with MCPIP1 shRNA downregulated ER stress-related proteins and decreased macrophage apoptosis induced by Ang II. Ang II also activated the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling in macrophages. Inhibition of AMPK reduced macrophage apoptosis by inhibiting the p38 MAPK/MCPIP1/ER stress pathway. Furthermore, blocking the Ang II type 1 receptor (AT1R) with losartan effectively inhibited Ang II-induced macrophage apoptosis and AMPK/p38 MAPK/MCPIP1/ER pathway activation. In the atherosclerotic vulnerable plaque model in mice, losartan inhibited the progression of atherosclerosis and transformed vulnerable plaque into a more stable phenotype. Moreover, losartan markedly decreased the number of CD68⁺TUNEL⁺, CD68⁺MCPIP1⁺, CD68⁺p-eIF2α⁺ and CD68⁺CHOP⁺ cells in the lesion area. Taken together, Ang II promotes macrophage apoptosis via the AMPK/p38 MAPK/MCPIP1/ER stress pathway in macrophages via its receptor AT1R, which may contribute to vulnerable plaque formation. Our study clarifies a novel regulatory role of MCPIP1 in Ang II-induced macrophage apoptosis and plaque instability, providing a potential therapeutic target for prevention of ACS.

The Role of AMP-Activated Protein Kinase as a Potential Target of Treatment of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fifth most frequent cancer worldwide with a very high recurrence rate and very dismal prognosis. Diagnosis and treatment in HCC remain difficult, and the identification of new therapeutic targets is necessary for a better outcome of HCC treatment. AMP-Activated Protein Kinase (AMPK) is an essential intracellular energy sensor that plays multiple roles in cellular physiology and the pathological development of chronic diseases. Recent studies have highlighted the important regulation of AMPK in HCC. This review aims to comprehensively and critically summarize the role of AMPK in HCC. Methods: Original studies were retrieved from NCBI database with keywords including AMPK and HCC, which were analyzed with extensive reading. Results: Dysregulation of the kinase activity and expression of AMPK was observed in HCC, which was correlated with survival of the patients. Loss of AMPK in HCC cells may proceed cell cycle progression, proliferation, survival, migration, and invasion through different oncogenic molecules and pathways. Conclusions: We identified several AMPK activators which may possess potential anti-HCC function, and discussed the clinical perspective on the use of AMPK activators for HCC therapy.