1
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Li F, Wang L, Wang Y, Shen H, Kou Q, Shen C, Xu X, Zhang Y, Zhang J. HECW2 promotes the progression and chemoresistance of colorectal cancer via AKT/mTOR signaling activation by mediating the ubiquitin-proteasome degradation of lamin B1. J Cancer 2023; 14:2820-2832. [PMID: 37781079 PMCID: PMC10539569 DOI: 10.7150/jca.87545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is among the most common malignancies worldwide. Although a recent study has shown that E3 ubiquitin ligases play a major role in regulating the occurrence and development of CRC, there are few reports on the role of the E3 ubiquitin ligase HECW2(HECT, C2 and WW domain containing E3 ubiquitin protein ligase 2) in CRC progression and chemoresistance. We found that HECW2 is highly expressed in CRC tissues. HECW2 knockdown inhibits CRC progression and chemoresistance, whereas HECW2 overexpression has the opposite effect. Mechanistically, HECW2 activates the AKT/mTOR signaling pathway by mediating the ubiquitin-proteasome degradation of lamin B1, thereby promoting CRC progression and chemoresistance. Our findings suggest that HECW2 may be a promising novel therapeutic target for CRC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Li
- Medical School of Yan'an University, Yan'an 716000, China
| | - Li Wang
- Medical School of Yan'an University, Yan'an 716000, China
| | - Yujue Wang
- Medical School of Yan'an University, Yan'an 716000, China
| | - Hui Shen
- Medical School of Yan'an University, Yan'an 716000, China
| | - Qianrui Kou
- Medical School of Yan'an University, Yan'an 716000, China
| | | | - Xiangrong Xu
- Medical School of Yan'an University, Yan'an 716000, China
| | - Yunqing Zhang
- Yan'an University Affiliated Hospital, Yan'an 716000, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Medical School of Yan'an University, Yan'an 716000, China
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2
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Tyagi A, Chandrasekaran B, Navin AK, Shukla V, Baby BV, Ankem MK, Damodaran C. Molecular interplay between NOX1 and autophagy in cadmium-induced prostate carcinogenesis. Free Radic Biol Med 2023; 199:44-55. [PMID: 36764624 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2023.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Chronic exposure to cadmium (Cd), a class I carcinogen, leads to malignant transformation of normal prostate epithelial cells (RWPE-1). The constant generation of Cd-induced ROS and resulting ER stress induces cellular responses that are needed for cell survival, and autophagy has an important role in this process. However, the mechanisms that regulate Cd-induced ROS and how these differ in terms of acute and chronic cadmium exposure remain unexplained. Here, we show that acute or chronic Cd exposure facilitates NOX1 assembly by activating its cytosolic regulators p47phox and p67phox in RWPE-1 cells. Upregulation of NOX1 complex proteins and generation of ROS activates unfolded protein response (UPR) via phosphorylation of protein kinase RNA-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase (PERK), eukaryotic initiation factor 2 alpha (eIF2α), and selective translation of activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4). Chronic Cd exposure constantly activates NOX1 complex and generates consistent ROS and ER stress that led to defective autophagy, wherein ATG5 expression is downregulated in contrast to acute Cd exposure. As a result, selective/defective autophagy creates depletion of autophagosome-lysosome fusion that gives a survival advantage to transforming cells, which is not available to RWPE-1 cells acutely exposed to Cd. Knockdown of key molecules in a lockstep manner directly affects the most downstream autophagy pathways in transforming cells. Overall, this study demonstrates that assembly of NOX1 complex proteins is indispensable for Cd-induced persistent ROS and controls ER stress-induced defective autophagy in mice and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashish Tyagi
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77845, USA
| | - Balaji Chandrasekaran
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77845, USA
| | - Ajit K Navin
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77845, USA
| | - Vaibhav Shukla
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77845, USA
| | - Becaa V Baby
- Department of Urology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Murali K Ankem
- Department of Urology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Chendil Damodaran
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77845, USA; Department of Urology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA.
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3
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Saran U, Chandrasekaran B, Tyagi A, Shukla V, Singh A, Sharma AK, Damodaran C. A small molecule inhibitor of Notch1 modulates stemness and suppresses breast cancer cell growth. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1150774. [PMID: 36909163 PMCID: PMC9998682 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1150774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Although breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) are well characterized, molecularly targeting and eradicating this sub-population remains a challenge in the clinic. Recent studies have explored several signaling pathways that govern stem cell activation: We and others established that the Notch1 signaling plays a significant role in the proliferation, survival, and differentiation of BCSCs. Earlier, we reported that a newly developed small molecule, ASR490, binds to the negative regulatory region (NRR: The activation switch of the Notch receptor) of Notch1. In vitro results demonstrated that ASR490 significantly inhibited BCSCs (ALDH+ and CD44+/CD24-) and breast cancer (BC) growth at nM concentrations, and subsequently inhibited the colony- and mammosphere-forming abilities of BCSCs and BCs. ASR490 downregulated the expressions of Notch1 intracellular domain (NICD: The active form of Notch1) and its downstream effectors Hey1 and HES1. Inhibition of Notch1-NICD facilitated autophagy-mediated growth inhibition by triggering the fusion of autophagosome and autolysosome in BCSCs. ASR490 was found to be non-toxic to healthy cells as compared to existing Notch1 inhibitors. Moreover, oral administration of ASR490 abrogated BCSC and BC tumor growth in the in vivo xenograft models. Together our results indicate that ASR490 is a potential therapeutic agent that inhibits BC tumor growth by targeting and abolishing Notch1 signaling in BCSCs and BC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uttara Saran
- Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | | | - Ashish Tyagi
- Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Vaibhav Shukla
- Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Amandeep Singh
- Penn State Cancer Institute, College of Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA, United States
| | - Arun K. Sharma
- Penn State Cancer Institute, College of Medicine, The Pennsylvania State University, Hershey, PA, United States
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4
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Xue JC, Yuan S, Meng H, Hou XT, Li J, Zhang HM, Chen LL, Zhang CH, Zhang QG. The role and mechanism of flavonoid herbal natural products in ulcerative colitis. Biomed Pharmacother 2023; 158:114086. [PMID: 36502751 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.114086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestine that presents clinically with abdominal pain, mucopurulent stools, and posterior urgency. The lesions of UC are mainly concentrated in the rectal and colonic mucosa and submucosa. For patients with mild to moderate UC, the best pharmacological treatment includes glucocorticoids, immunosuppressants, antibiotics, and biologics, but the long-term application can have serious toxic side effects. Currently, nearly 40% of UC patients are treated with herbal natural products in combination with traditional medications to reduce the incidence of toxic side effects. Flavonoid herbal natural products are the most widely distributed polyphenols in plants and fruits, which have certain antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Flavonoid herbal natural products have achieved remarkable efficacy in the treatment of UC. The pharmacological mechanisms are related to anti-inflammation, promotion of mucosal healing, maintenance of intestinal immune homeostasis, and regulation of intestinal flora. In this paper, we summarize the flavonoid components of anti-ulcerative colitis and their mechanisms reported in the past 10 years, to provide a basis for rational clinical use and the development of new anti-ulcerative colitis drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Chen Xue
- Department of Immunology and Pathogenic Biology, Yanbian University College of Basic Medicine, Yanji, Jilin Province 133002, China
| | - Shuo Yuan
- Chronic Disease Research Center, Medical College, Dalian University, Dalian, Liaoning Province 116622, China; Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines of the Changbai Mountain, Ministry of Education, College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji, Jilin Province 133002, China
| | - Huan Meng
- Chronic Disease Research Center, Medical College, Dalian University, Dalian, Liaoning Province 116622, China
| | - Xiao-Ting Hou
- Chronic Disease Research Center, Medical College, Dalian University, Dalian, Liaoning Province 116622, China
| | - Jiao Li
- Chronic Disease Research Center, Medical College, Dalian University, Dalian, Liaoning Province 116622, China
| | - Hua-Min Zhang
- Chronic Disease Research Center, Medical College, Dalian University, Dalian, Liaoning Province 116622, China; Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines of the Changbai Mountain, Ministry of Education, College of Pharmacy, Yanbian University, Yanji, Jilin Province 133002, China
| | - Li-Li Chen
- Jinan People's Hospital, Jinan, Shandong Province 271100, China
| | - Cheng-Hao Zhang
- Department of Oral Teaching and Research, Yanbian University, Yanji, Jilin Province 133000, China.
| | - Qing-Gao Zhang
- Department of Immunology and Pathogenic Biology, Yanbian University College of Basic Medicine, Yanji, Jilin Province 133002, China; Chronic Disease Research Center, Medical College, Dalian University, Dalian, Liaoning Province 116622, China.
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Kumar S, Mathew SO, Aharwal RP, Tulli HS, Mohan CD, Sethi G, Ahn KS, Webber K, Sandhu SS, Bishayee A. Withaferin A: A Pleiotropic Anticancer Agent from the Indian Medicinal Plant Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:160. [PMID: 37259311 PMCID: PMC9966696 DOI: 10.3390/ph16020160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer represents the second most deadly disease and one of the most important public health concerns worldwide. Surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and immune therapy are the major types of treatment strategies that have been implemented in cancer treatment. Unfortunately, these treatment options suffer from major limitations, such as drug-resistance and adverse effects, which may eventually result in disease recurrence. Many phytochemicals have been investigated for their antitumor efficacy in preclinical models and clinical studies to discover newer therapeutic agents with fewer adverse effects. Withaferin A, a natural bioactive molecule isolated from the Indian medicinal plant Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal, has been reported to impart anticancer activities against various cancer cell lines and preclinical cancer models by modulating the expression and activity of different oncogenic proteins. In this article, we have comprehensively discussed the biosynthesis of withaferin A as well as its antineoplastic activities and mode-of-action in in vitro and in vivo settings. We have also reviewed the effect of withaferin A on the expression of miRNAs, its combinational effect with other cytotoxic agents, withaferin A-based formulations, safety and toxicity profiles, and its clinical potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suneel Kumar
- Bio-Design Innovation Centre, Rani Durgavati University, Jabalpur 482 001, India
| | - Stephen O. Mathew
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Genetics, University of North Texas Health Science Center, Fort Worth, TX 76107, USA
| | | | - Hardeep Singh Tulli
- Department of Biotechnology, Maharishi Markandeshwar Engineering College, Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University), Mullana-Ambala 133 207, India
| | | | - Gautam Sethi
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore 117600, Singapore
| | - Kwang-Seok Ahn
- Department of Science in Korean Medicine, College of Korean Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Kassidy Webber
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Bradenton, FL 34211, USA
| | - Sardul Singh Sandhu
- Bio-Design Innovation Centre, Rani Durgavati University, Jabalpur 482 001, India
| | - Anupam Bishayee
- College of Osteopathic Medicine, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Bradenton, FL 34211, USA
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Combined Curcumin and Luteolin Synergistically Inhibit Colon Cancer Associated with Notch1 and TGF-β Signaling Pathways in Cultured Cells and Xenograft Mice. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14123001. [PMID: 35740666 PMCID: PMC9221484 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14123001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Revised: 06/06/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to select a combination of curcumin and luteolin, two phytochemicals from food, at lower concentrations with a higher inhibitory effect on colon cancer growth and investigate possible molecular mechanisms of this anti-colon cancer effect. By pairwise combination screening, we identified that the combination of curcumin (CUR) at 15 μM and luteolin (LUT) at 30 μM (C15L30) synergistically suppressed the proliferation of human colon cancer CL-188 cells, but the individual chemicals had a little inhibitory effect at the selected concentrations. This result was also confirmed in other colon cancer DLD-1cells, suggesting that this synergistic inhibitory effect of C15L30 applies to different colon cancer cells. The combination C15L30 synergistically suppressed the wound closure (wound healing assay) in CL-188 cells. We also found that the combination of CUR and LUT (at 20 mg/kg/day and 10 mg/kg/day, respectively, IP injection, 5 days for 2 weeks) synergistically suppressed tumor growth in CL-188 cell-derived xenograft mice. Western blot results showed that protein levels of Notch1 and TGF-β were synergistically reduced by the combination, both in CL-188 cells and xenograft tumors. Tumor pathological analysis revealed that combined CUR and LUT synergistically increased necrosis, but the individual treatment with CUR and LUT had no significant effect on tumor necrosis. Therefore, combined curcumin and luteolin synergically inhibit colon cancer development by suppressing cell proliferation, necrosis, and migration associated with Notch1 and TGF-β pathways. This study provides evidence that colon cancer may be prevented/treated by consuming foods having high levels of luteolin and curcumin in humans.
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7
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Sanaei MJ, Baghery Saghchy Khorasani A, Pourbagheri-Sigaroodi A, Shahrokh S, Zali MR, Bashash D. The PI3K/Akt/mTOR axis in colorectal cancer: Oncogenic alterations, non-coding RNAs, therapeutic opportunities, and the emerging role of nanoparticles. J Cell Physiol 2021; 237:1720-1752. [PMID: 34897682 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.30655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the deadliest human malignancies worldwide. Several molecular pathways have been demonstrated to be involved in the initiation and development of CRC which among them, the overactivation of the phosphatidyl-inositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt/mTOR axis is of importance. The current review aims to unravel the mechanisms by which the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway affects CRC progression; and also, to summarize the original data obtained from international research laboratories on the oncogenic alterations and polymorphisms affecting this pathway in CRC. Besides, we provide a special focus on the regulatory role of noncoding RNAs targeting the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway in this malignancy. Questions on how this axis is involved in the inhibition of apoptosis, in the induction of drug resistance, and the angiogenesis, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, and metastasis are also responded. We also discussed the PI3K/Akt pathway-associated prognostic and predictive biomarkers in CRC. In addition, we provide a general overview of PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway inhibition whether by chemical-based drugs or by natural-based medications in the context of CRC, either as monotherapy or in combination with other therapeutic agents; however, those treatments might have life-threatening side effects and toxicities. To the best of our knowledge, the current review is one of the first ones highlighting the emerging roles of nanotechnology to overcome challenges related to CRC therapy in the hope that providing a promising platform for the treatment of CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad-Javad Sanaei
- Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Atieh Pourbagheri-Sigaroodi
- Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Shabnam Shahrokh
- Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Reza Zali
- Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases Research Center, Research Institute for Gastroenterology and Liver Diseases, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Davood Bashash
- Department of Hematology and Blood Banking, School of Allied Medical Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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8
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Matos B, Howl J, Jerónimo C, Fardilha M. Modulation of serine/threonine-protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) complexes: A promising approach in cancer treatment. Drug Discov Today 2021; 26:2680-2698. [PMID: 34390863 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2021.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2021] [Revised: 04/23/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide. Despite the availability of numerous therapeutic options, tumor heterogeneity and chemoresistance have limited the success of these treatments, and the development of effective anticancer therapies remains a major focus in oncology research. The serine/threonine-protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) and its complexes have been recognized as potential drug targets. Research on the modulation of PP1 complexes is currently at an early stage, but has immense potential. Chemically diverse compounds have been developed to disrupt or stabilize different PP1 complexes in various cancer types, with the objective of inhibiting disease progression. Beneficial results obtained in vitro now require further pre-clinical and clinical validation. In conclusion, the modulation of PP1 complexes seems to be a promising, albeit challenging, therapeutic strategy for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bárbara Matos
- Laboratory of Signal Transduction, Department of Medical Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine-iBiMED, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (CI-IPOP), Portuguese Institute of Oncology of Porto (IPO Porto), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
| | - John Howl
- Molecular Pharmacology Group, Research Institute in Healthcare Science, University of Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton WV1 1LY, UK
| | - Carmen Jerónimo
- Cancer Biology and Epigenetics Group, IPO Porto Research Center (CI-IPOP), Portuguese Institute of Oncology of Porto (IPO Porto), 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; Department of Pathology and Molecular Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar, University of Porto (ICBAS-UP), 4050-513 Porto, Portugal
| | - Margarida Fardilha
- Laboratory of Signal Transduction, Department of Medical Sciences, Institute of Biomedicine-iBiMED, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
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9
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Wang X, Gao Y, Wang L, Yang D, Bu W, Gou L, Huang J, Duan X, Pan Y, Cao S, Gao Z, Cheng C, Feng Z, Xie J, Yao R. Troxerutin Improves Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Ulcerative Colitis in Mice. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2021; 69:2729-2744. [PMID: 33621077 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.0c06755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Screening potential compounds for improving ulcerative colitis (UC) from clinical medication is an effective strategy for drug repurposing. We applied bioinformatics and network pharmacology to the drug screening process in this study, which helped us to screen out troxerutin that could improve UC. Troxerutin belongs to flavonoids and is used clinically as an anticoagulant and thrombolytic agent. This study found a new pharmacological activity of troxerutin, that is, it had a significant improvement effect on UC in mice. Experimental results of in vitro and in vivo levels showed that troxerutin could effectively reduce the level of oxidative stress that caused damages in intestinal epithelial cells and colonic tissue, maintain the distribution and expression of tight junction-related proteins, and protect the barrier function of colon tissue. In addition to the oxidative stress, severe inflammatory response is also an important pathological factor that aggravates UC. However, troxerutin could reduce the infiltration of inflammatory cells in the colon tissue and decrease the expression of inflammation-related proteins and proinflammatory cytokines. Due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, troxerutin inhibited the process of cell apoptosis in the colon tissue and relieved the degree of colonic fibrosis. Bioinformatics analysis showed that the ameliorating effect of troxerutin on UC was probably related to its network regulation of signaling pathways. In summary, we discovered a new pharmacological activity of the flavonoid troxerutin against UC, which is conducive to the expansion and application of flavonoids in the treatment of human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingqi Wang
- Key Laboratory for Biotechnology on Medicinal Plants of Jiangsu Province, School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, 101 Shanghai Road, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yuzhi Gao
- Department of Cell Biology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of New Drug Research and Clinical Pharmacy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Cell Biology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of New Drug Research and Clinical Pharmacy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Di Yang
- Key Laboratory for Biotechnology on Medicinal Plants of Jiangsu Province, School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, 101 Shanghai Road, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wei Bu
- Institute of Science and Technology, Jiangsu Normal University, 101 Shanghai Road, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu, China
| | - Lingshan Gou
- Center for Genetic Medicine, Xuzhou Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Xuzhou 221009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jinjin Huang
- Key Laboratory for Biotechnology on Medicinal Plants of Jiangsu Province, School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, 101 Shanghai Road, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xinyue Duan
- Key Laboratory for Biotechnology on Medicinal Plants of Jiangsu Province, School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, 101 Shanghai Road, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yue Pan
- Key Laboratory for Biotechnology on Medicinal Plants of Jiangsu Province, School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, 101 Shanghai Road, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu, China
| | - Shuyan Cao
- Key Laboratory for Biotechnology on Medicinal Plants of Jiangsu Province, School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, 101 Shanghai Road, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zixuan Gao
- Department of Cell Biology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of New Drug Research and Clinical Pharmacy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221009, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chao Cheng
- Key Laboratory for Biotechnology on Medicinal Plants of Jiangsu Province, School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, 101 Shanghai Road, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zhaojun Feng
- Key Laboratory for Biotechnology on Medicinal Plants of Jiangsu Province, School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, 101 Shanghai Road, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jun Xie
- Key Laboratory for Biotechnology on Medicinal Plants of Jiangsu Province, School of Life Science, Jiangsu Normal University, 101 Shanghai Road, Xuzhou 221116, Jiangsu, China
| | - Ruiqin Yao
- Department of Cell Biology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of New Drug Research and Clinical Pharmacy, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221009, Jiangsu, China
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10
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Behl T, Sharma A, Sharma L, Sehgal A, Zengin G, Brata R, Fratila O, Bungau S. Exploring the Multifaceted Therapeutic Potential of Withaferin A and Its Derivatives. Biomedicines 2020; 8:E571. [PMID: 33291236 PMCID: PMC7762146 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines8120571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Withaferin A (WA), a manifold studied, C28-steroidal lactone withanolide found in Withania somnifera. Given its unique beneficial effects, it has gathered attention in the era of modern science. Cancer, being considered a "hopeless case and the leading cause of death worldwide, and the available conventional therapies have many lacunae in the form of side effects. The poly pharmaceutical natural compound, WA treatment, displayed attenuation of various cancer hallmarks by altering oxidative stress, promoting apoptosis, and autophagy, inhibiting cell proliferation, reducing angiogenesis, and metastasis progression. The cellular proteins associated with antitumor pathways were also discussed. WA structural modifications attack multiple signal transduction pathways and enhance the therapeutic outcomes in various diseases. Moreover, it has shown validated pharmacological effects against multiple neurodegenerative diseases by inhibiting acetylcholesterinases and butyrylcholinesterases enzyme activity, antidiabetic activity by upregulating adiponectin and preventing the phosphorylation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARγ), cardioprotective activity by AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activation and suppressing mitochondrial apoptosis. The current review is an extensive survey of various WA associated disease targets, its pharmacokinetics, synergistic combination, modifications, and biological activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tapan Behl
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab 140401, India;
| | - Aditi Sharma
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shoolini University, Solan, Himachal Pradesh 173229, India; (A.S.); (L.S.)
| | - Lalit Sharma
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Shoolini University, Solan, Himachal Pradesh 173229, India; (A.S.); (L.S.)
| | - Aayush Sehgal
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab 140401, India;
| | - Gokhan Zengin
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Selcuk University Campus, Konya 42250, Turkey;
| | - Roxana Brata
- Department of Medical Disciplines, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410073 Oradea, Romania; (R.B.); (O.F.)
| | - Ovidiu Fratila
- Department of Medical Disciplines, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410073 Oradea, Romania; (R.B.); (O.F.)
| | - Simona Bungau
- Department of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, University of Oradea, 410028 Oradea, Romania
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11
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Tyagi A, Chandrasekaran B, Kolluru V, Baby BV, Sripathi CA, Ankem MK, Ramisetti SR, Chirasani VR, Dokholyan NV, Sharma AK, Damodaran C. ASR490, a Small Molecule, Overrides Aberrant Expression of Notch1 in Colorectal Cancer. Mol Cancer Ther 2020; 19:2422-2431. [PMID: 33087513 PMCID: PMC10694926 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-19-0949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Revised: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Notch1 activation triggers significant oncogenic signaling that manifests as enhanced metastatic potential and tumorigenesis in colorectal cancer. Novel small-molecule inhibitors, mainly plant-derived analogs, have low toxicity profiles and higher bioavailability. In this study, we have developed a small molecule, ASR490, by modifying structure of naturally occurring compound Withaferin A. ASR490 showed a growth-inhibitory potential by downregulating Notch1 signaling in HCT116 and SW620 cell lines. Docking studies and thermal shift assays confirmed that ASR490 binds to Notch1, whereas no changes in Notch2 and Notch3 expression were seen in colorectal cancer cells. Notch1 governs epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition signaling and is responsible for metastasis, which was abolished by ASR490 treatment. To further confirm the therapeutic potential of ASR490, we stably overexpressed Notch1 in HCT-116 cells and determined its inhibitory potential in transfected colorectal cancer (Notch1/HCT116) cells. ASR490 effectively prevented cell growth in both the vector (P = 0.005) and Notch1 (P = 0.05) transfectants. The downregulation of Notch1 signaling was evident, which corresponded with downregulation of mesenchymal markers, including N-cadherin and β-catenin and induction of E-cadherin in HCT-116 transfectants. Intraperitoneal administration of a 1% MTD dose of ASR490 (5 mg/kg) effectively suppressed the tumor growth in control (pCMV/HCT116) and Notch1/HCT116 in xenotransplanted mice. In addition, downregulation of Notch1 and survival signaling in ASR-treated tumors confirmed the in vitro results. In conclusion, ASR490 appears to be a potent agent that can inhibit Notch1 signaling in colorectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashish Tyagi
- Department of Urology, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky
| | | | - Venkatesh Kolluru
- Department of Urology, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky
| | - Becca V Baby
- Department of Urology, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky
| | - Cibi A Sripathi
- Department of Urology, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky
| | - Murali K Ankem
- Department of Urology, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky
| | - Srinivasa R Ramisetti
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State Cancer Institute, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | - Venkat R Chirasani
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State Cancer Institute, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | - Nikolay V Dokholyan
- Department of Pharmacology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | - Arun K Sharma
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State Cancer Institute, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, Pennsylvania
| | - Chendil Damodaran
- Department of Urology, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky.
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Huang Z, Ding Y, Zhang L, He S, Jia Z, Gu C, Wang T, Li H, Li X, Jin Z, Ding Y, Yang J. Upregulated circPDK1 Promotes RCC Cell Migration and Invasion by Regulating the miR-377-3P-NOTCH1 Axis in Renal Cell Carcinoma. Onco Targets Ther 2020; 13:11237-11252. [PMID: 33173313 PMCID: PMC7648593 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s280434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are novel clusters of endogenous noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) that are involved in the regulation of multiple biological processes in diverse types of cancers. However, the roles and precise mechanisms of circRNAs in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) occurrence and progression have not been clearly elucidated. Methods We identified the aberrantly expressed circRNAs in RCC by high-throughput RNA-seq assay and used qRT-PCR to test the expression level of circRNAs in RCC tissues. Loss-of-function experiments were executed to detect the biological roles of circPDK1 in the RCC cells both in vivo and in vitro. RNA Fish, luciferase reporter assays and Western blotting were used to explore the molecular mechanism of circPDK1 function. All data were expressed as the means ± standard error of the mean (SEM). Student’s t-test, one-way ANOVA, Cox regression, an LSD-t-test, Pearson’s chi-squared test, a Log-rank test, and linear regression analyses were used to evaluate the group differences. P < 0.05 was considered significant. Results CircPDK1 was overexpressed in RCC tissues and positively associated with patient tumor metastasis and renal cell invasion. The in vivo functional assays also revealed that circPDK1 drove RCC xenograft metastasis. CircPDK1 was mainly located in the cytoplasm, serving as a sponge of miR-377-3P to regulate RCC invasion and metastasis through NOTCH1 (Notch Homolog 1). Ectopic express of NOTCH1 in RCC cell lines will block the metastasis inhibition effect after circPDK1 knockdown. Conclusion CircPDK1 is aberrantly expressed in RCC and promotes the metastasis of RCC cells mainly through sponging miR-377-3P and reducing its negative regulation of NOTCH1. Thus, circPDK1 may act as a therapeutic target and biomarker for RCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenlin Huang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 45000, People's Republic of China
| | - Yinghui Ding
- Department of Otology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 45000, People's Republic of China
| | - Lu Zhang
- Division of Nephrology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 42000, People's Republic of China
| | - Siyuan He
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 45000, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhankui Jia
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 45000, People's Republic of China
| | - Chaohui Gu
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 45000, People's Republic of China
| | - Tao Wang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 45000, People's Republic of China
| | - Hao Li
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 45000, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiang Li
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 45000, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhibo Jin
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 45000, People's Republic of China
| | - Yafei Ding
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 45000, People's Republic of China
| | - Jinjian Yang
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 45000, People's Republic of China
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13
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Wang Z, Li L, Wang C, Piao Y, Jiang J, Li L, Yan G, Piao H. Recombinant Pyrin Domain Protein Attenuates Airway Inflammation and Alleviates Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition by Inhibiting Crosstalk Between TGFβ1 and Notch1 Signaling in Chronic Asthmatic Mice. Front Physiol 2020; 11:559470. [PMID: 33192556 PMCID: PMC7645102 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.559470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
This article aims to investigate the effects of recombinant pyrin domain (RPYD) on airway inflammation and remodeling in mice with chronic asthma. The chronic asthma BALB/c mouse model was first sensitized by ovalbumin (OVA) and then challenged by OVA nebulization. RPYD or dexamethasone was given before OVA challenge. Our results showed that RPYD significantly inhibited the increase of total cell number, eosinophils, neutrophils and lymphocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) induced by OVA, and reduced the infiltration of inflammatory cells, the proliferation of goblet cells and collagen deposition. In addition, RPYD inhibited the mRNA and protein levels of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1, Jagged1, Notch1, Hes1 and Smad3, as well as Smad3 phosphorylation. TGFβ1 down-regulated the level of E-cadherin and promoted the expression of α-SMA, thus inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in bronchial epithelial cells. We found that RPYD reduced EMT by inhibiting TGFβ1/smad3 and Jagged1/Notch1 signaling pathways. Further overexpression of NICD showed that under the stimulation of TGFβ1, NICD enhanced the phosphorylated Smad3 and nuclear Smad3, accompanied by the increased expression of Notch1 target gene Hes1. In contrast, after treatment with smad3 siRNA, the expression of Hes1 was down regulated as the decrease of Smad3, which indicates that there is crosstalk between smad3 and NICD on Hes1 expression. In conclusion, RPYD reduces airway inflammation, improves airway remodeling and reduces EMT in chronic asthmatic mice by inhibiting the crosstalk between TGFβ1/smad3 and Jagged1/Notch1 signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiguang Wang
- Jilin Key Laboratory for Immune and Targeting Research on Common Allergic Diseases, Yanbian University, Yanji, China.,Department of Respiratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Yanbian University, Yanji, China
| | - Liangchang Li
- Jilin Key Laboratory for Immune and Targeting Research on Common Allergic Diseases, Yanbian University, Yanji, China.,Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Yanbian University Medical College, Yanji, China
| | - Chongyang Wang
- Jilin Key Laboratory for Immune and Targeting Research on Common Allergic Diseases, Yanbian University, Yanji, China.,Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Yanbian University Medical College, Yanji, China
| | - Yihua Piao
- Jilin Key Laboratory for Immune and Targeting Research on Common Allergic Diseases, Yanbian University, Yanji, China.,Department of Intensive Care Unit, Affiliated Hospital of Yanbian University, Yanji, China
| | - Jingzhi Jiang
- Jilin Key Laboratory for Immune and Targeting Research on Common Allergic Diseases, Yanbian University, Yanji, China.,Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Yanbian University Medical College, Yanji, China
| | - Li Li
- Jilin Key Laboratory for Immune and Targeting Research on Common Allergic Diseases, Yanbian University, Yanji, China.,Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Yanbian University Medical College, Yanji, China
| | - Guanghai Yan
- Jilin Key Laboratory for Immune and Targeting Research on Common Allergic Diseases, Yanbian University, Yanji, China.,Department of Anatomy, Histology and Embryology, Yanbian University Medical College, Yanji, China
| | - Hongmei Piao
- Jilin Key Laboratory for Immune and Targeting Research on Common Allergic Diseases, Yanbian University, Yanji, China.,Department of Respiratory Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Yanbian University, Yanji, China
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14
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Tian W, Zhang W, Zhang Y, Zhu T, Hua Y, Li H, Zhang Q, Xia M. FABP4 promotes invasion and metastasis of colon cancer by regulating fatty acid transport. Cancer Cell Int 2020; 20:512. [PMID: 33088219 PMCID: PMC7574203 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-020-01582-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The prognosis of colon cancer is poor for metastasis, while the mechanism, especially adipocytes related, is not yet clear. The purpose of this study is to determine the effects of fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4), a transporter for lipids, on colon cancer progression. Methods The distribution of lipids and FABP4 was tested in the colon cancer tissues and adjacent normal tissues, and their relationship was also verified in vitro. Experiments about cellular invasion, migration and proliferation were performed to detect the impacts of FABP4 on the biological behaviors of colon cancer, and the positive results were checked in vivo. Meanwhile, the regulatory role of FABP4 in the energy and lipid metabolism was evaluated by the levels of triglyceride, ATP, LDH, glycerol and NEFA. At last, GO and KEGG analysis based on FABP4 overexpressed cells was performed, and the AKT pathway and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins were determined by Western blot. Results Higher accumulation of lipids and stronger FABP4 transcription were observed in colon cancer tissues. Having been incubated with adipose tissue extract and overexpressed FABP4, colon cancer cells demonstrated enhanced lipid accumulation. In functional experiments, co-culture with adipose tissue extract significantly enhanced the invasion and migration of colon cancer cells, as well as the energy and lipid metabolism, and all these processes were reversed by FABP4 inhibitor. In addition, the metastasis of FABP4-overexpressed colon cancer cells was also significantly enhanced in vitro and in vivo. In terms of mechanism, the bioinformatics analysis showed that FABP4 was enriched in 11 pathways related to metabolic processes in FABP4 overexpressed cells. Finally, FABP4 overexpression improved EMT progression of colon cancer, as evidenced by the upregulation of Snail, MMP-2 and MMP-9, the downregulation of E-cadherin. The expression of p-Akt was also elevated. Conclusion FABP4 overexpression could increase FAs transport to enhance energy and lipid metabolism, and activate AKT pathway and EMT to promote the migration and invasion of colon cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenying Tian
- Department of Gastroenterology, Wuxi People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, 299 Qing Yang Road, Wuxi, 214023 Jiangsu People's Republic of China
| | - Wenjia Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Wuxi People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, 299 Qing Yang Road, Wuxi, 214023 Jiangsu People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University, Nantong, 226001 Jiangsu China
| | - Tianyue Zhu
- Department of Gastroenterology, Wuxi People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, 299 Qing Yang Road, Wuxi, 214023 Jiangsu People's Republic of China
| | - Yuting Hua
- Department of Gastroenterology, Wuxi People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, 299 Qing Yang Road, Wuxi, 214023 Jiangsu People's Republic of China
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, Wuxi People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, 299 Qing Yang Road, Wuxi, 214023 Jiangsu People's Republic of China
| | - Qinglin Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Wuxi People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, 299 Qing Yang Road, Wuxi, 214023 Jiangsu People's Republic of China
| | - Min Xia
- Department of Gastroenterology, Wuxi People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, 299 Qing Yang Road, Wuxi, 214023 Jiangsu People's Republic of China
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15
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PD-L1 regulates tumorigenesis and autophagy of ovarian cancer by activating mTORC signaling. Biosci Rep 2020; 39:221398. [PMID: 31799599 PMCID: PMC6923342 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20191041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Revised: 11/13/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
PD-L1 is a well-known immune co-stimulatory molecule that regulates tumour cell escape from immunity by suppressing the immune response. However, the clinical significance of PD-L1 in the progression of ovarian cancer is unclear. Our study demonstrated that PD-L1 is up-regulated in ovarian tumour tissue compared with its expression level in adjacent normal tissue. Furthermore, we confirmed that PD-L1 increases the proliferation of cancer cells by activating the AKT-mTORC signalling pathway, which is also enhanced by the expression of S6K, the substrate of mTORC. In addition, PD-L1 promotes the autophagy of ovarian cancer cells by up-regulating the expression of BECN1, a crucial molecule involved in the regulation of autophagy. In conclusion, PD-L1 may provide a target for the development of a novel strategy for the treatment of ovarian cancer.
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16
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A Review on Notch Signaling and Colorectal Cancer. Cells 2020; 9:cells9061549. [PMID: 32630477 PMCID: PMC7349609 DOI: 10.3390/cells9061549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 06/21/2020] [Accepted: 06/22/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) has one of the highest mortality rates despite the advancement of treatment options. Aggressive CRC remains difficult to treat owing to the activation of oncogenic signaling pathways such as the Notch signaling pathway. The role of Notch receptors varies according to the difference in their structures; in particular, aberrant activation of Notch1 has been attributed to the severity of CRC. Notch1 activation in CRC is inhibited by small molecule inhibitors that target γ-secretase, an enzyme responsible for the third and last cleavage step of Notch receptors. γ-Secretase also produces the intracellular domain that finally carries out cellular functions by activating downstream effectors. However, most inhibitors block γ-secretase non-selectively and cause severe toxicity. Plant-source-derived small molecules, monoclonal antibodies, biological molecules (such as SiRNAs), and compounds targeting the Notch1 receptor itself or the downstream molecules such as HES1 are some of the options that are in advanced stages of clinical trials. The Negative Regulatory Region (NRR), which plays a central role in the transduction of Notch1 signaling in the event of ligand-dependent and ligand-independent Notch1 processing is also being targeted specifically by monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to prevent aberrant Notch1 activation. In this review, we discuss the role of Notch1 in CRC, particularly its metastatic phenotype, and how mutations in Notch1, specifically in its NRR region, contribute to the aberrant activation of Notch1 signaling, which, in turn, contributes to CRC pathogenesis. We also discuss prevailing and emerging therapies that target the Notch1 receptor and the NRR region, and we highlight the potential of these therapies in abrogating Notch signaling and, thus, CRC development and progression.
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17
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Tyagi A, Kolluru V, Chandrasekaran B, Saran U, Sharma AK, Ankem MK, Damodaran C. ASR488, a novel small molecule, activates an mRNA binding protein, CPEB1, and inhibits the growth of bladder cancer. Oncol Lett 2020; 20:850-860. [PMID: 32566012 PMCID: PMC7285857 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2020.11593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to a lack of mechanistic insights, muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) remains incurable and is one of the most lethal types of cancer in the United States. The present study investigated changes in the molecular signatures of MIBC cells (TCCSUP and HT1376) after treatment with a novel small molecule, ASR488, to gain knowledge of the mechanisms that inhibited MIBC cell growth. ASR488 treatment initiated apoptotic signaling in MIBC cells. Pathway enrichment analysis was used to analyze the changes in function of differentially expressed genes. Gene Ontology analysis, as well as Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis, was also performed. These analyses along with reactome pathway enrichment analyses indicated that the genes upregulated in the ASR488-treated cells are involved in focal adhesion, neurotrophin signaling, p53 signaling, endoplasmic reticulum functioning in terms of protein processing, and pathways related to bladder cancer. The genes downregulated in ASR488-treated MIBC cells were mainly involved in DNA replication, mismatch repair, RNA degradation, nucleotide excision repair and TGFβ signaling (P<0.05). Furthermore, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR analysis revealed an increase in transcripts of the most upregulated genes in ASR 488-treated MIBC cells: CPEB1 (36-fold), IL11 (30-fold), SFN (20.12-fold) and CYP4F11 (15.8-fold). In conclusion, the analysis of biological functions of the most differentially expressed genes revealed possible mechanisms that may be associated with the aggressiveness of MIBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashish Tyagi
- Department of Urology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Venkatesh Kolluru
- Department of Urology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | | | - Uttara Saran
- Department of Urology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Arun K Sharma
- Department of Pharmacology, Penn State Cancer Institute, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA 17033, USA
| | - Murali K Ankem
- Department of Urology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
| | - Chendil Damodaran
- Department of Urology, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY 40202, USA
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18
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Two marine natural products, penicillide and verrucarin J, are identified from a chemical genetic screen for neutral lipid accumulation effectors in Phaeodactylum tricornutum. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 2020; 104:2731-2743. [PMID: 32002603 DOI: 10.1007/s00253-020-10411-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Revised: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
There are a large number of valuable substances in diatoms, such as neutral lipid and pigments. However, due to the lack of clear metabolic pathways, their applications are still limited. Recently, chemical modulators are found to be powerful tools to investigate the metabolic pathways of neutral lipids. Thus, in this study, to identify new neutral lipid accumulation effectors, we screened the natural products that we separated before in the model diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum (P. tricornutum) by using Nile-red staining method. Two compounds, penicillide and verrucarin J which were isolated from two marine fungal strains, were identified to promote neutral lipid accumulation. However, penicillide and verrucarin J were also found to significantly inhibit the growth of P. tricornutum through specifically inhibiting the photosynthesis of P. tricornutum. Quantitative analysis results showed that penicillide and verrucarin J significantly increased total lipid and triacylglycerol (TAG) contents, which are consistent with previous Nile-red staining results. The expression of key genes such as DGAT2D, GPAT2, LPAT2, and PAP involved in TAG synthesis and unsaturated fatty acids also increased after penicillide and verrucarin J treatments. Besides, many TAG-rich plastoglobuli formed in plastids shown by increased lipid droplets in the cytosol. Finally, penicillide and verrucarin J were found to reduce the expression of synthetic genes of fucoxanthin, and consequently reduced the content of fucoxanthin, indicating that there might be crosstalk between lipid metabolism and fucoxanthin metabolism. Thus, our work exhibits two useful compounds that could be used to further study the metabolic pathways of neutral lipid and fucoxanthin, which will fulfill the promise of diatoms as low cost, high value, sustainable feedstock for high-value products such as neutral lipid and pigments.
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19
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Jing P, Zhou S, Xu P, Cui P, Liu X, Liu X, Liu X, Wang H, Xu W. PDK1 promotes metastasis by inducing epithelial–mesenchymal transition in hypopharyngeal carcinoma via the Notch1 signaling pathway. Exp Cell Res 2020; 386:111746. [DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2019.111746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2019] [Revised: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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20
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Revathidevi S, Munirajan AK. Akt in cancer: Mediator and more. Semin Cancer Biol 2019; 59:80-91. [PMID: 31173856 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2019.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 356] [Impact Index Per Article: 71.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2018] [Revised: 04/29/2019] [Accepted: 06/03/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Akt is a serine/threonine kinase and it participates in the key role of the PI3K signaling pathway. The Akt can be activated by a wide range of growth signals and the biochemical mechanisms leading to Akt activation are well defined. Once activated, Akt modulates the function of many downstream proteins involved in cellular survival, proliferation, migration, metabolism, and angiogenesis. The Akt is a central node of many signaling pathways and it is frequently deregulated in many types of human cancers. In this review, we provide an overview of Akt function and its role in the hallmarks of human cancer. We also discussed various mechanisms of Akt dysregulation in cancers, including epigenetic modifications like methylation, post-transcriptional non-coding RNAs-mediated regulation, and the overexpression and mutation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sundaramoorthy Revathidevi
- Department of Genetics, Dr. ALM PG Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani Campus, Chennai, 113, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Arasambattu Kannan Munirajan
- Department of Genetics, Dr. ALM PG Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Madras, Taramani Campus, Chennai, 113, Tamil Nadu, India.
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Tutino V, Caruso MG, De Nunzio V, Lorusso D, Veronese N, Gigante I, Notarnicola M, Giannelli G. Down-Regulation of Cannabinoid Type 1 (CB1) Receptor and its Downstream Signaling Pathways in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11050708. [PMID: 31121931 PMCID: PMC6562552 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11050708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2019] [Revised: 05/15/2019] [Accepted: 05/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Changes in the regulation of endocannabinoid production, together with an altered expression of their receptors are hallmarks of cancer, including colorectal cancer (CRC). Although several studies have been conducted to understand the biological role of the CB1 receptor in cancer, little is known about its involvement in the metastatic process of CRC. The aim of this study was to investigate the possible link between CB1 receptor expression and the presence of metastasis in patients with CRC, investigating the main signaling pathways elicited downstream of CB1 receptor in colon cancer. Fifty-nine consecutive patients, with histologically proven colorectal cancer, were enrolled in the study, of which 30 patients with synchronous metastasis, at first diagnosis and 29 without metastasis. A low expression of CB1 receptor were detected in primary tumor tissue of CRC patients with metastasis and consequently, we observed an alteration of CB1 receptor downstream signaling. These signaling routes were also altered in intestinal normal mucosa, suggesting that, normal mucosa surrounding the tumor provides a realistic picture of the molecules involved in tissue malignant transformation. These observations contribute to the idea that drugs able to induce CB1 receptor expression can be helpful in order to set new anticancer therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Tutino
- Laboratory of Nutritional Biochemistry, National Institute of Gastroenterology "S. de Bellis", Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy.
| | - Maria Gabriella Caruso
- Ambulatory of Clinical Nutrition, National Institute of Gastroenterology "S. de Bellis", Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy.
| | - Valentina De Nunzio
- Laboratory of Nutritional Biochemistry, National Institute of Gastroenterology "S. de Bellis", Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy.
| | - Dionigi Lorusso
- Surgery Unit, National Institute of Gastroenterology "S. de Bellis", Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy.
| | - Nicola Veronese
- Ambulatory of Clinical Nutrition, National Institute of Gastroenterology "S. de Bellis", Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy.
| | - Isabella Gigante
- Laboratory of Nutritional Biochemistry, National Institute of Gastroenterology "S. de Bellis", Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy.
| | - Maria Notarnicola
- Laboratory of Nutritional Biochemistry, National Institute of Gastroenterology "S. de Bellis", Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy.
| | - Gianluigi Giannelli
- Scientific Direction, National Institute of Gastroenterology "S. de Bellis", Research Hospital, Castellana Grotte, 70013 Bari, Italy.
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Liu Y, Huang Y, Ding J, Liu N, Peng S, Wang J, Wang F, Zhang Y. Targeting Akt by SC66 triggers GSK-3β mediated apoptosis in colon cancer therapy. Cancer Cell Int 2019; 19:124. [PMID: 31168297 PMCID: PMC6509835 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-019-0837-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 04/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Colon cancer is one of the three common malignant tumors, with lower 5 years survival rate. Akt is an important therapeutic target, while SC66 is a novel allosteric AKT inhibitor, which enhances the therapeutic effect in several types of cancer. However, the molecular mechanisms of targeting AKT by SC66 during colon cancer therapy are not well understood. Methods The biological role of GSK-3β in colon cancer growth suppression induced by SC66 was detected in vitro and in vivo. Hoechst 33342 and crystal violet staining were used to determine whether targeting AKT affected apoptosis and cell proliferation. The CCK8 assay was utilized to analyze cell viability. The expression levels of Akt, GSK-3β, Bax, Bcl-xL, p53 and PUMA were measured by immune blotting. Xenograft mouse model was established to study the antitumor effect of SC66 in vivo. Results Our results show that SC66 induced significantly colon cancer cell apoptosis, accompanied with Akt inactivation. After AKT inhibition, activated GSK-3β interacted with Bax directly, leading to Bax oligomerization and activation. Knocking down GSK-3β abrogated SC66-triggered Bax activation and apoptosis, which was enhanced by over-expressed GSK-3β. In addition, the expression level of Bcl-xL was down-regulated while p53 had no function during SC66-induced apoptosis. Furthermore, colon cancer growth was suppressed by SC66 therapy in vivo. Conclusion Taken together, these data indicated that the novel small molecule AKT inhibitor SC66 shows visible antitumor effects via the AKT/GSK-3β/Bax axis in vitro and in vivo. Our results provide a rational basis for the development of targeting-GSK-3β, which may serve as a potential biomarker and yield meaningful benefits for colon cancer patients in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yeying Liu
- Department of Health Management, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, College of Biology, Hunan University, No. 1, Denggao Road, Changsha, China
| | - Yuan Huang
- Department of Health Management, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, College of Biology, Hunan University, No. 1, Denggao Road, Changsha, China
| | - Jie Ding
- 3Department of Emergency Surgery, The Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - Nannan Liu
- Department of Health Management, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, College of Biology, Hunan University, No. 1, Denggao Road, Changsha, China
| | - Shuang Peng
- Department of Health Management, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, College of Biology, Hunan University, No. 1, Denggao Road, Changsha, China
| | - Jiangang Wang
- Department of Health Management, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, College of Biology, Hunan University, No. 1, Denggao Road, Changsha, China
| | - Feng Wang
- 2Department of Gastroenterology, The Tenth People's Hospital of Shanghai, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yingjie Zhang
- Department of Health Management, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, College of Biology, Hunan University, No. 1, Denggao Road, Changsha, China.,4Shenzhen Institute, Hunan University, Shenzhen, China
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23
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Blanchard TG, Czinn SJ, Banerjee V, Sharda N, Bafford AC, Mubariz F, Morozov D, Passaniti A, Ahmed H, Banerjee A. Identification of Cross Talk between FoxM1 and RASSF1A as a Therapeutic Target of Colon Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11020199. [PMID: 30744076 PMCID: PMC6406751 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11020199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2018] [Revised: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) is characterized by the expression of cellular oncogenes, the loss of tumor suppressor gene function. Therefore, identifying integrated signaling between onco-suppressor genes may facilitate the development of effective therapy for mCRC. To investigate these pathways we utilized cell lines and patient derived organoid models for analysis of gene/protein expression, gene silencing, overexpression, and immunohistochemical analyses. An inverse relationship in expression of oncogenic FoxM1 and tumor suppressor RASSF1A was observed in various stages of CRC. This inverse correlation was also observed in mCRC cells lines (T84, Colo 205) treated with Akt inhibitor. Inhibition of FoxM1 expression in mCRC cells as well as in our ex vivo model resulted in increased RASSF1A expression. Reduced levels of RASSF1A expression were found in normal cells (RWPE-1, HBEpc, MCF10A, EC) stimulated with exogenous VEGF165. Downregulation of FoxM1 also coincided with increased YAP phosphorylation, indicative of tumor suppression. Conversely, downregulation of RASSF1A coincided with FoxM1 overexpression. These studies have identified for the first time an integrated signaling pathway between FoxM1 and RASSF1A in mCRC progression, which may facilitate the development of novel therapeutic options for advanced colon cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas G Blanchard
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
| | - Steven J Czinn
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
| | - Vivekjyoti Banerjee
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
| | - Neha Sharda
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
| | - Andrea C Bafford
- Department of Surgery, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
| | - Fahad Mubariz
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
| | - Dennis Morozov
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
| | - Antonino Passaniti
- Department of Pathology, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
- The Marlene & Stewart Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology and Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
| | | | - Aditi Banerjee
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21201, USA.
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