Polyphenol-rich extract induces apoptosis with immunogenic markers in melanoma cells through the ER stress-associated kinase PERK

Assessment of Acute and Chronic Toxicity in Wistar Rats (Rattus norvegicus) and New Zealand Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) of an Enriched Polyphenol Extract Obtained from Caesalpinia spinosa

Although herbal drugs are often considered safe for consumption, there is increasing evidence that some can generate undesirable health effects. However, polyphenols found in certain plants have been shown to provide a range of benefits for human health. In previous work, a standardized and quantified extract (P2Et) obtained from Caesalpinia spinosa (Dividivi) plant showed promising antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and anti-inflammatory properties in animal models of cancer and COVID-19 patients. The extract has also been subjected to genotoxicity, mutagenicity, and 28-day oral chronic toxicity evaluations, demonstrating a good safety profile. To advance preclinical and clinical development, further acute and chronic toxicity evaluations of the P2Et extract were performed. Acute toxicity tests were performed orally in Wistar rats at a dose of 2000 mg/kg, indicating that the lethal dose 50% (LD50) value exceeded 2000 mg/kg and classifying the P2Et extract as category 5 according to the Globally Harmonized System of Classification (GHS). In this work, chronic toxicity tests were conducted for 180 days on Wistar rats and New Zealand rabbits at a dose of 1000 mg/kg under Good Laboratory Practice (GLP) conditions. No weight loss or alterations in biochemical and hematological parameters associated with treatment were observed in the animals, suggesting the absence of toxicity in the assessed parameters. These results indicate that the P2Et extract is safe for oral administration at doses up to 1000 mg/kg body weight over a six-month period.

HMGB1 in the interplay between autophagy and apoptosis in cancer

Lysosome-mediated autophagy and caspase-dependent apoptosis are dynamic processes that maintain cellular homeostasis, ensuring cell health and functionality. The intricate interplay and reciprocal regulation between autophagy and apoptosis are implicated in various human diseases, including cancer. High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), a nonhistone chromosomal protein, plays a pivotal role in coordinating autophagy and apoptosis levels during tumor initiation, progression, and therapy. The regulation of autophagy machinery and the apoptosis pathway by HMGB1 is influenced by various factors, including the protein's subcellular localization, oxidative state, and interactions with binding partners. In this narrative review, we provide a comprehensive overview of the structure and function of HMGB1, with a specific focus on the interplay between autophagic degradation and apoptotic death in tumorigenesis and cancer therapy. Gaining a comprehensive understanding of the significance of HMGB1 as a biomarker and its potential as a therapeutic target in tumor diseases is crucial for advancing our knowledge of cell survival and cell death.

Plant extracts modulate cellular stress to inhibit replication of mouse Coronavirus MHV-A59

The Covid-19 infection outbreak led to a global epidemic, and although several vaccines have been developed, the appearance of mutations has allowed the virus to evade the immune response. Added to this is the existing risk of the appearance of new emerging viruses. Therefore, it is necessary to explore novel antiviral therapies. Here, we investigate the potential in vitro of plant extracts to modulate cellular stress and inhibit murine hepatitis virus (MHV)-A59 replication. L929 cells were treated with P2Et (Caesalpinia spinosa) and Anamu SC (Petiveria alliacea) plant extracts during infection and virus production, ROS (reactive oxygen species), UPR (unfolded protein response), and autophagy were assessed. P2Et inhibited virus replication and attenuated both ROS production and UPR activation induced during infection. In contrast, the sustained presence of Anamu SC during viral adsorption and replication was required to inhibit viral infection, tending to induce pro-oxidant effects, and increasing UPR gene expression. Notably, the loss of the PERK protein resulted in a slight decrease in virus yield, suggesting a potential involvement of this UPR pathway during replication. Intriguingly, both extracts either maintained or increased the calreticulin surface exposure induced during infection. In conclusion, our findings highlight the development of antiviral natural plant extracts that differentially modulate cellular stress.

Nanocarrier-Mediated Immunogenic Cell Death for Melanoma Treatment

Melanoma, a highly aggressive skin tumor, exhibits notable features including heterogeneity, a high mutational load, and innate immune escape. Despite advancements in melanoma treatment, current immunotherapies fail to fully exploit the immune system's maximum potential. Activating immunogenic cell death (ICD) holds promise in enhancing tumor cell immunogenicity, stimulating immune amplification response, improving drug sensitivity, and eliminating tumors. Nanotechnology-enabled ICD has emerged as a compelling therapeutic strategy for augmenting cancer immunotherapy. Nanoparticles possess versatile attributes, such as prolonged blood circulation, stability, and tumor-targeting capabilities, rendering them ideal for drug delivery. In this review, we elucidate the mechanisms underlying ICD induction and associated therapeutic strategies. Additionally, we provide a concise overview of the immune stress response associated with ICD and explore the potential synergistic benefits of combining ICD induction methods with the utilization of nanocarriers.

Erythropoietin mitigated thioacetamide-induced renal injury via JAK2/STAT5 and AMPK pathway

The kidney flushes out toxic substances and metabolic waste products, and homeostasis is maintained owing to the kidney efforts. Unfortunately, kidney disease is one of the illnesses with a poor prognosis and a high death rate. The current investigation was set out to assess erythropoietin (EPO) potential therapeutic benefits against thioacetamide (TAA)-induced kidney injury in rats. EPO treatment improved kidney functions, ameliorated serum urea, creatinine, and malondialdehyde, increased renal levels of reduced glutathione, and slowed the rise of JAK2, STAT5, AMPK, and their phosphorylated forms induced by TAA. EPO treatment also greatly suppressed JAK2, Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases, and The Protein Kinase R-like ER Kinase gene expressions and mitigated the histopathological alterations brought on by TAA toxicity. EPO antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties protected TAA-damaged kidneys. EPO regulates AMPK, JAK2/STAT5, and pro-inflammatory mediator synthesis.

Enhancing Immunogenicity in Metastatic Melanoma: Adjuvant Therapies to Promote the Anti-Tumor Immune Response

Advanced melanoma is an aggressive form of skin cancer characterized by low survival rates. Less than 50% of advanced melanoma patients respond to current therapies, and of those patients that do respond, many present with tumor recurrence due to resistance. The immunosuppressive tumor-immune microenvironment (TIME) remains a major obstacle in melanoma therapy. Adjuvant treatment modalities that enhance anti-tumor immune cell function are associated with improved patient response. One potential mechanism to stimulate the anti-tumor immune response is by inducing immunogenic cell death (ICD) in tumors. ICD leads to the release of damage-associated molecular patterns within the TIME, subsequently promoting antigen presentation and anti-tumor immunity. This review summarizes relevant concepts and mechanisms underlying ICD and introduces the potential of non-ablative low-intensity focused ultrasound (LOFU) as an immune-priming therapy that can be combined with ICD-inducing focal ablative therapies to promote an anti-melanoma immune response.

Plant-derived extracts and metabolic modulation in leukemia: a promising approach to overcome treatment resistance

Leukemic cells acquire complex and often multifactorial mechanisms of resistance to treatment, including various metabolic alterations. Although the use of metabolic modulators has been proposed for several decades, their use in clinical practice has not been established. Natural products, the so-called botanical drugs, are capable of regulating tumor metabolism, particularly in hematopoietic tumors, which could partly explain the biological activity attributed to them for a long time. This review addresses the most recent findings relating to metabolic reprogramming-Mainly in the glycolytic pathway and mitochondrial activity-Of leukemic cells and its role in the generation of resistance to conventional treatments, the modulation of the tumor microenvironment, and the evasion of immune response. In turn, it describes how the modulation of metabolism by plant-derived extracts can counteract resistance to chemotherapy in this tumor model and contribute to the activation of the antitumor immune system.

Modulation of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells in the Tumor Microenvironment by Natural Products

During carcinogenesis, the microenvironment plays a fundamental role in tumor progression and resistance. This tumor microenvironment (TME) is characterized by being highly immunosuppressive in most cases, which makes it an important target for the development of new therapies. One of the most important groups of cells that orchestrate immunosuppression in TME is myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), which have multiple mechanisms to suppress the immune response mediated by T lymphocytes and thus protect the tumor. In this review, we will discuss the importance of modulating MDSCs as a therapeutic target and how the use of natural products, due to their multiple mechanisms of action, can be a key alternative for modulating these cells and thus improve response to therapy in cancer patients.

(-)-Guaiol triggers immunogenic cell death and inhibits tumor growth in non-small cell lung cancer

(-)-Guaiol is a sesquiterpenoid found in many traditional Chinese medicines with potent antitumor activity. However, its therapeutic effect and mechanism in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) have not been fully elucidated. In this study, (-)-Guaiol was found to induce immunogenic cell death (ICD) in NSCLC in vitro. Using (-)-Guaiol in vivo, we found that (-)-Guaiol could suppress tumor growth, increase dendritic cell activation, and enhance T-cell infiltration. Vaccination experiments suggest that cellular immunoprophylaxis after (-)-Guaiol intervention can suppress tumor growth. Previous studies have found that (-)-Guaiol induces apoptosis and autophagy in NSCLC. Apoptosis and autophagy are closely related to ICD. To explore whether autophagy and apoptosis are involved in (-)-Guaiol-induced ICD, we used inhibitors of apoptosis and autophagy. The results showed that the release of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) was partly reversed after inhibition of apoptosis and autophagy. In conclusion, these results suggested that the (-)-Guaiol triggers immunogenic cell death and inhibits tumor growth in NSCLC.

XBP1s gene of endoplasmic reticulum stress enhances proliferation and osteogenesis of human periodontal ligament cells

BACKGROUND

The endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) pathway, inositol-requiring enzyme-1 alpha-X-box binding protein-1 (IRE1α-XBP1), has been considered as a critical factor of human periodontal ligament cells (hPDLCs) in proliferation and osteogenesis. This study aimed to explore the effect and mechanism of XBP1s, which was cleaved by IRE1α on the proliferation and osteogenesis of hPDLCs.

METHODS

ERS model was induced by tunicamycin (TM); cell proliferation was assessed by CCK-8 assay; pLVX-XBP1s-hPDLCs cell line was established by lentivirus infaction; expression of ERS-related protein including eIF2α, GRP78, ATF4 and XBP1s, autophagy-related P62 and LC3, and apoptosis-related Bcl-2 and Caspase-3 were detected by Western Blot; expression of osteogenic genes was detected by RT-qPCR, and senescence of hPDLCs was explored by β-galactosidase staining. Furthermore, the interaction between XBP1s and human bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) was examined by immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT).

RESULTS

The results showed an increase in proliferation of hPDLCs from 0 to 24 h when ERS was induced by TM treatment (P < 0.05). XBP1s overexpression induced hPDLCs proliferation, upgraded autophagy and degraded apoptosis significantly (P < 0.05). In pLVX-XBP1s-hPDLCs, the ratio of senescent cells was markedly decreased after several passages (P < 0.05); After infection with pLVX-BMP2 lentiviral supernatant, IFAT result showed that XBP1s and BMP2 well co-located in the cytoplasm of pLVX-XBP1s-hPDLCs and PERK-ATF4 ERS branch was activated, meanwhile, there were obviously more mineralized nodules and mRNA expression of osteogenesis-related genes was continually up-regulated (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

XBP1s promotes the proliferation via regulating the autophagy and apoptosis, and enhances expression of osteogenic genes in hPDLCs. The mechanisms in this regard need exploring further for periodontal tissue regeneration, functionalization and clinical applications.

Doxorubicin Activity Is Modulated by Traditional Herbal Extracts in a 2D and 3D Multicellular Sphere Model of Leukemia

The modulation of the tumor microenvironment by natural products may play a significant role in the response of tumor cells to chemotherapy. In this study, we evaluated the effect of extracts derived from P2Et (Caesalpinia spinosa) and Anamú-SC (Petiveria alliacea) plants, previously studied by our group, on the viability and ROS levels in the K562 cell line (Pgp- and Pgp+), endothelial cells (ECs, Eahy.926 cell line) and mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) cultured in 2D and 3D. The results show that: (a) the two botanical extracts are selective on tumor cells compared to doxorubicin (DX), (b) cytotoxicity is independent of the modulation of intracellular ROS for plant extracts, unlike DX, (c) the interaction with DX can be influenced by chemical complexity and the expression of Pgp, (d) the 3D culture shows a greater sensitivity of the tumor cells to chemotherapy, in co-treatment with the extracts. In conclusion, the effect of the extracts on the viability of leukemia cells was modified in multicellular spheroids with MSC and EC, suggesting that the in vitro evaluation of these interactions can contribute to the comprehension of the pharmacodynamics of the botanical drugs.

Investigation of composition, antioxidant, antimicrobial and cytotoxic characteristics from Juniperus sabina and Ferula communis extracts

Plants have been one the most valuable sources of biologically active compounds. This study investigates the chemical composition, as well as the antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activities of methanolic and ethanolic extracts from Juniperus sabina and Ferula communis leaves, grown in Cyprus. Total phenolic and flavonoids content of methanol and ethanol extracts were quantified. Chemical constituents of the leaf extracts were analysed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Mome inositol was the predominant component in the J. Sabina's extracts. The most dominant component in F. communis ethanolic extract was phytol, while in FCL methanolic extract 1,3,4,5 tetrahydroxycyclohexanecarboxylic acid. Antioxidant activities were evaluated by 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical-scavenging ability. Antioxidant activity results revealed concentration dependent activity for methanolic and ethanolic extracts from the plant leaves. Antibacterial activity of plant extracts was tested against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria using disk diffusion and minimal inhibitory concentration methods. Cytotoxic activity of plant extracts were evaluated on MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell lines, where they demonstrated their potential on the viability of both cell lines. The biological activity revealed by plants is due to the bioactive compounds found in the extracts. These bioactive components could be used as anticancer drug candidates.

Encapsulated Phytomedicines against Cancer: Overcoming the "Valley of Death"

P2Et is the standardized extract of Caesalpinia spinosa (C. spinosa), which has shown the ability to reduce primary tumors and metastasis in animal models of cancer, by mechanisms involving the increase in intracellular Ca++, reticulum stress, induction of autophagy, and subsequent activation of the immune system. Although P2Et has been shown to be safe in healthy individuals, the biological activity and bioavailability can be increased by improving the dosage form. This study investigates the potential of a casein nanoparticle for oral administration of P2Et and its impact on treatment efficacy in a mouse model of breast cancer with orthotopically transplanted 4T1 cells. Animals were treated with either free or encapsulated oral P2Et orally or i.p. Tumor growth and macrometastases were evaluated. All P2Et treatments significantly delayed tumor growth. The frequency of macrometastasis was reduced by 1.1 times with P2Et i.p., while oral P2Et reduced it by 3.2 times and nanoencapsulation reduced it by 3.57 times. This suggests that nanoencapsulation led to higher doses of effective P2Et being delivered, slightly improving bioavailability and biological activity. Therefore, the results of this study provide evidence to consider P2Et as a potential adjuvant in the treatment of cancer, while the nanoencapsulation of P2Et provides a novel perspective on the delivery of these functional ingredients.

Plant extract from Caesalpinia spinosa inhibits cancer-associated fibroblast-like cells generation and function in a tumor microenvironment model

Interactions in the tumor microenvironment (TME) between tumor cells and stromal cells such as cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) favor increased survival, progression, and transformation of cancer cells by activating mechanisms of invasion and metastasis. The design of new therapies to modulate or eliminate the CAF phenotype or functionality has been the subject of recent research including natural product-based therapies. We have previously described the generation of a standardized extract rich in polyphenols obtained from the Caesalpinia spinosa plant (P2Et), which present antitumor activities in breast cancer and melanoma models through activities that modulate the metabolism of tumor cells or induce the development of the immune response. In this work, a model of CAF generation was initially developed from the exposure of 3T3 fibroblasts to the cytokine TGFβ1. CAF-like cells generated in this way exhibited changes in the expression of Caveolin-1 and α-SMA, and alterations in glucose metabolism and redox status, typical of CAFs isolated from tumor tissues. Then, P2Et was shown to counteract in vitro-induced CAF-like cell generation, preventing caveolin-1 loss and attenuating changes in glucose uptake and redox profile. This protective effect of P2Et translates into a decrease in the functional ability of CAFs to support colony formation and migration of 4T1 murine breast cancer tumor cells. In addition to the functional interference, the P2Et extract also decreased the expression of genes associated with the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and functional activities related to the modulation of the cancer stem cells (CSC) population. This work is an in vitro approach to evaluate natural extracts' effect on the interaction between CAF and tumor cells in the tumor microenvironment; thus, these results open the chance to design a more profound and mechanistic analysis to explore the molecular mechanisms of P2Et multimolecular activity and extent this analysis to an in vivo perspective. In summary, we present here a standardized polymolecular natural extract that has the potential to act in the TME by interfering with CAF generation and functionality.

The role of unfolded protein response-associated miRNAs in immunogenic cell death amplification: A literature review and bioinformatics analysis

Immunogenic cell death (ICD) is a type of cellular death that is elicited in response to the specific types of anti-cancer therapies and enhances the anti-tumor immune responses by the combination of antigenicity and adjuvanticity of dying tumor cells. There is a well-established interlink between endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) and ICD elicited by anti-cancer therapies. Most recent evidences support that unfolded protein response (UPR)-associated miRNAs can be key players in the ERS-induced ICD. Hence, in the present study, we conducted a literature review on the role of these miRNAs and associated molecular pathways that may regulate ICD. We first collected UPR-associated miRNAs that promote ERS-induced apoptosis and then focused on microRNAs (miRNAs) that promote ERS-induced apoptosis via PERK/eIF2α/ATF4/CHOP pathway activation, as the main core for ICD and release of damage-associated molecular patterns. To better identify PERK/eIF2α/ATF4/CHOP pathway-inducing miRNAs that can be used as potential therapeutic targets for improving ICD in cancer treatment, we did a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis and network construction. Our results showed that "pathways in cancer", "MAPK signaling pathway", "PI3K-Akt signaling pathway", and "Cellular senescence", which correlate with UPR components and ERS induction, were among the significant signaling pathways related to the target genes of these miRNAs. Furthermore, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed, which revealed the involvement of the PPI-extracted hub genes in the regulation of proliferation and apoptosis. In conclusion, we propose that these types of miRNAs can be considered as the potential cancer therapy options for better induction of ICD in combination with other ICD inducers.

Randomized double-blind clinical study in patients with COVID-19 to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a phytomedicine (P2Et)

Background

It has been proposed that polyphenols can be used in the development of new therapies against COVID-19, given their ability to interfere with the adsorption and entrance processes of the virus, thus disrupting viral replication. Seeds from Caesalpinia spinosa, have been traditionally used for the treatment of inflammatory pathologies and respiratory diseases. Our team has obtained an extract called P2Et, rich in polyphenols derived from gallic acid with significant antioxidant activity, and the ability to induce complete autophagy in tumor cells and reduce the systemic inflammatory response in animal models.

Methods

In this work, a phase II multicenter randomized double-blind clinical trial on COVID-19 patients was designed to evaluate the impact of the P2Et treatment on the clinical outcome and the immunological parameters related to the evolution of the disease. The Trial was registered with the number No. NCT04410510^*. A complementary study in an animal model of lung fibrosis was carried out to evaluate in situ lung changes after P2Et in vivo administration. The ability of P2Et to inhibit the viral load of murine and human coronaviruses in cellular models was also evaluated.

Results

Patients treated with P2Et were discharged on average after 7.4 days of admission vs. 9.6 days in the placebo group. Although a decrease in proinflammatory cytokines such as G-CSF, IL-15, IL-12, IL-6, IP10, MCP-1, MCP-2 and IL-18 was observed in both groups, P2Et decreased to a greater extent G-CSF, IL-6 and IL-18 among others, which are related to lower recovery of patients in the long term. The frequency of T lymphocytes (LT) CD3+, LT double negative (CD3+CD4-CD8-), NK cells increased in the P2Et group where the population of eosinophils was also significantly reduced. In the murine bleomycin model, P2Et also reduced lung inflammation and fibrosis. P2Et was able to reduce the viral replication of murine and human coronaviruses in vitro, showing its dual antiviral and anti-inflammatory role, key in disease control.

Conclusions

Taken together these results suggest that P2Et could be consider as a good co-adjuvant in the treatment of COVID-19.

Clinical trail registration

https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04410510, identifier: NCT04410510.

X-box Binding Protein 1 is a Potential Immunotherapy Target in Ovarian Cancer

The allure of potentially dramatic and durable responses to immunotherapy has driven the study of several immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) agents in ovarian cancer. However, the results of ICI therapy in ovarian cancer have been rather disappointing. It is important to understand the reasons for the poor efficacy of ICI in ovarian cancer and to look for new targets for immunotherapy. To solve this problem, ovarian cancer–associated datasets were individually collected from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)、International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC)、Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx), and comprehensively performed to expression, prognostic, pathological correlation, genomic and immunologic analyses of reported all immune checkpoints by Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis 2 (GEPIA2), Tumor and Immune System Interaction Database (TISIDB), cBio Cancer Genomics Portal (cBioPortal), and Kaplan-Meier Plotter. We concluded that those well-identified immune checkpoints might not be ideal targets for ovarian cancer immunotherapy. Intriguingly, the genomic alteration of X-box binding protein 1 (XBP1), the important mediator of chemotherapy-induced cancer immunogenic cell death, was found to be a potential coregulator of immune checkpoints in ovarian cancer. Importantly, XBP1 was detected to be highly expressed in ovarian cancer compared with normal ovarian tissue, and high XBP1 expression significantly benefits both overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) of ovarian cancer patients. More importantly, XBP1 was further observed to be closely related to anti-tumor immunity in ovarian cancer, including multiple T-cell signatures and immunity-killing molecules. In conclusion, upregulating XBP1 rather than targeting immune checkpoints represents a potentially more efficient approach for ovarian cancer therapy.

Safety Evaluation in Healthy Colombian Volunteers of P2Et Extract Obtained from Caesalpinia spinosa: Design 3+3 Phase I Clinical Trial

The polyphenol-enriched extract called P2Et derived from Caesalpinia spinosa (C. spinosa) had antitumor and immunomodulatory activities reported in breast cancer, leukemia, and melanoma. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and maximum tolerated dose of P2Et extract in Colombian healthy volunteers in a phase 1 clinical trial, open labelled, single-arm, dose-escalation design 3 + 3. Seven healthy volunteers were included; P2Et was administrated in capsules of 600 mg/d for 28 days. Analysis by intention to treat was performed. 4 volunteers showed adverse events and discontinued the intervention. 94.6% of AE were grade 1, and most of AE had a reasonable possibility of a relationship with the P2Et (83.8%). We found that the oral administration of P2Et is safe in healthy humans with a maximum tolerated dose of 600 mg/d. There was no severe toxicity; most of the adverse events were mild, without significant changes in the safety parameters evaluated.

The Role of Calcium Signaling in Melanoma

Calcium signaling plays important roles in physiological and pathological conditions, including cutaneous melanoma, the most lethal type of skin cancer. Intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺]i), cell membrane calcium channels, calcium related proteins (S100 family, E-cadherin, and calpain), and Wnt/Ca²⁺ pathways are related to melanogenesis and melanoma tumorigenesis and progression. Calcium signaling influences the melanoma microenvironment, including immune cells, extracellular matrix (ECM), the vascular network, and chemical and physical surroundings. Other ionic channels, such as sodium and potassium channels, are engaged in calcium-mediated pathways in melanoma. Calcium signaling serves as a promising pharmacological target in melanoma treatment, and its dysregulation might serve as a marker for melanoma prediction. We documented calcium-dependent endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and mitochondria dysfunction, by targeting calcium channels and influencing [Ca²⁺]i and calcium homeostasis, and attenuated drug resistance in melanoma management.

Evaluation of the Antitumour and Antiproliferative Effect of Xanthohumol-Loaded PLGA Nanoparticles on Melanoma

Cutaneous melanoma is the deadliest type of skin cancer and current treatment is still inadequate, with low patient survival rates. The polyphenol xanthohumol has been shown to inhibit tumourigenesis and metastasization, however its physicochemical properties restrict its application. In this work, we developed PLGA nanoparticles encapsulating xanthohumol and tested its antiproliferative, antitumour, and migration effect on B16F10, malignant cutaneous melanoma, and RAW 264.7, macrophagic, mouse cell lines. PLGA nanoparticles had a size of 312 ± 41 nm and a PdI of 0.259, while achieving a xanthohumol loading of about 90%. The viability study showed similar cytoxicity between the xanthohumol and xanthohumol-loaded PLGA nanoparticles at 48 h with the IC50 established at 10 µM. Similar antimigration effects were observed for free and the encapsulated xanthohumol. It was also observed that the M1 antitumor phenotype was stimulated on macrophages. The ultimate anti-melanoma effect emerges from an association between the viability, migration and macrophagic phenotype modulation. These results display the remarkable antitumour effect of the xanthohumol-loaded PLGA nanoparticles and are the first advance towards the application of a nanoformulation to deliver xanthohumol to reduce adverse effects by currently employed chemotherapeutics.

Genotoxicity and mutagenicity assessment of a standardized extract (P2Et) obtained from Caesalpinia spinosa

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The P2Et extract was assessed for genotoxicity and mutagenicity activity.

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The P2Et extract showed no genotoxicity in Micronucleus assay.

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The P2Et extract showed no mutagenicity in Ames test.

The standardized P2Et extract obtained from Caesalpinia spinosa has shown antioxidant, and direct antitumor activity, but also activation of specific immune response through the induction of tumor immunogenic cell death in breast and melanoma cancer models. The present work evaluated the mutagenicity and genotoxicity profile of P2Et to continue the development of the P2Et. Genotoxicity was evaluated by OECD 1997 a guideline and mutagenicity by OECD 2016. At P2Et’s doses of 500, 1000, and 2000 mg/kg body weight in mice (Mus musculus), the difference between the number of micronuclei in PCE of the groups were not statistically significant (17 (negative control), 15 (500 mg/kg), 15 (1000 mg/kg), 19 (2000 mg/kg) and 271 (positive control). Similarly, P2Et did not induce gene mutations by base pair changes or frameshifts in the genome of Salmonella Typhimurium strains TA98, TA100, TA102, TA1535 and TA1537 at the tested range of concentrations up to 5000 μg/plate in the absence and presence of metabolic activation. Therefore, the P2Et was considered as non- mutagenic and non-genotoxic at the conditions of the tests.

Endoplasmic reticulum stress signals in the tumour and its microenvironment

Protein handling, modification and folding in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) are tightly regulated processes that determine cell function, fate and survival. In several tumour types, diverse oncogenic, transcriptional and metabolic abnormalities cooperate to generate hostile microenvironments that disrupt ER homeostasis in malignant and stromal cells, as well as infiltrating leukocytes. These changes provoke a state of persistent ER stress that has been demonstrated to govern multiple pro-tumoural attributes in the cancer cell while dynamically reprogramming the function of innate and adaptive immune cells. Aberrant activation of ER stress sensors and their downstream signalling pathways have therefore emerged as key regulators of tumour growth and metastasis as well as response to chemotherapy, targeted therapies and immunotherapy. In this Review, we discuss the physiological inducers of ER stress in the tumour milieu, the interplay between oncogenic signalling and ER stress response pathways in the cancer cell and the profound immunomodulatory effects of sustained ER stress responses in tumours.

Preferential Activity of Petiveria alliacea Extract on Primary Myeloid Leukemic Blast

The need for new therapeutic approaches to improve the response in acute leukemia (AL), either by directing therapy or with new therapeutic alternatives, has been a research and clinical interest topic. We evaluated whether blasts from AL patients were sensitive ex vivo to the induction chemotherapy and whether the extracts of Petiveria alliacea (Anamu SC) and Caesalpinia spinosa (P2Et) modulated the sensitivity of leukemic cells to death. Bone marrow samples were taken from 26 patients with de novo AL and 6 in relapse, and the cytotoxicity of the extracts alone or in combination with the chemotherapeutic was evaluated by XTT. Patients were classified as good (GR) and bad responders (BR) according to the ex vivo test. 70.5% of the GR patients to the ex vivo test achieved postinduction remission to induction chemotherapy with a median overall survival of 12.50 months versus 7.23 months in the two groups. Furthermore, it was found that the ex vivo response to extracts and chemotherapeutics is heterogeneous and shows an exclusive pattern between the extracts, Anamu being the more effective in inducing cell death. The combination of extracts with chemotherapeutic agents showed synergistic or antagonistic effects in the patients' blasts. These results show that the ex vivo evaluation of the sensitivity to induction drugs using primary blasts from patients exhibits a correlation with the response to induction chemotherapy in patients. These analyses would allow establishing a system to predict response to treatment and determine ex vivo susceptibility to new therapies under development, among which is phytotherapeutics.

Evaluation of chemotherapy and P2Et extract combination in ex-vivo derived tumor mammospheres from breast cancer patients

The main cause of death by cancer is metastasis rather than local complications of primary tumors. Recent studies suggest that breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs), retains the ability to self-renew and differentiate to repopulate the entire tumor, also, they have been associated with resistance to chemotherapy and tumor recurrence, even after tumor resection. Chemotherapy has been implicated in the induction of resistant phenotypes with highly metastatic potential. Naturally occurring compounds, especially phytochemicals such as P2Et, can target different populations of cancer cells as well as BCSC, favoring the activation of immune response via immunogenic tumor death. Here, we evaluated the presence of BCSC as well as markers related to drug resistance in tumors obtained from 78 patients who had received (or not) chemotherapy before surgery. We evaluated the ex vivo response of patient tumor-derived organoids (or mammospheres) to chemotherapy alone or in combination with P2Et. A xenotransplant model engrafted with MDA-MB-468 was used to evaluate in vivo the activity of P2Et, in this model P2Et delay tumor growth. We show that patients with luminal and TNBC, and those who received neoadjuvant therapy before surgery have a higher frequency of BCSC. Further, the treatment with P2Et in mammospheres and human breast cancer cell lines improve the in vitro tumor death and decrease its viability and proliferation together with the release of immunogenic signals. P2Et could be a good co-adjuvant in antitumor therapy in patients, retarding the tumor growth by enabling the activation of the immune response.

The delay in cell death caused by the induction of autophagy by P2Et extract is essential for the generation of immunogenic signals in melanoma cells

P2Et extract obtained from the Caesalpinia spinosa plant is abundant in phenolic compounds such as gallic acid and ethyl gallate and can generate signals to activate the immune response by inducing a mechanism known as immunogenic cell death in murine models of breast cancer and melanoma. Immunogenic cell death involves mechanisms such as autophagy, which can be modulated by various natural compounds, including phenolic compounds with a structure similar to those found in P2Et extract. Here, we determine the role of autophagy in apoptosis and the generation of immunogenic signals using murine wild-type B16-F10 melanoma cells and cells with beclin-1 gene knockout. We show that P2Et extract and ethyl gallate induced autophagy, partially protecting tumor cells from death and promoting calreticulin exposure and the release of ATP. Although ethyl gallate showed a mechanism similar to that of P2Et, the induction of apoptosis and immunogenic signals was significantly weaker. In contrast, gallic acid-induced autophagy acted by blocking autophagic flux, which was associated with increased cell death. However, this compound did not induce any of the immunogenic death signals evaluated. Therefore, the complex extract has greater antitumor potential than isolated compounds. Here, we show that inducing autophagic flux with P2Et protects cancer cells from cell death and that this delay in cell death is required for the generation of immunogenic signals.

Bioactive Potential of Extracts of Labrenzia aggregata Strain USBA 371, a Halophilic Bacterium Isolated from a Terrestrial Source

Previous studies revealed the potential of Labrenzia aggregata USBA 371 to produce cytotoxic metabolites. This study explores its metabolic diversity and compounds involved in its cytotoxic activity. Extracts from the extracellular fraction of strain USBA 371 showed high levels of cytotoxic activity associated with the production of diketopiperazines (DKPs). We purified two compounds and a mixture of two other compounds from this fraction. Their structures were characterized by 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). The purified compounds were evaluated for additional cytotoxic activities. Compound 1 (cyclo (l-Pro-l-Tyr)) showed cytotoxicity to the following cancer cell lines: breast cancer 4T1 (IC₅₀ 57.09 ± 2.11 µM), 4T1H17 (IC₅₀ 40.38 ± 1.94), MCF-7 (IC₅₀ 87.74 ± 2.32 µM), murine melanoma B16 (IC₅₀ 80.87 ± 3.67), human uterus sarcoma MES-SA/Dx5 P-pg (−) (IC₅₀ 291.32 ± 5.64) and MES-SA/Dx5 P-pg (+) (IC₅₀ 225.28 ± 1.23), and murine colon MCA 38 (IC₅₀ 29.85 ± 1.55). In order to elucidate the biosynthetic route of the production of DKPs and other secondary metabolites, we sequenced the genome of L. aggregata USBA 371. We found no evidence for biosynthetic pathways associated with cyclodipeptide synthases (CDPSs) or non-ribosomal peptides (NRPS), but based on proteogenomic analysis we suggest that they are produced by proteolytic enzymes. This is the first report in which the cytotoxic effect of cyclo (l-Pro-l-Tyr) produced by an organism of the genus Labrenzia has been evaluated against several cancer cell lines.

Immune system activation by natural products and complex fractions: a network pharmacology approach in cancer treatment

Natural products and traditional herbal medicine are an important source of alternative bioactive compounds but very few plant-based preparations have been scientifically evaluated and validated for their potential as medical treatments. However, a promising field in the current therapies based on plant-derived compounds is the study of their immunomodulation properties and their capacity to activate the immune system to fight against multifactorial diseases like cancer. In this review we discuss how network pharmacology could help to characterize and validate natural single molecules or more complex preparations as promising cancer therapies based on their multitarget capacities.

[Effect of miskleron (clofibrate) on dimethylhydrazine induction of intestinal tumors in rats]

In this review, we report on the complexity of breast cancer stem cells as key cells in the emergence of a chemoresistant tumor phenotype, and as a result, the appearance of distant metastasis in breast cancer patients. The search for mechanisms that increase sensitivity to chemotherapy and also allow activation of the tumor-specific immune response is of high priority. As we observed throughout this review, natural products isolated or in standardized extracts, such as P2Et or others, could act synergistically, increasing tumor sensitivity to chemotherapy, recovering the tumor microenvironment, and participating in the induction of a specific immune response. This, in turn, would lead to the destruction of cancer stem cells and the decrease in metastasis.

Source of Data: Relevant studies were found using the following keywords or medical subject headings (MeSH) in PubMed, and Google Scholar: “immune response” and “polyphenols” and “natural products” and “BCSC” and “therapy” and “metabolism” and “immunogenic cell death.” The focus was primarily on the most recent scientific publication.