Mitochondria play an important role in the cell proliferation suppressing activity of berberine

Lysine methyltransferase SETD7 in cancer: functions, molecular mechanisms and therapeutic implications

Since its discovery as a histone methyltransferase, SETD7 has been implicated in many signaling pathways and carcinogenesis. SETD7 catalyzes the methylation of histone H3 and non-histone proteins, regulating their translation, stability and activity. SETD7 is frequently abnormally expressed and has a significant influence on cell proliferation, invasion, autophagy and immune response. As cancer is a complex disease, an outstanding concept in cancer biology is the "hallmarks of cancer". In this review, we focus on the involvement of SETD7 in the hallmarks of cancer, describing its functions and underlying mechanisms in detail. Additionally, we discuss non-coding RNAs and chemical inhibitors targeting SETD7, highlighting the potential and importance of SETD7 in cancer therapy.

An Integrative Approach Using Molecular and Metabolomic Studies Reveals the Connection of Glutamic Acid with Telomerase and Oxidative Stress in Berberine-Treated Colorectal Cancer Cell Line HCT 116

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the common deadliest cancers worldwide. In Malaysia, the numbers of new CRC cases were horrific and worrisome. Telomerase is both prognostic indicator and predictor of carcinogenesis in CRC patients. Berberine, a telomerase inhibitor, was used in clinical trials and metabolomic studies; however, the association of telomerase with metabolites and metabolic pathways was not fully understood. Colorectal cancer cell line HCT 116 was cultured and treated with 10.54 µg/mL berberine. The cells were harvested at different time points to conduct subsequent analyses. The methods used in this research were real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to assess RNA expressions; Western blot to determine protein levels; TELOTAGGG Telomerase PCR ELISA to determine relative telomerase activity (RTA); 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole (DAPI) staining to determine percentage of nuclei damage; fluorescence microscopy for cell area; spectrophotometric potassium iodide assay for intracellular hydrogen peroxide concentration [H2O2]; as well as liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LCMS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) to investigate the intracellular metabolites. Partial least square-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) score plot exhibited an improved separation compared to principal component analysis (PCA) when metabolomic data analysis of HCT 116 at various berberine treatment durations was conducted. Time and berberine treatment had an impact on RTA in HCT 116. RTA was discovered to be positively and negatively correlated to 14 and 2 metabolites, respectively. Glutamic acid was consistently found correlated to RTA. Other four metabolites, i.e., MG(14:0), [3-[hydroxy(phosphonooxy)phosphoryl]oxyphenyl] phosphono hydrogen phosphate), (3S,6S)-6-[[(3S,6R)-6-[(2S,3S,5S)-2,5-diiodo-4-methoxy-6-methyloxan-3-yl]oxy-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxan-2-yl]methoxy]-3,4,5-trihydroxyoxane-2-carboxylic acid, and 1-[5-O-(5'-adenylyloxyphosphonyl)-beta-D-ribofuranosyl]-5-amino-1H-imidazole-4-carboxamide, were newly discovered to be connected to RTA in HCT 116. Four metabolic pathways that majorly affected shared glutamic acid and glutamine. Nitrogen metabolism, D-glutamine and D-glutamate metabolism, glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, and aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis have been identified to be associated with RTA. Network analyses hinted that glutamic acid was also associated with oxidative stress mechanism. The multiple roles glutamic acid acted in diverse metabolic pathways and interaction networks emphasized the importance of glutamic acid in HCT 116 regarding RTA. This research establishes the association between RTA and several chosen RNAs, proteins, metabolites, and oxidative stress mechanisms, consequential in morphological alteration in HCT 116, to expand the knowledge of the intricate biological relationships and telomerase mechanism in CRC.

Exploring Potential Impact of Graphene Oxide and Graphene Oxide-Polyethylenimine on Biological Behavior of Human Amniotic Fluid-Derived Stem Cells

Regenerative medicine and tissue engineering aim to restore or replace impaired organs and tissues using cell transplantation supported by scaffolds. Recently scientists are focusing on developing new biomaterials that optimize cellular attachment, migration, proliferation, and differentiation. Nanoparticles, such as graphene oxide (GO), have emerged as versatile materials due to their high surface-to-volume ratio and unique chemical properties, such as electrical conductivity and flexibility. However, GO faces challenges such as cytotoxicity at high concentrations, a negative surface charge, and potential inflammatory responses; for these reasons, variations in synthesis have been studied. A GO derivative, Graphene Oxide-Polyethylenimine (GO-PEI), shows controlled porosity and structural definition, potentially offering better support for cell growth. Human amniotic fluid stem cells (hAFSCs) are a promising candidate for regenerative medicine due to their ability to differentiate into mesodermic and ectodermic lineages, their non-immunogenic nature, and ease of isolation. This study investigates the effects of GO and GO-PEI on hAFSCs, focusing on the effects on adhesion, proliferation, and metabolic features. Results indicate that GO-PEI restores cell proliferation and mitochondrial activity to control levels, with respect to GO that appeared less biocompatible. Both materials also influence the miRNA cargo of hAFSC-derived microvesicles, potentially influencing also cell-to-cell communication.

Evodiamine: A Extremely Potential Drug Development Candidate of Alkaloids from Evodia rutaecarpa

Evodiamine (EVO) is a tryptamine indole alkaloid and the main active ingredient in Evodia rutaecarpa. In recent years, the antitumor, cardioprotective, anti-inflammatory, and anti-Alzheimer's disease effects of EVO have been reported. EVO exerts antitumor effects by inhibiting tumor cell activity and proliferation, blocking the cell cycle, promoting apoptosis and autophagy, and inhibiting the formation of the tumor microvasculature. However, EVO has poor solubility and low bioavailability. Several derivatives with high antitumor activity have been discovered through the structural optimization of EVO, and new drug delivery systems have been developed to improve the solubility and bioavailability of EVO. Current research found that EVO could have toxic effects, such as hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity, and cardiac toxicity. This article reviews the pharmacological activity, derivatives, drug delivery systems, toxicity, and pharmacokinetics of EVO and provides research ideas and references for its further in-depth development and clinical applications.

Cationic Vitamin E-TPGS Mixed Micelles of Berberine to Neutralize Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity via Amelioration of Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Impeding Apoptosis

Anthracycline antibiotics, namely, doxorubicin (DOX) and daunorubicin, are among the most widely used anticancer therapies, yet are notoriously associated with severe myocardial damage due to oxidative stress and mitochondrial damage. Studies have indicated the strong pharmacological properties of Berberine (Brb) alkaloid, predominantly mediated via mitochondrial functions and nuclear networks. Despite the recent emphasis on Brb in clinical cardioprotective studies, pharmaceutical limitations hamper its clinical use. A nanoformulation for Brb was developed (mMic), incorporating a cationic lipid, oleylamine (OA), into the TPGS-mixed corona of PEGylated-phosphatidylethanolamine (PEG-PE) micelles. Cationic TPGS/PEG-PE mMic with superior Brb loading and stability markedly enhanced both intracellular and mitochondria-tropic Brb activities in cardiovascular muscle cells. Sub-lethal doses of Brb via cationic OA/TPGS mMic, as a DOX co-treatment, resulted in significant mitochondrial apoptosis suppression. In combination with an intense DOX challenge (up to ~50 µM), mitochondria-protective Brb-OA/TPGS mMic showed a significant 24 h recovery of cell viability (p ≤ 0.05-0.01). Mechanistically, the significant relative reduction in apoptotic caspase-9 and elevation of antiapoptotic Bcl-2 seem to mediate the cardioprotective role of Brb-OA/TPGS mMic against DOX. Our report aims to demonstrate the great potential of cationic OA/TPGS-mMic to selectively enhance the protective mitohormetic effect of Brb to mitigate DOX cardiotoxicity.

Toxicity evaluation of processing Evodiae fructus based on intestinal microbiota

Background

With the development of healthcare services, drug efficacy, and safety have become the focus of drug use, and processing alters drug toxicity and efficacy, exploring the effects of processing on Evodiae fructus (EF) can guide the clinical use of drugs.

Methods

Fifty male Kunming mice were randomly divided into the control group (CCN), raw small-flowered EF group (CRSEF), raw medium-flowered EF group (CRMEF), processing small-flowered EF group (CPSEF), and processing medium-flowered EF group (CPMEF). The CRSEF, CRMEF, CPSEF, and CPMEF groups were gavaged with aqueous extracts of raw small-flowered EF dry paste (RSEF), medium-flowered EF dry paste (RMEF), processing small-flowered EF dry paste (PSEF) and processing medium-flowered EF dry paste (PMEF), respectively, for 21 days at 5 times the pharmacopeial dosage. Upon concluding the experiment, histopathological sections of liver and kidney tissues were examined. Additionally, levels of aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), serum creatinine (SCr), and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) were determined. DNA from the intestinal contents of the mice was extracted, and 16S rRNA full-length high-throughput sequencing was performed.

Results

After fed EF 21 days, mice exhibited a decreasing trend in body weight. Comparative analysis with the CCN group revealed an upward trend in SCr, BUN, AST, and ALT levels in both CRSEF and CRMEF groups. The CRMEF group displayed notably elevated BUN and AST levels, with an observed increasing trend in Scr and ALT. Kidney sections unveiled cellular edema and considerable inflammatory cell infiltrates, whereas significant liver damage was not evident. Compared with CRSEF, Bun levels were significantly lower while AST levels were significantly higher in the CPMEF group. Additionally, the intestinal microbiota diversity and the relative abundance of Psychrobacter decreased significantly, and the relative abundance of Staphylococcus, Jeotgalicoccus, and Salinicoccus increased significantly in the CPMEF group. AST, ALT, and SCr were positively correlated with Staphylococcus, Jeotgalicoccus, and Salinicoccus.

Conclusion

In conclusion, PMEF significantly increased harmful bacteria (Staphylococcus, Jeotgalicoccus, and Salinicoccu) and decreased beneficial bacteria. SEF with 5 times the clinical dose showed nephrotoxicity and SEF nephrotoxicity decreased after processing, but EF hepatotoxicity was not significant, which may be due to insufficient dose concentration and time.

Development of a Mitochondrial Targeting Lipid Nanoparticle Encapsulating Berberine

Delivering drugs to mitochondria, the main source of energy in neurons, can be a useful therapeutic strategy for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Berberine (BBR), an isoquinoline alkaloid, acts on mitochondria and is involved in mechanisms associated with the normalization and regulation of intracellular metabolism. Therefore, BBR has attracted considerable interest as a possible therapeutic drug for neurodegenerative diseases. While BBR has been reported to act on mitochondria, there are few reports on the efficient delivery of BBR into mitochondria. This paper reports on the mitochondrial delivery of BBR using a lipid nanoparticle (LNP), a "MITO-Porter" that targets mitochondria, and its pharmacological action in Neuro2a cells, a model neuroblastoma. A MITO-Porter containing encapsulated BBR (MITO-Porter (BBR)) was prepared. Treatment with MITO-Porter (BBR) increased the amount of BBR that accumulated in mitochondria compared with a treatment with naked BBR. Treatment with MITO-Porter (BBR) resulted in increased ATP production in Neuro2a cells, which are important for maintaining life phenomena, compared with treatment with naked BBR. Treatment with MITO-Porter (BBR) also increased the level of expression of mitochondrial ubiquitin ligase (MITOL), which is involved in mitochondrial quality control. Our findings indicate that increasing the accumulation of BBR into mitochondria is important for inducing enhanced pharmacological actions. The use of this system has the potential for being important in terms of the regulation of the metabolic mechanism of mitochondria in nerve cells.

Near-Physiological Concentrations of Extracellular Pyruvate Stimulated Glucose Utilization along with Triglyceride Accumulation and Mitochondrial Activity in HepG2 Cells

Pyruvate, a key intermediate in energy and nutrient metabolism, probably plays important roles in these regulations. In previous reports using cell lines, extracellular pyruvate of supraphysiological concentrations inhibited the glucose uptake by myotubes while being stimulated by adipocytes. As the effect of pyruvate on the glucose utilization is unclear in cultured hepatocytes. We have investigated the effects of extracellular pyruvate on the glucose utilization and the subsequent metabolic changes using the cell line HepG2. In a 24 h culture, pyruvate enhanced the glucose consumption more potently than 1 μM insulin, and this enhancement was detectable at a near-physiological concentrations of ≤1 mM. For metabolic changes following glucose consumption, the conversion ratio of glucose and pyruvate to extracellular lactate was approximately 1.0 without extracellular pyruvate. The addition of pyruvate decreased the conversion ratio to approximately 0.7, indicating that the glycolytic reaction switched from being an anaerobic to a partially aerobic feature. Consistent with this finding, pyruvate increased the accumulation of intracellular triglycerides which are produced through substrate supply from the mitochondria. Furthermore, pyruvate stimulated mitochondria activity as evidenced by increases in ATP content, mitochondrial DNA copy number, enhanced mitochondria-specific functional imaging and oxygen consumption. Interestingly, 1 mM pyruvate increased oxygen consumption immediately after addition. In this study, we found that near-physiological concentrations of extracellular pyruvate exerted various changes in metabolic events, including glucose influx, lactate conversion rations, TG accumulation, and mitochondrial activity in HepG2 cells.

Berberine Modulates Macrophage Activation by Inducing Glycolysis

Classical activation of macrophage and monocyte differentiation induced by β-glucan is accompanied with metabolic change in glucose. However, the role of the metabolic rewiring in monocyte/macrophage activation remains elusive. In this study, we show that berberine induces aerobic glycolysis by blocking the tricarboxylic acid cycle and modulates cytokine responses in bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) from mice and human PBMC. 13-Methyberberine had activities on glucose metabolism and BMDM activation similar to those of berberine, whereas other tested derivatives lost both activities. Glucose transporter (GLUT)1 expression and total cellular hexokinase activity increased gradually in BMDMs in the presence of berberine. In the contrast, LPS upregulated GLUT1 and 6-phosphofructo-2-kinase/fructose-2,6-bisphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3) levels in 6 h. Extracellular glucose levels and replacing glucose with galactose in culture medium affected the cytokine secretion of BMDMs. Berberine alleviated enteritis of Salmonella typhimurium infection and protected mice against endotoxic shock. In mice i.p. injected with LPS, the increase of serum TNF-α and the drop of blood glucose were attenuated by berberine treatment. These data together demonstrated that macrophage activation was closely related with glucose metabolism.

Research progress on the pharmacological effects of berberine targeting mitochondria

Berberine is a natural active ingredient extracted from the rhizome of Rhizoma Coptidis, which interacts with multiple intracellular targets and exhibits a wide range of pharmacological activities. Previous studies have preliminarily confirmed that the regulation of mitochondrial activity is related to various pharmacological actions of berberine, such as regulating blood sugar and lipid and inhibiting tumor progression. However, the mechanism of berberine's regulation of mitochondrial activity remains to be further studied. This paper summarizes the molecular mechanism of the mitochondrial quality control system and briefly reviews the targets of berberine in regulating mitochondrial activity. It is proposed that berberine mainly regulates glycolipid metabolism by regulating mitochondrial respiratory chain function, promotes tumor cell apoptosis by regulating mitochondrial apoptosis pathway, and protects cardiac function by promoting mitophagy to alleviate mitochondrial dysfunction. It reveals the mechanism of berberine's pharmacological effects from the perspective of mitochondria and provides a scientific basis for the application of berberine in the clinical treatment of diseases.

Of mitochondrion and COVID-19

COVID-19, a pandemic disease caused by a viral infection, is associated with a high mortality rate. Most of the signs and symptoms, e.g. cytokine storm, electrolytes imbalances, thromboembolism, etc., are related to mitochondrial dysfunction. Therefore, targeting mitochondrion will represent a more rational treatment of COVID-19. The current work outlines how COVID-19's signs and symptoms are related to the mitochondrion. Proper understanding of the underlying causes might enhance the opportunity to treat COVID-19.

Antiproliferative activity of berberine in HepG2 cells via inducing apoptosis and arresting cell cycle

The therapeutic targets of berberine for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and its detailed mechanisms remain unexplored. Here, an integration of network pharmacology, proteomic, bioinformatic and in vitro biochemical approach was proposed to reveal therapeutic targets and pathways underlying the antiproliferative activity of berberine against HepG2 cells. Results indicated that berberine caused the cytotoxicity and inhibited the growth of HepG2 cells with IC₅₀ values ranging from 92 μM to 118 μM. Network pharmacology analysis revealed that targeting apoptosis and cell cycle pathways by berberine contributed to its antitumor efficacy against HCC. Proteomic analysis demonstrated that mitochondria-related apoptosis pathways were involved in the cytotoxic action of berberine, as evidenced by the expression of mitochondrial dysfunction-mediated proteins. Moreover, a total of 160 significantly altered proteins were screened, among which AKAP12 presented significantly increased levels under berberine treatment. Bioinformatic analysis of various public datasets showed that expression of AKAP12 in HCC liver tissues was downregulated, emphasizing its role as a tumor suppressor. Immunoblotting validated the increased levels of AKAP12, while co-immunoprecipitation identified its interaction with Cyclin D1. These data, together with flow cytometry analysis, suggested that AKAP12 mediated cell cycle arrest, thereby suppressing cell proliferation. Altogether, the antiproliferative action of berberine in HepG2 cells involves both apoptosis and cell cycle arrest. Regulating AKAP12 signalling by berberine might provide a promising strategy for HCC treatment.

New focuses on roles of communications between endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria in identification of biomarkers and targets

The communication between endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria (Mt) plays important roles in maintenance of intra- and extra-cellular microenvironment, metabolisms, signaling activities and cell-cell communication. The present review aims to overview the advanced understanding about roles of ER-Mt structural contacts, molecular interactions and chemical exchanges, signal transmissions and inter-organelle regulations in ER-Mt communication. We address how the ER-Mt communication contributes to the regulation of lipid, amino acid and glucose metabolisms by enzymes, transporters and regulators in the process of biosynthesis. We specially emphasize the importance of deep understanding about molecular mechanisms of ER-Mt communication for identification and development of biology-specific, disease-specific and metabolism-specific biomarkers and therapeutic targets for human diseases. The inhibitors and modulators of the ER-Mt communication are categorized according to therapeutic targets. Rapid development of biotechnologies will provide new insights for spatiotemporally understanding the molecular mechanisms of ER-Mt communication.

Melatonin Protects Chronic Kidney Disease Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells against Accumulation of Methylglyoxal via Modulation of Hexokinase-2 Expression

Treatment options for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) are currently limited; therefore, there has been significant interest in applying mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (MSC)-based therapy to treat CKD. However, MSCs harvested from CKD patients tend to show diminished viability and proliferation due to sustained exposure to uremic toxins in the CKD environment, which limits their utility for cell therapy. The application of melatonin has been demonstrated to improve the therapeutic efficacy of MSCs derived from and engrafted to tissues in patients suffering from CKD, although the underlying biological mechanism has not been elucidated. In this study, we observed overexpression of hexokinase-2 (HK2) in serum samples of CKD patients and MSCs harvested from an adenine-fed CKD mouse model (CKD-mMSCs). HK2 upregulation led to increased production levels of methylglyoxal (MG), a toxic metabolic intermediate of abnormal glycolytic processes. The overabundance of HK2 and MG was associated with impaired mitochondrial function and low cell proliferation in CKD-mMSCs. Melatonin treatment inhibited the increases in HK2 and MG levels, and further improved mitochondrial function, glycolytic metabolism, and cell proliferation. Our findings suggest that identifying and characterizing metabolic regulators such as HK2 in CKD may improve the efficacy of MSCs for treating CKD and other kidney disorders.

Functional inhibition of lactate dehydrogenase suppresses pancreatic adenocarcinoma progression

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAAD) a highly lethal malignancy. The current use of clinical parameters may not accurately predict the clinical outcome, which further renders the unsatisfactory therapeutic outcome.

METHODS

In this study, we retrospectively analyzed the clinical-pathological characteristics and prognosis of 253 PAAD patients. Univariate, multivariate, and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were conducted to assess risk factors and clinical outcomes. For functional study, we performed bidirectional genetic manipulation of lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA) in PAAD cell lines to measure PAAD progression by both in vitro and in vivo assays.

RESULTS

LDHA is particularly overexpressed in PAAD tissues and elevated serum LDHA-transcribed isoenzymes-5 (LDH-5) was associated with poorer patients' clinical outcomes. Genetic overexpression of LDHA promoted the proliferation and invasion in vitro, and tumor growth and metastasis in vivo in murine PAAD orthotopic models, while knockdown of LDHA exhibited opposite effects. LDHA-induced L-lactate production was responsible for the LDHA-facilitated PAAD progression. Mechanistically, LDHA overexpression reduced the phosphorylation of metabolic regulator AMPK and promoted the downstream mTOR phosphorylation in PAAD cells. Inhibition of mTOR repressed the LDHA-induced proliferation and invasion. A natural product berberine was selected as functional inhibitor of LDHA, which reduced activity and expression of the protein in PAAD cells. Berberine inhibited PAAD cells proliferation and invasion in vitro, and suppressed tumor progression in vivo. The restoration of LDHA attenuated the suppressive effect of berberine on PAAD.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that LDHA may be a novel biomarker and potential therapeutic target of human PAAD.

Berberine alleviates lipid metabolism disorders via inhibition of mitochondrial complex I in gut and liver

This study is to investigate the relationship between berberine (BBR) and mitochondrial complex I in lipid metabolism. BBR reversed high-fat diet-induced obesity, hepatic steatosis, hyperlipidemia and insulin resistance in mice. Fatty acid consumption, β-oxidation and lipogenesis were attenuated in liver after BBR treatment which may be through reduction in SCD1, FABP1, CD36 and CPT1A. BBR promoted fecal lipid excretion, which may result from the reduction in intestinal CD36 and SCD1. Moreover, BBR inhibited mitochondrial complex I-dependent oxygen consumption and ATP synthesis of liver and gut, but no impact on activities of complex II, III and IV. BBR ameliorated mitochondrial swelling, facilitated mitochondrial fusion, and reduced mtDNA and citrate synthase activity. BBR decreased the abundance and diversity of gut microbiome. However, no change in metabolism of recipient mice was observed after fecal microbiota transplantation from BBR treated mice. In primary hepatocytes, BBR and AMPK activator A769662 normalized oleic acid-induced lipid deposition. Although both the agents activated AMPK, BBR decreased oxygen consumption whereas A769662 increased it. Collectively, these findings indicated that BBR repressed complex I in gut and liver and consequently inhibited lipid metabolism which led to alleviation of obesity and fatty liver. This process was independent of intestinal bacteria.

Interaction of Cun, Agn and Aun (n = 1-4) nanoparticles with ChCl:Urea deep eutectic solvent

In this study, the interaction of noble metal nanoparticles (M_n, M = Cu, Ag, and Au; n = 1-4) with ChCl:Urea deep eutectic solvent was investigated using density functional theory (DFT) method. We find that ChCl:Urea mostly interact with the M_n nanoparticles through [Cl]^- anion ([Cl]^-…M_n) and nonconventional H-bonds of C-H⋯M_n and N-H⋯M_n. NBO, QTAIM, NCI and EDA analyses show that [Cl]^-…M_n interactions are stronger than the nonconventional H-bonds interactions. Our results indicate that the nature of [Cl]^-…M_n interactions is electrostatic, while the nonconventional H-bonds of C-H⋯M_n and N-H⋯M_n are van der Waals in nature. The negative values of enthalpy (ΔH) and free energy (ΔG) for the ChCl:Urea…M_n complexes reveal that the formation of ChCl:Urea…M_n complexes is exothermic and proceeds spontaneously. The calculation of binding energy (ΔE_b) of M_n nanoparticles with ChCl:Urea shows that the strength of interaction of Au_n nanoparticles with ChCl:Urea is more favorable than Cu_n and Ag_n, following the order ChCl:Urea…Au_n > ChCl:Urea…Cu_n > ChCl:Urea…Ag_n. Furthermore, the ΔE_b, ΔH and ΔG values enhance with increasing nanoparticle size from n = 1 to n = 4, ChCl:Urea…M₄> ChCl:Urea…M₃> ChCl:Urea…M₂> ChCl:Urea…M₁ (M = Cu, Ag, and Au).

Minocycline Impact on Redox Homeostasis of Normal Human Melanocytes HEMn-LP Exposed to UVA Radiation and Hydrogen Peroxide

Minocycline is a semisynthetic tetracycline antibiotic. In addition to its antibacterial activity, minocycline shows many non-antibiotic, beneficial effects, including antioxidative action. The property is responsible, e.g., for anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and cardioprotective effects of the drug. However, long-term pharmacotherapy with minocycline may lead to hyperpigmentation of the skin. The reasons for the pigmentation disorders include the deposition of the drug and its metabolites in melanin-containing cells and the stimulation of melanogenesis. The adverse drug reaction raises a question about the influence of the drug on melanocyte homeostasis. The study aimed to assess the effect of minocycline on redox balance in human normal melanocytes HEMn-LP exposed to hydrogen peroxide and UVA radiation. The obtained results indicate that minocycline induced oxidative stress in epidermal human melanocytes. The drug inhibited cell proliferation, decreased the level of reduced thiols, and stimulated the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). The described changes were accompanied by an increase in the intracellular level of ROS. On the other hand, pretreatment with minocycline at the same concentrations increased cell viability and significantly attenuated the oxidative stress in melanocytes exposed to hydrogen peroxide and UVA radiation. Moreover, the molecular docking analysis revealed that the different influence of minocycline and other tetracyclines on CAT activity can be related to the location of the binding site.

Berberine affects mitochondrial activity and cell growth of leukemic cells from chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients

B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) results from accumulation of leukemic cells that are subject to iterative re-activation cycles and clonal expansion in lymphoid tissues. The effects of the well-tolerated alkaloid Berberine (BRB), used for treating metabolic disorders, were studied on ex-vivo leukemic cells activated in vitro by microenvironment stimuli. BRB decreased expression of survival/proliferation-associated molecules (e.g. Mcl-1/Bcl-xL) and inhibited stimulation-induced cell cycle entry, irrespective of TP53 alterations or chromosomal abnormalities. CLL cells rely on oxidative phosphorylation for their bioenergetics, particularly during the activation process. In this context, BRB triggered mitochondrial dysfunction and aberrant cellular energetic metabolism. Decreased ATP production and NADH recycling, associated with mitochondrial uncoupling, were not compensated by increased lactic fermentation. Antioxidant defenses were affected and could not correct the altered intracellular redox homeostasis. The data thus indicated that the cytotoxic/cytostatic action of BRB at 10–30 μM might be mediated, at least in part, by BRB-induced impairment of oxidative phosphorylation and the associated increment of oxidative damage, with consequent inhibition of cell activation and eventual cell death. Bioenergetics and cell survival were instead unaffected in normal B lymphocytes at the same BRB concentrations. Interestingly, BRB lowered the apoptotic threshold of ABT-199/Venetoclax, a promising BH3-mimetic whose cytotoxic activity is counteracted by high Mcl-1/Bcl-xL expression and increased mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. Our results indicate that, while CLL cells are in the process of building their survival and cycling armamentarium, the presence of BRB affects this process.

Berberine Promotes Cardiac Function by Upregulating PINK1/Parkin-Mediated Mitophagy in Heart Failure

Berberine has been verified to protect cardiac function in patients with heart failure (HF). However, the mechanism(s) involved in berberine-mediated cardioprotective effects has not been clearly elucidated. The aim of this study was to further investigate the mechanism(s) involved in the beneficial effects of berberine on transverse aortic contraction (TAC)-induced chronic HF. Mice were randomly divided into four groups. Berberine was administered at a dose of 50 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks via oral gavage. Our findings showed that TAC-induced pressure overload (PO) prompted cardiac dysfunction, cardiac hypertrophy, interstitial fibrosis, cardiomyocyte apoptosis and mitochondrial injury, accompanied with suppressed mitophagy, the effects of which were attenuated by berberine. Furthermore, mitophagy regulators PINK1 and mito-Parkin were downregulated in TAC-induced HF, while berberine upregulated PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy. Notably, knockdown of PINK1 by small interfering RNA significantly suppressed Parkin-mediated mitochondrial ubiquitination and nullified the beneficial actions on HF exerted by berberine. Taken together, our results indicated that berberine plays a critical role in attenuating cardiac hypertrophy and preserving cardiac function from PO induced HF. The potential underlying mechanism is the activation of mitochondrial autophagy via PINK1/Parkin/Ubiquitination pathway.

Berberine, a natural alkaloid sensitizes human hepatocarcinoma to ionizing radiation by blocking autophagy and cell cycle arrest resulting in senescence

OBJECTIVE

To study the radiosensitizing potential of Berberine and the underlying mechanism in human hepatocarcinoma (HepG2) cells.

METHODS

HepG2 cells were challenged with X-rays in combination with Berberine treatment and several in vitro assays were performed. Alteration in cell viability was determined by MTT assay. Changes in intracellular ROS levels, mitochondrial membrane potential/mass, intracellular acidic vesicular organelles as well as cell cycle arrest and apoptotic cell death were analysed by flow cytometry. Induction of autophagy was assessed by staining the cells with Monodansylcadaverine/Lysotracker red dyes and immunoblotting for LC3I/II and p62 proteins. Phase-contrast/fluorescence microscopy was employed to study mitotic catastrophe and senescence. Cellular senescence was confirmed by immunoblotting for p21 levels and ELISA for Interleukin-6.

KEY FINDINGS

X-rays + Berberine had a synergistic effect in reducing cell proliferation accompanied by a robust G2/M arrest. Berberine-mediated radiosensitization was associated with elevated levels of LC3II and p62 suggesting blocked autophagy that was followed by mitotic catastrophe and senescence. Treatment of cells with X-rays + Berberine resulted in increased oxidative stress, hyperpolarized mitochondria with increased mitochondrial mass and reduced ATP levels.

CONCLUSIONS

The study expands the understanding of the pharmacological properties of Berberine and its applicability as a radiosensitizer towards treating liver cancer.

Stable Isotope Tracing Metabolomics to Investigate the Metabolic Activity of Bioactive Compounds for Cancer Prevention and Treatment

A major hallmark of cancer is the metabolic reprogramming of cancer cells to fuel tumor growth and proliferation. Various plant-derived bioactive compounds efficiently target the metabolic vulnerabilities of cancer cells and exhibit potential as emerging therapeutic agents. Due to their safety and common use as dietary components, they are also ideal for cancer prevention. However, to render their use as efficient as possible, the mechanism of action of these phytochemicals needs to be well characterized. Stable isotope tracing is an essential technology to study the molecular mechanisms by which nutraceuticals modulate and target cancer metabolism. The use of positionally labeled tracers as exogenous nutrients and the monitoring of their downstream metabolites labeling patterns enable the analysis of the specific metabolic pathway activity, via the relative production and consumption of the labeled metabolites. Although stable isotope tracing metabolomics is a powerful tool to investigate the molecular activity of bioactive compounds as well as to design synergistic nutraceutical combinations, this methodology is still underutilized. This review aims to investigate the research efforts and potentials surrounding the use of stable isotope tracing metabolomics to examine the metabolic alterations mediated by bioactive compounds in cancer.

Chemical Modulation of Mitochondria-Endoplasmic Reticulum Contact Sites

Contact sites between mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) are points in which the two organelles are in close proximity. Due to their structural and functional complexity, their exploitation as pharmacological targets has never been considered so far. Notwithstanding, the number of compounds described to target proteins residing at these interfaces either directly or indirectly is rising. Here we provide original insight into mitochondria–ER contact sites (MERCs), with a comprehensive overview of the current MERCs pharmacology. Importantly, we discuss the considerable potential of MERCs to become a druggable target for the development of novel therapeutic strategies.

Berberine derivatives with a long alkyl chain branched by hydroxyl group and methoxycarbonyl group at 9-position show improved anti-proliferation activity and membrane permeability in A549 cells

Berberine (BBR) exhibits diverse bioactivities, including anticancer activity; but its poor druggability limits its applications. In this study, we designed and synthesized a series of 9-O position modified BBR derivatives aiming to improve its cell permeability and anticancer activity, utilizing a long alkyl chain branched by hydroxyl group and methoxycarbonyl group. Among these compounds, B10 showed 3.6-fold higher intracellular concentration than BBR, as well as 60-fold increased anti-proliferation activity against human lung cancer A549 cells compared with BBR. Treatment with B10 (1, 2 μM) induced apoptosis of A549 cells. Further investigations showed that B10 treatment dose-dependently affected mitochondrial functions, including oxygen consumption rate (OCR), mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) and the morphology of mitochondria in A549 cells. Therefore, this work offers a new way for BBR structural modification through improving cell membrane permeability to affect mitochondrial functions and potential anti-tumor therapy in the future.

Antioxidant Berberine-Derivative Inhibits Multifaceted Amyloid Toxicity

Multiple lines of evidence indicate that amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide is responsible for the pathological devastation caused in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Aβ aggregation species predominantly contribute to multifaceted toxicity observed in neuronal cells including generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), mitochondrial dysfunction, interfering with synaptic signaling, and activation of premature apoptosis. Herein, we report a natural product berberine-derived (Ber-D) multifunctional inhibitor to ameliorate in cellulo multifaceted toxicity of AD. The structural attributes of polyphenolic Ber-D have contributed to its efficient Cu chelation and arresting the redox cycle to prevent the generation of ROS and rescue biomacromolecules from oxidative damage. Ber-D inhibits metal-dependent and -independent Aβ aggregation, which is supported by in silico studies. Ber-D treatment averts mitochondrial dysfunction and corresponding neuronal toxicity contributing to premature apoptosis. These key multifunctional attributes make Ber-D a potential therapeutic candidate to ameliorate multifaceted Aβ toxicity in AD.

The mitohormetic response as part of the cytoprotection mechanism of berberine : Berberine induces mitohormesis and mechanisms

It was well-known that Berberine, a major bioactive compound extracted from natural plants Coptis chinensis, has anti-diabetic effects for decades in china. Other types of pharmacological activities, such as anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, hypolipidemic, and anti-cancer effects, have also been examined. At cellular level, these pharmacological activities were mostly an inhibitory effect. However, the cytoprotective effect of berberine was also observed in various types of cells, such as neurons, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, and β-cells. The paradoxical result may be closely associated with characteristics and distribution of berberine within cells, and they can be explained mechanically by mitohormesis, one particular form of hormesis. Here, we reviewed the mitohormetic response and assessed the berberine-induced effects and the possible signaling pathway involved. These findings may contribute to better clinical applications of berberine and indicate that some mitochondria-targeted conventional drugs should be considered carefully in clinical application.

Proteomic profiling of the neurons in mice with depressive-like behavior induced by corticosterone and the regulation of berberine: pivotal sites of oxidative phosphorylation

Chronic corticosterone (CORT) stress is an anxiety and depression inducing factor that involves the dysfunction of glucocorticoid receptor (GR), brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and neuronal plasticity. However, the regulation of proteomic profiles in neurons suffering CORT stress is remaining elusive. Thus, the proteomic profiles of mouse neuronal C17.2 stem cells were comprehensively investigated by TMT (tandem mass tag)-labeling quantitative proteomics. The quantitative proteomics conjugated gene ontology analysis revealed the inhibitory effect of CORT on the expression of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation-related proteins, which can be antagonized by berberine (BBR) treatment. In addition, animal studies showed that changes in mitochondria by CORT can affect neuropsychiatric activities and disturb the physiological functions of neurons via disordering mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. Thus, the mitochondrial energy metabolism can be considered as one of the major mechanism underlying CORT-mediated depression. Since CORT is important for depression after traumatic stress disorder, our study will shed light on the prevention and treatment of depression as well as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

The Antihypertensive Drug Nifedipine Modulates the Metabolism of Chondrocytes and Human Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Aging is associated with the development of various chronic diseases, in which both cardiovascular disorders and osteoarthritis are dominant. Currently, there is no effective treatment for osteoarthritis, whereas hypertension is often treated with L-type voltage-operated calcium channel blocking drugs, nifedipine being among the most classical ones. Although nifedipine together with other L-type voltage-operated calcium channel inhibitors plays an important role in controlling hypertension, there are unresolved questions concerning its possible effect on cartilage tissue homeostasis and the development of osteoarthritis. The aim of this study was to analyse the effects of nifedipine on metabolic processes in human chondrocytes and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. To better understand whether the metabolic effects are mediated specifically through L-type voltage-operated calcium channel, effects of the agonist BayK8644 were analyzed in parallel. Nifedipine downregulated and mitochondrial respiration and ATP production in both cell types. Analysis of cartilage explants by electron microscopy also suggested that a small number of chondrocyte mitochondria's lose their activity in response to nifedipine. Conversely, nifedipine enhanced glycolytic capacity in chondrocytes, suggesting that these cells have the capacity to switch from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis and alter their metabolic activity in response to L-type voltage-operated calcium channel inhibition. Such a metabolic switch was not observed in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Nitric oxide activity was upregulated by nifedipine in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and particularly in chondrocytes, implying its involvement in the effects of nifedipine on metabolism in both tested cell types. Furthermore, stimulation with nifedipine resulted in elevated production of collagen type II and glycosaminoglycans in micromass cultures under chondrogenic conditions. Taken together, we conclude that the antihypertensive drug nifedipine inhibits mitochondrial respiration in both chondrocytes and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and that these effects may be associated with the increased nitric oxide accumulation and pro-inflammatory activity. Nifedipine had positive effects on the production of collagen type II and proteoglycans in both cell types, implying potentially beneficial anabolic responses in articular cartilage. These results highlight a potential link between antihypertensive drugs and cartilage health.

Maternal exposure causes mitochondrial dysfunction in brain, liver, and heart of mouse fetus: An explanation for perfluorooctanoic acid induced abortion and developmental toxicity

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is an octanoic acid and is found in wildlife and humans. We have investigated mitochondrial toxicity in isolated mitochondria from, placenta, brain, liver, and heart after oral exposure with PFOA in mice during gestational days (7-15). Histopathological examination and mitochondrial toxicity parameters were assayed. Results indicated that PFOA decreased the weight of the fetus and placenta, the length of the fetus and the diameter of the placenta, dead fetuses and dead macerated fetuses in treated mice with 25 mg/kg. Histopathological examination showed that PFOA induced pathological abnormalities in liver, brain, heart, and placenta. Also, PFOA induced mitochondria toxicity in brain, liver, heart of mouse fetus. Our results indicate that PFOA up to 20 mg/kg exposure adversely affect embryofetal/developmental because for mitochondria dysfunction. These results suggested that mitochondrial dysfunction induced by PFOA in liver, heart, and brain lead to developmental toxicity and abnormality in tissues.

Marek's Disease Virus Infection Induced Mitochondria Changes in Chickens

Mitochondria are crucial cellular organelles in eukaryotes and participate in many cell processes including immune response, growth development, and tumorigenesis. Marek’s disease (MD), caused by an avian alpha-herpesvirus Marek’s disease virus (MDV), is characterized with lymphomas and immunosuppression. In this research, we hypothesize that mitochondria may play roles in response to MDV infection. To test it, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) abundance and gene expression in immune organs were examined in two well-defined and highly inbred lines of chickens, the MD-susceptible line 7₂ and the MD-resistant line 6₃. We found that mitochondrial DNA contents decreased significantly at the transformation phase in spleen of the MD-susceptible line 7₂ birds in contrast to the MD-resistant line 6₃. The mtDNA-genes and the nucleus-genes relevant to mtDNA maintenance and transcription, however, were significantly up-regulated. Interestingly, we found that POLG2 might play a potential role that led to the imbalance of mtDNA copy number and gene expression alteration. MDV infection induced imbalance of mitochondrial contents and gene expression, demonstrating the indispensability of mitochondria in virus-induced cell transformation and subsequent lymphoma formation, such as MD development in chicken. This is the first report on relationship between virus infection and mitochondria in chicken, which provides important insights into the understanding on pathogenesis and tumorigenesis due to viral infection.

Development of a high throughput methodology to screen cathinones' toxicological impact

Current trend of novel psychoactive substances (NPS) among teenagers is posing new clinical, scientific and forensic societal questions. Synthetic cathinones are among the most consumed groups of NPS appearing on the street market and internet on a regular basis. The properties of these substances change regularly, due to structural modification to circumvent legislation. This practice makes almost impossible to characterize its toxicological profiles on an acceptable time scale, mostly due to the time-consuming experiments that must be held in animal models or human cells by standard methods. Such an issue demands the development of a rapid and inexpensive methodology to be used as a high-throughput screening of cathinones' toxicity. The yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae shares highly conserved molecular and cellular mechanisms with human cells and has been used before for pharmacological drugs. In the present work it is proposed to use S. cerevisiae growth curves as a high throughput screening method to profile synthetic cathinones toxicity in a short time scale. The results obtained by S. cerevisiae growth curves analysis were compared to differentiated SH-SY5Y human neuronal cells and similar responses were found. The screening tool methodology has shown able to prioritize the most toxics NPS and can be useful for early warning programs on NPS.

Berberine chloride mediates its antileishmanial activity by inhibiting Leishmania mitochondria

Berberine chloride, a plant-derived isoquinoline alkaloid, has been demonstrated to have leishmanicidal activity, which is mediated by generation of a redox imbalance and depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane, resulting in a caspase-independent apoptotic-like cell death. However, its impact on mitochondrial function remains to be delineated and is the focus of this study. In UR6 promastigotes, berberine chloride demonstrated a dose-dependent increase in generation of reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial superoxide, depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential, a dose-dependent inhibition of mitochondrial complexes I-III and II-III, along with a substantial depletion of ATP, collectively suggesting inhibition of parasite mitochondria. Accordingly, the oxidative stress induced by berberine chloride resulting in an apoptotic-like cell death in Leishmania can be exploited as a potent chemotherapeutic strategy, mitochondria being a prime contributor.

Microgravity induces autophagy via mitochondrial dysfunction in human Hodgkin's lymphoma cells

Gravitational forces can impose physical stresses on the human body as it functions to maintain homeostasis. It has been reported that astronauts exposed to microgravity experience altered biological functions and many subsequent studies on the effects of microgravity have therefore been conducted. However, the anticancer mechanisms of simulated microgravity remain unclear. We previously showed that the proliferation of human Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) cells was inhibited when these cells were cultured in time-averaged simulated microgravity (taSMG). In the present study, we investigated whether taSMG produced an anticancer effect. Exposure of human HL cells to taSMG for 2 days increased their reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and NADPH oxidase family gene expression, while mitochondrial mass, ATPase, ATP synthase, and intracellular ATP levels were decreased. Furthermore, human HL cells exposed to taSMG underwent autophagy via AMPK/Akt/mTOR and MAPK pathway modulation; such autophagy was inhibited by the ROS scavenger N-acetylcysteine (NAC). These results suggest an innovative therapeutic approach to HL that is markedly different from conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Cell-specific pattern of berberine pleiotropic effects on different human cell lines

The natural alkaloid berberine has several pharmacological properties and recently received attention as a potential anticancer agent. In this work, we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-tumor effect of berberine on glioblastoma U343 and pancreatic carcinoma MIA PaCa-2 cells. Human dermal fibroblasts (HDF) were used as non-cancer cells. We show that berberine differentially affects cell viability, displaying a higher cytotoxicity on the two cancer cell lines than on HDF. Berberine also affects cell cycle progression, senescence, caspase-3 activity, autophagy and migration in a cell-specific manner. In particular, in HDF it induces cell cycle arrest in G2 and senescence, but not autophagy; in the U343 cells, berberine leads to cell cycle arrest in G2 and induces both senescence and autophagy; in MIA PaCa-2 cells, the alkaloid induces arrest in G1, senescence, autophagy, it increases caspase-3 activity and impairs migration/invasion. As demonstrated by decreased citrate synthase activity, the three cell lines show mitochondrial dysfunction following berberine exposure. Finally, we observed that berberine modulates the expression profile of genes involved in different pathways of tumorigenesis in a cell line-specific manner. These findings have valuable implications for understanding the complex functional interactions between berberine and specific cell types.

Identification of Biological Targets of Therapeutic Intervention for Hepatocellular Carcinoma by Integrated Bioinformatical Analysis

BACKGROUND We screened the potential molecular targets and investigated the molecular mechanisms of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). MATERIAL AND METHODS Microarray data of GSE47786, including the 40 μM berberine-treated HepG2 human hepatoma cell line and 0.08% DMSO-treated as control cells samples, was downloaded from the GEO database. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed; the protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks were constructed using STRING database and Cytoscape; the genetic alteration, neighboring genes networks, and survival analysis of hub genes were explored by cBio portal; and the expression of mRNA level of hub genes was obtained from the Oncomine databases. RESULTS A total of 56 upregulated and 8 downregulated DEGs were identified. The GO analysis results were significantly enriched in cell-cycle arrest, regulation of transcription, DNA-dependent, protein amino acid phosphorylation, cell cycle, and apoptosis. The KEGG pathway analysis showed that DEGs were enriched in MAPK signaling pathway, ErbB signaling pathway, and p53 signaling pathway. JUN, EGR1, MYC, and CDKN1A were identified as hub genes in PPI networks. The genetic alteration of hub genes was mainly concentrated in amplification. TP53, NDRG1, and MAPK15 were found in neighboring genes networks. Altered genes had worse overall survival and disease-free survival than unaltered genes. The expressions of EGR1, MYC, and CDKN1A were significantly increased, but expression of JUN was not, in the Roessler Liver datasets. CONCLUSIONS We found that JUN, EGR1, MYC, and CDKN1A might be used as diagnostic and therapeutic molecular biomarkers and broaden our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of HCC.

Oncosis-like cell death is induced by berberine through ERK1/2-mediated impairment of mitochondrial aerobic respiration in gliomas

Gliomas, the most common primary malignant brain tumor, exhibit high metabolic activity. The targeting of metabolism alterations, particularly in mitochondria, is emerging as an efficient approach for curing cancers. Here, we showed that berberine, a natural compound that is used as an antibacterial agent, could reduce cellular viability and induce oncosis-like death, characterized by cell swelling, cytoplasmic vacuoles and plasma membrane blebbing, in gliomas, and that these effects were correlated with intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) depletion. We also found that berberine induced autophagy as a protective effect and decreased the oxygen consumption rate (OCR), which could inhibit mitochondrial aerobic respiration by repressing phosphorylated extracellular regulated protein kinases (p-ERK1/2). Furthermore, the down-regulation of mitochondrial p-ERK1/2 by berberine inhibited aerobic respiration and led to glycolysis, an inefficient energy production pathway. In addition, berberine reduced tumor growth and inhibited Ki-67 and p-ERK1/2 expression in vivo. The results demonstrate that berberine, which represses aerobic oxidation in mitochondria and decreases their energy production efficiency, decreases metabolic activity by reducing ERK1/2 activity.