The Effect of Resveratrol on Cellular Senescence in Normal and Cancer Cells: Focusing on Cancer and Age-Related Diseases

Deciphering the folate puzzle: Unraveling the impact of genetic variations and metabolites on cancer risk

The C677T polymorphism in the MTHFR gene and its role in folate metabolism, impacting serum folate metabolites like THF and 5-MTHF, is a critical but underexplored area in cancer research. This nested case-control study utilized data from CHHRS, involving 87,492 hypertensive adults without prior cancer. During a median of 2.02 years, we identified 1332 cancer cases and matched controls based on age, sex, and residency. Serum levels of folate, THF, and 5-MTHF were measured, and the MTHFR C677T gene polymorphism was considered. Statistical analyses included restricted cubic spline regression and conditional logistic regression models. Serum THF levels were inversely associated with overall cancer risk (ORper SD = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.82-0.99), while 5-MTHF levels showed a negative association in the general cohort (ORQ3 vs. Q1 = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.60-0.96; ORQ4 vs. Q1 = 0.75, 95% CI = 0.58-0.98) and in individuals with MTHFR C677T (CC + CT) polymorphism (ORper SD = 0.87, 95% CI = 0.77-0.99; ORQ4 VS. Q1 = 0.79, 95% CI = 0.61-0.98), but a positive association in the MTHFR C677T (TT) subgroup (ORper SD = 1.89, 95% CI = 1.02-3.72; ORQ4 VS. Q1 = 2.17, 95% CI = 1.06-8.21). The impact of folate, THF, and 5-MTHF on cancer risk varied significantly across different cancer types and MTHFR C677T genotypes. This study provides novel insights into the variable effects of folate and its metabolites on cancer risk, influenced by genetic factors like the MTHFR C677T polymorphism and cancer type.

Resveratrol affects ccRCC cell senescence and macrophage polarization by regulating the stability of CCNB1 by RBM15

Aim: The present study sought to investigate the therapeutic effect of resveratrol on clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Materials & methods: Cell Counting Kit-8 and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine assays were used to verify the cell proliferation. Transwell, real-time quantitative transcription PCR, western blot and β-galactosidase staining were used to verify the migration, macrophage polarization and senescence. The tumor inhibitory effect of resveratrol on clear cell renal cell carcinoma was verified in vivo. Results: This study confirmed that resveratrol could affect the stability of CCNB1 mRNA mediated by RBM15 and inhibit the cancer process by inhibiting the expression of EP300/CBP from the perspective of cell senescence. Conclusion: Resveratrol is able to treat clear cell renal cell carcinoma through RBM15-induced cell senescence.

Interplay between Systemic Glycemia and Neuroprotective Activity of Resveratrol in Modulating Astrocyte SIRT1 Response to Neuroinflammation

The flow of substances between the blood and the central nervous system is precisely regulated by the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Its disruption due to unbalanced blood glucose levels (hyper- and hypoglycemia) occurring in metabolic disorders, such as type 2 diabetes, can lead to neuroinflammation, and increase the risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases. One of the most studied natural anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective compounds is resveratrol (RSV). It activates sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), a key metabolism regulator dependent on cell energy status. The aim of this study was to assess the astrocyte SIRT1 response to neuroinflammation and subsequent RSV treatment, depending on systemic glycemia. For this purpose, we used an optimized in vitro model of the BBB consisting of endothelial cells and astrocytes, representing microvascular and brain compartments (MC and BC), in different glycemic backgrounds. Astrocyte-secreted SIRT1 reached the highest concentration in hypo-, the lowest in normo-, and the lowest in hyperglycemic backgrounds. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neuroinflammation caused a substantial decrease in SIRT1 in all glycemic backgrounds, as observed earliest in hyperglycemia. RSV partially counterbalanced the effect of LPS on SIRT1 secretion, most remarkably in normoglycemia. Our results suggest that abnormal glycemic states have a worse prognosis for RSV-therapy effectiveness compared to normoglycemia.

Combination therapy of cisplatin and resveratrol to induce cellular aging in gastric cancer cells: Focusing on oxidative stress, and cell cycle arrest

Background: As a medical dilemma, gastric cancer will have 7.3 million new cases in 2040. Despite the disease's high economic and global burden, conventional chemotherapy regimens containing cisplatin have insufficient effectiveness and act non-specifically, leading to several adverse drug reactions To address these issues, the biological efficacy of the cisplatin-resveratrol combination was tested. Methods: To find IC50, gastric adenocarcinoma cells (AGS) were exposed to different concentrations of resveratrol and cisplatin. Anti-cancer and anti-metastatic effects of 100 M resveratrol with concentrations of cisplatin (25, 50, and 100 g/ml) were studied by assessing ß-galactosidase and telomerase activities, senescence and migration gene expression, reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, and cell cycle arrest. Results: Co-administration of cisplatin and resveratrol increased ß-galactosidase activity, ROS level as a key marker of oxidative stress, p53, p38, p16, p21, and MMP-2 gene expression, and induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest. Additionally, telomerase activity, pro-inflammatory gene expression, and cell invasion were suppressed. The best results were achieved with 100 g/ml cisplatin co-administered with resveratrol. Conclusion: The current study proved the synergistic effect of the cisplatin-resveratrol combination on suppressing metastasis and inducing apoptosis and cell senescence through targeting P38/P53 and P16/P21 pathways. Such promising results warrant translation to animal models and the clinic. This may lead to cost-effective, available, and accessible treatment regimens with targeted action and the fewest ADRs.

Nutritional senolytics and senomorphics: Implications to immune cells metabolism and aging – from theory to practice

Aging is a natural physiological process, but one that poses major challenges in an increasingly aging society prone to greater health risks such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, cancer, frailty, increased susceptibility to infection, and reduced response to vaccine regimens. The loss of capacity for cell regeneration and the surrounding tissue microenvironment itself is conditioned by genetic, metabolic, and even environmental factors, such as nutrition. The senescence of the immune system (immunosenescence) represents a challenge, especially when associated with the presence of age-related chronic inflammation (inflammaging) and affecting the metabolic programming of immune cells (immunometabolism). These aspects are linked to poorer health outcomes and therefore present an opportunity for host-directed interventions aimed at both eliminating senescent cells and curbing the underlying inflammation. Senotherapeutics are a class of drugs and natural products that delay, prevent, or reverse the senescence process – senolytics; or inhibit senescence-associated secretory phenotype – senomorphics. Natural senotherapeutics from food sources – nutritional senotherapeutics – may constitute an interesting way to achieve better age-associated outcomes through personalized nutrition. In this sense, the authors present herein a framework of nutritional senotherapeutics as an intervention targeting immunosenescence and immunometabolism, identifying research gaps in this area, and gathering information on concluded and ongoing clinical trials on this subject. Also, we present future directions and ideation for future clinical possibilities in this field.

In vitro evaluation of Resveratrol as a potential pre-exposure prophylactic drug against Trypanosoma cruzi infection

Chagas' disease or American trypanosomiasis, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi infection, is an endemic disease in Latin America, which has spread worldwide in the past years. The drugs presently used for treatment have shown limited efficacy due to the appearance of resistant parasites and severe side effects. Some of the most recent studies on anti-parasitic drugs have been focused on protein acetylation, a reversible reaction modulated by Acetyl Transferases (KATs) and Deacetylases (KDACs). We have previously reported the anti-parasite activity of resveratrol (RSV), an activator of KDACs type III (or sirtuins), and showed that this drug can reduce the growth of T. cruzi epimastigotes and the infectivity of trypomastigotes. Since RSV is now widely used in humans due to its beneficial effects as an antioxidant, it has become an attractive candidate as a repurposing drug. In this context, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the ability of this drug to protect three different types of host cells from parasite infection. RSV treatment before parasite infection reduced the percentage of infected cells by 50-70% depending on the cell type. Although the mammalian cell lines tested showed different sensitivity to RSV, apoptosis was not significantly affected, showing that RSV was able to protect cells from infection without the activation of this process. Since autophagy has been described as a key process in parasite invasion, we also monitored this process on host cells pretreated with RSV. The results showed that, at the concentrations and incubation times tested, autophagy was not induced in any of the cell types evaluated. Our results show a partial protective effect of RSV in vitro, which justifies extending studies to an in vivo model to elucidate the mechanism by which this effect occurs.

Resveratrol inhibits bile acid-induced gastric intestinal metaplasia via the PI3K/AKT/p-FoxO4 signalling pathway

Gastric intestinal metaplasia (GIM) is the essential pre-malignancy of gastric cancer. Chronic inflammation and bile acid reflux are major contributing factors. As an intestinal development transcription factor, caudal-related homeobox 2 (CDX2) is key in GIM. Resveratrol has potential chemopreventive and anti-tumour effects. The aim of the study is to probe the effect of resveratrol in bile acid-induced GIM. We demonstrated that resveratrol could reduce CDX2 expression in a time- and dose-dependent manner in gastric cell lines. A Cignal Finder 45-Pathway Reporter Array and TranSignal Protein/DNA Array Kit verified that resveratrol could increase Forkhead box O4 (FoxO4) activity and that Chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) could reduce FoxO4 activity. Furthermore, bioinformatics analysis showed that FoxO4 could bind to the CDX2 promoter, and these conjectures were supported by chromatin-immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays. Resveratrol can activate FoxO4 and decrease CDX2 expression by increasing phospho-FoxO4 nucleus trans-location. Resveratrol could increase FoxO4 phosphorylation through the PI3K/AKT pathway. Ectopic FoxO4 expression can up-regulate FoxO4 phosphorylation and suppress CDCA-induced GIM marker expression. Finally, we found a reverse correlation between p-FoxO4 and CDX2 in tissue arrays. This study validates that resveratrol could reduce bile acid-induced GIM through the PI3K/AKT/p-FoxO4 signalling pathway and has a potential reversing effect on GIM, especially that caused by bile acid reflux.

Polyphenols as Caloric-Restriction Mimetics and Autophagy Inducers in Aging Research

It has been thought that caloric restriction favors longevity and healthy aging where autophagy plays a vital role. However, autophagy decreases during aging and that can lead to the development of aging-associated diseases such as cancer, diabetes, neurodegeneration, etc. It was shown that autophagy can be induced by mechanical or chemical stress. In this regard, various pharmacological compounds were proposed, including natural polyphenols. Apart from the ability to induce autophagy, polyphenols, such as resveratrol, are capable of modulating the expression of pro- and anti-apoptotic factors, neutralizing free radical species, affecting mitochondrial functions, chelating redox-active transition metal ions, and preventing protein aggregation. Moreover, polyphenols have advantages compared to chemical inducers of autophagy due to their intrinsic natural bio-compatibility and safety. In this context, polyphenols can be considered as a potential therapeutic tool for healthy aging either as a part of a diet or as separate compounds (supplements). This review discusses the epigenetic aspect and the underlying molecular mechanism of polyphenols as an anti-aging remedy. In addition, the recent advances of studies on NAD-dependent deacetylase sirtuin-1 (SIRT1) regulation of autophagy, the role of senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) in cells senescence and their regulation by polyphenols have been highlighted as well. Apart from that, the review also revised the latest information on how polyphenols can help to improve mitochondrial function and modulate apoptosis (programmed cell death).

Targeting Mitochondrial Network Architecture in Down Syndrome and Aging

Mitochondria are organelles that mainly control energy conversion in the cell. In addition, they also participate in many relevant activities, such as the regulation of apoptosis and calcium levels, and other metabolic tasks, all closely linked to cell viability. Functionality of mitochondria appears to depend upon their network architecture that may dynamically pass from an interconnected structure with long tubular units, to a fragmented one with short separate fragments. A decline in mitochondrial quality, which presents itself as an altered structural organization and a function of mitochondria, has been observed in Down syndrome (DS), as well as in aging and in age-related pathologies. This review provides a basic overview of mitochondrial dynamics, from fission/fusion mechanisms to mitochondrial homeostasis. Molecular mechanisms determining the disruption of the mitochondrial phenotype in DS and aging are discussed. The impaired activity of the transcriptional co-activator PGC-1α/PPARGC1A and the hyperactivation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase are emerging as molecular underlying causes of these mitochondrial alterations. It is, therefore, likely that either stimulating the PGC-1α activity or inhibiting mTOR signaling could reverse mitochondrial dysfunction. Evidence is summarized suggesting that drugs targeting either these pathways or other factors affecting the mitochondrial network may represent therapeutic approaches to improve and/or prevent the effects of altered mitochondrial function. Overall, from all these studies it emerges that the implementation of such strategies may exert protective effects in DS and age-related diseases.

Berberine induces dose-dependent quiescence and apoptosis in A549 cancer cells by modulating cell cyclins and inflammation independent of mTOR pathway

AIM

Emerging studies have shown that application of low concentration of bioactive phytomolecules can confer anti-proliferative effects on tumour cells by inducing senescence pathways. The alkaloid berberine is recognized for its anti-cancer attributes but its potential to induce senescence in tumour cells is least understood.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present work assessed the mechanisms pertaining to dose-dependent anti-proliferative effects of berberine in the perspective of senescence and inflammation using human non-small cell lung cancer cell line (A549).

KEY FINDINGS

Amongst the different tested bioactive phytomolecules, berberine treatment suppressed the proliferation of A549 cells regardless of the concentration applied. Application of low doses of berberine induced a weak SA-β-gal activity and p21^WAF1 expression but did not show evidence of SASP activation due to absence of NF-κB activation and expression of proinflammatory genes. However, treatment with higher dose of berberine showed no evidence of SA-β-gal activity or p21^WAF1 expression, but instead induced apoptosis and suppressed the expression of cell cyclins. The proliferative capacity of berberine treated cells was at par with control cells and no SA-β-gal activity could be observed in first generation of berberine treated cells. mTOR pathway showed no distinct activation on account of berberine treatment thereby further emphasizing that low dose of berberine induced quiescence and not senescence in A549 cells.

SIGNIFICANCE

Taken together, our observations indicate that despite its strong anti-proliferative effects, low dose berberine treatment may only induce transient changes akin to quiescence that needs to be considered before implying pro-senescence attributes of berberine in cancer therapeutics.

Resveratrol targeting the Wnt signaling pathway: A focus on therapeutic activities

Wingless-type MMTV integration site (Wnt) signaling pathway is considered as an important pathway regulating a variety of biological processes such as tissue formation and homeostasis, cell proliferation, cell migration, cell differentiation, and embryogenesis. Impairment in the Wnt signaling pathway is associated with pathological conditions, particularly cancer. So, modulation of this pathway can be considered as a promising strategy and several drugs have been developed in line with this strategy. Resveratrol (Res) is a naturally occurring nutraceutical compound exclusively found in different fruits and nuts such as grape, peanut, and pistachio. This compound has favorable biological and therapeutic activities such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antitumor, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, and antidiabetic. At the present review, we demonstrate how Res modulates Wnt signaling pathway to exert its pharmacological effects.