Mitochondrial ROS accumulation inhibiting JAK2/STAT3 pathway is a critical modulator of CYT997-induced autophagy and apoptosis in gastric cancer

The metabolic sensor LKB1 regulates ILC3 homeostasis and mitochondrial function

Group 3 innate lymphoid cells (ILC3s) are tissue-resident cells that sense environmental cues, control infections, and promote tissue homeostasis at mucosal surfaces. The metabolic sensor liver kinase B1 (LKB1) integrates intracellular stress, metabolism, and mitochondrial function to promote the development and effector functions of a variety of immune cells; however, the role of LKB1 in ILC3 function was unknown. Here, we show that LKB1 is crucial for adult ILC3 homeostasis, cytokine production, and mitochondrial function. ILC3-specific LKB1 deletion resulted in a reduced number of ILC3s and interleukin-22 (IL-22) production. LKB1-deficient ILC3s had decreased survival, mitochondrial dysfunction, cytoplasmic lipid accumulation, and altered bioenergetics. Using LKB1 downstream kinase modulators, we found that LKB1 regulation of ILC3 survival and IL-22 production requires signaling through microtubule affinity-regulating kinases (MARKs). Mechanistically, LKB1 deficiency resulted in increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and NFAT2 and PD-1 expression. Our work reveals that metabolic regulation of enteric ILC3 function by an LKB1-dependent signaling network is crucial for intestinal immunity and tissue homeostasis.

Curcumin alleviates atrazine-induced nephrotoxicity by enhancing mitophagy through PINK1/Parkin signaling pathway in mice

Atrazine (ATR), a widely used herbicide, poses significant environmental and health risks due to its high solubility and adsorption in soil. ATR exposure can lead to nephrotoxicity in humans and animals. Curcumin (Cur), an active compound in Curcuma species, is renowned for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, with potential to mitigate chronic disease risks. We hypothesized that the addition of Cur could alleviate renal impairment associated with ATR exposure and carried out experiments using mice as subjects. This study investigates whether Cur can attenuate ATR-induced nephrotoxicity in mice by modulating mitophagy and apoptotic pathways. Our findings illustrate that consumption with Cur attenuates nephrotoxicity induced by ATR, as evidenced by lowered serum concentrations of uric acid (UA), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and creatinine (CRE), established biomarkers of renal injury. Moreover, Curcumin enhances renal antioxidant defense mechanisms in ATR-exposed mice, as indicated by elevated levels of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), alongside reduced levels of malondialdehyde (MDA). Histopathological and electron microscopy analyses further corroborate these findings, showing reduced organelle damage, particularly mitochondrial ridge breakage and vacuolization, and increased autophagic lysosomes. Cur further enhances PINK1/Parkin-mediated autophagy, as evidenced by elevated levels of PINK1, Parkin, LC3BII, and P62 compared to ATR-treated mice. Moreover, Cur mitigates the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway, indicated by the down-regulation of apoptosis-related genes (Cytochrome C (Cyto-C), Caspase3, Caspase9) and the pro-apoptotic marker (Bax), along with the up-regulation of the anti-apoptotic marker (Bcl-2) at both transcriptional and translational levels compared to ATR-treated mice. In summary, Cur demonstrates nephroprotective properties against ATR-induced injury through the enhancement of mitochondrial autophagy and display of anti-apoptotic actions, underscoring its curative potency as a treatment for nephrotoxicity caused by ATR.

Application of photosensitive microalgae in targeted tumor therapy

Microalgae present a novel and multifaceted approach to cancer therapy by modulating the tumor-associated microbiome (TAM) and the tumor microenvironment (TME). Through their ability to restore gut microbiota balance, reduce inflammation, and enhance immune responses, microalgae contribute to improved cancer treatment outcomes. As photosynthetic microorganisms, microalgae exhibit inherent anti-tumor, antioxidant, and immune-regulating properties, making them valuable in photodynamic therapy and tumor imaging due to their capacity to generate reactive oxygen species. Additionally, microalgae serve as effective drug delivery vehicles, leveraging their biocompatibility and unique structural properties to target the TME more precisely. Microalgae-based microrobots further expand their therapeutic potential by autonomously navigating complex biological environments, offering a promising future for precision-targeted cancer treatments. We position microalgae as a multifunctional agent capable of modulating TAM, offering novel strategies to enhance TME and improve the efficacy of cancer therapies.

Mechanism of Yinxu Weitong Capsule in the treatment of precancerous lesions of gastric cancer based on network pharmacology and experimental validation

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Yinxu Weitong Capsule (YXWTC) is a Chinese patent medicine used to treat chronic gastritis. However, its efficacy and mechanisms of action in treating precancerous lesions of gastric cancer (PLGC) remain unclear.

AIM OF THE STUDY

To evaluate the effects of YXWTC on PLGC and explore the underlying mechanisms.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

YXWTC components were identified using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization quadrupole-exactive orbitrap mass spectrometry. A PLGC animal model was established and the protective effects of YXWTC on the gastric mucosa in PLGC rats were evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), Alcian blue-periodic acid-Schiff and Alcian blue-high iron diamine staining, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The vital organs of the rats were examined using H&E staining to evaluate biosafety. Network pharmacology identified potential targets and pathways of YXWTC in PLGC treatment, followed by molecular docking validation. Various techniques, including enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR, Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, apoptosis detection, and reactive oxygen species fluorescence staining were employed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

RESULTS

In total, 340 YXWTC components were identified. YXWTC effectively improves gastric mucosal pathology in rats with PLGC. Network pharmacology identified 403 targets common to PLGC and YXWTC. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analyses identified 2,323 biological processes and 206 signaling pathways, respectively. Molecular docking revealed that the primary target proteins and major drug molecules exhibited strong binding affinities. Animal studies demonstrated that YXWTC inhibited the IL-6/STAT3 pathway, promoted mitochondrial apoptosis, and induced ROS release.

CONCLUSIONS

We verified the pharmacodynamic effects of YXWTC in PLGC. In summary, the effects are mediated by inhibition of the IL-6/STAT3 pathway, promotion of mitochondrial apoptosis, and induction of ROS release.

The Role of ROS and Its Sources in Tumorigenesis: Friend or Foe?

Ponicidin has demonstrated effectiveness against HCC by promoting mitochondria apoptosis and generating ROS through the stabilization of the Keap1-PGAM5 complex. However, ROS can exhibit both tumor-promoting and tumor-suppressing activities in cancers, and exhibit different effects depending on its source-mtROS vs non-mtROS. Additionally, since ROS from different sources possesses distinct functions, mitochondria-targeted antioxidants, and non-targeted antioxidants may have entirely different effects on cancer progression. To address this complexity, novel measurement techniques such as MitoSOX, MitoPY1, and siDMA are used to specifically assess mtROS, providing deeper insights into mitochondrial function during treatment. Therefore, distinguishing the sources of ROS and separately detecting and targeting mtROS and non-mtROS can further clarify the anti-tumor mechanisms of ponicidin and provide a foundation for subsequent research.

Therapeutic Potential of Carbon Dots Derived from Phytochemicals as Nanozymes Exhibiting Superoxide Dismutase Activity for Anemia

Anemia is a potentially life-threatening blood disorder caused by an insufficient erythroblast volume in the circulatory system. Self-renewal failure of erythroblast progenitors is one of the key pathological factors leading to erythroblast deficiency. However, there are currently no effective drugs that selectively target this process. In this work, we present a carbon dot (CP-CDs) derived from phytochemicals that significantly promotes the self-renewal of erythroblast progenitors for anemia therapy. As a superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like nanozyme, CP-CDs significantly activate the hypoxia response and JAK/STAT3 pathways in erythroid cells by reprogramming the oxidative stress state. This results in unique erythropoiesis-enhancing properties by promoting the generation of erythroid progenitor cells. Moreover, CP-CDs protect mature red blood cells by inhibiting oxidative stress-induced damage and improving the immune-inflammatory microenvironment. In vivo, CP-CDs showed a promising therapeutic effect in mouse and zebrafish models of anemia with minimal adverse effects, indicating significant translational medical value. Collectively, this study not only illustrates a successful approach for nanomedicine-enhanced anemia therapy but also enhances our understanding of the interaction between nanomedicine and the self-renewal of erythroblast progenitors.

ALDH1L2 drives HCC progression through TAM polarization

BACKGROUND & AIMS

Dysregulation of one-carbon metabolism is considered an early hallmark of mitochondrial dysfunction and cancer metabolism. ALDH1L2 belongs to the aldehyde dehydrogenase family and plays an important role in tumor progression. However, little is known about the precise role and underlying mechanisms of ALDH1L2 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

METHODS

Immunohistochemistry, western blotting, and immunofluorescence staining were used to evaluate ALDH1L2 expression in HCC samples (n = 90) and cell lines (n = 9). A series of in vitro and in vivo assays were performed to explore the role and molecular mechanism of ALDH1L2 in HCC progression.

RESULTS

ALDH1L2 upregulation is associated with poor prognosis in HCC (hazard ratio 1.923; 95% confidence interval 1.03-3.59; p = 0.04). ALDH1L2 promotes tumor cell proliferation and metastasis by activating NRF2/IL-6/STAT3 signaling. ALDH1L2 promotes mitochondrial respiration, increases ATP production and protects HCC cells from reactive oxygen species-induced cellular damage via NRF2 stabilization. NRF2 also directly binds to the ALDH1L2 promoter and increases ALDH1L2 transcription, thereby establishing a positive feedback loop to maintain the function of ALDH1L2. The interaction between tumor-associated macrophages and ALDH1L2-overexpressing HCC cells further promotes HCC progression. In addition, ALDH1L2 knockdown enhances the anti-HCC activity of the tyrosine kinase inhibitor sorafenib.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings provide the first evidence indicating that ALDH1L2 is directly involved in tumor progression by interacting with tumor-associated macrophages through the Jak2/STAT3 signaling pathway and that ALDH1L2 may be a target molecule for HCC therapy.

IMPACT AND IMPLICATIONS

This research highlights that ALDH1L2 could serve as a predictive and prognostic marker in HCC. We found that a positive feedback loop between ALDH1L2 and NRF2 promotes HCC progression by activating the IL-6/Jak2/STAT3 signaling axis and tumor-associated macrophage polarization. In addition, we found that ALDH1L2 knockdown enhances the anti-HCC effect of sorafenib.

Critical role of apoptosis in MeCP2-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition of ARPE-19 cells

Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) is a complex disease that significantly contributes to recurrent retinal detachment. Its development is notably affected by epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), where apoptosis plays a crucial role as a regulator of EMT. However, the function of MeCP2 in governing apoptosis and EMT in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells and its implications for PVR development have remained inadequately understood. Thus, we investigated the impact of MeCP2 on proliferation, migration, apoptosis and EMT in ARPE-19 cells to provide a fresh perspective on the etiology of PVR. The morphological changes in ARPE-19 cells induced by recombinant human MeCP2 protein and MeCP2 knockdown were observed. Wound healing assay were performed to verify the effects of recombinant human MeCP2 protein and MeCP2 knockdown on ARPE-19 cell migration. Furthermore, cell proliferation was assessed using the CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry. Western blot analysis, quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and immunofluorescence analysis were conducted to measure the protein levels associated with apoptosis, cell cycle and EMT. Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence assays confirmed that MeCP2 promoted EMT formation in ARPE-19 cells. The CCK-8 assay revealed that MeCP2 treatment enhanced the proliferation of ARPE-19 cells, whereas MeCP2 knockdown inhibited ARPE-19 cell proliferation. Treatment with recombinant human MeCP2 protein and MeCP2 knockdown altered the morphology of ARPE-19 cells. Wound healing assay demonstrated that MeCP2 knockdown inhibited ARPE-19 cell migration, and MeCP2 treatment promoted ARPE-19 cell migration. MeCP2 knockdown induced a G0/G1 phase block, inhibiting cell growth, and qRT-PCR data indicated reduced expression of cell cycle-related genes. Increased apoptosis was observed after MeCP2 knockdown in ARPE-19 cells. Overall, MeCP2 treatment stimulates cell proliferation, migration and EMT formation; conversely, MeCP2 knockdown inhibits EMT, cell proliferation, migration and cell cycle G1/S phase transition, and induces apoptosis.

Structure, function, signaling pathways and clinical therapeutics: The translational potential of STAT3 as a target for cancer therapy

Cancer remains one of the most difficult human diseases to overcome because of its complexity and diversity. Signal transducers and transcriptional activators 3 (STAT3) protein has been found to be overexpressed in a wide range of cancer types. Hyperactivation of STAT3 is particularly associated with low survival in cancer patients. This review summarizes the specific molecular mechanisms of STAT3 in cancer development. STAT3 is activated by extracellular signals in the cytoplasm, interacts with different enzymes in the nucleus, mitochondria or endoplasmic reticulum, and subsequently participates in cancer development. The phosphorylated STAT3 at tyrosine 705 site (YP-STAT3) enters the nucleus and regulates a number of tumor-related biological processes such as angiogenesis, migration invasion, cell proliferation and cancer cell stemness. In contrast, the phosphorylated STAT3 at serine 727 site (SP-STAT3) is found on the mitochondria, affects electron respiration transport chain activity and thereby prevents tumor cell apoptosis. SP-STAT3 also appears on the mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum membrane, influences the flow of Ca2+, and affects tumor progression. In addition, we summarize the direct and indirect inhibitors of STAT3 which are currently undergoing clinical studies. Some of them such as TTI101 and BBI608 have been approved by the FDA for the treatment of certain cancers. All in all, STAT3 plays an important role in cancer progression and becomes a potential target for cancer treatment.

Visible light accelerates skin wound healing and alleviates scar formation in mice by adjusting STAT3 signaling

During the wound healing process, the activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is considered crucial for the migration and proliferation of epithelial cells, as well as for establishing the inflammatory environment. However, an excessive STAT3 activation aggravates scar formation. Here we show that 450 nm blue light and 630 nm red light can differentially regulate the phosphorylation of STAT3 (p-STAT3) and its downstream cytokines in keratinocytes. Further mechanistic studies reveal that red light promotes wound healing by activating the PI3 kinase p110 beta (PI3Kβ)/STAT3 signaling axis, while blue light inhibits p-STAT3 at the wound site by modulating cytochrome c-P450 (CYT-P450) activity and reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. In a mouse scar model, skin wound healing can be significantly accelerated with red light followed by blue light to reduce scar formation. In summary, our study presents a potential strategy for regulating epithelial cell p-STAT3 through visible light to address skin scarring issues and elucidates the underlying mechanisms.

The E3 ligase TRIM22 functions as a tumor suppressor in breast cancer by targeting CCS for proteasomal degradation to inhibit STAT3 signaling

Deregulation of E3 ubiquitin ligases drives the proliferation and metastasis of various cancers; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. This study aimed to investigate the role of tripartite motif-containing 22 (TRIM22), a poorly investigated E3 ubiquitin ligase in the TRIM family, as a tumor suppressor in breast cancer. High expression of TRIM22 in breast cancer correlated with better prognosis. Functional experiments demonstrated that TRIM22 significantly inhibited the proliferation and invasion of breast cancer cells. Label-free proteomics and biochemical analyses revealed that the copper chaperone for superoxide dismutase (CCS), an oncoprotein that is upregulated in breast cancer and promotes the growth and invasion of breast cancer cells, was a target of TRIM22 for degradation via K27-linked ubiquitination. Notably, the ability of the coiled-coil domain-defective mutants of TRIM22 to induce CCS ubiquitination and degradation diminished, with lysine 76 of the CCS serving as the ubiquitination site. Moreover, the TRIM22-mediated inhibition of the proliferation and invasion of breast cancer cells was restored by ectopic CCS expression. RNA-sequencing experiments using Gene Set Enrichment Analysis demonstrated that TRIM22 is involved in the JAK-STAT signaling pathway. TRIM22 overexpression also improved reactive oxygen species levels in breast cancer cells and inhibited STAT3 phosphorylation, which was restored via CCS overexpression or N-acetyl-l-cysteine treatment. Chromatin immunoprecipitation-quantitative polymerase chain reaction results showed that TRIM22 overexpression decreased the enrichment of phosphorylated STAT3 in FN1, VIM and JARID2 promoters. Clinically, low TRIM22 expression correlated with high CCS expression and decreased survival rates in patients with breast cancer. Moreover, TRIM22 upregulation was associated with a better prognosis in patients with breast cancer who received classical therapy. TRIM22 expression was downregulated in many cancer types, including colon, kidney, lung, and prostate cancers. To the best of our knowledge, the E3 ubiquitin ligase TRIM22 was first reported as a tumor suppressor that inhibits the proliferation and invasion of breast cancer cells through CCS ubiquitination and degradation. TRIM22 is a potential prognostic biomarker in patients with breast cancer.

A review on antitumor effect of pachymic acid

Poria cocos, also known as Jade Ling and Songbai taro, is a dry fungus core for Wolfiporia cocos, which is parasitic on the roots of pine trees. The ancients called it "medicine of four seasons" because of its extensive effect and ability to be combined with many medicines. Pachymic acid (PA) is one of the main biological compounds of Poria cocos. Research has shown that PA has various pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant. PA has recently attracted much attention due to its anticancer properties. Researchers have found that PA showed anticancer activity by regulating apoptosis and the cell cycle in vitro and in vivo. Using PA with anticancer drugs, radiotherapy, and biomaterials could also improve the sensitivity of cancer cells and delay the progression of cancer. The purpose of this review was to summarize the anticancer mechanism of PA by referencing the published documents. A review of the collected data indicated that PA had the potential to be developed into an effective anticancer agent.

Recent advances in caspase-3, breast cancer, and traditional Chinese medicine: a review

Caspases (cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinases) are a group of structurally similar proteases in the cytoplasm that can be involved in cell differentiation, programmed death, proliferation, and inflammatory generation. Experts have found that caspase-3 can serve as a terminal splicing enzyme in apoptosis and participate in the mechanism by which cytotoxic drugs kill cancer cells. Breast cancer (BC) has become the most common cancer among women worldwide, posing a severe threat to their lives. Finding new therapeutic targets for BC is the primary task of contemporary physicians. Numerous studies have revealed the close association between caspase-3 expression and BC. Caspase-3 is essential in BC's occurrence, invasion, and metastasis. In addition, Caspase-3 exerts anticancer effects by regulating cell death mechanisms. Traditional Chinese medicine acting through caspase-3 expression is increasingly used in clinical treatment. This review summarizes the biological mechanism of caspase-3 and research progress on BC. It introduces a variety of traditional Chinese medicine related to caspase-3 to provide new ideas for the clinical treatment of BC.

Downregulation of malic enzyme 3 facilitates progression of gastric carcinoma via regulating intracellular oxidative stress and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α stabilization

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most malignant cancers worldwide. Metabolism disorder is a critical characteristic of malignant tumors related to tumor progression and metastasis. However, the expression and molecular mechanism of malic enzyme 3 (ME3) in GC are rarely reported. In this study, we aim to investigate the molecular mechanism of ME3 in the development of GC and to explore its potential value as a prognostic and therapeutic target in GC.

METHOD

ME3 mRNA and protein expression were evaluated in patients with GC using RT-qPCR, WB, and immunohistochemistry, as well as their correlation with clinicopathological indicators. The effect of ME3 on proliferation and metastasis was evaluated using Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8), 5-ethynyl-20-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay, transwell assay, wound healing assay, and subcutaneous injection or tail vein injection of tumor cells in mice model. The effects of ME3 knockdown on the level of metabolites and hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) protein were determined in GC cells. Oxidative phosphorylation was measured to evaluate adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production.

RESULTS

ME3 was downregulated in human GC tissues (P < 0.001). The decreased ME3 mRNA expression was associated with younger age (P = 0.02), pathological staging (P = 0.049), and lymph node metastasis (P = 0.001), while low ME3 expression was associated with tumor size (P = 0.048), tumor invasion depth (P < 0.001), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.018), TNM staging (P < 0.001), and poor prognosis (OS, P = 0.0206; PFS P = 0.0453). ME3 knockdown promoted GC cell malignancy phenotypes. Moreover, α-ketoglutarate (α-KG) and NADPH/NADP+ ratios were reduced while malate was increased in the ME3 knockdown group under normoxia. When cells were incubated under hypoxia, the NADPH/NADP+ ratio and α-KG decreased while intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) increased significantly. The ME3 knockdown group exhibited an increase in ATP production and while ME3 overexpression group exhibited oppositely. We discovered that ME3 and HIF-1α expression were negatively correlated in GC cells and tissues, and proposed the hypothesis: downregulation of ME3 promotes GC progression via regulating intracellular oxidative stress and HIF-1α.

CONCLUSION

We provide evidence that ME3 downregulation is associated with poor prognosis in GC patients and propose a hypothesis for the ME3 regulatory mechanism in GC progression. The present study is of great scientific significance and clinical value for exploring the prognostic and therapeutic targets of GC, evaluating and improving the clinical efficacy of patients, reducing recurrence and metastasis, and improving the prognosis and quality of life of patients.

USP53 Affects the Proliferation and Apoptosis of Breast Cancer Cells by Regulating the Ubiquitination Level of ZMYND11

Breast cancer is the most common female malignancy worldwide. Ubiquitin-specific peptidase 53 (USP53) has been shown to exert cancer-suppressing functions in several solid tumors, but its role and the underlying mechanism in breast cancer has not been clearly elucidated. Therefore, we have carried out a series of detailed studies on this matter at the levels of bioinformatics, clinical tissue, cell function and animal model. We found that USP53 expression was downregulated in breast cancer specimens and was negatively correlated with the clinical stages. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments demonstrated USP53 inhibited proliferation, clonogenesis, cell cycle and xenograft growth, as well as induced apoptosis and mitochondrial damage of breast cancer cells. Co-immunoprecipitation data suggested that USP53 interacted with zinc finger MYND-type containing 11 (ZMYND11), and catalyzed its deubiquitination and stabilization. The 33-50 amino acid Cys-box domain was key for USP53 enzyme activity, but not essential for its binding with ZMYND11. The rescue experiments revealed that the anti-tumor role of USP53 in breast cancer cells was at least partially mediated by ZMYND11. Both USP53 and ZMYND11 were prognostic protective factors for breast cancer. USP53-ZMYND11 axis may be a good potential biomarker or therapeutic target for breast cancer, which can provide novel insights into the diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.

The role of reactive oxygen species in gastric cancer

Gastric cancer (GC) ranks fifth in cancer incidence and fourth in cancer-related mortality worldwide. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are highly oxidative oxygen-derived products that have crucial roles in cell signaling regulation and maintaining internal balance. ROS are closely associated with the occurrence, development, and treatment of GC. This review summarizes recent findings on the sources of ROS and the bidirectional regulatory effects on GC and discusses various treatment modalities for GC that are related to ROS induction. In addition, the regulation of ROS by natural small molecule compounds with the highest potential for development and applications in anti-GC research is summarized. The aim of the review is to accelerate the clinical application of modulating ROS levels as a therapeutic strategy for GC.

Decoding mitochondria's role in immunity and cancer therapy

The functions of mitochondria, including energy production and biomolecule synthesis, have been known for a long time. Given the rising incidence of cancer, the role of mitochondria in cancer has become increasingly popular. Activated by components released by mitochondria, various pathways interact with each other to induce immune responses to protect organisms from attack. However, mitochondria play dual roles in the progression of cancer. Abnormalities in proteins, which are the elementary structures of mitochondria, are closely linked with oncogenesis. Both the aberrant accumulation of intermediates and mutations in enzymes result in the generation and progression of cancer. Therefore, targeting mitochondria to treat cancer may be a new strategy. Several drugs aimed at inhibiting mutated enzymes and accumulated intermediates have been tested clinically. Here, we discuss the current understanding of mitochondria in cancer and the interactions between mitochondrial functions, immune responses, and oncogenesis. Furthermore, we discuss mitochondria as hopeful targets for cancer therapy, providing insights into the progression of future therapeutic strategies.

The interaction between lncRNAs and transcription factors regulating autophagy in human cancers: A comprehensive and therapeutical survey

Autophagy, as a highly conserved cellular process, participates in cellular homeostasis by degradation and recycling of damaged organelles and proteins. Besides, autophagy has been evidenced to play a dual role through cancer initiation and progression. In the early stage, it may have a tumor-suppressive function through inducing apoptosis and removing damaged cells and organelles. However, late stages promote tumor progression by maintaining stemness features and induction of chemoresistance. Therefore, identifying and targeting molecular mechanisms involved in autophagy is a potential therapeutic strategy for human cancers. Multiple transcription factors (TFs) are involved in the regulation of autophagy by modulating the expression of autophagy-related genes (ATGs). In addition, a wide array of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), a group of regulatory ncRNAs, have been evidenced to regulate the function of these autophagy-related TFs through tumorigenesis. Subsequently, the lncRNAs/TFs/ATGs axis shows great potential as a therapeutic target for human cancers. Therefore, this review aimed to summarize new findings about the role of lncRNAs in regulating autophagy-related TFs with therapeutic perspectives.

SLC25A17 inhibits autophagy to promote triple-negative breast cancer tumorigenesis by ROS-mediated JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway

BACKGROUND

SLC25A17, a peroxisomal solute carrier, has been implicated in various physiological and pathological processes. However, its precise roles and underlying mechanisms in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) remain incompletely understood.

METHODS

The expression and survival data of breast cancer were derived from TCGA and GEO databases. A variety of in vitro assays were conducted, including proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle, migration, and invasion. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured by immunofluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. The levels of autophagy were assessed by mRFP-GFP-LC3 confocal microscopy scanning, western blotting, and electron microscopy.

RESULTS

SLC25A17 was highly expressed in breast cancer tissues, which was found to be associated with unfavorable prognosis. Functional assays demonstrated that SLC25A17 knockdown suppressed proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), migration, and invasion. Moreover, it prompted apoptosis and autophagy. On the other hand, SLC25A17 knockdown promoted autophagy through triggering ROS accumulation, which was counteracted by N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC). Furthermore, the pro-apoptotic effect of SLC25A17 knockdown was reversed when treated with autophagy inhibitor 3-MA in TNBC cells, suggesting that SLC25A17 knockdown-induced autophagic cell death. Mechanistically, SLC25A17 performed its function through regulation JAK2/STAT3 signaling in TNBC. In a nude mice xenograft study, SLC25A17 knockdown markedly decreased breast tumor growth and metastasis.

CONCLUSION

SLC25A17 up-regulation may be a critical factor driving TNBC progression by modulating ROS production and autophagy. Consequently, targeting SLC25A17 could be an effective therapeutic strategy against TNBC.

Microenvironment of pancreatic inflammation: calling for nanotechnology for diagnosis and treatment

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a common and life-threatening digestive disorder. However, its diagnosis and treatment are still impeded by our limited understanding of its etiology, pathogenesis, and clinical manifestations, as well as by the available detection methods. Fortunately, the progress of microenvironment-targeted nanoplatforms has shown their remarkable potential to change the status quo. The pancreatic inflammatory microenvironment is typically characterized by low pH, abundant reactive oxygen species (ROS) and enzymes, overproduction of inflammatory cells, and hypoxia, which exacerbate the pathological development of AP but also provide potential targeting sites for nanoagents to achieve early diagnosis and treatment. This review elaborates the various potential targets of the inflammatory microenvironment of AP and summarizes in detail the prospects for the development and application of functional nanomaterials for specific targets. Additionally, it presents the challenges and future trends to develop multifunctional targeted nanomaterials for the early diagnosis and effective treatment of AP, providing a valuable reference for future research.

Design, Synthesis, and Antitumor Efficacy of Substituted 2-Amino[1,2,4]triazolopyrimidines and Related Heterocycles as Dual Inhibitors for Microtubule Polymerization and Janus Kinase 2

Preclinical and clinical studies have demonstrated the synergistic effect of microtubule-targeting agents in combination with Janus kinase 2 (JAK2) inhibitors, prompting the development of single agents with enhanced therapeutic efficacy by dually inhibiting tubulin polymerization and JAK2. Herein, we designed and synthesized a series of substituted 2-amino[1,2,4]triazolopyrimidines and related heterocycles as dual inhibitors for tubulin polymerization and JAK2. Most of these compounds exhibited potent antiproliferative activity against the selected cancer cells, with compound 7g being the most active. This compound effectively inhibits both tubulin assembly and JAK2 activity. Furthermore, phosphorylated compound 7g (i.e., compound 7g-P) could efficiently convert to compound 7g in vivo. Compound 7g, whether it was administered directly or in the form of a phosphorylated prodrug (i.e., compound 7g-P), significantly inhibited the growth of A549 xenografts in nude mice. The present findings strongly suggest that compound 7g represents a promising chemotherapeutic agent with high antitumor efficacy.

Combined Inhibition of UBE2C and PLK1 Reduce Cell Proliferation and Arrest Cell Cycle by Affecting ACLY in Pan-Cancer

Various studies have shown that the cell-cycle-related regulatory proteins UBE2C, PLK1, and BIRC5 promote cell proliferation and migration in different types of cancer. However, there is a lack of in-depth and systematic research on the mechanism of these three as therapeutic targets. In this study, we found a positive correlation between the expression of UBE2C and PLK1/BIRC5 in the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, revealing a potential combination therapy candidate for pan-cancer. Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), Western blotting (WB), cell phenotype detection, and RNA-seq techniques were used to evidence the effectiveness of the combination candidate. We found that combined interference of UBE2C with PLK1 and UBE2C with BIRC5 affected metabolic pathways by significantly downregulating the mRNA expression of IDH1 and ACLY, which was related to the synthesis of acetyl-CoA. By combining the PLK1 inhibitor volasertib and the ACLY inhibitor bempedoic acid, it showed a higher synergistic inhibition of cell viability and higher synergy scores in seven cell lines, compared with those of other combination treatments. Our study reveals the potential mechanisms through which cell-cycle-related genes regulate metabolism and proposes a potential combined targeted therapy for patients with higher PLK1 and ACLY expression in pan-cancer.

Reactive Oxygen Species: A Crosslink between Plant and Human Eukaryotic Cell Systems

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are important regulating factors that play a dual role in plant and human cells. As the first messenger response in organisms, ROS coordinate signals in growth, development, and metabolic activity pathways. They also can act as an alarm mechanism, triggering cellular responses to harmful stimuli. However, excess ROS cause oxidative stress-related damage and oxidize organic substances, leading to cellular malfunctions. This review summarizes the current research status and mechanisms of ROS in plant and human eukaryotic cells, highlighting the differences and similarities between the two and elucidating their interactions with other reactive substances and ROS. Based on the similar regulatory and metabolic ROS pathways in the two kingdoms, this review proposes future developments that can provide opportunities to develop novel strategies for treating human diseases or creating greater agricultural value.

Anticancer therapeutic effect of ginsenosides through mediating reactive oxygen species

Dysregulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and ROS-regulated pathways in cancer cells leads to abnormal accumulation of reactive oxygen species, displaying a double-edged role in cancer progression, either supporting transformation/proliferation and stimulating tumorigenesis or inducing cell death. Cancer cells can accommodate reactive oxygen species by regulating them at levels that allow the activation of pro-cancer signaling pathways without inducing cell death via modulation of the antioxidant defense system. Therefore, targeting reactive oxygen species is a promising approach for cancer treatment. Ginsenosides, their derivatives, and related drug carriers are well-positioned to modulate multiple signaling pathways by regulating oxidative stress-mediated cellular and molecular targets to induce apoptosis; regulate cell cycle arrest and autophagy, invasion, and metastasis; and enhance the sensitivity of drug-resistant cells to chemotherapeutic agents of different cancers depending on the type, level, and source of reactive oxygen species, and the type and stage of the cancer. Our review focuses on the pro- and anticancer effects of reactive oxygen species, and summarizes the mechanisms and recent advances in different ginsenosides that bring about anticancer effects by targeting reactive oxygen species, providing new ideas for designing further anticancer studies or conducting more preclinical and clinical studies.

Targeting NRF2 uncovered an intrinsic susceptibility of acute myeloid leukemia cells to ferroptosis

Drug resistance and poor treatment response are major obstacles to the effective treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML). A deeper understanding of the mechanisms regulating drug resistance and response genes in AML is therefore urgently needed. Our previous research has highlighted the important role of nuclear factor E2-related factor 2 (NRF2) in AML, where it plays a critical role in detoxifying reactive oxygen species and influencing sensitivity to chemotherapy. In this study, we identify a core set of direct NRF2 targets that are involved in ferroptosis, a novel form of cell death. Of particular interest, we find that glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) is a key ferroptosis gene that is consistently upregulated in AML, and high expression of GPX4 is associated with poor prognosis for AML patients. Importantly, simultaneous inhibition of NRF2 with ML385 and GPX4 with FIN56 or RSL3 synergistically targets AML cells, triggering ferroptosis. Treatment with ML385 + FIN56/RSL3 resulted in a marked reduction in NRF2 and GPX4 expression. Furthermore, NRF2 knockdown enhanced the sensitivity of AML cells to the ferroptosis inducers. Taken together, our results suggest that combination therapy targeting both NRF2 and GPX4 may represent a promising approach for the treatment of AML.

A novel mechanism of 6-methoxydihydroavicine in suppressing ovarian carcinoma by disrupting mitochondrial homeostasis and triggering ROS/ MAPK mediated apoptosis

Introduction: Alkaloids derived from M. cordata (Papaveraceae family), have been found to display antineoplastic activity in several types of cancer. However, the antitumor effects and mechanisms of a new alkaloid extracted from the fruits of M. cordata, named 6-Methoxydihydroavicine (6-ME), remains unclear in the case of ovarian cancer (OC). Methods: CCK-8 assay was employed to analyze the cell viabilities of OC cells. RTCA, and colony-formation assays were performed to measure OC cell growth. Alterations in apoptosis and ROS levels were detected by flow cytometry in accordance with the instructions of corresponding assay kits. A Seahorse XFe96 was executed conducted to confirm the effects of 6-ME on cellular bioenergetics. Western blot and q-RT-PCR were conducted to detect alterations in target proteins. The subcutaneous xenografted tumor model of OC was used to further validate the anti-tumor activity of 6-ME in vivo. Results: Here, we reported for the first time that 6-ME inhibits OC cells growth in vitro and in vivo. Meanwhile, we found that 6-ME showed great antineoplastic activities by disrupting mitochondria homeostasis and promoting apoptosis in OC cells. Further investigation of the upstream signaling of apoptosis revealed that 6-ME-triggered apoptosis was induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation and mitochondria dysfunction in OC cells. Furthermore, we found oxaloacetic acid (OAA), a crucial metabolite has been proved to be related to NADPH production, can block the cytotoxicity and accumulation of ROS caused by 6-ME in OC cells. Discussion: In summary, our data show that 6-ME exhibits cytotoxicity to OC cells in a ROS-dependent manner by interrupting mitochondrial respiration homeostasis and inducing MAPK-mediated apoptosis. This evidence suggests that 6-ME is a promising remedy for OC intervention.

The therapeutic effect of PEI-Fe3O4/pYr-ads-8-5HRE-cfosp-IFNG albumin nanospheres combined with magnetic fluid hyperthermia on hepatoma

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the most prevalent and deadly malignant tumors with serious clinical and socioeconomic consequences. Although gene therapy holds great promise in the treatment of hepatoma, its clinical applications are hindered by uncontrolled gene transmission and transcription.

Methods

The pY-ads-8-5HRE-cfosp-IFNG plasmid was constructed and identified by double enzyme digestion and gene sequencing. The expression of pYr-ads-8-5HRE-cfosp-IFNG in HepG2 cells was detected by quantitative PCR. PEI-Fe3O4/pYr-ads-8-5HRE-cfosp-IFNG albumin nanospheres were prepared and characterized. In vitro heating test of magnetic albumin nanospheres in an alternating magnetic field (AMF) was carried out. The therapeutic effect of PEI-Fe3O4/pYr-ads-8-5HRE-cfosp-IFNG albumin nanospheres on hepatocellular carcinoma was investigated by cell and animal experiments. After treatment, mice blood was collected for clinical biochemical analysis and histopathological evaluation of major organs was performed to assess potential adverse effects of treatment.

Results

Double enzyme digestion and gene sequencing showed that the pY-ads-8-5HRE-cfosp-IFNG plasmid was constructed successfully. QPCR results showed that the IFNγ transcript level in the PEI-Fe3O4/pYr-ads-8-5HRE-cfosp-IFNG group was higher than that in the PEI-Fe3O4/pYr-ads-8-cfosp-IFNG group after being treated with hypoxia (P&lt;0.05). TEM revealed that the self-prepared PEI-Fe3O4/pYr-ads-8-5HRE-cfosp-IFNG albumin nanospheres exhibit an approximately spherical or elliptical shape. The hydrodynamic size of the albumin nanospheres was 139.7 nm. The maximum temperature of 0.25 mg/mL solution is stable at about 44°C, which is suitable for tumor thermal therapy without damaging normal tissues. The relative cell inhibition rate of the radiation-gene therapy and MFH combination group was higher than that of other control groups in CCK8 experiment. (P&lt;0.05) Flow cytometry showed that the apoptosis rate and necrosis rate of the combined treatment group were 42.32% and 35.73%, respectively, higher than those of the other groups. (P&lt;0.05) In animal experiments, the mass and volume inhibition rates of the combined treatment group were 66.67% and 72.53%, respectively, higher than those of other control groups. (P&lt;0.05) Clinical biochemical analysis and histopathological evaluation showed no abnormality.

Conclusions

The results indicated the successful construction of the radiation-induced plasmid and demonstrated that the hypoxia enhancer could augment the expression of INFγ in a hypoxia environment. Gene therapy combined with magnetic fluid hyperthermia (MFH) has exhibited excellent outcomes in both cell and animal studies. Our experiments demonstrated that the PEI-Fe3O4/pYr-ads-8-5HRE-cfosp-IFNG albumin nanospheres system is a comprehensive treatment method for hepatoma, which can effectively combine immune genre therapy with hyperthermia.

STAT proteins in cancer: orchestration of metabolism

Reprogrammed metabolism is a hallmark of cancer. However, the metabolic dependency of cancer, from tumour initiation through disease progression and therapy resistance, requires a spectrum of distinct reprogrammed cellular metabolic pathways. These pathways include aerobic glycolysis, oxidative phosphorylation, reactive oxygen species generation, de novo lipid synthesis, fatty acid β-oxidation, amino acid (notably glutamine) metabolism and mitochondrial metabolism. This Review highlights the central roles of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) proteins, notably STAT3, STAT5, STAT6 and STAT1, in orchestrating the highly dynamic metabolism not only of cancer cells but also of immune cells and adipocytes in the tumour microenvironment. STAT proteins are able to shape distinct metabolic processes that regulate tumour progression and therapy resistance by transducing signals from metabolites, cytokines, growth factors and their receptors; defining genetic programmes that regulate a wide range of molecules involved in orchestration of metabolism in cancer and immune cells; and regulating mitochondrial activity at multiple levels, including energy metabolism and lipid-mediated mitochondrial integrity. Given the central role of STAT proteins in regulation of metabolic states, they are potential therapeutic targets for altering metabolic reprogramming in cancer.

The organic arsenical-derived thioredoxin and glutathione system inhibitor ACZ2 induces apoptosis and autophagy in gastric cancer via ROS-dependent ER stress

Developing novel drugs for gastric cancer (GC) is greatly needed, and a reactive oxygen species (ROS)-modulating strategy has been demonstrated to be useful for cancer treatment. However, no organic arsenical-derived ROS-modulating drug has been developed in GC. Here, we constructed ACZ2 and investigated its efficacy and potential mechanism for GC in vitro and in vivo. Our data showed that ACZ2 could inhibit GC proliferation and cause G2/M phase arrest. Moreover, ACZ2 induced ROS accumulation by depleting glutathione (GSH) and TrxR1, triggering a subsequent ER stress response by activating the PERK/EIF2/ATF4/CHOP signalling pathways, which is a crucial step for ACZ2-mediated apoptosis and autophagy. Vitally, ROS scavenger (NAC) and ER stress inhibitor (4PBA) reversed ACZ2/ROS/ER stress-mediated apoptosis and autophagy. Our in vivo results clearly demonstrated that ACZ2 suppressed tumour growth in a GC xenograft model. Collectively, our data indicated that ACZ2 is a potential agent against GC.

Huntingtin-associated protein 1 is a potential tumor suppressor for gastric cancer

BACKGROUND

Gastric cancer is heterogeneous cancer and the causes of this disease are complex. New diagnostic and therapeutic targets are urgently needed to explore. Huntingtin-associated protein 1 (HAP1) is directly related to Huntington's disease (HD). However, patients with Huntington's disease have a lower incidence of cancer. Therefore, we are committed to studying the correlation between HAP1 and gastric carcinogenesis and development.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Immunohistochemical staining, western blot analysis, and RT-qPCR were conducted to explore the localization and expression of HAP1 in gastric cancer. To study the biological significance of HAP1, we overexpressed HAP1 in both MKN28 and AGS cell lines by lentivirus infection. To explore the role of HAP1 in cell proliferation, the cells counting assay, EdU incorporation assay, and colony formation assay were carried out. We performed the wound healing assay and transwell assay to study the cell migration and invasion. To further investigate whether HAP1 could regulate gastric cancer cell death during glucose deprivation, Annexin V-FITC/PI staining was performed. In our study, we elucidated that HAP1 was downregulated in gastric cancer. What's more, overexpressing HAP1 inhibited cell proliferation, cell migration and invasion, and triggered apoptosis during glucose deprivation. More importantly, the antitumor properties and mechanisms of HAP1 have been elucidated further in gastric cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, the available evidence implies that HAP1 may serve as a potential tumor suppressor, making it a significant target in preventing and treating gastric cancer. This research provides a theoretical basis for the early diagnosis, clinical targeted therapy, and prognosis evaluation of gastric cancer.

Methods to Evaluate the Effects of HAT/KAT Inhibition on SIAH2-Driven Reactive Oxygen Species Generation in Helicobacter pylori-Infected Gastric Epithelial Cells

Helicobacter pylori infection is one of the leading factors that promotes, among other diseases, gastric cancer (GC). Infection of gastric epithelial cells (GECs) by H. pylori enhances the expression as well as acetylation of the E3 ubiquitin ligase SIAH2 which promotes GC progression. The histone acetyltransferase (HAT) activity of p300 catalyzes SIAH2 acetylation following H. pylori infection. Since reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in H. pylori-infected GECs accelerates GC progression, acetylation-mediated SIAH2 regulation might be a crucial modifier of ROS generation in the infected GECs. Here, we describe a compendium of methods to evaluate the effects of HAT/lysine acetyl transferase (KAT) inhibitors (HAT/KATi) on SIAH2-mediated ROS regulation in H. pylori-infected GECs.

Identification of a novel reactive oxygen species (ROS)-related genes model combined with RT-qPCR experiments for prognosis and immunotherapy in gastric cancer

Reactive oxygen species play a crucial role in the prognosis and tumor microenvironment (TME) of malignant tumors. An ROS-related signature was constructed in gastric cancer (GC) samples from TCGA database. ROS-related genes were obtained from the Molecular Signatures Database. Consensus clustering was used to establish distinct ROS-related subtypes related to different survival and immune cell infiltration patterns. Sequentially, prognostic genes were identified in the ROS-related subtypes, which were used to identify a stable ROS-related signature that predicted the prognosis of GC. Correlation analysis revealed the significance of immune cell iniltration, immunotherapy, and drug sensitivity in gastric cancers with different risks. The putative molecular mechanisms of the different gastric cancer risks were revealed by functional enrichment analysis. A robust nomogram was established to predict the outcome of each gastric cancer. Finally, we verified the expression of the genes involved in the model using RT-qPCR. In conclusion, the ROS-related signature in this study is a novel and stable biomarker associated with TME and immunotherapy responses.

Celastrol elicits antitumor effects by inhibiting the STAT3 pathway through ROS accumulation in non-small cell lung cancer

Background

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most common lung cancer with high mortality across the world, but it is challenging to develop an effective therapy for NSCLC. Celastrol is a natural bioactive compound, which has been found to possess potential antitumor activity. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms of celastrol activity in NSCLC remain elusive.

Methods

Cellular function assays were performed to study the suppressive role of celastrol in human NSCLC cells (H460, PC-9, and H520) and human bronchial epithelial cells BEAS-2B. Cell apoptosis levels were analyzed by flow cytometry, Hoechst 33342, caspase-3 activity analysis, and western blot analysis. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) were analyzed by flow cytometry and fluorescence microscope. Expression levels of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-related proteins and phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (P-STAT3) were identified via western blot analysis. A heterograft model in nude mice was employed to evaluate the effect of celastrol in vivo.

Results

Celastrol suppressed the growth, proliferation, and metastasis of NSCLC cells. Celastrol significantly increased the level of intracellular ROS; thus, triggering the activation of the ER stress pathway and inhibition of the P-STAT3 pathway, and eventually leading to cell apoptosis, and the effects were reversed by the pre-treatment with N-Acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC). Celastrol also suppressed tumor growth in vivo.

Conclusion

The outcomes revealed that celastrol plays a potent suppressive role in NSCLC in vitro and in vivo. Celastrol induces apoptosis via causing mitochondrial ROS accumulation to suppress the STAT3 pathway. Celastrol may have potential application prospects in the therapy of NSCLC.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12967-022-03741-9.

Cell death affecting the progression of gastric cancer

Gastric cancer is a gastrointestinal tumor with high morbidity and mortality rates. Several factors influence its progression, cell death being an important element. In this review, we summarized the effects of necrosis, apoptosis, necroptosis, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, and eight less common cell death modalities on gastric cancer cells and the tumor microenvironment, detailed the molecular mechanisms of various cell death and their major regulatory pathways in gastric cancer, explored the prevalence and complexity of cell death in gastric cancer progression and highlighted the potentials of cell death-related therapies in gastric cancer.

Autophagy in Rat Müller Glial Cells Is Modulated by the Sirtuin 4/AMPK/mTOR Pathway and Induces Apoptosis under Oxidative Stress

Müller glial cells (MGCs) are a group of glial cells in the retina that provide essential support to retinal neurons; however, the understanding of MGC apoptosis and autophagy remains limited. This study was aimed at investigating the role of autophagy in MGCs under normal and oxidative conditions, and identifying the underlying mechanisms. In addition, the sirtuin 4 (SIRT4)-mediated signaling pathway was observed to regulate the autophagic process in MGCs. To assess the effect of autophagy on MGC mitochondrial function and survival, we treated rMC-1 cells—rat-derived Müller glial cells—with rapamycin and 3-methyladenine (3-MA), and found that MGC death was not induced by such treatment, while autophagic dysfunction could increase MGC apoptosis under oxidative stress, as reflected by the expression level of cleaved caspase 3 and PI staining. In addition, the downregulation of autophagy by 3-MA could influence the morphology of the mitochondrial network structure, the mitochondrial membrane potential, and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) under oxidative stress. Moreover, SIRT4 depletion enhanced autophagosome formation, as verified by an increase in the LC3 II/I ratio and a decrease in the expression of SQSTM1/p62, and vice versa. The inhibition of AMPK phosphorylation by compound C could reverse these changes in LC3 II/I and SQSTM1/p62 caused by SIRT4 knockdown. Our research concludes that MGCs can endure autophagic dysfunction in the absence of oxidative stress, while the downregulation of autophagy can cause MGCs to become more sensitized to oxidative stress. Simultaneous exposure to oxidative stress and autophagic dysfunction in MGCs can result in a pronounced impairment of cell survival. Mechanically, SIRT4 depletion can activate the autophagic process in MGCs by regulating the AMPK–mTOR signaling pathway.

Regulated cell death (RCD) in cancer: key pathways and targeted therapies

Regulated cell death (RCD), also well-known as programmed cell death (PCD), refers to the form of cell death that can be regulated by a variety of biomacromolecules, which is distinctive from accidental cell death (ACD). Accumulating evidence has revealed that RCD subroutines are the key features of tumorigenesis, which may ultimately lead to the establishment of different potential therapeutic strategies. Hitherto, targeting the subroutines of RCD with pharmacological small-molecule compounds has been emerging as a promising therapeutic avenue, which has rapidly progressed in many types of human cancers. Thus, in this review, we focus on summarizing not only the key apoptotic and autophagy-dependent cell death signaling pathways, but the crucial pathways of other RCD subroutines, including necroptosis, pyroptosis, ferroptosis, parthanatos, entosis, NETosis and lysosome-dependent cell death (LCD) in cancer. Moreover, we further discuss the current situation of several small-molecule compounds targeting the different RCD subroutines to improve cancer treatment, such as single-target, dual or multiple-target small-molecule compounds, drug combinations, and some new emerging therapeutic strategies that would together shed new light on future directions to attack cancer cell vulnerabilities with small-molecule drugs targeting RCD for therapeutic purposes.

A novel tubulin inhibitor, 6h, suppresses tumor-associated angiogenesis and shows potent antitumor activity against non-small cell lung cancers

Tumor angiogenesis is closely associated with the metastasis and progression of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), a highly vascularized solid tumor. However, novel therapeutics are lacking for the treatment of this cancer. Here, we developed a series of 2-aryl-4-(3,4,5-trimethoxy-benzoyl)-5-substituted-1,2,3-triazol analogs (6a-6x) as tubulin colchicine-binding site inhibitors, aiming to find a novel promising drug candidate for NSCLC treatment. We first identified 2-(2-fluorophenyl)-3-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoyl)-5-(3-hydroxyazetidin-1-yl)-2H-1,2,3-triazole (6h) as a hit compound, which inhibited angiogenesis induced by NSCLC cells both in vivo and in vitro. In addition, our data showed that 6h could tightly bind to the colchicine-binding site of tubulin and inhibit tubulin polymerization. We also found that 6h could effectively induce G2/M cell cycle arrest of A549 and H460 cells, inhibit cell proliferation, and induce apoptosis. Furthermore, we showed 6h had the potential to inhibit the migration and invasion of NSCLC cells, two basic characteristics of tumor metastasis. Finally, we found 6h could effectively inhibit tumor progression in A549 xenograft mouse models with minimal toxicity. Taken together, these findings provide strong evidence for the development of 6h as a promising microtubule colchicine-binding site inhibitor for NSCLC treatment.

Chloroquine modulates the sulforaphane anti-obesity mechanisms in a high-fat diet model: Role of JAK-2/ STAT-3/ SOCS-3 pathway

The phytochemical sulforaphane (SFN) has been studied for its potential anti-obesity effect, but neither its molecular targets nor its interaction with the antimalarial drug chloroquine (CQ) has been fully delineated. Therefore, high-fat diet (HFD) obese rats were randomly allocated into one of five groups and were left untreated or gavaged orally with SFN (0.5 or 1 mg/kg), CQ (5 mg/kg), or their combination (0.5/5 mg/kg) for six successive weeks to assess their potential interaction and the enrolled mechanisms. SFN effectively reduced the HFD-induced weight gain, blood glucose, and serum leptin levels, and improved lipid profile. On the molecular level, SFN inhibited the lipogenesis-related enzymes, namely sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP)-1c, fatty acid synthase (FAS), and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) in both liver and visceral white adipose tissue (vWAT) of HFD obese rats. SFN also turned off the inflammatory pathway conserved Janus kinase/signaling transducers and activators of transcription/suppressor of cytokine signaling (JAK-2/STAT-3/SOCS-3) in these tissues, as well as the inflammatory markers nuclear factor-kappa (NF-κ) B and interleukin (IL)-22 in serum. In contrast, SFN downregulated the gene expression of microRNA (miR-200a), while significantly increasing the autophagic parameters; viz., beclin-1, autophagy-related protein (ATG)-7, and microtubule-associated protein 2 light chain 3 (LC3-II) in both liver and vWAT. On most of the parameters mentioned above, treatment with CQ solely produced a satisfactory effect and intensified the low dose of SFN in the combination regimen. These findings demonstrated the beneficial effects of using CQ as an add-on anti-obesity medicine to SFN.

Patient-Derived Xenograft: A More Standard "Avatar" Model in Preclinical Studies of Gastric Cancer

Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment, gastric cancer remains the third most common cause of cancer-related death in humans. The establishment of relevant animal models of gastric cancer is critical for further research. Due to the complexity of the tumor microenvironment and the genetic heterogeneity of gastric cancer, the commonly used preclinical animal models fail to adequately represent clinically relevant models of gastric cancer. However, patient-derived models are able to replicate as much of the original inter-tumoral and intra-tumoral heterogeneity of gastric cancer as possible, reflecting the cellular interactions of the tumor microenvironment. In addition to implanting patient tissues or primary cells into immunodeficient mouse hosts for culture, the advent of alternative hosts such as humanized mouse hosts, zebrafish hosts, and in vitro culture modalities has also facilitated the advancement of gastric cancer research. This review highlights the current status, characteristics, interfering factors, and applications of patient-derived models that have emerged as more valuable preclinical tools for studying the progression and metastasis of gastric cancer.

The Interaction Between Autophagy and JAK/STAT3 Signaling Pathway in Tumors

Tumor is one of the important factors affecting human life and health in today’s world, and scientists have studied it extensively and deeply, among which autophagy and JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway are two important research directions. The JAK/STAT3 axis is a classical intracellular signaling pathway that assumes a key role in the regulation of cell proliferation, apoptosis, and vascular neogenesis, and its abnormal cell signaling and regulation are closely related to the occurrence and development of tumors. Therefore, the JAK/STAT3 pathway in tumor cells and various stromal cells in their microenvironment is often considered as an effective target for tumor therapy. Autophagy is a process that degrades cytoplasmic proteins and organelles through the lysosomal pathway. It is a fundamental metabolic mechanism for intracellular degradation. The mechanism of action of autophagy is complex and may play different roles at various stages of tumor development. Altered STAT3 expression has been found to be accompanied by the abnormal autophagy activity in many oncological studies, and the two may play a synergistic or antagonistic role in promoting or inhibiting the occurrence and development of tumors. This article reviews the recent advances in autophagy and its interaction with JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway in the pathogenesis, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of tumors.

Role of STAT3 Expression in Thyroid Cancer: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review Based on the Chinese Population

Background

Signal transduction and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is an oncogene with transcriptional activity. In recent years, there have been several studies concerning the clinicopathological significance of the expression of the STAT3 protein in thyroid cancer. However, the results are still inconsistent. In this study, we conducted a meta-analysis to evaluate the relationship between the expression of STAT3 protein and thyroid cancer susceptibility and its clinicopathological characteristics.

Methods

We searched the China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) database, Chinese Biomedical Literature Database (CBM), Chinese Scientific and Journal Database (VIP), Wanfang, PubMed, and EMBASE. The time frame of the publication search was from the establishment of each of the databases until December 2021. We performed a meta-analysis to quantitatively evaluate the relationship between the expression of the STAT3 protein in thyroid cancer and its clinicopathological characteristics.

Results

A total of eight articles were included in the meta-analysis, covering 448 thyroid cancer patients and 227 controls. Results indicated that the expression of STAT3 protein in thyroid cancer tissue is highly expressed (OR = 14.41, 95% CI (6.94, 29.91), p < 0.001). Besides, we also discovered that STAT3 protein is negatively correlated with thyroid cancer tumor diameter and TNM stage (OR = 0.13, 95% CI (0.05, 0.33), p < 0.001; OR = 0.40, 95% CI (0.24, 0.67), p < 0.001) and positively correlated with lymph node metastasis (OR = 2.83, 95% CI (1.08, 7.46), p = 0.035). However, STAT3 expression is not related to gender (OR = 0.88, 95% CI (0.54, 1.44), p = 0.609), age (OR = 0.54, 95% CI (0.21, 1.36), p = 0.191), capsular invasion (OR = 2.98, 95% CI (0.23, 38.29), p = 0.403), or tumor multiplicity (OR = 0.25, 95% CI (0.003, 19.28), p = 0.533).

Conclusions

This study reveals that STAT3 protein expression is significantly related to the susceptibility and clinicopathological characteristics of thyroid cancer. It also suggests that STAT3 may be a potential predictor of the clinical progression of thyroid cancer.

Piperlongumine combined with vitamin C as a new adjuvant therapy against gastric cancer regulates the ROS-STAT3 pathway

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of piperlongumine (PL) and vitamin C (VC) on signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signalling in gastric cancer cell lines.

METHODS

In vivo tumour xenograft anticancer assays were undertaken to confirm the anticancer activity of PL. Cell viability, flow cytometry and Western blot assays were undertaken to evaluate the anticancer effects of PL, VC and combinations of PL and VC in AGS and KATO III cells.

RESULTS

Both PL and VC induced apoptosis and inhibited cell proliferation in AGS and KATO III cells. These effects were dependent on reactive oxygen species (ROS). PL effectively suppressed STAT3 activation while VC caused abnormal activation of STAT3. The combination of PL and VC exhibited a stronger apoptotic effect compared with either agent alone. PL reversed the abnormal activation of STAT3 by VC, which could be a key to their synergistic effect.

CONCLUSIONS

PL combined with VC exhibited a stronger anticancer effect by regulating the ROS-STAT3 pathway, suggesting that this combination might be a potential adjuvant therapy for gastric cancer.

Targeting STAT3 Signaling Facilitates Responsiveness of Pancreatic Cancer Cells to Chemoradiotherapy

The debate is ongoing regarding the potential role of preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), and whether it should be reserved for borderline resectable or unresectable tumors. However, treatment response is heterogeneous, implicating the need to unveil and overcome the underlying mechanisms of resistance. Activation of the transcription factor STAT3 was recently linked to CRT resistance in other gastrointestinal cancers such as rectal and esophageal cancers, but its role in PDAC needs to be clarified. Protein expression and phosphorylation of STAT3 was determined in PDAC cell lines and connected to transcriptional activity measured by dual-luciferase reporter gene assays. Inhibition of STAT3 signaling was achieved by RNAi or the small-molecule inhibitor napabucasin. We observed a positive correlation between STAT3 signaling activity and CRT resistance. Importantly, genetical and pharmacological perturbation of the IL-6/STAT3 pathway resulted in CRT sensitization specifically in those cell lines, in which STAT3 activity was augmented by IL-6. In conclusion, our data underscore the general importance of IL-6/STAT3 signaling for CRT resistance and suggest that pathway inhibition may represents a putative treatment strategy in order to increase the fraction of patients with PDAC who are candidates for surgical approaches.

Zingiberensis Newsaponin Inhibits the Malignant Progression of Hepatocellular Carcinoma via Suppressing Autophagy Moderated by the AKR1C1-Mediated JAK2/STAT3 Pathway

Objective

Saponins are a group of compounds from various plants, which exhibit an anticancer activity. This study aimed to explore the anticancer effect of zingiberensis newsaponin (ZnS) against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and the underlying mechanism involving autophagy.

Methods

HCC cells (Huh7 and SMMC7721) were treated with ZnS and/or 3-MA. The cell viability, migration, and apoptosis were determined using CCK-8 assay, transwell assay, and flow cytometry, respectively. The levels of oxidative stress markers (ROS, SOD, and MDA) were measured by ELISA assay. Autophagy was monitored using MDC assay, immunofluorescence staining, and transmission electron microscopy. The relative protein expression of LC3II/LC3I, P62, AKR1C1, p-JAK2, p-STAT3, JAK2, and STAT3 was determined using Western blot.

Results

ZnS or 3-MA inhibited the cell viability and migration, and it promoted cell apoptosis and oxidative stress in HCC. MDC-positive cells and autophagosomes were reduced by ZnS or 3-MA treatment. The expression of autophagy-related proteins LC3 (LC3II/LC3I) and P62 was, respectively, downregulated and upregulated after ZnS or 3-MA treatment. In addition, ZnS or 3-MA suppressed the protein expression of AKR1C1, p-JAK2, and p-STAT3 in HCC cells. Furthermore, the above phenomena were evidently enhanced by ZnS combined 3-MA treatment. AKR1C1 overexpression weakened the effect of ZnS on inhibiting the expression of AKR1C1, p-JAK2, and p-STAT3.

Conclusion

ZnS exerts an anticancer effect on HCC via inhibiting autophagy moderated by the AKR1C1-mediated JAK2/STAT3 pathway. ZnS and 3-MA exert a synergistic effect on inhibiting HCC.

The Tubulin Code and Tubulin-Modifying Enzymes in Autophagy and Cancer

Simple Summary

Microtubules are tubulin polymers that constitute the structure of eukaryotic cells. They control different cell functions that are often deregulated in cancer, such as cell shape, cell motility and the intracellular movement of organelles. Here, we focus on the crucial role of tubulin modifications in determining different cancer characteristics, including metastatic cell migration and therapy resistance. We also discuss the influence of microtubule modifications on the autophagic process—the cellular degradation pathway that influences cancer growth. We discuss findings showing that inducing microtubule modifications can be used as a means to kill cancer cells by inhibiting autophagy.

Abstract

Microtubules are key components of the cytoskeleton of eukaryotic cells. Microtubule dynamic instability together with the “tubulin code” generated by the choice of different α- and β- tubulin isoforms and tubulin post-translational modifications have essential roles in the control of a variety of cellular processes, such as cell shape, cell motility, and intracellular trafficking, that are deregulated in cancer. In this review, we will discuss available evidence that highlights the crucial role of the tubulin code in determining different cancer phenotypes, including metastatic cell migration, drug resistance, and tumor vascularization, and the influence of modulating tubulin-modifying enzymes on cancer cell survival and aggressiveness. We will also discuss the role of post-translationally modified microtubules in autophagy—the lysosomal-mediated cellular degradation pathway—that exerts a dual role in many cancer types, either promoting or suppressing cancer growth. We will give particular emphasis to the role of tubulin post-translational modifications and their regulating enzymes in controlling the different stages of the autophagic process in cancer cells, and consider how the experimental modulation of tubulin-modifying enzymes influences the autophagic process in cancer cells and impacts on cancer cell survival and thereby represents a new and fruitful avenue in cancer therapy.

CaMKII inhibitor KN-93 impaired angiogenesis and aggravated cardiac remodelling and heart failure via inhibiting NOX2/mtROS/p-VEGFR2 and STAT3 pathways

Persistent cardiac Ca²⁺/calmodulin‐dependent Kinase II (CaMKII) activation was considered to promote heart failure (HF) development, some studies believed that CaMKII was a target for therapy of HF. However, CaMKII was an important mediator for the ischaemia‐induced coronary angiogenesis, and new evidence confirmed that angiogenesis inhibited cardiac remodelling and improved heart function, and some conditions which impaired angiogenesis aggravated ventricular remodelling. This study aimed to investigate the roles and the underlying mechanisms of CaMKII inhibitor in cardiac remodelling. First, we induced cardiac remodelling rat model by ISO, pre‐treated by CaMKII inhibitor KN‐93, evaluated heart function by echocardiography measurements, and performed HE staining, Masson staining, Tunel staining, Western blot and RT‐PCR to test cardiac remodelling and myocardial microvessel density; we also observed ultrastructure of cardiac tissue with transmission electron microscope. Second, we cultured HUVECs, pre‐treated by ISO and KN‐93, detected cell proliferation, migration, tubule formation and apoptosis, and carried out Western blot to determine the expression of NOX2, NOX4, VEGF, VEGFR2, p‐VEGFR2 and STAT3; mtROS level was also measured. In vivo, we found KN‐93 severely reduced myocardial microvessel density, caused apoptosis of vascular endothelial cells, enhanced cardiac hypertrophy, myocardial apoptosis, collagen deposition, aggravated the deterioration of myocardial ultrastructure and heart function. In vitro, KN‐93 inhibited HUVECs proliferation, migration and tubule formation, and promoted apoptosis of HUVECs. The expression of NOX2, NOX4, p‐VEGFR2 and STAT3 were down‐regulated by KN‐93; mtROS level was severely reduced by KN‐93. We concluded that KN‐93 impaired angiogenesis and aggravated cardiac remodelling and heart failure via inhibiting NOX2/mtROS/p‐VEGFR2 and STAT3 pathways.

Downregulation of amine oxidase copper containing 1 inhibits tumor progression by suppressing IL-6/JAK/STAT3 pathway activation in hepatocellular carcinoma

Amine oxidase copper containing 1 (AOC1) is a copper-containing amine oxidase that catalyzes the deamination of polyamines. AOC1 functions as an oncogene in human gastric cancer. There is little information available regarding the function of AOC1 in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In the present study, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR was used to detect the expression levels of AOC1 in HCC tissues, and the role of AOC1 in HCC progression was determined using western blot, Cell Counting Kit 8, clone formation, wound-healing and Transwell assays. An AOC1 survival curve was generated with data downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas, and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis was performed to investigate the potential biological mechanisms of AOC1 in HCC. AOC1 was found to be upregulated in HCC tissues, which was associated with a poor prognosis. Furthermore, AOC1-knockdown inhibited HCC cell proliferation, migration and invasiveness, suppressed IL-6 expression, as well as decreasing JAK2 and STAT3 phosphorylation. Ultimately, the results of the present study illustrate that AOC1 promoted the proliferation, migration and invasiveness of HCC cells by regulating the IL-6/JAK/STAT3 pathway.

Doxorubicin nanomedicine based on ginsenoside Rg1 with alleviated cardiotoxicity and enhanced antitumor activity

Aim: The authors aimed to develop Dox@Rg1 nanoparticles with decreased cardiotoxicity to expand their application in cancer. Materials & methods: Dox@Rg1 nanoparticles were developed by encapsulating doxorubicin (Dox) in a self-assembled Rg1. The antitumor effect of the nanoparticles was estimated using 4T1 tumor-bearing mice and the protective effect on the heart was investigated in vitro and in vivo. Results: Different from Dox, the Dox@Rg1 nanoparticles induced increased cytotoxicity to tumor cells, which was decreased in cardiomyocytes by the inhibition of apoptosis. The study in vivo revealed that the Dox@Rg1 nanoparticles presented a perfect tumor-targeting ability and improved antitumor effects. Conclusion: Dox@Rg1 nanoparticles could enhance the antitumor effects and decrease the cardiotoxicity of Dox.