A novel synthetic Asiatic acid derivative induces apoptosis and inhibits proliferation and mobility of gastric cancer cells by suppressing STAT3 signaling pathway

Asiatic acid and its derivatives: Pharmacological insights and applications

Centella asiatica (L.) Urban has been utilized in wound healing remedies for nearly 3000 years. Asiatic acid (AA), a pentacyclic triterpenoid characterized by ursane-type skeleton, serves as principal bioactive constituent of Centella asiatica, exhibits remarkable therapeutic potential across a spectrum of health conditions. Pharmacological investigations have revealed that AA exerts direct regulatory effects on a multitude of enzymes, receptors, inflammatory mediators, and transcription factors. This article systematically examines the therapeutic applications of AA and its derivatives in the management of neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, cardiovascular disorders, and infections. Additionally, recent advancements in the structural modification of AA are summarized, offering new insights for the development of low-toxicity, effective AA-based therapeutics and diagnostic agents. However, several challenges remain, including the paucity of clinical trials, uncertainties in dosage and treatment regimens, limited data on long-term safety and side effects, and poor bioavailability. Addressing these limitations is crucial for advancing AA-based therapies and ensuring their clinical applicability.

Identifying the mechanism of polysaccharopeptide against breast cancer based on network pharmacology and experimental verification

Polysaccharopeptide (PSP) is a potential active component in traditional Chinese medicine because of its anticancer effects on a variety of cancer cells and as immune enhancers of the immune system. Previous studies on the role of PSP in breast cancer have been limited, and the mechanism has not been clarified. This study is based on network pharmacology and molecular docking technology to predict the possible target of PSP treatment of breast cancer, and use experiments to verify the effect and mechanism of PSP on breast cancer. In this study, 287 PSP targets were obtained using SwissTargetPrediction database and PharmMapper database, and 183 breast cancer targets were obtained using DisGenNET database. By intersections of PSP targets and breast cancer targets, a total of 10 intersections were obtained. GO functional enrichment, KEGG pathway enrichment and molecular docking of these 10 target genes were performed to obtain the potential targets of PSP on breast cancer. In vitro experiments, we found that PSP significantly inhibited the proliferation and induced apoptosis of breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231, SUM-159 and MCF-7. Western Blot results showed that PSP could down-regulate the expression of p-JAK2 and p-STAT3 proteins. Similarly, the results of in vivo experiments showed that PSP can directly inhibit the tumor of MDA-MB-231 tumor-bearing mice, and the mechanism of action is mainly to inhibit the JAK2-STAT3 pathway. The above results were consistent with the results of network pharmacology, which provides a scientific basis for the clinical application of PSP in breast cancer patients.

Allyl isothiocyanate inhibits invasion and angiogenesis in breast cancer via EGFR-mediated JAK-1/STAT-3 signaling pathway

Angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis are the main events of cancer cells. JAK-1/STAT-3 is a key intracellular signaling transduction pathway, which controls the growth, differentiation, apoptosis, invasion, and angiogenesis of various cancer cells. The present study explored the impact of allyl isothiocyanate (AITC) on the JAK-1/STAT-3 pathway in DMBA-induced rat mammary tumorigenesis. The mammary tumor was initiated through a single dose of 25 mg DMBA/rat by a subcutaneous injection administered near the mammary gland. We observed decreased body weight and increased the total number of tumors, tumor incidence, tumor volume, well-developed tumor, and histopathological abnormalities in DMBA-induced rats that were modulated after being treated with AITC. Staining of mammary tissues showed a high accumulation of collagen in DMBA-induced rats and it was normalized by the AITC treatment. Moreover, DMBA-induced mammary tissues showed up-regulated expressions of EGFR, pJAK-1, pSTAT-3, nuclear fraction of STAT-3, VEGF, VEGFR2, HIF-1α, MMP-2, and MMP-9 and the down-regulated expressions of cytosolic fraction of STAT-3 and TIMP-2. Oral administration of AITC on DMBA-induced rats inhibits angiogenesis and invasion by modifying these angiogenic and invasive markers. The finding of the present study was further confirmed by molecular docking analysis that shows a strong binding interaction between AITC with STAT-3 and cocrystal structure of STAT-3 glide energy of -18.123 and -72.246 (kcal/mole), respectively. Overall, the results suggested that AITC inhibits activation of the JAK-1/STAT-3 pathway, which subsequently prevents angiogenesis and invasion. It was recommended that AITC might develop a beneficial effect against breast cancer.

Asiatic Acid Inhibits Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cell Viability and Migration via Suppressing STAT3 and Claudin-1

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a prevalent cancer in Southeast Asia, but effective treatment options remain limited, and chemotherapy has a high resistance rate. Asiatic acid (AA), a triterpenoid found in Centella asiatica, has shown anticancer activity in various cancers. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the anticancer effects and mechanisms of AA in NPC cell lines. The effects of AA on NPC cytotoxicity, apoptosis, and migration were determined in TW-01 and SUNE5-8F NPC cell lines. Western blot analysis was performed to evaluate the protein expression levels affected by AA. The role of AA in proliferation and migration was investigated in STAT3 and claudin-1 knockdown cells. AA inhibited NPC cell viability and migration and induced cell death by increasing cleaved caspase-3 expression. Moreover, AA inhibited STAT3 phosphorylation and reduced claudin-1 expression in NPC cells. Although knockdown of STAT3 or claudin-1 slightly reduced cell viability, it did not enhance the anti-proliferative effect of AA. However, knockdown of STAT3 or claudin-1 increased the anti-migratory effect of AA in NPC cells. These results suggest that AA can be a promising candidate for drug development against NPC.

Anti-Cancer Effects of Asiatic Acid, a Triterpene from Centilla asiatica L: A Review

BACKGROUND

Centilla asiatica L is a medicinal herb that has been widely used in folk medicine to treat various diseases. Asiatic Acid (AA), a triterpene and a known component of this herb, has been shown to display important biological activities, including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antidiabetic and antihyperlipidemic, neuroprotective, anxiolytic and antidepressant, hepatoprotective, pancreas protective, and cardio- protective.

OBJECTIVE

This review focuses on AA's anti-cancer effects on the basis of published literature found in a number of databases such as PubMed and Science Direct. Emphasis has been given to the mechanisms of action of its anti-cancer effect.

METHODS

A literature survey was conducted using known databases such as PubMed and Science Direct using the keywords 'Asiatic acid', pairing with 'cancer', 'tumor', 'anti-cancer effect', 'cytotoxic effect', 'anti-tumor activity', 'cell line', 'animal cancer', and 'human cancer'.

RESULTS

Findings suggest that AA exerts anti-cancer effects in several test systems through various pathways, including oxidative/antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, cytotoxicity, apoptotic cell death, necrosis, anti-angiogenesis, inhibition of proliferation and cell migration, and chemoprevention.

CONCLUSION

AA may be an effective plant-based cancer chemotherapeutic agent and a promising lead for the development of potent anticancer drugs.

Carbon Ion Therapy Inhibits Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Metastasis by Upregulating STAT3 Through the JAK2/STAT3 Signaling Pathway

Radiation therapy is an important component of the comprehensive treatment of esophageal cancer. However, conventional radiation resistance is one of the main reasons for treatment failure. The superiority of heavy ion radiation in physics and biology has been increasingly highlighted in radiation therapy research. The Janus Kinase 2/Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (JAK2/STAT3) pathway plays an important role in the occurrence, development and metastasis of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and is related to the development of resistance to ionizing radiation in ESCC. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between carbon ion inhibition of the proliferation and metastasis of esophageal carcinoma cells and the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway. The results demonstrated that carbon ion beams significantly reduced cell viability and stimulated apoptosis in human ESCC cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, carbon ion beams induced G2/M phase cell cycle arrest in ESCC cells and inhibited tumor metastasis in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, poorly differentiated KYSE150 cells were more sensitive to the same carbon ion beam dose than moderately differentiated ECA109 cells. Carbon ion beam exposure regulated the relative expression of metastasis-related molecules at the transcriptional and translational levels in ESCC cells. Carbon ion beams also regulated CDH1 and MMP2 downstream of the STAT3 pathway and inhibited ESCC cell metastasis, which activated the STAT3 signaling pathway. This study confirmed the inhibition of cell proliferation and the metastatic effect of carbon ion beam therapy in ESCC cells.

STAT3 Pathway in Gastric Cancer: Signaling, Therapeutic Targeting and Future Prospects

Molecular signaling pathways play a significant role in the regulation of biological mechanisms, and their abnormal expression can provide the conditions for cancer development. The signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) is a key member of the STAT proteins and its oncogene role in cancer has been shown. STAT3 is able to promote the proliferation and invasion of cancer cells and induces chemoresistance. Different downstream targets of STAT3 have been identified in cancer and it has also been shown that microRNA (miR), long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) and other molecular pathways are able to function as upstream mediators of STAT3 in cancer. In the present review, we focus on the role and regulation of STAT3 in gastric cancer (GC). miRs and lncRNAs are considered as potential upstream mediators of STAT3 and they are able to affect STAT3 expression in exerting their oncogene or onco-suppressor role in GC cells. Anti-tumor compounds suppress the STAT3 signaling pathway to restrict the proliferation and malignant behavior of GC cells. Other molecular pathways, such as sirtuin, stathmin and so on, can act as upstream mediators of STAT3 in GC. Notably, the components of the tumor microenvironment that are capable of targeting STAT3 in GC, such as fibroblasts and macrophages, are discussed in this review. Finally, we demonstrate that STAT3 can target oncogene factors to enhance the proliferation and metastasis of GC cells.

Asiatic Acid, Extracted from Centella asiatica and Induces Apoptosis Pathway through the Phosphorylation p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase in Cisplatin-Resistant Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cells

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an important issue in Asia because of its unique geographical and ethnic distribution. Cisplatin-based regimens are commonly the first-line used chemotherapy, but resistance and toxicities remain a problem. Therefore, the use of anticancer agents derived from natural products may be a solution. Asiatic acid (AA), extracted from Centella asiatica, was found to have anticancer activity in various cancers. The aim of this study is to examine the cytotoxic effect and mediated mechanism of AA in cisplatin-resistant NPC cells. The results shows that AA significantly reduce the cell viability of cisplatin-resistant NPC cell lines (cis NPC-039 and cis NPC-BM) in dose and time dependent manners caused by apoptosis through the both intrinsic and extrinsic apoptotic pathways, including altered mitochondrial membrane potential, activated death receptors, increased Bax expression, and upregulated caspase 3, 8, and 9. The Western blot analysis of AA-treated cell lines reveals that the phosphorylation of MAPK pathway proteins is involved. Further, the results of adding inhibitors of these proteins indicates that the phosphorylation of p38 are the key mediators in AA-induced apoptosis in cisplatin-resistant human NPC cells. This is the first study to demonstrate the AA-induced apoptotic pathway through the phosphorylation p38 in human cisplatin-resistant nasopharyngeal carcinoma. AA is expected to be another therapeutic option for cisplatin-resistant NPC because of the promising anti-cancer effect and fewer toxic properties.

VGLL4 interacts with STAT3 to function as a tumor suppressor in triple-negative breast cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive malignancy with a poor prognosis, and there are no effective molecular-targeted drugs for TNBC patients in clinical practice. The JAK-STAT pathway is implicated in tumorigenesis and the progression of various cancers. In this study, the results demonstrated that VGLL4 is expressed at low levels in both TNBC specimens and cell lines and that VGLL4 expression is negatively correlated with Ki67 expression and tumor size in TNBC patients. VGLL4 knockdown can promote the growth of TNBC cells, while VGLL4 overexpression significantly suppresses the growth of TNBC cells in vitro. More importantly, VGLL4 significantly inhibits tumor progression in a nude mouse model. In addition, VGLL4 is a direct target of miR-454, and the upregulation of miR-454 decreases VGLL4 expression and promotes the cell growth of TNBC cells. Furthermore, we also demonstrated that VGLL4 interacts with STAT3, the core component of the JAK-STAT pathway, leading to the inactivation of STAT3 and the inhibition of STAT3 downstream transcription. Collectively, these findings indicate that VGLL4 expression is negatively associated with poor prognosis in TNBC patients. High expression of miR-454 may be one of the causes of the downregulation of VGLL4 in TNBC, and VGLL4 acts as a tumor suppressor in TNBC by interacting with STAT3 and subsequently suppresses the STAT3 signaling axis, providing potential biomarkers and therapeutic approaches for this fatal disease.

Targeting the regulation or activity of a tumor suppressor protein that is deactivated in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) holds promise for the treatment of this highly aggressive form of cancer. Lin Fang and colleagues at Tongji University in Shanghai, China, showed that low levels of the protein vestigial-like family member 4 (VGLL4) promoted TNBC cell proliferation and migration, whereas overexpression of VGLL4 prevented the growth of these cells in mice. VGLL4 acts as a tumor suppressor by interfering with a signaling pathway that drives tumor growth. Furthermore, they found that VGLL4 expression is regulated by a small RNA molecule that is highly expressed in TNBC patients with poor prospects of survival. These findings provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying TNBC and highlight potential strategies for the development of targeted therapies.

SPARC promotes the proliferation and metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma by PI3K/AKT/PDGFB/PDGFRβ axis

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a highly lethal cancer in the world, and the prognosis of OSCC is poor with a 60% 5-year survival rate in recent decades. Here, we introduced a novel secretory and acid glycoprotein with cysteine rich (secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine, SPARC), which is correlated with the worst pattern of invasion (WPOI) and prognosis of OSCC. SPARC expression levels were measured in OSCC tissues and normal tissues using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry. The influence of SPARC on cell proliferation was examined by cell counting kit-8, colony formation, and Edu tests. Then, the effect of SPARC on the metastasis of OSCC cells was detected by wound healing and transwell migration assays. Next, the biologic characteristics of SPARC shared by STRING were analyzed. Furthermore, the underlying mechanisms were confirmed by western blot analysis. SPARC revealed higher expression in OSCC tissues than nontumor tissues. Higher SPARC expression was correlated with poorer tumor differentiation, poorer WPOI pattern, and significantly and shorter overall survival. Knockdown SPARC significantly restrained OSCC cell growth, migration, and invasion. In addition, bioinformatics analysis found SPARC had a coexpression network with the platelet-derived growth factor-B (PDGFB) and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways with minimal false discovery rate. Furthermore, SPARC promotes OSCC cells metastasis by regulating the expressions of PDGFB, PDGFRβ, p-PDGFRβ , and the PI3K/AKT pathway. Higher SPARC expression was positively correlated with poor WPOI and differentiation in OSCC. SPARC activates the PI3K/AKT/PDGFB/PDGFRβ axis to promote proliferation and metastasis by OSCC cell lines. Therefore, SPARC may be a potential therapeutic target for patients with OSCC.

Pharmacological Properties, Molecular Mechanisms, and Pharmaceutical Development of Asiatic Acid: A Pentacyclic Triterpenoid of Therapeutic Promise

Asiatic acid (AA) is a naturally occurring aglycone of ursane type pentacyclic triterpenoids. It is abundantly present in many edible and medicinal plants including Centella asiatica that is a reputed herb in many traditional medicine formulations for wound healing and neuropsychiatric diseases. AA possesses numerous pharmacological activities such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory and regulates apoptosis that attributes its therapeutic effects in numerous diseases. AA showed potent antihypertensive, nootropic, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, antimicrobial, and antitumor activities in preclinical studies. In various in vitro and in vivo studies, AA found to affect many enzymes, receptors, growth factors, transcription factors, apoptotic proteins, and cell signaling cascades. This review aims to represent the available reports on therapeutic potential and the underlying pharmacological and molecular mechanisms of AA. The review also also discusses the challenges and prospects on the pharmaceutical development of AA such as pharmacokinetics, physicochemical properties, analysis and structural modifications, and drug delivery. AA showed favorable pharmacokinetics and found bioavailable following oral or interaperitoneal administration. The studies demonstrate the polypharmacological properties, therapeutic potential and molecular mechanisms of AA in numerous diseases. Taken together the evidences from available studies, AA appears one of the important multitargeted polypharmacological agents of natural origin for further pharmaceutical development and clinical application. Provided the favorable pharmacokinetics, safety, and efficacy, AA can be a promising agent or adjuvant along with currently used modern medicines with a pharmacological basis of its use in therapeutics.

Compound K Induces Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Apoptosis in Human Liver Cancer Cells by Regulating STAT3

The ginsenoside compound K (20-O-β-d-glucopyranosyl-20(S)-protopanaxadiol; CK) is an intestinal bacterial metabolite of ginseng protopanaxadiol saponin that has been reported to induce apoptosis in many cancer cells; however, the precise mechanisms of its activity in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells remain unclear. Herein, we demonstrated that CK inhibited the growth and colony formation of HepG2 and SMMC-7721 cells, phenotypes that were mediated by inducing apoptosis. Meanwhile, CK showed lower toxicity in normal hepatoma cells. After treating HepG2 and SMMC-7721 cells with CK, p-STAT3 levels decreased, the three branches of the unfolded protein response were activated, and levels of endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)-related proteins were increased. We also revealed that CK decreased the DNA-binding capacity of STAT3. Moreover, silencing STAT3 with CRISPR/Cas9 technology enhanced CK-induced ERS and apoptosis. Finally, we showed that CK inhibited the growth of liver cancer xenografts with little toxicity. Mice bearing human HCC xenografts that were treated with CK showed increased GRP78 expression and decreased p-STAT3 levels. Taken together, these data showed that CK induced ERS and apoptosis by inhibiting p-STAT3 in human liver cancer cells; thus, CK might be a potential therapeutic candidate for human HCC.