Radix Tetrastigma hemsleyani flavone exhibits antitumor activity in colorectal cancer via Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

Radix Tetrastigma Hemsleyani Flavone represses cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma via Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 pathway inactivation

Cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) is the second most common malignant skin tumor and significantly affects patients' quality of life and health. The Janus kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (JAK/STAT3) pathway activation is involved in CSCC development. Radix Tetrastigma hemsleyani flavone (RTHF) is an active Radix Tetrastigma extract (RTE), which was recently reported to have promising inhibitory effects on CSCC. However, the underlying functional mechanisms of this inhibition remain unknown. In the present study, A431 cells or SCL-1 cells were incubated with 1, 5, and 10 mg/mL RTHF for 48 h, respectively. A significantly increased wound closure rate, decreased number of migrated and invaded cells, decreased colony number, and elevated apoptotic rate were observed after treatment with 1, 5, and 10 mg/mL RTHF. Furthermore, after incubation with RTHF, p-JAK1/JAK1, p-JAK2/JAK2, and p-STAT3/STAT3 levels were drastically reduced. An A431 xenograft model was constructed, followed by oral administration of 15, 30, or 60 mg/kg RTHF for 21 consecutive days. A significantly lower increase in tumor volume and reduced tumor weight were observed in all RTHF-treated groups. In addition, JAK/STAT3 signaling was drastically repressed in tumor tissues. Collectively, RTHF inhibited CSCC progression, which may be associated with JAK/STAT3 pathway inactivation.

Insights into Metabolic Engineering of Bioactive Molecules in Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels & Gilg: A Traditional Medicinal Herb

Plants are a vital source of bioactive molecules for various drug development processes. Tetrastigma hemsleyanum is one of the endangered medicinal plant species well known to the world due to its wide range of therapeutic effects. Many bioactive molecules have been identified from this plant, including many classes of secondary metabolites such as flavonoids, phenols, terpenoids, steroids, alkaloids, etc. Due to its slow growth, it usually takes 3-5 years to meet commercial medicinal materials for this plant. Also, T. hemsleyanum contains low amounts of specific bioactive compounds, which are challenging to isolate easily. Currently, scientists are attempting to increase bioactive molecules' production from medicinal plants in different ways or to synthesize them chemically. The genomic tools helped to understand medicinal plants' genome organization and led to manipulating genes responsible for various biosynthesis pathways. Metabolic engineering has made it possible to enhance the production of secondary metabolites by introducing manipulated biosynthetic pathways to attain high levels of desirable bioactive molecules. Metabolic engineering is a promising approach for improving the production of secondary metabolites over a short time period. In this review, we have highlighted the scope of various biotechnological approaches for metabolic engineering to enhance the production of secondary metabolites for pharmaceutical applications in T. hemsleyanum. Also, we summarized the progress made in metabolic engineering for bioactive molecule enhancement in T. hemsleyanum. It may lead to reducing the destruction of the natural habitat of T. hemsleyanum and conserving them through the cost-effective production of bioactive molecules in the future.

Total flavonoids of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg inhibits colorectal tumor growth by modulating gut microbiota and metabolites

Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg is a dietary supplement in southern China. The total flavonoids of T. hemsleyanum (THTF) can be used for gastrointestinal disease treatment. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is associated with gut microbiota dysbiosis. This study was designed to investigate the effect of THTF on CRC from gut microbiota and fecal metabolomics. THTF (120 mg/kg) oral gavage reduced tumor growth and protected intestinal function (p-p65/p65, ZO-1) in HCT116 xenografts. THTF increased probiotics Bifidobacteriales, Bifidobacteriaceae, Bifidobacterium, Bifidobacterium pseudolongum, and decreased "harmful" bacteria Bacteroidota, Firmicutes, Bacteroidia, Rikenellaceae, Odoribacter, Alistipes richness. Furthermore, THTF restored abnormal fecal metabolite levels. It showed a strong correlation among gut microbiota, metabolites, and tumor weight. Finally, THTF promoted Bifidobacterium pseudolongum growth in vitro, whose cell-free supernatant further inhibited HCT116 cell proliferation and clonogenicity. Together, THTF delays CRC tumor growth by maintaining microbiota homeostasis, restoring fecal metabolites, and protecting intestinal function.

Gut microbiota and transcriptome profiling revealed the protective effect of aqueous extract of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum leaves on ulcerative colitis in mice

Tetrastigma hemsleyanum, a traditional Chinese medicinal plant, possesses various biological activities, including anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory functions. The purpose of this study was to determine the alleviating effect of the water extract of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum leaves (THLW) on ulcerative colitis (UC) and its relationship with gut microbiota. The administration of THLW significantly decreased the severity of dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced intestinal damage, as demonstrated by the stabilization of body weight and colon length, and decreased disease activity index (DAI) and histological scores. THLW also decreased NF-κB protein expression in colon tissues and reduced the serum levels of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α. Further co-housing experiment confirmed that the anti-UC effect of THLW was possibly by regulating the structure and composition of gut microbiota, including increasing the abundance of Oscillospiraceae, Prevotellaceae and Corynebacterium. Additionally, the expression of genes related to inflammation and immunity was also regulated by THLW treatment as evidenced by transcriptome analysis. These results suggested that the protective effect of THLW on DSS-induced colitis was mediated by alleviating inflammation and modulating the microbiota composition. This work proved the potent protective effects of THLW treatment on colitis and may have potential for UC relief.

Blocking the Wnt/β‑catenin signaling pathway to treat colorectal cancer: Strategies to improve current therapies (Review)

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignant tumor types occurring in the digestive system. The incidence of CRC has exhibits yearly increases and the mortality rate among patients with CRC is high. The Wnt/β‑catenin signaling pathway, which is associated with carcinogenesis, is abnormally activated in CRC. Most patients with CRC have adenomatous polyposis coli mutations, while half of the remaining patients have β‑catenin gene mutations. Therefore, targeting the Wnt/β‑catenin signaling pathway for the treatment of CRC is of clinical value. In recent years, with in‑depth research on the Wnt/β‑catenin signaling pathway, inhibitors have been developed that are able to suppress or hinder the development and progression of CRC. In the present review, the role of the Wnt/β‑catenin signaling pathway in CRC is summarized, the research status on Wnt/β‑catenin pathway inhibitors is outlined and potential targets for inhibition of this pathway are presented.

Total flavonoids from the dried root of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg inhibit colorectal cancer growth through PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway

The dried root of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels et Gilg is used as a traditional Chinese medicine in southern China, as a folk remedy for carcinomas and gastrointestinal diseases. The total flavonoids of T. hemsleyanum (THTF) provide its main bioactive constituents. However, the mechanisms underlying its potential activity on colorectal cancer are still unknown. Here, we investigated the antitumor effect of THTF on colorectal cancer in vitro and in vivo. It was found that THTF inhibited HCT-116 and HT-29 cell growth, with an IC₅₀ of 105.60 and 140.80 μg/mL, respectively. THTF suppressed clonogenicity and promoted apoptosis in HCT-116. In vivo, THTF (120 mg/kg) delayed tumor growth in HCT-116 xenografts without influencing on body weight, organ pathology and indexes, and blood routine level. Mechanistically, THTF inhibited the expression of PI3K, AKT, and mTOR at the protein level and transcriptional levels. Molecular docking indicated eight compounds in THTF (kaempferol 3-rutinoside, rutinum, isoquercitrin, L-epicatechin, quercetin, astragalin, kaempferol 3-sambubioside, and catechin) strongly bound with amino acid sites of PI3K and mTOR proteins, indicating a high affinity. The results suggest that THTF delayed colorectal tumor growth by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway and might be a potential candidate for colorectal cancer prevention.

Traditional Chinese medicine formula T33 inhibits the proliferation of human colorectal cancer cells by inducing autophagy

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related death globally. Although surgery is still the major method for CRC therapy, the adoption of alternative treatments, such as traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), for CRC treatment is increasing. Our previous study has indicated the anti-breast cancer activity of T33 (a TCM formula). Interestingly, a major ingredient in T33, Baishao (Paeoniae Radix Alba), was reported to have antiproliferative effects on CRC cells. Therefore, this study further validated the influences of T33 on HT-29 and Caco2 cells both in vitro and in vivo. Viability and migration assays were performed to analyze the influences of T33 on proliferation and migratory activity of HT-29 and Caco2 cells. Immunofluorescence (IF) staining and immunoblotting were performed to confirm T33-induced autophagy in HT-29 and Caco2 cells. Xenograft HT-29 tumors were generated to test the effects of T33 in vivo. Significantly reduced survival and migratory activity were observed in both HT-29 and Caco2 cells treated with T33 along with apparently increased LC3-II protein. Significantly decreased p62/SQSTM1 protein, increased LC3-II/LC3-I ratio, and elevated amounts of Atg7, Atg5, and Beclin-1 proteins were detected in both HT-29 and Caco2 cells treated with T33. Moreover, the volume of xenograft HT-29 tumors was significantly lower in mice receiving 200 or 600 mg/kg T33 than in control-treated mice. These findings indicate that T33 exerts anti-CRC activity by inducing autophagy and suggest the potential of T33 for CRC treatment.

Radix Tetrastigma Extracts Enhance the Chemosensitivity in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Via Inhibiting PI3K/Akt/mTOR-Mediated Autophagy

OBJECTIVE

Drug resistance in tumors is one of the major factors that leads to chemotherapy failure. This study aims to investigate the effect of Radix Tetrastigma extracts (RTEs) on Taxol-induced autophagy and the chemosensitivity against drug resistance in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).

METHODS

Taxol-resistant MDA-MB-468 (MDA-MB-468/Taxol) cells were induced and treated with RTEs and/or Taxol. Mice were subcutaneously inoculated with MDA-MB- 468/Taxol cells to establish xenograft models. The associated protein levels were measured by western blotting. Flow cytometry, CCK-8 and EdU assay were performed to detect cell apoptosis, viability, and proliferation, respectively.

RESULTS

In MDA-MB-468/Taxol cells, RTEs & Taxol treatment increased cell apoptosis, reduced cell viability and proliferation, up-regulated anti-autophagy marker LC3I/LC3II ratio, and enhanced mTOR level. With RTEs & Taxol treatment, mTOR silencing downregulated LC3I/LC3II ratio, increased cell viability and proliferation, and reduced cell apoptosis, while mTOR overexpression showed the opposite results. PI3K inhibitor reduced AKT and mTOR levels, and the effects on cell activities were similar to the results of mTOR silencing. After RTEs & Taxol injection, xenograft tumor was smaller, and AKT, mTOR, LC3I/LC3II ratio and apoptotic marker cleaved caspase-3 were increased.

CONCLUSION

RTEs enhanced the chemosensitivity of resistant TNBC cells to Taxol through inhibiting PI3K/Akt/mTOR-mediated autophagy.

MICRO

RTEs exerted anti-tumor effects in various cancers, and this study determined its role in TNBC. Taxol-resistant MDA-MB-468 cells were induced and xenograft models were established. We found that RTEs inhibited autophagy of MDA-MB-468/Taxol cells and reduced tumor growth. Inhibition of PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway promoted autophagy of MDA-MB-468/Taxol cells. We may provide a new potential strategy for TNBC treatment.

Potential Role of Traditional Chinese Medicines by Wnt/β-Catenin Pathway Compared With Targeted Small Molecules in Colorectal Cancer Therapy

Colorectal cancer (CRC) has become a global public health problem because of its high incidence and mortality rate worldwide. The previous clinical treatment for CRC mainly involves conventional surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy. With the development of tumor molecular targeted therapy, small molecule inhibitors present a great advantage in improving the survival of patients with advanced CRC. However, various side effects and drug resistance induced by chemotherapy are still the major obstacles to improve the clinical benefit. Thus, it is crucial to find new and alternative drugs for CRC treatment. Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) have been proved to have low toxicity and multi-target characteristics. In the last few decades, an increasing number of studies have demonstrated that TCMs exhibit strong anticancer effects in both experimental and clinical models and may serve as alternative chemotherapy agents for CRC treatment. Notably, Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway plays a vital role in the initiation and progression of CRC by modulating the stability of β-catenin in the cytoplasm. Targeting Wnt/β-catenin pathway is a novel direction for developing therapies for CRC. In this review, we outlined the anti-tumor effects of small molecular inhibitors on CRC through Wnt/β-catenin pathway. More importantly, we focused on the potential role of TCMs against tumors by targeting Wnt/β-catenin signaling at different stages of CRC, including precancerous lesions, early stage of CRC and advanced CRC. Furthermore, we also discussed perspectives to develop potential new drugs from TCMs via Wnt/β-catenin pathway for the treatment of CRC.

Radix Tetrastigma Inhibits the Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer via Bax/Bcl-2/Caspase-9/Caspase-3 Pathway

Lung cancer with high mortality is regarded as a challenging global problem with unsatisfied curative effects. Clinically, the chemotherapy drugs are often faced with side-effects and tumor resistance. Radix Tetrastigma (RT) is a traditional Chinese herb and now regarded as a kind of functional food. In this study, A549-bearing nude mice control was adopted to evaluate the anti-tumor capacity of RT. Results demonstrated that RT showed excellent anti-tumor ability with no side-effect on mice compared to chemotherapy drug (5-Fu).Further studies proved that RT down-regulated the proliferation-related proteins (PCNA, Ki67) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Additionally, RT up-regulated the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2, which caused the over-expression of Caspase-9, leading to the activation of downstream protein caspase-3, eventually resulting in apoptosis of A549 in solid tumor. These results together suggest that RT inhibits the non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) via Bax/Bcl2/Caspase-9/Caspase-3 pathway. Furthermore, the anti-A549 abilities of the main flavonoid components from RT were compared, and kaempferol-3-O-rutinoside would play a role in RT's outstanding anti-NSCLC ability.

Advancements of compounds targeting Wnt and Notch signalling pathways in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease and colon cancer

The Wnt and Notch signalling pathways are important for maintenance of intestinal epithelial barrier integrity by intestinal stem cells (ISCs). Dysfunction of these pathways is implicated in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colon cancer. The objective of this review is to summarise advancements of drugs that regulate Wnt and Notch in the treatment of IBD and colon cancer. The compositions and biological effects of Wnt and Notch modulators in both ISCs and non-ISCs are discussed. The drugs, including phytochemicals, plant extracts, probiotics and synthetic compounds, have been found to regulate Wnt and Notch signalling pathways by targeting regulatory factors (including secreted frizzled-related proteins or pathway proteins such as β-catenin and γ-secretase) to alleviate IBD and colon cancer. This review highlights the potential for targeting Wnt and Notch pathways to treat IBD and colon cancer.

Anticancer activities of TCM and their active components against tumor metastasis

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has the characteristics of multiple targets, slight side effects and good therapeutic effects. Good anti-tumor effects are shown by Traditional Chinese Medicine prescription, Chinese patent medicine, single Traditional Chinese Medicine and Traditional Chinese medicine monomer compound. Clinically, TCM prolonged the survival time of patients and improved the life quality of patients, due to less side effects. Cancer metastasis is a complex process involving numerous steps, multiple genes and their products. During the process of tumor metastasis, firstly, cancer cell increases its proliferative capacity by reducing autophagy and apoptosis, and then the cancer cell capacity is stimulated by increasing the ability of tumors to absorb nutrients from the outside through angiogenesis. Both of the two steps can increase tumor migration and invasion. Finally, the purpose of tumor metastasis is achieved. By inhibiting autophagy and apoptosis of tumor cells, angiogenesis and EMT outside the tumor can inhibit the invasion and migration of cancer, and consequently achieve the purpose of inhibiting tumor metastasis. This review explores the research achievements of Traditional Chinese Medicine on breast cancer, lung cancer, hepatic carcinoma, colorectal cancer, gastric cancer and other cancer metastasis in the past five years, summarizes the development direction of TCM on cancer metastasis research in the past five years and makes a prospect for the future.

Angiogenesis-Related Functions of Wnt Signaling in Colorectal Carcinogenesis

Simple Summary

Angiogenesis belongs to the most clinical characteristics of colorectal cancer (CRC) and is strongly linked to the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. The most prominent factors stimulating constitutive activation of this pathway, and in consequence angiogenesis, are genetic alterations (mainly mutations) concerning APC and the β-catenin encoding gene (CTNNB1), detected in a large majority of CRC patients. Wnt/β-catenin signaling is involved in the basic types of vascularization (sprouting and nonsprouting angiogenesis), vasculogenic mimicry as well as the formation of mosaic vessels. The number of known Wnt/β-catenin signaling components and other pathways interacting with Wnt signaling, regulating angiogenesis, and enabling CRC progression continuously increases. This review summarizes the current knowledge about the role of the Wnt/Fzd/β-catenin signaling pathway in the process of CRC angiogenesis, aiming to improve the understanding of the mechanisms of metastasis as well as improvements in the management of this cancer.

Abstract

Aberrant activation of the Wnt/Fzd/β-catenin signaling pathway is one of the major molecular mechanisms of colorectal cancer (CRC) development and progression. On the other hand, one of the most common clinical CRC characteristics include high levels of angiogenesis, which is a key event in cancer cell dissemination and distant metastasis. The canonical Wnt/β-catenin downstream signaling regulates the most important pro-angiogenic molecules including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family members, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and chemokines. Furthermore, mutations of the β-catenin gene associated with nuclear localization of the protein have been mainly detected in microsatellite unstable CRC. Elevated nuclear β-catenin increases the expression of many genes involved in tumor angiogenesis. Factors regulating angiogenesis with the participation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling include different groups of biologically active molecules including Wnt pathway components (e.g., Wnt2, DKK, BCL9 proteins), and non-Wnt pathway factors (e.g., chemoattractant cytokines, enzymatic proteins, and bioactive compounds of plants). Several lines of evidence argue for the use of angiogenesis inhibition in the treatment of CRC. In the context of this paper, components of the Wnt pathway are among the most promising targets for CRC therapy. This review summarizes the current knowledge about the role of the Wnt/Fzd/β-catenin signaling pathway in the process of CRC angiogenesis, aiming to improve the understanding of the mechanisms of metastasis as well as improvements in the management of this cancer.

The Phytochemistry, Pharmacology, and Quality Control of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels & Gilg in China: A Review

Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels & Gilg (TDG), the family member of Vitaceae, is a traditional herbal medicine in China. The root of TDG can be immediately used after cleaning the muddy soil, and can be dehydrated for dry use. TDG is able to be collected all year round, which is commonly used in the treatment of hepatitis, infantile high fever, snake bite, etc. Based on phytochemistry, the chemical components of TDG are divided into flavonoids, phenolic acids, terpenes, steroids, polysaccharide, and other compounds, showing many pharmacological effects which include anti-tumor, anti-oxidation, anti-inflammatory, antipyretic, analgesic, and immunomodulatory activity, as well as other activities. Currently, TDG involves some problems of the reduction of wild resources, the backward processing methods, and storage difficulties as well as the imperfection of detection methods. Therefore, this review summarizes the literature of the past 20 years, and the purpose of this review is to summarize the recent researches on the phytochemistry, pharmacology, quality control, and clinical application of TDG. The above discussions provide new insights for the future research on TDG.

Tetrastigma hemsleyanum leaves extract against acrylamide-induced toxicity in HepG2 cells and Caenorhabditis elegans

Acrylamide (ACR), as a raw material of polyacrylamide that used in water purification, was verified to possess various toxicity. Tetrastigma hemsleyanum (TH) is a medicinal plant widely used to anti-inflammation and anti-tumor in Chinese folks. However, more researches focused on the biological activities in tubers and the leaves were ignored. Thus, the protective effect of Tetrastigma hemsleyanum leaves extract (THLE) against ACR-induced toxicity in HepG2 cells and Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) was explored in this study. In vitro, we observed that THLE attenuated ACR-induced toxicity in HepG2 cell via regulating Akt/mTOR/FOXO1/MAPK signaling pathway. Further research proved that 5-caffeoylquinic acid (5-CA) plays a major role in THLE's amelioration effect of ACR toxicity. In vivo, it was found that THLE possesses the same protective effect in ACR-treated wild-type N2 C. elegans and daf-2 (-) (deficit in DAF-2) mutants. However, the anti-ACR toxicity effect of THLE in daf-16 (-) mutants (deficit in DAF-16 that homologous to FOXO family in human) was weakened. Our results indicated that THLE exhibited protective effects against ACR-induced toxicity both in HepG2 cells and C. elegans, while DAF-16/FOXO gene is involved in THLE' protective effect via regulating the expression levels of downstream antioxidant genes.

p53 dependent LGR5 inhibition and caspase 3 activation are critically involved in apoptotic effect of compound K and its combination therapy potential in HCT116 cells

Though ginsenoside metabolite compound K was known to have antitumor effect in several cancers, its underlying apoptotic mechanism still remains unclear so far. Thus, in the present study, the apoptotic mechanism of compound K was explored in colorectal cancer cells (CRCs) in association with leucine rich repeat containing G protein-coupled receptor 5 (LGR5) that was overexpressed in colorectal cancers with poor survival rate. Here compound K significantly reduced viability of HCT116^p53+/+ cells better than that of HCT116^p53-/- cells. Consistently, compound K increased sub G1 population and attenuated the expression of LGR5, c-Myc, procaspase3, Pin1 in HCT116^p53+/+ cells more than in HCT116^p53-/- cells. Conversely, caspase 3 inhibitor Z-DEVD-FMK reversed inhibitory effect of compound K on LGR5, c-Myc and procaspase3 in HCT116 cells. Consistently, inhibition of LGR5 using transfection method enhanced suppression of pro-PARP, Bcl-x_L c-Myc, Snail and Pin1 in compound K treated HCT116^p53+/+ cells. Furthermore, compound K synergistically potentiated antitumor effect of 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) or Doxorubicin to reduce the survival genes and cytotoxicity in HCT116^p53+/+ cells. Overall, our findings provide scientific insight that compound K induces apoptosis in colon cancer cells via caspase and p53 dependent LGR5 inhibition with combination therapy potential with 5-FU or doxorubicin.