Lycorine Displays Potent Antitumor Efficacy in Colon Carcinoma by Targeting STAT3

Lycorine hydrochloride Suppresses the Proliferation and Invasion of Esophageal Cancer by Targeting TRIM22 and Inhibiting the JAK2/STAT3 and Erk Pathways

BACKGROUND

Tumor metastasis and poor drug efficacy are two of the most common causes of therapeutic failure in cancer patients. The underlying molecular mechanism requires further exploration, and novel effective curative strategies are urgently needed. Nature is a rich source of novel drugs, and Lycorine hydrochloride (Lyc.HCL) is a natural alkaloid with tremendous therapeutic potential. However, the molecular mechanisms of its antitumor activity are still unknown. In the current study, we investigated the effects and mechanisms of Lyc.HCL against esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCCs), which pose serious threats to human life.

METHODS

An MTS assay and a clone formation assay were used to assess the viability of ESCC cell lines after Lyc.HCL treatment in vitro. Apoptosis and cell cycle regulation were analyzed using flow cytometry. Wound healing and Transwell assays were used to analyze cell migration, while invasion was analyzed using the Matrigel Transwell assay. We detected the expression of tripartite motif-containing 22 (TRIM22) through immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. A docking experiment was performed to explore the targets of Lyc.HCL. The expression levels of Janus kinase 2 (JAK2)/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk) pathway components were detected through Western blotting. A rescue experiment was performed to determine the potential role of TRIM22. In addition, we explored the in vivo anti-ESCC effects and mechanism of Lyc.HCL by using it to treat tumor-bearing mice.

RESULTS

The Lyc.HCL treatment was found to inhibit esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell proliferation both in vitro and in vivo by blocking the cell cycle at the G2 phase, inhibiting cell migration and invasion. We found that the TRIM22 protein was highly expressed in ESCCs but not in normal esophageal tissue. Lyc.HCL directly targeted TRIM22, decreasing the expression of TRIM22 and the JAK2/STAT3 and Erk signaling pathways, both in vitro and in vivo. Using animal experiments, we observed that the depletion of TRIM22 delayed tumor growth, but this effect was significantly reversed upon TRIM22 overexpression.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, these findings demonstrate that Lyc.HCL can effectively suppress ESCC both in vitro and in vivo by targeting TRIM22 and regulating the JAK2/STAT3 and Erk pathways. These results suggest that Lyc.HCL may serve as a potential novel therapeutic for ESCC, with TRIM22 emerging as a promising target for treatment.

Autocrine and paracrine LIF signals to collaborate sorafenib-resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma and effects of Kanglaite Injection

BACKGROUND

Sorafenib (SFN) is the first-line medicine for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, Sorafenib resistance is a main challenge of therapeutic efficacy, and the mechanisms have not been fully clarified.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to investigate the therapeutic potential and mechanism of action of LIF in modulating the microenvironment of SFN resistance as well as Kanglaite Injection (KLTI) in ameliorating SFN resistance in HCC and to guide future research directions for drug combination for HCC.

METHODS

Established SFN-resistance HCC cell line was used to study the relationship between resistance and immunosuppression in HCC-tumor microenvironment (TME). In vivo macrophage and natural killer (NK) cells depletion were achieved by clodronate liposomes (CL) and anti-NK1.1. In vitro multiple cell co-culture systems were used to determine the effects of KLTI on SFN-resistant. Likewise, flow cytometry, qRT-PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry analysis were performed for further mechanistic investigation.

RESULTS

Tumor associated-macrophages (TAMs) and NK cells mediated SFN-resistance in murine HCC. In the case of SFN resistance, the paracrine-leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) by M2-like TAMs increased and potently suppressed NK cells proliferation and cytotoxicity, which finally inducing NK cells exhaustion and malignancy of HCC metastasis. Meanwhile, SFN resistance led to the increased autocrine-LIF of tumor cells, and further promoted the protective autophagy and activation of the acquired drug-resistant pathway PI3K/Akt/mTOR. KLTI could ameliorate the resistance of tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) and enhance the sensitivity of HCC to SFN by regulating LIF and macrophage-NK cell interaction.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings verify the therapeutic effects of targeting LIF in SFN-resistance, uncover the potential mechanism for the increased sensitivity to SFN and sought to elucidate how this intervention might contribute to overcoming SFN resistance. KLTI is a promising immunomodulatory drug by regulating LIF and macrophage-NK cell interaction, which could be a potential combination partner for HCC treatment.

Targeting CREB-binding protein (CBP) abrogates colorectal cancer stemness through epigenetic regulation of C-MYC

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common cancer worldwide with an increasing annual incidence. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play important roles in the occurrence, development, recurrence, and metastasis of CRC. The molecular mechanism regulating the development of colorectal CSCs remains unclear. The discovery of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) through somatic cell reprogramming has revolutionized the fields of stem cell biology and translational medicine. In the present study, we converted hiPSCs into cancer stem-like cells by culture with conditioned medium (CM) from CRC cells. These transformed cells, termed hiPSC-CSCs, displayed cancer stem-like properties, including a spheroid morphology and the expression of both pluripotency and CSC markers. HiPSC-CSCs showed tumorigenic and metastatic abilities in mouse models. The epithelial-mesenchymal transition phenotype was observed in hiPSC-CSCs, which promoted their migration and angiogenesis. Interestingly, upregulation of C-MYC was observed during the differentiation of hiPSC-CSCs. Mechanistically, CREB binding protein (CBP) bound to the C-MYC promoter, while histone deacetylase 1 and 3 (HDAC1/3) dissociated from the promoter, ultimately leading to an increase in histone acetylation and C-MYC transcriptional activation during the differentiation of hiPSC-CSCs. Pharmacological treatment with a CBP inhibitor or abrogation of CBP expression with a CRISPR/Cas9-based strategy reduced the stemness of hiPSC-CSCs. This study demonstrates for the first time that colorectal CSCs can be generated from hiPSCs. The upregulation of C-MYC via histone acetylation plays a crucial role during the conversion process. Inhibition of CBP is a potential strategy for attenuating the stemness of colorectal CSCs.

Uncover the anticancer potential of lycorine

BACKGROUND

Natural products have a long history in drug discovery. Lycorine is an alkaloid derived from Amaryllidaceae plants, demonstrating significant pharmacological potential. Lycorine and its hydrochloride salt, lycorine hydrochloride, have shown outstanding anticancer effects both in vitro and in vivo.

PURPOSE

This review aims to comprehensively summarize recent research advancements regarding the anticancer potential of lycorine and lycorine hydrochloride. It intends to elucidate current research limitations, optimization strategies, and future research directions to guide clinical translation.

METHODS

Various databases, e.g., Web of Science, PubMed, and Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, are systematically searched for relevant articles using keywords such as lycorine, cancer, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity. The retrieved literature is then categorized and summarized to provide an overview of the research advancements in the anticancer potential of lycorine and lycorine hydrochloride.

RESULTS

Lycorine and lycorine hydrochloride demonstrate significant anticancer activities against various types of cancer both in vitro and in vivo, employing diverse mechanisms such as inducing cell cycle arrest, triggering cellular senescence, regulating programmed cell death, inhibiting angiogenesis, suppressing metastasis, and modulating immune system. Furthermore, pharmacokinetic profiles and toxicity data are summarized. Additionally, this review discusses the druggability, limitations, optimization strategies, and target identification of lycorine, offering insights for future preclinical studies.

CONCLUSION

The anticancer effects and safety profile of lycorine and lycorine hydrochloride suggest promising potential for clinical applications. Further research on their in-depth mechanisms and optimization strategies targeting their limitations will enhance the understanding and druggability of lycorine and lycorine hydrochloride.

Lycorine relieves the CCl4-induced liver fibrosis mainly via the JAK2/STAT3 and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways

Liver fibrosis, a progressive process of fibrous scarring, results from the accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins (ECM). If left untreated, it often progresses to diseases such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Lycorine, a natural alkaloid derived from medicinal plants, has shown diverse bioactivities by targeting JAK2/STAT3 signaling, but its pharmacological effects and potential molecular mechanisms in liver fibrosis remains largely unexplored. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the pharmacological activity and molecular mechanism of lycorine in anti-hepatic fibrosis. Findings indicate that lycorine significantly inhibited hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) activation by reducing the expression of α-SMA and collagen-1. In vivo, lycorine treatment alleviated carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) -induced mice liver fibrosis, improving liver function, decreasing ECM deposition, and inhibiting fibrosis-related markers' expression. Mechanistically, it was found that lycorine exerts protective activity through the JAK2/STAT3 and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways, as evidenced by transcriptome sequencing technology and small molecule inhibitors. These results underscore lycorine's potential as a therapeutic drug for liver fibrosis.

Treatment of colorectal cancer by traditional Chinese medicine: prevention and treatment mechanisms

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a significant global health burden, with high morbidity and mortality rates. It is often diagnosed at middle to advanced stage, affecting approximately 35% of patients at the time of diagnosis. Currently, chemotherapy has been used to improve patient prognosis and increase overall survival. However, chemotherapy can also have cytotoxic effects and lead to adverse reactions, such as inhibiting bone marrow hematopoiesis, causing digestive dysfunction, hand-foot syndrome, and even life-threatening conditions. In response to these adverse effects, researchers have proposed using Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) as an option to treat cancer. TCM research focuses on prescriptions, herbs, and components, which form essential components of the current research in Chinese medicine. The study and implementation of TCM prescriptions and herbs demonstrate its distinctive holistic approach to therapy, characterized by applying multi-component and multi-target treatment. TMC components have advantages in developing new drugs as they consist of single ingredients, require smaller medication dosages, have a precise measure of pharmacodynamic effects, and have a clear mechanism of action compared to TCM prescriptions and herbs. However, further research is still needed to determine whether TMC components can fully substitute the therapeutic efficacy of TCM prescriptions. This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the research advancements made in TCM prescriptions, herbs, and components. The findings of this study can serve as a theoretical basis for researchers who are interested in exploring the potential of TCM for the treatment of colorectal cancer.

Transcriptomics and molecular docking reveal the potential mechanism of lycorine against pancreatic cancer

BACKGROUND

Pancreatic cancer is an extremely malignant digestive tumor, however, owing to its high drug resistance of pancreatic cancer, the search for more effective anti-pancreatic cancer drugs is urgently needed. Lycorine, an alkaloid of natural plant origin, exerts antitumor effects on a variety of tumors.

PURPOSE

This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effect of lycorine on pancreatic cancer and elucidate its potential molecular mechanism.

METHODS

Two pancreatic cancer cell lines, PANC-1 and BxPC-3, were used to investigate the therapeutic effects of lycorine on pancreatic cancer in vitro using the CCK8 assay, colony formation assay, 5-Ethynyl-2'- deoxyuridine (EdU) incorporation assay, flow cytometry, and western blotting. Transcriptome sequencing and gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) were used to analyze the differentially expressed genes and pathways after lycorine treatment. Molecular docking, quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), oil red O staining, small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection, and other experiments were performed to further validate the differentially expressed genes and pathways. In vivo experiments were conducted to investigate lycorine's inhibitory effects and toxicity on pancreatic cancer using a tumor-bearing mouse model.

RESULTS

Lycorine inhibited the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cells, caused G2/M phase cycle arrest and induced apoptosis. Transcriptome sequencing and GSEA showed that lycorine inhibition of pancreatic cancer was associated with fatty acid metabolism, and aldehyde dehydrogenase 3A1 (ALDH3A1) was a significantly enriched target in the fatty acid metabolism process. ALDH3A1 expression was significantly upregulated in pancreatic cancer and was closely associated with prognosis. Molecular docking showed that lycorine binds strongly to ALDH3A1. Further studies revealed that lycorine inhibited the fatty acid oxidation (FAO) process in pancreatic cancer cells and induced cell growth inhibition and apoptosis through ALDH3A1. Lycorine also showed significant suppressive effects in tumor-bearing mice. Importantly, it did not result in significant toxicity to liver and kidney of mice, demonstrating its therapeutic potential as a safe antitumor agent.

CONCLUSION

Lycorine inhibited pancreatic cancer cell proliferation, blocked the cell cycle, and induced apoptosis by targeting ALDH3A1. FAO inhibition was identified for the first time as a possible mechanism for the anticancer effects of lycorine. These findings enrich the theory of targeted therapy for pancreatic cancer, expand our understanding of the pharmacological targets of lycorine, and provide a reference for exploring its natural components.

Lycorine promotes IDH1 acetylation to induce mitochondrial dynamics imbalance in colorectal cancer cells

Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) 1 and 2, as essential enzymes in energy metabolism, contribute to the survival and drug resistance of a variety of solid tumors, especially for colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the underlying molecular mechanism still remains unclear. In this study, IDH1 was identified as a crucial cellular target of a natural-derived anti-CRC small molecule lycorine, using the unbiased thermal proteome profiling (TPP) strategy. We found that lycorine directly targeted a unique C-terminal domain of IDH1, and disrupted IDH1 interaction with deacetylase sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), thereby significantly promoting IDH1 acetylation modification. Then, lycorine noticeably triggered oxidative stress in CRC cells to cause mitochondrial membranes injury, and subsequently facilitated mitochondrial fission. Specific knockdown of IDH1 or SIRT1 markedly aggrieved lycorine-mediated oxidative stress and mitochondrial fragmentation in CRC cells. Furthermore, the combination of lycorine and sirtuins blocker nicotinamide (NAM) exhibited a synergic therapeutic effect in CRC cells. Collectively, our results reveal that IDH1 may serve as a promising therapeutic target for CRC via pharmacologically driving oxidative stress-dependent mitochondrial dynamics imbalance.

Induction of apoptosis in glioma cells by lycorine via reactive oxygen species generation and regulation of NF-κB pathways

Glioma is an extremely aggressive primary brain tumor, which is highly resistant to chemotherapy, presenting a therapeutic challenge. Here, we explored the anti-glioma effects and the underlying mechanism of lycorine, an isoquinoline alkaloid isolated from lycoris on glioma cells. We found that lycorine could dose dependently inhibit C6 glioma cell growth and induce cell apoptosis and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) values of lycorine on C6 glioma cells at 48 h was 2.85 μM. Meanwhile, lycorine treatment caused dysfunction of the NF-κB signal, as demonstrated by the up-regulation of NF-κB inhibitor protein IκB and the downregulation of the NF-κB phosphorylation protein p-p65. The addition of NF-κB inhibitor SC75741 further confirmed the importance of the NF-κB pathway in lycorine-induced cell-growth inhibition. Moreover, lycorine might act synergically with temozolomide (TMZ) to reduce drug resistance by blocking the NF-κB pathway. Our study suggested that lycorine exerts an anti-glioma effect by inducing ROS production and inhibiting NF-κB, which validated that lycorine may be a potential candidate for glioma treatment alone or in combination with TMZ.

Pseudolycorine chloride ameliorates Th17 cell-mediated central nervous system autoimmunity by restraining myeloid-derived suppressor cell expansion

CONTEXT

The alkaloids of Narcissus tazetta L. var. Chinensis Roem (Amaryllidaceae) have antitumor and antiviral activities. However, the immunopharmacological effects of one of its constituents, pseudolycorine chloride (PLY), have not been reported yet.

OBJECTIVE

We evaluated the effect of PLY on myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) expansion and differentiation into monocyte-like MDSCs (M-MDSCs) and examined whether PLY alleviates Th17 cell-mediated experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a murine model of multiple sclerosis (MS).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In vitro, MDSCs were treated with PLY (0.67, 2 and 6 μM) or solcitinib (10 μM, positive control) for 48 or 96 h, and their proliferation, expansion, and differentiation into M-MDSCs were examined by flow cytometry. Myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG_35-55) was used to induce EAE in female C57BL/6 mice, and the mice were treated with 40 mg/kg/d PLY or 1 mg/kg/d FK-506 (tacrolimus, positive control) for 21 days. Inflammatory infiltration, spinal cord demyelination, and MDSCs and Th17 cells infiltration into the spinal cord were examined using haematoxylin and eosin staining, Luxol fast blue staining, and immunofluorescence, respectively.

RESULTS

In vitro, PLY (IC50/24 h = 6.18 μM) significantly inhibited IL-6 and GM-CSF-induced MDSCs proliferation, expansion and differentiation into M-MDSCs at all concentrations used. However, these concentrations did not show cytotoxicity. In mice, PLY (40 mg/kg) treatment alleviated EAE and inhibited inflammatory infiltration, demyelination, and MDSCs and Th17 cells infiltration into the spinal cord.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

PLY may be an excellent candidate for the treatment of MS and other autoimmune diseases.

Gentiopicroside alleviates cardiac inflammation and fibrosis in T2DM rats through targeting Smad3 phosphorylation

BACKGROUND

Cardiac fibrosis is a major structural change observed in the heart of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), ultimately resulting in heart failure (HF). Suppression of inflammation is an effective therapeutic strategy for treating cardiac fibrosis and HF. Gentiopicroside (GPS), the primary component of Gentiana manshurica Kitagawa, possess potent anti-inflammatory activity. However, its cardioprotective role remains elusive.

PURPOSE

We explored the potential cardioprotective role of GPS in T2DM rats and its underlying mechanisms.

METHODS

T2DM rats built by high-fat diet and streptozotocin were orally administered 25, 50, or 100 mg/kg GPS, daily for 8 weeks. The positive control drug was Metformin (200 mg/kg/day). Primary cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) were induced by high glucose (30 mM) and subsequently treated with GPS (100 μM). Cardiac function and pathological changes were analyzed using echocardiography and histological staining. Potential targets of GPS were predicted using Molecular docking. Real-time PCR as well as western blotting were applied to verify the expression of objective genes.

RESULTS

All three doses reduced fasting blood glucose levels, but only 50 and 100 mg/kg GPS improved cardiac function and alleviated inflammation and fibrosis in T2DM rats. GPS (100 mg/kg) exhibited a better effect, similar to that of metformin. Mechanistically, binding between GPS and the MH2 domain of Smad3 blocked high glucose-induced Smad3 phosphorylation, thus attenuating inflammation, oxidative stress, and activation in CFs.

CONCLUSION

We, for the first time, demonstrated that GPS improved cardiac function in T2DM rats and elucidated the underlying mechanism through which GPS targeted Smad3 phosphorylation to suppress inflammation and activation in CFs, thereby revealing the potential application of GPS in HF therapy.

Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids Decrease the Proliferation, Invasion, and Secretion of Clinically Relevant Cytokines by Cultured Human Colon Cancer Cells

Alkaloids isolated from members of the Amaryllidaceae plant family are promising anticancer agents. The purpose of the current study was to determine if the isocarbostyrils narciclasine, pancratistatin, lycorane, lycorine, crinane, and haemanthamine inhibit phenomena related to cancer progression in vitro. To achieve this, we examined the proliferation, adhesion, and invasion of cultured human colon cancer cells via MTT assay and Matrigel-coated Boyden chambers. In addition, Luminex assays were used to quantify the secretion of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and cytokines associated with poor clinical outcomes. We found that all alkaloids decreased cell proliferation regardless of TP53 status, with narciclasine exhibiting the greatest potency. The effects on cell proliferation also appear to be specific to cancer cells. Narciclasine, lycorine, and haemanthamine decrease both adhesion and invasion but with various potencies depending on the cell line. In addition, narciclasine, lycorine, and haemanthamine decreased the secretion of MMP-1, -2, and -7, as well as the secretion of the cytokines pentraxin 3 and vascular endothelial growth factor. In conclusion, the present study shows that Amaryllidaceae alkaloids decrease phenomena and cytokines associated with colorectal cancer progression, supporting future investigations regarding their potential as multifaceted drug candidates.

Lycorine and organ protection: Review of its potential effects and molecular mechanisms

BACKGROUND

Multiorgan dysfunction, especially sepsis-related multiorgan damage, remains a major cause of high mortality in the late stages of infection and a great clinical challenge. In recent years, natural drugs have received widespread attention because of their low cost, wide sources, high efficacy, low toxicity, and limited side effects. Lycorine, a natural compound extracted from Amaryllidaceae, exhibits multiple pharmacological activities, including in the regulation of autophagy and the induction of cancer cell apoptosis, and has anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antiviral, antimalarial, and antitumor activities. However, studies on lycorine have mainly focused on its antitumor properties, and research on its use for organ protection, especially in sepsis-related organ injury, is relatively limited.

PURPOSE

To review and discuss the effects and mechanisms of lycorine in the treatment of multi-organ dysfunction, especially sepsis.

METHODS

Literature searches in electronic databases, such as Web of Science, Science Direct, PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus, were performed using 'Lycorine', 'Amaryllidaceae', 'Pharmacology', 'Pharmacokinetics', 'Anti-inflammation', 'Autophagy', 'Apoptosis', 'Anti-microbial and anti-parasitic', 'Antitumor', 'Organ protection', and 'Sepsis' as keywords, the correlated literature was extracted and conducted from the databases mentioned above.

RESULTS

By summarizing the progress made in existing research, we found that the general effects of lycorine involve the regulation of autophagy and the induction of cancer cell apoptosis, and anti-inflammatory, antifungal, antiviral, antimalarial, and antitumor effects; through these pathways, the compound can ameliorate organ damage. In addition, lycorine was found to have an important effect on organ damage in sepsis.

CONCLUSION

Lycorine is a promising natural organ protective agent. This review will provide a new theoretical basis for the treatment of organ protection, especially in sepsis.

Lycorine Ameliorates Thioacetamide-Induced Hepatic Fibrosis in Rats: Emphasis on Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory, and STAT3 Inhibition Effects

Liver fibrosis is a foremost medical concern worldwide. In Saudi Arabia, numerous risk factors contribute to its high rates. Lycorine—a natural alkaloid—has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor activates. It has been reported to inhibit STAT3 in cancer. Therefore, this study aimed at investigating the possible antifibrotic effect of lycorine against thioacetamide (TAA)-induced liver fibrosis in rats and at elucidating the possible mechanisms. Liver fibrosis was induced by TAA (200 mg/kg i.p.), three per week for four weeks. Treatment with lycorine (0.5 and 1 mg/kg/d) amended TAA-induced rise of serum transaminases that was confirmed histopathologically. Moreover, it ameliorated liver fibrosis in a dose-dependent manner, as indicated by hindering the TAA-induced increase of hepatic hydroxyproline content, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and transforming growth factor (TGF-β1) expressions. TAA-induced oxidative stress was amended by lycorine treatment via restoring reduced glutathione and diminishing lipid peroxidation. Moreover, lycorine ameliorated hepatic inflammation by preventing the rise of inflammatory cytokines. Notably, lycorine inhibited STAT3 activity, as evidenced by the decreased phospho-STAT3 expression, accompanied by the elevation of the hepatic Bax/Bcl-2 ratio. In conclusion, lycorine hinders TAA-induced liver fibrosis in rats, due to—at least partly—its antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, along with its ability to inhibit STAT3 signaling.

Dihydrolycorine Attenuates Cardiac Fibrosis and Dysfunction by Downregulating Runx1 following Myocardial Infarction

In spite of early interventions to treat acute myocardial infarction (MI), the occurrence of adverse cardiac remodeling following heart failure due to acute MI remains a clinical challenge. Thus, there is an increasing demand for the development of novel therapeutic agents capable of inhibiting the development of pathological ventricular remodeling. RNA-seq data analysis of acute MI rat models from GEO revealed that Runx1 was the most differentially expressed MI-related gene. In this study, we demonstrated that increased Runx1 expression under pathological conditions results in decreased cardiac contractile function. We identified dihydrolycorine, an alkaloid lycorine, as a promising inhibitor of Runx1. Our results showed that treatment with this drug could prevent adverse cardiac remodeling, as indicated by the downregulation of fibrotic genes using western blotting (collagen I, TGFβ, and p-smad3), downregulation of the apoptosis gene Bax, upregulation of the apoptosis gene Bcl-2, and improved cardiac functions, such as LVEF, LVSF, LVESD, and LVEDD. Additionally, dihydrolycorine treatment could rescue cardiomyocyte hypertrophy as demonstrated by wheat germ agglutinin staining, increased expression levels of the punctuate gap junction protein connexin 43, and decreased α-SMA expression, resulting in cardiomyocyte fibrosis in immunofluorescence staining. Molecular docking, binding modeling, and pull-down assays were used to identify potential dihydrolycorine-binding sites in Runx1. When Ad-sh-Runx1 was transfected into hypoxia-cardiomyocytes or injected into the hearts of MI rats, the cardioprotective effects of dihydrolycorine were abolished, and the normal electrophysiological activity of cardiomyocytes was disrupted. Taken together, the results of the present study indicate that dihydrolycorine may inhibit adverse cardiac remodeling after MI through the reduction of Runx1, suggesting that dihydrolycorine-mediated-Runx1 regulation might represent a novel therapeutic approach for adverse cardiac remodeling after MI.

Cyclin-dependent kinase 1 as a potential target for lycorine against hepatocellular carcinoma

The pathological changes and possible underlying molecular mechanisms of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are currently unclear. Effective treatment of this pathological state remains a challenge. The purpose of this study is to obtain some key genes with diagnostic and prognostic meaning and to identify potential therapeutic agents for HCC treatment. Here, CDK1, CCNB1 and CCNB2 were found to be highly expressed in HCC patients and accompanied by poor prognosis, and knockdown of them by siRNA drastically induced autophagy and senescence in hepatoma cells. Simultaneously, the anti-HCC effect of lycorine was comparable to that of interfering with these three genes, and lycorine significantly promoted the decrease both in protein and mRNA expression of CDK1. Molecular validation mechanistically demonstrated that lycorine might attenuate the degradation rate of CDK1 via interaction with it, which had been confirmed by cellular thermal shift assay and drug affinity responsive targets stability assay. Taken together, these findings suggested that CDK1, CCNB1 and CCNB2 could be regarded as potential diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for HCC, and CDK1 might serve as a promising therapeutic target for lycorine against HCC.

Traditional Chinese Medicine and Colorectal Cancer: Implications for Drug Discovery

As an important part of complementary and alternative medicine, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been applied to treat a host of diseases for centuries. Over the years, with the incidence rate of human colorectal cancer (CRC) increasing continuously and the advantage of TCM gradually becoming more prominent, the importance of TCM in both domestic and international fields is also growing with each passing day. However, the unknowability of active ingredients, effective substances, and the underlying mechanisms of TCM against this malignant tumor greatly restricts the translation degree of clinical products and the pace of precision medicine. In this review, based on the characteristics of TCM and the oral administration of most ingredients, we herein provide beneficial information for the clinical utilization of TCM in the prevention and treatment of CRC and retrospect the current preclinical studies on the related active ingredients, as well as put forward the research mode for the discovery of active ingredients and effective substances in TCM, to provide novel insights into the research and development of innovative agents from this conventional medicine for CRC treatment and assist the realization of precision medicine.

Identification of molecular anti-metastasis mechanisms of lycorine in colorectal cancer by RNA-seq analysis

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the most common malignancies worldwide. Metastasis is the major cause of death in patients with CRC. Lycorine, the phenanthridine alkaloid most commonly found in spp of the Amaryllidaceae family, has shown promising anticancer activities with minor side effects. However, the effects and the detailed mechanism of lycorine against metastasis of CRC remains unclear.

STUDY DESIGN/METHODS

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of lycorine on CRC and characterize the molecular mechanisms observed in lycorine-treated CRC cells using RNA-sequencing. MTT assay, colony formation assay, acridine orange/ethidium bromide (AO/EB) staining and Annexin V-FITC/Propidium iodide (PI) staining were conducted to examine the effects of lycorine on cell proliferation and apoptosis in CRC cells. RNA sequencing, real-time PCR assays and western blot were performed. Migration and invasion abilities of lycorine-treated CRC cells were investigated by wound healing and transwell invasion assays. The mouse CRC lung metastasis model was established and was used to detect the effect of lycorine on CRC in vivo.

RESULTS

Our results demonstrated that lycorine inhibited the proliferation and colony formation of CRC cells in a concentration-dependent manner. AO/EB staining and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining showed that lycorine induced apoptosis in a concentration-dependent manner. Lycorine also reduced lung metastasis of CRC in vivo. Moreover, transcriptomic analysis suggested that lycorine regulated the expression of 3556 genes. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway was implicated according to the differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and multiple pathways including those of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), relaxin, Ras, phosphatidylinositol 3‑kinase (PI3K)-protein kinase B (Akt) and Wnt/β-catenin were selected by functional enrichment analyses. Furthermore, based on transcriptomic analysis, we found that the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) pathway and endoplasmic reticulum stress were responsible for lycorine-induced apoptosis.

CONCLUSIONS

These results obtained in this study demonstrated that lycorine has the potential to suppress CRC in vitro and in vivo through the lycorine-regulated multiple signaling pathways.

Construction of a prognostic model based on nine immune-related genes and identification of small molecule drugs for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC)

This study aimed to develop a prognostic model for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) based on immune-related genes and to identify new potential small-molecule drugs. A differential gene expression analysis of high-throughput microarray data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) was performed to identify immune-related genes. By comparison with an immune-related genome, nine genes with important prognostic value for HCC were identified. The prognostic characteristics were established based on univariate and multivariate COX and Lasso regression analyzes. Subsequently, immune-related HCC risk signatures were constructed based on these identified nine immune-related genes and patients were classified as being at high or low risk according to these signatures. The overall survival (OS) time of high-risk patients was significantly shorter than that of low-risk patients. When studied as an independent prognostic factor of HCC, the significant prognostic value of this feature can be seen in the stratified cohorts. For clinical application, it was developed a nomogram that includes nine clinical risk factors and the prognostic model built based on the identified immune-related genes. Internal and external verification on 243 HCC tissues through International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) database were performed to make this model more accurate and reliable. In addition, it was observed a positive regulation between the identified immune-related genes and their transcription factors found in HCC patients. Moreover, physiological function and signaling pathway of identified immune-related genes were studied by GO and KEGG enrichment analysis. Finally, several new small molecular drugs with potential for the treatment of HCC have been identified in the CMap database.

HTBPI, an active phenanthroindolizidine alkaloid, inhibits liver tumorigenesis by targeting Akt

Akt, a crucial protein involved in a variety of signaling pathways in cancer, acts as an important regulator of survival in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), and provides curative option for the related drugs development. We have found an active phenanthroindolizidine alkaloid, (13aR,14R)-9,11,12,13,13a,14-hexahydro-3,6,7-trimethoxydibenzo[f,h]pyrrolo[1,2-b]isoquinolin-14-ol (HTBPI), is a promising Akt inhibitor effective in the suppression of HCC cells proliferation through stimulating apoptotic and autophagic capability in vivo and in vitro. Treatment of HTBPI combined with a classical autophagy-lysosomal inhibitor (bafilomycin A1), could enhance stimulation effects of apoptosis on HCC cell lines. In addition, we confirmed HTBPI targeting Akt, occupied the kinase binding domain (Thr 308) of Akt to inactivate its function by CETSA and DARTS assay. In contrast, ectopic Akt-induced overexpression significantly abrogated inhibitory effects of HTBPI on cell viability and proliferation. Furthermore, high p-Akt (Thr 308) expression is collated with liver tumor formation and poor survival in HCC patients. In conclusions, HTBPI impeded HCC progress through regulation of apoptosis and autophagy machinery via interaction with p-Akt (Thr 308). This may provide potential molecular candidate by targeting Akt for the therapy of HCC patients.

Correction of the tumor suppressor Salvador homolog-1 deficiency in tumors by lycorine as a new strategy in lung cancer therapy

Salvador homolog-1 (SAV1) is a tumor suppressor required for activation of the tumor-suppressive Hippo pathway and inhibition of tumorigenesis. SAV1 is defective in several cancer types. SAV1 deficiency in cells promotes tumorigenesis and cancer metastasis, and is closely associated with poor prognosis for cancer patients. However, investigation of therapeutic strategies to target SAV1 deficiency in cancer is lacking. Here we found that the small molecule lycorine notably increased SAV1 levels in lung cancer cells by inhibiting SAV1 degradation via a ubiquitin-lysosome system, and inducing phosphorylation and activation of the SAV1-interacting protein mammalian Ste20-like 1 (MST1). MST1 activation then caused phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and degradation of the oncogenic Yes-associated protein (YAP), therefore inhibiting YAP-activated transcription of oncogenic genes and tumorigenic AKT and NF-κB signal pathways. Strikingly, treating tumor-bearing xenograft mice with lycorine increased SAV1 levels, and strongly inhibited tumor growth, vasculogenic mimicry, and metastasis. This work indicates that correcting SAV1 deficiency in lung cancer cells is a new strategy for cancer therapy. Our findings provide a new platform for developing novel cancer therapeutics.

Lycorine Induces autophagy-associated apoptosis by targeting MEK2 and enhances vemurafenib activity in colorectal cancer

Lycorine is a powerful anti-cancer agent against various cancer cell lines with minor side effects. However, the detailed mechanisms of its effects in colorectal cancer (CRC) remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the function and mechanism of lycorine against CRC both in vitro and in vivo. Molecular docking modeling was used to identify potential inhibitory targets of lycorine in CRC. Cell viability was measured using the Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, and apoptosis was measured using flow cytometry. Autophagosomes were examined using transmission electron microscopy and confocal microscopy. HCT116-derived xenografts were constructed to analyze the effect of lycorine in CRC in vivo. Using the CDOCKER algorithm, we determined that lycorine has four interactions with the conserved domain of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 2 (MEK2). This prediction was further confirmed by the degradation of phosphorylated MEK2 and its downstream targets after lycorine treatment, and MEK2 overexpression abolished lycorine-induced autophagy-associated apoptosis. Additionally, we revealed that the combination of vemurafenib and lycorine had better effects in CRC models in vitro and in vivo than monotherapy. Our findings identified lycorine as an effective MEK2 inhibitor and suggested that the combination of lycorine and vemurafenib could be used to treat CRC.