Lauric Acid Overcomes Hypoxia-Induced Gemcitabine Chemoresistance in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma

Anti-Cancer and Pro-Immune Effects of Lauric Acid on Colorectal Cancer Cells

Lauric acid (LAA) is a 12-carbon medium-chain fatty acid that reportedly has antitumor and muscle-protecting effects. However, the details of these antitumor effects remain unclear. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the mechanism underlying the antitumor effects of LAA in CT26 and HT29 colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines. Our in vitro findings demonstrated that LAA suppressed CRC cell proliferation, induced mitochondrial oxidative stress (reactive oxygen species (ROS)), inhibited oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), and induced apoptosis. Moreover, in vivo analysis of LAA showed a more pronounced antitumor effect in CT26 cells in a syngeneic mouse tumor model than in vitro; therefore, we further investigated its impact on host antitumor immunity. We observed that LAA increased the number of effector T cells in mouse tumors, while in vitro LAA activated mouse splenocytes (SplC) and promoted OXPHOS. In two-dimensional co-culture of SplC and CT26 cells, LAA induced cell death in cancer cells. In three-dimensional co-culture, LAA promoted SplC infiltration and suppressed the formation of tumor spheres. Thus, LAA may exert antitumor effects through increased ROS production in cancer cells and effector T cell activation via increased energy metabolism. These results suggest that LAA, when used in combination with existing anti-cancer drugs, is likely to exhibit sensitizing effects in terms of both antitumor and antitumor immune effects, and future clinical studies are anticipated.

Chemical Analysis and Antioxidant Activities of Resin Fractions from Pistacia lentiscus L. var. Chia in Neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y Cells

Chios mastiha is the natural aromatic resin of Pistacia lentiscus L. var. Chia, Anacardiaceae, which is exclusively cultivated in the southern part of the Greek island of Chios. Chios mastiha (P. lenticonus/Chios mastiha) is well-known for its distinctive taste and aroma and has been known since ancient times due to its healing properties in gastrointestinal and inflammatory disorders and because of its anti-bacterial and anti-fungal activities. In this study, the chemical composition, applying LC-QTOF-MS/MS analysis, and the antioxidant activities of three different polarity P. lenticonus/Chios mastiha fractions, apolar, medium polar, and polar, were characterized in human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. Chemical analysis of the fractions unveiled new components of P. lenticonus/Chios mastiha, mainly fatty acids compounds, known for their antioxidant activity and regulatory effects on lipid metabolism. By applying the MTT assay and confocal microscopy analysis, we showed that P. lenticonus/Chios mastiha fractions, especially the apolar and medium polar fractions, enriched in triterpenes and fatty acids, caused suppression of the H2O2-induced reduction in cell viability, ROS production, and depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential, in SH-SY5Y cells. Moreover, Western blot analysis revealed that apolar fraction, enriched in fatty acids, induced expression of the PPARα, which is well-known for its antioxidant activities and its crucial role in lipid metabolism. Induction of PPARα, a GR target gene, was also accompanied by an increase in GR protein levels. Enhanced antioxidant activities of the apolar fraction may be correlated with its chemical composition, enriched in fatty acids and triterpenoids. Thus, our results indicate the neuroprotective actions of P. lenticonus/Chios mastiha fractions, highlighting their potential application as neuroprotective agents in neurodegenerative diseases.

Significance of Malic Enzyme 1 in Cancer: A Review

Malic enzyme 1 (ME1) plays a key role in promoting malignant phenotypes in various types of cancer. ME1 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and enhances stemness via glutaminolysis, energy metabolism reprogramming from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis. As a result, ME1 promotes the malignant phenotypes of cancer cells and poor patient prognosis. In particular, ME1 expression is promoted in hypoxic environments associated with hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF1) α. ME1 is overexpressed in budding cells at the cancer invasive front, promoting cancer invasion and metastasis. ME1 also generates nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADPH), which, together with glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) and isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH1), expands the NADPH pool, maintaining the redox balance in cancer cells, suppressing cell death by neutralizing mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS), and promoting stemness. This review summarizes the latest research insights into the mechanisms by which ME1 contributes to cancer progression. Because ME1 is involved in various aspects of cancer and promotes many of its malignant phenotypes, it is expected that ME1 will become a novel drug target in the near future.

Energy Metabolism and Stemness and the Role of Lauric Acid in Reversing 5-Fluorouracil Resistance in Colorectal Cancer Cells

While 5-fluorouracil (5FU) plays a central role in chemotherapy for colorectal cancer (CRC), resistance to 5FU remains a major challenge in CRC treatment, and its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the relationship between 5FU resistance acquisition, stemness, and energy metabolism. Among the two CRC cell lines, HT29 cells exhibited glycolytic and quiescent properties, while CT26 cells relied on oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) for energy. In contrast, the 5FU-resistant sublines (HT29R and CT26R), developed through continuous exposure to low concentrations of 5FU, demonstrated enhanced stemness. This was associated with glycolytic dominance, low proliferation, and reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. However, treatment with the medium-chain fatty acid lauric acid shifted the cells to OXPHOS, reducing stemness, increasing ROS levels, and inducing cell death, therefore reversing 5FU resistance. These findings suggest that an enhancement in stemness and the reprogramming of energy metabolism play key roles in acquiring 5FU resistance in CRC. While lauric acid reversed 5FU resistance, further clinical studies are required.

Identification of Lauric Acid as a Potent Sodium Channel NaV1.5 Blocker from Compound Chinese Medicine Wenxin Keli

Purpose

The major cardiac voltage-gated sodium channel NaV1.5 (INa) is essential for cardiac action potential initiation and subsequent propagation. Compound Chinese medicine Wenxin Keli (WXKL) has been shown to suppress arrhythmias and heart failure. However, its active components have not been fully elucidated. This study focused on identifying the active inhibitor of INa in WXKL and exploring their mode of action in electrophysiological conduction.

Methods

A chemical fraction library was constructed from an aqueous extract of WXKL and screened using an automated patch-clamping system in cells stably expressing the NaV1.5 gene SCN5A. Candidate fractions with INa-inhibition activity were analyzed by HPLC-ESI-IT-TOF-MS and GC-MS to identify the ingredients. NaV1.5 blocker molecules identified by single-cell electrocardiogram were tested in hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes. We evaluated the SCN5A inhibitory potential of Wenxin Keli effective monomer employing molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation approaches.

Results

A primary screen of the WXKL chemical library identified five fractions that significantly inhibited the NaV1.5 channel, with one of them rich in poly-saturated fatty acids. Molecular structural characterization revealed the presence of lauric acid, myristic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid in the active subfraction. Electrophysiological characterization demonstrated lauric acid (LA) as the most effective monomer for INa-inhibition with an IC50 at 27.40 ± 12.78 μM. LA shifted the steady-state inactivation of INa to more negative potentials and decreased the amplitude of extracellular field potential in hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes. We demonstrate for the first time that naturally poly-saturated fatty acid, lauric acid, as a potential novel INa blocker. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation suggested that LA binds to the NaV1.5 protein, with a significant binding affinity forming interactions with functionally essential residues and blocks the inward flow of Na+. Mechanistically, lauric acid acts on the fast inactivation of NaV1.5 alter electrophysiology conduction of hiPSC-derived cardiomyocytes and contribute to the antiarrhythmic effect of WXKL.

Conclusion

Lauric acid is a potent blocker for sodium channel NaV1.5 and alleviates arrhythmia via inhibiting INa.

Brain Immune Cell Infiltration and Serum Metabolomic Characteristics Reveal that Lauric Acid Promotes Immune Cell Infiltration in Brain and Streptococcus suis Meningitis in Mice

Although naturally Streptococcus suis serotype 2 (SS2) causes meningitis resulting in death or sequela of neurological symptoms in pigs and humans, severely threatening public health in the world, it has been difficult to build up and confirm experimental meningitis mouse models with obvious neurological syndrome for about two decades, which strongly hampers the in-depth study on the control measures and mechanisms of SS2-induced meningitis. In this study, a typical meningitis mouse model of SS2 was successfully established, as confirmed by the behavioral indicators of balance beam test, suspension test, and gait analysis. With bacteria gathering in the brain, distinguishable unique features including meningeal thickening, vacuolization of the Nissl body, brain barrier damage, glial cell activation, and more infiltration of T cells, macrophages, and DCs are observed in SS2 meningitis mice with typical neurological signs. Some meningitis mice were also accompanied by identical nephritis, ophthalmia, and cochlearitis. Investigation of the metabolic features demonstrated the downregulated cholic acid and upregulated 2-hydroxyvaleric acid, tetrahydrocortisone, nicotinic acid, and lauric acid in blood serum of mice and piglets with meningitis. And feeding trials show that lauric acid can promote meningitis by promoting the infiltration of immune cells into brain. These findings demonstrated that infection of ICR (improved castle road) mice with SS2 was able to induce typical meningitis accompanied by immune cell infiltration and lauric acid upregulation. These data provide a basis for the deep study of SS2 meningitis.

Preliminary Metabolomics Study Suggests Favorable Metabolic Changes in the Plasma of Breast Cancer Patients after Surgery and Adjuvant Treatment

Background/Objectives: The management of early breast cancer (BC) includes surgery, followed by adjuvant radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or immunotherapy. However, the influence of these interventions in metabolic reprogramming remains unknown. This study explored alterations in the plasma metabolome of BC patients following distinct treatments to deepen our understanding of BC pathophysiology, outcomes, and the identification of potential biomarkers. Methods: We included 52 women diagnosed with BC and candidates for surgery as primary oncological treatment. Blood samples were collected at diagnosis, two weeks post-surgery, and one month post-radiotherapy. Plasma samples from 49 healthy women served as controls. Targeted metabolomics assessed 74 metabolites spanning carbohydrates, amino acids, lipids, nucleotide pathways, energy metabolism, and xenobiotic biodegradation. Results: Before treatment, the BC patients exhibited notable changes in carbohydrate, nucleotide, lipid, and amino acid metabolism. We noticed a gradual restoration of specific metabolite levels (hypoxanthine, 3-phosphoglyceric acid, xylonic acid, and maltose) throughout different treatments, suggesting a normalization of the nucleotide and carbohydrate metabolic pathways. Moreover, we observed increased dodecanoic acid concentrations, a metabolite associated with cancer protection. These variations distinguished patients from controls with high specificity and sensitivity. Conclusions: Our preliminary study suggests that oncological treatments modify the metabolism of patients towards a favorable profile with a decrease in the pathways that favor cell proliferation and an increase in the levels of anticancer molecules. These findings emphasize the pivotal role of metabolomics in recognizing the biological pathways influenced by each cancer treatment and the resulting metabolic consequences. Furthermore, it aids in identifying potential biomarkers for disease onset and progression.

Caprylic Acid Inhibits High Mobility Group Box-1-Induced Mitochondrial Damage in Myocardial Tubes

Myocardial damage significantly impacts the prognosis of patients with cancer; however, the mechanisms of myocardial damage induced by cancer and its treatment remain unknown. We previously reported that medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) improve cancer-induced myocardial damage but did not evaluate the differences in effect according to MCFA type. Therefore, this study investigated the role of inflammatory cytokines in cancer-induced myocardial damage and the effects of three types of MCFAs (caprylic acid [C8], capric acid [C10], and lauric acid [C12]). In a mouse model, the C8 diet showed a greater effect on improving myocardial damage compared with C10 and C12 diets. Myocardial tubes differentiated from H9C2 cardiomyoblasts demonstrated increased mitochondrial oxidative stress, decreased membrane potential and mitochondrial volume, and inhibited myocardial tube differentiation following treatment with high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) but not interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α cytokines. However, HMGB1 treatment combined with C8 improved HMGB1-induced mitochondrial damage, enhanced autophagy, and increased mitochondrial biogenesis and maturation. However, these effects were only partial when combined with beta-hydroxybutyrate, a C8 metabolite. Thus, HMGB1 may play an important role in cancer-related myocardial damage. C8 counteracts HMGB1's effects and improves cancer-related myocardial damage. Further clinical studies are required to investigate the effects of C8.

Differential Effects of Three Medium-Chain Fatty Acids on Mitochondrial Quality Control and Skeletal Muscle Maturation

Nutritional interventions are one focus of sarcopenia treatment. As medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) are oxidized in the mitochondria and produce energy through oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), they are key parts of nutritional interventions. We investigated the in vitro effects of three types of MCFA, caprylic acid (C8), capric acid (C10), and lauric acid (C12), in skeletal muscle cells. Compared with C10 and C12, C8 promoted mitophagy through the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN)-induced kinase 1-Parkin pathway and increased the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-α and dynamin-related protein 1 to reduce mitochondrial oxidative stress and promote OXPHOS. Furthermore, the expression of myogenic differentiation 1 and myosin heavy chain increased in myotubes, thus promoting muscle differentiation and maturation. These results suggest that C8 improves mitochondrial quality and promotes skeletal muscle maturation; in contrast, C10 and C12 poorly promoted mitochondrial quality control and oxidative stress and suppressed energy production. Future animal experiments are required to establish the usefulness of C8 for nutritional interventions for sarcopenia.

Fundamental insights and molecular interactions in pancreatic cancer: Pathways to therapeutic approaches

The gastrointestinal tract can be affected by a number of diseases that pancreatic cancer (PC) is a malignant manifestation of them. The prognosis of PC patients is unfavorable and because of their diagnosis at advanced stage, the treatment of this tumor is problematic. Owing to low survival rate, there is much interest towards understanding the molecular profile of PC in an attempt in developing more effective therapeutics. The conventional therapeutics for PC include surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy as well as emerging immunotherapy. However, PC is still incurable and more effort should be performed. The molecular landscape of PC is an underlying factor involved in increase in progression of tumor cells. In the presence review, the newest advances in understanding the molecular and biological events in PC are discussed. The dysregulation of molecular pathways including AMPK, MAPK, STAT3, Wnt/β-catenin and non-coding RNA transcripts has been suggested as a factor in development of tumorigenesis in PC. Moreover, cell death mechanisms such as apoptosis, autophagy, ferroptosis and necroptosis demonstrate abnormal levels. The EMT and glycolysis in PC cells enhance to ensure their metastasis and proliferation. Furthermore, such abnormal changes have been used to develop corresponding pharmacological and nanotechnological therapeutics for PC.

Nuclear MAST4 Suppresses FOXO3 through Interaction with AKT3 and Induces Chemoresistance in Pancreatic Ductal Carcinoma

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is highly malignant, with a 5-year survival rate of less than 10%. Furthermore, the acquisition of anticancer drug resistance makes PDAC treatment difficult. We established MIA-GEM cells, a PDAC cell line resistant to gemcitabine (GEM), a first-line anticancer drug, using the human PDAC cell line-MIA-PaCa-2. Microtubule-associated serine/threonine kinase-4 (MAST4) expression was increased in MIA-GEM cells compared with the parent cell line. Through inhibitor screening, dysregulated AKT signaling was identified in MIA-GEM cells with overexpression of AKT3. MAST4 knockdown effectively suppressed AKT3 overexpression, and both MAST4 and AKT3 translocation into the nucleus, phosphorylating forkhead box O3a (FOXO3) in MIA-GEM cells. Modulating FOXO3 target gene expression in these cells inhibited apoptosis while promoting stemness and proliferation. Notably, nuclear MAST4 demonstrated higher expression in GEM-resistant PDAC cases compared with that in the GEM-sensitive cases. Elevated MAST4 expression correlated with a poorer prognosis in PDAC. Consequently, nuclear MAST4 emerges as a potential marker for GEM resistance and poor prognosis, representing a novel therapeutic target for PDAC.

Involvement of Ferroptosis Induction and Oxidative Phosphorylation Inhibition in the Anticancer-Drug-Induced Myocardial Injury: Ameliorative Role of Pterostilbene

Patients with cancer die from cardiac dysfunction second only to the disease itself. Cardiotoxicity caused by anticancer drugs has been emphasized as a possible cause; however, the details remain unclear. To investigate this mechanism, we treated rat cardiomyoblast H9c2 cells with sunitinib, lapatinib, 5-fluorouracil, and cisplatin to examine their effects. All anticancer drugs increased ROS, lipid peroxide, and iron (II) levels in the mitochondria and decreased glutathione peroxidase-4 levels and the GSH/GSSG ratio. Against this background, mitochondrial iron (II) accumulates through the unregulated expression of haem oxygenase-1 and ferrochelatase. Anticancer-drug-induced cell death was suppressed by N-acetylcysteine, deferoxamine, and ferrostatin, indicating ferroptosis. Anticancer drug treatment impairs mitochondrial DNA and inhibits oxidative phosphorylation in H9c2 cells. Similar results were observed in the hearts of cancer-free rats treated with anticancer drugs in vitro. In contrast, treatment with pterostilbene inhibited the induction of ferroptosis and rescued the energy restriction induced by anticancer drugs both in vitro and in vivo. These findings suggest that induction of ferroptosis and inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation are mechanisms by which anticancer drugs cause myocardial damage. As pterostilbene ameliorates these mechanisms, it is expected to have significant clinical applications.

Lovastatin Treatment Inducing Apoptosis in Human Pancreatic Cancer Cells by Inhibiting Cholesterol Rafts in Plasma Membrane and Mitochondria

Resistance to anticancer drugs is a problem in the treatment of pancreatic ductal carcinoma (PDAC) and overcoming it is an important issue. Recently, it has been reported that statins induce apoptosis in cancer cells but the mechanism has not been completely elucidated. We investigated the antitumor mechanisms of statins against PDAC and their impact on resistance to gemcitabine (GEM). Lovastatin (LOVA) increased mitochondrial oxidative stress in PDAC cells, leading to apoptosis. LOVA reduced lipid rafts in the plasma membrane and mitochondria, suppressed the activation of epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) and AKT in plasma membrane rafts, and reduced B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL2)-Bcl-2-associated X protein (BAX) binding and the translocation of F1F0 ATPase in mitochondrial rafts. In the three GEM-resistant cell lines derived from MIA and PANC1, the lipid rafts in the cell membrane and the mitochondria were increased to activate EGFR and AKT and to increase BCL2-BAX binding, which suppressed apoptosis. LOVA abrogated these anti-apoptotic effects by reducing the rafts in the resistant cells. By treating the resistant cells with LOVA, GEM sensitivity improved to the level of the parental cells. Therefore, cholesterol rafts contribute to drug resistance in PDAC. Further clinical research is warranted on overcoming anticancer drug resistance by statin-mediated intracellular cholesterol regulation.