Dicentrine Potentiates TNF-α-Induced Apoptosis and Suppresses Invasion of A549 Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells via Modulation of NF-κB and AP-1 Activation

Mechanistic insight into the hepatoprotective effect of Moringa oleifera Lam leaf extract and telmisartan against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis: plausible roles of TGF-β1/SMAD3/SMAD7 and HDAC2/NF-κB/PPARγ pathways

The increasing prevalence and limited therapeutic options for liver fibrosis necessitates more medical attention. Our study aims to investigate the potential molecular targets by which Moringa oleifera Lam leaf extract (Mor) and/or telmisartan (Telm) alleviate carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis in rats. Liver fibrosis was induced in male Sprague-Dawley rats by intraperitoneal injection of 50% CCl4 (1 ml/kg) every 72 hours, for 8 weeks. Intoxicated rats with CCl4 were simultaneously orally administrated Mor (400 mg/kg/day for 8 weeks) and/or Telm (10 mg/kg/day for 8 weeks). Treatment of CCl4-intoxicated rats with Mor/Telm significantly reduced serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) activities compared to CCl4 intoxicated group (P < 0.001). Additionally, Mor/Telm treatment significantly reduced the level of hepatic inflammatory, profibrotic, and apoptotic markers including; nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), transforming growth factor-βeta1 (TGF-β1), and caspase-3. Interestingly, co-treatment of CCl4-intoxicated rats with Mor/Telm downregulated m-RNA expression of histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) (71.8%), and reduced protein expression of mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 3 (p-SMAD3) (70.6%) compared to untreated animals. Mor/Telm regimen also elevated p-SMAD7 protein expression as well as m-RNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) (3.6 and 3.1 fold, respectively p < 0.05) compared to CCl4 intoxicated group. Histopathological picture of the liver tissue intoxicated with CCl4 revealed marked improvement by Mor/Telm co-treatment. Conclusively, this study substantiated the hepatoprotective effect of Mor/Telm regimen against CCl4-induced liver fibrosis through suppression of TGF-β1/SMAD3, and HDAC2/NF-κB signaling pathways and up-regulation of SMAD7 and PPARγ expression.

Significance of genotypes and resistance status of Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains in gene expression of apoptosis cell death and inflammatory pathways in A549 lung epithelial cell line

Objectives

Tuberculosis (TB) has been a major health issue throughout history. As part of TB infection, host-Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) interactions are important. Through immune pathology and cell death control processes, Mtb infection facilitates intracellular growth. The relationship between apoptosis and inflammation in Mtb infection remains unclear. In this study, the levels of related apoptosis and inflammatory genes were assessed in A549 cells infected with a variety of Mtb strains.

Materials and Methods

Mtb isolates with different phenotypes (sensitive, INHR, RifR, MDR, and XDR) were collected from the Pasteur Institute of Iran, during this study. Whole genome sequencing was previously performed on all strains, and the Beijing genotype was selected as sensitive. Also, for other resistant strains, the New-1 genotype was available and isolated for genotype comparison. A549 lung carcinoma cells were also grown and infected with selected Mtb strains. Genes involved in inflammation and apoptosis were detected using reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR).

Results

All sensitive strains and resistant strains were found to significantly up-regulate anti-apoptotic (bcl2 and rb1), chemokine (IL-8 and MCP-1), and pro-inflammatory cytokine (TNF-α and IFN-γ) expression, while significant down-regulation was observed after 24 and 48 hr of infection in anti-inflammatory genes (IL-10) and pro-apoptotic genes (bad and bax). Besides resistance strains, Mtb genotypes also affected gene expression. The Beijing genotype (sensitive isolate) influences inflammatory and apoptotic genes more sharply than the New-1 genotype (INHR, RifR, MDR, and XDR).

Conclusion

Gene expression differences related to apoptosis and inflammation examined in the current study may be attributed to genotypes rather than resistance status since the expression of most genes has been observed to be lower in resistant strains (INHR, RifR, MDR, and XDR belonging to the New-1 genotype) compared to sensitive strains (Beijing genotype).

Notopterol Suppresses IL-17-Induced Proliferation and Invasion of A549 Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells via Modulation of STAT3, NF-κB, and AP-1 Activation

Interleukine-17 is a proinflammatory cytokine that promotes lung cancer growth and progression though the activation of the STAT3, NF-κB, and AP-1 signaling pathways. Therefore, blocking the IL-17-induced oncogenic pathway is a new strategy for the treatment of lung cancer. Notopterol, a furanocoumarin, has demonstrated anti-tumor effects in several types of tumors. However, its molecular function in relation to the IL-17-induced proliferation and invasion of A549 lung adenocarcinoma cells remains unknown. Here, notopterol exhibited an inhibitory effect on IL-17-promoted A549 cell proliferation and induced G0/G1 cell cycle arrest. Western blot analysis revealed that notopterol inhibited the expression of cell-cycle-regulatory proteins, including cyclin D1, cyclin E, CDK4, and E2F. Moreover, notopterol blocked IL-17-induced A549 cell migration and invasion by regulating the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and reducing the expression of extracellular degradation enzymes. At the molecular level, notopterol treatment significantly down-regulated the IL-17-activated phosphorylation of Akt, JNK, ERK1/2, and STAT3, leading to a reduced level of transcriptional activity of NF-κB and AP-1. Collectively, our results suggest that notopterol blocks IL-17-induced A549 cell proliferation and invasion through the suppression of the MAPK, Akt, STAT3, AP-1, and NF-κB signaling pathways, as well as modulating EMT.

Bioefficacy of Nga-Mon (Perilla frutescens) Fresh and Dry Leaf: Assessment of Antioxidant, Antimutagenicity, and Anti-Inflammatory Potential

Perilla leaves are known to be a rich source of polyphenols, which have been shown to exhibit various biological effects. This study aimed to compare the bioefficacies and bioactivities of fresh (PLE_f) and dry (PLE_d) Thai perilla (Nga-mon) leaf extracts. Phytochemical analysis indicated that both PLE_f and PLE_d were abundant in rosmarinic acid and bioactive phenolic compounds. PLE_d, which had higher levels of rosmarinic acid but lower levels of ferulic acid and luteolin than PLE_f, exhibited greater effectiveness in a free radical scavenging assay. Furthermore, both extracts were found to suppress intracellular ROS generation and exhibit antimutagenic activity against food-borne carcinogens in S. typhimurium. They also attenuated lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammation in RAW 264.7 cells by inhibiting the expression of nitric oxide, iNOS, COX-2, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 through the suppression of NF-κB activation and translocation. However, PLE_f exhibited a higher ability to suppress cellular ROS production and higher antimutagenic and anti-inflammatory activities than PLE_d, which can be attributed to its combination of phytochemical components. Overall, PLE_f and PLE_d have the potential to serve as natural bioactive antioxidant, antimutagenic, and anti-inflammatory agents to achieve potential health benefits.

Bioactive PI3-kinase/Akt/mTOR Inhibitors in Targeted Lung Cancer Therapy

One of the central signaling pathways with a regulatory effect on cell proliferation and survival is Akt/mTOR. In many human cancer types, for instance, lung cancer, the overexpression of Akt/mTOR has been reported. For this reason, either targeting cancer cells by synthetic or natural products affecting the Akt/mTOR pathway down-regulation is a useful strategy in cancer therapy. Direct inhibition of the signaling pathway or modulation of each related molecule could have significant feedback on the growth and proliferation of cancer cells. A variety of secondary metabolites has been identified to directly inhibit the AKT/mTOR signaling, which is important in the field of drug discovery. Naturally occurring nitrogenous and phenolic compounds can emerge as two pivotal classes of natural products possessing anticancer abilities. Herein, we have summarized the alkaloids and flavonoids for lung cancer treatment together with all the possible mechanisms of action relying on the Akt/mTOR pathway down-regulation. This review suggested that in search of new drugs, phytochemicals could be considered as promising scaffolds to be developed into efficient drugs for the treatment of cancer. In this review, the terms "Akt/mTOR", "Alkaloid", "flavonoid", and "lung cancer" were searched without any limitation in search criteria in Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Google scholar engines.

Mesenchymal stem cells inhibited the apoptosis of alveolar epithelial cells caused by ARDS through CXCL12/CXCR4 axis

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have a wide range of anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects and have been observed to have potential therapeutic potential in the clinical treatment of various diseases. We pretreated lung cancer cells A549 with tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), knocked down the key chemokine receptor CXCR4 on MSCs using lentivirus, and induced acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) mouse model using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and CXCL12 expression in vivo by adeno-associated virus (AAV-rh10) infection in mice. By co-culturing the MSCs with A549 and in vivo experiments, we observed the effects of MSCs on cell biological functions after inflammatory stimulation, oxidative stress, and the amelioration of lung injury in ARDS mice. TNF-α inhibited A549 proliferation and promoted apoptosis, scorch death-related factor activity, and oxidative stress factor were increased and CXCL12 levels in the cell supernatant were decreased. The co-culture of MSCs was able to increase cell activity and decrease oxidative stress factor levels, and this effect was not present after the knockdown of CXCR4 in MSCs. In vivo transplantation of MSCs significantly attenuated lung injury in ARDS, inhibited serum pro-inflammatory factors in mice, and down-regulated expression of apoptotic and focal factors in lung tissues while blocking CXCR4 or CXCL12 lost the repairing effect of MSCs on ARDS lung tissues. After the co-culture of MSC and lung cancer cells, the expression of CXCR4 on the surface of lung cancer cells was significantly increased, and more CXCR4 and CXCL12 acted together to activate more pro-survival pathways and inhibit apoptosis induced by TNF-α.

TNF-α Antagonizes the Effect of Leptin on Insulin Secretion through FOXO1-Dependent Transcriptional Suppression of LepRb in INS-1 Cells

Proinflammatory cytokines play a causal role in the development of hyperinsulinemia and T2MD. FOXO1, a transcription factor which is known to enhance proinflammation, was recently shown to be involved in obesity-induced β cell dysfunction. However, molecular mechanisms for the association remained elusive. In this study, we first found that both leptin (10 nM) and TNF-α (20 ng/ml) significantly inhibited glucose-stimulated insulin secretion (GSIS) of INS-1E cells. When in combination, the GSIS function of INS-1E cells was significantly increased compared with that of the leptin alone treatment, indicating that TNF-α attenuated the inhibiting effect of leptin on GSIS of INS-1E cells. Similarly, we found that TNF-α has the same inhibitory effect on leptin in regulating insulin synthesis and secretion, and the survival and apoptosis of insulin cells. Further studies showed that TNF-α blocks leptin pathway by reducing the expression of leptin receptor (LepRb, also called OBRb) and inhibiting the activation of STAT3, a key molecule involved in the leptin signaling pathway in INS-1E cells. Besides, the downregulated expression of phosphorylated FOXO1 was found to be involved in the possible mechanism of TNF-α. Overexpression of constitutively active FOXO1 markedly aggravated the LepRb reduction by TNF-α treatment of INS-1E cells, and the endogenous FOXO1 knockdown abolished the effect of TNF-α on INS-1E cells. Furthermore, we have proved that FOXO1 could directly bind to the promoter of LepRb as a negative transcription regulator. Taken together, the results of this study reveal that TNF-α-induced LepRb downregulated in pancreatic β cells and demonstrate that transcriptional reduction of FOXO1 might be the primary mechanism underlying TNF-α promoting INS-1E leptin resistance and β cell dysfunction. Conclusions. Our current studies based on INS-1E cells in vitro indicate that the inflammatory factor TNF-α plays an important role in the development of INS-1E leptin resistance and glucose metabolism disorders, probably through FOXO1-induced transcription reduction of LepRb promoter in pancreatic β cells, and FOXO1 may be a novel target for treating β cell dysfunction in obesity-induced hyperinsulinemia and T2DM.

Metabolomic comparison between natural Huaier and artificial cultured Huaier

Vanderbylia robiniophila (Murrill) B.K. (Huaier) is a kind of higher fungal fruiting body parasitic on the trunk of Sophora japonica and Robinia pseudoacacia L.. As a traditional Chinese medicine with a history of more than 1600 years, Huaier has attracted wide attention for its excellent anticancer activity. A systematic study on the metabolome differences between natural Huaier and artificial cultured Huaier was conducted using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry in this study. Principal component analysis and orthogonal projection on latent structure-discriminant analysis results showed that cultured Huaier evidently separated and individually separated from natural Huaier, indicating metabolome difference between natural Huaier and cultured Huaier. Hierarchical clustering analysis was further performed to cluster the differential metabolites and samples based on their metabolic similarity. The higher content of amino acids, alkaloids and terpenoids in natural Huaier makes it an excellent choice as a traditional Chinese medicine for anti-cancer or nutritional supplementation. The results of the Bel-7402 and A549 cells cytotoxicity test showed that the anticancer activity of natural Huaier was better than that of cultured Huaier. This may be due to the difference in chemical composition, which makes the anticancer activity of natural and cultured Huaier different.

Anti-Osteoporosis Effect of Perilla frutescens Leaf Hexane Fraction through Regulating Osteoclast and Osteoblast Differentiation

Osteoporosis is the result of an imbalance in the bone-remodeling process via an increase in osteoclastic activity and a decrease in osteoblastic activity. Our previous studies have shown that Perilla frutescens seed meal has anti-osteoclastogenic activity. However, the role of perilla leaf hexane fraction (PLH) in osteoporosis has not yet been investigated and reported. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of PLH in osteoclast differentiation and osteogenic potential using cell-based experiments in vitro. From HPLC analysis, we found that PLH contained high luteolin and baicalein. PLH was shown to inhibit RANKL-induced ROS production and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive multi-nucleated osteoclasts. Moreover, PLH significantly downregulated the RANKL-induced MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways, leading to the attenuation of NFATc1 and MMP-9 expression. In contrast, PLH enhanced osteoblast function by regulating alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and restoring TNF-α-suppressed osteoblast proliferation and osteogenic potential. Thus, luteolin and baicalein-rich PLH inhibits osteoclast differentiation but promotes the function of osteoblasts. Collectively, our data provide new evidence that suggests that PLH may be a valuable anti-osteoporosis agent.

Alpha-(1,6)-fucosyltransferase (FUT8) affects the survival strategy of osteosarcoma by remodeling TNF/NF-κB2 signaling

Glycosylation is an important modification of membrane proteins that results in functional changes in many cellular activities, from cell-cell recognition to regulatory signaling. Fucosyltransferase 8 (FUT8) is the sole enzyme responsible for core fucosylation, and aberrant fucosylation by dysregulated expression of fucosyltransferases is responsible for the growth of various types of carcinomas. However, the function of FUT8 in the progress of osteosarcoma (OS) has not been reported. In this study, we found that FUT8 is expressed at lower levels in patients with OS and in human OS cell lines such as MNNG/HOS, U2OS, and 143B, suggesting that attenuated expression of FUT8 is involved in the growth and progression of OS. Mechanistically, FUT8 affects the survival strategy of OS by modifying core-fucosylation levels of TNF receptors (TNFRs). Lower fucosylation of TNFRs activates the non-canonical NF-κB signaling pathway, and in turn, decreases mitochondria-dependent apoptosis in OS cells. Together, our results point to FUT8 being a negative regulator of OS that enhances OS-cell apoptosis and suggests a novel therapeutic strategy for treating OS.

Protective effects of piperlongumin in the prevention of inflammatory damage caused by pulmonary exposure to benzopyrene carcinogen

Benzopyrene is one of the main polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with carcinogenic capacity. Research has shown that anti-inflammatory drugs can reduce the incidence of lung cancer. In this scenario, we highlight piperlongumin (PL), an alkaloid from Piper longum with anti-inflammatory properties. Therefore, our aim was to study the effect of PL administration in a model of pulmonary carcinogenesis induced by benzopyrene in Balb/c mice. Animals were divided into 3 groups (n = 10/group): sham (10% DMSO), induced by benzopyrene (100 mg/kg, diluted in DMSO) without treatment (BaP) for 12 weeks and induced by benzopyrene and treated with PL (BaP/PL) (2 mg/kg in 10% DMSO) from the eighth week post-induction. Animals were weighed daily and pletsmography was performed in the 12th week. Genotoxicity and hemoglobin levels were analyzed in blood and quantification of leukocytes in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL). Lungs were collected for histopathological evaluation, immunohistochemical studies of annexin A1 (AnxA1), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 and nuclear transcription factor (NF-kB) and also the measurement of interleukin cytokines (IL)-1β, IL-17 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) -α. Treatment with PL reduced the pulmonary parameters (p < 0,001) of frequency, volume and pulmonary ventilation, decreased lymphocytes, monocytes and neutrophils in BAL (p < 0,05) as well as blood hemoglobin levels (p < 0,01). PL administration also reduced DNA damage and preserved the pulmonary architecture compared to the BaP group. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory effect of PL was evidenced by the maintenance of AnxA1 levels, reduction of COX-2 (p < 0,05), Bcl-2 (p < 0,01) and NF-kB (p < 0,001) expressions and decreased IL-1β, IL-17 (p < 0,01) and TNF-α (p < 0,05) levels. The results show the therapeutic potential of PL in the treatment of pulmonary anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor diseases with promising therapeutic implications.

Molecular Mechanism of Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Omega-3 Fatty Acids in Perilla Seed Oil and Rosmarinic Acid Rich Fraction Extracted from Perilla Seed Meal on TNF-α Induced A549 Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells

Industrially, after the removal of oil from perilla seeds (PS) by screw-type compression, the large quantities of residual perilla seed meal (PSM) becomes non-valuable waste. Therefore, to increase the health value and price of PS and PSM, we focused on the biological effects of perilla seed oil (PSO) and rosmarinic acid-rich fraction (RA-RF) extracted from PSM for their role in preventing oxidative stress and inflammation caused by TNF-α exposure in an A549 lung adenocarcinoma culture model. The A549 cells were pretreated with PSO or RA-RF and followed by TNF-α treatment. We found that PSO and RA-RF were not toxic to TNF-α-induced A549 cells. Both extracts significantly decreased the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in this cell line. The mRNA expression levels of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and COX-2 were significantly decreased by the treatment of PSO and RA-RF. The Western blot indicated that the expression of MnSOD, FOXO1, and NF-κB and phosphorylation of JNK were also significantly diminished by PSO and RA-RF treatment. The results demonstrated that PSO and RA-RF act as antioxidants to scavenge TNF-α induced ROS levels, resulting in decreased the expression of MnSOD, FOXO1, NF-κB and JNK signaling pathway in a human lung cell culture exposed to TNF-α.

Phytochemistry and pharmacology of alkaloids from Glaucium spp

Glaucium Mill. comprising 28 species with 78 synonyms, 3 subspecies, and 3 varieties worldwide belongs to the Papaveraceae family. The plants are well known for their different types of alkaloids. In the present study, we attempted to review the chemistry and pharmacology of the alkaloids from the genus Glaucium. For this purpose, the relevant data were collected from different scientific databases including, "Google Scholar", "ISI Web of Knowledge", "PubMed", "Scopus", and available books and e-books. Our results showed that aporphine alkaloids are dominated in the species; however, other types of alkaloids including protopines, benzophenanthridines, benzylisoquinolines, protoberberines, and morphinanes have also been reported from the genus. The pharmacological studies have shown that the alkaloids from Glaucium species have several biological activities of which anti-cancer and anti-cholinesterase effects have been highly reported. Besides, the data indicated that most of the species have been investigated neither phytochemically nor pharmacologically. Glaucium flavum, known as yellow horn poppy, is the most studied species. According to the reports, the plants from this genus have anti-cancer and anti-cholinesterase potentials and can be used as a source for aporphine alkaloids.

Suppressive Effects of Rosmarinic Acid Rich Fraction from Perilla on Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and Metastasis Ability in A549 Cells Exposed to PM via C-Jun, P-65-Nf-Κb and Akt Signaling Pathways

Particulate matter from forest fires (PMFF) is an environmental pollutant causing oxidative stress, inflammation, and cancer cell metastasis due to the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Perilla seed meal contains high levels of polyphenols, including rosmarinic acid (RA). The aim of this study is to determine the anti-oxidative stress, anti-inflammation, and anti-metastasis actions of rosmarinic acid rich fraction (RA-RF) from perilla seed meal and its underlying molecular mechanisms in A549 cells exposed to PMFF. PMFF samples were collected via the air sampler at the University of Phayao, Thailand, and their PAH content were analyzed using GC-MS. Fifteen PAH compounds were detected in PMFF. The PMFF significantly induced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, MMP-9 activity, invasion, migration, the overexpression of c-Jun and p-65-NF-κB, and Akt phosphorylation. Additionally, the RA-RF significantly reduced ROS production, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, and COX-2. RA-RF could also suppress MMP-9 activity, migration, invasion, and the phosphorylation activity of c-Jun, p-65-NF-κB, and Akt. Our findings revealed that RA-RF has antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-metastasis properties via c-Jun, p-65-NF-κB, and Akt signaling pathways. RA-RF may be further developed as an inhalation agent for the prevention of lung inflammation and cancer metastasis induced by PM exposure.

Inhibitory Effect of a Rosmarinic Acid-Enriched Fraction Prepared from Nga-Mon (Perilla frutescens) Seed Meal on Osteoclastogenesis through the RANK Signaling Pathway

The aim of this study is to determine antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities relating to the antiosteoporosis effects of various perilla seed meal (PSM) fractions. The remaining waste of perilla seed obtained from cold oil compression was extracted with 70% ethanol and sequentially fractionated according to solvent polarity with hexane, dichloromethane, ethyl acetate, and water. The results indicated that the seed-meal ethyl acetate fraction (SMEF) exhibited the highest antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities, and rosmarinic acid (RA) content. The signaling pathways induced by the receptor activator of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) ligand (RANKL) that trigger reactive oxygen species (ROS) and several transcription factors, leading to the induction of osteoclastogenesis, were also investigated. The SMEF clearly showed attenuated RANKL-induced tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP)-positive multinucleated osteoclasts and TRAP activity. A Western blot analysis showed that the SMEF significantly downregulated RANKL-induced NF-κB, AP-1 activation, and the nuclear factor of activated T-cell 1 (NFATc1) expression. SMEF also suppressed RANKL-induced osteoclast-specific marker gene-like MMP-9 using zymography. Furthermore, the SMEF showed inhibition of RANKL-induced ROS production in RAW 264.7 cells. The results suggest that the SMEF, which contained high quantities of RA, could be developed as a natural active pharmaceutical ingredient for osteoclastogenic protection and health promotion.

The involvement of TNF-α and TNF-β as proinflammatory cytokines in lymphocyte-mediated adaptive immunity of Nile tilapia by initiating apoptosis

Tumor necrosis factors (TNFs) are pleiotropic cytokines with important functions in homeostasis and disease pathogenesis. Recent advances have shown that TNFs are also involved in the regulation of adaptive immune responses. However, the knowledge about how TNF participates in and regulates adaptive immune response in early vertebrates is still limited. In present study, we identified two isoforms of TNF, TNF-α and TNF-β, from Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus (On-TNF-α and β). After analyzing the sequence characteristics, we investigated their regulatory roles in adaptive immune response of this fish species. On-TNF-α and β are evolutionarily conserved compare with their homologs from other vertebrates. Both TNFs were distributed in a wide range of tissues in O. niloticus, and with relative higher expression level in gill. After the animals were infected by Streptococcus agalactiae, mRNA levels of On-TNF-α and TNF-β in spleen lymphocytes were significantly upregulated during the primary response stage of adaptive immunity. Meanwhile, both TNF proteins in spleen lymphocytes were also dramatically elevated during the adaptive immune stage after bacterial infection. These results indicate the potential participation of On-TNF-α and TNF-β in adaptive immune response of Nile tilapia. Furthermore, On-TNF-α and β transcripts were obviously augmented, once spleen lymphocytes were activated by T cell-specific mitogen PHA. More importantly, both recombinant On-TNF-α and β could induce the apoptosis of head-kidney leukocytes of Nile tilapia. And On-TNF-β but not On-TNF-α promoted the apoptosis by activating caspase-8 in the target cells. Altogether, our study revealed that TNF-α and TNF-β participated in the lymphocyte-mediated adaptive immune response of Nile tilapia by initiating the apoptosis, and thus shed novel perspective for the regulatory mechanism of adaptive immunity in teleost.

Phosphorylated form of pyruvate dehydrogenase α1 mediates tumor necrosis factor α-induced glioma cell migration

Cell migration is an important factor influencing the treatment outcomes of high-grade glioma (World Health Organization grades III–IV). Using immunohistochemical staining, the present study demonstrated that the protein levels of phosphorylated pyruvate dehydrogenase α1 (p-PDHA1) were increased according to the grade of glioma. Moreover, p-PDHA1 mediated tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)-induced cell migration in glioma cells. Phalloidin staining and western blot analysis were used to detect the protein level of p-PDHA1 in U251 glioma cells stimulated by TNF-α at different time points. Phalloidin staining was used to observe the cytoskeletal structure. The effects on the expression of specific migration markers and on the cytoskeletal structure were also detected. Dichloroacetic acid is an inhibitor of PDK. These results indicated that p-PDHA1 served an important role in the migration of glioma cells, and consequently in the development of glioma.

Development and Validation of Autophagy-Related Gene Signature and Nomogram for Predicting Survival in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background

Autophagy, a highly conserved self-digesting process, has been deeply involved in the development and progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). However, the prognostic value of autophagy-related genes (ARGs) for OSCC still remains unclear. Our study set out to develop a multigene expression signature based on ARGs for individualized prognosis assessment in OSCC patients.

Methods

Based on The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, we identified prognosis-related ARGs through univariate COX regression analysis. Then we performed the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analysis to identify an optimal autophagy-related multigene signature with the subsequent validation in testing set, GSE41613 and GSE42743 datasets.

Results

We identified 36 prognosis-related ARGs for OSCC. Subsequently, the multigene signature based on 13 prognostic ARGs was constructed and successfully divided OSCC patients into low and high-risk groups with significantly different overall survival in TCGA training set (p < 0.0001). The autophagy signature remained as an independent prognostic factor for OSCC in univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. The area under the curve (AUC) values of the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for 1, 3, and 5-year survival were 0.758, 0.810, 0.798, respectively. Then the gene signature was validated in TCGA testing set, GSE41613 and GSE42743 datasets. Moreover, Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis, and single-sample gene set enrichment analysis (ssGSEA) revealed the underlying biological characteristics and signaling pathways associated with this signature in OSCC. Finally, we constructed a nomogram by combining the gene signature with multiple clinical parameters (age, gender, TNM-stage, tobacco, and alcohol history). The concordance index (C-index) and calibration plots demonstrated favorable predictive performance of our nomogram.

Conclusion

In summary, we identified and verified a 13-ARGs prognostic signature and nomogram, which provide individualized prognosis evaluation and show insight for potential therapeutic targets for OSCC.

Crocin attenuates CCl4-induced liver fibrosis via PPAR-γ mediated modulation of inflammation and fibrogenesis in rats

BACKGROUND

Liver fibrosis is a chronic pathological condition with a leading cause of liver-related mortality worldwide. In the present study, we have evaluated the antifibrotic effect of crocin, a carotenoid present in the stigma of Crocus sativus, and also explored its putative mechanism of action.

METHODS

Liver fibrosis was induced by intraperitoneal administration of 30% carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄). The crocin was administered orally at 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg body weight along with CCl₄ up to 8 weeks.

RESULTS

Chronic exposure to CCl₄ resulted in elevated levels of liver enzymes and reduced cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) activity in the liver. The liver tissue showed cellular swelling, vacuolization, necrosis, infiltration of inflammatory cells and fibrotic changes. The crocin treatment significantly lowered the levels of liver enzymes in serum and improved the liver CYP2E1 mRNA levels. The pathological changes in the liver were also lowered by crocin treatment. The level of pro-inflammatory cytokines, nuclear factor-kappa B, interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor α and fibrogenic factor, transforming growth factor β, and α-smooth muscle actin were elevated by the CCl₄ in the liver tissue. However, crocin treatment at different doses significantly reduced the expression of these factors. The increased caspase 3/7 activity was also lowered by crocin. CCl₄ administration decreased the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ) in liver tissue. The improved PPAR-γ expression in the liver by crocin treatment indicates its role in the therapeutic effect of crocin.

CONCLUSIONS

Crocin attenuated the various events in the progression of liver fibrosis via PPAR-γ mediated modulation of inflammatory and fibrogenic pathways.

Kaempferide Induces G0/G1 Phase Arrest and Apoptosis via ROS-Mediated Signaling Pathways in A549 Human Lung Cancer Cells

Kaempferide is an O-methylated flavonol that has received much attention due to its various biological activities. In this study, we explored the underlying mechanisms of kaempferide in human lung cancer A549 cells. The Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, Hoechst 33342/propidium iodide double staining, flow cytometry, scratch wound healing assay, and Western blot analysis were used to measure cell apoptosis, the cell cycle, reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, and cell migration of human lung cancer cells. Kaempferide significantly inhibited human lung cancer cell proliferation, and its toxic effects on normal cells were significantly lower than those of 5-fluorouracil. Kaempferide induced A549 cell apoptosis by decreasing the mitochondrial membrane potential and the expression level of B-cell lymphoma 2, and by increasing the expression levels of Bcl-2-associated X protein and caspase-3. It also regulated mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathways by increasing the expression levels of phosphorylated c-Jun N-terminal kinase, p-p38, I kappa B, and by decreasing the expression levels of phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated kinase, p-STAT3, and NF-κB. Kaempferide induced cell cycle arrest in the G0/G1 phase in A549 cells by downregulating the expression levels of p-AKT, cyclin D1, and cyclin-dependent kinase 2. Furthermore, kaempferide blocked A549 cell migration by downregulating the expression levels of transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1), p-β-catenin, p-glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta, N-cadherin, and vimentin, and by upregulating the expression level of E-cadherin. Kaempferide enhanced the accumulation of ROS, and N-acetyl-l-cysteine (a ROS inhibitor) decreased the regulation of MAPK, NF-κB, AKT, and TGF-β signaling pathways by kaempferide, inhibited cell apoptosis, and reversed cell cycle arrest. Our results showed that kaempferide induced apoptosis via ROS-mediated MAPK, NF-κB, AKT, and TGF-β signaling pathways in A549 cells. Thus, kaempferide may be a novel drug candidate for lung cancer.

TNFAIP2 Promotes Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells and Targeted by miR-145-5p

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) is an inflammatory cytokine that regulates inflammation and tumor progression in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The higher levels of TNF α are known to induce expression of several genes such as TNFα-induced protein 2 (TNFAIP2) with a largely unknown role in NSCLC. We provide the preliminary evidence for the role of TNFAIP2 in NSCLC progression and its epigenetic regulation mediated by microRNA, miR-145-5p. The expression of TNFAIP2 was confirmed using quantitative real-time PCR, immunohistochemistry, and Western blot in NSCLC tissue and paired adjacent normal tissue. All in vitro assays were undertaken in A549 and H23 cells and chemoresistance assays were undertaken in A549/Cisplatin (DDP) and H23/DDP cell types. TNFAIP2 silencing was undertaken using lipofectamine transfection of specific siRNA. Cells were co-transfected with miR-145-5p, and TNFAIP2-3' untranslated region (UTR) or TNFAIP2 with mutated 3'UTR using the luciferase vector pGL. Cell viability, transwell migration, and invasion were assessed. The role of caspase 3 proteins in cell viability was ascertained using Western blot. The tumor tissues (and cisplatin-resistant cell lines A549/DDP and H23/DDP) expressed significantly higher levels of TNAIP2 mRNA and protein. Silencing of TNFAIP2 resulted in reduced cell viability, reduced invasion, and migration in vitro. Silencing of TNFAIP2 in A549/DDP and H23/DDP had higher expression of TNFAIP2, reduced cell viability, and increased induction of caspase 3. MiR-145-5p binds to the 3'UTR of TNFAIP2. Overexpression of MiR-145-5p reduced expression of TNFAIP2, decreased cell viability, reduced cell migration and invasion, and significantly reduced expression of caspase 3 protein. TNFAIP2 mediates tumorigenesis in NSCLC through, not completely known pathways. miR-145-5p negatively regulates TNFAIP2 expression. miR-145-5p-mediated therapies may be explored in NSCLC.