Application of Electric Cell-Substrate Impedance Sensing to Investigate the Cytotoxic Effects of Andrographolide on U-87 MG Glioblastoma Cell Migration and Apoptosis

A cardiomyocyte-based biosensing platform for dynamic and quantitative investigation of excessive autophagy

Autophagy is an important physiological phenomenon in eukaryotes that helps maintain the cellular homeostasis. Autophagy is involved in the development of various cardiovascular diseases, affecting the maintenance of cardiac function and disease prognosis. Physiological levels of autophagy serve as a defense mechanism for cardiomyocytes against environmental stimuli, but an overabundance of autophagy may contribute to the development of cardiovascular diseases. However, conventional biological methods are difficult to monitor the autophagy process in a dynamic and chronic manner. Here, we developed a cardiomyocyte-based biosensing platform that records electrophysiological evolutions in action potentials to reflect the degree of autophagy. Different concentrations of rapamycin-mediated autophagy were administrated in the culture environment to simulate the autophagy model. Moreover, the 3-methyladenine (3-MA)-mediated autophagy inhibition was also investigated the protection on the autophagy. The recorded action potentials can precisely reflect different degrees of autophagy. Our study confirms the possibility of visualizing and characterizing the process of cardiomyocyte autophagy using cardiomyocyte-based biosensing platform, allowing to monitor the whole autophagy process in a non-invasive, real-time, and continuous way. We believe it will pave a promising avenue to precisely study the autophagy-related cardiovascular diseases.

Andrographolide Induces G2/M Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in Human Glioblastoma DBTRG-05MG Cell Line via ERK1/2 /c-Myc/p53 Signaling Pathway

Human glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is one of the most malignant brain tumors, with a high mortality rate worldwide. Conventional GBM treatment is now challenged by the presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), drug resistance, and post-treatment adverse effects. Hence, developing bioactive compounds isolated from plant species and identifying molecular pathways in facilitating effective treatment has become crucial in GBM. Based on pharmacodynamic studies, andrographolide has sparked the interest of cancer researchers, who believe it may alleviate difficulties in GBM therapy; however, it still requires further study. Andrographolide is a bicyclic diterpene lactone derived from Andrographis paniculata (Burm.f.) Wallich ex Nees that has anticancer properties in various cancer cell lines. The present study aimed to evaluate andrographolide's anticancer effectiveness and potential molecular pathways using a DBTRG-05MG cell line. The antiproliferative activity of andrographolide was determined using the WST-1 assay, while scratch assay and clonogenic assay were used to evaluate andrographolide's effectiveness against the cancer cell line by examining cell migration and colony formation. Flowcytometry was also used to examine the apoptosis and cell cycle arrest induced by andrographolide. The mRNA and protein expression level involved in the ERK1/2/c-Myc/p53 signaling pathway was then assessed using qRT-PCR and Western blot. The protein-protein interaction between c-Myc and p53 was determined by a reciprocal experiment of the co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) using DBTRG-05MG total cell lysate. Andrographolide significantly reduced the viability of DBTRG-05MG cell lines in a concentration- and time-dependent manner. In addition, scratch and clonogenic assays confirmed the effectiveness of andrographolide in reducing cell migration and colony formation of DBTRG-05MG, respectively. Andrographolide also promoted cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase, followed by apoptosis in the DBTRG-05MG cell line, by inducing ERK1/2, c-Myc, and p53 expression at the mRNA level. Western blot results demonstrated that c-Myc overexpression also increased the production of the anti-apoptotic protein p53. Our findings revealed that c-Myc and p53 positively interact in triggering the apoptotic signaling pathway. This study successfully discovered the involvement of ERK1/2/c-Myc/p53 in the suppression of the DBTRG-05MG cell line via cell cycle arrest followed by the apoptosis signaling pathway following andrographolide treatment.

Andrographolide: A review of its pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, toxicity and clinical trials and pharmaceutical researches

Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall. ex Nees, a renowned herb medicine in China, is broadly utilized in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for the treatment of cold and fever, sore throat, sore tongue, snake bite with its excellent functions of clearing heat and toxin, cooling blood and detumescence from times immemorial. Modern pharmacological research corroborates that andrographolide, the major ingredient in this traditional herb, is the fundamental material basis for its efficacy. As the main component of Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall. ex Nees, andrographolide reveals numerous therapeutic actions, such as antiinflammatory, antioxidant, anticancer, antimicrobial, antihyperglycemic and so on. However, there are scarcely systematic summaries on the specific mechanism of disease treatment and pharmacokinetics. Moreover, it is also found that it possesses easily ignored security issues in clinical application, such as nephrotoxicity and reproductive toxicity. Thereby it should be kept a lookout over in clinical. Besides, the relationship between the efficacy and security issues of andrographolide should be investigated and evaluated scientifically. In this review, special emphasis is given to andrographolide, a multifunctional natural terpenoids, including its pharmacology, pharmacokinetics, toxicity and pharmaceutical researches. A brief overview of its clinical trials is also presented. This review intends to systematically and comprehensively summarize the current researches of andrographolide, which is of great significance for the development of andrographolide clinical products. Noteworthy, those un-cracked issues such as specific pharmacological mechanisms, security issues, as well as the bottleneck in clinical transformation, which detailed exploration and excavation are still not to be ignored before achieving integration into clinical practice. In addition, given that current extensive clinical data do not have sufficient rigor and documented details, more high-quality investigations in this field are needed to validate the efficacy and/or safety of many herbal products.

Proteomics analysis identifies PEA-15 as an endosomal phosphoprotein that regulates α5β1 integrin endocytosis

Endosomal trafficking of cell surface receptors is essential to their function. Integrins are transmembrane receptors that integrate adhesion to the extracellular matrix with engagement of the cytoskeleton. Ligated integrins mediate diverse signals that regulate matrix assembly, cell survival, cell morphology, and cell motility. Endosomal trafficking of integrins modulates these signals and contributes to cell motility and is required for cancer cell invasion. The phosphoprotein PEA-15 modulates integrin activation and ERK MAP Kinase signaling. To elucidate novel PEA-15 functions we utilized an unbiased proteomics approach. We identified several binding partners for PEA-15 in the endosome including clathrin and AP-2 as well as integrin β1 and other focal adhesion complex proteins. We confirmed these interactions using proximity ligation analysis, immunofluorescence imaging, pull-down and co-immunoprecipitation. We further found that PEA-15 is enriched in endosomes and was required for efficient endosomal internalization of α5β1 integrin and cellular migration. Importantly, PEA-15 promotion of migration was dependent on PEA-15 phosphorylation at serines 104 and 116. These data support a novel endosomal role for PEA-15 in control of endosomal trafficking of integrins through an association with the β1 integrin and clathrin complexes, and thereby regulation of cell motility.

Biological properties of andrographolide, an active ingredient of Andrographis Paniculata: a narrative review

Andrographolide is a labdane diterpenoid isolated from Andrographis paniculata and traditionally used in Chinese and Indian medicine. Reported effects include anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer functions. Most of the studies support the hypothesis that andrographolide supplementation stimulates immune system, so the observed effects migh in fact be secondary to the stimulation of defense reactions. As andrographolide is involved in regulation of inflammation, it is not surprising that it is also evaluated in inflammation-mediated diseases such as ulcerative colitis. Anticancer effects of the andrographolide have been tested on various cancer panels. Colon cancer, breast cancer, and head and neck carcinomas were the most investigated, followed by prostate cancer and glioblastoma. The results looked promising. However, problems with solubility and low level of active substance in natural extract leads to preparation of chemical analogs. Objective of this short review is to summarize current knowledge of the biological effects of andragrapholide. We conclude that despite documented effects and some partly characterized mechanisms of action, more research is clearly needed. At present, the doses, types of treatment and possible negative side effects are not yet established. In addition, various isolations and compound formulas have been used for treatment of various diseases, making final conclusions problematic.

Evaluation of N-aryl-β-alanine derivatives as anticancer agents in triple-negative breast cancer and glioblastoma in vitro models

Synthesis of β-amino acid derivatives containing hydrazone and azole moieties is described. For this purpose, the appropriate hydrazide was treated with aromatic aldehydes, ketones and phenyl iso(thio)cyanates to obtain the desired outcome. The synthesized target compounds were evaluated for their anticancer properties. The assay displayed 3,3'-((2,6-diethylphenyl)azanediyl)bis(N'-(benzylidene)propanehydrazide) to possess the convincing anticancer effect against triple-negative breast cancer cells in vitro. To further study the anticancer properties of compounds containing a hydrazone moiety in breast cancer, series of previously and newly prepared dihydrazones were investigated. It was determined that derivatives with the bis(N'-(4-bromobenzylidene) fragment in the structure are exclusively cytotoxic to cancer cells. The most active compounds against both cell lines were those containing electron withdrawing 4-BrPh or 4-ClPh moieties, together with either chlorine, bromine or iodine groups in para position of phenyl ring. Selected two representative compounds showed migrastatic activity in MDA-MB-231 cell line, where both of them reduced the growth of breast cancer and glioblastoma cell 3D cultures and inhibited cell colony formation. 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Current Trends on Repurposing and Pharmacological Enhancement of Andrographolide

Andrographolide, the main bioactive component separated from Andrographis paniculata in 1951, has been scrutinized with a modern drug discovery approach for anti-inflammatory properties since 1984. Identification of new uses of existing drugs can be facilitated by searching for evidence linking them to known or yet undiscovered drug targets and human disease states to develop new therapeutic indications.Furthermore, a wide spectrum of biological properties of andrographolide such as anticancer, antibacterial, antiviral, hepatoprotective, antioxidant, anti-malarial, anti-atherosclerosis are also reported. However, poor water solubility and instability limit its clinical application. It becomes crucial to enhance its pharmacological function and find a new treatment option for more diseases. Therefore, this article reviews the major recent developments in andrographolide, including repurposing applications in different diseases and underlying mechanisms, particularly focusing on pharmacological enhancement of andrographolide such as derivatives, chemical modifications with potent biological activity and drug delivery. The repurposing and pharmacological enhancement of andrographolide would not only have exciting therapeutic potential to different diseases to facilitate drug marketing, but also decrease the economic burden on healthcare worldwide.

Integrative analysis of somatic mutations and differential expression profiles in glioblastoma based on aging acceleration

BACKGROUND

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumor and the mechanisms of progression are very complex. Accelerated aging is a driving factor of GBM. However, there has not been thorough research about the mechanisms of GBM progression based on aging acceleration.

METHODS

The aging predictor was modeled based on normal brain samples. Then an aging acceleration background network was constructed to explore GBM mechanisms.

RESULTS

The accelerated aging-related mechanisms provided an innovative way to study GBM, wherein integrative analysis of somatic mutations and differential expression revealed key pathologic characteristics. Moreover, the influence of the immune system, the nervous system and other critical factors on GBM were identified. The survival analysis also disclosed crucial GBM markers.

CONCLUSION

An integrative analysis of multi-omics data based on aging acceleration identified new driving factors for GBM.

Potential new targets and drugs related to histone modifications in glioma treatment

Glioma accounts for 40-50% of craniocerebral tumors, whose outcome rarely improves after standard treatment. The development of new therapeutic targets for glioma treatment has important clinical significance. With the deepening of research on gliomas, recent researchers have found that the occurrence and development of gliomas is closely associated with histone modifications, including methylation, acetylation, phosphorylation, and ubiquitination. Additionally, evidence has confirmed the close relationship between histone modifications and temozolomide (TMZ) resistance. Therefore, histone modification-related proteins have been widely recognized as new therapeutic targets for glioma treatment. In this review, we summarize the potential histone modification-associated targets and related drugs for glioma treatment. We have further clarified how histone modifications regulate the pathogenesis of gliomas and the mechanism of drug action, providing novel insights for the current clinical glioma treatment. Herein, we have also highlighted the limitations of current clinical therapies and have suggested future research directions and expected advances in potential areas of disease prognosis. Due to the complicated glioma pathogenesis, in the present review, we have acknowledged the limitations of histone modification applications in the related clinical treatment.

Development of Potential Antitumor Agents from the Scaffolds of Plant-Derived Terpenoid Lactones

Naturally occurring terpenoid lactones and their synthetic derivatives have attracted increasing interest for their promising antitumor activity and potential utilization in the discovery and design of new antitumor agents. In the present perspective article, selected plant-derived five-membered γ-lactones and six-membered δ-lactones that occur with terpenoid scaffolds are reviewed, with their structures, cancer cell line cytotoxicity and in vivo antitumor activity, structure-activity relationships, mechanism of action, and the potential for developing cancer chemotherapeutic agents discussed in each case. The compounds presented include artemisinin (ART, 1), parthenolide (PTL, 2), thapsigargin (TPG, 3), andrographolide (AGL, 4), ginkgolide B (GKL B, 5), jolkinolide B (JKL B, 6), nagilactone E (NGL E, 7), triptolide (TPL, 8), bruceantin (BRC, 9), dichapetalin A (DCT A, 10), and limonin (LMN, 11), and their naturally occurring analogues and synthetic derivatives. It is hoped that this contribution will be supportive of the future development of additional efficacious anticancer agents derived from natural products.

Nose-to-brain Delivery of Natural Compounds for the Treatment of Central Nervous System Disorders

BACKGROUND

Several natural compounds have demonstrated potential for the treatment of central nervous system disorders such as ischemic cerebrovascular disease, glioblastoma, neuropathic pain, neurodegenerative diseases, multiple sclerosis and migraine. This is due to their well-known antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, anti-tumor, anti-ischemic and analgesic properties. Nevertheless, many of these molecules have poor aqueous solubility, low bioavailability and extensive gastrointestinal and/or hepatic first-pass metabolism, leading to a quick elimination as well as low serum and tissue concentrations. Thus, the intranasal route emerged as a viable alternative to oral or parenteral administration, by enabling a direct transport into the brain through the olfactory and trigeminal nerves. With this approach, the blood-brain barrier is circumvented and peripheral exposure is reduced, thereby minimizing possible adverse effects.

OBJECTIVE

Herein, brain-targeting strategies for nose-to-brain delivery of natural compounds, including flavonoids, cannabinoids, essential oils and terpenes, will be reviewed and discussed. Brain and plasma pharmacokinetics of these molecules will be analyzed and related to their physicochemical characteristics and formulation properties.

CONCLUSION

Natural compounds constitute relevant alternatives for the treatment of brain diseases but often require loading into nanocarrier systems to reach the central nervous system in sufficient concentrations. Future challenges lie in a deeper characterization of their therapeutic mechanisms and in the development of effective, safe and brain-targeted delivery systems for their intranasal administration.

Validation of in-vitro bioassay methods: Application in herbal drug research

This present review described the validation method of in-vitro bioassay for its application in herbal drug research. Seven sequencing steps that can be taken for performing a valid bioassay include: literature survey, sample stability evaluation, Biosystem performance testing, Sample performance evaluation, determination of 50% effective concentration or cytotoxic concentrations, selective index evaluation, and determination of accurate relative potency of sample. Detailed methods and acceptance criteria for each step are described herein. Method calculations of the relative potency of sample using European Pharmacopeia 10.0, 5.3 (2020) were recommended instead of using United States Pharmacopeia 42 (2019). For having reliable data and conclusions, all methods (chemical and bioassay) need to be first validated before any data collection. Absence of any validation method may results in incorrect conclusions and bias.

Application of ECIS to Assess FCCP-Induced Changes of MSC Micromotion and Wound Healing Migration

Electric cell-substrate impedance sensing (ECIS) is an emerging technique for sensitively monitoring morphological changes of adherent cells in tissue culture. In this study, human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) were exposed to different concentrations of carbonyl cyanide 4-(trifluoromethoxy)phenylhydrazone (FCCP) for 20 h and their subsequent concentration-dependent responses in micromotion and wound healing migration were measured by ECIS. FCCP disrupts ATP synthesis and results in a decrease in cell migration rates. To detect the change of cell micromotion in response to FCCP challenge, time-series resistances of cell-covered electrodes were monitored and the values of variance were calculated to verify the difference. While Seahorse XF-24 extracellular flux analyzer can detect the effect of FCCP at 3 μM concentration, the variance calculation of the time-series resistances measured at 4 kHz can detect the effect of FCCP at concentrations as low as 1 μM. For wound healing migration, the recovery resistance curves were fitted by sigmoid curve and the hill slope showed a concentration-dependent decline from 0.3 μM to 3 μM, indicating a decrease in cell migration rate. Moreover, dose dependent incline of the inflection points from 0.3 μM to 3 μM FCCP implied the increase of the half time for wound recovery migration. Together, our results demonstrate that partial uncoupling of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation reduces micromotion and wound healing migration of hMSCs. The ECIS method used in this study offers a simple and sensitive approach to investigate stem cell migration and its regulation by mitochondrial dynamics.