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Shi A, Liu L, Li S, Qi B. Natural products targeting the MAPK-signaling pathway in cancer: overview. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2024; 150:6. [PMID: 38193944 PMCID: PMC10776710 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-023-05572-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE This article summarizes natural products that target the MAPK-signaling pathway in cancer therapy. The classification, chemical structures, and anti-cancer mechanisms of these natural products are elucidated, and comprehensive information is provided on their potential use in cancer therapy. METHODS Using the PubMed database, we searched for keywords, including "tumor", "cancer", "natural product", "phytochemistry", "plant chemical components", and "MAPK-signaling pathway". We also screened for compounds with well-defined structures that targeting the MAPK-signaling pathway and have anti-cancer effects. We used Kingdraw software and Adobe Photoshop software to draw the chemical compound structural diagrams. RESULTS A total of 131 papers were searched, from which 85 compounds with well-defined structures were selected. These compounds have clear mechanisms for targeting cancer treatment and are mainly related to the MAPK-signaling pathway. Examples include eupatilin, carvacrol, oridonin, sophoridine, diosgenin, and juglone. These chemical components are classified as flavonoids, phenols, terpenoids, alkaloids, steroidal saponins, and quinones. CONCLUSIONS Certain MAPK pathway inhibitors have been used for clinical treatment. However, the clinical feedback has not been promising because of genomic instability, drug resistance, and side effects. Natural products have few side effects, good medicinal efficacy, a wide range of sources, individual heterogeneity of biological activity, and are capable of treating disease from multiple targets. These characteristics make natural products promising drugs for cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aiwen Shi
- Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, School of Phharmacy, 1035 Boshuo Road, Jingyue Street, Nanguan District, Changchun City, Jilin Province, China
| | - Li Liu
- Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, School of Phharmacy, 1035 Boshuo Road, Jingyue Street, Nanguan District, Changchun City, Jilin Province, China.
| | - Shuang Li
- Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, School of Phharmacy, 1035 Boshuo Road, Jingyue Street, Nanguan District, Changchun City, Jilin Province, China
| | - Bin Qi
- Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, School of Phharmacy, 1035 Boshuo Road, Jingyue Street, Nanguan District, Changchun City, Jilin Province, China.
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Shi Z, Gao Y, Feng L, Tian W, Dou Z, Liu C, Liu J, Xu Y, Wang Y, Yan J, Wu Q, Li J, Yang L, Zhang Z, Yang J, Qi Z. TR35 Exerts Anti-tumor Effects by Modulating Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase and STAT3 Signaling in Lung Cancer Cells. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:723346. [PMID: 34760885 PMCID: PMC8573214 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.723346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a complex disease extremely dependent on its microenvironment and is highly regulated by a variety of stimuli inside and outside the cell. Evidence suggests that active camel whey fraction (TR35) confer anti-tumor effects in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, its exact mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we investigated the mechanisms underlying suppression of NSCLC cell growth and proliferation by TR35. Treatment of A549 and H1299 cells with TR35 suppressed their growth and enhanced apoptosis, as revealed by CCK-8, colony formation and flow cytometric analyses. We find that TR35 suppresses tumor growth in a xenograft nude mouse model without losses in body weight. RNA-seq and KEGG pathway analyses showed that the DEGs were enriched in mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and Jak-STAT signaling pathways. After test the key factors’ activity associated with these pathways by Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining and western blotting, the activation of JNK phosphorylation and inhibition of p38 and STAT3 phosphorylation was observed both in TR35 treated lung cancer cell and tumor tissue. Taken together, these results showed that TR35 play a significant role in the NSCLC progression in the tumor microenvironment via MAPK and Jak-STAT signaling, highlighting TR35 as a potential therapeutic agent against lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyong Shi
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yang Gao
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Lifeng Feng
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Wencong Tian
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhihua Dou
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Ürümqi, China
| | - Chen Liu
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Ürümqi, China
| | - Jie Liu
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yang Xu
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Yachen Wang
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Jie Yan
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Qiang Wu
- Key Laboratory of Emergency and Trauma of Ministry of Education, Research Unit of Island Emergency Medicine, School of Tropical Medicine and Laboratory Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (No. 2019RU013), Hainan Medical University, Haikou, China
| | - Jing Li
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Liang Yang
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhaocai Zhang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Zhaocai Zhang,
| | - Jie Yang
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Xinjiang University, Ürümqi, China
- Jie Yang,
| | - Zhi Qi
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
- Zhi Qi,
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Mitochondrial Dynamics, ROS, and Cell Signaling: A Blended Overview. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11040332. [PMID: 33920160 PMCID: PMC8070048 DOI: 10.3390/life11040332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondria are key intracellular organelles involved not only in the metabolic state of the cell, but also in several cellular functions, such as proliferation, Calcium signaling, and lipid trafficking. Indeed, these organelles are characterized by continuous events of fission and fusion which contribute to the dynamic plasticity of their network, also strongly influenced by mitochondrial contacts with other subcellular organelles. Nevertheless, mitochondria release a major amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) inside eukaryotic cells, which are reported to mediate a plethora of both physiological and pathological cellular functions, such as growth and proliferation, regulation of autophagy, apoptosis, and metastasis. Therefore, targeting mitochondrial ROS could be a promising strategy to overcome and hinder the development of diseases such as cancer, where malignant cells, possessing a higher amount of ROS with respect to healthy ones, could be specifically targeted by therapeutic treatments. In this review, we collected the ultimate findings on the blended interplay among mitochondrial shaping, mitochondrial ROS, and several signaling pathways, in order to contribute to the dissection of intracellular molecular mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of eukaryotic cells, possibly improving future therapeutic approaches.
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Zang YQ, Feng YY, Luo YH, Zhai YQ, Ju XY, Feng YC, Sheng YN, Wang JR, Yu CQ, Jin CH. Quinalizarin induces ROS‑mediated apoptosis via the MAPK, STAT3 and NF‑κB signaling pathways in human breast cancer cells. Mol Med Rep 2019; 20:4576-4586. [PMID: 31702038 PMCID: PMC6798002 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2019.10725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 07/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Quinalizarin has been demonstrated to exhibit potent antitumor activities in lung cancer and gastric cancer cells, but currently, little is known regarding its anticancer mechanisms in human breast cancer cells. The aim of the present study was to investigate the apoptotic effects of quinalizarin in MCF-7 cells and to analyze its molecular mechanisms. The MTT assay was used to evaluate the viability of human breast cancer cells that had been treated with quinalizarin and 5-fluorouracil. Flow cytometric analyses and western blotting were used to investigate the effects of quinalizarin on apoptosis and cycle arrest in MCF-7 cells with focus on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. The results demonstrated that quinalizarin exhibited significant cytotoxic effects on human breast cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. Accompanying ROS, quinalizarin induced MCF-7 cell mitochondrial-associated apoptosis by regulating mitochondrial-associated apoptosis, and caused cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase in a time-dependent manner. Furthermore, quinalizarin can activate p38 kinase and JNK, and inhibit the extracellular signal-regulated kinase, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and NF-κB signaling pathways. These effects were blocked by mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitor and N-acetyl-L-cysteine. The results from the present study suggested that quinalizarin induced G2/M phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in MCF-7 cells through ROS-mediated MAPK, STAT3 and NF-κB signaling pathways. Thus, quinalizarin may be useful for human breast cancer treatment, as well as the treatment of other cancer types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Qing Zang
- Department of Food Science and Engineering, College of Food Science, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang 163319, P.R. China
| | - Yan-Yu Feng
- Department of Food Science and Engineering, College of Food Science, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang 163319, P.R. China
| | - Ying-Hua Luo
- Department of Grass Science, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang 163319, P.R. China
| | - Yu-Qing Zhai
- Department of Food Science and Engineering, College of Food Science, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang 163319, P.R. China
| | - Xue-Ying Ju
- Department of Food Science and Engineering, College of Food Science, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang 163319, P.R. China
| | - Yu-Chao Feng
- Department of Food Science and Engineering, College of Food Science, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang 163319, P.R. China
| | - Ya-Nan Sheng
- Department of Food Science and Engineering, College of Food Science, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang 163319, P.R. China
| | - Jia-Ru Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Science and Technology, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang 163319, P.R. China
| | - Chang-Qing Yu
- Department of Food Science and Engineering, College of Food Science, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang 163319, P.R. China
| | - Cheng-Hao Jin
- Department of Food Science and Engineering, College of Food Science, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang 163319, P.R. China
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Sun XY, Zhong CY, Qiu QQ, Li ZW, Liu MY, Wang X, Jin CH. Synthesis, activity evaluation, and pro-apoptotic properties of novel 1,2,4-triazol-3-amine derivatives as potent anti-lung cancer agents. J Enzyme Inhib Med Chem 2019; 34:1210-1217. [PMID: 31286781 PMCID: PMC6691921 DOI: 10.1080/14756366.2019.1636044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, a series of 4,5-bis(substituted phenyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine compounds was designed, synthesised, and evaluated to determine their potential as anti-lung cancer agents. According to the results of screening of lung cancer cell lines A549, NCI-H460, and NCI-H23 in vitro, most of the synthesised compounds have potent cytotoxic activities with IC50 values ranging from 1.02 to 48.01 µM. Particularly, compound 4,5-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-amine (BCTA) was the most potent anti-cancer agent, with IC50 values of 1.09, 2.01, and 3.28 µM against A549, NCI-H460, and NCI-H23 cells, respectively, meaning many-fold stronger anti-lung cancer activity than that of the chemotherapeutic agent 5-fluorouracil. We also explored the effects of BCTA on apoptosis in lung cancer cells by flow cytometry and western blotting. Our results indicated that BCTA induced apoptosis by upregulating proteins BAX, caspase 3, and PARP. Thus, the potential application of compound BCTA as a drug should be further examined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xian-Yu Sun
- a Department of Pharmacy , College of Animal Science and Technique, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University , Daqing , China
| | - Chun-Yan Zhong
- a Department of Pharmacy , College of Animal Science and Technique, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University , Daqing , China
| | - Qing-Qing Qiu
- a Department of Pharmacy , College of Animal Science and Technique, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University , Daqing , China
| | - Zhen-Wang Li
- a Department of Pharmacy , College of Animal Science and Technique, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University , Daqing , China
| | - Mei-Yu Liu
- a Department of Pharmacy , College of Animal Science and Technique, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University , Daqing , China
| | - Xin Wang
- a Department of Pharmacy , College of Animal Science and Technique, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University , Daqing , China
| | - Cheng-Hao Jin
- b Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology , College of Life Science and Technology, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University , Daqing , China
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Tan Q, Peng L, Huang Y, Huang W, Bai W, Shi L, Li X, Chen T. Structure-Activity Relationship Analysis on Antioxidant and Anticancer Actions of Theaflavins on Human Colon Cancer Cells. JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY 2019; 67:159-170. [PMID: 30474978 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jafc.8b05369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The roles of natural products as effective cancer prevention and therapeutic agents have been documented by various studies in recent years, but the action mechanisms and structure-activity relationship need more elucidation. The present study showed that theaflavins (theaflavin and its derivatives, TFs) from black tea caused an inhibitory effect on the proliferation of human colon adenocarcinoma cancer SW480 cells and human colon cancer SW620 cells [half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) < 32.0 μM] by the induction of cell cycle arrest but exerted lower toxicity against normal cells with a high safety index (1.89-6.26). Moreover, TFs triggered a decrease in reactive oxygen species in SW480 cells as a result of their excellent radical-scavenging ability (e.g., the IC50 value of TF4 to ABTS• + was 1.91 ± 0.21 μM). More importantly, the structure-activity relationship analysis of TFs exhibited that the galloyl group was an important factor to affect these activities. Taken together, we revealed that the TFs could act as substitutes for natural antioxidants and promising anticancer agents with beneficial influence on human health and then anticipated that this study may provide useful information on the development of therapeutic natural products.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Lijiao Peng
- Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Medical University , Zhanjiang , Guangdong 524000 , People's Republic of China
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