Tanshinone IIA regulates microRNA‑125b/foxp3/caspase‑1 signaling and inhibits cell viability of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Signaling pathways behind the biological effects of tanshinone IIA for the prevention of cancer and cardiovascular diseases

Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA) is a well-known fat-soluble diterpenoid found in Salvia miltiorrhiza, recognized for its various biological effects. The molecular signaling pathways of Tan IIA have been investigated in different diseases, including the anti-inflammatory, hepatoprotective, renoprotective, neuroprotective effects, and fibrosis prevention. This article provides a brief overview of the signaling pathways related to anti-cancer and cardioprotective effects of Tan IIA. It shows that Tan IIAs anti-cancer ability has good expectation through multiplicity mechanisms affecting various aspects' tumor biology. The major pathways involved in its anti-cancer effects include inhibition of PI3/Akt, MAPK, and p53/p21 signaling which leads to enhancement of immune responses and increased radiation sensitivity. Some essential pathways responsible for cardioprotective effects induced by Tan IIA are PI3/AKT activation, MAPK, and SIRT1 promoting protection against ischemia/reperfusion injury in myocardial cells as well as inhibiting pathological remodeling processes. Finally, the article underscores the complex and specific signaling pathways influenced by Tan IIA. The PI3/Akt and MAPK pathways play critical roles in the anti-cancer and cardioprotective effects of Tan IIA. Particularly, Tan IIA suppresses the proliferation of malignancies in cancerous cells but stimulates protective mechanisms in normal cardiovascular cells. These findings highlight the importance of investigating molecular signaling pathways in evaluating the therapeutic potential of natural products. Studying about signaling pathways is vital in understanding the therapeutic aspects of Tan IIA and its derivatives as anti-cancer and cardio-protective agents. Further research is necessary to understand these complex mechanisms.

Programmed cell death in nasopharyngeal carcinoma: Mechanisms and therapeutic targets

Programmed cell death is a type of autonomic and orderly cell death mode controlled by genes that maintain homeostasis and growth. Tumor is a typical manifestation of an imbalance in environmental homeostasis in the human body. Currently, several tumor treatments are designed to trigger the death of tumor cells. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is one of the most common malignant tumors in China. It displays obvious regional and ethnic differences in its incidence, being typically high in the south and low in the north of China. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is currently considered to be a polygenic inherited disease and is often mediated by the interaction between multiple genes or between genes and the environment. Apoptosis has long been considered the key to tumor treatment, while other cell death pathways have often been overlooked. The current study provides an overview of the relationship among apoptosis, autophagy, pyroptosis, necroptosis, ferroptosis, and nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and the regulatory pathways of nasopharyngeal carcinoma based on five cell death modes were synthesized from the view of molecule. We hope this review will help explore additional, novel programmed cell death targets for the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and thus promote in-depth research.

Exploring Advances in Natural Plant Molecules for Allergic Rhinitis Immunomodulation in Vivo and in Vitro

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is a prevalent allergic disease that imposes significant economic burdens and life pressures on individuals, families, and society, particularly in the context of accelerating globalization and increasing pathogenic factors. Current clinical therapies for AR include antihistamines, glucocorticoids administered via various routes, leukotriene receptor antagonists, immunotherapy, and several decongestants. These treatments have demonstrated efficacy in alleviating clinical symptoms and pathological states. However, with the growing awareness of AR and rising expectations for improvements in quality of life, these treatments have become associated with a higher incidence of side effects and an elevated risk of drug resistance. Furthermore, the development of AR is intricately associated with dysregulation of the immune system, yet the underlying pathogenetic mechanisms remain incompletely understood. In contrast, widely available natural plant molecules offer multiple targeting pathways that uniquely modify the typical pathophysiology of AR through immunomodulatory processes. This review presents a comprehensive analysis of both in vivo and in vitro studies on natural plant molecules that modulate immunity for treating AR. Additionally, we examine their specific mechanisms of action in animal models to provide new insights for developing safe and effective targeted therapies while guiding experimental and clinical applications against AR.

Cardioprotective Effects of Phlorizin on Hyperlipidemia-induced Myocardial Injury: Involvement of Suppression in Pyroptosis via Regulating HK1/NLRP3/Caspase-1 Signaling Pathway

Hyperlipidemia (HLP) is a prevalent and intricate condition that plays a pivotal role in impairing heart function. The primary objective of this study was to assess the lipid-lowering and cardioprotective properties of phlorizin (PHZ) and to investigate its potential molecular mechanisms in rats. In this investigation, Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to a high-fat diet for a period of 28 days to induce an HLP model. Subsequently, the rats received oral doses of PHZ or metformin from day 14 to day 28. We assessed various parameters using commercially available kits, including serum lipid deposition, myocardial injury biomarkers, oxidative stress markers, and inflammatory cytokine levels. We also employed electron microscopy to examine myocardial ultrastructural changes and conducted Western blot analyses to assess apoptosis factors and pyroptosis markers. Comparing the PHZ group with the model group, we observed significant improvements in blood lipid deposition and heart injury biomarkers. Furthermore, PHZ demonstrated a clear reduction in myocardial tissue oxidative stress and inflammatory factors, as well as a suppression of cell apoptosis. Subsequent investigations indicated that PHZ treatment led to a decreased inflammatory response and lowered levels of hexokinase 1 (HK1), NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3 (NLRP3), apoptosis-associated speck-like protein containing a caspase recruitment domain (ASC), and Caspase-1. In summary, PHZ proved to be an effective remedy for alleviating HLP-induced cardiac damage by reducing blood lipid levels, mitigating oxidative stress, curbing inflammation, and suppressing pyroptosis. The inhibition of pyroptosis by PHZ appears to be linked to the regulation of the HK1/NLRP3/Caspase-1 signaling pathway.

Pyroptosis: A Novel Therapeutic Target for Bioactive Compounds in Human Disease Treatment? A Narrative Review

Background/Objectives: Bioactive compounds possess the ability to maintain health and improve diseases by regulating inflammation and cell death processes. Pyroptosis is programmed cell death related to inflammation and exerts a critical role in the development and progression of different types of diseases. This narrative review aims to investigate and discuss the effects of dietary bioactive compounds on pyroptosis in different common human pathologies, such as inflammatory disease, bacterial infection, injury disease, cancer, diabetes and heart disease, etc. Method: Studies published in the major databases until December 2024 in English were considered, for a total of 50 papers. Results: The current evidence demonstrated that the bioactive compounds are able to regulate the pyroptosis process by modulating different inflammasome sensors (NLRP1, NLRP3, and AIM2), caspase family proteins (caspase-1, caspase-3, and caspase-11), and gasdermins (GSDMD and GSDME) in many pathological conditions related to inflammation, including cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Conclusions: Bioactive compounds have powerful potential to be the candidate drug for pyroptosis modulation in inflammatory diseases, even if more clinical studies are needed to confirm the effects and establish efficient doses for humans.

Pyroptosis induced by natural products and their derivatives for cancer therapy

Natural products, which are compounds extracted and/or refined from plants and microbes in nature, have great potential for the discovery of therapeutic agents, especially for infectious diseases and cancer. In recent years, natural products have been reported to induce multiple cell death pathways to exhibit antitumor effects. Among them, pyroptosis is a unique programmed cell death (PCD) characterized by continuous cell membrane permeability and intracellular content leakage. According to the canonical and noncanonical pathways, the formation of gasdermin-N pores involves a variety of transcriptional targets and post-translational modifications. Thus, tailored control of PCD may facilitate dying cells with sufficient immunogenicity to activate the immune system to eliminate other tumor cells. Therefore, we summarized the currently reported natural products or their derivatives and their nano-drugs that induce pyroptosis-related signaling pathways. We reviewed six main categories of bioactive compounds extracted from natural products, including flavonoids, terpenoids, polyphenols, quinones, artemisinins, and alkaloids. Correspondingly, the underlying mechanisms of how these compounds and their derivatives engage in pyroptosis are also discussed. Moreover, the synergistic effect of natural bioactive compounds with other antitumor therapies is proposed as a novel therapeutic strategy for traditional chemotherapy, radiotherapy, chemodynamic therapy, photodynamic therapy, photothermal therapy, hyperthermal therapy, and sonodynamic therapy. Consequently, we provide insights into natural products to develop a novel antitumor therapy or qualified adjuvant agents by inducing pyroptosis, which may eventually be applied clinically.

Tanshinone IIA potentiates the therapeutic efficacy of glucocorticoids in lipopolysaccharide-treated HEI-OC1 cells through modulation of the FOXP3/Nrf2 signaling pathway

Glucocorticoids (GCs) are commonly used to treat sudden sensorineural hearing loss (SSNHL), although some patients are resistant to this therapeutic approach. Clinical studies have demonstrated the efficacy of tanshinone IIA (TA) in combination with GC for managing various human ailments. However, it remains unclear whether TA can mitigate GC resistance in SSNHL. Our aim is to elucidate the role of NRF2-induced transcriptional regulation of HDAC2 in influencing GC resistance and investigate the involvement of TA-related molecular pathways in GC resistance. Here, HEI-OC1 cells are treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to establish an in vitro model for SSNHL. The cells are subsequently treated with dexamethasone (DXE) or DXE + TA. RT-qPCR and western blot analysis are used to measure the mRNA and protein levels of Forkhead box P3 (FOXP3), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2), and histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2). Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and 5-ethynyl-2'-deoxyuridine (EdU) assays are carried out to assess cell proliferation. Flow cytometry analysis is performed to evaluate apoptosis. Mechanistic studies involve chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), luciferase reporter, and DNA pull-down assays. Our results show that treatment with TA + DEX significantly increases proliferation and suppresses apoptosis in LPS-treated HEI-treated OC1 cells. TA upregulates HDAC2 expression by activating NRF2-mediated transcription of HDAC2, with the NRF2-HDAC2 binding site located at bases 419-429 (ATGACACTCCA) in the promoter sequence of HDAC2. Furthermore, TA upregulates FOXP3 expression to activate NRF2 transcription, with the predicted FOXP3-binding site located at bases 864-870 (GCAAACA) in the promoter sequence of NRF2. In summary, these findings suggest that TA enhances the therapeutic effects of GC on the proliferation and apoptosis of HEI OC1 cells by increasing FOXP3/Nrf2 expression. These results indicate that TA may be promising for ameliorating GC resistance in patients with SSNHL.

Targeting programmed cell death via active ingredients from natural plants: a promising approach to cancer therapy

Cancer is a serious public health problem in humans, and prevention and control strategies are still necessary. Therefore, the development of new therapeutic drugs is urgently needed. Targeting programmed cell death, particularly via the induction of cancer cell apoptosis, is one of the cancer treatment approaches employed. Recently, an increasing number of studies have shown that compounds from natural plants can target programmed cell death and kill cancer cells, laying the groundwork for use in future anticancer treatments. In this review, we focus on the latest research progress on the role and mechanism of natural plant active ingredients in different forms of programmed cell death, such as apoptosis, autophagy, necroptosis, ferroptosis, and pyroptosis, to provide a strong theoretical basis for the clinical development of antitumor drugs.

Integrating serum metabolomics analysis and network pharmacology to reveal the potential mechanism of Shengmai Jianghuang San in the treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Shengmai Jianghuang San (SMJHS) is a traditional Chinese herbal compound reported to inhibit Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma (NPC) progression and enhance radiosensitivity. However, the specific active ingredients and regulatory mechanisms of SMJHS against NPC, particularly under hypoxic conditions, remain unclear. In this study, Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were gavaged with Shengmai Jianghuang San (SMJHS), and their blood was collected from the abdominal aorta. UHPLC-Q-Exactive orbitrap MS/MS was used to identify the metabolite profiles of SMJHS drug-containing serum. A molecular network of the active compositions in SMJHS targeting NPC was constructed through network pharmacology and molecular docking. The HIF-1α/VEGF pathway was in key positions. The effects of SMJHS on the proliferation, migration, and radiosensitivity of hypoxic NPC cells were assessed by in vitro experiments. NPC cell lines stably overexpressing HIF-1α were established using a lentivirus to investigate the regulation of HIF-1α/VEGF signaling in hypoxic NPC cells by SMJHS. Through a combination of network pharmacological analysis, cellular biofunctional validation, and molecular biochemical experiments, our study found that SMJHS had an anti-proliferative effect on NPC cells cultured under hypoxic conditions, inhibiting their migration and increasing their radiosensitivity. Additionally, SMJHS suppressed the expression of HIF-1α and VEGFA, exhibiting potential as an effective option for improving NPC treatment.

Crosstalk between hypoxia-induced pyroptosis and immune escape in cancer: From mechanisms to therapy

Pyroptosis can be triggered through both canonical and non-canonical inflammasome pathways, involving the cleavage of gasdermin (GSDM) protein family members, like GSDMD and GSDME. The impact of pyroptosis on tumors is nuanced, because its role in regulating cancer progression and anti-tumor immunity may vary depending on the tumor type, stage, location, and immune status. However, pyroptosis cannot be simply categorized as promoting or inhibiting tumors based solely on whether it is acute or chronic in nature. The interplay between pyroptosis and cancer is intricate, with some evidence suggesting that chronic pyroptosis may facilitate tumor growth, while the acute induction of pyroptosis could stimulate anti-cancer immune responses. Tumor hypoxia activates hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) signaling to modulate pyroptosis and immune checkpoint expression. Targeting this hypoxia-pyroptosis-immune escape axis could be a promising therapeutic strategy. This review highlights the complex crosstalk between hypoxia, pyroptosis, and immune evasion in the TME.

Epigenetic regulation of diverse cell death modalities in cancer: a focus on pyroptosis, ferroptosis, cuproptosis, and disulfidptosis

Tumor is a local tissue hyperplasia resulted from cancerous transformation of normal cells under the action of various physical, chemical and biological factors. The exploration of tumorigenesis mechanism is crucial for early prevention and treatment of tumors. Epigenetic modification is a common and important modification in cells, including DNA methylation, histone modification, non-coding RNA modification and m6A modification. The normal mode of cell death is programmed by cell death-related genes; however, recent researches have revealed some new modes of cell death, including pyroptosis, ferroptosis, cuproptosis and disulfidptosis. Epigenetic regulation of various cell deaths is mainly involved in the regulation of key cell death proteins and affects cell death by up-regulating or down-regulating the expression levels of key proteins. This study aims to investigate the mechanism of epigenetic modifications regulating pyroptosis, ferroptosis, cuproptosis and disulfidptosis of tumor cells, explore possible triggering factors in tumor development from a microscopic point of view, and provide potential targets for tumor therapy and new perspective for the development of antitumor drugs or combination therapies.

Pyroptosis and the tumor immune microenvironment: A new battlefield in ovarian cancer treatment

Ovarian cancer is a less common tumor in women compared to cervical or breast cancer, however it is more malignant and has worse outcomes. Ovarian cancer patients still have a five-year survival rate < 50% despite advances in therapy. Due to recent developments in immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), cancer immunotherapy has attracted increased interest. Pyroptosis is a highly inflammatory form of cell death, which is essential for bridging innate and adaptive immunity, and is involved in immune regulation within the tumor microenvironment (TME). Recent research has shown that pyroptosis can promote immunotherapy of ovarian cancer, including treatment with chimeric antigen receptor T-cells (CAR-T) or ICIs. Moreover, inflammasomes, various signaling pathways and lncRNAs can all affect pyroptosis in ovarian cancer. Here we discuss how pyroptosis affects the development and progression of ovarian cancer as well as the TME. We also provide a summary of small molecule drugs that could target pyroptotic cell death processes and may be useful in ovarian cancer therapy.

Sodium tanshinone IIA sulphate inhibits angiogenesis in lung adenocarcinoma via mediation of miR-874/eEF-2K/TG2 axis

CONTEXT

Sodium tanshinone IIA sulphate (STS) is a product originated from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge [Lamiaceae], which exerts an antitumour effect. However, the role of STS on lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) remains unexplored.

OBJECTIVE

Our study explores the effect and mechanism of STS against LUAD.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

LUAD cells were treated with 100 μM STS for 24 h and control group cells were cultured under normal medium conditions. Functionally, the viability, migration, invasion and angiogenesis of LUAD cells were examined by MTT, wound healing, transwell and tube formation assay, respectively. Moreover, cells were transvected with different transfection plasmids. Dual luciferase reporter and RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) assays were used to verify the relationship between miR-874 and eEF-2K.

RESULTS

STS significantly decreased the viability (40-50% reduction), migration (migration rate of A549 cells from 0.67 to 0.28, H1299 cells from 0.71 to 0.41), invasion (invasion numbers of A549 cells from 172 to 55, H1299 cells from 188 to 35) and angiogenesis (80-90% reduction) of LUAD cells. Downregulation of miR-874 partially abolished the antitumour effect of STS. EEF-2K was identified to be the target of miR-874, and its downregulation markedly abolished the effects of miR-874 downregulation on tumourigenesis of LUAD. Moreover, silencing of TG2 abrogated eEF-2K-induced progression of LUAD.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

STS attenuated the tumourigenesis of LUAD through the mediation of the miR-874/eEF-2K/TG2 axis. STS is a promising drug to fight against lung cancer, which might effectively reverse drug resistance when combined with classical anticancer drugs.

Epigenetic regulation of pyroptosis in cancer: Molecular pathogenesis and targeting strategies

Immune checkpoint blockade therapy has revolutionized the field of cancer treatment, leading to durable responses in patients with advanced and metastatic cancers where conventional therapies were insufficient. However, factors like immunosuppressive cells and immune checkpoint molecules within the tumor microenvironment (TME) can suppress the immune system and thus negatively affect the efficiency of immune checkpoint inhibitors. Pyroptosis, a gasdermin-induced programmed cell death, could transform "cold tumors" to "hot tumors" to improve the milieu of TME, thus enhancing the immune response and preventing tumor growth. Recently, evidence showed that epigenetics could regulate pyroptosis, which further affects tumorigenesis, suggesting that epigenetics-based tumor cells pyroptosis could be a promising therapeutic strategy. Hence, this review focuses on the pyroptotic mechanism and summarizes three common types of epigenetics, DNA methylation, histone modification, and non-coding RNA, all of which have a role in regulating the expression of transcription factors and proteins involved in pyroptosis in cancer. Especially, we discuss targeting strategies on epigenetic-regulated pyroptosis and provide insights on the future trend of cancer research which may fuel cancer therapies into a new step.

The mechanisms of tanshinone in the treatment of tumors

Tanshinone is a lipophilic compound that is present in traditional Chinese medicine and is derived from the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen). It has been proven to be highly effective in combating tumors in various parts of the body, including liver carcinoma, gastric cancer, ovarian cancer, cervix carcinoma, breast cancer, colon cancer, and prostate cancer. Tanshinone can efficiently prevent the reproduction of cancerous cells, induce cell death, and inhibit the spread of cancerous cells, which are mainly involved in the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, NF-κB pathway, Bcl-2 family, Caspase cascades, MicroRNA, MAPK signaling pathway, p21, STAT3 pathway, miR30b-P53-PTPN11/SHP2 axis, β-catenin, and Skp2. However, the properties and mechanisms of tanshinone's anti-tumor effects remain unclear currently. Thus, this study aims to review the research progress on tumor prevention and mechanisms of tanshinone to gain new perspectives for further development and clinical application of tanshinone.

Unveiling the therapeutic potential of natural-based anticancer compounds inducing non-canonical cell death mechanisms

In the Mid-19th century, Rudolf Virchow considered necrosis to be a prominent form of cell death; since then, pathologists have recognized necrosis as both a cause and a consequence of disease. About a century later, the mechanism of apoptosis, another form of cell death, was discovered, and we now know that this process is regulated by several molecular mechanisms that "programme" the cell to die. However, discoveries on cell death mechanisms are not limited to these, and recent studies have allowed the identification of novel cell death pathways that can be molecularly distinguished from necrotic and apoptotic cell death mechanisms. Moreover, the main goal of current cancer therapy is to discover and develop drugs that target apoptosis. However, resistance to chemotherapeutic agents targeting apoptosis is mainly responsible for the failure of clinical therapy and adverse side effects of the chemotherapeutic agents currently in use pose a major threat to the well-being and lives of patients. Therefore, the development of natural-based anticancer drugs with low cellular and organismal side effects is of great interest. In this comprehensive review, we thoroughly examine and discuss natural anticancer compounds that specifically target non-canonical cell death mechanisms.

Chinese herbal medicine for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases ─ targeting cardiac ion channels

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains the leading cause of morbidity and mortality, imposing an increasing global health burden. Cardiac ion channels (voltage-gated Na_V, Ca_V, K_Vs, and others) synergistically shape the cardiac action potential (AP) and control the heartbeat. Dysfunction of these channels, due to genetic mutations, transcriptional or post-translational modifications, may disturb the AP and lead to arrhythmia, a major risk for CVD patients. Although there are five classes of anti-arrhythmic drugs available, they can have varying levels of efficacies and side effects on patients, possibly due to the complex pathogenesis of arrhythmias. As an alternative treatment option, Chinese herbal remedies have shown promise in regulating cardiac ion channels and providing anti-arrhythmic effects. In this review, we first discuss the role of cardiac ion channels in maintaining normal heart function and the pathogenesis of CVD, then summarize the classification of Chinese herbal compounds, and elaborate detailed mechanisms of their efficacy in regulating cardiac ion channels and in alleviating arrhythmia and CVD. We also address current limitations and opportunities for developing new anti-CVD drugs based on Chinese herbal medicines.

Noncoding RNA-mediated regulation of pyroptotic cell death in cancer

Pyroptosis is a newly discovered form of programmed cell death, which is manifested by DNA fragmentation, cell swelling, cell membrane rupture and leakage of cell contents. Previous studies have demonstrated that pyroptosis is tightly associated with the initiation and development of various cancers, whereas the molecular mechanisms underlying pyroptosis remain obscure. Noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) are a type of heterogeneous transcripts that are broadly expressed in mammalian cells. Owing to their potency of regulating gene expression, ncRNAs play essential roles in physiological and pathological processes. NcRNAs are increasingly acknowledged as important regulators of the pyroptosis process. Importantly, the crosstalk between ncRNAs and pyroptosis affects various hallmarks of cancer, including cell growth, survival, metastasis and therapeutic resistance. The study of the involvement of pyroptosis-associated ncRNAs in cancer pathobiology has become a hot area in recent years, while there are limited reviews on this topic. Herein, we provide an overview of the complicated roles of ncRNAs, mainly including microRNAs (miRNAs), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs), in modulating pyroptosis, with a focus on the underlying mechanisms of the ncRNA-pyroptosis axis in cancer pathogenesis. Finally, we discuss the potential applications and challenges of exploiting pyroptosis-regulating ncRNAs as molecular biomarkers and therapeutic targets in cancer.

Tumor cell-derived exosomal lncRNA LOC441178 inhibits the tumorigenesis of esophageal carcinoma through suppressing macrophage M2 polarization

Esophageal carcinoma (EC) is a highly malignant type of tumor. In a previous study, the authors found that long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) LOC441178 inhibited the tumorigenesis of EC. Moreover, exosomes derived from tumor cells containing lncRNAs were found to play a key role in the tumor environment; however, whether exosomes can affect the tumor microenvironment by carrying LOC441178 remains unclear. Thus, the present study aimed to clarify this. In order to assess the effects of exosomal LOC441178 in EC, cell invasion and migration were examined using the Transwell assay. Exosomes were identified using transmission electron microscopy, Western blot analysis and nanoparticle tracking analysis. Furthermore, macrophage surface makers (CD206 and CD86) were analyzed using flow cytometry. Moreover, a subcutaneous xenograft mouse model was constructed to assess the role of TE-9 cells-derived exosomal LOC441178 in EC. The results revealed that LOC441178 overexpression notably suppressed the metastasis of EC cells. In addition, exosomes were successfully isolated from EC cells, and LOC441178 level was upregulated in exosomes derived from LOC441178- overexpressed EC cells. Exosomal LOC441178 also suppressed macrophage M2 polarization, and the polarized macrophages decreased EC cell invasion. Exosomes containing LOC441178 notably inhibited the growth of EC in mice. On the whole, the present study demonstrated that the delivery of LOC441178 by EC cell-secreted exosomes inhibited the tumorigenesis of EC by suppressing the polarization of M2 macrophages. These findings may provide a new theoretical basis for discovering new strategies against EC.

Salvia miltiorrhiza in cancer: Potential role in regulating MicroRNAs and epigenetic enzymes

MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that play important roles in gene regulation by influencing the translation and longevity of various target mRNAs and the expression of various target genes as well as by modifying histones and DNA methylation of promoter sites. Consequently, when dysregulated, microRNAs are involved in the development and progression of a variety of diseases, including cancer, by affecting cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, migration, and apoptosis. Preparations from the dried root and rhizome of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bge (Lamiaceae), also known as red sage or danshen, are widely used for treating cardiovascular diseases. Accumulating data suggest that certain bioactive constituents of this plant, particularly tanshinones, have broad antitumor effects by interfering with microRNAs and epigenetic enzymes. This paper reviews the evidence for the antineoplastic activities of S. miltiorrhiza constituents by causing or promoting cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, autophagy, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, angiogenesis, and epigenetic changes to provide an outlook on their future roles in the treatment of cancer, both alone and in combination with other modalities.

Noncoding RNAs in pyroptosis and cancer progression: Effect, mechanism, and clinical application

Cell death is generally classified into two categories: regulated cell death (RCD) and accidental cell death (ACD). In particular, RCD is a kind of genetically controlled process, including programmed apoptotic death and programmed necrotic death. Pyroptosis, an inflammatory form of programmed necrotic death, causes inflammation in cells. The influence of pyroptosis on tumor is complicated. On the one hand, pyroptosis triggers antitumor response. On the other hand, pyroptosis may induce carcinogenesis. Pyroptosis is initiated by various factors, especially non-coding RNAs. In this review, we discuss the effects of ncRNAs on pyroptosis and the mechanisms by which ncRNAs initiate pyroptosis. Moreover, we introduce the influence of ncRNA on tumor resistance via pyroptosis. Additionally, we summarize how ncRNA-associated pyroptosis modulates the tumor microenvironment (TME) and thereafter triggers antitumor immune response. Finally, pyroptosis-related ncRNAs are promising diagnostic and immunotherapeutic biomarkers and therapeutic targets

Emerging mechanisms of pyroptosis and its therapeutic strategy in cancer

Pyroptosis, a type of inflammatory programmed cell death, is triggered by caspase cleavage of gasdermin family proteins. Based on accumulating evidence, pyroptosis is closely associated with tumour development, but the molecular mechanism underlying pyroptosis activation and the signalling pathways regulated by pyroptosis remain unclear. In this review, we first briefly introduce the definition, morphological characteristics, and activation pathways of pyroptosis and the effect of pyroptosis on anticancer immunity. Then we review recent progress concerning the complex role of pyroptosis in various tumours. Importantly, we summarise various FDA-approved chemotherapy drugs or natural compounds that exerted antitumor properties by inducing pyroptosis of cancer cells. Moreover, we also focus on the current application of nanotechnology-induced pyroptosis in tumour therapy. In addition, some unsolved problems and potential future research directions are also raised.

Salvia miltiorrhiza in Breast Cancer Treatment: A Review of Its Phytochemistry, Derivatives, Nanoparticles, and Potential Mechanisms

Breast cancer is one of the most deadly malignancies in women worldwide. Salvia miltiorrhiza, a perennial plant that belongs to the genus Salvia, has long been used in the management of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The main anti-breast cancer constituents in S. miltiorrhiza are liposoluble tanshinones including dihydrotanshinone I, tanshinone I, tanshinone IIA, and cryptotanshinone, and water-soluble phenolic acids represented by salvianolic acid A, salvianolic acid B, salvianolic acid C, and rosmarinic acid. These active components have potent efficacy on breast cancer in vitro and in vivo. The mechanisms mainly include induction of apoptosis, autophagy and cell cycle arrest, anti-metastasis, formation of cancer stem cells, and potentiation of antitumor immunity. This review summarized the main bioactive constituents of S. miltiorrhiza and their derivatives or nanoparticles that possess anti-breast cancer activity. Besides, the synergistic combination with other drugs and the underlying molecular mechanisms were also summarized to provide a reference for future research on S. miltiorrhiza for breast cancer treatment.

Research Progress on Natural Products’ Therapeutic Effects on Atrial Fibrillation by Regulating Ion Channels

Antiarrhythmic drugs (AADs) have a therapeutic effect on atrial fibrillation (AF) by regulating the function of ion channels. However, several adverse effects and high recurrence rates after drug withdrawal seriously affect patients’ medication compliance and clinical prognosis. Thus, safer and more effective drugs are urgently needed. Active components extracted from natural products are potential choices for AF therapy. Natural products like Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen, Sophora flavescens Ait., Stephania tetrandra S. Moore., Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi var. thomsonii (Benth.) Vaniot der Maesen., and Coptis chinensis Franch. have a long history in the treatment of arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, stroke, and heart failure in China. Based on the classification of chemical structures, this article discussed the natural product components’ therapeutic effects on atrial fibrillation by regulating ion channels, connexins, and expression of related genes, in order to provide a reference for development of therapeutic drugs for atrial fibrillation.

Tanshinone IIA suppresses the progression of lung adenocarcinoma through regulating CCNA2-CDK2 complex and AURKA/PLK1 pathway

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) belongs to a subgroup of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with an increasing incidence all over the world. Tanshinone IIA (TSA), an active compound of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge., has been found to have anti-tumor effects on many tumors, but its anti-LUAD effect and its mechanism have not been reported yet. In this study, bio-information analysis was applied to characterize the potential mechanism of TSA on LUA, biological experiments were used to verify the mechanisms involved. TCGA, Pubchem, SwissTargetPrediction, Venny2.1.0, STRING, DAVID, Cytoscape 3.7.2, Omicshare, GEPIA, RSCBPDB, Chem Draw, AutoDockTools, and PyMOL were utilized for analysis in the bio-information analysis and network pharmacology. Our experiments in vitro focused on the anti-LUAD effects and mechanisms of TSA on LUAD cells (A549 and NCI-H1975 cells) via MTT, plate cloning, Annexin V-FITC and PI dual staining, flow cytometry, and western blot assays. A total of 64 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of TSA for treatment of LUAD were screened out. Gene ontology and pathway analysis revealed characteristic of the DEGs network. After GEPIA-based DEGs confirmation, 46 genes were considered having significant differences. Further, 10 key DEGs (BTK, HSD11B1, ADAM33, TNNC1, THRA, CCNA2, AURKA, MIF, PLK1, and SORD) were identified as the most likely relevant genes from overall survival analysis. Molecular Docking results showed that CCNA2, CDK2 and PLK1 had the lowest docking energy. MTT and plate cloning assays results showed that TSA inhibited the proliferation of LUAD cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Annexin V-FITC and PI dual staining and flow cytometry assays results told that TSA promoted the apoptosis of the two LUAD cells in different degrees, and induced cycle arrest in the G1/S phase. Western blot results showed that TSA significantly down-regulated the expression of CCNA2, CDK2, AURKA, PLK1, and p-ERK. In summary, TSA could suppress the progression of LUAD by inducing cell apoptosis and arresting cell cycle, and these were done by regulating CCNA2-CDK2 complex and AURKA/PLK1 pathway. These findings are the first to demonstrate the molecular mechanism of TSA in treatment of LUAD combination of network bio-information analysis and biological experiments in vitro.