Solasodine reverses stemness and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human colorectal cancer

S100A6 mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition affects chemosensitivity of colorectal cancer to oxaliplatin

PURPOSE

To investigate the mechanism by which S100 calcium-binding protein A6 (S100A6) affects colorectal cancer (CRC) cells to oxaliplatin (L-OHP) chemotherapy, and to explore new strategies for CRC treatment.

METHODS

S100A6 expression was assessed in both parental and L-OHP-resistant CRC cells using western blotting, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Lentiviral vectors were utilized to induce the knockdown of S100A6 expression, followed by comprehensive evaluations of cell proliferation, apoptosis, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Additionally, RNA-seq analysis was conducted to identify genes associated with the knockdown of S100A6.

RESULTS

Elevated S100A6 expression in CRC tissues correlated with an adverse prognosis in patients with CRC. Higher expression of S100A6 was also observed in L-OHP-resistant CRC cells, which showed enhanced proliferation, migration, invasion, and antiapoptotic capabilities. Notably, the knockdown of S100A6 expression resulted in decreased proliferation, increased apoptosis, and suppression of EMT and tumorigenicity in L-OHP-resistant CRC cells. Transcriptome sequencing reveals a noteworthy association between S100A6 and vimentin expression. Application of the EMT agonist, transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), induces EMT in CRC cells. S100A6 expression positively correlates with TGF-β expression. TGF-β facilitated the expression of EMT-related molecules and reduced the chemosensitivity of L-OHP in S100A6-knockdown cells.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the knockdown of S100A6 may overcome the L-OHP resistance of CRC cells by modulating EMT.

Active components of Solanum nigrum and their antitumor effects: a literature review

Cancer poses a serious threat to human health and overall well-being. Conventional cancer treatments predominantly encompass surgical procedures and radiotherapy. Nevertheless, the substantial side effects and the emergence of drug resistance in patients significantly diminish their quality of life and overall prognosis. There is an acute need for innovative, efficient therapeutic agents to address these challenges. Plant-based herbal medicines and their derived compounds offer promising potential for cancer research and treatment due to their numerous advantages. Solanum nigrum (S. nigrum), a traditional Chinese medicine, finds extensive use in clinical settings. The steroidal compounds within S. nigrum, particularly steroidal alkaloids, exhibit robust antitumor properties either independently or when combined with other drugs. Many researchers have delved into unraveling the antitumor mechanisms of the active components present in S. nigrum, yielding notable progress. This literature review provides a comprehensive analysis of the research advancements concerning the active constituents of S. nigrum. Furthermore, it outlines the action mechanisms of select monomeric anticancer ingredients. Overall, the insights derived from this review offer a new perspective on the development of clinical anticancer drugs.

Hsa_circRNA_001676 accelerates the proliferation, migration and stemness in colorectal cancer through regulating miR-556-3p/G3BP2 axis

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) play key roles in colorectal cancer (CRC) progression, but little is known about the biological functions of hsa_circRNA_001676 in CRC. Therefore, we explored the potential role of hsa_circRNA_001676 in CRC development. RT-qPCR was performed to determine hsa_circRNA_001676, miR-556-3p and Ras-GTPase-activating SH3 domain-binding-proteins 2 (G3BP2) levels in CRC tissues. Meanwhile, to evaluate the roles of hsa_circRNA_001676, miR-556-3p and G3BP2 on CRC, functional analysis of cell proliferation, migration and stemness were then performed. Our results showed that compared to normal tissues, hsa_circRNA_001676 and G3BP2 level was elevated, but miR-556-3p level was reduced in CRC tissues. Additionally, luciferase reporter results showed that hsa_circRNA_001676 was shown to target miR-556-3p, and G3BP2 was targeted by miR-556-3p. Hsa_circRNA_001676 or G3BP2 overexpression promoted CRC cell proliferation and migration. Conversely, miR-556-3p overexpression suppressed CRC cell proliferation and migration. Moreover, deficiency of hsa_circRNA_001676 or G3BP2 repressed the CRC cell proliferation, migration and stemness. Meanwhile, hsa_circRNA_001676 deficiency obviously reduced tumor growth and stemness in a CRC mouse xenograft model. Furthermore, hsa_circRNA_001676 deficiency notably reduced G3BP2 level, but elevated miR-556-3p level in tumor tissues from tumor-bearing mice. Mechanistically, hsa_circRNA_001676 targeted miR-556-3p to increase G3BP2 level, contributing to the progression of CRC. Collectively, hsa_circRNA_001676 was able to accelerate proliferation, migration and stemness in CRC through regulating miR-556-3p/G3BP2 axis, suggesting that hsa_circRNA_001676 may become a potential therapeutic target in treating CRC.

Unraveling the function of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in colorectal cancer: Metastasis, therapy response, and revisiting molecular pathways

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a dangerous form of cancer that affects the gastrointestinal tract. It is a major global health concern, and the aggressive behavior of tumor cells makes it difficult to treat, leading to poor survival rates for patients. One major challenge in treating CRC is the metastasis, or spread, of the cancer, which is a major cause of death. In order to improve the prognosis for patients with CRC, it is necessary to focus on ways to inhibit the cancer's ability to invade and spread. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process that is linked to the spread of cancer cells, also known as metastasis. The process transforms epithelial cells into mesenchymal ones, increasing their mobility and ability to invade other tissues. This has been shown to be a key mechanism in the progression of colorectal cancer (CRC), a particularly aggressive form of gastrointestinal cancer. The activation of EMT leads to increases in the spread of CRC cells, and during this process, levels of the protein E-cadherin decrease while levels of N-cadherin and vimentin increase. EMT also contributes to the development of resistance to chemotherapy and radiation therapy in CRC. Non-coding RNAs, such as long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and circular RNAs (circRNAs), play a role in regulating EMT in CRC, often through their ability to "sponge" microRNAs. Anti-cancer agents have been shown to suppress EMT and reduce the progression and spread of CRC cells. These findings suggest that targeting EMT or related mechanisms may be a promising approach for treating CRC patients in the clinic.

Solasodine suppress MCF7 breast cancer stem-like cells via targeting Hedgehog/Gli1

BACKGROUND

Recently, a novel therapy to treat cancer has been to target cancer stem-like cells (CSCs). The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of solasodine, a steroidal alkaloid isolated from Solanum incanum L., on MCF7 CSCs and to understand the compound's underlying mechanism of action.

METHOD

A tumorsphere formation assay was used to evaluate the effects of solasodine on the proliferation and self-renewal ability of MCF7 CSCs. The level of expression of proteins associated with cancer stemness markers and Hh signaling mediators was determined. The interaction between solasodine and Gli1 was calculated by molecular docking and further demonstrated by cellular thermal shift assay.

RESULTS

Solasodine significantly decreased the proliferation of MCF7 tumorspheres and showed a stronger cytotoxicity on breast cancer cells with higher levels of Gli1 expression. The results showed that the levels of CD44 and ALDH1 expression were suppressed. Furthermore, expression of CD24 was enhanced by solasodine, via a mechanism that involved dampening Gli1 expression and blocking the nuclear translocation of this protein in MCF7 tumorspheres. Computational studies predicted that solasodine showed a high affinity with the Gli1 zinc finger domain that resulted from hydrogen-bonds to the THR243 and ASP216 amino acids residues. In addition, solasodine specifically bound with Gli1 and enhanced Gli1 protein stability in MCF7 cells.

CONCLUSION

Here, our findings indicated that solasodine can directly suppresses Hh/Gli1 signaling, and is a novel anticancer candidate that targets CSCs.

TGF-β Signaling in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer (mCRC): From Underlying Mechanism to Potential Applications in Clinical Development

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a serious public health issue, and it has the leading incidence and mortality among malignant tumors worldwide. CRC patients with metastasis in the liver, lung or other distant sites always have poor prognosis. Thus, there is an urgent need to discover the underlying mechanisms of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) and to develop optimal therapy for mCRC. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling plays a significant role in various physiologic and pathologic processes, and aberrant TGF-β signal transduction contributes to mCRC progression. In this review, we summarize the alterations of the TGF-β signaling pathway in mCRC patients, the functional mechanisms of TGF-β signaling, its promotion of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, its facilitation of angiogenesis, its suppression of anti-tumor activity of immune cells in the microenvironment and its contribution to stemness of CRC cells. We also discuss the possible applications of TGF-β signaling in mCRC diagnosis, prognosis and targeted therapies in clinical trials. Hopefully, these research advances in TGF-β signaling in mCRC will improve the development of new strategies that can be combined with molecular targeted therapy, immunotherapy and traditional therapies to achieve better efficacy and benefit mCRC patients in the near future.

Validated LC-MS/MS method for quantitation of solasodine in rat urine and feces: Blocking nonspecific adsorption

Solasodine, a steroidal alkaloid, is distributed extensively in Solanaceae plants with multiple biological activities such as neuroprotection, antineoplastic and anticonvulsant activities. However, there is little information about the excretion of intact solasodine in vivo. To investigate its excretion, a reliable LC-MS/MS method for quantitation solasodine in rat urine and feces was established and validated. Sample preparation was carried out by liquid-liquid extraction using MTBE as extractant. Moreover, rat urine was preconditioned with BSA, an anti-adsorptive additive, to prevent the nonspecific binding of solasodine to containers and tubes. The method was validated over the range of 4–2000 ng mL−1. The correlation coefficient (r 2) were all above 0.999. The intra- and inter-day precision and accuracy were within 16.9% and between −11.0 and 8.9%, respectively. The recovery of solasodine in urine and feces was in the range of 72.5–80.3 and 75.7–80.2%, respectively. IS-normalized matrix factor ranged from 0.94 to 1.12 with RSD% ≤4.02%. This method was successfully applied to the excretion study of solasodine following oral and intravenous administration.

In vitro and in silico evaluation of antimicrobial properties of Delphinium cashmerianum L., a medicinal herb growing in Kashmir, India

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Microorganisms are developing resistance to synthetic drugs. As a result, the search for novel antimicrobial compounds has become an urgent need. Medicinal plants are commonly used as traditional medicine and Delphinium is one of the prominent genus used in the treatment of several diseases.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The present study aimed to determine the in vitro and in silico antimicrobial activities of petroleum ether, ethyl acetate and methanol extracts from the leaf samples of plant (Delphinium cashmerianum L.) against various bacterial and fungal strains.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Three extracts of Delphinium cashmerianum prepared and 88 bioactive compounds were analyzed through LC-MS data with the vast majority of them having therapeutic applications. These extracts have been screened for the antimicrobial activity against various bacterial (Escherichia coli, Micrococcus luteus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus pneumonia, Haemophilus influenzae, Neisseria mucosa) and fungal (Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida paropsilosis) species through in silico molecular docking approach using autodock vina software, molecular dynamic simulation (MDS), in vitro disc diffusion and broth microdilution method for minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) evaluation.

RESULTS

Our results demonstrated that all three extracts were active against the whole set of microorganisms. The ethyl acetate extract was the most active against S.pneumonia, K. pneumoniae and C. albicans with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value of 6.25, 25 and 50 μg/ml, respectively. The petroleum ether and methanol extracts were active against S.pneumonia and N.mucosa with MIC values of 25 and 50 μg/ml. Furthermore, we also performed the in silico virtual screening of all these compounds obtained from LC-MS data analysis against various known drug targets of bacterium and fungi. Upon analysis, we obtained 5 compounds that were efficiently binding to the drug targets. However, after performing exhaustive molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulation (MDS) analysis, it was observed that Daidzein compound is bound to drug targets more efficiently.

CONCLUSION

The results showed that these plant extracts exhibit antimicrobial activity and ethyl acetate extract proved to exhibit the most effective antibacterial and antifungal properties.

Pharmacokinetics, oral bioavailability and metabolic analysis of solasodine in mice by dried blood spot LC-MS/MS and UHPLC-Q-Exactive MS

Solasodine, a major ingredient in Solanaceae family, has various biological functions such as inducing neurogenesis, anticonvulsant and anti-tumor. Its risk assessment has also drawn public attention. However, little is known about its oral bioavailability and metabolic process. In this study, an liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method was developed for the quantification of solasodine in mice dried blood spot (DBS) samples. To block nonspecific adsorption, DBS samples were pretreated with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and then extracted with ethyl acetate. This method was applied to a pharmacokinetic and bioavailability study of solasodine. The absolute bioavailability was only 1.28%. Thereafter, its metabolites in mice were characterized using an ultra-performance liquid chromatography Q-Exactive high-resolution mass spectrometer (UHPLC-QE-HRMS). Several isomeric metabolites were well separated and differentiated using their retention time, fragmentation pathways and correspondingly fragmentation rules of solasodine. As a result, 21 metabolites were characterized including 16 phase I and 5 phase II metabolites. The proposed metabolic pathways showed that solasodine mainly experienced oxidation, dehydration, dehydrogenation and sulfation. These results could help us to better understand the efficacy and safety of solasodine.

Traditional Chinese medicine reverses cancer multidrug resistance and its mechanism

Chemotherapy is one of the most commonly used clinical treatments among the currently available cancer therapies. However, the phenomenon of Multidrug resistance (MDR) has become a challenge in the treatment process, weakening the impact of chemotherapy. Extensive research on elucidating the development of cancer MDR has identified the following mechanisms that play a critical role in the development of several MDR reversal agents: abnormal expression of cell membrane transporters, adaptation of cancer cells to the microenvironment, regulation of hypoxia, repair of DNA damage and reduction of apoptosis, the enhancement of the EMT process, the existence of cancer stem cells (CSCs), and the abnormal activation of key signaling pathways. However, they failed to demonstrate significant efficacy due to severe side effects during their clinical trials. Traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) are known to play an important anti-cancer role since they have low toxicity, high efficacy, and safety and can reverse MDR. TCMs reversal agents can be divided into Chinese medicine monomers, synthetic monomers, analogs, or derivatives. Several studies have shown that TCMs can effectively overcome cancer MDR and can be effectively used for treating cancer patients.

Solasodine, Isolated from Solanum sisymbriifolium Fruits, Has a Potent Anti-Tumor Activity Against Pancreatic Cancer

BACKGROUND

Increasing evidences have revealed that solasodine, isolated from Solanum sisymbriifolium fruits, has multiple functions such as anti-oxidant, anti-tumor and anti-infection. However, its role in pancreatic cancer has not been well studied.

METHODS

To explore the role of solasodine in pancreatic cancer, human pancreatic cell lines including SW1990 and PANC1 were treated with different concentrations of solasodine for 48 h, and cell viability was evaluated by MTT assay, cell invasion and migration were evaluated by Transwell assay. The effect of solasodine on the apoptosis of SW1990 and PANC1 cells was detected by flow cytometry. To further explore the antitumor effect of solasodine in vivo, an SW1990 tumor-bearing mouse model was constructed. The effects of solasodine on cytokines in the serum of SW1990 tumor-bearing mice were also evaluated by ELISA assay.

RESULTS

Specifically, in vitro, solasodine could significantly inhibit the proliferation of pancreatic cancer cell lines SW1990 and PANC1 cells. Flow cytometric analysis indicated that solasodine could induce apoptosis of SW1990 and PANC1 cells. Western blot assay indicated that solasodine could significantly inhibit the activation of Cox-2/Akt/GSK3β signal pathway. Meanwhile, the release of Cytochrome c from mitochondria to cytoplasm which can raise the caspases cascade (C-caspase 3 and C-caspase 9) was significantly enhanced by solasodine. In vivo, the results showed that solasodine had potent anti-tumor activities with a lower cytotoxicity. In addition, the serum TNF-α, IL-2 and IFN-γ levels in SW1990 tumor-bearing mice after the treatment of solasodine was significantly increased.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, our results suggested that the solasodine could prevent the progression of pancreatic cancer by inhibiting proliferation and promoting apoptosis, as well as stimulating immunity, suggesting that solasodine might be a potential therapeutic strategy for pancreatic cancer.

Anticancer activities of TCM and their active components against tumor metastasis

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has the characteristics of multiple targets, slight side effects and good therapeutic effects. Good anti-tumor effects are shown by Traditional Chinese Medicine prescription, Chinese patent medicine, single Traditional Chinese Medicine and Traditional Chinese medicine monomer compound. Clinically, TCM prolonged the survival time of patients and improved the life quality of patients, due to less side effects. Cancer metastasis is a complex process involving numerous steps, multiple genes and their products. During the process of tumor metastasis, firstly, cancer cell increases its proliferative capacity by reducing autophagy and apoptosis, and then the cancer cell capacity is stimulated by increasing the ability of tumors to absorb nutrients from the outside through angiogenesis. Both of the two steps can increase tumor migration and invasion. Finally, the purpose of tumor metastasis is achieved. By inhibiting autophagy and apoptosis of tumor cells, angiogenesis and EMT outside the tumor can inhibit the invasion and migration of cancer, and consequently achieve the purpose of inhibiting tumor metastasis. This review explores the research achievements of Traditional Chinese Medicine on breast cancer, lung cancer, hepatic carcinoma, colorectal cancer, gastric cancer and other cancer metastasis in the past five years, summarizes the development direction of TCM on cancer metastasis research in the past five years and makes a prospect for the future.

The Genus Solanum: An Ethnopharmacological, Phytochemical and Biological Properties Review

Over the past 30 years, the genus Solanum has received considerable attention in chemical and biological studies. Solanum is the largest genus in the family Solanaceae, comprising of about 2000 species distributed in the subtropical and tropical regions of Africa, Australia, and parts of Asia, e.g., China, India and Japan. Many of them are economically significant species. Previous phytochemical investigations on Solanum species led to the identification of steroidal saponins, steroidal alkaloids, terpenes, flavonoids, lignans, sterols, phenolic comopunds, coumarins, amongst other compounds. Many species belonging to this genus present huge range of pharmacological activities such as cytotoxicity to different tumors as breast cancer (4T1 and EMT), colorectal cancer (HCT116, HT29, and SW480), and prostate cancer (DU145) cell lines. The biological activities have been attributed to a number of steroidal saponins, steroidal alkaloids and phenols. This review features 65 phytochemically studied species of Solanum between 1990 and 2018, fetched from SciFinder, Pubmed, ScienceDirect, Wikipedia and Baidu, using "Solanum" and the species' names as search terms ("all fields").