Inhibitory effects of Paris saponin I, II, Ⅵ and Ⅶ on HUVEC cells through regulation of VEGFR2, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, Src/eNOS, PLCγ/ERK/MERK, and JAK2-STAT3 pathways

Saponins of Paris polyphylla for the Improvement of Acne: Anti-Inflammatory, Antibacterial, Antioxidant and Immunomodulatory Effects

Acne is a chronic inflammatory skin disease with a recurring nature that seriously impacts patients' quality of life. Currently, antibiotic resistance has made it less effective in treating acne. However, Paris polyphylla (P. polyphylla) is a valuable medicinal plant with a wide range of chemical components. Of these, P. polyphylla saponins modulate the effects in vivo and in vitro through antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and antioxidant effects. Acne is primarily associated with inflammatory reactions, abnormal sebum function, micro-ecological disorders, hair follicle hyperkeratosis, and, in some patients, immune function. Therefore, the role of P. polyphylla saponins and their values in treating acne is worthy of investigation. Overall, this review first describes the distribution and characteristics of P. polyphylla and the pathogenesis of acne. Then, the potential mechanisms of P. polyphylla saponins in treating acne are listed in detail (reduction in the inflammatory response, antibacterial action, modulation of immune response and antioxidant effects, etc.). In addition, a brief description of the chemical composition of P. polyphylla saponins and its available extraction methods are described. We hope this review can serve as a quick and detailed reference for future studies on their potential acne treatment.

Peptide OM-LV20 promotes arteriogenesis induced by femoral artery ligature via the miR-29b-3p/VEGFA axis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Therapeutic arteriogenesis is a promising direction for the treatment of ischemic disease caused by atherosclerosis. However, pharmacological or biological approaches to stimulate functional collateral vessels are not yet available. Identifying new drug targets to promote and explore the underlying mechanisms for therapeutic arteriogenesis is necessary.

METHODS

Peptide OM-LV20 (20 ng/kg) was administered for 7 consecutive days on rat hindlimb ischemia model, collateral vessel growth was assessed by H&E staining, liquid latex perfusion, and specific immunofluorescence. In vitro, we detected the effect of OM-LV20 on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) proliferation and migration. After transfection, we performed quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, in situ-hybridization and dual luciferase reporters to assessed effective miRNAs and target genes. The proteins related to downstream signaling pathways were detected by Western blot.

RESULTS

OM-LV20 significantly increased visible collateral vessels and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), together with enhanced inflammation cytokine and monocytes/macrophage infiltration in collateral vessels. In vitro, we defined a novel microRNA (miR-29b-3p), and its inhibition enhanced proliferation and migration of HUVEC, as well as the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA). OM-LV20 also promoted migration and proliferation of HUVEC, and VEGFA expression was mediated via inhibition of miR-29b-3p. Furthermore, OM-LV20 influenced the protein levels of VEGFR2 and phosphatidylinositol3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT and eNOS in vitro and invivo.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data indicated that OM-LV20 enhanced arteriogenesis via the miR-29b-3p/VEGFA/VEGFR2-PI3K/AKT/eNOS axis, and highlighte the application potential of exogenous peptide molecular probes through miRNA, which could promote effective therapeutic arteriogenesis in ischemic conditions.

Liquid plasma promotes angiogenesis through upregulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase-induced extracellular matrix metabolism: potential applications of liquid plasma for vascular injuries

BACKGROUND

Applications of nonthermal plasma have expanded beyond the biomedical field to include antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, wound healing, and tissue regeneration. Plasma enhances epithelial cell repair; however, the potential damage to deep tissues and vascular structures remains under investigation.

RESULT

This study assessed whether liquid plasma (LP) increased nitric oxide (NO) production in human umbilical vein endothelial cells by modulating endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) phosphorylation and potential signaling pathways. First, we developed a liquid plasma product and confirmed the angiogenic effect of LP using the Matrigel plug assay. We found that the NO content increased in plasma-treated water. NO in plasma-treated water promoted cell migration and angiogenesis in scratch and tube formation assays via vascular endothelial growth factor mRNA expression. In addition to endothelial cell proliferation and migration, LP influenced extracellular matrix metabolism and matrix metalloproteinase activity. These effects were abolished by treatment with NG-L-monomethyl arginine, a specific inhibitor of NO synthase. Furthermore, we investigated the signaling pathways mediating the phosphorylation and activation of eNOS in LP-treated cells and the role of LKB1-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase in signaling. Downregulation of adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase by siRNA partially inhibited LP-induced eNOS phosphorylation, angiogenesis, and migration.

CONCLUSION

The present study suggests that LP treatment may be a novel strategy for promoting angiogenesis in vascular damage. Video Abstract.

The efficacy of natural bioactive compounds against prostate cancer: Molecular targets and synergistic activities

Globally, prostate cancer (PCa) is regarded as a challenging health issue, and the number of PCa patients continues to rise despite the availability of effective treatments in recent decades. The current therapy with chemotherapeutic drugs has been largely ineffective due to multidrug resistance and the conventional treatment has restricted drug accessibility to malignant tissues, necessitating a higher dosage resulting in increased cytotoxicity. Plant-derived bioactive compounds have recently attracted a great deal of attention in the field of PCa treatment due to their potent effects on several molecular targets and synergistic effects with anti-PCa drugs. This review emphasizes the molecular mechanism of phytochemicals on PCa cells, the synergistic effects of compound-drug interactions, and stem cell targeting for PCa treatment. Some potential compounds, such as curcumin, phenethyl-isothiocyanate, fisetin, baicalein, berberine, lutein, and many others, exert an anti-PCa effect via inhibiting proliferation, metastasis, cell cycle progression, and normal apoptosis pathways. In addition, multiple studies have demonstrated that the isolated natural compounds: d-limonene, paeonol, lanreotide, artesunate, and bicalutamide have potential synergistic effects. Further, a significant number of natural compounds effectively target PCa stem cells. However, further high-quality studies are needed to firmly establish the clinical efficacy of these phytochemicals against PCa.

Endophyte-inoculated rhizomes of Paris polyphylla improve polyphyllin biosynthesis and yield: a transcriptomic analysis of the underlying mechanism

Introduction

Polyphyllin from Paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis exhibits anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antibacterial, and antiviral properties. However, the current production of polyphyllin can barely meet market demand. To improve the content of polyphyllin produced by P. polyphylla, two endophyte strains, Bacillus cereus LgD2 and Fusarium oxysporum TPB, were isolated from Paris fargesii Franch. and inoculated in the roots of P. polyphylla. Both symbiotic strains significantly promoted the accumulation of saponins in P. polyphylla.

Methods

The content of polyphyllin in rhizomes of P. polyphylla treated with TPB with LgD2 strain was determined using High Performance Liquid Chromatography and the expressed genes were analyzed by RNA-seq. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes annotations were performed on the differentially expressed genes, a clustering tree of UDP-glycosyltransferase (UGT) and cytochrome P450 (CYP450) gene families was constructed, and UGT and CYP450 involved in the biosynthesis of polyphyllin were predicted using weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA).

Results

RNA-seq and qRT-PCR analyses showed that endophytic inoculation did not promote polyphyllin accumulation by enhancing the upstream terpene biosynthesis pathway, but probably by up-regulating the downstream CYP450 and UGT genes associated with polyphyllin biosynthesis. Genomes enrichment analyses of differentially expressed genes indicated that inoculation with LgD2 and TPB played a positive role in promoting the defense against pathogenic bacteria, enhancing the biosynthesis of carbohydrates, attenuating the process of nitrogen metabolism, and maintaining the equilibrium of the redox reaction homeostasis, potentially indirectly enhancing the polyphyllin yield of P. polyphylla. By combining differentially expressed genes screening, WGCNA, and phylogenetic tree analyses, 17 CYP450 and 2 UGT candidate genes involved in the biosynthesis of polyphyllin I, polyphyllin II, polyphyllin VII, polyphyllin D, and polyphyllin H were identified. These results suggest that endophytes probably effectively promote the accumulation of polyphyllin by regulating key downstream genes in biosynthetic pathways.

Discussion

This study provides a new approach for investigating the regulatory mechanisms of endophytes that promote the production and accumulation of polyphyllin in P. polyphylla, providing a basis for further elucidating the mechanisms of plant-endophyte interactions.

Steroidal Saponins: Naturally Occurring Compounds as Inhibitors of the Hallmarks of Cancer

Cancer is a global health burden responsible for an exponentially growing number of incidences and mortalities, regardless of the significant advances in its treatment. The identification of the hallmarks of cancer is a major milestone in understanding the mechanisms that drive cancer initiation, development, and progression. In the past, the hallmarks of cancer have been targeted to effectively treat various types of cancers. These conventional cancer drugs have shown significant therapeutic efficacy but continue to impose unfavorable side effects on patients. Naturally derived compounds are being tested in the search for alternative anti-cancer drugs. Steroidal saponins are a group of naturally occurring compounds that primarily exist as secondary metabolites in plant species. Recent studies have suggested that steroidal saponins possess significant anti-cancer capabilities. This review aims to summarize the recent findings on steroidal saponins as inhibitors of the hallmarks of cancer and covers key studies published between the years 2014 and 2024. It is reported that steroidal saponins effectively inhibit the hallmarks of cancer, but poor bioavailability and insufficient preclinical studies limit their utilization.

A novel VEGFR inhibitor ZLF-095 with potent antitumor activity and low toxicity

Angiogenesis plays a critical role in the survival, progression and metastasis of malignant tumors. Multiple factors are known to induce tumor angiogenesis, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the most important one. Lenvatinib is an oral multi-kinase inhibitor of VEGFRs which has been approved for the treatment of various malignancies as the first-line agent by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It shows excellent antitumor efficacy in clinical practice. However, the adverse effects of Lenvatinib may seriously impair the therapeutic effect. Here we report the discovery and characterization of a novel VEGFR inhibitor (ZLF-095), which exhibited high activity and selectivity for VEGFR1/2/3. ZLF-095 displayed apparently antitumor effect in vitro and in vivo. We discovered that Lenvatinib could provoke fulminant ROS-caspase3-GSDME-dependent pyroptosis in GSDME-expressing cells by loss of mitochondrial membrane potential, which may be one of the reasons for Lenvatinib's toxicity. Meanwhile, ZLF-095 showed less toxicity than Lenvatinib by switching pyroptosis to apoptosis. These results suggest that ZLF-095 could become a potential angiogenesis inhibitor for cancer therapy.

Paris saponin Ⅰ induce toxicity in zebrafish by up-regulation of p53 pathway and down-regulation of wnt pathway

Paris saponin I, II, and VII are three important components in Paris polyphylla, which have been widely studied as tumor cytotoxic drugs, but their safety in vivo has not been reported. Therefore, this study evaluated the safety of these three drugs based on the zebrafish model. Firstly, the lethality curves and half lethal rates of the three saponins were determined and the results showed the values of LC₅₀ of Paris saponin I, II, and VII were 122.2, 210.7, 566.2 ng/ml, respectively. And then our data revealed that Paris saponin I, II and VII had definite hepatotoxicity, as shown by their significant reduction in the liver area and fluorescence intensity of zebrafish. Besides, Paris saponin Ⅰ affected the heart rate of zebrafish obviously, suggesting its cardiovascular toxicity. Afterwards, we found Paris saponin Ⅰ and Ⅶ reduced the area and fluorescence intensity of kidney in zebrafish, and had mild nephrotoxicity. And when treated with Paris saponin I, the pathological section of liver tissue in zebrafish showed vacuoles, severe necrosis of hepatocytes, and then the apoptosis of hepatocytes could be observed by TUNEL staining. Eventually, we found that the genes expression of p53, Bax and β-catenin changed significantly in the administration group of Paris saponin I. In general, our study proved Paris saponin Ⅰ was the most toxic of the three saponins, and the most definite toxic target sites were liver and cardiovascular. And it was further inferred that the hepatotoxicity of Paris saponin Ⅰ may be related to the regulation of p53 pathway and Wnt pathway. These results above showed the toxicity of the three saponins in zebrafish, suggesting their safety should be paid more attention in the future.

Effects of saponins from Chinese herbal medicines on signal transduction pathways in cancer: A review

Cancer poses a serious threat to human health, and the search for safe and effective drugs for its treatment has aroused interest and become a long-term goal. Traditional Chinese herbal medicine (TCM), an ancient science with unique anti-cancer advantages, has achieved outstanding results in long-term clinical practice. Accumulating evidence shows that saponins are key bioactive components in TCM and have great research and development applications for their significant role in the treatment of cancer. Saponins are a class of glycosides comprising nonpolar triterpenes or sterols attached to hydrophilic oligosaccharide groups that exert antitumor effects by targeting the NF-κB, PI3Ks-Akt-mTOR, MAPK, Wnt-β-catenin, JAK-STAT3, APMK, p53, and EGFR signaling pathways. Presently, few advances have been made in physiological and pathological studies on the effect of saponins on signal transduction pathways involved in cancer treatment. This paper reviews the phytochemistry and extraction methods of saponins of TCM and their effects on signal transduction pathways in cancer. It aims to provide theoretical support for in-depth studies on the anticancer effects of saponins.

Inhibiting Angiogenesis by Anti-Cancer Saponins: From Phytochemistry to Cellular Signaling Pathways

Saponins are one of the broadest classes of high-molecular-weight natural compounds, consisting mainly of a non-polar moiety with 27 to 30 carbons and a polar moiety containing sugars attached to the sapogenin structure. Saponins are found in more than 100 plant families as well as found in marine organisms. Saponins have several therapeutic effects, including their administration in the treatment of various cancers. These compounds also reveal noteworthy anti-angiogenesis effects as one of the critical strategies for inhibiting cancer growth and metastasis. In this study, a comprehensive review is performed on electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and ProQuest. Accordingly, the structural characteristics of triterpenoid/steroid saponins and their anti-cancer effects were highlighted, focusing on their anti-angiogenic effects and related mechanisms. Consequently, the anti-angiogenic effects of saponins, inhibiting the expression of genes related to vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and hypoxia-inducible factor 1-α (HIF-1α) are two main anti-angiogenic mechanisms of triterpenoid and steroidal saponins. The inhibition of inflammatory signaling pathways that stimulate angiogenesis, such as pro-inflammatory cytokines, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPKs), and phosphoinositide 3-kinases/protein kinase B (PI3K/Akt), are other anti-angiogenic mechanisms of saponins. Furthermore, the anti-angiogenic and anti-cancer activity of saponins was closely related to the binding site of the sugar moiety, the type and number of their monosaccharide units, as well as the presence of some functional groups in their aglycone structure. Therefore, saponins are suitable candidates for cancer treatment by inhibiting angiogenesis, for which extensive pre-clinical and comprehensive clinical trial studies are recommended.

The Carotenoid Diatoxanthin Modulates Inflammatory and Angiogenesis Pathways In Vitro in Prostate Cancer Cells

Xanthophylls, a group of carotenoids, have attracted attention as human health benefit compounds thanks to their functionality and bioavailability. The great antioxidant and anti-inflammatory abilities of diatoxanthin (Dt), a photoprotective xanthophyll synthetized by diatoms, were recently documented. This study investigates the capacity of Dt to intercept prostate cancer progression in vitro on different human cell lines, exploring its role against cancer proliferation and angiogenesis. Our results highlighted the chemopreventive role of Dt already at low concentration (44.1 pM) and suggest that the Dt-induced cancer cell death occurred through oxidative stress mechanisms. This hypothesis was supported by variations on the expression of key genes and proteins. Oxidative stress cell deaths (e.g., ferroptosis) are recently described types of cell death that are closely related to the pathophysiological processes of many diseases, such as tumors. Nonetheless, the interest of Dt was further strengthened by its ability to inhibit angiogenesis. The results are discussed considering the actual progress and requirements in cancer therapy, notably for prostate cancer.

Development, characterisation, and in vitro anti-tumor effect of self-microemulsifying drug delivery system containing polyphyllin I

Polyphyllin I (PPI), an effective active ingredient in Paris polyphylla, has a diverse set of pharmacological properties. However, due to its poor solubility and oral absorption, its application and development are limited. In the study, we were committed to improving the solubility of PPI by developing a self-microemulsifying drug delivery system of PPI (PPI-SMEDDS), screening the best preparation process, and evaluating the quality and the in vivo pharmacokinetics of PPI, and PPI-SMEDDS following oral administration to rats were also studied. In addition, the pharmacological activities against human lung adenocarcinoma cell A549 in vitro were assessed. The best formulation had 15.89% ethyl oleate, 47.38% Cremophor RH40, and 36.73% 1,2 propylene glycol. The produced PPI-SMEDDS was clear and transparent, with an average particle size of 24.51 nm and a zeta potential of -17.54 ± 0.51 mV. In vitro, the cumulative release rate of PPI-SMEDDS was nearly 80% within 2 h. PPI-SMEDDS had a substantially greater area under the curve than PPI following oral treatment in rats, and the relative bioavailability of PPI in rats was 278.99%. More importantly, the anti-tumor effect of PPI-SMEDDS in vitro was significantly greater than that of PPI. These findings suggested that PPI-SMEDDS has the potential to improve the solubility, oral bioavailability of PPI, and anti-tumor effect, laying the groundwork for future research on the new PPI dosage form.

Luteolin is an Effective Component of Platycodon grandiflorus in Promoting Wound Healing in Rats with Cutaneous Scald Injury

Background

Platycodon grandiflorus could significantly improve the pathological results of cutaneous scald injury, reduce the release of inflammatory factors and promote angiogenesis. This study investigated the wound healing effect of luteolin, an active component of P. grandiflorus, on induced cutaneous scald injury in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats.

Methods

The protein expression levels of TNF-α and IL-6 were detected by ELISA. QRT-PCR was adopted to detect the expression of TGF-β1 and VEGF. Histopathological changes of scald wounds were analyzed by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Cell viability and migration ability were detected by CCK-8 assay and scratch assay.

Results

Both in vivo and in vitro experiments showed that luteolin promoted wound healing of cutaneous scald injury. Gene Oncology (GO) functional analysis and rescue experiments showed that endothelial nitric oxide synthase 3 (NOS3) was the critical target of luteolin in treating cutaneous scald.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that luteolin is an effective component of P. grandiflorus and is effective in the treatment of cutaneous scald injury.

The crosstalk between lung cancer cells and platelets promotes tumor angiogenesis in vivo and in vitro

PURPOSE

We previously showed that the crosstalk of H1975 cells and platelets (PLTs) may promote tumor angiogenesis. This study aimed to determine whether other lung cell lines (LC) interacting with PLTs could affect tumor angiogenesis through in vivo and in vitro experiments.

METHODS

Cell Counting Kit-8, EdU cell proliferation, wound healing, Transwell invasion, F-actin staining, tube formation, ELISA and western blot assays were performed to investigate the properties and the expression levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2), p-VEGFR2, PI3K, p-PI3K, Akt, p-Akt and eNOS in supernatants or HUVECs. Then, using mouse models, immunohistochemistry was applied to detect the expression levels of CD31 and VEGF.

RESULTS

Compared with single-cultured HUVECs (EC) or incubation with either LC supernatant (EC + LC) or activated PLT supernatant (EC + PLT), incubation with SN_LCP (supernatant derived from LC cocultured with PLT, named the EC + LC + PLT group) improved the viability, proliferation, migration, invasion, and tube formation activities of HUVECs and the expression of F-actin, VEGF, VEGFR2, p-VEGFR2, p-PI3K, p-Akt and eNOS in HUVECs. Higher expression levels of CD31 and VEGF were found in the LLC + PLT (mouse model inoculated with Lewis lung cancer (LLC) cells cocultured with PLTs) group than in the LLC (mouse model inoculated with LLC cells alone) group. However, the increased angiogenic properties of HUVECs were inhibited by apatinib, an inhibitor of VEGFR2.

CONCLUSION

Lung carcinoma cells interacting with PLTs may play a key role in lung carcinoma angiogenesis through the VEGF/VEGFR2 signaling pathway.

Pentapeptide AYP from Isochrysis Zhanjiangensis Exhibits Antiangiogenic Activity in HT1080 Cells and HUVECs by Suppressing Migration and Invasion In Vitro

Microalgae are important biological sources of marine active peptides and renewable biological resources. Isochrysis zhanjiangensis has been widely used in biological ultrafiltration membranes and aquaculture. However, there are relatively few studies on its component structure and diverse activities. In this study, the mechanism of action of previously isolated pentapeptides (AYP, Ala-Tyr-Ala-Pro-Glu) on inflammation and tumor angiogenesis was evaluated. The results showed that AYP could effectively inhibit the invasion and migration of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and HT1080 cells by downregulating the expression of MMP-2/-9, independent of cytotoxicity. Especially after 100 μM AYP treatment, the ability to inhibit migration was about 67.7% ± 1.9 for HT1080 cells and 63.6% ± 1.3 for HUVECs, respectively. In addition, the activity of iNOS and COX-2 was decreased by inhibiting the oversecretion of VEGF in HT1080 cells induced by CoCl₂ and the activation of VEGFR-2 in HUVECs and by regulating PI3K/AKT and Ras/MAPK signaling pathways. It can prevent inflammation and block tumor angiogenesis. Therefore, AYP is expected to become a drug or functional food to prevent and treat tumor angiogenesis.

Co-Targeting Tumor Angiogenesis and Immunosuppressive Tumor Microenvironment: A Perspective in Ethnopharmacology

Tumor angiogenesis is one of the most important processes of cancer deterioration via nurturing an immunosuppressive tumor environment (TME). Targeting tumor angiogenesis has been widely accepted as a cancer intervention approach, which is also synergistically associated with immune therapy. However, drug resistance is the biggest challenge of anti-angiogenesis therapy, which affects the outcomes of anti-angiogeneic agents, and even combined with immunotherapy. Here, emerging targets and representative candidate molecules from ethnopharmacology (including traditional Chinese medicine, TCM) have been focused, and they have been proved to regulate tumor angiogenesis. Further investigations on derivatives and delivery systems of these molecules will provide a comprehensive landscape in preclinical studies. More importantly, the molecule library of ethnopharmacology meets the viability for targeting angiogenesis and TME simultaneously, which is attributed to the pleiotropy of pro-angiogenic factors (such as VEGF) toward cancer cells, endothelial cells, and immune cells. We primarily shed light on the potentiality of ethnopharmacology against tumor angiogenesis, particularly TCM. More research studies concerning the crosstalk between angiogenesis and TME remodeling from the perspective of botanical medicine are awaited.

Ursolic acid-enriched kudingcha extract enhances the antitumor activity of bacteria-mediated cancer immunotherapy

BACKGROUND

Bacteria-mediated cancer immunotherapy (BCI) robustly stimulates the immune system and represses angiogenesis, but tumor recurrence and metastasis commonly occur after BCI. The natural product Ilex kudingcha C. J Tseng enriched with ursolic acid has anti-cancer activity and could potentially augment the therapeutic effects of BCI. The objective of the present study was to determine potential additive effects of these modalities.

METHODS

We investigated the anti-cancer activity of KDCE (Kudingcha extract) combined with S.t△ppGpp in the mice colon cancer models.

RESULTS

In the present study, KDCE combined with S.t△ppGpp BCI improved antitumor therapeutic efficacy compared to S.t△ppGpp or KDCE alone. KDCE did not prolong bacterial tumor-colonizing time, but enhanced the antiangiogenic effect of S.t△ppGpp by downregulatingVEGFR2. We speculated that KDCE-induced VEGFR2 downregulation is associated with FAK/MMP9/STAT3 axis but not AKT or ERK.

CONCLUSIONS

Ursolic acid-enriched KDCE enhances the antitumor activity of BCI, which could be mediated by VEGFR2 downregulation and subsequent suppression of angiogenesis. Therefore, combination therapy with S.t△ppGpp and KDCE is a potential cancer therapeutic strategy.

RA Fibroblast-Like Synoviocytes Derived Extracellular Vesicles Promote Angiogenesis by miRNA-1972 Targeting p53/mTOR Signaling in Vascular Endotheliocyte

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammatory in joints. Invasive pannus is a characteristic pathological feature of RA. RA fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) are showed tumor-like biological characters that facilitate pannus generation. Importantly, it has been documented that extracellular vesicle (EVs) derived microRNAs have a vital role of angiogenesis in various immune inflammatory diseases. However, whether RA FLSs derived EVs can facilitate angiogenesis and the underlying mechanism is undefined. Herein, we aim to investigate the key role of RA FLSs derived EVs on angiogenesis in endothelial cells (ECs). We indicate that RA FLSs derived EVs promote ECs angiogenesis by enhancing migration and tube formation of ECs in vitro. Also, we confirm that RA FLSs derived EVs can significantly facilitate ECs angiogenesis with a matrigel angiogenesis mice model. In terms of the mechanisms, both RNAs and proteins in EVs play roles in promoting ECs angiogenesis, but the RNA parts are more fundamental in this process. By combining microRNA sequencing and qPCR results, miR-1972 is identified to facilitate ECs angiogenesis. The blockage of miR-1972 significantly abrogated the angiogenesis stimulative ability of RA FLSs derived EVs in ECs, while the overexpression of miR-1972 reversed the effect in ECs. Specifically, the p53 level is decreased, and the phosphorylated mTOR is upregulated in miR-1972 overexpressed ECs, indicating that miR-1972 expedites angiogenesis through p53/mTOR pathway. Collectively, RA FLSs derived EVs can promote ECs angiogenesis via miR-1972 targeted p53/mTOR signaling, targeting on RA FLSs derived EVs or miR-1972 provides a promising strategy for the treatment of patients with RA.

Extracts of Portulaca oleracea promote wound healing by enhancing angiology regeneration and inhibiting iron accumulation in mice

Objective

To investigate the role of Portulaca oleracea (POL) in promoting revascularization and re-epithelization as well as inhibiting iron aggregation and inflammation of deep tissue pressure injury (DTPI).

Methods

The hydroalcoholic extract of POL (P) and aqueous phase fraction of POL (PD) were prepared based on maceration and liquid–liquid extraction. The number of new blood vessels and VEGF-A expression level were assessed using H&E stain and Western blot on injured muscle to examine the role of POL different extracts in vascularization. The iron distribution and total elemental iron of injured muscle were detected using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and Perls’ staining to determine whether POL extracts can inhibit the iron accumulation. Besides, the ability of POL extracts to promote wound healing by combining re-epithelization time, inflammation degree and collagen deposition area were comprehensively evaluated.

Results

In vitro, we observed a significant increase in HUVEC cell viability, migration rate and the number of the tube after P and PD treatment (P < 0.05). In vivo, administration of P and PD impacted vascularization and iron accumulation on injured tissue, evident from more new blood vessels, higher expression of VEGF-A and decreased muscle iron concentration of treatment groups compared with no-treatment groups (P < 0.05). Besides, shorter re-epithelization time, reduced inflammatory infiltration and distinct collagen deposition were associated with administration of P and PD (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

POL extract administration groups have high-quality wound healing, which is associated with increased new blood vessels, collagen deposition and re-epithelization, along with decreased iron accumulation and inflammatory infiltration. Our results suggest that that POL extract is beneficial to repair injured muscle after ischemia–reperfusion, highlighting the potential of POL in the DTPI treatment.

4-Acetylantroquinonol B Suppresses Prostate Cancer Growth and Angiogenesis via a VEGF/PI3K/ERK/mTOR-Dependent Signaling Pathway in Subcutaneous Xenograft and In Vivo Angiogenesis Models

Prostate cancer is a major cause of cancer-related mortality in men in developed countries. The compound, 4-acetylantroquinonol B (4AAQB), is isolated from Antrodia cinnamomea (commonly known as Niu-Chang-Chih), which has been shown to inhibit cancer growth. However, the anticancer activity of 4AAQB has not previously been examined in prostate cancer. This study aimed to investigate the effect of 4AAQB on cancer and angiogenesis, as well as to explore its mechanism of action. Human prostate cancer cells (PC3) and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were used in cell viability, cell migration, and cell cycle functional assays to evaluate the anticancer and antiangiogenic efficacy of 4AAQB in vitro. The effects of 4AAQB in vivo were determined using xenograft and angiogenesis models. The signaling events downstream of 4AAQB were also examined. The 4AAQB compound inhibited PC3 cell growth and migration, and reduced in vivo cancer growth, as shown in a subcutaneous xenograft model. Furthermore, 4AAQB inhibited HUVEC migration, tube formation, and aortic ring sprouting; it also reduced neovascularization in a Matrigel implant angiogenesis assay in vivo. The 4AAQB compound also decreased metastasis in the PC3 prostate cancer model in vivo. Serum or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced VEGF receptor 2 (VEGFR2), phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Ak strain transforming (Akt), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase ½ (ERK ½) phosphorylation were attenuated by 4AAQB in both PC3 and HUVEC. In conclusion, 4AAQB is a potential candidate for prostate cancer therapy.

Anti-angiogenesis and anti-metastasis effects of Polyphyllin VII on Hepatocellular carcinoma cells in vitro and in vivo

Background

Polyphyllin VII (PP7), a steroidal saponin from P. polyphylla has been found to exert strong anticancer activity. Little is known about the anti-angiogenesis and anti-metastasis properties of PP7. In this study, the anti-angiogenic and anti-metastatic effects of PP7 on HCC and the molecular mechanisms were evaluated.

Methods

Effect of PP7 on angiogenesis was assessed by tube formation assay and applied a transgenic Tg(fli1:EGFP) zebrafish model. Effects of PP7 on tumor metastasis and invasion were examined in cell migration and invasion assay, zebrafish tumor xenograft models and lung metastasis mouse models. The protein levels were examined by Western blotting.

Results

PP7 significantly decreased the tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells, the number and length of ISVs and SIVs of transgenic zebrafish, and the metastasis and invasion of cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. The anti-angiogenic and anti-metastatic effects of PP7 in HepG2 cells were attributable, at least partially, to downregulated NF-κB/MMP-9/VEGF signaling pathway.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that PP7 possesses strong anti-angiogenesis and anti-metastasis activities, suggesting that PP7 could be a potential candidate agent for HCC treatment.