1
|
Maugeri S, Sibbitts J, Privitera A, Cardaci V, Di Pietro L, Leggio L, Iraci N, Lunte SM, Caruso G. The Anti-Cancer Activity of the Naturally Occurring Dipeptide Carnosine: Potential for Breast Cancer. Cells 2023; 12:2592. [PMID: 37998326 PMCID: PMC10670273 DOI: 10.3390/cells12222592] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Carnosine is an endogenous dipeptide composed of β-alanine and L-histidine, possessing a multimodal pharmacodynamic profile that includes anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant activities. Carnosine has also shown its ability to modulate cell proliferation, cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and even glycolytic energy metabolism, all processes playing a key role in the context of cancer. Cancer is one of the most dreaded diseases of the 20th and 21st centuries. Among the different types of cancer, breast cancer represents the most common non-skin cancer among women, accounting for an estimated 15% of all cancer-related deaths in women. The main aim of the present review was to provide an overview of studies on the anti-cancer activity of carnosine, and in particular its activity against breast cancer. We also highlighted the possible advantages and limitations involved in the use of this dipeptide. The first part of the review entailed a brief description of carnosine's biological activities and the pathophysiology of cancer, with a focus on breast cancer. The second part of the review described the anti-tumoral activity of carnosine, for which numerous studies have been carried out, especially at the preclinical level, showing promising results. However, only a few studies have investigated the therapeutic potential of this dipeptide for breast cancer prevention or treatment. In this context, carnosine has shown to be able to decrease the size of cancer cells and their viability. It also reduces the levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), cyclin D1, NAD+, and ATP, as well as cytochrome c oxidase activity in vitro. When tested in mice with induced breast cancer, carnosine proved to be non-toxic to healthy cells and exhibited chemopreventive activity by reducing tumor growth. Some evidence has also been reported at the clinical level. A randomized phase III prospective placebo-controlled trial showed the ability of Zn-carnosine to prevent dysphagia in breast cancer patients undergoing adjuvant radiotherapy. Despite this evidence, more preclinical and clinical studies are needed to better understand carnosine's anti-tumoral activity, especially in the context of breast cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Salvatore Maugeri
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy
| | - Jay Sibbitts
- Ralph N. Adams Institute for Bioanalytical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
| | - Anna Privitera
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Cardaci
- Scuola Superiore di Catania, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, 20132 Milano, Italy
| | - Lucia Di Pietro
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy
- Scuola Superiore di Catania, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Loredana Leggio
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Nunzio Iraci
- Department of Biomedical and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Catania, 95123 Catania, Italy
| | - Susan M. Lunte
- Ralph N. Adams Institute for Bioanalytical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66047, USA
| | - Giuseppe Caruso
- Department of Drug and Health Sciences, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy
- Unit of Neuropharmacology and Translational Neurosciences, Oasi Research Institute-IRCCS, 94018 Troina, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Sibbitts J, Culbertson CT. Measuring stimulation and inhibition of intracellular nitric oxide production in SIM-A9 microglia using microfluidic single-cell analysis. Anal Methods 2020; 12:4665-4673. [PMID: 32909562 DOI: 10.1039/d0ay01578d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Chronic neuroinflammation has long been considered to be a central factor in accelerating the progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's diseases, Parkinson's disease and chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Under pathological conditions microglia produce inflammatory signaling molecules, such as nitric oxide (NO), that can damage DNA and proteins and ultimately induce neuronal apoptosis. One strategy for treating neurodegenerative diseases is to specifically target NO production through inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). However, accurately measuring changes in microglial NO production in response to potential therapeutics is challenging due to NO's short half-life and microglial heterogeneity. In this paper we report the application of a microfluidic device for the high-throughput measurement of intracellular NO in SIM-A9 microglial cells. NO production was measured in response to treatment with lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and interferon gamma (IFN-γ) with and without a potent iNOS inhibitor (1400 W dihydrochloride). Cells were labeled with a fluorogenic NO probe, 4-amino-5-methylamino-2',7'-difluorofluoescein diacetate (DAF-FM DA), and 6-carboxyfluorescein diacetate (6-CFDA) as an internal standard. Separation and quantitation of intracellular NO was achieved using microchip electrophoresis and laser induced fluorescence detection (LIF). Statistical analysis suggests that the populations fit a lognormal distribution and are better represented by their geometric mean values. Comparison of the geometric means indicated a 1.6-fold increase in NO production between untreated and stimulated cells and a decrease by a factor of approximately 0.5 comparing stimulated and inhibited cells. Additionally, we report experimental data demonstrating the improvement in the sensitivity of our integrated optical fiber-based detection system through the use of refractive index matching gel.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jay Sibbitts
- Department of Chemistry, Kansas State University, 1212 Mid-Campus Drive, 213 CBC Building, Manhattan, KS, USA.
| | | |
Collapse
|
3
|
Culbertson CT, Sibbitts J, Sellens K, Jia S. Fabrication of Glass Microfluidic Devices. Methods Mol Biol 2019; 1906:1-12. [PMID: 30488382 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-8964-5_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
This chapter provides step-by-step procedures for the fabrication of glass-based microfluidic devices. These procedures include device design, photomask generation, photolithography, channel etching, and high-temperature bonding.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Jay Sibbitts
- Department of Chemistry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Kathleen Sellens
- Department of Chemistry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| | - Shu Jia
- Department of Chemistry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Affiliation(s)
- Jay Sibbitts
- Department
of Chemistry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, United States
| | - Kathleen A. Sellens
- Department
of Chemistry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, United States
| | - Shu Jia
- Department
of Chemistry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, United States
| | - Scott A. Klasner
- 12966
South
State Highway 94, Marthasville, Missouri 63357, United States
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Patabadige DEW, Jia S, Sibbitts J, Sadeghi J, Sellens K, Culbertson CT. Micro Total Analysis Systems: Fundamental Advances and Applications. Anal Chem 2015; 88:320-38. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5b04310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Damith E. W. Patabadige
- Department
of Chemistry, Kansas State University, 213 CBC Building, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, United States
| | - Shu Jia
- Department
of Chemistry, Kansas State University, 213 CBC Building, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, United States
| | - Jay Sibbitts
- Department
of Chemistry, Kansas State University, 213 CBC Building, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, United States
| | - Jalal Sadeghi
- Department
of Chemistry, Kansas State University, 213 CBC Building, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, United States
- Laser & Plasma Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Evin, Tehran, 1983963113, Iran
| | - Kathleen Sellens
- Department
of Chemistry, Kansas State University, 213 CBC Building, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, United States
| | - Christopher T. Culbertson
- Department
of Chemistry, Kansas State University, 213 CBC Building, Manhattan, Kansas 66506, United States
| |
Collapse
|