Inhibitory actions of oxyresveratrol on the PI3K/AKT signaling cascade in cervical cancer cells

The phosphatidyl inositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling plays a critical role in cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. This signal transduction axis in HPV-positive cervical cancer has been proved to be directly activated by E6/E7 proteins of the virus enhancing cervical cancer progression. Hence, the PI3K/AKT pathway is one of the key therapeutic targets for HPV-positive cervical cancer. Here we discovered that oxyresveratrol (Oxy) at noncytotoxic concentration specifically suppressed the phosphorylation of AKT but not ERK1/2. This potent inhibitory effect of Oxy was still observed even when cells were stimulated with fetal bovine serum. Inhibition of AKT phosphorylation at serine 473 by Oxy resulted in a significant decrease in serine 9 phosphorylation of GSK-3β, a downstream target of AKT. Dephosphorylation of GSK-3β at this serine residue activates its function in promoting the degradation of MCL-1, an anti-apoptotic protein. Results clearly demonstrated that in association with GSK-3β activation, Oxy preferentially downregulated the expression of anti-apoptotic protein MCL-1. Furthermore, results from the functional analyses revealed that Oxy inhibited cervical cancer cell proliferation, at least in part through suppressing nuclear expression of Ki-67. Besides, the compound retarded cervical cancer cell migration even the cells were exposed to a potent enhancer of epithelial-mesenchymal transition, TGF-β1. In consistent with these data, Oxy reduced the expression of β-catenin, N-cadherin, and vimentin. In conclusion, the study disclosed that Oxy specifically inhibits the AKT/GSK-3β/MCL-1 axis resulting in reduction in cervical cancer cell viability, proliferation, and migration.

A Novel Drosophila-based Drug Repurposing Platform Identified Fingolimod As a Potential Therapeutic for TDP-43 Proteinopathy

Pathogenic changes to TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) leading to alteration of its homeostasis are a common feature shared by several progressive neurodegenerative diseases for which there is no effective therapy. Here, we developed Drosophila lines expressing either wild type TDP-43 (WT) or that carrying an Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis /Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration-associating G384C mutation that recapitulate several aspects of the TDP-43 pathology. To identify potential therapeutics for TDP-43-related diseases, we implemented a drug repurposing strategy that involved three consecutive steps. Firstly, we evaluated the improvement of eclosion rate, followed by the assessment of locomotive functions at early and late developmental stages. Through this approach, we successfully identified fingolimod, as a promising candidate for modulating TDP-43 toxicity. Fingolimod exhibited several beneficial effects in both WT and mutant models of TDP-43 pathology, including post-transcriptional reduction of TDP-43 levels, rescue of pupal lethality, and improvement of locomotor dysfunctions. These findings provide compelling evidence for the therapeutic potential of fingolimod in addressing TDP-43 pathology, thereby strengthening the rationale for further investigation and consideration of clinical trials. Furthermore, our study demonstrates the utility of our Drosophila-based screening pipeline in identifying novel therapeutics for TDP-43-related diseases. These findings encourage further scale-up screening endeavors using this platform to discover additional compounds with therapeutic potential for TDP-43 pathology.

Combination of Pinocembrin and Epidermal Growth Factor Enhances the Proliferation and Survival of Human Keratinocytes

Re-epithelialization is delayed in aged skin due to a slow rate of keratinocyte proliferation, and this may cause complications. Thus, there has been development of new therapies that increase treatment efficacy for skin wounds. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) has been clinically used, but this agent is expensive, and its activity is less stable. Therefore, a stable compound possessing EGF-like properties may be an effective therapy, especially when combined with EGF. The current study discovered that pinocembrin (PC) effectively synergized with EGF in increasing keratinocyte viability. The combination of PC and EGF significantly enhanced the proliferation and wound closure rate of the keratinocyte monolayer through activating the phosphorylation of ERK and Akt. Although these effects of PC were like those of EGF, we clearly proved that PC did not transactivate EGFR. Recent data from a previous study revealed that PC activates G-protein-coupled receptor 120 which further activates ERK1/2 and Akt phosphorylation. Therefore, this clearly indicates that PC possesses a unique property to stimulate the growth and survival of keratinocytes through activating a different receptor, which subsequently conveys the signal to cross-talk with the effector kinases downstream of the EGFR, suggesting that PC is a potential compound to be combined with EGF.

Gastroprotective effects of Pikad Tri-phol-sa-mut-than herbal remedy on multiple gastric ulcer models in rats

In Thai traditional medicine, Pikad Tri-phol-sa-mut-than has long been used to alleviate gastrointestinal symptoms, renal disease, inflammation-related disorders, and severe malady. This recipe is composed of dried fruits of Morinda citrifolia L., Coriandrum sativum L., and Aegle marmelos (L.) Corrêa. The aim of this study was to assess the anti-gastric ulcer property of the water extract of Pikad Tri-phol-sa-mut-than (TS), using various animal models with different inducers, including restraint water immersion stress, indomethacin, and ethanol/hydrochloric acid (EtOH/HCl). Its mechanisms of anti-gastric ulcer actions were also elucidated using both in vitro and in vivo experiments. When compared with the control groups, the oral pretreatment of TS at the doses of 150, 300 and 600 mg/kg significantly reduced the gastric ulcer formation in all models. It was also found that TS at the dose of 600 mg/kg could increase gastric wall mucus in rats but could not produce the significant reduction of the gastric volume or total acidity of gastric content. Results from hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining examinations of gastric tissues confirmed that TS visibly reduced gastric mucosal damage, while immunohistochemistry revealed that TS remarkably suppressed the protein expression of Bcl-2-associated X (BAX), a regulator of apoptosis, compared to those of the control group. The DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays showed antioxidant effects of TS. All of these findings demonstrated that TS has gastroprotective effects, which may be related to the increase in the gastric wall mucus secretion, not anti-secretory activity, as well as its antioxidant and antiapoptotic activities.

Efficiency of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum JT-PN39 and Paenibacillus motobuensis JT-A29 for Fermented Coffee Applications and Fermented Coffee Characteristics

To develop a process for low-cost and ecologically friendly coffee fermentation, civet gut bacteria were isolated and screened to be used for fermentation. Among 223 isolates from civet feces, two bacteria exhibited strong protease, amylase, lipase, pectinase, and cellulase activities. By analyzing 16S rDNA phylogeny, those bacteria were identified to be Lactiplantibacillus plantarum JT-PN39 (LP) and Paenibacillus motobuensis JT-A29 (PM), where their potency (pure or mixed bacterial culture) for fermenting 5 L of arabica parchment coffee in 48-72 h was further determined. To characterize the role of bacteria in coffee fermentation, growth and pH were also determined. For mixed starter culture conditions, the growth of PM was not detected after 36 h of fermentation due to the low acid conditions generated by LP. Coffee quality was evaluated using a cupping test, and LP-fermented coffee expressed a higher cupping score, with a main fruity and sour flavor, and a dominant caramel-honey-like aroma. Antioxidant and anti-foodborne pathogenic bacteria activity, including total phenolic compounds of PM and LP fermented coffee extracts, was significantly higher than those of ordinary coffee. In addition, LP-fermented coffee expressed the highest antibacterial and antioxidant activities among the fermented coffee. The toxicity test was examined in the murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cell, and all fermented coffee revealed 80-90% cell variability, which means that the fermentation process does not generate any toxicity. In addition, qualifications of non-volatile and volatile compounds in fermented coffee were examined by LC-MS and GC-MS to discriminate the bacterial role during the process by PCA plot. The flavors of fermented coffee, including volatile and non-volatile compounds, were totally different between the non-fermented and fermented conditions. Moreover, the PCA plot showed slightly different flavors among fermentations with different starter cultures. For both the cupping test and biological activities, this study suggests that LP has potential for health benefits in coffee fermentation.

Resveratrol Enhances Cytotoxic Effects of Cisplatin by Inducing Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in Ovarian Adenocarcinoma SKOV-3 Cells through Activating the p38 MAPK and Suppressing AKT

In the current study, we identified a mechanism of resveratrol (RES) underlying its anti-cancer properties against human ovarian adenocarcinoma SKOV-3 cells. We investigated its anti-proliferative and apoptosis-inducing effects in combination with cisplatin, using cell viability assay, flow cytometry, immunofluorescence study and Western blot analysis. We discovered that RES suppressed cancer cell proliferation and stimulated apoptosis, especially when combined with cisplatin. This compound also inhibited SKOV-3 cell survival, which may partly be due to its potential to inhibit protein kinase B (AKT) phosphorylation and induce the S-phase cell cycle arrest. RES in combination with cisplatin strongly induced cancer cell apoptosis through activating the caspase-dependent cascade, which was associated with its ability to stimulate nuclear phosphorylation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), well recognized to be involved in transducing environmental stress signals. RES-induced p38 phosphorylation was very specific, and the activation status of extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) was not mainly affected. Taken together, our study provides accumulated evidence that RES represses proliferation and promotes apoptosis in SKOV-3 ovarian cancer cells through activating the p38 MAPK pathway. It is interesting that this active compound may be used as an effective agent to sensitize ovarian cancer to apoptosis induced by standard chemotherapies.

Antioxidant, antiglycation, and anti-inflammatory activities of Caesalpinia mimosoides

Oxidative stress, glycation and inflammation are the main causes of many severe diseases. To date, no single extract has been shown to simultaneously inhibit these three reactions. In this study, the antioxidant, antiglycation and anti-inflammatory activities of ethanol extracts from four edible plants that are commonly used as Thai folk medicine were compared. Among these extracts, Caesalpinia mimosoides extract (CME) showed the highest antioxidant potential with Trolox equivalent antioxidant activity (TEAC) of 5.9 ± 0.1 mM/mg followed closely by Zingiber officinale extract (ZOE) with a TEAC value of 5.4 ± 0.2 mM/mg. However, CME showed no cytotoxicity, whereas ZOE greater than 60 μg/mL showed cytotoxicity to normal human cells. Antiglycation assay using bovine serum albumin-ribose showed comparable potency between CME and Spondias dulcis extract (SDE). However, CME exhibited a high anti-inflammatory activity, significantly higher than SDE and activity depending on the dose. At a concentration of 60 μg/mL, approximately 85% of the interleukin-6 pro-inflammatory cytokine produced from human monocytes, induced by lipopolysaccharides, was completely inhibited by CME whereas SDE showed no inhibition. In summary, CME is the most potential extract with simultaneously activity of these three reactions. CME has the highest total phenolic content expressed as gallic acid equivalent to 301 ± 8 mg/g. Identification using high-performance liquid chromatography revealed the presence of at least four phenolic compounds, gallic acid, syringic acid, p-coumaric acid, and ellagic acid are existed in CME. Our finding suggests that CME is a promising natural source for inhibition of oxidative stress, glycation, and inflammation.

Alpinetin Suppresses Zika Virus-Induced Interleukin-1β Production and Secretion in Human Macrophages

Zika virus (ZIKV) infection has been recognized to cause adverse sequelae in the developing fetus. Specially, this virus activates the excessive release of IL-1β causing inflammation and altered physiological functions in multiple organs. Although many attempts have been invested to develop vaccine, antiviral, and antibody therapies, development of agents focusing on limiting ZIKV-induced IL-1β release have not gained much attention. We aimed to study the effects of alpinetin (AP) on IL-1β production in human macrophage upon exposure to ZIKV. Our study demonstrated that ZIKV stimulated IL-1β release in the culture supernatant of ZIKV-infected cells, and AP could effectively reduce the level of this cytokine. AP exhibited no virucidal activities against ZIKV nor caused alteration in viral production. Instead, AP greatly inhibited intracellular IL-1β synthesis. Surprisingly, this compound did not inhibit ZIKV-induced activation of NF-κB and its nuclear translocation. However, AP could significantly inhibit ZIKV-induced p38 MAPK activation without affecting the phosphorylation status of ERK1/2 and JNK. These observations suggest the possibility that AP may reduce IL-1β production, in part, through suppressing p38 MAPK signaling. Our current study sheds light on the possibility of using AP as an alternative agent for treating complications caused by ZIKV infection-induced IL-1β secretion.

Synergistic Effects of Some Methoxyflavones Extracted from Rhizome of Kaempferia parviflora Combined with Gentamicin against Carbapenem-Resistant Strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii

The present study aimed to investigate the antibacterial activity of ethanolic Kaempferia parviflora extracts and the combined effects of the plant's specific compounds with gentamicin against clinical strains of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of gentamicin and Kaempferia parviflora extracts against the tested bacterial strains were determined by using broth microdilution. The combined effects of Kaempferia parviflora extract and gentamicin were investigated by using a checkerboard assay and expressed as a fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI). Crude ethanolic extract of Kaempferia parviflora showed the lowest median values of MIC towards the tested isolates (n = 10) of these tested bacteria at doses of 64 µg/mL, compared to those of other Kaempferia extracts. Among the isolated compounds, only three compounds, namely 3,5,7-trimethoxyflavone, 3,5,7,3'4'-pentamethoxyflavone, and 5,7,4'-trimethoxyflavone, were identified by NMR structural analysis. According to their FICIs, the synergistic effects of gentamicin combined with 3,5,7,3'4'-pentamethoxyflavone were approximately 90%, 90%, and 80% of tested carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CRKP), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA), and Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB), respectively. The present study concluded that 3,5,7,3'4'-pentamethoxyflavone extracted from Kaempferia parviflora potentiated the antibacterial action of gentamicin to combat bacterial resistance against the tested bacteria.

Anti-inflammatory effects of Pikad Tri-phol-sa-mut-than remedy, consisting of dried fruits of Aegle marmelos (L.) Corrêa, Coriandrum sativum L., and Morinda citrifolia L

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Inflammation has been known to possess some essential roles in many diseases, especially those with chronic or severe conditions. Pikad Tri-phol-sa-mut-than, a Thai traditional herbal remedy, has long been used to treat gastrointestinal sicknesses, fever, and severe illness caused by the deformities of Tridosha. In particular, this recipe has also been applied for inflammation-related conditions including gout and rheumatoid arthritis. The Pikad Tri-phol-sa-mut-than recipe consists of dried fruits of three herbs including Aegle marmelos (L.) Corrêa, Morinda citrifolia L., and Coriandrum sativum L. Each of these plant components of Pikad Tri-phol-sa-mut-than exhibited anti-inflammatory activities. However, anti-inflammatory effect of Pikad Tri-phol-sa-mut-than remedy has not been reported.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The objective of this study was to elucidate the anti-inflammatory activities of Pikad Tri-phol-sa-mut-than extract (TS) against acute and chronic inflammation in rats.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

To study the effects of TS on acute inflammation, ethyl phenylpropiolate (EPP)-induced ear edema, carrageenan- and arachidonic acid (AA)-induced hind paw edema models were carried out. In addition, cotton pellet-induced granuloma formation was performed to specify the inhibitory effects of TS on chronic inflammation.

RESULTS

The topical application of TS significantly inhibited EPP-induced ear edema in rats. In the carrageenan- and AA-induced paw edema models, the oral administration of TS significantly reduced paw volumes, compared to those of the control groups. In addition, the 7-day oral treatment of TS demonstrated a significant suppressive effect on cotton pellet-induced granuloma formation.

CONCLUSIONS

The current study revealed that TS possesses anti-inflammatory activities against acute and chronic inflammation. Our studies support the use of TS in traditional medicine, and the development of TS as a novel natural product for treating diseases associated with inflammation.

Oxyresveratrol Inhibits TNF-α-Stimulated Cell Proliferation in Human Immortalized Keratinocytes (HaCaT) by Suppressing AKT Activation

Psoriasis is a complex inflammatory disease characterized by hyperproliferative keratinocyte caused by active PI3K/AKT signaling. TNF-α concentrated in the psoriatic lesions stimulates AKT activation. We previously discovered that oxyresveratrol inhibited inflammation via suppressing AKT phosphorylation, therefore oxyresveratrol may possess a conserved property to block AKT activation and proliferation in keratinocyte in response to TNF-α. Our current study proved that oxyresveratrol exhibited potent anti-proliferative effects against TNF-α. These effects are explained by the findings that oxyresveratrol could potentially inhibit TNF-α-stimulated AKT and GSK3-β activation in a dose-dependent manner, and its inhibitory pattern was comparable to that of a specific PI3K inhibitor. Results from immunofluorescence supported that oxyresveratrol effectively inhibited AKT and GSK3-β activation in individual cells upon TNF-α stimulation. Furthermore, functional assay confirmed that oxyresveratrol repressed the expansion of the HaCaT colony over 3 days, and this was caused by the ability of oxyresveratrol to induce cell cycle arrest at S and G2/M phases and the reduction in the expression of a proliferative marker (Ki-67) and a survival marker (MCL-1). Given the importance of TNF-α and the PI3K/AKT pathway in the psoriatic phenotype, we anticipate that oxyresveratrol, which targets the TNF-α-stimulated PI3K/AKT pathway, would represent a promising psoriasis therapy in the near future.

Anti-psoriatic and anti-inflammatory effects of Kaempferia parviflora in keratinocytes and macrophage cells

Kaempferia parviflora (KP) has been used as folk medicine for curing various conditions, including anti-inflammatory diseases. However, anti-psoriatic effects in an aspect of suppression of NF-κB activation have not been explored. Therefore, our current study aimed to elucidate the anti-inflammation of KP in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW264.7 cells and anti-psoriatic effects of KP in cytokine-induced human keratinocytes, HaCaT cells. We discovered that KP extract significantly suppressed LPS-induced inflammation at both gene expression and protein production. Specifically, dramatic reduction of nitric oxide (NO) was explored by using Griess method. Consistently, data from RT-qPCR, ELISA, and western blot analysis confirmed that crucial inflammatory and psoriatic markers including inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, IL-17, IL-22, and IL-23 were significantly decreased by the action of KP. These events were associated with the results from immunofluorescence study and western blot analysis where the activation of NF-κB upon LPS stimulation was clearly inhibited by KP through its ability to suppress IκB-α degradation resulting in inhibition of NF-κB nuclear translocation. Furthermore, KP extract significantly inhibited LPS-stimulated phosphorylation of ERK1/2, JNK, and p38 in a dose-dependent manner, along with inhibition of ERK1/2 activation in both TNF-α- and EGF-induced HaCaT cells. Interestingly, HaCaT cells exposed to 15 μg/mL of KP also exhibited significant decrease of cell migration and proliferation. Our results revealed that KP extract has a potential to be developed as a promising agent for treating inflammation and psoriasis, in part through targeting the proliferation and the NF-κB pathways.

Kaempferia parviflora extract inhibits TNF-α-induced release of MCP-1 in ovarian cancer cells through the suppression of NF-κB signaling

Ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) is an uncommon subtype of epithelial cell ovarian cancers (EOCs) that has poor response to conventional platinum-based therapy. Therefore, finding new potential therapeutic agents is required. Since inflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), is strongly expressed in EOCs and associated with the level of tumor grade, disruption of this inflammation pathway may provide another potential target for OCCC treatment. We previously reported that Kaempferia parviflora (KP) extract decreased cell proliferation and induced apoptosis. However, the effects of KP on OCCC, especially the aspects related to inflammatory cytokines, have not been elucidated. Our current study demonstrated the effects of KP extract on cytokine production in TNF-α-induced OCCC TOV-21G cell line. This study showed that KP extract inhibited interleukin 6 (IL-6) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) production at both transcription and translation levels via the suppression of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signal transduction. In contrast, KP extract increased the expression of inhibitor kappa B (IκB) protein which may delay NF-κB translocation into the nucleus upon TNF-α activation. Moreover, the suppression of cytokines released from KP treated-TOV-21G reduced the migration of monocyte cell (THP-1). KP extract also exhibited the inhibition of IL-6 and MCP-1 production from THP-1 activated by lipopolysaccharides (LPS). Cells treated with KP extract exhibited a decrease in extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK1/2) and protein kinase B (AKT) phosphorylation and induced myeloid leukemia cell differentiation protein Mcl-1 (MCL-1) expression. Suppression of inflammatory cytokine and chemokine production and inhibition of tumor-associated macrophage (TAM) migration support the possibility of using KP for OCCC treatment.

Essential Oil from Zingiber ottensii Induces Human Cervical Cancer Cell Apoptosis and Inhibits MAPK and PI3K/AKT Signaling Cascades

Zingiber ottensii (ZO) is a local plant in Thailand and has been used as a Thai traditional therapy for many conditions. ZO has been reported to exhibit many pharmacological effects, including anti-cancer activity. Nevertheless, its anti-cancer effects explored at the signaling level have not been elucidated in cervical cancer, which is one of the leading causes of fatality in females. We discovered that the essential oil of ZO significantly increased the apoptosis of human cervical cancer cells (HeLa) after 24 h of treatment in a concentration-dependent manner. Our data also clearly demonstrated that ZO essential oil reduced IL-6 levels in the culture supernatants of the cancer cells. Moreover, Western blot analysis clearly verified that cells were induced to undergo apoptotic death via caspase activation upon treatment with ZO essential oil. Interestingly, immunofluorescence studies and Western blot analyses showed that ZO essential oil suppressed epidermal growth factor (EGF)-induced pAkt and pERK1/2 signaling pathway activation. Together, our study demonstrates that ZO essential oil can reduce the proliferation and survival signaling of HeLa cervical cancer cells. Our study provides convincing data that ZO essential oil suppresses the growth and survival of cervical cancer cells, and it may be a potential choice for developing an anti-cancer agent for treating certain cervical cancers.

Phytochemical and Safety Evaluations of Zingiber ottensii Valeton Essential Oil in Zebrafish Embryos and Rats

Zingiber ottensii Valeton (ZO) exhibits pharmacological activity and has long been used in traditional medicine. However, reports about its safety profiles are limited. The present study aimed to evaluate the phytochemical profile and the toxic effects of ZO essential oil on the development of zebrafish and acute oral toxicity in rats. The essential oil was isolated from ZO rhizomes, and phytochemicals were analyzed using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS). The embryotoxic and teratogenic effects of ZO essential oil were evaluated in zebrafish embryos and larvae and the acute oral toxicity was determined in rats. GC-MS results showed the essential oil contained zerumbone as a major phytoconstituent (24.73%). The zebrafish embryotoxicity of ZO essential oil appeared to be concentration- and time-dependent manner, with a moderate LC₅₀ (1.003 µg/mL). Teratogenicity in zebrafish embryos also included morphological defects, decreased hatchability, and reduced heart rate. In rats, ZO essential oil (2000 mg/kg, p.o.) resulted in no mortality or significant toxicities. These findings suggest that ZO has embryotoxic and teratogenic effects in zebrafish embryos but does not result in death or acute oral toxicity in rats. Further long-term toxicity studies are needed to confirm the safety of products developed from ZO essential oil.

Pharmacological Benefits of Triphala: A Perspective for Allergic Rhinitis

Allergic rhinitis (AR) is considered a major nasal condition impacting a large number of people around the world, and it is now becoming a global health problem. Because the underlying mechanisms of AR are complex, the development of single-drug treatment might not be enough to treat a wide spectrum of the disease. Although the standard guidelines classify and provide suitable diagnosis and treatment, the vast majority of people with AR are still without any means of controlling it. Moreover, the benefits of AR drugs are sometimes accompanied by undesirable side effects. Thus, it is becoming a significant challenge to find effective therapies with limited undesirable side effects for a majority of patients suffering from uncontrolled AR. Aller-7/NR-A2, a polyherbal formulation, has revealed promising results in patients by reducing nasal symptoms and eosinophil counts without serious adverse effects. Interestingly, three out of seven of the herbals in the Aller-7/NR-A2 formulation are also found in an Ayurvedic polyherbal formulation known as “Triphala,” which is a potential candidate for the treatment of AR. However, there are no current studies that have examined the effects of Triphala on the disease. This review aims to describe the complexity of AR pathophysiology, currently available treatments, and the effects of Triphala on AR in order to help develop it as a promising alternative treatment in the future.

Boesenbergia rotunda extract accelerates human keratinocyte proliferation through activating ERK1/2 and PI3K/Akt kinases

Boesenbergia rotunda (BR) has long been used as tradition medicine. For its pharmacological effects on wound healing, previous studies in an animal model provided convincing results that the ethanolic extract from the rhizome of this plant can stimulate wound healing. However, the mechanism about how this plant promotes wound healing at the molecular level has not been elucidated. As a step towards the development of wound healing agents, our current study utilized a human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) as an in vitro model to define the potential molecular mechanisms of BR extract in enhancing wound-healing. Our HPLC results showed that BR extract contained kaempferol as one of its potential compounds. The extract strongly promoted wound healing of HaCaT cell monolayer. This effect was eventually defined to be regulated through the ability of BR extract to induce cell proliferation. At the signaling level, we discovered that BR extract rapidly activated ERK1/2 and Akt phosphorylation upon the addition of the extract. Additionally, our experiments where specific inhibitors of MEK (U0126) and PI3K (LY294002) were utilized verified that BR enhanced cell proliferation and wound healing through stimulating the MAPK and PI3K/Akt signal transduction pathways. Moreover, direct inhibition of keratinocyte DNA synthesis by mitomycin C (MMC) could completely block the proliferative effects of BR extract. Nevertheless, data from Transwell migration assay revealed that BR extract did not promote keratinocyte migration. Altogether, we provided more evidence that BR possesses its wound healing-promoting action through the activation of proliferation and survival pathways, and our study suggests that BR is an interesting candidate to be developed as a wound healing-promoting agent.

Oxyresveratrol Inhibits IL-1β-Induced Inflammation via Suppressing AKT and ERK1/2 Activation in Human Microglia, HMC3

Oxyresveratrol (OXY), a major phytochemical component derived from several plants, has been proved to have several pharmacological properties. However, the role of OXY in regulating neuroinflammation is still unclear. Here, we focused mainly on the anti-neuroinflammatory effects at the cellular level of OXY in the interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β)-stimulated HMC3 human microglial cell line. We demonstrated that OXY strongly decreased the release of IL-6 and MCP-1 from HMC3 cells stimulated with IL-1β. Nevertheless, IL-1β could not induce the secretion of TNF-α and CXCL10 in this specific cell line, and that OXY did not have any effects on reducing the basal level of these cytokines in the sample culture supernatants. The densitometry analysis of immunoreactive bands from Western blot clearly indicated that IL-1β does not trigger the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) signaling. We discovered that OXY exerted its anti-inflammatory role in IL-1β-induced HMC3 cells by suppressing IL-1β-induced activation of the PI3K/AKT/p70S6K pathway. Explicitly, the presence of OXY for only 4 h could strongly inhibit AKT phosphorylation. In addition, OXY had moderate effects on inhibiting the activation of ERK1/2. Results from immunofluorescence study further confirmed that OXY inhibited the phosphorylation of AKT and ERK1/2 MAPK upon IL-1β stimulation in individual cells. These findings suggest that the possible anti-inflammatory mechanisms of OXY in IL-1β-induced HMC3 cells are mainly through its ability to suppress the PI3K/AKT/p70S6K and ERK1/2 MAPK signal transduction cascades. In conclusion, our study provided accumulated data that OXY is able to suppress IL-1β stimulation signaling in human microglial cells, and we believe that OXY could be a probable pharmacologic agent for altering microglial function in the treatment of neuroinflammation.

Liraglutide Suppresses Tau Hyperphosphorylation, Amyloid Beta Accumulation through Regulating Neuronal Insulin Signaling and BACE-1 Activity

Neuronal insulin resistance is a significant feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Accumulated evidence has revealed the possible neuroprotective mechanisms of antidiabetic drugs in AD. Liraglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analog and an antidiabetic agent, has a benefit in improving a peripheral insulin resistance. However, the neuronal effect of liraglutide on the model of neuronal insulin resistance with Alzheimer's formation has not been thoroughly investigated. The present study discovered that liraglutide alleviated neuronal insulin resistance and reduced beta-amyloid formation and tau hyperphosphorylation in a human neuroblostoma cell line, SH-SY5Y. Liraglutide could effectively reverse deleterious effects of insulin overstimulation. In particular, the drug reversed the phosphorylation status of insulin receptors and its major downstream signaling molecules including insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1), protein kinase B (AKT), and glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK-3β). Moreover, liraglutide reduced the activity of beta secretase 1 (BACE-1) enzyme, which then decreased the formation of beta-amyloid in insulin-resistant cells. This indicated that liraglutide can reverse the defect of phosphorylation status of insulin signal transduction but also inhibit the formation of pathogenic Alzheimer's proteins like Aβ in neuronal cells. We herein provided the possibility that the liraglutide-based therapy may be able to reduce such deleterious effects caused by insulin resistance. In view of the beneficial effects of liraglutide administration, these findings suggest that the use of liraglutide may be a promising therapy for AD with insulin-resistant condition.

Artocarpus lakoocha Extract Inhibits LPS-Induced Inflammatory Response in RAW 264.7 Macrophage Cells

Artocarpus lakoocha Roxb. (AL) has been known for its high content of stilbenoids, especially oxyresveratrol. AL has been used in Thai traditional medicine for centuries. However, the role of AL in regulating inflammation has not been elucidated. Here we investigated the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammation of AL ethanolic extract in RAW 264.7 murine macrophage cell line. The HPLC results revealed that this plant was rich in oxyresveratrol, and AL ethanolic extract exhibited anti-inflammatory properties. In particular, AL extract decreased lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated production and secretion of cytokines and chemokine, including IL-6, TNF-α, and MCP-1. Consistently, the extract inhibited the production of nitric oxide (NO) in the supernatants of LPS-stimulated cells. Data from the immunofluorescence study showed that AL extract suppressed nuclear translocation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) upon LPS induction. Results from Western blot analysis further confirmed that AL extract strongly prevented the LPS-induced degradation of IκB which is normally required for the activation of NF-κB. The protein expression of iNOS and COX-2 in response to LPS stimulation was significantly decreased with the presence of AL extract. AL extract was found to play an anti-inflammatory role, in part through inhibiting LPS-induced activation of Akt. The extract had negligible impact on the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways. Specifically, incubation of cells with the extract for only 3 h demonstrated the rapid action of AL extract on inhibiting the phosphorylation of Akt, but not ERK1/2. Longer exposure (24 h) to AL extract was required to mildly reduce the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, p38, and JNK MAPKs. These results indicate that AL extract manipulates its anti-inflammatory effects mainly through blocking the PI3K/Akt and NF-κB signal transduction pathways. Collectively, we believe that AL could be a potential alternative agent for alleviating excessive inflammation in many inflammation-associated diseases.

Salacia chinensis L. Stem Extract Exerts Antifibrotic Effects on Human Hepatic Stellate Cells Through the Inhibition of the TGF-β1-Induced SMAD2/3 Signaling Pathway

Salacia chinensis L. (SC) stems have been used as an ingredient in Thai traditional medicine for treating patients with hepatic fibrosis and liver cirrhosis. However, there is no scientific evidence supporting the antifibrotic effects of SC extract. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the antifibrotic activity of SC stem extract in human hepatic stellate cell-line called LX-2. We found that upon TGF-β1 stimulation, LX-2 cells transformed to a myofibroblast-like phenotype with a noticeable increase in α-SMA and collagen type I production. Interestingly, cells treated with SC extract significantly suppressed α-SMA and collagen type I production and reversed the myofibroblast-like characteristics back to normal. Additionally, TGF-β1 also influenced the development of fibrogenesis by upregulation of MMP-2, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 and related cellular signaling, such as pSmad2/3, pErk1/2, and pJNK. Surprisingly, SC possesses antifibrotic activity through the suppression of TGF-β1-mediated production of collagen type 1, α-SMA, and the phosphorylation status of Smad2/3, Erk1/2, and JNK. Taken together, the present study provides accumulated information demonstrating the antifibrotic effects of SC stem extract and revealing its potential for development for hepatic fibrosis patients.

Valproic acid affects neuronal fate and microglial function via enhancing autophagic flux in mice after traumatic brain injury

In recent years, many studies have focused on autophagy, an evolutionarily conserved mechanism that relies on lysosomes to achieve cellular metabolic requirements and organelle turnover, and revealed its important role in animal models of traumatic injury. Autophagy is a double-edged sword. Appropriate levels of autophagy can promote the removal of abnormal proteins or damaged organelles, while hyperactivated autophagy can induce autophagic apoptosis. However, recent studies suggest that autophagic flux seems to be blocked after traumatic brain injury (TBI), which contributes to the apoptosis of brain cells. In this study, valproic acid (VPA), which was clinically used for epilepsy treatment, was used to treat TBI. The Morris water maze test, hematoxylin & eosin staining and Nissl staining were first conducted to confirm that VPA treatment had a therapeutic effect on mice after TBI. Western blotting, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and immunofluorescence staining were then performed to reveal that VPA treatment reversed TBI-induced blockade of autophagic flux, which was accompanied by a reduced inflammatory response. In addition, the variations in activation and phenotypic polarization of microglia were observed after VPA treatment. Nevertheless, the use of the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine partially abolished VPA-induced neuroprotection and the regulation of microglial function after TBI, resulting in the deterioration of the central nervous system microenvironment and neurological function. Collectively, VPA treatment reversed the TBI-induced blockade of autophagic flux in the mouse brain cortex, subsequently inhibiting brain cell apoptosis and affecting microglial function to achieve the promotion of functional recovery in mice after TBI. Cover Image for this issue: doi: 10.1111/jnc.14755.

Informational needs for participation in bioequivalence studies: the perspectives of experienced volunteers

PURPOSE

The present study aimed to determine the extent of information that healthy volunteers need in an informed consent form (ICF) to support their decision whether to participate in a bioequivalence study, a type of clinical studies involving the testing of pharmacokinetic equivalence of a generic drug with a brand-name drug in volunteer subjects.

METHODS

This cross-sectional, descriptive study determined the perspectives of individuals who used to participate in bioequivalence studies, using an electronic-based questionnaire. A 5-point modified Likert scale was used to indicate the importance of each element of the ICF content, with an anchored rating scale from 1 (not important) to 5 (very important) for each item.

RESULTS

Of 300 questionnaires distributed, all (100%) were returned. The respondents considered most items to be necessary for their decision, with the score ranging from 3.25 to 4.60 (mean overall score = 4.16 ± 0.30). The four top-rated items were the "major foreseeable risk" (4.60 ± 0.72), "participant's responsibility during participation" (4.52 ± 0.72), "confidentiality and the limit of confidentiality" (4.52 ± 0.82), and "all possible adverse effects of the drug" (4.47 ± 0.74), while the relatively less concerned items were related to general information.

CONCLUSIONS

Most elements of the ICF content required were considered as important by the previously experienced volunteers in bioequivalence studies, notwithstanding that some elements were perceived as more important than others. The data from this study could be used to better tailor relevant information in an ICF to the needs of research participants in bioequivalence studies.

Anti-cancer effects of Kaempferia parviflora on ovarian cancer SKOV3 cells

BACKGROUND

Kaempferia parviflora (KP) is an herb found in the north of Thailand and used as a folk medicine for improving vitality. Current reports have shown the anti-cancer activities of KP. However, the anti-cancer effects of KP on highly aggressive ovarian cancer have not been investigated. Therefore, we determined the effects of KP on cell proliferation, migration, and cell death in SKOV3 cells.

METHODS

Ovarian cancer cell line, SKOV3 was used to investigate the anti-cancer effect of KP extract. Cell viability, cell proliferation, MMP activity, cell migration, and invasion were measured by MTT assay, cell counting, gelatin zymography, wound healing assay, and Transwell migration and invasion assays, respectively. Cell death was determined by trypan blue exclusion test, AnnexinV/PI with flow cytometry, and nuclear staining. The level of ERK and AKT phosphorylation, and caspase-3, caspase-7, caspase-9 was investigated by western blot analysis.

RESULTS

KP extract was cytotoxic to SKOV3 cells when the concentration was increased, and this effect could still be observed even though EGF was present. Besides, the cell doubling time was significantly prolonged in the cells treated with KP. Moreover, KP strongly suppressed cell proliferation, cell migration and invasion. These consequences may be associated with the ability of KP in inhibiting the activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 assayed by gelatin zymography. Moreover, KP at high concentrations could induce SKOV3 cell apoptosis demonstrated by AnnexinV/PI staining and flow cytometry. Consistently, nuclear labelling of cells treated with KP extract showed DNA fragmentation and deformity. The induction of caspase-3, caspase-7, and caspase-9 indicates that KP induces cell death through the intrinsic apoptotic pathway. The antitumor activities of KP might be regulated through PI3K/AKT and MAPK pathways since the phosphorylation of AKT and ERK1/2 was reduced.

CONCLUSIONS

The inhibitory effects of KP in cell proliferation, cell migration and invasion together with apoptotic cell death induction in SKOV3 cells suggest that KP has a potential to be a new candidate for ovarian cancer chemotherapeutic agent.

Muscular Dystrophy Model

Muscular dystrophy (MD) is a group of muscle weakness disease involving in inherited genetic conditions. MD is caused by mutations or alteration in the genes responsible for the structure and functioning of muscles. There are many different types of MD which have a wide range from mild symptoms to severe disability. Some types involve the muscles used for breathing which eventually affect life expectancy. This chapter provides an overview of the MD types, its gene mutations, and the Drosophila MD models. Specifically, the Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), the most common form of MD, will be thoroughly discussed including Dystrophin genes, their isoforms, possible mechanisms, and signaling pathways of pathogenesis.

Kaempferia parviflora Extract Exhibits Anti-cancer Activity against HeLa Cervical Cancer Cells

Kaempferia parviflora (KP) has been traditionally used as a folk remedy to treat several diseases including cancer, and several studies have reported cytotoxic activities of extracts of KP against a number of different cancer cell lines. However, many aspects of the molecular mechanism of action of KP remain unclear. In particular, the ability of KP to regulate cancer cell growth and survival signaling is still largely unexplored. The current study aimed to investigate the effects of KP on cell viability, cell migration, cell invasion, cell apoptosis, and on signaling pathways related to growth and survival of cervical cancer cells, HeLa. We discovered that KP reduced HeLa cell viability in a concentration-dependent manner. The potent cytotoxicity of KP against HeLa cells was associated with a dose-dependent induction of apoptotic cell death as determined by flow cytometry and observation of nuclear fragmentation. Moreover, KP-induced cell apoptosis was likely to be mediated through the intrinsic apoptosis pathway since caspase 9 and caspase 7, but not BID, were shown to be activated after KP exposure. Based on the observation that KP induced apoptosis in HeLa cell, we further investigated the effects of KP at non-cytotoxic concentrations on suppressing signal transduction pathways relevant to cell growth and survival. We found that KP suppressed the MAPK and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways in cells activated with EGF, as observed by a significant decrease in phosphorylation of ERK1/2, Elk1, PI3K, and AKT. The data suggest that KP interferes with the growth and survival of HeLa cells. Consistent with the inhibitory effect on EGF-stimulated signaling, KP potently suppressed the migration of HeLa cells. Concomitantly, KP was demonstrated to markedly inhibit HeLa cell invasion. The ability of KP in suppressing the migration and invasion of HeLa cells was associated with the suppression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 production. These data strongly suggest that KP may slow tumor progression and metastasis in patients with cervical cancer. Taken together, the present report provides accumulated evidence revealing the potent anti-cancer activities of Kaempferia parviflora against cervical cancer HeLa cells, and suggests its potential use as an alternative way for cervical cancer prevention and therapy.

Rational Redesign of a Functional Protein Kinase-Substrate Interaction

Eukaryotic protein kinases typically phosphorylate substrates in the context of specific sequence motifs, contributing to specificity essential for accurate signal transmission. Protein kinases recognize their target sequences through complementary interactions within the active site cleft. As a step toward the construction of orthogonal kinase signaling systems, we have re-engineered the protein kinase Pim1 to alter its phosphorylation consensus sequence. Residues in the Pim1 catalytic domain interacting directly with a critical arginine residue in the substrate were substituted to produce a kinase mutant that instead accommodates a hydrophobic residue. We then introduced a compensating mutation into a Pim1 substrate, the pro-apoptotic protein BAD, to reconstitute phosphorylation both in vitro and in living cells. Coexpression of the redesigned kinase with its substrate in cells protected them from apoptosis. Such orthogonal kinase–substrate pairs provide tools to probe the functional consequences of specific phosphorylation events in living cells and to design synthetic signaling pathways.

Connexin43 phosphorylation by PKC and MAPK signals VEGF-mediated gap junction internalization

Phosphorylation on well-recognized, regulatory connexin43 amino acid residues by a series of kinases serves as an early molecular signal that triggers not only inhibition of gap junction (GJ)–mediated cell-to-cell communication but also GJ internalization. The findings contribute to the newly evolving dynamic picture of GJs.

Gap junctions (GJs) exhibit a complex modus of assembly and degradation to maintain balanced intercellular communication (GJIC). Several growth factors, including vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), have been reported to disrupt cell–cell junctions and abolish GJIC. VEGF directly stimulates VEGF-receptor tyrosine kinases on endothelial cell surfaces. Exposing primary porcine pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAECs) to VEGF for 15 min resulted in a rapid and almost complete loss of connexin43 (Cx43) GJs at cell–cell appositions and a concomitant increase in cytoplasmic, vesicular Cx43. After prolonged incubation periods (60 min), Cx43 GJs reformed and intracellular Cx43 were restored to levels observed before treatment. GJ internalization correlated with efficient inhibition of GJIC, up to 2.8-fold increased phosphorylation of Cx43 serine residues 255, 262, 279/282, and 368, and appeared to be clathrin driven. Phosphorylation of serines 255, 262, and 279/282 was mediated by MAPK, whereas serine 368 phosphorylation was mediated by PKC. Pharmacological inhibition of both signaling pathways significantly reduced Cx43 phosphorylation and GJ internalization. Together, our results indicate that growth factors such as VEGF activate a hierarchical kinase program—including PKC and MAPK—that induces GJ internalization via phosphorylation of well-known regulatory amino acid residues located in the Cx43 C-terminal tail.

Heparin responses in vascular smooth muscle cells involve cGMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG)

Published data provide strong evidence that heparin treatment of proliferating vascular smooth muscle cells results in decreased signaling through the ERK pathway and decreases in cell proliferation. In addition, these changes have been shown to be mimicked by antibodies that block heparin binding to the cell surface. Here, we provide evidence that the activity of protein kinase G is required for these heparin effects. Specifically, a chemical inhibitor of protein kinase G, Rp-8-pCPT-cGMS, eliminates heparin and anti-heparin receptor antibody effects on bromodeoxyuridine incorporation into growth factor-stimulated cells. In addition, protein kinase G inhibitors decrease heparin effects on ERK activity, phosphorylation of the transcription factor Elk-1, and heparin-induced MKP-1 synthesis. Although transient, the levels of cGMP increase in heparin treated cells. Finally, knock down of protein kinase G also significantly decreases heparin effects in growth factor-activated vascular smooth muscle cells. Together, these data indicate that heparin effects on vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation depend, at least in part, on signaling through protein kinase G.

EGF induces efficient Cx43 gap junction endocytosis in mouse embryonic stem cell colonies via phosphorylation of Ser262, Ser279/282, and Ser368

Gap junctions (GJs) traverse apposing membranes of neighboring cells to mediate intercellular communication by passive diffusion of signaling molecules. We have shown previously that cells endocytose GJs utilizing the clathrin machinery. Endocytosis generates cytoplasmic double-membrane vesicles termed annular gap junctions or connexosomes. However, the signaling pathways and protein modifications that trigger GJ endocytosis are largely unknown. Treating mouse embryonic stem cell colonies - endogenously expressing the GJ protein connexin43 (Cx43) - with epidermal growth factor (EGF) inhibited intercellular communication by 64% and activated both, MAPK and PKC signaling cascades to phosphorylate Cx43 on serines 262, 279/282, and 368. Upon EGF treatment Cx43 phosphorylation transiently increased up to 4-fold and induced efficient (66.4%) GJ endocytosis as evidenced by a 5.9-fold increase in Cx43/clathrin co-precipitation.