Novel 8-Methoxycoumarin-3-Carboxamides with potent anticancer activity against liver cancer via targeting caspase-3/7 and β-tubulin polymerization

In the present study, we explored the potential of coumarin-based compounds, known for their potent anticancer properties, by designing and synthesizing a novel category of 8-methoxycoumarin-3-carboxamides. Our aim was to investigate their antiproliferative activity against liver cancer cells. Toward this, we developed a versatile synthetic approach to produce a series of 8-methoxycoumarin-3-carboxamide analogues with meticulous structural features. Assessment of their antiproliferative activity demonstrated their significant inhibitory effects on the growth of HepG2 cells, a widely studied liver cancer cell line. Among screened compounds, compound 5 exhibited the most potent antiproliferative activity among the screened compounds (IC50 = 0.9 µM), outperforming the anticancer drug staurosporine (IC50 = 8.4 µM), while showing minimal impact on normal cells. The flow cytometric analysis revealed that compound 5 induces cell cycle arrest during the G1/S phase and triggers apoptosis in HepG2 cells by increasing the percentage of cells arrested in the G2/M and pre-G1 phases. Annexin V-FITC/PI screening further supported the induction of apoptosis without significant necrosis. Further, compound 5 exhibited the ability to activate caspase3/7 protein and substantially inhibited β-tubulin polymerization activity in HepG2 cells. Finally, molecular modelling analysis further affirmed the high binding affinity of compound 5 toward the active cavity of β-tubulin protein, suggesting its mechanistic involvement. Collectively, our findings highlight the therapeutic potential of the presented class of coumarin analogues, especially compound 5, as promising candidates for the development of effective anti-hepatocellular carcinoma agents.

miR-196a Enhances Neuronal Morphology through Suppressing RANBP10 to Provide Neuroprotection in Huntington's Disease

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play important roles in several neurobiological processes, including the development and progression of diseases. Previously, we identified that one specific miRNA, miR-196a, provides neuroprotective effects on Huntington's disease (HD), although the detailed mechanism is still unclear. Based on our bioinformatic analyses, we hypothesize miR-196a might offer neuroprotective functions through improving cytoskeletons of brain cells. Here, we show that miR-196a could enhance neuronal morphology, further ameliorating intracellular transport, synaptic plasticity, neuronal activity, and learning and memory abilities. Additionally, we found that miR-196a could suppress the expression of RAN binding protein 10 (RANBP10) through binding to its 3' untranslated region, and higher expression of RANBP10 exacerbates neuronal morphology and intracellular transport. Furthermore, miR-196a enhances neuronal morphology through suppressing RANBP10 and increasing the ability of β-tubulin polymerization. Most importantly, we observed higher expression of RANBP10 in the brains of HD transgenic mice, and higher expression of RANBP10 might exacerbate the pathological aggregates in HD. Taken together, we provide evidence that enhancement of neuronal morphology through RANBP10 is one of the neuroprotective mechanisms for miR-196a. Since miR-196a has also been reported in other neuronal diseases, this study might offer insights with regard to the therapeutic use of miR-196a in other neuronal diseases.