Effect of the Pulsatilla decoction n-butanol extract on vulvovaginal candidiasis caused by Candida glabrata and on its virulence factors

Vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) caused by Candida glabrata (C. glabrata) is more persistent and resistant to treatment than when caused by Candida albicans (C. albicans) and has been on the rise in recent years. The n-butanol extract of Pulsatilla Decoction (BEPD) has been shown to be effective in treating VVC caused by C. glabrata, but the underlying mechanism of action remains unclear. In this study, the experimenter conducted in vitro and in vivo experiments to explore the effects of BEPD on the virulence factors of C. glabrata, as well as its efficacy, with a focus on possible immunological mechanism in VVC caused by C. glabrata. The contents of Anemoside B4, Epiberberine, Berberine, Aesculin, Aesculetin, Phellodendrine and Jatrorrhizine in BEPD, detected by high-performance liquid chromatography, were 31,736.64, 13,529.66, 105,143.72, 19,406.20, 4952.67, 10,317.03, 2489.93 μg/g, respectively. In vitro experiments indicated that BEPD moderately inhibited the growth of C. glabrata, its adhesion, and biofilm formation, and affected the expression of efflux transporters in the biofilm state. In vivo experiments demonstrated that BEPD significantly reduced vaginal inflammatory manifestation and the release of proinflammatory cytokines and LDH in mice with VVC caused by C. glabrata. Moreover, it inhibited the Phosphorylation of EGFR, ERK, P38, P65, and C-Fos proteins. The results suggested that although BEPD moderately inhibits the growth and virulence factors of C. glabrata in vitro, it can significantly reduce vaginal inflammation by down-regulating the EGFR/MAPK signaling pathway in mice with VVC infected by C. glabrata.

A network pharmacology- and transcriptomics-based investigation reveals an inhibitory role of β-sitosterol in glioma via the EGFR/MAPK signaling pathway

Glioma is characterized by rapid cell proliferation, aggressive invasion, altered apoptosis and a poor prognosis. β-Sitosterol, a kind of phytosterol, has been shown to possess anticancer activities. Our current study aims to investigate the effects of β-sitosterol on gliomas and reveal the underlying mechanisms. Our results show that β-sitosterol effectively inhibits the growth of U87 cells by inhibiting proliferation and inducing G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis. In addition, β-sitosterol inhibits migration by downregulating markers of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Mechanistically, network pharmacology and transcriptomics approaches illustrate that the EGFR/MAPK signaling pathway may be responsible for the inhibitory effect of β-sitosterol on glioma. Afterward, the results show that β-sitosterol effectively suppresses the EGFR/MAPK signaling pathway. Moreover, β-sitosterol significantly inhibits tumor growth in a U87 xenograft nude mouse model. β-Sitosterol inhibits U87 cell proliferation and migration and induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest in U87 cells by blocking the EGFR/MAPK signaling pathway. These results suggest that β-sitosterol may be a promising therapeutic agent for the treatment of glioma.

Nucleophosmin promotes lung adenocarcinoma cell proliferation, migration and invasion by activating the EGFR/MAPK signaling pathway

Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the main cause of death globally. The present study investigated the prognostic value and functional verification of nucleophosmin (NPM1) in LUAD. LUAD and normal samples from The Cancer Genome Atlas were analyzed to identify whether NPM1 is associated with LUAD prognosis. NPM1 protein expression level was verified by western blotting. Cell proliferation, migration and invasion were detected by Cell Counting Kit‑8, wound healing and Transwell assays, respectively. EGFR/MAPK pathway‑related proteins [phosphorylated (p)‑EGFR/EGFR, p‑MEK/MEK, and p‑ERK/ERK] expression was measured through western blotting. A xenograft tumor mice model was constructed to perform the in vivo verification. NPM1 was upregulated in LUAD cells, and high‑level NPM1 indicated poor prognosis in patients with LUAD. In vitro experiments revealed that NPM1 knockdown inhibited LUAD cell proliferation, migration and invasion. Moreover, protein expression of p‑EGFR/EGFR, p‑MEK/MEK and p‑ERK/ERK was reduced with the NPM1 silencing. Furthermore, EGF, an activator of the EGFR/MAPK pathway, reversed the effects of NPM1. In vivo experiments showed that NPM1 knockdown inhibited tumor growth and protein levels of p‑EGFR/EGFR, p‑MEK/MEK and p‑ERK/ERK. NPM1 is related to the poor prognosis of LUAD and promotes the malignant progression of LUAD by activating the EGFR/MAPK pathway. This discovery provides a new potential therapeutic target for the diagnosis and treatment of LUAD.

Hsa_circ_0001756 promotes ovarian cancer progression through regulating IGF2BP2-mediated RAB5A expression and the EGFR/MAPK signaling pathway

Hsa_circ_0001756 was reported to be upregulated in serum samples of ovarian cancer (OC) patients and may serve as a potential OC biomarker. This study aimed to investigate the role and molecular mechanisms of hsa_circ_0001756 in OC procession. Herein, we detected the expression of hsa_circ_0001756 in OC tissues and cell lines with RT-qPCR assay, which showed that hsa_circ_0001756 was upregulated in OC tissues and cell lines. Then small interfering RNA targeting hsa_circ_0001756 (si-hsa_circ_0001756) was transfected into SKOV3 and A2780 cells, and the proliferation, invasion, and expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) marker proteins were determined with CCK-8, Transwell and Western blotting assays, respectively. We found that hsa_circ_0001756 knockdown inhibited OC cell proliferation, invasion and EMT. Moreover, RNA pull-down assay verified the binding between hsa_circ_0001756 and IGF2 mRNA binding protein 2 (IGF2BP2), and rescue experiments indicated that IGF2BP2 overexpression reversed the effects of has_circ_0001756 knockdown on OC cell functions. Co-IP assay verified IGF2BP2 could interact with RAB GTPase 5A (RAB5A) protein. Then SKOV3 cells were transfected with si-IGF2BP2 alone or together with pcDNA-RAB5A, followed by the detection of SKOV3 cell functions. We found that IGF2BP2 knockdown inhibited OC cell proliferation, invasion, and EMT, while RAB5A overexpression reversed these effects. Finally, SKOV3 cells transfected with si-hsa_circ_0001756 were injected into nude mice through tail vein. Hsa_circ_0001756 knockdown significantly inhibited the xenograft tumor growth of OC in vivo. In conclusion, hsa_circ_0001756 knockdown inhibits OC cell proliferation, invasion, and EMT, and reduces xenograft tumor growth by suppressing IGF2BP2-mediated RAB5A expression and blocking the EGFR/MAPK signaling pathway.