RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Ferroptosis, a novel iron-ion-dependent metabolic cell death mode with lipid peroxides as the main driving substrate, plays an irreplaceable role in the development and preventive treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. Curcumin has potent pharmacological anti-tumor effects. AIM OF THE STUDY: We aimed to evaluate the ex vivo and in vivo cancer inhibitory activity of curcumin and its specific mechanism of action. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used the hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines HepG2 and SMMC7721 to assess the direct inhibition of hepatocellular carcinoma proliferation by curcumin in vitro and a tumor xenograft model to evaluate the in vivo cancer inhibitory effect of curcumin. RESULTS: In this study, we found that ferroptosis's inhibitors specifically reversed the curcumin-induced cell death pattern in HCC. After curcumin intervention, there was a substantial increase in MDA levels and iron ion levels, and a decrease in intracellular GSH levels. Meanwhile, the expression of GPX4 and SLC7A11 was significantly reduced at the protein levels, while ACSL4 and PTGS2 expression was significantly increased. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that curcumin significantly decreased the proliferation of HCC cells and significantly increased the sensitivity of ferroptosis. These results suggest that ACSL4 is a viable target for curcumin-induced ferroptosis in treating HCC.

Assuntos

Carcinoma Hepatocelular , Proliferação de Células , Coenzima A Ligases , Curcumina , Ferroptose , Neoplasias Hepáticas , Regulação para Cima , Ensaios Antitumorais Modelo de Xenoenxerto , Ferroptose/efeitos dos fármacos , Curcumina/farmacologia , Humanos , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/tratamento farmacológico , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/patologia , Carcinoma Hepatocelular/metabolismo , Neoplasias Hepáticas/tratamento farmacológico , Neoplasias Hepáticas/patologia , Neoplasias Hepáticas/metabolismo , Animais , Camundongos , Coenzima A Ligases/metabolismo , Regulação para Cima/efeitos dos fármacos , Proliferação de Células/efeitos dos fármacos , Fosfolipídeo Hidroperóxido Glutationa Peroxidase/metabolismo , Camundongos Nus , Sistema y+ de Transporte de Aminoácidos/metabolismo , Sistema y+ de Transporte de Aminoácidos/genética , Células Hep G2 , Linhagem Celular Tumoral , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Masculino , Regulação Neoplásica da Expressão Gênica/efeitos dos fármacos

RESUMO

Gastric cancer (GC) is a prevalent malignancy affecting the gastrointestinal tract. Weifuchun (WFC), a Chinese herbal prescription comprising red ginseng, Isodon amethystoides, and Fructus aurantii, is widely used in China for various chronic stomach disorders. However, its therapeutic role and mechanisms in treating GC remain unexplored. In a randomized, controlled, single-blind trial involving postoperative stages II and III GC patients, we compared adjuvant chemotherapy plus WFC (chemo plus WFC group) to adjuvant chemotherapy alone (chemo group) over 6 months. We assessed recurrence and metastasis rates and used systematic pharmacology to predict WFC's active components, screen target genes, and construct network interaction maps, were validated through in vitro experiments. The combined therapy significantly reduced 2-year recurrence and metastasis rates. We identified 67 active ingredients, 211 drug target proteins, 1539 disease targets, 105 shared targets, and 188 signaling pathways associated with WFC. WFC impacted cell apoptosis, proliferation, and the inflammatory response, with top tumor-related signaling pathways involving 5'-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), mitogen-activated protein kinase, nuclear factor kappa-B (NFKB), and apoptosis. In vitro, WFC inhibited proliferation and migration while inducing apoptosis in GC cells, reduced VEGFA, TNFa, and IL6 expressions. Immunocytochemistry showed increased p-AMPK staining, and molecular analysis revealed decreased NFKB and phosphorylation of extracellular-regulated protein kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) levels, increased p-AMPK and BAX protein levels in WFC-treated cells, effects reversed by Compound C. WFC's antitumor effects involve AMPK-dependent ERK1/2 and NFKB pathways, regulating proliferation, migration, and apoptosis in GC cells.

RESUMO

Objective: As a metabolic disease, one important feature of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the disturbance of the intestinal flora. Spleen-strengthening and liver-draining formula (SLF) is a formula formed according to the theory of "One Qi Circulation" (Qing Dynasty, 1749) of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which has shown significant therapeutic effect in patients with NAFLD in a preliminary clinical observation. In this study, we aim to explore the mechanism of SLF against NAFLD, especially its effect on glucolipid metabolism, from the perspective of intestinal flora. Methods: A prospective, randomized, controlled clinical study was designed to observe the efficacy and safety of SLF in the treatment of NAFLD. The study participants were randomly and evenly divided into control group and treatment group (SLF group). The control group made lifestyle adjustments, while the SLF group was treated with SLF on top of the control group. Both groups were participated in the study for 12 consecutive weeks. Furthermore, the feces of the two groups were collected before and after treatment. The intestinal flora of each group and healthy control (HC) were detected utilizing 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Results: Compared with the control group, the SLF group showed significant improvements in liver function, controlled attenuation parameter (CAP), and liver stiffness measurement (LSM), meanwhile, patients had significantly lower lipid and homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) with better security. Intestinal flora 16S rRNA gene sequencing results indicated reduced flora diversity and altered species abundance in patients with NAFLD. At the phylum level, Desulfobacterota levels were reduced. Although Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes did not differ significantly between HC and NAFLD, when grouped by alanine transaminase (ALT) and aspartate transaminase (AST) levels in NAFLD, Firmicutes levels were significantly higher in patients with ALT or AST abnormalities, while Bacteroidetes was significantly lower. Clinical correlation analysis showed that Firmicutes positively correlated with gender, age, ALT, AST, LSM, and Fibroscan-AST (FAST) score, while the opposite was true for Bacteroidetes. At the genus level, the levels of Alistipes, Bilophila, Butyricimonas, Coprococcus, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136 group Phascolarctobacterium, Ruminococcus, UCG-002, and UCG-003 were reduced, whereas abundance of Tyzzerella increased. There was no statistically significant difference in Firmicutes and Bacteroidota levels in the SLF group before and after treatment, but both bacteria tended to retrace. At the genus level, Coprococcus (Lachnospiraceae family), Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136 group (Lachnospiraceae family), and Ruminococcus (Ruminococcaceae family) were significantly higher in the SLF group after treatment, and there was also a tendency for Bilophila (Desulfovibrionaceae family) to be back-regulated toward HC. Conclusions: SLF can improve liver function and glucolipid metabolism in patients with NAFLD and lower down liver fat content to some extent. SLF could be carried out by regulating the disturbance of intestinal flora, especially Coprococcus, Lachnospiraceae_NK4A136 group, and Ruminococcus genus.

Assuntos

Medicamentos de Ervas Chinesas , Microbioma Gastrointestinal , Hepatopatia Gordurosa não Alcoólica , Humanos , Clostridiales , Hepatopatia Gordurosa não Alcoólica/tratamento farmacológico , Hepatopatia Gordurosa não Alcoólica/microbiologia , RNA Ribossômico 16S , Baço/metabolismo , Medicamentos de Ervas Chinesas/uso terapêutico

RESUMO

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Inflammation has been considered a precipitating event that contributes to neurocognitive dysfunction in minimal hepatic encephalopathy (MHE). Inhibition TLR-4 related inflammation can effectively improve neurocognitive dysfunction of MHE. Our previous study showed that Babao Dan (BBD) effectively inhibited inflammation and ameliorated neurocognitive function in rats with acute hepatic encephalopathy (HE) and chronic HE. The mechanism may lie in the regulation of TLR4 signaling pathway. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the role of BBD in the treatment of MHE patients with cirrhosis and to elucidate the underlying mechanism by which BBD regulated TLR4 pathway to alleviate inflammation. METHODS: A randomized controlled trial (n = 62) was conducted to evaluate the clinical efficacy between BBD plus lactulose (n = 31) and lactulose alone (n = 31) in MHE patients by testing neurocognitive function (NCT-A and DST), blood ammonia, liver function (ALT, AST and TBIL) and blood inflammation (IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α). Afterward, we detected NO, inflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α) and the phosphorylation of P65, JNK, ERK as well as P38 in LPS-activated rat primary bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs), peritoneal macrophages (PMs), and mouse primary BMDMs/PMs/microglia/astrocytes, to investigate the underlying mechanism of BBD inhibiting inflammation through TLR4 pathway. Also, the survival rate of mice, liver function (ALT, AST), blood inflammation (IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α), inflammatory cytokines (IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α) and histopathological changes in the liver, brain and lung were measured to assess the anti-inflammatory effect of BBD on neurocognitive function in endotoxin shock/endotoxemia mice. RESULTS: BBD combined with lactulose significantly ameliorated neurocognitive function by decreasing NCT-A (p＜0.001) and increasing DST (p＜0.001); inhibited systemic inflammation by decreasing IL-1ß (p＜0.001), IL-6(p＜0.001) and TNF-α (p＜0.001); reduced ammonia level (p = 0.005), and improved liver function by decreasing ALT(p = 0.043), AST(p = 0.003) and TBIL (p = 0.026) in MHE patients. Furthermore, BBD inhibited gene and protein expression of IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α as well as NO in rat primary BMDMs/PMs, and mouse primary BMDMs/PMs/microglia/astrocytes in a dose-dependent manner. BBD inhibited the activation of mouse primary BMDMs/PMs/microglia/astrocytes by regulating TLR4 pathway involving the phosphorylation of P65, JNK, ERK and P38. Also, BBD reduced the mortality of mice with endotoxin shock/endotoxemia; serum levels of ALT, AST, IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α; gene expression of IL-1ß, IL-6 and TNF-α in the liver, brain and lung, and tissue damage in the liver and lung. CONCLUSION: Our study provided for the first time clinical and experimental evidence supporting the use of BBD in MHE, and revealed that BBD could play a crucial role in targeting and regulating TLR4 inflammatory pathway to improve neurocognitive function in MHE patients.

Assuntos

Anti-Inflamatórios , Encéfalo , Cognição , Citocinas , Medicamentos de Ervas Chinesas , Encefalopatia Hepática , Mediadores da Inflamação , Idoso , Animais , Feminino , Humanos , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Gravidez , Anti-Inflamatórios/efeitos adversos , Anti-Inflamatórios/uso terapêutico , Astrócitos/efeitos dos fármacos , Astrócitos/metabolismo , Encéfalo/efeitos dos fármacos , Encéfalo/metabolismo , Encéfalo/fisiopatologia , Células Cultivadas , China , Cognição/efeitos dos fármacos , Citocinas/metabolismo , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Medicamentos de Ervas Chinesas/efeitos adversos , Medicamentos de Ervas Chinesas/uso terapêutico , Endotoxemia/tratamento farmacológico , Endotoxemia/metabolismo , Encefalopatia Hepática/tratamento farmacológico , Encefalopatia Hepática/metabolismo , Encefalopatia Hepática/fisiopatologia , Encefalopatia Hepática/psicologia , Mediadores da Inflamação/metabolismo , Macrófagos/efeitos dos fármacos , Macrófagos/metabolismo , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Microglia/efeitos dos fármacos , Microglia/metabolismo , Fatores de Tempo , Receptor 4 Toll-Like/metabolismo , Resultado do Tratamento , Camundongos

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Maintenance chemotherapeutic regimen with low toxicity is needed for metastatic colorectal cancer. A recent patent has been issued on the spleen-strengthening and detoxification prescription (JPJDF), a traditional Chinese herbal medicinal formula with anti-angiogenesis effect. The clinical effect of JPJDF on the maintenance treatment of advanced colorectal cancer has not been evaluated. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of JPJDF in combination with fluoropyrimidine compared to fluoropyrimidine alone as maintenance therapy for metastatic colorectal cancer. METHODS: We applied a prospective, randomized, double-blinded, single center clinical study design. A total of 137 patients with advanced colorectal cancer were recruited. Patients received either Fluoropyrimidine (Flu-treated group, n = 68), or Fluoropyrimidine plus JPJDF (Flu-F-treated group, n = 69) as maintenance treatment after 6-cycle of FOLFOX4 or FOLFORI induction treatment. The primary endpoints were Progression-Free Survival (PFS) and Overall Survival (OS). The secondary endpoints were safety, Performance Status (PS) score and other symptoms. RESULTS: The endpoint of disease progression was observed in 91.7% of patients. The PFS was 5.0 months and 3.0 months in the Flu-F-treated and Flu-treated groups, respectively. The OS was 15.0 months and 9.0 months in the Flu-F-treated and Flu-treated groups, respectively. Some common symptoms, such as hypodynamia, anepithymia, dizziness and tinnitus and shortness of breath, were improved in the Flu-F-treated group. There was no significant difference in the common adverse reactions between the two groups. CONCLUSION: JPJDF and fluoropyrimidine have synergistic effect in the maintenance treatment of mCRC.

Assuntos

Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/uso terapêutico , Neoplasias Colorretais/tratamento farmacológico , Medicamentos de Ervas Chinesas/farmacologia , Fluoruracila/uso terapêutico , Adenocarcinoma/tratamento farmacológico , Adenocarcinoma/patologia , Idoso , Protocolos de Quimioterapia Combinada Antineoplásica/administração & dosagem , Neoplasias Colorretais/patologia , Método Duplo-Cego , Sinergismo Farmacológico , Medicamentos de Ervas Chinesas/administração & dosagem , Feminino , Fluoruracila/administração & dosagem , Fluoruracila/farmacologia , Humanos , Leucovorina/administração & dosagem , Quimioterapia de Manutenção , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade , Compostos Organoplatínicos/administração & dosagem , Patentes como Assunto , Estudos Prospectivos

RESUMO

Fibulin-2, an extracellular matrix (ECM) protein expressed in normal epithelia, is a kind of fibulin which is associated with basement membranes (BM) and elastic ECM fibers. The role of fibulin-2 has been recognized as an oncogene. The upregulation of fibulin-2 correlates with cancer development and progression. Furthermore, the upregulation of fibulin has been detected in ovarian cancer and stomach adenocarcinoma. However, the downregulation of fibulin has been detected in different intestinal and respiratory tumor cells. Additional studies have revealed that the role of fibulin-2 in carcinogenesis is context dependent and is caused by the interaction of fibulin proteins such as cell surface receptors and other ECM proteins, including integrins and syndecans. The present study summarizes the role of fibulin in carcinogenesis and its underlying molecular mechanism.

Assuntos

Proteínas de Ligação ao Cálcio/fisiologia , Carcinogênese/metabolismo , Proteínas da Matriz Extracelular/fisiologia , Animais , Proteínas de Ligação ao Cálcio/metabolismo , Matriz Extracelular/metabolismo , Proteínas da Matriz Extracelular/metabolismo , Feminino , Humanos , Integrinas/metabolismo , Neoplasias Ovarianas/metabolismo

RESUMO

The gut microbiota, including pathogenic microorganisms and probiotics, has been involved in tumor initiation and progression by regulating the components of intestinal flora. Canmei formula (CMF), a traditional Chinese medicine, chronicled in the Chuang Yang Jing Yan Quan Shu, has been clinically used as an adjuvant therapy to treat patients with colorectal carcinoma (CRC) in China. In this study, we investigate the treatment effect of CMF in the azoxymethane (AOM) and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) induced and high-fat diet augmented colitis-associated colorectal cancer in vivo, and explore its mechanism of action. We found that CMF treatment relieved the inflammation and alteration of the gut microbiota and significantly inhibited the development of intestinal adenoma. Linear discriminant analysis showed that the flora diversity in the normal mice, model mice and CMF treatment mice was different. At the family level, the relative abundance of Desulfovibrionaceae decreased in CMF groups. The relative abundance of Desulfovibrionaceae were lower in the CMF groups than in model group, whereas Rikenellaceae and Alistipes were increased. Altogether our results indicate that CMF treatment ameliorate colitis-associated colorectal carcinogenesis by modulating the composition of the gut microbiota in vivo.