Anti-Gastric Cancer Effect of Purified Omphalia lapidescens Protein via Regulating the JAK/STAT3 Signaling Pathway.

Gastric cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. The aim of present study was to investigate the anti-tumor effect of purified Omphalia lapidescens protein (pPeOp) in gastric cancer. Microarray analysis was performed to find out differentially expressed genes in pPeOp-treated MC-4 gastric cancer cells. The Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) three signaling pathway was most likely to be altered based on bioinformatics analysis. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and NSC74859 were used as the agonist and inhibitor of the JAK/STAT3 signaling pathway, respectively. Flow cytometry and MTS assay were used for cell proliferation and viability analysis in pPeOp-treated gastric cancer cell lines with IL-6 or NSC74859. The anti-tumor effect was increased when pPeOp were co-treated with IL-6, while decreased in inhibitor treatment. The expression of the crucial members in the pathway of MC-4 cells, including glycoprotein 130 (GP130), JAK1, JAK2, STAT3, p-STAT3, suppressor of cytokine signaling SOCS1 and SOCS3, was detected by western blotting. pPeOp exhibited promising anticancer effect in the xenograft nude mice model, established by STAT3 knock down gastric cancer cells.Thus, JAK/STAT3 inhibition partially contributed to the anticancer effect of pPeOp, which may serve as a novel strategy for gastric cancer.Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/01635581.2021.1960385.

pPe Op inhibits HGC-27 cell proliferation, migration and invasion by upregulating miR-30b-5p and down-regulating the Rac1/Cdc42 pathway.

Gastric cancer is the fifth most frequently occurring and the fourth most lethal malignant cancer worldwide. A bioactive protein (pPe Op) from Omphalia lapidescens exhibits significant inhibitory effects on gastric cancer cells. miRNA deep sequencing analysis shows that miR-30b-5p is significantly upregulated in HGC-27 cells treated with pPe Op. Verification results show that the expression level of miR-30b-5p is significantly increased in HGC-27 cells after pPe Op treatment. Additionally, miR-30b-5p is significantly downregulated in clinical gastric cancer tissues compared to that in adjacent normal tissues. Following pPe Op treatment and/or transfection with miR-30b-5p mimic, the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HGC-27 cells are significantly impaired. Immunofluorescence microscopy shows that pPe Op and/or miR-30b-5p destroy(s) microfilaments and microstructures and inhibit(s) the formation of pseudopodia. Bioinformatics analysis, dual-luciferase reporter assay, and western blot analysis confirm that miR-30b-5p downregulates Rac1/Cdc42 expression and activation by targeting RAB22A. Available data indicate that miR-30b-5p plays an anti-gastric cancer role in mediating pPe Op. pPe Op upregulates miR-30b-5p expression, which in turn inhibits RAB22A expression, resulting in a reduction in the expression and activation of Rac1 and Cdc42 and their downstream targets, thus destroying the cytoskeletal structure and inhibiting the proliferation, migration, and invasion of cancer cells.

Simultaneous NF-κB inhibition and E-cadherin upregulation mediate mutually synergistic anticancer activity of celastrol and SAHA in vitro and in vivo.

Suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) is a promising histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and whose clinical application for solid tumours is partially limited by decreased susceptibility in cancer cells due to nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation. As an NF-κB inhibitor, celastrol exhibits potent anticancer effects but has failed to enter clinical trials due to its toxicity. In this report, we demonstrated that the combination of celastrol and SAHA exerted substantial synergistic efficacy against human cancer cells in vitro and in vivo accompanied by enhanced caspase-mediated apoptosis. This drug combination inhibited the activation of NF-κB caused by SAHA monotherapy and consequently led to increased apoptosis in cancer cells. Interestingly, E-cadherin was dramatically downregulated in celastrol-resistant cancer cells, and E-cadherin expression was closely related to decreased sensitivity to celastrol. However, our combination treatment significantly augmented the expression of E-cadherin, suggesting that mutual mechanisms contributed to the synergistic anticancer activity. Furthermore, the enhanced anticancer efficacy of celastrol combined with SAHA was validated in a human lung cancer 95-D xenograft model without increased toxicity. Taken together, our data demonstrated the synergistic anticancer effects of celastrol and SAHA due to their reciprocal sensitisation, which was simultaneously regulated by NF-κB and E-cadherin; thus, the combination of celastrol and SAHA was superior to other combination regimens that rely on a single mechanism. Our findings not only open new opportunities for the clinical development of SAHA but should also motivate the clinical investigation of celastrol, which has been hampered by its toxicity.

The role of Ginkgo Folium on antitumor: Bioactive constituents and the potential mechanism.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Ginkgo biloba L. is a well-known and highly regarded resource in Chinese traditional medicine due to its effectiveness and safety. Ginkgo Folium, the leaf of Ginkgo biloba L., contains biologically active constituents with diverse pharmacological activities. Recent studies have shown promising antitumor effects of the bioactive constituents found in Ginkgo Folium against various types of cancer cells, highlighting its potential as a natural source of antitumor agents. Further research is needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and optimize its therapeutic potential. AIM OF THE REVIEW: To provide a detailed understanding of the pharmacological activities of Ginkgo Folium and its potential therapeutic benefits for cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this study, we conducted a thorough and systematic search of multiple online databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, Medline, using relevant keywords such as "Ginkgo Folium," "flavonoids," "terpenoids," "Ginkgo Folium extracts," and "antitumor" to cover a broad range of studies that could inform our review. Additionally, we followed a rigorous selection process to ensure that the studies included in our review met the predetermined inclusion criteria. RESULTS: The active constituents of Ginkgo Folium primarily consist of flavonoids and terpenoids, with quercetin, kaempferol, isorhamnetin, ginkgolides, and bilobalide being the major compounds. These active constituents exert their antitumor effects through crucial biological events such as apoptosis, cell cycle arrest, autophagy, and inhibition of invasion and metastasis via modulating diverse signaling pathways. During the process of apoptosis, active constituents primarily exert their effects by modulating the caspase-8 mediated death receptor pathway and caspase-9 mediated mitochondrial pathway via regulating specific signaling pathways. Furthermore, by modulating multiple signaling pathways, active constituents effectively induce G1, G0/G1, G2, and G2/M phase arrest. Among these, the pathways associated with G2/M phase arrest are particularly extensive, with the cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) being most involved. Moreover, active constituents primarily mediate autophagy by modulating certain inflammatory factors and stressors, facilitating the fusion stage between autophagosomes and lysosomes. Additionally, through the modulation of specific chemokines and matrix metalloproteinases, active constituents effectively inhibit the processes of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and angiogenesis, exerting a significant impact on cellular invasion and migration. Synergistic effects are observed among the active constituents, particularly quercetin and kaempferol. CONCLUSION: Active components derived from Ginkgo Folium demonstrate a comprehensive antitumor effect across various levels and pathways, presenting compelling evidence for their potential in new drug development. However, in order to facilitate their broad and adaptable clinical application, further extensive experimental investigations are required to thoroughly explore their efficacy, safety, and underlying mechanisms of action.

Therapeutic effect of Sheng Mai San, a traditional Chinese medicine formula, on inflammatory bowel disease via inhibition of NF-κB and NLRP3 inflammasome signaling.

Introduction: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a globally emergent chronic inflammatory disease which commonly requires lifelong care. To date, there remains a pressing need for the discovery of novel anti-inflammatory therapeutic agents against this disease. Sheng Mai San (SMS) is a traditional Chinese medicine prescription with a long history of use for treating Qi and Yin deficiency and recent studies have shown that SMS exhibits anti-inflammatory potential. However, the effects of SMS on the gastrointestinal system remain poorly studied, and its therapeutic potential and underlying molecular mechanisms in IBD have yet to be discovered. In this study, we examined the therapeutic efficacy of SMS in IBD and its anti-inflammatory activity and underlying molecular mechanism, in vivo and in vitro. Methods: The therapeutic efficacy of SMS in IBD was assessed in the DSS-induced acute colitis mouse model. Body weight, stool consistency, rectal bleeding, colon length, organ coefficient, cytokine levels in colon tissues, infiltration of immune cells, and colon pathology were evaluated. The anti-inflammatory activity of SMS and related molecular mechanisms were further examined in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced macrophages via assessment of pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion and NF-κB, MAPK, STAT3, and NLRP3 signalling. Results: SMS significantly ameliorated the severity of disease in acute colitis mice, as evidenced by an improvement in disease activity index, colon morphology, and histological damage. Additionally, SMS reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine production and infiltration of immune cells in colon tissues. Furthermore, in LPS-induced macrophages, we demonstrated that SMS significantly inhibited the production of cytokines and suppressed the activation of multiple pro-inflammatory signalling pathways, including NF-κB, MAPK, and STAT3. SMS also abolished NLRP3 inflammasome activation and inhibited subsequent caspase-1 activation and IL-1ß secretion, suggesting a new therapeutic target for the treatment of IBD. These mechanistic findings were also confirmed in in vivo assays. Conclusion: This study presents the anti-inflammatory activity and detailed molecular mechanism of SMS, in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, we highlight for the first time the potential of SMS as an effective therapeutic agent against IBD.

Roles of Fascin in Dendritic Cells.

Dendritic cells (DCs) are professional antigen-presenting cells that play a crucial role in activating naive T cells through presenting antigen information, thereby influencing immunity and anti-cancer responses. Fascin, a 55-kDa actin-bundling protein, is highly expressed in mature DCs and serves as a marker protein for their identification. However, the precise role of fascin in intratumoral DCs remains poorly understood. In this review, we aim to summarize the role of fascin in both normal and intratumoral DCs. In normal DCs, fascin promotes immune effects through facilitating DC maturation and migration. Through targeting intratumoral DCs, fascin inhibitors enhance anti-tumor immune activity. These roles of fascin in different DC populations offer valuable insights for future research in immunotherapy and strategies aimed at improving cancer treatments.

ß-Elemene induced ferroptosis via TFEB-mediated GPX4 degradation in EGFR wide-type non-small cell lung cancer.

INTRODUCTION: ß-Elemene (ß-ELE), derived from Curcuma wenyujin, has anticancer effect on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the potential target and detail mechanism were still not clear. TFEB is the master regulator of lysosome biogenesis. Ferroptosis, a promising strategy for cancer therapy could be triggered via suppression on glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4). Weather TFEB-mediated lysosome degradation contributes to GPX4 decline and how ß-ELE modulates on this process are not clear. OBJECTIVES: To observe the action of ß-ELE on TFEB, and the role of TFEB-mediated GPX4 degradation in ß-ELE induced ferroptosis. METHODS: Surface plasmon resonance (SPR) and molecular docking were applied to observe the binding affinity of ß-ELE on TFEB. Activation of TFEB and lysosome were observed by immunofluorescence, western blot, flow cytometry and qPCR. Ferroptosis induced by ß-ELE was observed via lipid ROS, a labile iron pool (LIP) assay and western blot. A549TFEB KO cells were established via CRISPR/Cas9. The regulation of TFEB on GPX4 and ferroptosis was observed in ß-ELE treated A549WT and A549TFEB KO cells, which was further studied in orthotopic NOD/SCID mouse model. RESULTS: ß-ELE can bind to TFEB, notably activate TFEB, lysosome and transcriptional increase on downstream gene GLA, MCOLN1, SLC26A11 involved in lysosome activity in EGFR wild-type NSCLC cells. ß-ELE increased GPX4 ubiquitination and lysosomal localization, with the increase on lysosome degradation of GPX4. Furthermore, ß-ELE induced ferroptosis, which could be promoted by TFEB overexpression or compromised by TFEB knockout. Genetic knockout or inactivation of TFEB compromised ß-ELE induced lysosome degradation of GPX4, which was further demonstrated in orthotopic NSCLC NOD/SCID mice model. CONCLUSION: This study firstly demonstrated that TFEB promoted GPX4 lysosome degradation contributes to ß-ELE induced ferroptosis in EGFR wild-type NSCLC, which gives a clue that TFEB mediated GPX4 degradation would be a novel strategy for ferroptosis induction and NSCLC therapy.

TFEB: a double-edged sword for tumor metastasis.

Transcription factor EB, a member of the microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MiTF/TFE) family, is a master regulator of autophagy, lysosome biogenesis, and TAMs. Metastasis is one of the main reasons for the failure of tumor therapy. Studies on the relationship between TFEB and tumor metastasis are contradictory. On the positive side, TFEB mainly affects tumor cell metastasis via five aspects, including autophagy, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), lysosomal biogenesis, lipid metabolism, and oncogenic signaling pathways; on the negative side, TFEB mainly affects tumor cell metastasis in two aspects, including tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and EMT. In this review, we described the detailed mechanism of TFEB-mediated regulation of metastasis. In addition, we also described the activation and inactivation of TFEB in several aspects, including the mTORC1 and Rag GTPase systems, ERK2, and AKT. However, the exact process by which TFEB regulates tumor metastasis remains unclear in some pathways, which requires further studies.

Hyperprogression, a challenge of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors treatments: potential mechanisms and coping strategies.

Immunotherapy is now a mainstay in cancer treatments. Programmed cell death 1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapies have opened up a new venue of advanced cancer immunotherapy. However, hyperprogressive disease (HPD) induced by PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors caused a significant decrease in the overall survival (OS) of the patients, which compromise the efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. Therefore, HPD has become an urgent issue to be addressed in the clinical uses of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors. The mechanisms of HPD remain unclear, and possible predictive factors of HPD are not well understood. In this review, we summarized the potential mechanisms of HPD and coping strategies that can effectively reduce the occurrence and development of HPD.

Inhibition of all-trans-retinoic acid-induced proteasome activation potentiates the differentiating effect of retinoid in acute myeloid leukemia cells.

All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) is nowadays considered to be the sole efficient agent for differentiation-based therapy in leukemia; however, the mechanisms of ATRA's biological effects remain largely unknown. Here we first reported that ATRA-induced myeloid leukemia differentiation was accompanied with the increased level of ubiquitin-protein conjugates and the upregulation of proteasome activity. To explore the functional role of the activated proteasome in retinoic acid (RA) signaling, the effects of proteasome inhibitors on RA-induced cell differentiation were determined. Our results demonstrated that inhibition of ATRA-elevated proteasome activity obviously promoted the myeloid maturation program triggered by ATRA, suggesting that the overactivated proteasome is not beneficial for ATRA's effects. Further studies demonstrated that the synergistic differentiating effects of ATRA and proteasome inhibitors might be associated with the protection of retinoic acid receptor alpha (RARα) from degradation by the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway (UPP). Moreover, the accumulated RARα was able to enhance the transcription of its target gene, which might also contribute to the enhanced differentiation of leukemia cells. Together, by linking the UPP to ATRA-dependent signaling, our data provide a novel insight into studying the mechanisms of ATRA-elicited cellular effects and imply the possibility of combination of ATRA and proteasome inhibitors in leukemia therapy.

5k, a novel ß-O-demethyl-epipodophyllotoxin analogue, inhibits the proliferation of cancer cells in vitro and in vivo via the induction of G2 arrest and apoptosis.

Etoposide (VP-16), a topoisomerase II (Topo II) inhibitor, has been widely used to treat malignancies. Its clinical application, however, has been hindered by the rise of acquired multidrug resistance (MDR). Here, we report that 4ß-{[4-(pyrrolidin-1-ylmethyl)phenyl]amino}-4'-O-Demethyl-4-Epipodophyllotoxin (5k), a novel ß-O-demethyl-epipodophyllotoxin analogue, possesses higher antitumor activity than its parent compound (VP-16) in a panel of various human tumor cell lines. More importantly, it was also effective against MDR cells both in vitro and in vivo. Using a KB/VCR MDR tumor xenograft model that overexpresses P-gp, 5k (2.5 mg/kg) exhibited a 2.4-fold higher growth inhibition rate versus VP-16 (5 mg/kg). In contrast, 5k and VP-16 displayed similar antitumor activities in a KB tumor xenograft model. Molecular and cellular mechanism studies revealed that 5k targeted Topo II by trapping DNA-Topo II cleavage complexes that could directly cause DNA damage. There were two distinct cellular responses to DNA damage elicited by the treatment with 5k: at low concentrations (20-80 nM), mitotic entry was arrested through the suppression of the activity of Cyclin B1/Cdc 2 complexes via the ATM/ATR signaling pathway; at high concentrations (1.25-5.00 µM), 5k-induced apoptotic signaling was mediated by the mitochondrial death pathways. Collectively, these data demonstrate the potential value of 5k as an antitumor drug candidate that should be further developed.

Structural basis and mechanism of activation of two different families of G proteins by the same GPCR.

The ß1-adrenergic receptor (ß1-AR) can activate two families of G proteins. When coupled to Gs, ß1-AR increases cardiac output, and coupling to Gi leads to decreased responsiveness in myocardial infarction. By comparative structural analysis of turkey ß1-AR complexed with either Gi or Gs, we investigate how a single G-protein-coupled receptor simultaneously signals through two G proteins. We find that, although the critical receptor-interacting C-terminal α5-helices on Gαi and Gαs interact similarly with ß1-AR, the overall interacting modes between ß1-AR and G proteins vary substantially. Functional studies reveal the importance of the differing interactions and provide evidence that the activation efficacy of G proteins by ß1-AR is determined by the entire three-dimensional interaction surface, including intracellular loops 2 and 4 (ICL2 and ICL4).

Ginkgetin derived from Ginkgo biloba leaves enhances the therapeutic effect of cisplatin via ferroptosis-mediated disruption of the Nrf2/HO-1 axis in EGFR wild-type non-small-cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Cisplatin (DDP) is the first-in-class drug for advanced and non-targetable non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). A recent study indicated that DDP could slightly induce non-apoptotic cell death ferroptosis, and the cytotoxicity was promoted by ferroptosis inducer. The agents enhancing the ferroptosis may therefore increase the anticancer effect of DDP. Several lines of evidence supporting the use of phytochemicals in NSCLC therapy. Ginkgetin, a bioflavonoid derived from Ginkgo biloba leaves, showed anticancer effects on NSCLC by triggering autophagy. Ferroptosis can be triggered by autophagy, which regulates redox homeostasis. Thus, we aimed to elucidate the possible role of ferroptosis involved in the synergistic effect of ginkgetin and DDP in cancer therapy. METHODS: The promotion of DDP-induced anticancer effects by ginkgetin was examined via a cytotoxicity assay and western blot. Ferroptosis triggered by ginkgetin in DDP-treated NSCLC was observed via a lipid peroxidation assay, a labile iron pool assay, western blot, and qPCR. With ferroptosis blocking, the contribution of ferroptosis to ginkgetin + DDP-induced cytotoxicity, the Nrf2/HO-1 axis, and apoptosis were determined via a luciferase assay, immunostaining, chromatin immunoprecipitation (CHIP), and flow cytometry. The role of ferroptosis in ginkgetin + DDP-treated NSCLC cells was illustrated by the application of ferroptosis inhibitors, which was further demonstrated in a xenograft nude mouse model. RESULTS: Ginkgetin synergized with DDP to increase cytotoxicity in NSCLC cells, which was concomitant with increased labile iron pool and lipid peroxidation. Both these processes were key characteristics of ferroptosis. The induction of ferroptosis mediated by ginkgetin was further confirmed by the decreased expression of SLC7A11 and GPX4, and a decreased GSH/GSSG ratio. Simultaneously, ginkgetin disrupted redox hemostasis in DDP-treated cells, as demonstrated by the enhanced ROS formation and inactivation of the Nrf2/HO-1 axis. Ginkgetin also enhanced DDP-induced mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) loss and apoptosis in cultured NSCLC cells. Furthermore, blocking ferroptosis reversed the ginkgetin-induced inactivation of Nrf2/HO-1 as well as the elevation of ROS formation, MMP loss, and apoptosis in DDP-treated NSCLC cells. CONCLUSION: This study is the first to report that ginkgetin derived from Ginkgo biloba leaves promotes DDP-induced anticancer effects, which can be due to the induction of ferroptosis.

Synergistic anti-cancer activity by the combination of TRAIL/APO-2L and celastrol.

The present study demonstrates that the combination of TRAIL/APO-2L and celastrol exerts strong synergistic antiproliferative effect against human cancer cells including ovary cancer OVCAR-8, colon cancer SW620, and lung cancer 95-D, with the combination indices below 0.8. Moreover, the in vivo antitumor efficacy of TRAIL/APO-2L was dramatically increased by celastrol. These enhanced anticancer activities were accompanied by the prompt onset of caspase-mediated apoptosis. Taken together, our data firstly demonstrate the synergistic anticancer capabilities achieved by combining TRAIL/APO-2L and celastrol, and moreover, open new opportunities to enhance the effectiveness of future treatment regimens using TRAIL/APO-2L.

Design, synthesis, and biological evaluation of novel N-γ-carboline arylsulfonamides as anticancer agents.

A series of novel N-γ-carboline arylsulfonamide derivatives designed based on the common feature of colchicine binding site inhibitors were synthesized and evaluated for their antiproliferative activity in vitro against five human cancer cell lines. Most of the compounds showed moderate to potent cytotoxic activities against all the tested cells. Preliminary mechanism research on one of the most potent compound 6p indicated that it was a potent tubulin polymerization inhibitor, with IC(50) value of 3.8 µM, equivalent to that of CA-4, and arresting cell cycle in G(2)/M phase.

XQ2, a novel TPZ derivative, induced G2/M phase arrest and apoptosis under hypoxia in non-small cell lung cancer cells.

Hypoxia is one of the inevitable circumstances of various tumors. It controls various levels of regulation in tumor progression and results in tumor resistance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Here we investigated a synthetic TPZ derivative, N-ethoxymethyl-3-amino-1,2,4-benzotriazine-1,4-dioxide (XQ2), a novel compound that induced anti-cancer effects both in normoxia and in hypoxia, cell proliferation assay found that XQ2 exhibited a potent inhibitory effect on the tested cancer cell lines both in normoxia and in hypoxia. Flow cytometry and western blot studies indicated that XQ2 induces G2/M arrest and a caspase-dependent apoptosis in A549 cells. Additionally, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) appear to play a key role in the anticancer effect of XQ2 in hypoxia. Taken together, our data suggest that XQ2 exerted anticancer action by suppressing the ROS level and triggering cell-cycle arrest and the caspase-dependent pathway, which is associated with apoptosis.

Correlation of pharmacokinetic features and tissue distribution with toxicity of Q39, a hypoxic cell cytotoxic agent.

3-(4-Bromophenyl)-2-(ethylsulfonyl)-6-methyl- quinoxaline 1,4-dioxide (Q39), is one of synthesized tirapazamine (TPZ) analogues that has been investigated preclinically as a hypoxic anticancer candidate. To date, there has not been a study to systematically evaluate the toxicity and pharmacokinetics of Q39. In the present study, we characterized the toxicity profile of Q39 in ICR mice. No toxicities were observed in mice treated with Q39 at dose levels that 168 mg/kg. LD50 value was 257.8 mg/kg (95% confidence interval = 231.1-287.5 mg/kg), which was 3.3-fold higher than that of TPZ. For the plasma pharmacokinetic assessment, a balb/c nude mice bearing K562 leukemia cell xenografted model was introduced and dosed with Q39 intravenous (i.v.)(1.0 mg/kg). Rapid resolution liquid chromatography coupled with tanderm mass spectrometry quantitative detection method (RRLC-MS/MS) was used to quantitatively determine plasma concentration. The RRLC-MS/MS method was validated within the concentration range 25-2000 ng/mL, and the calibration curves were linear with correlation coefficients of > 0.999. Following intravenous administration to nude mice (1.0 mg/kg), plasma concentrations declined rapidly from 1063.3 microg/mL at 10 min to 81.5 microg/mL at 3h. Elimination was triexponential, with T1/2 values of 1.4 h. The CL was 930.0 mL/h/kg, the V(d) was 1.88 L/kg, and the AUC(0-infinity) was 1080.5 ng/mL h. In the tissue distribution assay, concentration of Q39 was higher in the heart, liver, spleen and tumor tissues. The present study offers insights into the toxicological and pharmacologic profiles of Q39 which could help to optimize the dosage of Q39 for the future research and development.

Protective effect of gan mai da zao decoction in unpredictable chronic mild stress-induced behavioral and biochemical alterations.

AIM: Growing evidence indicates that the glutamatergic system, especially the abnormalities of glutamate and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors contribute to the pathophysiology and possibly the pathogenesis of major depressive disorders. This study is to evaluate the effect of gan mai da zao (GMDZ) decoction on glutamate and NMDA receptor in unpredictable chronic mild stress (UCMS) rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sucrose preference test and open field test were used to estimate the depressive-like behaviors of UCMS rats. Glutamate levels and NMDA receptor subunits (NR1, NR2A and NR2B) in the frontal cortex and hippocampus were determined by HPLC-FLD and by western-blot respectively. RESULTS: 32 days UCMS induced depressive-like behaviors, increased glutamate concentration and decreased NMDA receptor subunits NR2A and NR2B in the frontal cortex and hippocampus of rats. However, NR1 expression remained constant in stressed rats compared with normal. The GMDZ decoction alleviated the depressive-like behavior, decreased glutamate level, and increased expression of NMDA receptor subunit NR2A and NR2B in the frontal cortex and hippocampus of stressed rats. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that GMDZ treatment reversed chronic unpredictable stress-induced depressive-like behaviors in UCMS rats, possibly via reducing glutamate levels and increasing the NMDA receptor subunits NR2A and NR2B in frontal cortex and hippocampus.

Preparation, characterization, pharmacokinetics and anticancer effects of PEGylated ß-elemene liposomes.

Objective: This study aimed to develop a new polyethylene glycol (PEG)ylated ß-elemene liposome (PEG-Lipo-ß-E) and evaluate its characterization, pharmacokinetics, antitumor effects and safety in vitro and in vivo. Methods: The liposomes were prepared by ethanol injection and high-pressure micro-jet homogenization. Characterization of the liposomes was conducted, and drug content, entrapment efficiency (EE), in vitro release and stability were studied by ultra-fast liquid chromatography (UFLC) and a liquid surface method. Blood was drawn from rats to establish the pharmacokinetic parameters. The anticancer effect was evaluated in a KU-19-19 bladder cancer xenograft model. Histological analyses were performed to evaluate safety. Results: The PEG-Lipo-ß-E showed good stability and was characterized as 83.31 ± 0.181 nm in size, 0.279 ± 0.004 in polydispersity index (PDI), -21.4 ± 1.06 mV in zeta potential, 6.65 ± 0.02 in pH, 5.024 ± 0.107 mg/mL in ß-elemene (ß-E) content, and 95.53 ± 1.712% in average EE. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) indicated the formation of PEG-Lipo-ß-E. Compared to elemene injection, PEG-Lipo-ß-E demonstrated a 1.75-fold decrease in clearance, a 1.62-fold increase in half-life, and a 1.76-fold increase in area under the concentration-time curves (AUCs) from 0 hour to 1.5 hours (P < 0.05). PEG-Lipo-ß-E also showed an enhanced anticancer effect in vivo. Histological analyses showed that there was no evidence of toxicity to the heart, kidney, liver, lung or spleen. Conclusions: The present study demonstrates PEG-Lipo-ß-E as a new formulation with ease of preparation, high EE, good stability, improved bioavailability and antitumor effects.

YQ36: a novel bisindolylmaleimide analogue induces KB/VCR cell death.

Overexpression of multidrug resistance proteins P-glycoprotein (P-gp, MDR1) causes resistance of the tumor cells against a variety of chemotherapeutic agents. 3-(1-methyl-1H-indol-3-yl)-1-phenyl-4-(1-(3-(piperidin-1-yl)propyl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridine-3-yl)-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione (YQ36) is a novel analogue of bisindolylmaleimide, which has been reported to overcome multidrug resistance. Here, we dedicated to investigate the anticancer activity of YQ36 on KB/VCR cells. The results revealed that YQ36 exhibited great antiproliferative activity on three parental cell lines and MDR1 overexpressed cell lines. Moreover, the hypersensitivity of YQ36 was confirmed on the base of great apoptosis induction and unaltered intracellular drug accumulation in KB/VCR cells. Further results suggested that YQ36 could not be considered as a substrate of P-gp, which contributed to its successfully escaping from the efflux mediated by P-gp. Interestingly, we observed that YQ36 could accumulate in nucleus and induce DNA damage. YQ36 could also induce the activation of caspase-3, imposing effects on the mitochondrial function. Collectively, our data demonstrated that YQ36 exhibited potent activities against MDR cells, inducing DNA damage and triggering subsequent apoptosis via mitochondrial pathway.