Ononin promotes radiosensitivity in lung cancer by inhibiting HIF-1α/VEGF pathway.

BACKGROUND: In our previous study, we provided evidence that Astragalus mongholicus Bunge(AM) and its extracts possess a protective capability against radiation-induced damage, potentially mediated through the reduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO). However, we were pleasantly surprised to discover during our experimentation that AM not only offers protection against radiation damage but also exhibits a radiation sensitization effect. This effect may be attributed to a specific small molecule present in AM known as ononin. Currently, radiation sensitizers are predominantly found in nitrazole drugs and nanomaterials, with no existing reports on the radiation sensitization properties of ononin, nor its underlying mechanism. PURPOSE: This study aims to investigate the sensitization effect of the small molecule ononin derived from AM on lung cancer radiotherapy, elucidating its specific molecular mechanism of action. Additionally, the safety profile of combining astragalus small molecule ononin with radiation therapy will be evaluated. METHODS: The effective concentration of ononin was determined through cell survival experiments, and the impact of ononin combined with varying doses of radiation on lung cancer cells was observed using CCK-8 and cell cloning experiments. The apoptotic effect of ononin combined with radiation on lung cancer cells was assessed using Hochester staining, flow cytometry, and WB assay. Additionally, WB and immunofluorescence analysis were conducted to investigate the influence of ononin on HIF-1α/VEGF pathway. Furthermore, Molecular Dynamics Simulation was employed to validate the targeted binding ability of ononin and HIF-1α. A lung cancer cell line was established to investigate the effects of knockdown and overexpression of HIF-1α. Subsequently, the experiment was repeated using tumor bearing nude mice and C57BL/6 mouse models in an in vivo study. Tumor volume was measured using a vernier caliper, while HE, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence techniques were employed to observe the effects of ononin combined with radiation on tumor morphology, proliferation, and apoptosis. Additionally, Immunofluorescence was employed to examine the impact of ononin on HIF-1α/VEGF pathway in vivo, and its effect on liver function in mice was assessed through biochemistry analysis. RESULTS: At a concentration of 25 µM, ononin did not affect the proliferation of lung epithelial cells but inhibited the survival of lung cancer cells. In vitro experiments demonstrated that the combination of ononin and radiation could effectively inhibit the growth of lung cancer cells, induce apoptosis, and suppress the excessive activation of the Hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha/Vascular endothelial growth factor pathway. In vivo experiments showed that the combination of ononin and radiation reduced the size and proliferation of lung cancer tumors, promoted cancer cell apoptosis, mitigated abnormal activation of the Hypoxia inducible factor 1 alpha pathway, and protected against liver function damage. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence that the combination of AM and its small molecule ononin can enhance the sensitivity of lung cancer to radiation. Additionally, it has been observed that this combination can specifically target HIF-1α and exert its effects. Notably, ononin exhibits the unique ability to protect liver function from damage while simultaneously enhancing the tumor-killing effects of radiation, thereby demonstrating a synergistic and detoxifying role in tumor radiotherapy. These findings contribute to the establishment of a solid basis for the development of novel radiation sensitizers derived from traditional Chinese medicine.

Guiqi Baizhu Decoction Alleviates Radiation Inflammation in Rats by Modulating the Composition of the Gut Microbiota.

The gut microbiota is important in metabolism and immune modulation, and compositional disruption of the gut microbiota population is closely associated with inflammation caused by ionizing radiation (IR). Guiqi Baizhu decoction (GQBZD) is a medicinal compound used in traditional Chinese medicine with anti-inflammatory and antioxidation effects, especially in the process of radiotherapy. However, the effect of GQBZD on reducing the damage to the normal immune system in radiotherapy remains unclear. Here, we show that GQBZD reduces body weights, water intake, food intake, diarrhea level and quality of life score, and inflammation and enhances immunity function in rats treated with X-ray radiation. Meanwhile, our data indicate that GQBZD not only reverses IR-induced gut dysbiosis as indicated change of α-diversity and ß-diversity of microbiota, the composition of Desulfovibrio, Bacteroides, and Parabacteroides, except for Roseburia and Lachnoclostridium, but also maintains intestinal barrier integrity and promoting the formation of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). GQBZD can also reduce the level of phosphorylation P65 (p-P65). Our results demonstrate that GQBZD can significantly alleviate the inflammatory responses and improve the immune damage against IR, and may be used as prebiotic agents to prevent gut dysbiosis and radiation-related metabolic disorders in radiotherapy.

Astragalus Polysaccharide Eases G1 Phase-Correlative Bystander Effects through Mediation of TGF- ß R/MAPK/ROS Signal Pathway After Carbon Ion Irradiation in BMSCs.

Although Astragalus polysaccharide (APS) has been shown to have various pharmacological effects, there have been no studies concerning the inhibitory effects of APS on the radiation-induced bystander effects (RIBE). The aim of this study was to investigate whether APS could suppress RIBE damage by inhibiting cell growth, micronucleus (MN) formation and 53BP1 foci number increased in bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs), named bystander cells, as well as to explore its mechanism. In this study, APS decreased proliferation and colony rate of bystander cells by inducing cell cycle arrest at G1 phase via extrinsic and intrinsic DNA damage. Regarding mechanism, APS inhibited mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signal pathway by down-regulating the expression of the key proteins, phosphorylated JNK (p-JNK), phosphorylated ERK (p-ERK) but not phosphorylated P38 (p-P38), and down-regulating their downstream function protein and molecule, cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and reactive oxygen species (ROS). Moreover, in bystander cells, APS inhibits expression of transforming growth factor ß receptor II (TGF- ß R II), a cell membrane receptor, resulting in lower ROS production and secretion via TGF- ß R-JNK/ERK-COX-2/ROS not P38 signaling. They gave a hint that the decreased RIBE damage induced by APS treatment involved TGF- ß R-JNK/ERK-COX-2/ROS down-regulation.