Liposome-lentivirus for miRNA therapy with molecular mechanism study.

BACKGROUND: Cancer stem cells (CSCs) play a vital role in the occurrence, maintenance, and recurrence of solid tumors. Although, miR-145-5p can inhibit CSCs survival, poor understanding of the underlying mechanisms hamperes further therapeutic optimization for patients. Lentivirus with remarkable transduction efficiency is the most commonly used RNA carrier in research, but has shown limited tumor-targeting capability. METHODS: We have applied liposome to decorate lentivirus surface thereby yielding liposome-lentivirus hybrid-based carriers, termed miR-145-5p-lentivirus nanoliposome (MRL145), and systematically analyzed their potential therapeutic effects on liver CSCs (LCSCs). RESULTS: MRL145 exhibited high delivery efficiency and potent anti-tumor efficacy under in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, the overexpressed miR-145-5p can significantly suppress the self-renewal, migration, and invasion abilities of LCSCs by targeting Collagen Type IV Alpha 3 Chain (COL4A3). Importantly, COL4A3 can promote phosphorylating GSK-3ß at ser 9 (p-GSK-3ß S9) to inactivate GSK3ß, and facilitate translocation of ß-catenin into the nucleus to activate the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway, thereby promoting self-renewal, migration, and invasion of LCSCs. Interestingly, COL4A3 could attenuate the cellular autophagy through modulating GSK3ß/Gli3/VMP1 axis to promote self-renewal, migration, and invasion of LCSCs. CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide new insights in mode of action of miR-145-5p in LCSCs therapy and indicates that liposome-virus hybrid carriers hold great promise in miRNA delivery.

FANCI is Associated with Poor Prognosis and Immune Infiltration in Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Objective: This study aimed to validate FANCI as a potential marker for both prognosis and therapy in liver hepatocellular carcinoma. Method: FANCI expression data were acquired from GEPIA, HPA, TCGA, and GEO databases. The impact of clinicopathological features was analyzed by UALCAN. The prognosis of Liver Hepatocellular Carcinoma (LIHC) patients with highly expressed FANCI was constructed utilizing Kaplan-Meier Plotter. GEO2R was employed to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Metascape was used to analyze functional pathways correlations. Protein-Protein interaction (PPI) networks were generated by Cytoscape. Furthermore, molecular complex detection (MCODE) was utilized to recognize Hub genes, which were selected to establish a prognostic model. Lastly, the relationship between FANCI and immune cell infiltration in LIHC was examined. Results: Compared to adjacent tissues, FANCI expression levels were significantly higher in LIHC tissues and were positively correlated to the cancer grade, stage, and prior hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. High expression of FANCI was found to be associated with poor prognosis in LIHC (HR=1.89, p<0.001). DEGs that were positively correlated with FANCI were involved in various processes, including the cell cycle, VEGF pathway, immune system processes, and biogenesis of ribonucleoproteins. MCM10, TPX2, PRC1, and KIF11 were identified as key genes closely related to FANCI and poor prognosis. A reliable five-variable prognostic model was constructed with strong predictive capability. Lastly, a positive correlation was observed between FANCI expression and tumor-infiltration levels of CD8+ T cells, B cells, regulatory T (Tregs), CD4+ T helper 2 (Th2), and macrophage M2 cells. Conclusion: FANCI may hold promise as a potential biomarker for predicting prognostic outcomes, and a valuable therapeutic target for LIHC patients, with a focus on anti-proliferation, anti-chemoresistance, and combination with immunotherapy.

A Novel Aniline Derivative from Peganum harmala L. Promoted Apoptosis via Activating PI3K/AKT/mTOR-Mediated Autophagy in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells.

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a common clinical malignant tumor with limited therapeutic drugs. Leading by cytotoxicity against NSCLC cell lines (A549 and PC9), bioactivity-guided isolation of components from Peganum harmala seeds led to the isolation of pegaharoline A (PA). PA was elucidated as a structurally novel aniline derivative, originating from tryptamine with a pyrrole ring cleaved and the degradation of carbon. Biological studies showed that PA significantly inhibited NSCLC cell proliferation, suppressed DNA synthesis, arrested the cell cycle, suppressed colony formation and HUVEC angiogenesis, and blocked cell invasion and migration. Molecular docking and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) demonstrated PA could bind with CD133, correspondingly decreased CD133 expression to activate autophagy via inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, and increased ROS levels, Bax, and cleaved caspase-3 to promote apoptosis. PA could also decrease p-cyclinD1 and p-Erk1/2 and block the EMT pathway to inhibit NSCLC cell growth, invasion, and migration. According to these results, PA could inhibit NSCLC cell growth by blocking PI3K/AKT/mTOR and EMT pathways. This study provides evidence that PA has a promising future as a candidate for developing drugs for treating NSCLC.

Analysis of Significant Genes and Pathways in Esophageal Cancer Based on Gene Expression Omnibus Database.

Objective To screen antigen targets for immunotherapy by analyzing over-expressed genes, and to identify significant pathways and molecular mechanisms in esophageal cancer by using bioinformatic methods such as enrichment analysis, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, and survival analysis based on the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database.Methods By screening with highly expressed genes, we mainly analyzed proteins MUC13 and EPCAM with transmembrane domain and antigen epitope from TMHMM and IEDB websites. Significant genes and pathways associated with the pathogenesis of esophageal cancer were identified using enrichment analysis, PPI network, and survival analysis. Several software and platforms including Prism 8, R language, Cytoscape, DAVID, STRING, and GEPIA platform were used in the search and/or figure creation.Results Genes MUC13 and EPCAM were over-expressed with several antigen epitopes in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) tissue. Enrichment analysis revealed that the process of keratinization was focused and a series of genes were related with the development of esophageal cancer. Four genes including ALDH3A1, C2, SLC6A1,and ZBTB7C were screened with significant P value of survival curve.Conclusions Genes MUC13 and EPCAM may be promising antigen targets or biomarkers for esophageal cancer. Keratinization may greatly impact the pathogenesis of esophageal cancer. Genes ALDH3A1, C2, SLC6A1,and ZBTB7C may play important roles in the development of esophageal cancer.

Targeted Co-Delivery of Gefitinib and Rapamycin by Aptamer-Modified Nanoparticles Overcomes EGFR-TKI Resistance in NSCLC via Promoting Autophagy.

Acquired drug resistance decreases the efficacy of gefitinib after approximately 1 year of treatment in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Autophagy is a process that could lead to cell death when it is prolonged. Thus, we investigated a drug combination therapy of gefitinib with rapamycin-a cell autophagy activator-in gefitinib-resistant NSCLC cell line H1975 to improve the therapeutic efficacy of gefitinib in advanced NSCLC cells through acute cell autophagy induction. Cell viability and tumor formation assays indicated that rapamycin is strongly synergistic with gefitinib inhibition, both in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistic studies demonstrated that EGFR expression and cell autophagy decreased under gefitinib treatment and were restored after the drug combination therapy, indicating a potential cell autophagy-EGFR positive feedback regulation. To further optimize the delivery efficiency of the combinational agents, we constructed an anti-EGFR aptamer-functionalized nanoparticle (NP-Apt) carrier system. The microscopic observation and cell proliferation assays suggested that NP-Apt achieved remarkably targeted delivery and cytotoxicity in the cancer cells. Taken together, our results suggest that combining rapamycin and gefitinib can be an efficacious therapy to overcome gefitinib resistance in NSCLC, and targeted delivery of the drugs using the aptamer-nanoparticle carrier system further enhances the therapeutic efficacy of gefitinib.

Mallotucin D, a Clerodane Diterpenoid from Croton crassifolius, Suppresses HepG2 Cell Growth via Inducing Autophagic Cell Death and Pyroptosis.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major subtype of primary liver cancer with a high mortality rate. Pyroptosis and autophagy are crucial processes in the pathophysiology of HCC. Searching for efficient drugs targeting pyroptosis and autophagy with lower toxicity is useful for HCC treatment. Mallotucin D (MLD), a clerodane diterpenoid from Croton crassifolius, has not been previously reported for its anticancer effects in HCC. This study aims to evaluate the inhibitory effects of MLD in HCC and explore the underlying mechanism. We found that the cell proliferation, DNA synthesis, and colony formation of HepG2 cells and the angiogenesis of HUVECs were all greatly inhibited by MLD. MLD caused mitochondrial damage and decreased the TOM20 expression and mitochondrial membrane potential, inducing ROS overproduction. Moreover, MLD promoted the cytochrome C from mitochondria into cytoplasm, leading to cleavage of caspase-9 and caspase-3 inducing GSDMD-related pyroptosis. In addition, we revealed that MLD activated mitophagy by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Using the ROS-scavenging reagent NAC, the activation effects of MLD on pyroptosis- and autophagy-related pathways were all inhibited. In the HepG2 xenograft model, MLD effectively inhibited tumor growth without detectable toxicities in normal tissue. In conclusion, MLD could be developed as a candidate drug for HCC treatment by inducing mitophagy and pyroptosis via promoting mitochondrial-related ROS production.

OrchidBase 4.0: a database for orchid genomics and molecular biology.

BACKGROUND: The Orchid family is the largest families of the monocotyledons and an economically important ornamental plant worldwide. Given the pivotal role of this plant to humans, botanical researchers and breeding communities should have access to valuable genomic and transcriptomic information of this plant. Previously, we established OrchidBase, which contains expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from different tissues and developmental stages of Phalaenopsis as well as biotic and abiotic stress-treated Phalaenopsis. The database includes floral transcriptomic sequences from 10 orchid species across all the five subfamilies of Orchidaceae. DESCRIPTION: Recently, the whole-genome sequences of Apostasia shenzhenica, Dendrobium catenatum, and Phalaenopsis equestris were de novo assembled and analyzed. These datasets were used to develop OrchidBase 4.0, including genomic and transcriptomic data for these three orchid species. OrchidBase 4.0 offers information for gene annotation, gene expression with fragments per kilobase of transcript per millions mapped reads (FPKM), KEGG pathways and BLAST search. In addition, assembled genome sequences and location of genes and miRNAs could be visualized by the genome browser. The online resources in OrchidBase 4.0 can be accessed by browsing or using BLAST. Users can also download the assembled scaffold sequences and the predicted gene and protein sequences of these three orchid species. CONCLUSIONS: OrchidBase 4.0 is the first database that contain the whole-genome sequences and annotations of multiple orchid species. OrchidBase 4.0 is available at http://orchidbase.itps.ncku.edu.tw/.

Black Phosphorus Quantum Dots Cause Nephrotoxicity in Organoids, Mice, and Human Cells.

Quantum dots (QDs) have numerous potential applications in lighting, engineering, and biomedicine. QDs are mainly excreted through the kidney due to their ultrasmall sizes; thus, the kidneys are target organs of QD toxicity. Here, an organoid screening platform is established and used to study the nephrotoxicity of QDs. Organoids are templated from monodisperse microfluidic Matrigel droplets and found to be homogeneous in both tissue structure and functional recapitulation within a population and suitable for the quantitative screening of toxic doses. Kidney organoids are proved displaying higher sensitivity than 2D-cultured cell lines. Similar to metal-containing QDs, black phosphorus (BP)-QDs are found to have moderate toxicity in the kidney organoids. The nephrotoxicity of BP-QDs are validated in both mice and human renal tubular epithelial cells. BP-QDs are also found to cause insulin insensitivity and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the kidney. Furthermore, ER stress-related IRE1α signaling is shown to mediate renal toxicity and insulin insensitivity caused by BP-QDs. In summary, this work demonstrates the use of constructed kidney organoids as 3D high-throughput screening tools to assess nanosafety and further illuminates the effects and molecular mechanisms of BP-QD nephrotoxicity. The findings will hopefully enable improvement of the safety of BP-QD applications.

Interplay of mevalonate and Hippo pathways regulates RHAMM transcription via YAP to modulate breast cancer cell motility.

Expression of receptor for hyaluronan-mediated motility (RHAMM), a breast cancer susceptibility gene, is tightly controlled in normal tissues but elevated in many tumors, contributing to tumorigenesis and metastases. However, how the expression of RHAMM is regulated remains elusive. Statins, inhibitors of mevalonate metabolic pathway widely used for hypercholesterolemia, have been found to also have antitumor effects, but little is known of the specific targets and mechanisms. Moreover, Hippo signaling pathway plays crucial roles in organ size control and cancer development, yet its downstream transcriptional targets remain obscure. Here we show that RHAMM expression is regulated by mevalonate and Hippo pathways converging onto Yes-associated protein (YAP)/TEAD, which binds RHAMM promoter at specific sites and controls its transcription and consequently breast cancer cell migration and invasion (BCCMI); and that simvastatin inhibits BCCMI via targeting YAP-mediated RHAMM transcription. Required for ERK phosphorylation and BCCMI, YAP-activated RHAMM transcription is dependent on mevalonate and sensitive to simvastatin, which modulate RHAMM transcription by modulating YAP phosphorylation and nuclear-cytoplasmic localization. Further, modulation by mevalonate/simvastatin of YAP-activated RHAMM transcription requires geranylgeranylation, Rho GTPase activation, and actin cytoskeleton rearrangement, but is largely independent of MST and LATS kinase activity. These findings from in vitro and in vivo investigations link mevalonate and Hippo pathways with RHAMM as a downstream effector, a YAP-transcription and simvastatin-inhibition target, and a cancer metastasis mediator; uncover a mechanism regulating RHAMM expression and cancer metastases; and reveal a mode whereby simvastatin exerts anticancer effects; providing potential targets for cancer therapeutic agents.

Doxorubicin-loaded star-shaped copolymer PLGA-vitamin E TPGS nanoparticles for lung cancer therapy.

A doxorubicin-loaded mannitol-functionalized poly(lactide-co-glycolide)-b-D-α-tocopheryl polyethylene glycol 1000 succinate nanoparticles (DOX-loaded M-PLGA-b-TPGS NPs) were prepared by a modified nanoprecipitation method. The NPs were characterized by the particle size, surface morphology, particle stability, in vitro drug release and cellular uptake efficiency. The NPs were near-spherical with narrow size distribution. The size of M-PLGA-b-TPGS NPs was ~110.9 nm (much smaller than ~143.7 nm of PLGA NPs) and the zeta potential was -35.8 mV (higher than -42.6 mV of PLGA NPs). The NPs exhibited a good redispersion since the particle size and surface charge hardly changed during 3-month storage period. In the release medium (phosphate buffer solution vs. fetal bovine serum), the cumulative drug release of DOX-loaded M-PLGA-b-TPGS, PLGA-b-TPGS, and PLGA NPs were 76.41 versus 83.11 %, 58.94 versus 73.44 % and 45.14 versus 53.12 %, respectively. Compared with PLGA-b-TPGS NPs and PLGA NPs, the M-PLGA-b-TPGS NPs possessed the highest cellular uptake efficiency in A549 and H1975 cells (lung cancer cells). Ultimately, both in vitro and in vivo antitumor activities were evaluated. The results showed that M-PLGA-b-TPGS NPs could achieve a significantly higher level of cytotoxicity in cancer cells and a better antitumor efficiency on xenograft BALB/c nude mice tumor model than free DOX. In conclusion, the DOX-loaded M-PLGA-b-TPGS could be used as a potential DOX-loaded nanoformulation in lung cancer chemotherapy.

A calcineurin-dependent switch controls the trafficking function of α-arrestin Aly1/Art6.

Proper regulation of plasma membrane protein endocytosis by external stimuli is required for cell growth and survival. In yeast, excess levels of certain nutrients induce endocytosis of the cognate permeases to prevent toxic accumulation of metabolites. The α-arrestins, a family of trafficking adaptors, stimulate ubiquitin-dependent and clathrin-mediated endocytosis by interacting with both a client permease and the ubiquitin ligase Rsp5. However, the molecular mechanisms that control α-arrestin function are not well understood. Here, we show that α-arrestin Aly1/Art6 is a phosphoprotein that specifically interacts with and is dephosphorylated by the Ca(2+)- and calmodulin-dependent phosphoprotein phosphatase calcineurin/PP2B. Dephosphorylation of Aly1 by calcineurin at a subset of phospho-sites is required for Aly1-mediated trafficking of the aspartic acid and glutamic acid transporter Dip5 to the vacuole, but it does not alter Rsp5 binding, ubiquitinylation, or stability of Aly1. In addition, dephosphorylation of Aly1 by calcineurin does not regulate the ability of Aly1 to promote the intracellular sorting of the general amino acid permease Gap1. These results suggest that phosphorylation of Aly1 inhibits its vacuolar trafficking function and, conversely, that dephosphorylation of Aly1 by calcineurin serves as a regulatory switch to promote Aly1-mediated trafficking to the vacuole.

Isogarcinol inhibits nasopharyngeal carcinoma growth through mitochondria-mediated autophagic cell death.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Isogarcinol, a natural compound extracted from the fruits of Garcinia oblongifolia, has potential chemopreventive activity. This study aimed to elucidate the anti-tumor effects and mechanism of action of isogarcinol on nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). METHODS: Isogarcinol was isolated from Garcinia oblongifolia by using chromatographic separation. The anti-tumor effects of isogarcinol in NPC cells were tested by MTT assay, flow cytometry, wound healing assay, western blotting, transwell assay, colony formation assay, immunofluorescence, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The anti-tumor efficacy in vivo was evaluated in NPC cells xenograft models. RESULTS: Functional studies revealed that isogarcinol inhibited the proliferation, colony formation, migration and invasion abilities of NPC cells in vitro. Isogarcinol caused mitochondrial damage to overproduce reactive oxygen species through reducing the mitochondrial membrane potential and ΔΨm. Isogarcinol also substantially inhibited NPC cells growth in a xenograft tumor model without any obvious toxicity when compared with paclitaxel (PTX). Mechanistic studies have illustrated that isogarcinol increased the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, cleaved caspase-3, and cytoplasmic cytochrome C levels to induce mitochondrial apoptosis. The ROS overproduction by isogarcinol could suppress EMT pathway via decreasing the levels of p-Akt and Snail. Furthermore, isogarcinol promoted the conversion of LC3-Ⅰ to LC3-Ⅱ, but increased p62 level to block autophagic flux, resulting in the accumulation of damaged mitochondria to promote autophagic cell death in NPC cells. CONCLUSION: This study provides a new theoretical foundation for the anti-tumor application of Garcinia oblongifolia and confirms that isogarcinol could be developed as a candidate drug for NPC treatment with low toxicity.

A novel PDPN antagonist peptide CY12-RP2 inhibits melanoma growth via Wnt/ß-catenin and modulates the immune cells.

BACKGROUND: Podoplanin (PDPN) is a highly conserved, mucin-type protein specific to the lymphatic system. Overexpression of PDPN is associated with the progression of various solid tumors, and plays an important roles in the tumor microenvironment by regulating the immune system. However, the role of PDPN-mediated signal activation in the progression of melanoma is still unknown. METHODS: PDPN expression was first analyzed in 112 human melanoma tissue microarrays and melanoma cell lines. Functional experiments including proliferation, clone formation, migration, and metastasis were utilized to identify the suppressive effects of PDPN. The Ph.D.TM-12 Phage Display Peptide Library was used to obtain a PDPN antagonist peptide, named CY12-RP2. The immunofluorescence, SPR assay, and flow cytometry were used to identify the binding specificity of CY12-RP2 with PDPN in melanoma cells. Functional and mechanistic assays in vivo and in vitro were performed for discriminating the antitumor and immune activation effects of CY12-RP2. RESULTS: PDPN was overexpressed in melanoma tissue and cells, and inhibited melanoma cells proliferation, migration, and metastasis by blocking the EMT and Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. PDPN antagonistic peptide, CY12-RP2, could specifically bind with PDPN, suppressing melanoma various functions inducing apoptosis in both melanoma cells and 3D spheroids. CY12-RP2 also enhanced the anti-tumor capacity of PBMC, and inhibited melanoma cells growth both in xenografts and allogeneic mice model. Moreover, CY12-RP2 could inhibit melanoma lung metastasis, and abrogated the immunosuppressive effects of PDPN by increasing the proportion of CD3 + CD4 + T cells, CD3 + CD8 + T cells, CD49b + Granzyme B + NK cells, and CD11b + CD86 + M1-like macrophages and the levels of IL-1ß, TNF-α, and IFN-γ. CONCLUSIONS: This study has demonstrated the important role of PDPN in the progression of melanoma and formation of immunosuppressive environment, and provided a potential approach of treating melanoma using the novel CY12-RP2 peptide. In melanoma, PDPN is overexpressed in the cancer cells, and promotes melanoma cells growth and metastasis through activating the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. Treatment with the PDPN antagonistic peptide CY12-RP2 could not only inhibit the melanoma growth and metastasis both in vitro and in vivo through Wnt/ß-catenin pathway blockade, but also abrogate the immunosuppressive effects of PDPN through modulating immune cells.

A Self-Reinforcing Nanoplatform for Highly Effective Synergistic Targeted Combinatary Calcium-Overload and Photodynamic Therapy of Cancer.

While calcium-overload-mediated therapy (COMT) is a promising but largely untapped therapeutic strategy, combinatory therapy greatly boosts treatment outcomes with integrated merits of different therapies. Herein, a BPQD@CaO2 -PEG-GPC3Ab nanoplatform is formulated by integrating calcium peroxide (CaO2 ) and black phosphorus quantum dot (BPQD, photosensitizer) with active-targeting glypican-3 antibody (GPC3Ab), for combinatory photodynamic therapy (PDT) and COMT in response to acidic pH and near-infrared (NIR) light, wherein CaO2 serves as the reservoir of calcium ions (Ca2+ ) and hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ). Navigated by GPC3Ab to tumor cells at acidic pH, the nanoparticle disassembles to CaO2 and BPQD; CaO2 produces COMT Ca2+ and H2 O2 , while H2 O2 makes oxygen (O2 ) to promote PDT; under NIR irradiation BPQD facilitates not only the conversion of O2 to singlet oxygen (1 O2 ) for PDT, but also moderate hyperthermia to accelerate NP dissociation to CaO2 and BPQD, and conversions of CaO2 to Ca2+ and H2 O2 , and H2 O2 to O2 , to enhance both COMT and PDT. After supplementary ionomycin treatment to induce intracellular Ca2+ bursts, the multimodal therapeutics strikingly induce hepatocellular carcinoma apoptosis, likely through the activation of the calpains and caspases 12, 9, and 3, up-regulation of Bax and down-regulation of Bcl-2 proteins. This nanoplatform enables a mutually-amplifying and self-reinforcing synergistic therapy.

A specific RAGE-binding peptide inhibits triple negative breast cancer growth through blocking of Erk1/2/NF-κB pathway.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive cancer that poses a significant threat to women's health. Unfortunately, the lack of clinical targets leads the poor clinical outcomes in TNBC. Many cancers demonstrate overexpression of receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), which can contribute to cancer progression. Despite the potential therapeutic value of blocking RAGE for TNBC treatment, effective peptide drugs have yet to be developed. In our study, we observed that RAGE was highly expressed in TNBC and was associated with poor disease progression. We subsequently investigated the antitumor effects and underlying mechanisms of the RAGE antagonist peptide RP7 in both in vitro and in vivo models of TNBC. Our study revealed that RP7 selectively binds to RAGE-overexpressing TNBC cell lines, including MDA-MB-231 and BT549, and significantly inhibits cell viability, migration, and invasion in both cell lines. Furthermore, RP7-treatment suppressed tumor growth in TNBC xenograft mouse models without inducing detectable toxicity in normal tissues. Mechanistically, RP7 was found to inhibit the phosphorylation of ERK1/2, IKKα/ß, IKBα, and p65 to block the NF-κB pathway, prevent the entry of p65 into the nucleus, decrease the protein expression of Bcl-2 and HMGB1, and promote the release of cytochrome C from the mitochondria into the cytoplasm. These effects were observed to activate apoptosis and inhibit epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in TNBC cells. This study highlights RAGE as a candidate therapeutic target for TNBC treatment and suggests that the RAGE antagonist peptide RP7 is a promising anticancer drug for TNBC.

Sophflarine A, a novel matrine-derived alkaloid from Sophora flavescens with therapeutic potential for non-small cell lung cancer through ROS-mediated pyroptosis and autophagy.

BACKGROUND: Novel compounds and more efficient treatment options are urgently needed for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The decoction of Sophora flavescens has been used to treat NSCLC in the clinic, and matrine-type alkaloids are generally considered to be the key pharmacodynamic material basis. But the previous study showed that common matrine-type alkaloids exhibit significant cytotoxicity only when at concentrations close to the millimolar (mM) level. The key antitumor alkaloids in S. flavescens seem to have not yet been revealed. PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to screen water-soluble matrine alkaloid with novel skeleton and enhanced activity from S. flavescens, and to reveal the pharmacological mechanism of its therapeutic effect on NSCLC. METHODS: Alkaloid was obtained from S. flavescens by chromatographic separation methods. The structure of alkaloid was determined by spectroscopic methods, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The mechanism of anti-NSCLC in vitro with cellular models was evaluated by MTT assay, western blotting, cell migration and invasion assay, plate colony-formation assay, tube formation assay, immunohistochemistry assay, hematoxylin and eosin staining. The antitumor efficacy in vivo was test in NSCLC xenograft models. RESULTS: A novel water-soluble matrine-derived alkaloid incorporating 6/8/6/6 tetracyclic ring system, named sophflarine A (SFA), was isolated from the roots of S. flavescens. SFA had significantly enhanced cytotoxicity compared with the common matrine-type alkaloids, having an IC50 value of 11.3 µM in A549 and 11.5 µM in H820 cells at 48 h. Mechanistically, SFA promoted NSCLC cell death by inducing pyroptosis via activating the NLRP3/caspase-1/GSDMD signaling pathway, and inhibited cancer cell proliferation by increasing the ROS production to activate autophagy via blocking the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. Additionally, SFA also inhibited NSCLC cell migration and invasion by suppressing EMT pathway, and inhibited cancer cell colony formation and human umbilical vein endothelial cell angiogenesis. In concordance with the above results, SFA treatment blocked tumor growth in an A549 cell-bearing orthotopic mouse model. CONCLUSION: This study revealed a potential therapeutic mechanism of a novel matrine-derived alkaloid, which not only described a rational explanation for the clinical utilization of S. flavescens, but also provided a potential candidate compound for NSCLC treatment.

A Novel Fibromodulin Antagonist Peptide RP4 Exerts Antitumor Effects on Colorectal Cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Fibromodulin (FMOD) is the main proteoglycan that contributes to extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling by binding to matrix molecules, thereby playing an essential role in tumor growth and metastasis. There are still no useful drugs that target FMOD for CRC treatment in clinics. Here, we first used public whole-genome expression datasets to analyze the expression level of FMOD in CRC and found that FMOD was upregulated in CRC and associated with poor patient prognosis. We then used the Ph.D.-12 phage display peptide library to obtain a novel FMOD antagonist peptide, named RP4, and tested its anti-cancer effects of RP4 in vitro and in vivo. These results showed that RP4 inhibited CRC cell growth and metastasis, and promoted apoptosis both in vitro and in vivo by binding to FMOD. In addition, RP4 treatment affected the CRC-associated immune microenvironment in a tumor model by promoting cytotoxic CD8+ T and NKT (natural killer T) cells and inhibiting CD25+ Foxp3+ Treg cells. Mechanistically, RP4 exerted anti-tumor effects by blocking the Akt and Wnt/ß-catenin signaling pathways. This study implies that FMOD is a potential target for CRC treatment, and the novel FMOD antagonist peptide RP4 can be developed as a clinical drug for CRC treatment.

Nano-LYTACs for Degradation of Membrane Proteins and Inhibition of CD24/Siglec-10 Signaling Pathway.

Lysosome-targeting chimeras (LYTACs) are an emerging therapeutic modality that effectively degrade cancer cell membranes and extracellular target proteins. In this study, a nanosphere-based LYTAC degradation system is developed. The amphiphilic peptide-modified N-acetylgalactosamine (GalNAc) can self-assemble into nanospheres with a strong affinity for asialoglycoprotein receptor targets. They can degrade different membranes and extracellular proteins by linking with the relevant antibodies. CD24, a heavily glycosylated glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored surface protein, interacts with Siglec-10 to modulate the tumor immune response. The novel Nanosphere-AntiCD24, synthesized by linking nanospheres with CD24 antibody, accurately regulates the degradation of CD24 protein and partially restores the phagocytic function of macrophages toward tumor cells by blocking the CD24/Siglec-10 signaling pathway. When Nanosphere-AntiCD24 is combined with glucose oxidase, an enzyme promoting the oxidative decomposition of glucose, the combination not only effectively restores the function of macrophages in vitro but also suppresses tumor growth in xenograft mouse models without detectable toxicity to normal tissues. The results indicate that GalNAc-modified nanospheres, as a part of LYTACs, can be successfully internalized and are an effective drug-loading platform and a modular degradation strategy for the lysosomal degradation of cell membrane and extracellular proteins, which can be broadly applied in the fields of biochemistry and tumor therapeutics.

NIR-IIb fluorescence-image guided synergistic surgery/starvation/chemodynamic therapy: an innovative treatment paradigm for malignant non-small cell lung cancers.

Background: Currently, the prognosis and survival rate for patients bearing non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is still quite poor, mainly due to lack of efficient theranostic paradigms to exert in time diagnostics and therapeutics. Methods: Herein, for NSCLC treatment, we offer a customized theranostic paradigm, termed NIR-IIb fluorescence diagnosis and synergistic surgery/starvation/chemodynamic therapeutics, with a newly designed theranostic nanoplatform PEG/MnCuDCNPs@GOx. The nanoplatform is composed of brightly NIR-II emissive downconversion nanoparticles (DCNPs)-core and Mn/Cu-silica shell loaded with glucose oxidase (GOx) to achieve synergistic starvation and chemodynamic therapy (CDT). Results: It is found that 10% Ce3+ doped in the core and 100% Yb3+ doped in the middle shell greatly improves the NIR-IIb emission up to even 20.3 times as compared to the core-shell DCNPs without Ce3+ doping and middle shell. The bright NIR-IIb emission of the nanoplatform contributes to sensitive margin delineation of early-stage NSCLC (diameter < 1 mm) with a signal-to-background ratio (SBR) of 2.18, and further assists in visualizing drug distribution and guiding surgery/starvation/chemodynamic therapy. Notably, the starvation therapy mediated by GOx-driven oxidation reaction efficiently depletes intratumoral glucose, and supplies H2O2 to boost the CDT mediated by the Mn2+ and Cu2+, which consequently realized a highly effective synergistic treatment for NSCLC. Conclusion: This research demonstrates an efficient treatment paradigm for NSCLC with NIR-IIb fluorescence diganosis and image-guided synergistic surgery/starvation/chemodynamic therapeutics.

Diploid and tetraploid genomes of Acorus and the evolution of monocots.

Monocots are a major taxon within flowering plants, have unique morphological traits, and show an extraordinary diversity in lifestyle. To improve our understanding of monocot origin and evolution, we generate chromosome-level reference genomes of the diploid Acorus gramineus and the tetraploid Ac. calamus, the only two accepted species from the family Acoraceae, which form a sister lineage to all other monocots. Comparing the genomes of Ac. gramineus and Ac. calamus, we suggest that Ac. gramineus is not a potential diploid progenitor of Ac. calamus, and Ac. calamus is an allotetraploid with two subgenomes A, and B, presenting asymmetric evolution and B subgenome dominance. Both the diploid genome of Ac. gramineus and the subgenomes A and B of Ac. calamus show clear evidence of whole-genome duplication (WGD), but Acoraceae does not seem to share an older WGD that is shared by most other monocots. We reconstruct an ancestral monocot karyotype and gene toolkit, and discuss scenarios that explain the complex history of the Acorus genome. Our analyses show that the ancestors of monocots exhibit mosaic genomic features, likely important for that appeared in early monocot evolution, providing fundamental insights into the origin, evolution, and diversification of monocots.