Oriental traditional herbal Medicine--Puerariae Flos: A systematic review.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Pueraria Flos (PF), a traditional herbal medicine, is botanically from the dried flowers of Pueraria lobate (Willd.) Ohwi. (Chinese: ) or Pueraria thomsonii Benth. (Chinese: ). It has a long history of thousands of years in China for awakening the spleen, clearing the lungs, relieving alcohol. AIM OF THE REVIEW: This review aims to report the up-to-date research progress in ethnopharmacology, phytochemistry, pharmacology and toxicology, metabolism and therapeutic application of PF, so as to provide a strong basis for future clinical treatment and scientific research. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Relevant information on PF was collected from scientific literature databases including PubMed, CNKI and other literature sources (Ph.D. and M.Sc. dissertations and Chinese herbal classic books) by using the keyword "Puerariae". RESULTS: Briefly, phytochemical research report has isolated 39 flavonoids, 19 saponins and 25 volatile oils from PF. Flavonoids and saponins are the most important bioactive compounds, and most of the quality control studies focus on these two types of compounds. Modern pharmacological studies have revealed their significant biological activities in relieving alcoholism, hepatoprotective, anti-tumor, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidation, which provides theoretical support for the traditional use. CONCLUSIONS: Comprehensive analysis showed that pharmacological activity of most purified compounds from PF had not been reported. Kakkalide, tectoridin and their deglycosylated metabolites (irisolidone and tectorigenin) has been focused on excessively due to their higher content and better activities. This leads to low development and resources waste. Interestingly, PF made a breakthrough in the field of food. Many kinds of fat-lowering foods such as PILLBOX Onaka have been popular in Japan market, which received extensive attention. Therefore, we suggest that future research can be paid attention on the development of the plant's function in the field of food and medicine, as well as the transformation from experimental to clinical.

Metabolites identification and pharmacokinetic profile of hirsuteine, a bioactive component in Uncaria in rats by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Hirsuteine is one of the major bioactive tetracyclic indole alkaloids found in Uncaria rhynchophylla (Miq.) Jacks, possessing a wide range of pharmacological activities including neuroprotective, anticonvulsant, antihypertensive, sedative and hypnotic, and so forth. The present study was undertaken to assess the metabolism and plasma pharmacokinetics of hirsuteine in rats. After oral administration of hirsuteine at the dose of 30 mg/kg, 13, 21, and 8 metabolites were detected in rat plasma, urine, and bile by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry, respectively. Furthermore, plasma concentrations of hirsuteine and its four metabolites, 4-hirsuteine N-oxide, 3,4-dehydrohirsuteine, 11-hydroxyhirsuteine, and 11-hydroxyhirsuteine-11-O-glucuronide were simultaneously quantified in rat plasma, using carbamazepine as the internal standard. The linear calibration curve of hirsuteine was in the concentration range of 0.005-5.0 µg/ml. The lower limit of quantitation in the rat plasma was 5 ng/ml for hirsuteine. This study is the first to comprehensively investigate the metabolism process of hirsuteine and the pharmacokinetic profiles of hirsuteine and its major metabolite, and will provide a scientific basis to further elucidate the pharmacodynamic material basis and therapeutic mechanism of Uncaria prescriptions.

Computational trans-omics approach characterised methylomic and transcriptomic involvements and identified novel therapeutic targets for chemoresistance in gastrointestinal cancer stem cells.

We investigated the relationship between methylomic [5-methylation on deoxycytosine to form 5-methylcytosine (5mC)] and transcriptomic information in response to chemotherapeutic 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) exposure and cisplatin (CDDP) administration using the ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) degron-positive cancer stem cell model of gastrointestinal tumour. The quantification of 5mC methylation revealed various alterations in the size distribution and intensity of genomic loci for each patient. To summarise these alterations, we transformed all large volume data into a smooth function and treated the area as a representative value of 5mC methylation. The present computational approach made the methylomic data more accessible to each transcriptional unit and allowed to identify candidate genes, including the tumour necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 4 (TRAF4), as novel therapeutic targets with a strong response to anti-tumour agents, such as 5-FU and CDDP, and whose significance has been confirmed in a mouse model in vivo. The present study showed that 5mC methylation levels are inversely correlated with gene expression in a chemotherapy-resistant stem cell model of gastrointestinal cancer. This mathematical method can be used to simultaneously quantify and identify chemoresistant potential targets in gastrointestinal cancer stem cells.

Cancer Stem-like Properties in Colorectal Cancer Cells with Low Proteasome Activity.

PURPOSE: One of the main reasons for cancer treatment resistance is the existence of cancer stem-like cells (CSCs). Here, we elucidated the relationship between low proteasome activity cells (LPACs) and CSCs. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: The human colorectal cancer cell lines HCT116, SW480, DLD1, and KM12SM were engineered to stably express a green fluorescent molecule fused to the degron of ornithine decarboxylase, resulting in an accumulation of the fluorescence in LPACs. LPACs were isolated by flow cytometry. Treatment resistance (radio- and chemotherapy) and the capacity of LPACs to act as CSCs were analyzed. Microarray analysis was performed to reveal genes related to treatment resistance. The prognostic impact of potent genes was examined in 190 patients with colorectal cancer. RESULTS: LPACs had a significantly increased capacity for radioresistance and chemoresistance (5-fluorouracil and oxaliplatin), significantly lower reactive oxygen species activity, and significantly increased sphere formation capacity compared with non-LPACs. The number of cells in the G0-G1 phase was significantly higher among LPACs. Subcutaneous injection of as few as 20 LPACs led to tumor formation in immunologically incompetent mice. Microarray analysis revealed that the expression of EP300-interacting inhibitor of differentiation 3 (EID3) was significantly increased in LPACs. In vitro assay revealed that EID3 positively controlled cell proliferation and treatment resistance. The high expression of EID3 was an adverse prognostic indicator in patients with colorectal cancer (P = 0.0400). CONCLUSIONS: LPACs have characteristic treatment resistance and act as CSCs in colorectal cancer. In addition, EID3 is one of the potential regulators of treatment resistance in colorectal cancer and may be a potential therapeutic target. Clin Cancer Res; 22(21); 5277-86. ©2016 AACR.

Pharmacokinetic study of isocorynoxeine metabolites mediated by cytochrome P450 enzymes in rat and human liver microsomes.

Isocorynoxeine (ICN) is one of the major bioactive tetracyclic oxindole alkaloids found in Uncaria rhynchophylla (Miq.) Jacks. that is widely used for the treatment of hypertension, vascular dementia, and stroke. The present study was undertaken to assess the plasma pharmacokinetic characteristics of major ICN metabolites, and the role of simulated gastric and intestinal fluid (SGF and SIF), human and rat liver microsomes (HLMs and RLMs), and seven recombinant human CYP enzymes in the major metabolic pathway of ICN. A rapid, sensitive and accurate UHPLC/Q-TOF MS method was validated for the simultaneous determination of ICN and its seven metabolites in rat plasma after oral administration of ICN at 40mg/kg. It was found that 18.19-dehydrocorynoxinic acid (DCA) and 5-oxoisocorynoxeinic acid (5-O-ICA) were both key and predominant metabolites, rather than ICN itself, due to the rapid and extensive metabolism of ICN in vivo. The further study indicated that ICN was mainly metabolized in human or rat liver, and CYPs 2C19, 3A4 and 2D6 were the major enzymes responsible for the biotransformation of ICN to DCA and 5-O-ICA in human. These findings are of significance in understanding of the pharmacokinetic nature of tetracyclic oxindole alkaloids, and provide helpful information for the clinical co-administration of the herbal preparations containing U. rhynchophylla with antihypertensive drugs that are mainly metabolized by CYP3A4 and CYP2C19.

A Trans-omics Mathematical Analysis Reveals Novel Functions of the Ornithine Metabolic Pathway in Cancer Stem Cells.

Bioinformatics and computational modelling are expected to offer innovative approaches in human medical science. In the present study, we performed computational analyses and made predictions using transcriptome and metabolome datasets obtained from fluorescence-based visualisations of chemotherapy-resistant cancer stem cells (CSCs) in the human oesophagus. This approach revealed an uncharacterized role for the ornithine metabolic pathway in the survival of chemotherapy-resistant CSCs. The present study fastens this rationale for further characterisation that may lead to the discovery of innovative drugs against robust CSCs.

Pharmacokinetics of irisolidone and its main metabolites in rat plasma determined by ultra performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Irisolidone, a major isoflavone found in Pueraria lobata flowers, exhibits a wide spectrum of bioactivities, while its metabolic pathways and the pharmacokinetics of its metabolites in vivo have not been investigated yet. In the present study, an ultra performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC/Q-TOF MS) method was employed to investigate the metabolic pathways of irisolidone and the pharmacokinetics of its main metabolites in rats, after a single 100mg/kg oral dose of irisolidone. Protein precipitation method was used to prepare plasma samples. A total of 15 metabolites included irisolidone were detected and tentatively identified based on the mass spectral fragmentation patterns, elution order or confirmed using available reference standards. The pharmacokinetics of the main metabolites included three glucuronide metabolites tectorigenin-7-O-glucuronide (Te-7G), 6-hydroxybiochanin A-6-O-glucuronide (6-OH-BiA-6G), irisolidone-7-O-glucuronide (Ir-7G), and three sulfate metabolite tectorigenin-7-O-sulfate-4'-O-sulfate (Te-7S-4'S), tectorigenin-7-O-sulfate (Te-7S) and irisolidone-7-O-sulfate (Ir-7S), and aglycone tectorigenin (Te), and irisolidone (Ir) were evaluated. The plasma concentrations reached maximal values of 0.297µmol/L at 10.3h for Te-7S-4'S, 0.199µmol/L at 21.7h for Te-7G, 0.154µmol/L at 8.00h for Te-7S, 4.10µmol/L at 15.3h for 6-OH-BiA-6G, 10.7µmol/L at 9.71h for Ir-7G, 0.918µmol/L at 11.3h for Te, 0.150µmol/L at 8.67h for Ir-7S, and 0.843µmol/L at 9.67h for Ir, respectively. Since the total plasma concentrations of conjugated metabolites were much higher than that of the irisolidone aglycone, an extensive phase II metabolism plays an important role in the pharmacokinetics of irisolidone in vivo.

Surgically resected human tumors reveal the biological significance of the gastric cancer stem cell markers CD44 and CD26.

Cancer tissue is maintained by relatively small populations of cancer stem cells (CSCs), which are involved in chemotherapy resistance, recurrence and metastasis. As tumor tissues are comprised of various cells, studies of human clinical samples are important for the characterization of CSCs. In the present study, an expression profiling study was performed in which an anti-cell surface marker antibody-based array platform, a flow cytometry-based cell separation technique and a tumorigenicity analysis in immunodeficient animals were utilized. These approaches revealed that the markers cluster of differentiation (CD)44 and CD26 facilitated the fractionation of surgically resected human gastric cancer (GC) cells into the following subset populations with distinct tumorigenic potentials: Highly tumorigenic CD26+CD44+ cells (6/6 mice formed tumors), moderately tumorigenic CD26+CD44- cells (5/6 mice formed tumors), and weakly or non-tumorigenic CD26-CD44- cells (2/6 mice formed tumors). Furthermore, exposure to 5-fluorouracil significantly increased the proportion of CD26+ cells in vitro. The present study demonstrated that the combined expression of CD26 and CD44 presents a potential marker of human GC stem cells.

Significance of Polypyrimidine Tract-Binding Protein 1 Expression in Colorectal Cancer.

Polypyrimidine tract-binding protein (PTBP1) is an RNA-binding protein with various molecular functions related to RNA metabolism and a major repressive regulator of alternative splicing, causing exon skipping in numerous alternatively spliced pre-mRNAs. Here, we have investigated the role of PTBP1 in colorectal cancer. PTBP1 expression levels were significantly overexpressed in cancerous tissues compared with corresponding normal mucosal tissues. We also observed that PTBP1 expression levels, c-MYC expression levels, and PKM2:PKM1 ratio were positively correlated in colorectal cancer specimens. Moreover, PTBP1 expression levels were positively correlated to poor prognosis and lymph node metastasis. In analyses of colorectal cancer cells using siRNA for PTBP1, we observed that PTBP1 affects cell invasion, which was partially correlated to CD44 splicing, and this correlation was also confirmed in clinical samples. PTBP1 expression also affected anchorage-independent growth in colorectal cancer cell lines. PTBP1 expression also affected cell proliferation. Using time-lapse imaging analysis, PTBP1 was implicated in prolonged G2-M phase in HCT116 cells. As for the mechanism of prolonged G2-M phase in HCT116 siPTBP1 cells, Western blotting revealed that PTBP1 expression level was correlated to CDK11(p58) expression level, which was reported to play an important role on progression to complete mitosis. These findings indicated that PTBP1 is a potential therapeutic target for colorectal cancer.

Excretion of tectorigenin in rat urine orally administrated at different dosages by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Tectorigenin (Te) is a main active component in the flowers of Pueraria thomsonii Benth. and the rhizomes of Belamcanda chinensis (L.) DC. Previously, we have reported the pharmacokinetic properties of Te in rat plasma. The purpose of this study was to investigate the urinary excretion of Te after oral administration to rats at different dose levels. Using UHPLC/Q-TOFMS, totally 26 metabolites were detected in rat urine after oral administration of Te at dose of 65 and 130 mg/kg. Among them, nine metabolites, Te, tectorigenin-7-O-glucuronide-4'-sulfate (Te-7G-4'S), tectorigenin-7-O-glucuronide (Te-7G), tectorigenin-7-O-sulfate (Te-7S), tectorigenin-4'-O-glucuronide (Te-4'S), isotectorigenin, genistein, irisolidone-7-O-glucuronide (Ir-7G), and irisolidone, were identified by comparing the retention time, UV and MS spectra with those of authentic standards. A UHPLC/Q-TOFMS method for simultaneous quantification and semi-quantification of all the metabolites in urine was developed. The cumulative urinary excretions of Te and the major metabolite Te-7G were 1.99 and 5.80 µmol at 65 mg/kg, 3.05 and 6.48 µmol at 130 mg/kg, accounted for 4.17 % and 15.8, 2.81 and 9.49 % of administrated Te, respectively. The excretion rates of Te-7G, Te-7G-4'S, Ir-7G, and Te reached a maximum between 12 and 24 h after oral dosing at 65 and 130 mg/kg. The cumulative urine excretion rates of Te were 23.1 and 20.1 % within 72 h at 65 and 130 mg/kg, respectively. These results suggested that the glucuronidation was the primary metabolic pathway especially at low dose level.

Visualization and characterization of cancer stem-like cells in cervical cancer.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs), defined by their differentiation capacity, self-renewal capacity, and maintenance of proliferation, have been identified in many tumors, including cervical cancer. Current studies identify CSCs by several specific biomarkers; however, it is difficult to monitor cervical CSCs in real-time in vitro and in vivo. Recent research reported the visualization of CSCs in breast cancer and gliomas using green fluorescent protein, ZsGreen, fused to a degron motif ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), which is destroyed by proteasomes. Accordingly, CSCs have low 26S proteasome activity, whereas non-CSCs have high 26S proteasome activity. Therefore, it is possible to observe CSCs by their accumulation of the fluorescent ZsGreen protein. In this study, we investigated optical imaging parameters to evaluate CSCs using two human cervical cancer cell lines: CaSki and HeLa. We defined populations as cell types having high- and low ZsGreen-cODC (high- and low-Zs, respectively) expression levels. The results of a sphere-forming assay revealed that the self-renewal ability of the high-Zs population was significantly higher than that of the low-Zs population. A tumorigenicity assay confirmed that the high-Zs population exhibited higher tumorigenic potential than the low-Zs population. The radioresistance of the high-Zs population of both HeLa and CaSki cells and the chemoresistance of the high-Zs population of CaSki cells were confirmed by a clonogenic survival assay and the tetrazolium dye assay, respectively. These results indicate that high-Zs populations of both the HeLa and CaSki cell lines possess CSC-like properties and therapeutic resistance. In conclusion, we successfully visualized CSC-like cells using a fluorescent protein system.

Identification of chemoradiation-resistant osteosarcoma stem cells using an imaging system for proteasome activity.

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone malignancy in pediatric and adolescent populations. Recurrence and metastatic potential can be due to a subpopulation of cells with stem cell-like characteristics, such as tumor-initiating cells (TICs), which maintain the capacity to regenerate entire tumors. Targeting the TICs in osteosarcoma is a promising avenue for the development of new therapies for this devastating disease. TICs are usually quiescent with a low protein turnover, decreased metabolism, and downregulation of proteasome activity. Recently, cancer cells with low proteasome activity have been identified as TICs in several types of cancer. We stably infected two osteosarcoma cell lines, MG-63 and U2-OS, with an expression vector for a fusion protein between the green fluorescent protein, ZsGreen, and the C-terminal degron of the murine ornithine decarboxylase to monitor the 26S proteasome activity in living cells. We separated the osteosarcoma cells with low proteasome activity using fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and verified whether these ZsGreen+ cells had TIC-like properties. The ZsGreen+ cells showed enhanced sphere formation capacity and underwent asymmetric divisions into ZsGreen+ and ZsGreen- cells, whereas ZsGreen- cells underwent only symmetric divisions into ZsGreen- cells. Moreover, the ZsGreen+ cells were more chemo- and radioresistant. Thus, the present study demonstrated that chemoradiation-resistant TICs can be visualized by this system and suggested the rationale for further study of osteosarcoma stem cells.

Endothelial cell-specific expression of roundabout 4 is regulated by differential DNA methylation of the proximal promoter.

OBJECTIVE: The molecular basis of endothelial cell (EC)-specific gene expression is poorly understood. Roundabout 4 (Robo4) is expressed exclusively in ECs. We previously reported that the 3-kb 5'-flanking region of the human Robo4 gene contains information for lineage-specific expression in the ECs. Our studies implicated a critical role for GA-binding protein and specificity protein 1 (SP1) in mediating overall expression levels. However, these transcription factors are also expressed in non-ECs. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that epigenetic mechanisms contribute to EC-specific Robo4 gene expression. METHODS AND RESULTS: Bisulfite sequencing analysis indicated that the proximal promoter of Robo4 is methylated in non-ECs but not in ECs. Treatment with the DNA methyltransferase inhibitor 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine increased Robo4 gene expression in non-ECs but not in ECs. Proximal promoter methylation significantly decreased the promoter activity in ECs. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays showed that DNA methylation of the proximal promoter inhibited SP1 binding to the -42 SP1 site. In DNase hypersensitivity assays, chromatin condensation of the Robo4 promoter was observed in some but not all nonexpressing cell types. In Hprt (hypoxanthine phosphoribosyltransferase)-targeted mice, a 0.3-kb proximal promoter directed cell-type-specific expression in the endothelium. Bisulfite sequencing analysis using embryonic stem cell-derived mesodermal cells and ECs indicated that the EC-specific methylation pattern of the promoter is determined by demethylation during differentiation and that binding of GA-binding protein and SP1 to the proximal promoter is not essential for demethylation. CONCLUSIONS: The EC-specific DNA methylation pattern of the Robo4 proximal promoter is determined during cell differentiation and contributes to regulation of EC-specific Robo4 gene expression.

Human colorectal CD24+ cancer stem cells are susceptible to epithelial-mesenchymal transition.

Conventional cancer chemotherapy preferentially destroys non-stem cancer cells within a tumor, and a subpopulation of cancer stem cells (CSCs) is more resistant and survives, leading to relapses and metastasis. Howeve, recent studies suggest that CD24 and susceptibility to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) can serve as markers of CSCs. We report that CD24(+) cells are susceptible to induction of EMT, a phenotype important for cancer metastasis. We studied the responsiveness of CSC markers to TGF-ß , an effective EMT inducer. The data on CD24 demonstrated that CD24(+) cells are susceptible to EMT, a phenotype important for cancer metastasis in two colorectal cancer cell lines, the CaR-1 and CCK81. CD24(+) cells expressed Notch 1 in response to exposure to TGF-ß in culture and showed higher tumorigenic activity compared to controls. This evidence shows that CD24(+) cells are susceptible to EMT induction and to cancer progression and is indicative of the candidacy of CD24 as a therapeutic target in CSC.

Screening for in vitro metabolites of kakkalide and irisolidone in human and rat intestinal bacteria by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Kakkalide and irisolidone, the main isoflavones of Flos Puerariae, exhibit a wide spectrum of bioactivities. Intestinal bacteria biotransformation plays an important role in the metabolic pathways of flavones, and is directly related to the bioactivities of the prodrugs after oral administration. To the best of our knowledge, the metabolic pathways of kakkalide and irisolidone in vitro have not been comprehensively studied yet. This paper describes the strategy using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC/Q-TOF MS) for the rapid analysis of the metabolic profiles of kakkalide and irisolidone after incubated with human and rat intestinal bacteria. Bacteria incubated samples were prepared and analyzed after incubated under anaerobic conditions for 48 h. A total of 17 metabolites, including parent compounds, were detected in human and rat intestinal bacteria incubated samples. The results obtained indicate that hydrolysis, dehydroxylation, demethoxylation, demethylation, hydroxylation, decarbonylation, and reduction were the detected metabolic pathways of kakkalide and irisolidone in vitro. The conversion rate of irisolidone in human and rat bacteria was 8.57% and 6.51%, respectively. Biochanin A was the relatively main metabolite of irisolidone, and the content of biochanin A in human and rat bacteria was 3.68% and 4.25%, respectively. The conversion rate of kakkalide in human and rat bacteria was 99.92% and 98.58%, respectively. Irisolidone was the main metabolite of kakkalide, and the content of irisolidone in human and rat bacteria was 89.58% and 89.38%, respectively. This work not only provides the evidence of kakkalide and irisolidone metabolites in vivo, but also demonstrates a simple, fast, sensitive, and inexpensive method for identification of metabolites of other compounds transformed by intestinal bacteria.

Novel drug discovery system for cancer stem cells in human squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus.

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been identified in several tumor tissues. Since CSCs are resistant to cancer therapies, including chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and can even remain after therapies, tumor tissue often regrows and relapses. Thus, identification of CSCs and treatment targeting CSCs are required to treat tumor tissues. Reportedly, a fluorescent vector consisting of fluorescein ZsGreen fused to the carboxyl-terminal region of ornithine decarboxylase (cODC) was used to detect CSCs or therapy-resistant cancer cells in tumor tissues of the brain, pancreas and liver. Cells transfected with the fluorescent vector can express a fluorescein fused to cODC and become fluorescent only when the fusion protein is accumulated. In the present study, CSCs or therapy-resistant cancer cells were identified with the fluorescent vector in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. The use of this fluorescent vector in drug screening enabled the detection of three drugs, AKT inhibitor XI, ERK inhibitor II and JAK inhibitor I, which target malignant CSCs.

Cells of origin of squamous epithelium, dysplasia and cancer in the head and neck region after bone marrow transplantation.

Secondary solid tumors that occur after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) are late complications of HSCT. Previously, secondary solid tumors were considered to be recipient-derived cells because transplanted cells do not contain epithelial cells. Recently, however, not only donor­derived epithelial cells but also donor-derived secondary solid tumors have also been reported in mice and humans. It means that circulating bone marrow-derived stem cells (BMDCs) including hematopoietic stem cells include the stem cells of many tissue types and the precancerous cells of many solid tumors. In most reports of donor-derived secondary solid tumors, however, tumors contained a low proportion of BMDC-derived epithelial cells in mixed solid tumor tissues. To our knowledge, there are only five known cases of completely donor-derived tumor tissues, i.e., four oral SCCs and a pharyngeal SCC. In this study, we analyzed five human clinical samples of solid tumors, i.e., two esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs), two oral SCCs and a tongue carcinoma. In the oral and tongue, completely donor-derived tissues were not observed, but in esophagus a completely donor-derived esophageal epidermis and SCC were observed for the first time. In addition, in another esophageal SCC patient, a completely donor-derived dysplasia region of esophageal epidermis was observed near recipient-derived SCC. This study suggests that BMDC-derived cells include the stem cells of esophageal epidermis and the precancerous cells of esophageal SCC and can differentiate into esophageal epithelium and esophageal SCC.

Metabolic profile of irisolidone in rats obtained by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry.

Irisolidone, a major isoflavone found in Pueraria lobata flowers, exhibits a wide spectrum of bioactivities, while its metabolic pathway in vivo has not been investigated. In this study, an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC/Q-TOF MS) method was employed to investigate the in vivo metabolism of irisolidone in rats. Plasma, bile, urine, and feces were collected from rats after a single 100mg/kg oral dose of irisolidone. Protein precipitation, solid phase extraction (SPE) and ultrasonic extraction were used to prepare samples of plasma, bile/urine, and feces, respectively. A total of 46 metabolites were detected and tentatively identified based on the mass spectral fragmentation patterns, elution order or confirmed using available reference standards. The metabolic pathways of irisolidone in rats included decarbonylation, reduction, demethylation, demethoxylation, dehydroxylation, hydroxylation, sulfation, and glucuronidation. The relative content of each metabolite was also determined to help understand the major metabolic pathways of irisolidone in rats.

Metabolism and excretion of kakkalide and its metabolites in rat urine, bile, and feces as determined by HPLC/UV and LC/MS/MS.

This study investigated the metabolic fate of kakkalide (irisolidone 7-xylosylglucoside), a major isoflavone found in extracts of Pueraria lobata flowers, and in rat urine, bile, and feces. Using HPLC/UV or LC/MS/MS methods, seven metabolites, tectorigenin-7-O-glucuronide, tectorigenin-7-O-sulfate, tectorigenin-4'-O-sulfate, 6-OH biochanin A-glucuronide, irisolidone-7-O-glucuronide, tectorigenin, and irisolidone were identified in rat urine after oral administration of kakkalide. Furthermore, irisolidone-7-O-glucuronide was found in bile, and irisolidone and kakkalide were found in feces. An HPLC/UV method for simultaneous quantification of all the metabolites and kakkalide in urine, bile, and feces was developed using daidzein or apigenin as the internal standard. Over a 72-h period, 13.2 ± 2.8 % of the kakkalide was excreted as seven metabolites in urine. Over the same time period, irisolidone-7-O-glucuronide excretion in bile accounted for 3.8 ± 1.1 % of the dose, while kakkalide and irisolidone excretion in feces accounted for 2.1 ± 0.7 % and 0.7 ± 0.1 % of the dose, respectively. The results indicate that urine is the primary route of kakkalide elimination in vivo and that extensive metabolism may be one of the reasons for the low bioavailability of kakkalide.

Effect of in vivo administration of reprogramming factors in the mouse liver.

Cancer is initiated by the transformation of stem cells or progenitor cells via a dedifferentiation process that leads to cancer stem cells; however, the process involves the activation of growth-promoting oncogenes and the inactivation of growth-constraining tumor suppressor genes. The introduction of defined factors, such as those encoded by c-Myc, Sox2, Oct3/4 and Klf4, in normal somatic cells results in their dedifferentiation into induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. We previously reported that these defined factors induced the development of induced multipotent cancer (iPC) cells from gastrointestinal cancer cells by reducing tumor aggressiveness. Previous studies indicated that although reprogramming may be facilitated by p53 inhibition, gain-of-function oncogenic mutations in p53 and oncogenic mutations in Kras-stimulated tumorigenic activity, and their roles in vivo are imperfectly understood. Hence, in the present study, the effect of direct injection of a Sendai virus (SeV) vector encoding four defined factors in vivo was studied using various backgrounds of transgenic and knockout mice, and was compared with that of direct injection of microRNAs (miRNAs) diluted with cationic lipid. The in vivo imaging data revealed transformation hot spots for p53 deficiency or conditional activation of mutant Kras, and the sizes were concordant with those in immuno-deficient NOD/SCID and uPA-NOG mice, as well as larger compared with those in the control mice. Overall, the present data on in vivo reprogramming indicated that Kras activation may facilitate the effect of cellular reprogramming in normal liver cells, and the effect of Kras activation is more apparent than that of tumor suppressor p53 deficiency. The results also revealed that immunodeficiency may increase the effect of reprogramming, presumably by blocking the immunosurveillance of transformed cells. These findings provide a rationale for further studies to develop a therapeutic approach involving direct in vivo reprogramming.