Xanthohumol for Human Malignancies: Chemistry,Pharmacokinetics and Molecular Targets

Xanthohumol (XH) is an important prenylated flavonoid that is found within the inflorescence of Humulus lupulus L. (Hop plant). XH is an important ingredient in beer and is considered a significant bioactive agent due to its diverse medicinal applications, which include anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, antiviral, antifungal, antigenotoxic, antiangiogenic, and antimalarial effects as well as strong anticancer activity towards various types of cancer cells. XH acts as a wide ranging chemopreventive and anticancer agent, and its isomer, 8-prenylnaringenin, is a phytoestrogen with strong estrogenic activity. The present review focuses on the bioactivity of XH on various types of cancers and its pharmacokinetics. In this paper, we first highlight, in brief, the history and use of hops and then the chemistry and structure–activity relationship of XH. Lastly, we focus on its prominent effects and mechanisms of action on various cancers and its possible use in cancer prevention and treatment. Considering the limited number of available reviews on this subject, our goal is to provide a complete and detailed understanding of the anticancer effects of XH against different cancers.     

Metformin Preserves β-Cell Compensation in Insulin Secretion and Mass Expansion in Prediabetic Nile Rats

Prediabetes is a high-risk condition for type 2 diabetes (T2D). Pancreatic β-cells adapt to impaired glucose regulation in prediabetes by increasing insulin secretion and β-cell mass expansion. In people with prediabetes, metformin has been shown to prevent prediabetes conversion to diabetes. However, emerging evidence indicates that metformin has negative effects on β-cell function and survival. Our previous study established the Nile rat (NR) as a model for prediabetes, recapitulating characteristics of human β-cell compensation in function and mass expansion. In this study, we investigated the action of metformin on β-cells in vivo and in vitro. A 7-week metformin treatment improved glucose tolerance by reducing hepatic glucose output and enhancing insulin secretion. Although high-dose metformin inhibited β-cell glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in vitro, stimulation of β-cell insulin secretion was preserved in metformin-treated NRs via an indirect mechanism. Moreover, β-cells in NRs receiving metformin exhibited increased endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperones and alleviated apoptotic unfold protein response (UPR) without changes in the expression of cell identity genes. Additionally, metformin did not suppress β-cell mass compensation or proliferation. Taken together, despite the conflicting role indicated by in vitro studies, administration of metformin does not exert a negative effect on β-cell function or cell mass and, instead, early metformin treatment may help protect β-cells from exhaustion and decompensation.     

Molecular Characteristics of Amyloid Precursor Protein (APP) and Its Effects in Cancer

Amyloid precursor protein (APP) is a type 1 transmembrane glycoprotein, and its homologs amyloid precursor-like protein 1 (APLP1) and amyloid precursor-like protein 2 (APLP2) are highly conserved in mammals. APP and APLP are known to be intimately involved in the pathogenesis and progression of Alzheimer’s disease and to play important roles in neuronal homeostasis and development and neural transmission. APP and APLP are also expressed in non-neuronal tissues and are overexpressed in cancer cells. Furthermore, research indicates they are involved in several cancers. In this review, we examine the biological characteristics of APP-related family members and their roles in cancer.     

3-乙酰基香豆素肟衍生物的合成及抗肿瘤活性

以水杨醛为起始原料,经Knoevenagel反应得到3-乙酰基香豆素,将其酮羰基与盐酸羟胺反应得到肟,利用肟羟基与不同碳数的二溴烷烃反应得到相应的溴代肟醚,再与硝酸银反应得到5个3-乙酰基香豆素肟硝酸酯杂合物。目标化合物的结构经红外光谱、核磁共振氢谱和质谱确证。用检测灵敏度高的CCK-8法评价了目标化合物对人肝癌HepG2细胞、人前列腺癌22RV1细胞、人胃癌HGC-27细胞及人肺癌A549细胞增殖的影响,结果显示3-乙酰香豆素肟硝氧丁基醚对受试的HepG2、HGC-27癌细胞具有较强的增殖抑制作用。     

The peptides in oat and malt extracts that are preferentially absorbed by Lactobacillus plantarum and stimulates its proliferation in milk

Lactobacillus plantarum proliferates inefficiently in milk, mainly because of its lack of cell envelope proteases and its inability to hydrolyse proteins in milk. Our previous study showed that this strain could grow well in milk with the addition of oat and malt extracts. To investigate the usage and preference for polypeptides and oligopeptides for this strain, sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), o-phthaldialdehyde (OPA), high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), plate counting and other methods were used in this study. The results showed that proteins in fermented milk cannot be absorbed and utilised by L. plantarum, whereas polypeptides and oligopeptides provide available nitrogen sources for their growth. Short-chain peptides were more conducive to absorption and utilisation than long-chain peptides. In particular, peptides with molecular weights in the range of 200–1400 Da in the oat extract and 100–700 Da in the malt extract were preferentially absorbed and utilised.     

贵州北盘江增殖放流效果评价

为了评估北盘江鱼类增殖放流效果,2017~2018年期间采用体外荧光、剪鳍、"T"型标三种标志方法对目标鱼类进行标志放流,通过集中捕捞方式进行回捕调查,集中捕捞时间为2017年7月、2018年8月,捕捞水域为董菁-马马崖-光照-善泥坡库区。结果表明,白甲鱼回捕率较高,为0.82%,其他鱼类均在0.5%左右,其中主要为低龄鱼类,高龄鱼类较少;董菁打邦河及各库尾水域物种丰富度较高,善泥坡高家渡码头和马马崖库区试验库尾物种多样性指数相对较低。建议在以后的增殖放流活动中,加大每年的监测频次。     

Rhus coriaria L. (Sumac) Demonstrates Oncostatic Activity in the Therapeutic and Preventive Model of Breast Carcinoma

Comprehensive scientific data provide evidence that isolated phytochemicals or whole plant foods may beneficially modify carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the oncostatic activities of Rhus coriaria L. (sumac) using animal models (rat and mouse), and cell lines of breast carcinoma. R. coriaria (as a powder) was administered through the diet at two concentrations (low dose: 0.1% (w/w) and high dose: 1 % (w/w)) for the duration of the experiment in a syngeneic 4T1 mouse and chemically-induced rat mammary carcinoma models. After autopsy, histopathological and molecular analyses of tumor samples in rodents were performed. Moreover, in vitro analyses using MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells were conducted. The dominant metabolites present in tested R. coriaria methanolic extract were glycosides of gallic acid (possible gallotannins). In the mouse model, R. coriaria at a higher dose (1%) significantly decreased tumor volume by 27% when compared to controls. In addition, treated tumors showed significant dose-dependent decrease in mitotic activity index by 36.5% and 51% in comparison with the control group. In the chemoprevention study using rats, R. coriaria at a higher dose significantly reduced the tumor incidence by 20% and in lower dose non-significantly reduced tumor frequency by 29% when compared to controls. Evaluations of the mechanism of oncostatic action using valid clinical markers demonstrated several positive alterations in rat tumor cells after the treatment with R. coriaria. In this regard, histopathological analysis of treated tumor specimens showed robust dose-dependent decrease in the ratio of high-/low-grade carcinomas by 66% and 73% compared to controls. In treated rat carcinomas, we found significant caspase-3, Bax, and Bax/Bcl-2 expression increases; on the other side, a significant down-regulation of Bcl-2, Ki67, CD24, ALDH1, and EpCam expressions and MDA levels. When compared to control specimens, evaluation of epigenetic alterations in rat tumor cells in vivo showed significant dose-dependent decrease in lysine methylation status of H3K4m3 and H3K9m3 and dose-dependent increase in lysine acetylation in H4K16ac levels (H4K20m3 was not changed) in treated groups. However, only in lower dose of sumac were significant decreases in the expression of oncogenic miR210 and increase of tumor-suppressive miR145 (miR21, miR22, and miR155 were not changed) observed. Finally, only in lower sumac dose, significant decreases in methylation status of three out of five gene promoters–ATM, PTEN, and TIMP3 (PITX2 and RASSF1 promoters were not changed). In vitro evaluations using methanolic extract of R. coriaria showed significant anticancer efficacy in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells (using Resazurin, cell cycle, annexin V/PI, caspase-3/7, Bcl-2, PARP, and mitochondrial membrane potential analyses). In conclusion, sumac demonstrated significant oncostatic activities in rodent models of breast carcinoma that were validated by mechanistic studies in vivo and in vitro.     

萝卜硫素介导Akt/p70S6K信号传导诱导人鼻咽癌CNE-2细胞凋亡

目的:研究萝卜硫素对人鼻咽癌CNE-2细胞增殖、凋亡的影响及其对Akt/p70S6K信号传导的作用。方法:采用CCK-8实验分析萝卜硫素对CNE-2细胞生长增殖的影响，流式细胞仪检测萝卜硫素对CNE-2细胞凋亡率及细胞周期分布的影响，Western blot技术检测CNE-2细胞中调控细胞周期的相关蛋白及Akt/p70S6K信号通路关键蛋白的表达水平。结果:采用萝卜硫素干预CNE-2细胞后，细胞增殖抑制率及凋亡率相对于对照组呈浓度依赖的方式显著增高，差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）；流式细胞仪分析提示，萝卜硫素干预能够将细胞停留在S期及G2/M期，并且萝卜硫素还能抑制细胞周期蛋白Cyclin A、Cyclin B、Cyclin D、Cyclin E以及CDK/p34的表达水平，与对照组相比差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）；此外，萝卜硫素还能抑制Akt/p70S6K信号通路关键蛋白p-Akt及p70S6K蛋白表达水平（P<0.05），但萝卜硫素与Akt激动剂IGF-I共同处理细胞后，上述蛋白表达量与对照组相比没有统计学差异（P>0.05）。结论:萝卜硫素可能通过干扰CNE-2细胞中Akt/p70S6K信号传导而发挥有效的抗增殖及促凋亡的作用。     

A Dual Inhibitor of DYRK1A and GSK3β for β-Cell Proliferation: Aminopyrazine Derivative GNF4877

Loss of β-cell mass and function can lead to insufficient insulin levels and ultimately to hyperglycemia and diabetes mellitus. The mainstream treatment approach involves regulation of insulin levels; however, approaches intended to increase β-cell mass are less developed. Promoting β-cell proliferation with low-molecular-weight inhibitors of dual-specificity tyrosine-regulated kinase 1A (DYRK1A) offers the potential to treat diabetes with oral therapies by restoring β-cell mass, insulin content and glycemic control. GNF4877, a potent dual inhibitor of DYRK1A and glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) was previously reported to induce primary human β-cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Herein, we describe the lead optimization that lead to the identification of GNF4877 from an aminopyrazine hit identified in a phenotypic high-throughput screening campaign measuring β-cell proliferation.