Frontiers in Pharmacology
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2021
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IF 5.811
Sun Chao-Yue,Cao Di,Ren Qian-Nan,Zhang Shan-Shan,Zhou Ning-Ning,Mai Shi-Juan,Feng Bing,Wang Hui-Yun
Aberrant activation of the Ras–ERK signaling pathway drives many important cancer phenotypes, and several inhibitors targeting such pathways are under investigation and/or approved by the FDA as single- or multi-agent therapy for patients with melanoma and non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Here, we show that betulinic acid (BA), a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid, inhibits cell proliferation, and induces apoptosis and protective autophagy in NSCLC cells. Thus, the cancer cell killing activity of BA is enhanced by autophagy inhibition. Mitogen-activated protein kinases, and especially ERK that facilitates cancer cell survival, are also activated by BA treatment. As such, in the presence of ERK inhibitors (ERKi), lung cancer cells are much more sensitive to BA. However, the dual treatment of BA and ERKi results in increased protective autophagy and AKT phosphorylation. Accordingly, inhibition of AKT has a highly synergistic anticancer effect with co-treatment of BA and ERKi. Notably, autophagy inhibition by hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) increases the response of lung cancer cells to BA in combination with ERKi. In vivo, the three-drug combination (BA, ERKi, and HCQ), resulted in superior therapeutic efficacy than single or dual treatments in the xenograft mouse model. Thus, our study provides a combined therapy strategy that is a highly effective treatment for patients with NSCLC.
研究领域:
肿瘤学
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药理学
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分子生物学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology
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2021
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IF 6.684
Zhang Man,Bai Yang,Xu Chang,Qi Yiying,Meng Jiahong,Zhang Wenkan,Su Hang,Yan Weiqi
Accumulating evidence suggests that extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) is a valuable target molecule for cancer. However, antitumor drugs targeting ERK are still in their clinical phase and no FDA-approved medications exist. In this study, we identified an ERK inhibitor (ERKi; Vx-11e) with potential antitumor activities, which was reflected by the inhibition in the survival and proliferation of Osteosarcoma (OS) cells. Mechanistically, the ERKi regulated autophagic flux by promoting the translocation of transcription factor EB (TFEB) in OS cells, thereby increasing the dependence of OS cells on autophagy and sensitivity to treatment with autophagy inhibitors in OS. Besides, we also found that the ERKi could regulate mitochondrial apoptosis through the ROS/mitochondria pathway and aerobic glycolysis in OS, which also increases the dependence of OS cells on autophagy to clear metabolites to a certain extent. These results may provide a reference for the clinically improved efficacy of ERKis in combination with autophagy inhibitors in the treatment of OS and indicate its potential as a therapeutic agent.
研究领域:
肿瘤学
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药理学
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细胞生物学
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分子生物学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
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2023
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IF 7.3
Xiao-Meng Liu,Zhe Li,Xin-Ru Xie,Jia-Qian Wang,Xin Qiao,Xin Qiao,Cheng-Zhi Xie,Jing-Yuan Xu
Exploring multi-targeting chemotherapeutants with advantages over single-targeting agents and drug combinations is of great significance in drug discovery. Herein, we employed phytogenic evodiamine (EVO) and conventional Pt(II) drugs to design and synthesize multi-target EVO–Pt(IV) anticancer prodrugs (4–14). Among them, compound 10 exhibited a 118-fold enhancement in the IC50 value compared to cisplatin and low toxicity to normal cells. Further studies proved that 10 significantly enhanced intracellular Pt accumulation and DNA damage, perturbed mitochondrial membrane potential, inhibited cell migration and invasion, upregulated reactive oxygen species levels, and induced apoptosis and autophagic cell death. Molecular docking assay revealed that 10 fits perfectly into the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK)-1 pocket, which was verified to produce profound ERK suppression. Most strikingly, compound 10 exhibited superior in vivo antitumor efficiency and effectively attenuated systemic toxicity. Our results emphasize that functionalizing platinum drugs with the multi-target EVO could generate synergistically excellent anticancer activity with low toxicity and decreased resistance, which may represent a brand-new cancer therapy modality.
研究领域:
药理学
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肿瘤学
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化学
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分子生物学
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
NEUROSCIENCE
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2018
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IF 3.382
T.H. Wang,S.Y. Wang,X.D. Wang,H.Q. Jiang,Y.Q. Yang,Y. Wang,J.L. Cheng,C.T. Zhang,W.W. Liang,H.L. Feng
Oxidative stress exhibits a central role in the course of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a progressive neurodegenerative disease commonly found to include a copper/zinc superoxide dismutase (SOD1) gene mutation. Fisetin, a natural antioxidant, has shown benefits in varied neurodegenerative diseases. The possible effect of fisetin in ALS has not been clarified as of yet. We investigated whether fisetin affected mutant hSOD1 ALS models. Three different hSOD1-related mutant models were used: Drosophila expressing mutant hSOD1 G85R , hSOD1 G93A NSC34 cells, and transgenic mice. Fisetin treatment provided neuroprotection as demonstrated by an improved survival rate, attenuated motor impairment, reduced ROS damage and regulated redox homeostasis compared with those in controls. Furthermore, fisetin increased the expression of phosphorylated ERK and upregulated antioxidant factors, which were reversed by MEK/ERK inhibition. Finally, fisetin reduced the levels of both mutant and wild-type hSOD1 in vivo and in vitro , as well as the levels of detergent-insoluble hSOD1 proteins. The results indicate that fisetin protects cells from ROS damage and improves the pathological behaviors caused by oxidative stress in disease models related to SOD1 gene mutations probably by activating ERK, thereby providing a potential treatment for ALS.
研究领域:
神经科学
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药理学
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分子生物学
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神经退行性疾病
✓ 已验证
产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
危险品化学品经营许可证（带存储）