Huanqi Zhang,Ziyan Liu,Jing Cheng,Yiming Jiang,Xiaoli Zheng,Chong Zhang,Yangling Li
Glioblastoma (GBM), the most aggressive primary brain tumor, presents significant therapeutic challenges owing to limited treatment options beyond the cornerstone chemotherapy temozolomide (TMZ) and its intrinsic chemoresistance. This study elucidates additional mechanisms of the multimodal antidepressant vortioxetine in GBM, extending beyond the reported PI3K/Akt pathway modulation. RNA-sequencing analysis identified five potential vortioxetine-responsive targets in GBM cells: SCN5A , HTR1D , SLC6A9 , KIF11 , and ADRB2 . Notably, only HTR1D overexpression correlated with poor disease-free survival in GBM patients. Vortioxetine-mediated HTR1D suppression suggests its potential role as an HTR1D inhibitor in GBM progression. HTR1D-overexpressing GBM cells exhibited enhanced proliferative and migratory capacities. LinkedOmics database analysis revealed the HTR1D regulation on PI3K/Akt axis, a dominant signaling pathway showing significant positive correlation with TMZ resistance. Crucially, HTR1D knockdown enhanced TMZ sensitivity in GBM cells. Moreover, the TMZ-vortioxetine combination demonstrated marked synergistic anti-tumor effects concomitant with HTR1D suppression. In vivo , the TMZ-vortioxetine combination more effectively suppressed GBM proliferation than either agent alone. Collectively, these findings identify HTR1D as a novel vortioxetine target in GBM that modulates proliferation, metastasis, and TMZ resistance via PI3K/Akt signaling. This study provides convincing preclinical evidence for TMZ-vortioxetine combination therapy, proposing both a new therapeutic target and a viable strategy to circumvent TMZ resistance in GBM.
Objective To analyze differences in gut microbiota composition, metabolites, and metabolic pathways between healthy individuals and colorectal cancer (CRC) patients, and to investigate the inhibitory effects of N-methylserotonin (NMS) produced by Bacteroides ovatus (B.o) from orange fiber on CRC progression and its underlying mechanisms. Methods (1) Fecal samples from CRC patients (n=26) and healthy controls (n=20) were collected for metagenomic sequencing and untargeted metabolomics analysis; (2) The ability of B.o to produce NMS from orange fiber was validated in vitro ; (3) A CRC mouse model was established using azoxymethane (AOM)/dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) induction, followed by evaluation of body weight, rectal bleeding, colorectal length, tumor number, and intestinal barrier function; (4) Network pharmacology, molecular docking, and western blot analysis were combined to verify the mechanism of action; (5) 16S rRNA sequencing was performed to analyze gut microbiota changes. Results (1) CRC patients showed significantly increased metabolic pathways including glycolysis, methane metabolism, beneficial amino acid degradation, and linoleic acid degradation, along with significantly decreased B.o abundance and NMS levels, which were positively correlated; (2) NMS significantly inhibited CRC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, while promoting apoptosis; (3) Combined treatment with B.o and orange fiber or NMS alone reduced tumorigenesis and improved intestinal barrier function; (4) Mechanistic studies revealed that these effects could be mediated through downregulation of 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 1D (HTR1D) expression and inhibition of the cAMP/PKA/IκBα/NF-κB pathway; (5) The treatments optimized gut microbiota structure and metabolite composition. Conclusion B.o and its metabolite NMS possibly inhibit CRC progression by modulating the HTR1D-mediated cAMP/PKA/NF-κB signaling pathway, while improving gut microbiota structure, providing a novel therapeutic target for CRC prevention and treatment.