scholarly journals Characterization of a novel peptide mined from the Red Sea brine pools and modified to enhance its anticancer activity

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Youssef T. Abdou ◽  
Sheri M. Saleeb ◽  
Khaled Abdel-Raouf ◽  
Mohamed Allam ◽  
Mustafa Adel ◽  
...  

Peptide-based drugs have emerged as highly selective and potent cancer therapy. Cancer is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Multiple approaches have been developed towards cancer treatment, including chemotherapy, radiation, and hormonal therapy; however, such procedures' non-specificity, toxicity, and inefficiency present a hurdle. In this study, we developed a support vector machine (SVM) model to detect the potential anticancer properties of novel peptides through scanning the American University in Cairo Red Sea metagenomics library. Further, we performed in silico studies on a novel 37-mer antimicrobial peptide mined from SVM pipeline analysis. This peptide was further modified to enhance its anticancer activity, analyzed for gene oncology, and subsequently synthesized. The anticancer properties of this 37-mer peptide were evaluated via cellular viability and cell morphology of SNU449, HepG2, SKOV3, and HeLa cells, using MTT assay. Furthermore, we assessed the migration capability of SNU449 and SKOV3 via scratch wound healing assay. Moreover, the targeted selectivity of the peptide for cancerous cells was assessed by testing its hemolytic activity on human erythrocytes. The peptide caused a significant reduction in cellular viability and critically affected the morphology of hepatocellular carcinoma (SNU449 and HepG2), ovarian cancer (SKOV3), and to a limited extent, cervical cancer cell lines (HeLa), in addition to decreasing viability of human fibroblast cell line (1Br-hTERT). Peptide treatment significantly affected the proliferation and migration ability of SNU449 and SKOV3 cells. Annexin V assay was used to evaluate induced cell death upon peptide treatment, attributing programmed cell death (Apoptosis) as the main cause of cell death in SNU449 cells. Finally, we established broad-spectrum antimicrobial properties of the peptide on both gram-positive and gram-negative bacterial strains. Thus, these findings infer the novelty of the peptide as a potential anticancer and antimicrobial agent.

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (19) ◽  
pp. 9139
Author(s):  
Maria Stefania Sinicropi ◽  
Cinzia Tavani ◽  
Camillo Rosano ◽  
Jessica Ceramella ◽  
Domenico Iacopetta ◽  
...  

Breast cancer is still considered a high-incidence disease, and numerous are the research efforts for the development of new useful and effective therapies. Among anticancer drugs, carbazole compounds are largely studied for their anticancer properties and their ability to interfere with specific targets, such as microtubule components. The latter are involved in vital cellular functions, and the perturbation of their dynamics leads to cell cycle arrest and subsequent apoptosis. In this context, we report the anticancer activity of a series of carbazole analogues 1–8. Among them, 2-nitrocarbazole 1 exhibited the best cytotoxic profile, showing good anticancer activity against two breast cancer cell lines, namely MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, with IC50 values of 7 ± 1.0 and 11.6 ± 0.8 μM, respectively. Furthermore, compound 1 did not interfere with the growth of the normal cell line MCF-10A, contrarily to Ellipticine, a well-known carbazole derivative used as a reference molecule. Finally, in vitro immunofluorescence analysis and in silico studies allowed us to demonstrate the ability of compound 1 to interfere with tubulin organization, similarly to vinblastine: a feature that results in triggering MCF-7 cell death by apoptosis, as demonstrated using a TUNEL assay.


Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (18) ◽  
pp. 4245
Author(s):  
Yamil Liscano ◽  
Jose Oñate-Garzón ◽  
Jean Paul Delgado

Peptides are naturally produced by all organisms and exhibit a wide range of physiological, immunomodulatory, and wound healing functions. Furthermore, they can provide with protection against microorganisms and tumor cells. Their multifaceted performance, high selectivity, and reduced toxicity have positioned them as effective therapeutic agents, representing a positive economic impact for pharmaceutical companies. Currently, efforts have been made to invest in the development of new peptides with antimicrobial and anticancer properties, but the poor stability of these molecules in physiological environments has triggered a bottleneck. Therefore, some tools, such as nanotechnology and in silico approaches can be applied as alternatives to try to overcome these obstacles. In silico studies provide a priori knowledge that can lead to the development of new anticancer peptides with enhanced biological activity and improved stability. This review focuses on the current status of research in peptides with dual antimicrobial–anticancer activity, including advances in computational biology using in silico analyses as a powerful tool for the study and rational design of these types of peptides.


The role of vitamin D is implicated in carcinogenesis through numerous biological processes like induction of apoptosis, modulation of immune system inhibition of inflammation and cell proliferation and promotion of cell differentiation. Its use as additional adjuvant drug with cancer treatment may be novel combination for improved outcome of different cancers. Numerous preclinical, epidemiological and clinical studies support the role of vitamin D as an anticancer agent. Anticancer properties of vitamin D have been studied widely (both in vivo and in vitro) among various cancers and found to have promising results. There are considerable data that indicate synergistic potential of calcitriol and antitumor agents. Possible mechanisms for modulatory anticancer activity of vitamin D include its antiproliferative, prodifferentiating, and anti-angiogenic and apoptic properties. Calcitriol reduces invasiveness and metastatic potential of many cancer cells by inhibiting angiogenesis and regulating expression of the key molecules involved in invasion and metastasis. Anticancer activity of vitamin D is synergistic or additive with the antineoplastic actions of several drugs including cytotoxic chemotherapy agents like paclitaxel, docetaxel, platinum base compounds and mitoxantrone. Benefits of addition of vitamin D should be weighed against the risk of its toxicity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 23 (10) ◽  
pp. 1064-1079
Author(s):  
Ahmet Alper Öztürk ◽  
İrem Namlı ◽  
Kadri Güleç ◽  
Şennur Görgülü

Aims: To prepare lamivudine (LAM)-loaded-nanoparticles (NPs) that can be used in lung cancer treatment. To change the antiviral indication of LAM to anticancer. Background: The development of anticancer drugs is a difficult process. One approach to accelerate the availability of drugs is to reclassify drugs approved for other conditions as anticancer. The most common route of administration of anticancer drugs is intravenous injection. Oral administration of anticancer drugs may considerably change current treatment modalities of chemotherapy and improve the life quality of cancer patients. There is also a potentially significant economic advantage. Objective: To characterize the LAM-loaded-NPs and examine the anticancer activity. Methods: LAM-loaded-NPs were prepared using Nano Spray-Dryer. Properties of NPs were elucidated by particle size (PS), polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential (ZP), SEM, encapsulation efficiency (EE%), dissolution, release kinetics, DSC and FT-IR. Then, the anticancer activity of all NPs was examined. Results: The PS values of the LAM-loaded-NPs were between 373 and 486 nm. All NPs prepared have spherical structure and positive ZP. EE% was in a range of 61-79%. NPs showed prolonged release and the release kinetics fitted to the Weibull model. NPs structures were clarified by DSC and FT-IR analysis. The results showed that the properties of NPs were directly related to the drug:polymer ratio of feed solution. NPs have potential anticancer properties against A549 cell line at low concentrations and non-toxic to CCD 19-Lu cell line. Conclusion: NPs have potential anticancer properties against human lung adenocarcinoma cells and may induce cell death effectively and be a potent modality to treat this type of cancer. These experiments also indicate that our formulations are non-toxic to normal cells. It is clear that this study would bring a new perspective to cancer therapy.


Author(s):  
Nivedita Bhardwaj ◽  
Nancy Tripathi ◽  
Bharat Goel ◽  
Shreyans K. Jain

: During cancer progression, the unrestricted proliferation of cells is supported by the impaired cell death response provoked by certain oncogenes. Both autophagy and apoptosis are the signaling pathways of cell death, which are targeted for cancer treatment. Defects in apoptosis result in reduced cell death and ultimately tumor progression. The tumor cells lacking apoptosis phenomena are killed by ROS- mediated autophagy. The autophagic programmed cell death requires apoptosis protein for inhibiting tumor growth; thus, the interconnection between these two pathways determines the fate of a cell. The cross-regulation of autophagy and apoptosis is an important aspect to modulate autophagy, apoptosis and to sensibilise apoptosis-resistant tumor cells under metabolic stress and might be a rational approach for drug designing strategy for the treatment of cancer. Numerous proteins involved in autophagy have been investigated as the druggable target for anticancer therapy. Several compounds of natural origin have been reported, to control autophagy activity through the PI3K/Akt/mTOR key pathway. Diosgenin, a steroidal sapogenin has emerged as a potential candidate for cancer treatment. It induces ROS-mediated autophagy, inhibits PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway, and produces cytotoxicity selectively in cancer cells. This review aims to focus on optimal strategies using diosgenin to induce apoptosis by modulating the pathways involved in autophagy regulation and its potential implication in the treatment of various cancer. The discussion has been extended to the medicinal chemistry of semi-synthetic derivatives of diosgenin exhibiting anticancer activity.


2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (12) ◽  
pp. 1750-1760 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raquel P. Souza ◽  
Patrícia S. Bonfim-Mendonça ◽  
Gabrielle M.Z.F. Damke ◽  
Analine R.B. de-Assis Carvalho ◽  
Bianca A. Ratti ◽  
...  

Background: Artepillin C (3,5-diprenyl-4-hydroxycinnamic acid) is the main bioactive component of Brazilian green propolis, and possesses, among other things, anticancer properties. However, to the best of our knowledge, there are no studies of artepillin C in cervical cancer. Method: To explore a new therapeutic candidate for cervical cancer, we have evaluated the effects of artepillin C on cellular viability in a comprehensive panel of human cervical cancer-derived cell lines including HeLa (human papillomavirus/HPV 18-positive), SiHa (HPV 16-positive), CaSki (HPV 16- and 18-positive) and C33A (HPV-negative) cells compared to a spontaneously immortalized human epithelial cell line (HaCaT). Results: Our results demonstrated that artepillin C had a selective effect on cellular viability and could induce apoptosis possibly by intrinsic pathway, likely a result of oxidative stress, in all cancer-derived cell lines but not in HaCaT. Additionally, artepillin C was able to inhibit the migration and invasion of cancer cells. Conclusion: Thus, artepillin C appears to be a promising new candidate as an anticancer drug for cervical cancer induced by different HPV types.


2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 739-746 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raj Kaushal ◽  
Nitesh Kumar ◽  
Archana Thakur ◽  
Kiran Nehra ◽  
Pamita Awasthi ◽  
...  

Abstract: Background: After the discovery of cisplatin, first non platinum anticancer drugs having excellent efficacy were budotitane and TiCl2(cp)2 but action mechanism is not clear. Therefore, we hereby reporting synthesis and biological activities novel titanium complexes to explore their mode of action. Objectives: Synthesis, spectral characterization, antibacterial and anticancer activity of some titanium complexes. Antibacterial studies on various bacterial strains and anticancer studies on HeLa, C6, CHO cancerous cell lines have been performed. Further, the cell death mechanistic study was done on CHO cell lines. Method: Titanium complexes with and without labile groups have been synthesized by reacting of TiCl4 with nitrogen containing ligands viz. 1,2-diaminocyclohexane, 1,10-Phenanthroline, adamantylamine, 2,2'-bipyridine, 4,4'-dimethyl-2,2'-bipyridine in predetermined molar ratios. Antibacterial and anticancer studies were performed by agar well diffusion method and MTT assay respectively. Cell cycle analysis is done by using flow cytometry. Results: Complex 2 i.e TiCl2(Phen)2 showed better activity than other complexes as an antibacterial as well as anticancer agent. Phase contrast imaging indicates that observed morphological changes of cells was dose dependent. Cell death mechanistic study have shown the increase in sub G0 phase population as well as formation of blebbing and fragmentation of chromatin material which is an indicative measure of apoptosis. Conclusion: Complex 2 proved to be more effective bactericide and cytotoxic agent. Cell cycle analysis showed cell arrest in G0 phase. Apoptosis percentage was found to increase in a dose dependent manner. So, prepared titanium complexes can be put to use as an important chemotherapeutic agents.


Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 1555
Author(s):  
Enas E. Eltamany ◽  
Usama Ramadan Abdelmohsen ◽  
Dina M. Hal ◽  
Amany K. Ibrahim ◽  
Hashim A. Hassanean ◽  
...  

Chemical investigation of the methanolic extract of the Red Sea cucumber Holothuria spinifera led to the isolation of a new cerebroside, holospiniferoside (1), together with thymidine (2), methyl-α-d-glucopyranoside (3), a new triacylglycerol (4), and cholesterol (5). Their chemical structures were established by NMR and mass spectrometric analysis, including gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). All the isolated compounds are reported in this species for the first time. Moreover, compound 1 exhibited promising in vitro antiproliferative effect on the human breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) with IC50 of 20.6 µM compared to the IC50 of 15.3 µM for the drug cisplatin. To predict the possible mechanism underlying the cytotoxicity of compound 1, a docking study was performed to elucidate its binding interactions with the active site of the protein Mdm2–p53. Compound 1 displayed an apoptotic activity via strong interaction with the active site of the target protein. This study highlights the importance of marine natural products in the design of new anticancer agents.


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