scholarly journals Synergistic Effect and Molecular Mechanisms of Traditional Chinese Medicine on Regulating Tumor Microenvironment and Cancer Cells

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jingnan Xu ◽  
Zhuo Song ◽  
Qiujun Guo ◽  
Jie Li
Keyword(s):  
Chinese Medicine ◽  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽  
Synergistic Effect ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Biological Effects ◽  
Cancer Treatments ◽  
New Strategy

The interaction of tumor cells with the microenvironment is like a relationship between the “seeds” and “soil,” which is a hotspot in recent cancer research. Targeting at tumor microenvironment as well as tumor cells has become a new strategy for cancer treatment. Conventional cancer treatments mostly focused on single targets or single mechanism (the seeds or part of the soil); few researches intervened in the whole tumor microenvironment and achieved ideal therapeutic effect as expected. Traditional Chinese medicine displays a broad range of biological effects, and increasing evidence has shown that it may relate with synergistic effect on regulating tumor microenvironment and cancer cells. Based on literature review and our previous studies, we summarize the synergistic effect and the molecular mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine on regulating tumor microenvironment and cancer cells.

scholarly journals Melatonin as an Adjuvant to Antiangiogenic Cancer Treatments

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 3263
Author(s):  
Alicia González ◽  
Carolina Alonso-González ◽  
Alicia González-González ◽  
Javier Menéndez-Menéndez ◽  
Samuel Cos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Synergistic Effect ◽  
Protective Effect ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Chemotherapeutic Agents ◽  
Inhibitory Effects ◽  
Anticancer Effect ◽  
Cancer Treatments ◽  
Melatonin Administration ◽  
Effects Of Radiation

Melatonin is a hormone with different functions, antitumor actions being one of the most studied. Among its antitumor mechanisms is its ability to inhibit angiogenesis. Melatonin shows antiangiogenic effects in several types of tumors. Combination of melatonin and chemotherapeutic agents have a synergistic effect inhibiting angiogenesis. One of the undesirable effects of chemotherapy is the induction of pro-angiogenic factors, whilst the addition of melatonin is able to overcome these undesirable effects. This protective effect of the pineal hormone against angiogenesis might be one of the mechanisms underlying its anticancer effect, explaining, at least in part, why melatonin administration increases the sensitivity of tumors to the inhibitory effects exerted by ordinary chemotherapeutic agents. Melatonin has the ability to turn cancer totally resistant to chemotherapeutic agents into a more sensitive chemotherapy state. Definitely, melatonin regulates the expression and/or activity of many factors involved in angiogenesis which levels are affected (either positively or negatively) by chemotherapeutic agents. In addition, the pineal hormone has been proposed as a radiosensitizer, increasing the oncostatic effects of radiation on tumor cells. This review serves as a synopsis of the interaction between melatonin and angiogenesis, and we will outline some antiangiogenic mechanisms through which melatonin sensitizes cancer cells to treatments, such as radiotherapy or chemotherapy.

scholarly journals Anti-Tumor Effects of Chinese Medicine Compounds by Regulating Immune Cells in Microenvironment

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fengqian Chen ◽  
Jingquan Li ◽  
Hui Wang ◽  
Qian Ba
Keyword(s):  
Dendritic Cells ◽  
Chinese Medicine ◽  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Cancer Therapy ◽  
Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Immune Cells ◽  
Suppressor Cells ◽  
Myeloid Derived Suppressor Cells ◽  
Adaptive Immune Cells

As the main cause of death in the world, cancer is one of the major health threats for humans. In recent years, traditional Chinese medicine has gained great attention in oncology due to the features of multi-targets, multi-pathways, and slight side effects. Moreover, lots of traditional Chinese medicine can exert immunomodulatory effects in vivo. In the tumor microenvironment, tumor cells, immune cells as well as other stromal cells often coexist. With the development of cancer, tumor cells proliferate uncontrollably, metastasize aggressively, and modulate the proportion and status of immune cells to debilitate the antitumor immunity. Reversal of immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment plays an essential role in cancer prevention and therapy. Immunotherapy has become the most promising strategy for cancer therapy. Chinese medicine compounds can stimulate the activation and function of immune cells, such as promoting the maturation of dendritic cells and inducing the differentiation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells to dendritic cells and macrophages. In the present review, we summarize and discuss the effects of Chinese medicine compounds on immune cells in the tumor microenvironment, including innate immune cells (dendritic cells, natural killer cells, macrophages, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells) and adaptive immune cells (CD4+/CD8+ T lymphocytes and regulatory T cells), and the various immunomodulatory roles of Chinese medicine compounds in cancer therapy such as improving tumor-derived inflammation, enhancing the immunity after surgery or chemotherapy, blocking the immune checkpoints, et al., aiming to provide more thoughts for the anti-tumor mechanisms and applications of Chinese medicine compounds in terms of tumor immunity.

scholarly journals Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Pristimerin in Cancer Therapy: Recent Advances

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Run-Ze Chen ◽  
Fei Yang ◽  
Min Zhang ◽  
Zhi-Gang Sun ◽  
Nan Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Chinese Medicine ◽  
Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Quinone Methide ◽  
Molecular Signaling ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Anti Cancer

Seeking an efficient and safe approach to eliminate tumors is a common goal of medical fields. Over these years, traditional Chinese medicine has attracted growing attention in cancer treatment due to its long history. Pristimerin is a naturally occurring quinone methide triterpenoid used in traditional Chinese medicine to treat various cancers. Recent studies have identified alterations in cellular events and molecular signaling targets of cancer cells under pristimerin treatment. Pristimerin induces cell cycle arrest, apoptosis, and autophagy to exhibit anti-proliferation effects against tumors. Pristimerin also inhibits the invasion, migration, and metastasis of tumor cells via affecting cell adhesion, cytoskeleton, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, cancer stem cells, and angiogenesis. Molecular factors and pathways are associated with the anti-cancer activities of pristimerin. Furthermore, pristimerin reverses multidrug resistance of cancer cells and exerts synergizing effects with other chemotherapeutic drugs. This review aims to discuss the anti-cancer potentials of pristimerin, emphasizing multi-targeted biological and molecular regulations in cancers. Further investigations and clinical trials are warranted to understand the advantages and disadvantages of pristimerin treatment much better.

scholarly journals Hypoxic tumor microenvironment: Implications for cancer therapy

2020 ◽  
Vol 245 (13) ◽  
pp. 1073-1086
Author(s):  
Sukanya Roy ◽  
Subhashree Kumaravel ◽  
Ankith Sharma ◽  
Camille L Duran ◽  
Kayla J Bayless ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Metabolic Regulation ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Hypoxia Inducible Factor ◽  
Tumor Vasculature ◽  
Therapeutic Strategies ◽  
Therapeutic Resistance ◽  
Low Oxygen ◽  
Cancer Types

Hypoxia or low oxygen concentration in tumor microenvironment has widespread effects ranging from altered angiogenesis and lymphangiogenesis, tumor metabolism, growth, and therapeutic resistance in different cancer types. A large number of these effects are mediated by the transcription factor hypoxia inducible factor 1⍺ (HIF-1⍺) which is activated by hypoxia. HIF1⍺ induces glycolytic genes and reduces mitochondrial respiration rate in hypoxic tumoral regions through modulation of various cells in tumor microenvironment like cancer-associated fibroblasts. Immune evasion driven by HIF-1⍺ further contributes to enhanced survival of cancer cells. By altering drug target expression, metabolic regulation, and oxygen consumption, hypoxia leads to enhanced growth and survival of cancer cells. Tumor cells in hypoxic conditions thus attain aggressive phenotypes and become resistant to chemo- and radio- therapies resulting in higher mortality. While a number of new therapeutic strategies have succeeded in targeting hypoxia, a significant improvement of these needs a more detailed understanding of the various effects and molecular mechanisms regulated by hypoxia and its effects on modulation of the tumor vasculature. This review focuses on the chief hypoxia-driven molecular mechanisms and their impact on therapeutic resistance in tumors that drive an aggressive phenotype. Impact statement Hypoxia contributes to tumor aggressiveness and promotes growth of many solid tumors that are often resistant to conventional therapies. In order to achieve successful therapeutic strategies targeting different cancer types, it is necessary to understand the molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways that are induced by hypoxia. Aberrant tumor vasculature and alterations in cellular metabolism and drug resistance due to hypoxia further confound this problem. This review focuses on the implications of hypoxia in an inflammatory TME and its impact on the signaling and metabolic pathways regulating growth and progression of cancer, along with changes in lymphangiogenic and angiogenic mechanisms. Finally, the overarching role of hypoxia in mediating therapeutic resistance in cancers is discussed.

scholarly journals The Chinese Medicinal Formulation Guzhi Zengsheng Zhitongwan Modulates Chondrocyte Structure, Dynamics, and Metabolism by Controlling Multiple Functional Proteins

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Baojin Yao ◽  
Bocheng Lu ◽  
Mei Zhang ◽  
Hongwei Gao ◽  
Xiangyang Leng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chinese Medicine ◽  
Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Research Field ◽  
Medical Systems ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Structure Dynamics ◽  
National Medical ◽  
Medicinal Formulation

Traditional Chinese medicine is one of the oldest medical systems in the world and has its unique principles and theories in the prevention and treatment of human diseases, which are achieved through the interactions of different types of materia medica in the form of Chinese medicinal formulations. GZZSZTW, a classical and effective Chinese medicinal formulation, was designed and created by professor Bailing Liu who is the only national medical master professor in the clinical research field of traditional Chinese medicine and skeletal diseases. GZZSZTW has been widely used in clinical settings for several decades for the treatment of joint diseases. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms are still largely unknown. In the present study, we performed quantitative proteomic analysis to investigate the effects of GZZSZTW on mouse primary chondrocytes using state-of-the-art iTRAQ technology. We demonstrated that the Chinese medicinal formulation GZZSZTW modulates chondrocyte structure, dynamics, and metabolism by controlling multiple functional proteins that are involved in the cellular processes of DNA replication and transcription, protein synthesis and degradation, cytoskeleton dynamics, and signal transduction. Thus, this study has expanded the current knowledge of the molecular mechanism of GZZSZTW treatment on chondrocytes. It has also shed new light on possible strategies to further prevent and treat cartilage-related diseases using traditional Chinese medicinal formulations.

The impact of Traditional Chinese Medicine on mitophagy in disease models

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Li-Ping Yu ◽  
Ting-Ting Shi ◽  
Yan-Qin Li ◽  
Jian-Kang Mu ◽  
Ya-Qin Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chinese Medicine ◽  
Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Human Diseases ◽  
Regulatory Mechanisms ◽  
Disease Models ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The Relationship

: Mitophagy plays an important role in maintaining mitochondrial quality and cell homeostasis through the degradation of damaged, aged, and dysfunctional mitochondria and misfolded proteins. Many human diseases, particularly neurodegenerative diseases, are related to disorders of mitochondrial phagocytosis. Exploring the regulatory mechanisms of mitophagy is of great significance for revealing the molecular mechanisms underlying the related diseases. Herein, we summarize the major mechanisms of mitophagy, the relationship of mitophagy with human diseases, and the role of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in mitophagy. These discussions enhance our knowledge of mitophagy and its potential therapeutic targets using TCM.

A comprehensive review of pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic in animals: exploration of interaction with antibiotics of Shuang-Huang-Lian preparations

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liuyi Liang ◽  
Xin Jin ◽  
Jinjing Li ◽  
Rong Li ◽  
Xinyi Jiao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Chinese Medicine ◽  
Traditional Chinese Medicine ◽  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Respiratory Tract Infections ◽  
Pharmacokinetic Interaction ◽  
Pharmacological Action ◽  
New Strategy ◽  
System Review ◽  
Tract Infections ◽  
Important Significance

: As a traditional Chinese medicine, Shuang-Huang-Lian (SHL) has been widely used for treating infectious diseases of the respiratory tract such as encephalitis, pneumonia and asthma. During the past few decades, considerable research has focused on the pharmacological action, pharmacokinetic interaction with antibiotics and clinical applications of SHL. A huge and more recent body of pharmacokinetic study supports the combination of SHL and antibiotics has different effects such as antagonism and synergism. SHL has been one of the best-selling traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) products. However, there is no system review of SHL preparations, ranging from protection against respiratory tract infections to interaction with antibiotics. Since their important significance in clinical therapy, the pharmacodynamic, pharmacokinetic, and interactions with antibiotics of SHL were reviewed and discussed. In addition, this review attempts to explore the possible potential mechanism of SHL preparations in prevention and treatment of COVID-19. We are concerned about what is known of the effects of SHL against virus, bacterium, and its interactions with antibiotics, providing a new strategy for expanding the clinical research and medication of SHL preparations.

scholarly journals Assessment of phagocytic activity in live macrophages-tumor cells co-cultures by Confocal and Nomarski Microscopy

2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dalia Martinez-Marin ◽  
Courtney Jarvis ◽  
Thomas Nelius ◽  
Stéphanie Filleur
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Phagocytic Activity ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Functional Assay ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Multiple Cancer

Abstract Macrophages have been recognized as the main inflammatory component of the tumor microenvironment. Although often considered as beneficial for tumor growth and disease progression, tumor-associated macrophages have also been shown to be detrimental to the tumor depending on the tumor microenvironment. Therefore, understanding the molecular interactions between macrophages and tumor cells in relation to macrophages functional activities such as phagocytosis is critical for a better comprehension of their tumor-modulating action. Still, the characterization of these molecular mechanisms in vivo remains complicated due to the extraordinary complexity of the tumor microenvironment and the broad range of tumor-associated macrophage functions. Thus, there is an increasing demand for in vitro methodologies to study the role of cell–cell interactions in the tumor microenvironment. In the present study, we have developed live co-cultures of macrophages and human prostate tumor cells to assess the phagocytic activity of macrophages using a combination of Confocal and Nomarski Microscopy. Using this model, we have emphasized that this is a sensitive, measurable, and highly reproducible functional assay. We have also highlighted that this assay can be applied to multiple cancer cell types and used as a selection tool for a variety of different types of phagocytosis agonists. Finally, combining with other studies such as gain/loss of function or signaling studies remains possible. A better understanding of the interactions between tumor cells and macrophages may lead to the identification of new therapeutic targets against cancer.

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