Targeting Inflammatory Mediators: An Anticancer Mechanism of Thymoquinone Action

2020 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 80-92
Author(s):  
Zakia Akter ◽  
Faiza Rafa Ahmed ◽  
Mousumi Tania ◽  
Md. Asaduzzaman Khan

Background: : Thymoquinone is a promising anticancer molecule, the chemopreventive role of which is well-known at least in vitro and in the animal model. In this review article, we focused on the anti-inflammatory activities of thymoquinone in cancer cells. Method:: Research data on inflammation, cancer and thymoquinone were acquired from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science and Google Scholar. We reviewed papers published since the mid of the last century, and the most cited papers of the last ten years. Results:: Studies indicate that thymoquinone possesses immunomodulatory activities, in addition to its chemopreventive role, as thymoquinone can target and modulate inflammatory molecules, like nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κβ), interleukins, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and certain growth factors. As chronic inflammation plays an important role in cancer development, controlling inflammatory pathways is an important mechanism of an anticancer molecule, and modulation of inflammatory pathways might be one of the key mechanisms of thymoquinone’s anticancer activities. Conclusion: : This article reviewed the role of inflammation on cancer development, and the action of thymoquinone on inflammatory molecules, which have been proved in vitro and in vivo. Much attention is required for studying the role of thymoquinone in immunotherapeutics and developing this molecule as a future anticancer drug.

1998 ◽  
Vol 275 (2) ◽  
pp. R502-R508 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xianzhong Meng ◽  
Lihua Ao ◽  
Daniel R. Meldrum ◽  
Brian S. Cain ◽  
Brian D. Shames ◽  
...  

Exogenous tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) induces delayed myocardial depression in vivo but promotes rapid myocardial depression in vitro. The temporal relationship between endogenous TNF-α and endotoxemic myocardial depression is unclear, and the role of TNF-α in this myocardial disorder remains controversial. Using a rat model of endotoxemia not complicated by shock, we sought to determine 1) the temporal relationship of changes in circulating and myocardial TNF-α with myocardial depression, 2) the influences of protein synthesis inhibition or immunosuppression on TNF-α production and myocardial depression, and 3) the influence of neutralization of TNF-α on myocardial depression. Rats were treated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 0.5 mg/kg ip). Circulating and myocardial TNF-α increased at 1 and 2 h, whereas myocardial contractility was depressed at 4 and 6 h. Pretreatment with cycloheximide or dexamethasone abolished the increase in circulating and myocardial TNF-α and preserved myocardial contractile function. Similarly, treatment with TNF binding protein immediately after LPS prevented myocardial depression. We conclude that endogenous TNF-α mediates delayed myocardial depression in endotoxemic rats and that inhibition of TNF-α production or neutralization of TNF-α preserves myocardial contractile function in endotoxemia.


2005 ◽  
Vol 280 (43) ◽  
pp. 36510-36517 ◽  
Author(s):  
José M. Lora ◽  
Dong Mei Zhang ◽  
Sha Mei Liao ◽  
Timothy Burwell ◽  
Anne Marie King ◽  
...  

Excessive mucus production by airway epithelium is a major characteristic of a number of respiratory diseases, including asthma, chronic bronchitis, and cystic fibrosis. However, the signal transduction pathways leading to mucus production are poorly understood. Here we examined the potential role of IκB kinase β (IKKβ) in mucus synthesis in vitro and in vivo. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) or transforming growth factor-α stimulation of human epithelial cells resulted in mucus secretion as measured by MUC5AC mRNA and protein. TNF-α stimulation induced IKKβ-dependent p65 nuclear translocation, mucus synthesis, and production of cytokines from epithelial cells. TNF-α, but not transforming growth factor-α, induced mucus production dependent on IKKβ-mediated NF-κB activation. In vivo, TNF-α induced NF-κB as determined by whole mouse body bioluminescence. This activation was localized to the epithelium as revealed by LacZ staining in NF-κB-LacZ transgenic mice. TNF-α-induced mucus production in vivo could also be inhibited by administration into the epithelium of an IKKβ dominant negative adenovirus. Taken together, our results demonstrated the important role of IKKβ in TNF-α-mediated mucus production in airway epithelium in vitro and in vivo.


2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (7) ◽  
pp. 985-992 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aysegul Hanikoglu ◽  
Ertan Kucuksayan ◽  
Rana Cagla Akduman ◽  
Tomris Ozben

This systematic review aims to elucidate the role of melatonin (N-acetyl-5-metoxy-tryptamine) (MLT) in the prevention and treatment of cancer. MLT is a pineal gland secretory product, an evolutionarily highly conserved molecule; it is also an antioxidant and an impressive protector of mitochondrial bioenergetic activity. MLT is characterized by an ample range of activities, modulating the physiology and molecular biology of the cell. Its physiological functions relate principally to the interaction of G Protein-Coupled MT1 and MT2 trans-membrane receptors (GPCRs), a family of guanidine triphosphate binding proteins. MLT has been demonstrated to suppress the growth of various tumours both, in vivo and in vitro. In this review, we analyze in depth, the antioxidant activity of melatonin, aiming to illustrate the cancer treatment potential of the molecule, by limiting or reversing the changes occurring during cancer development and growth.


Pharmaceutics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 991
Author(s):  
Melanie S. Matos ◽  
José D. Anastácio ◽  
Cláudia Nunes dos Santos

Inflammation is a crucial and complex process that reestablishes the physiological state after a noxious stimulus. In pathological conditions the inflammatory state may persist, leading to chronic inflammation and causing tissue damage. Sesquiterpene lactones (SLs) are composed of a large and diverse group of highly bioactive plant secondary metabolites, characterized by a 15-carbon backbone structure. In recent years, the interest in SLs has risen due to their vast array of biological activities beneficial for human health. The anti-inflammatory potential of these compounds results from their ability to target and inhibit various key pro-inflammatory molecules enrolled in diverse inflammatory pathways, and prevent or reduce the inflammatory damage on tissues. Research on the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of SLs has thrived over the last years, and numerous compounds from diverse plants have been studied, using in silico, in vitro, and in vivo assays. Besides their anti-inflammatory potential, their cytotoxicity, structure–activity relationships, and pharmacokinetics have been investigated. This review aims to gather the most relevant results and insights concerning the anti-inflammatory potential of SL-rich extracts and pure SLs, focusing on their effects in different inflammatory pathways and on different molecular players.


2020 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xudong Wang ◽  
Yali Wang ◽  
Mingjian Kong ◽  
Jianping Yang

Abstract Background: Septic acute kidney injury is considered as a severe and frequent complication that occurs during sepsis. The present study was performed to understand the role of miR-22-3p and its underlying mechanism in sepsis-induced acute kidney injury. Methods: Rats were injected with adenovirus carrying miR-22-3p or miR-NC in the caudal vein before cecal ligation. Meanwhile, HK-2 cells were transfected with the above adenovirus following LPS stimulation. We measured the markers of renal injury (blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (SCR)). Histological changes in kidney tissues were examined by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), Masson staining, periodic acid Schiff staining and TUNEL staining. The levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and NO were determined by ELISA assay. Using TargetScan prediction and luciferase reporter assay, we predicted and validated the association between PTEN and miR-22-3p. Results: Our data showed that miR-22-3p was significantly down-regulated in a rat model of sepsis-induced acute kidney injury, in vivo and LPS-induced sepsis model in HK-2 cells, in vitro. Overexpression of miR-22-3p remarkably suppressed the inflammatory response and apoptosis via down-regulating HMGB1, p-p65, TLR4 and pro-inflammatory factors (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and NO), both in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, PTEN was identified as a target of miR-22-3p. Furthermore, PTEN knockdown augmented, while overexpression reversed the suppressive role of miR-22-3p in LPS-induced inflammatory response. Conclusions: Our results showed that miR-22-3p induced protective role in sepsis-induced acute kidney injury may rely on the repression of PTEN.


Blood ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 89 (9) ◽  
pp. 3228-3235 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Zakrzewicz ◽  
M. Gräfe ◽  
D. Terbeek ◽  
M. Bongrazio ◽  
W. Auch-Schwelk ◽  
...  

Abstract To characterize L-selectin–dependent cell adhesion to human vascular endothelium, human cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (HCMEC) and human coronary endothelial cells (HCEC) were isolated from explanted human hearts. The adhesion behavior of human (NALM-6) and mouse (300.19) pre-B cells transfected with cDNA encoding for human L-selectin was compared with that of the respective nontransfected cells in a flow chamber in vitro. More than 80% of the adhesion to tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α)–stimulated HCMEC at shear stresses <2 dyne/cm2 was L-selectin dependent and could be equally well blocked by an anti–L-selectin antibody or a L-selectin-IgG-chimera. No L-selectin dependent adhesion to HCEC could be shown. The L-selectin dependent adhesion to HCMEC was insensitive to neuraminidase, but greatly inhibited by addition of NaClO3 , which inhibits posttranslational sulfation and remained elevated for at least 24 hours of stimulation. E-selectin dependent adhesion of HL60 cells to HCMEC was blocked by neuraminidase, but not by NaClO3 and returned to control levels within 18 hours of HCMEC stimulation. It is concluded that microvascular, but not macrovascular endothelial cells express TNF-α–inducible sulfated ligand(s) for L-selectin, which differ from known L-selectin ligands, because sialylation is not required. The prolonged time course of L-selectin dependent adhesion suggests a role in sustained leukocyte recruitment into inflammatory sites in vivo.


2018 ◽  
Vol 315 (5) ◽  
pp. C653-C663 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kasin Yadunandam Anandam ◽  
Omar A. Alwan ◽  
Veedamali S. Subramanian ◽  
Padmanabhan Srinivasan ◽  
Rubina Kapadia ◽  
...  

Riboflavin (RF), is essential for normal cellular metabolism/function. Intestinal RF absorption occurs via a specific carrier-mediated process that involves the apical transporter RFVT-3 ( SLC52A3) and the basolateral RFVT-1 (SLC52A1). Previously, we characterized different cellular/molecular aspects of the intestinal RF uptake process, but nothing is known about the effect of proinflammatory cytokines on the uptake event. We addressed this issue using in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo models. First, we determined the level of mRNA expression of the human (h)RFVT-3 and hRFVT-1 in intestinal tissue of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and observed a markedly lower level compared with controls. In the in vitro model, exposing Caco-2 cells to tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) led to a significant inhibition in RF uptake, an effect that was abrogated upon knocking down TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1). The inhibition in RF uptake was associated with a significant reduction in the expression of hRFVT-3 and -1 protein and mRNA levels, as well as in the activity of the SLC52A3 and SLC52A1 promoters. The latter effects appear to involve Sp1 and NF-κB sites in these promoters. Similarly, exposure of mouse small intestinal enteroids and wild-type mice to TNF-α led to a significant inhibition in physiological and molecular parameters of intestinal RF uptake. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that exposure of intestinal epithelial cells to TNF-α leads to inhibition in RF uptake and that this effect is mediated, at least in part, via transcriptional mechanism(s). These findings may explain the significantly low RF levels observed in patients with IBD.


1999 ◽  
Vol 276 (2) ◽  
pp. H671-H678 ◽  
Author(s):  
David W. A. Beno ◽  
Robert E. Kimura

Previous investigators have demonstrated that the tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) response to endotoxin is inhibited by exogenous corticosterone or catecholamines both in vitro and in vivo, whereas others have reported that surgical and nonsurgical stress increase the endogenous concentrations of these stress-induced hormones. We hypothesized that elevated endogenous stress hormones resultant from experimental protocols attenuated the endotoxin-induced TNF-α response. We used a chronically catheterized rat model to demonstrate that the endotoxin-induced TNF-α response is 10- to 50-fold greater in nonstressed (NS) rats compared with either surgical-stressed (SS, laparotomy) or nonsurgical-stressed (NSS, tail vein injection) models. Compared with the NS group, the SS and NSS groups demonstrated significantly lower mean peak TNF-α responses at 2 mg/kg and 6 μg/kg endotoxin [NS 111.8 ± 6.5 ng/ml and 64.3 ± 5.9 ng/ml, respectively, vs. SS 3.9 ± 1.1 ng/ml ( P < 0.01) and 1.3 ± 0.5 ng/ml ( P < 0.01) or NSS 5.2 ± 3.2 ng/ml ( P < 0.01) at 6 μg/kg]. Similarly, baseline concentrations of corticosterone and catecholamines were significantly lower in the NSS group [84.5 ± 16.5 ng/ml and 199.8 ± 26.2 pg/ml, respectively, vs. SS group 257.2 ± 35.7 ng/ml ( P< 0.01) and 467.5 ± 52.2 pg/ml ( P < 0.01) or NS group 168.6 ± 14.4 ng/ml ( P < 0.01) and 1,109.9 ± 140.7 pg/ml ( P < 0.01)]. These findings suggest that the surgical and nonsurgical stress inherent in experimental protocols increases baseline stress hormones, masking the endotoxin-induced TNF-α response. Subsequent studies of endotoxic shock should control for the effects of protocol-induced stress and should measure and report baseline concentrations of corticosterone and catecholamines.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hao Huang ◽  
Yanqin Fan ◽  
Zhao Gao ◽  
Wei Wang ◽  
Ning Shao ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Studies have indicated that changed expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) in epithelial cells from the kidney could affect the renal function in chronic kidney disease (CKD). As Angiotensin II (Ang II) is a critical active effector in the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and was proved to be closely related to the inflammatory injury. Meanwhile, researchers found that Ang II could alter the expression of HIF-1α in the kidney. However, whether HIF-1α is involved in mediating Ang II-induced inflammatory injury in podocytes is not clear. Methods Ang II perfusion animal model were established to assess the potential role of HIF-1α in renal injury in vivo. Ang II stimulated podocytes to observe the corresponding between HIF-1α and inflammatory factors in vitro. Results The expression of inflammatory cytokines such as MCP-1 and TNF-α was increased in the glomeruli from rats treated with Ang II infusion compared with control rats. Increased HIF-1α expression in the glomeruli was also observed in Ang II-infused rats. In vitro, Ang II upregulated the expression of HIF-1α in podocytes. Furthermore, knockdown of HIF-1α by siRNA decreased the expression of MCP-1 and TNF-α. Moreover, HIF-1α siRNA significantly diminished the Ang II-induced overexpression of HIF-1α. Conclusion Collectively, our results suggest that HIF-1α participates in the inflammatory response process caused by Ang II and that downregulation of HIF-1α may be able to partially protect or reverse inflammatory injury in podocytes.


2004 ◽  
Vol 50 (11) ◽  
pp. 2136-2140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie Bennermo ◽  
Claes Held ◽  
Sten Stemme ◽  
Carl-Göran Ericsson ◽  
Angela Silveira ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: A single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the promoter region of the interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene at position −174 (G&gt;C) has been reported to be associated with a variety of major diseases, such as Alzheimer disease, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular disease, cancer, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, osteoporosis, sepsis, and systemic-onset juvenile chronic arthritis. However, authors of previous in vitro and in vivo studies have reported conflicting results regarding the functionality of this polymorphism. We therefore aimed to clarify the role of the −174 SNP for the induction of IL-6 in vivo. Methods: We vaccinated 20 and 18 healthy individuals homozygous for the −174 C and G alleles, respectively, with 1 mL of Salmonella typhii vaccine. IL-1β, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were measured in the blood at baseline and up to 24 h after vaccination. Results: Individuals with the G genotype had significantly higher plasma IL-6 values at 6, 8, and 10 h after vaccination than did individuals with the C genotype (P &lt;0.005). There were no differences between the two genotypes regarding serum concentrations of IL-1β and TNF-α before or after vaccination. Conclusions: The −174 G&gt;C SNP in the promoter region of the IL-6 gene is functional in vivo with an increased inflammatory response associated with the G allele. Considering the central role of IL-6 in a variety of major diseases, the present finding might be of major relevance.


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