Metformin and Cancer Glucose Metabolism: At the Bench or at the Bedside?

Several studies reported that metformin, the most widely used drug for type 2 diabetes, might affect cancer aggressiveness. The biguanide seems to directly impair cancer energy asset, with the consequent phosphorylation of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) inhibiting cell proliferation and tumor growth. This action is most often attributed to a well-documented blockage of oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) caused by a direct interference of metformin on Complex I function. Nevertheless, several other pleiotropic actions seem to contribute to the anticancer potential of this biguanide. In particular, in vitro and in vivo experimental studies recently documented that metformin selectively inhibits the uptake of 2-[18F]-Fluoro-2-Deoxy-D-Glucose (FDG), via an impaired catalytic function of the enzyme hexose-6P-dehydrogenase (H6PD). H6PD triggers a still largely uncharacterized pentose-phosphate pathway (PPP) within the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) that has been found to play a pivotal role in feeding the NADPH reductive power for both cellular proliferation and antioxidant responses. Regardless of its exploitability in the clinical setting, this metformin action might configure the ER metabolism as a potential target for innovative therapeutic strategies in patients with solid cancers and potentially modifies the current interpretative model of FDG uptake, attributing PET/CT capability to predict cancer aggressiveness to the activation of H6PD catalytic function.

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Important Role for Phylogenetically Invariant PP2Acα Active Site and C-Terminal Residues Revealed by Mutational Analysis in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Genetics ◽

10.1093/genetics/156.1.21 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 156 (1) ◽

pp. 21-29 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

David R H Evans ◽

Brian A Hemmings

Keyword(s):

Protein Interactions ◽

Active Site ◽

Protein Function ◽

Mutational Analysis ◽

Yeast Cells ◽

Temperature Sensitive ◽

Active Site Residues ◽

Catalytic Function

Abstract PP2A is a central regulator of eukaryotic signal transduction. The human catalytic subunit PP2Acα functionally replaces the endogenous yeast enzyme, Pph22p, indicating a conservation of function in vivo. Therefore, yeast cells were employed to explore the role of invariant PP2Ac residues. The PP2Acα Y127N substitution abolished essential PP2Ac function in vivo and impaired catalysis severely in vitro, consistent with the prediction from structural studies that Tyr-127 mediates substrate binding and its side chain interacts with the key active site residues His-118 and Asp-88. The V159E substitution similarly impaired PP2Acα catalysis profoundly and may cause global disruption of the active site. Two conditional mutations in the yeast Pph22p protein, F232S and P240H, were found to cause temperature-sensitive impairment of PP2Ac catalytic function in vitro. Thus, the mitotic and cell lysis defects conferred by these mutations result from a loss of PP2Ac enzyme activity. Substitution of the PP2Acα C-terminal Tyr-307 residue by phenylalanine impaired protein function, whereas the Y307D and T304D substitutions abolished essential function in vivo. Nevertheless, Y307D did not reduce PP2Acα catalytic activity significantly in vitro, consistent with an important role for the C terminus in mediating essential protein-protein interactions. Our results identify key residues important for PP2Ac function and characterize new reagents for the study of PP2A in vivo.

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A Review on the Medicinal and Pharmacological Properties of Traditional Ethnomedicinal Plant Sonapatha, Oroxylum indicum

Sinusitis ◽

10.3390/sinusitis5010009 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 71-89

Author(s):

Ganesh Chandra Jagetia

Keyword(s):

Glucose Transporter ◽

Skin Diseases ◽

Regulatory Element ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Fatty Acid Synthetase ◽

Preclinical Models ◽

Oroxylin A ◽

Oroxylum Indicum

Oroxylum indicum, Sonapatha is traditionally used to treat asthma, biliousness, bronchitis, diarrhea, dysentery, fevers, vomiting, inflammation, leukoderma, skin diseases, rheumatoid arthritis, wound injury, and deworm intestine. This review has been written by collecting the relevant information from published material on various ethnomedicinal and pharmacological aspects of Sonapatha by making an internet, PubMed, SciFinder, Science direct, and Google Scholar search. Various experimental studies have shown that Sonapatha scavenges different free radicals and possesses alkaloids, flavonoids, cardio glycosides, tannins, sterols, phenols, saponins, and other phytochemicals. Numerous active principles including oroxylin A, chrysin, scutellarin, baicalein, and many more have been isolated from the different parts of Sonapatha. Sonapatha acts against microbial infection, cancer, hepatic, gastrointestinal, cardiac, and diabetic disorders. It is useful in the treatment of obesity and wound healing in in vitro and in vivo preclinical models. Sonapatha elevates glutathione, glutathione-s-transferase, glutathione peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase levels and reduces aspartate transaminase alanine aminotransaminase, alkaline phosphatase, lactate dehydrogenase, and lipid peroxidation levels in various tissues. Sonapatha activates the expression of p53, pRb, Fas, FasL, IL-12, and caspases and inhibited nuclear factor kappa (NF-κB), cyclooxygenase (COX-2), tumor necrosis factor (TNFα), interleukin (IL6), P38 activated mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), fatty acid synthetase (FAS), sterol regulatory element-binding proteins 1c (SREBP-1c), proliferator-activated receptor γ2 (PPARγ2), glucose transporter (GLUT4), leptin, and HPV18 oncoproteins E6 and E7 at the molecular level, which may be responsible for its medicinal properties. The phytoconstituents of Sonapatha including oroxylin A, chrysin, and baicalein inhibit the replication of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) in in vitro and in vivo experimental models, indicating its potential to contain COVID-19 infection in humans. The experimental studies in various preclinical models validate the use of Sonapatha in ethnomedicine and Ayurveda.

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Melatonin in Cancer Treatment: Current Knowledge and Future Opportunities

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules26092506 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (9) ◽

pp. 2506

Author(s):

Wamidh H. Talib ◽

Ahmad Riyad Alsayed ◽

Alaa Abuawad ◽

Safa Daoud ◽

Asma Ismail Mahmod

Keyword(s):

Clinical Trials ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Biological Activities ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Therapeutic Effects ◽

Cell Proliferation Inhibition ◽

Different Types ◽

Solid Foundation

Melatonin is a pleotropic molecule with numerous biological activities. Epidemiological and experimental studies have documented that melatonin could inhibit different types of cancer in vitro and in vivo. Results showed the involvement of melatonin in different anticancer mechanisms including apoptosis induction, cell proliferation inhibition, reduction in tumor growth and metastases, reduction in the side effects associated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy, decreasing drug resistance in cancer therapy, and augmentation of the therapeutic effects of conventional anticancer therapies. Clinical trials revealed that melatonin is an effective adjuvant drug to all conventional therapies. This review summarized melatonin biosynthesis, availability from natural sources, metabolism, bioavailability, anticancer mechanisms of melatonin, its use in clinical trials, and pharmaceutical formulation. Studies discussed in this review will provide a solid foundation for researchers and physicians to design and develop new therapies to treat and prevent cancer using melatonin.

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The Extracellular Small Leucine-Rich Proteoglycan Biglycan Is a Key Player in Gastric Cancer Aggressiveness

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers13061330 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (6) ◽

pp. 1330

Author(s):

Filipe Pinto ◽

Liliana Santos-Ferreira ◽

Marta T. Pinto ◽

Catarina Gomes ◽

Celso A. Reis

Keyword(s):

Clinical Value ◽

Knock Out ◽

Angiogenic Potential ◽

In Vivo Experiments ◽

Cancer Aggressiveness ◽

Advanced Stages ◽

Oncogenic Gene

Biglycan (BGN gene), an extracellular proteoglycan, has been described to be associated with cancer aggressiveness. The purpose of this study was to clarify the clinical value of biglycan as a biomarker in multiple independent GC cohorts and determine the in vitro and in vivo role of biglycan in GC malignant features. We found that BGN is commonly over-expressed in all analyzed cohorts, being associated with disease relapse and poor prognosis in patients with advanced stages of disease. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that biglycan knock-out GC cells display major phenotypic changes with a lower cell survival, migration, and angiogenic potential when compared with biglycan expressing cells. Biglycan KO GC cells present increased levels of PARP1 and caspase-3 cleavage and a decreased expression of mesenchymal markers. Importantly, biglycan deficient GC cells that were supplemented with exogenous biglycan were able to restore biological features, such as survival, clonogenic and migratory capacities. Our in vitro and in vivo findings were validated in human GC samples, where BGN expression was associated with several oncogenic gene signatures that were associated with apoptosis, cell migration, invasion, and angiogenesis. This study provided new insights on biglycan role in GC that should be taken in consideration as a key cellular regulator with major impact in tumor progression and patients’ clinical outcome.

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Histone/protein deacetylases and T-cell immune responses

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2011-10-292003 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 119 (11) ◽

pp. 2443-2451 ◽

Cited By ~ 85

Author(s):

Tatiana Akimova ◽

Ulf H. Beier ◽

Yujie Liu ◽

Liqing Wang ◽

Wayne W. Hancock

Keyword(s):

T Cell ◽

Cell Biology ◽

T Regulatory Cells ◽

Hdac Inhibitors ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Cell Subset ◽

Histone Protein ◽

Anti Inflammatory

Abstract Clinical and experimental studies show that inhibition of histone/protein deacetylases (HDAC) can have important anti-neoplastic effects through cytotoxic and proapoptotic mechanisms. There are also increasing data from nononcologic settings that HDAC inhibitors (HDACi) can exhibit useful anti-inflammatory effects in vitro and in vivo, unrelated to cytotoxicity or apoptosis. These effects can be cell-, tissue-, or context-dependent and can involve modulation of specific inflammatory signaling pathways as well as epigenetic mechanisms. We review recent advances in the understanding of how HDACi alter immune and inflammatory processes, with a particular focus on the effects of HDACi on T-cell biology, including the activation and functions of conventional T cells and the unique T-cell subset, composed of Foxp3+ T-regulatory cells. Although studies are still needed to tease out details of the various biologic roles of individual HDAC isoforms and their corresponding selective inhibitors, the anti-inflammatory effects of HDACi are already promising and may lead to new therapeutic avenues in transplantation and autoimmune diseases.

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Diabetic Cataract—Pathogenesis, Epidemiology and Treatment

Journal of Ophthalmology ◽

10.1155/2010/608751 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 2010 ◽

pp. 1-8 ◽

Cited By ~ 154

Author(s):

Andreas Pollreisz ◽

Ursula Schmidt-Erfurth

Keyword(s):

Experimental Studies ◽

Disease Process ◽

Basic Research ◽

Polyol Pathway ◽

Population Based ◽

Diabetic Patients ◽

Diabetic Cataract ◽

Cataract Development

Cataract in diabetic patients is a major cause of blindness in developed and developing countries. The pathogenesis of diabetic cataract development is still not fully understood. Recent basic research studies have emphasized the role of the polyol pathway in the initiation of the disease process. Population-based studies have greatly increased our knowledge concerning the association between diabetes and cataract formation and have defined risk factors for the development of cataract. Diabetic patients also have a higher risk of complications after phacoemulsification cataract surgery compared to nondiabetics. Aldose-reductase inhibitors and antioxidants have been proven beneficial in the prevention or treatment of this sightthreatening condition in in vitro and in vivo experimental studies. This paper provides an overview of the pathogenesis of diabetic cataract, clinical studies investigating the association between diabetes and cataract development, and current treatment of cataract in diabetics.

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Experimental studies on the differentiation of embryonic tissues growing in vivo and in vitro .—II. The development of the isolated early embryonic eye of the fowl when cultivated in vitro

Proceedings of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Containing Papers of a Biological Character ◽

10.1098/rspb.1926.0049 ◽

1926 ◽

Vol 100 (703) ◽

pp. 273-283 ◽

Cited By ~ 46

Keyword(s):

Medical Research ◽

Research Council ◽

Medical Research Council ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Limb Bud ◽

Progressive Development ◽

Embryonic Tissues ◽

Self Differentiation

In a previous communication (Strangeways and Fell, 1926) it was shown that if the undifferentiated limb-bud of the embryonic Fowl was cultivated in vitro , it underwent a considerable amount of progressive development. This capacity for independent development in vitro possessed by an isolated organ has been further investigated, and for these later experiments the writers have employed the early embryonic eye, a structure endowed with more complex potentialities than the limb-bud. As a result of these experiments it was found that the eyes of young Fowl embryos possess, in a remarkable degree, the faculty for self-differentiation in vitro and for “organotypic” growth as defined by Maximow (1925). The previous work on organotypic growth in vitro has already been briefly outlined in the writers’ earlier paper and need not be discussed here. The expenses connected with the experiments described in this communication were met by the Medical Research Council, to whom the writers desire to express their thanks.

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Results of an experimental study of hydrogel drainage containing ranibizumab in antiglaucoma operations

POINT OF VIEW EAST – WEST ◽

10.25276/2410-1257-2021-2-63-67 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 63-67

Author(s):

I.I. Khusnitdinov ◽

Keyword(s):

Experimental Study ◽

Hyaluronic Acid ◽

Key Words ◽

Experimental Research ◽

Experimental Studies ◽

Glaucoma Surgery ◽

Control Group ◽

Morphological Studies

Purpose. Еxperimental substantiation of the effectiveness of biocompatible biodegradable hydrogels based on hyaluronic acid and chitosan succinate as a carrier of ranibizumab in antiglaucoma operations. Material and methods. Hydrogel drainage (HD) was obtained immediately before surgery. A solution of ranibizumab (0.23 ml) was mixed with a solution of hyaluronic acid dialdehyde (0.5 ml), then a solution of chitosan succinate (0.5 ml) was added. Experimental studies were performed in 12 (12 eyes) healthy rabbits. The first group consisted of 6 eyes – 0.187 ml of ranibizumab per 1 ml of gel. In the control group, HD was used intraoperatively without the addition of ranibizumab (6 eyes). Morphological studies were performed on 7th, 21st, and 42nd days. Results. In experimental studies in vitro and in vivo, it was proved that ranibizumab, administered as a part of 0.1 ml of hydrogel drainage in the antiglaucoma surgery area is released within 3 weeks and suppresses vascularization, scarring of the operating area, and preserves the intrascleral cavity. The optimal concentration of ranibizumab was selected-0.02 ml in 0.1 ml of gel. Conclusion. The safety and effectiveness of the use of hydrogel drainage with ranibizumab based on hyaluronic acid dialdehyde and chitosan succinate in anti-glaucoma operations has been proven. Key words: experimental research, hydrogel drainage, ranibizumab, glaucoma surgery.

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