Triptolide, the major component of Chinese herbal medicine Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, possesses potent anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects. IL-8, a proinflammatory cytokine, is associated with cancer cell proliferation and angiogenesis. Here, we found that Triptolide has an inhibitory effect on IL-1β-induced IL-8 expression in human gastric cancer cells, via the suppression of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, AP-1, and NF-κB activation, which in turn affects human endothelial cell angiogenetic activity in tumor microenvironments.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Telocytes, recently recognized as interstitial cells with a diverse range of potential functions, have attracted considerable attention for their involvement in tumorigenesis. Nevertheless, owing to certain challenges in the isolation and cultivation of telocytes, the research on telocytes has advanced rather slowly. Therefore, it is imperative to study the role and mechanisms of telocytes in tumors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFibromyalgia (FM) is a central sensitization syndrome that is strongly associated with the cerebral cortex. This study used bidirectional two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to investigate the bidirectional causality between FM and the cortical surface area and cortical thickness of 34 brain regions. Inverse variance weighted (IVW) was used as the primary method for this study, and sensitivity analyses further supported the results.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFXi Bao Yu Fen Zi Mian Yi Xue Za Zhi
November 2023
Objective To investigate the proportional change of CD56 T cells in peripheral blood of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the expression of T cell immunoglobulin and immune receptor tyrosine inhibitory motif domain (TIGIT) on the surface of CD56 T cells, and to explore the effect of TIGIT on CD56 T cell function in RA. Methods Fifty patients with RA and twenty healthy controls were selected. Flow cytometry was used to determine the proportion of CD56 T cells in peripheral blood, and the correlation between the resulting cell ratio and clinical indicators of the disease was analyzed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-O-gallate (EGCG), a primary green tea polyphenol, has powerful iron scavengers, belongs to the family of flavonoids with antioxidant properties, and can be used to prevent cancer. Urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptors (uPARs) are glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)-anchored cell membrane receptors that have crucial roles in cell invasion and metastasis of several cancers including bladder cancer. The mechanism of action of EGCG on uPAR expression has not been reported clearly yet.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMyeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) play a critical role in maintaining the tumor immune microenvironment; thus, the promotion of MDSC polarization will improve immunotherapies for cancers. However, the mechanisms involved in controlling MDSC polarization in hepatocellular carcinoma remain largely unclear. In this study, we found that injection of Pam3CSK4 attenuated the process of tumor growth, along with reduction of MDSC and recovery of T cell function.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFZinc ash is a by-product of the hot-dip galvanizing process and the electrolytic zinc process, which is classified as a hazardous waste consisting predominately of zinc oxide that could be recovered as the useful main resource for ZnO preparation. In this work, in order to reduce the energy consumption of the direct reduction process and improve the resource-recovery rate. A new technology for zinc oxide production, by a carbothermal reduction of zinc ash, is proposed.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSulforaphane, a natural phytochemical compound found in various cruciferous vegetables, has been discovered to present anti-cancer properties. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) plays a crucial role in gastric cancer metastasis. However, the role of sulforaphane in MMP-9 expression in gastric cancer is not yet defined.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPiperine, a natural alkaloidal pungent product present in pepper plants, possesses the properties of anti-inflammatory and anti-metastasis. Lithocholic acid is a monohydroxy-5beta-cholanic acid with an alpha-hydroxy substituent at position 3; it is a secondary bile acid that plays a pivotal role in fat absorption, and has been discovered to mediate colorectal cancer (CRC) cell invasion and migration. However, the effect of piperine on angiogenesis has been poorly investigated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNicotine, a major alkaloid found in tobacco, is a significant risk factor for gastric cancer. IL-8, a pleiotropic cytokine, plays a vital role in cancer cell metastasis. The role of nicotine in IL-8 expression and the underlying mechanism is currently unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFwas employed in the treatment of "Xiao-Ke" symptom, which nowadays known as diabetes mellitus, in traditional Chinese medicine for more than a thousand years. Ginsenoside Re was the major pharmacologic ingredient found abundantly in ginseng. However, the anti-diabetic of Ginsenoside Re and its underlying mechanism in metabolic level are still unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMicro-RNA-21 (miR-21) is a vital regulator of colorectal cancer (CRC) progression and has emerged as a potential therapeutic target in CRC treatment. Our study using real-time PCR assay found that a secondary bile acid, lithocholic acid (LCA), stimulated the expression of miR21 in the CRC cell lines. Promoter activity assay showed that LCA strongly stimulated miR21 promoter activity in HCT116 cells in a time- and dose-dependent manner.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHuman regulatory T (Treg) cells play a central role in controlling allergic inflammation in the airways. A reduced number of peripheral Treg cells and decreased suppressive function have been previously reported in the pathogenesis of allergic asthma. However, the characteristic role of specific Treg cell subsets and their mechanisms in the pathogenesis of allergic asthma remain unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) is a member of a subfamily of enzymes involved in the metabolism of both endogenous and exogenous substrates and the chemical activation of xenobiotics to carcinogenic derivatives. Here, the effects of nicotine, a major psychoactive compound present in cigarette smoke, on CYP1A1 expression and human hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cell proliferation were investigated. Nicotine stimulated CYP1A1 expression via the transcription factors, activator protein 1, nuclear factor-kappa B, and the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) signaling pathway.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUrokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) plays a crucial role in inflammation and tumor metastasis. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a representative omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, has been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor properties. However, the mechanism by which DHA negatively regulates uPAR expression is not yet understood.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMatrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) plays a crucial role in cell invasion and cancer metastasis. In this study, we showed that cholic acid (CA), a major primary bile acid, can induce MMP-9 expression in colon cancer HT29 and SW620 cells. CA increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and also activated phosphorylation of ERK1/2, JNK, and p38 MAPK.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMuscle invasive bladder carcinoma is a highly malignant cancer with a high mortality rate, due to its tendency to metastasize. The tyrosine kinase recepteur d'origine nantais (RON) promotes bladder carcinoma metastasis. Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a phospholipid derivative, which acts as a signaling molecule to activate three high affinity G-protein coupled receptors, LPA1, LPA2, and LPA3.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTelocytes, newly discovered in the last decade, are interstitial cells found in numerous organs, with multiple proposed potential biological functions. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play an important role in innate and adaptive immunity by recognizing pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs). However, it is still unknown whether telocytes express these innate receptors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMetformin, an inexpensive, well-tolerated oral agent that is a commonly used first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes, has become the focus of intense research as a potential anticancer agent. In this study, we describe the inhibitory effect of metformin in interleukin 8 (IL-8) upregulation by lithocholic acid (LCA) in HCT116 colorectal cancer (CRC) cells. Pharmacological inhibition studies indicated that reactive oxygen species (ROS) were involved in LCA-induced IL-8 upregulation through activation of the transcription factor NF-κB.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInterleukin-6 (IL-6), a pleiotropic cytokine, plays a key role in endothelial injury and atherosclerosis. In this study, we investigated the effects of nicotine, a major psychoactive compound in cigarette smoke, on IL-6 expression and EA.hy926 endothelial cell invasion.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR), a glycoprotein localized on the cell surface with a glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchor, plays a crucial role in cell invasion, and the metastasis of several cancers, including bladder cancer, and its expression are significantly negatively correlated with patient survival rates. Apigenin, a naturally produced phytochemical compound found in fruits, vegetables, and plant leaves, has been shown to mediate a variety of cancer-metastasis-related molecules in various cancers. The effect of apigenin on uPAR expression is still unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFImmune mechanisms underlying hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are not well understood. Here, we show that the Toll-like receptor TLR2 inhibits production of the proinflammatory cytokine IL18 and protects mice from DEN-induced liver carcinogenesis. On this protocol, Tlr2(-/-) mice exhibited more aggressive HCC development associated with impaired CD8(+) T-cell function.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF