Molecular Biological Mechanisms of Action of Chrysophanol in Hepatic Stellate Cells Activated by Hepatic B Virus X Based on Network Pharmacology.

Introduction: Chrysophanol (Cho) is a natural anthraquinone with biological effects such as inducing ferroptosis and anticancer activity. The hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx) is essential for HBV replication. We aimed to identify the key pathways in HBx-induced hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation and to characterize the potential mechanisms of action of Cho against liver fibrosis.

Utilizing two-dose difference combined with stable isotope tracing for effective and comprehensive metabolite identification of pioglitazone via ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry.

Drug metabolite identification is an essential characterization process spanning multiple phases of drug discovery and development. Various data processing techniques have been employed in metabolite identification using high-resolution mass spectrometry. However, metabolite identification is not consistent among approaches.

Enhanced stability of Pickering emulsions through co-stabilization with nanoliposomes and thermally denatured ovalbumin.

Pickering emulsions were co-stabilized by nanoliposome (NL) and thermally denatured ovalbumin (DOVA) based on the induction of OVA with strong particle characteristics through thermal denaturation. DOVA-NL particles were spherical and their sizes were mainly distributed between 50 and 100 nm. The surface tension and interfacial tension of DOVA-NL were significantly reduced, and the surface hydrophobicity, amphiphilicity and free -SH content of DOVA were enhanced after complexation with NL.

Stability enhancement of proanthocyanidin-loaded liposomes via surface decoration with oxidized konjac glucomannan.

The stability enhancement of proanthocyanidin-loaded liposomes (PC-Lip) via surface decoration with oxidized konjac glucomannan (OKGM) was investigated. The encapsulation efficiency and drug loading capacity of OKGM-coated PC-Lip (OKGM-PC-Lip) rose significantly. The average size and PDI of OKGM-PC-Lip increased, while the zeta potential decreased compared to those of PC-Lip.

Vertical pathway inhibition of receptor tyrosine kinases and BAD with synergistic efficacy in triple negative breast cancer.

Aberrant activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling axis along with the sustained phosphorylation of downstream BAD is associated with a poor outcome of TNBC. Herein, the phosphorylated to non-phosphorylated ratio of BAD, an effector of PI3K/AKT promoting cell survival, was observed to be correlated with worse clinicopathologic indicators of outcome, including higher grade, higher proliferative index and lymph node metastasis. The structural optimization of a previously reported inhibitor of BAD-Ser99 phosphorylation was therefore achieved to generate a small molecule inhibiting the phosphorylation of BAD at Ser99 with enhanced potency and improved oral bioavailability.

Insights from β-Conglycinin and Glycinin into the Mechanism of Nanoliposome-Soybean Protein Isolate Interactions.

The interaction mechanism between nanoliposomes (NL) and a soybean protein isolate (SPI) was investigated via the complexation between NL and two major components of SPI, i.e., β-conglycinin (7S) and glycinin (11S).

Selective Formation of Osteogenic and Vasculogenic Tissues for Cartilage Regeneration.

Tissue-engineered periosteum substitutes (TEPSs) incorporating hierarchical architecture with osteoprogenitor and vascular niches are drawing much attention as a promising tool to support functional cells in defined zones and nourish the cortical bone. Current TEPSs usually lack technologies to closely observe cell performance, especially at the cell contact interface between distinct compartments containing defined biological configurations and functions. Here, an electrodeposition strategy is reported, which enables the selective formation of TEPSs with osteoprogenitor and vascular niches in a multiphasic scaffold in combination with different human cell types for cartilage regeneration in an in vivo osteochondral defect model.

Piceatannol Prevents Colon Cancer Progression via Dual-Targeting to M2-Polarized Tumor-Associated Macrophages and the TGF-β1 Positive Feedback Signaling Pathway.

Scope: M2 phenotype tumor-associated macrophages (M2-TAMs) play a key role in distant metastasis and poor clinical outcomes. Herein, a specific molecular mechanism that contributes to malignant progression is illuminated and investigates whether piceatannol (PIC) can target the crosstalk between M2-TAMs and cancer cells for potential colorectal cancer (CRC) therapy.

Methods And Results: To mimic the tumor microenvironment (TME), direct and indirect coculture systems in vitro and in vivo mouse xenograft models are established.

Trefoil factor 3 promotes pancreatic carcinoma progression via WNT pathway activation mediated by enhanced WNT ligand expression.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a major cause of cancer-related mortality with a dismal prognosis that has changed little over the past few decades. Further understanding of the molecular pathology of PDAC progression is urgently required in order to improve the prognosis of patients with PDAC. Herein, it was observed that trefoil factor 3 (TFF3) expression was elevated in PDAC, and was positively correlated with a worse overall patient survival outcome.

Cancer stem cell regulated phenotypic plasticity protects metastasized cancer cells from ferroptosis.

Cancer cells display phenotypic equilibrium between the stem-like and differentiated states during neoplastic homeostasis. The functional and mechanistic implications of this subpopulation plasticity remain largely unknown. Herein, it is demonstrated that the breast cancer stem cell (BCSC) secretome autonomously compresses the stem cell population.

Surface characteristics and emulsifying properties of whey protein/nanoliposome complexes.

The surface characteristics and emulsifying properties of whey proteins (WP) after complexation with nanoliposomes (NL) were investigated. WP surface hydrophobicity enhanced after complexation with NL, and it indicated the exposure increase of WP hydrophobic groups. WPNL interfacial tension significantly decreased compared with that of WP.

Correction: Hepatoprotective effect of piceatannol against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis in mice.

Correction for 'Hepatoprotective effect of piceatannol against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis in mice' by Wei-Lun Hung , , 2021, DOI: 10.1039/D1FO02545G.

Hepatoprotective effect of piceatannol against carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis in mice.

Piceatannol (3,5,3',4'--tetrahydroxystilbene) is a natural analog and a metabolite of resveratrol present in grapes and red wine. Previous studies have reported that piceatannol exerts a broad spectrum of health benefits including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, chemopreventive, and neuroprotective effects. However, little is known about the hepatoprotective effect of piceatannol against toxin-induced liver fibrosis.

The interaction mechanism between liposome and whey protein: Effect of liposomal vesicles concentration.

The interaction mechanism between liposomes (Lips) and whey protein isolates (WPI) with different mass ratios was explored in this paper. After binding with different concentration of Lips, the changes in hydrophilic and hydrophobic regions of WPI were investigated with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and pyrene fluorescence probes. The spatial structure changes of WPI were further characterized by differential scanning calorimetry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and circular dichroism.

Pharmacological Inhibition of BAD Ser99 Phosphorylation Enhances the Efficacy of Cisplatin in Ovarian Cancer by Inhibition of Cancer Stem Cell-like Behavior.

Platinum-based chemotherapy has been the standard treatment for ovarian cancer patients for approximately four decades. However, the prognosis of patients with advanced ovarian carcinoma remains dismal, mainly attributed to both dose-limiting toxicities of cisplatin and the high rate of chemo-resistant disease recurrence. Herein, both patient-derived and experimentally generated cisplatin-sensitive and -resistant ovarian cancer cell line models were used to delineate BADSer99 phosphorylation as an actionable target in ovarian cancer.

3'-Hydroxypterostilbene Inhibits 7,12-Dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)/12-O-Tetradecanoylphorbol-13-Acetate (TPA)-Induced Mouse Skin Carcinogenesis.

Background: A natural pterostilbene analogue isolated from the herb Sphaerophysa salsula, 3'-hydroxypterostilbene (HPSB), exhibits antiproliferative activity in several cancer cell lines; however, the inhibitory effects of HPSB on skin carcinogenesis remains unclear.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory effects of HPSB on two-stage skin carcinogenesis in mice and its potential mechanism.

Study Design And Methods: This study investigated the anti-inflammatory and anti-tumor effects of HPSB in the 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA)-stimulated acute skin inflammation and 7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene (DMBA)/TPA-induced two-stage skin carcinogenesis model.

3'-Hydroxypterostilbene Potently Alleviates Obesity Exacerbated Colitis in Mice.

Epidemiological surveys show that obesity and the western diet increase the risk of colitis. Studies have also confirmed that the high-fat-diet (HFD) promoted the deterioration of colitis-related indicators in mice. Compared with stilbenoids, the results showed that 3'-hydroxypterostilbene (HPSB) was found to be the most effective inhibitor for the antiadipogenesis and anti-inflammation.

Pharmacological Inhibition of TFF3 Enhances Sensitivity of CMS4 Colorectal Carcinoma to 5-Fluorouracil through Inhibition of p44/42 MAPK.

Increased expression of trefoil factor 3 (TFF3) has been reported in colorectal carcinoma (CRC), being correlated with distant metastasis and poor clinical outcomes. Amongst the CRC subtypes, mesenchymal (CMS4) CRC is associated with the worst survival outcome. Herein, the functional roles of TFF3 and the pharmacological inhibition of TFF3 by a novel specific small molecule TFF3 inhibitor-2-amino-4-(4-(6-fluoro-5-methylpyridin-3-yl)phenyl)-5-oxo-4H,5H-pyrano[3,2-c]chromene-3-carbonitrile (AMPC) in CMS4 CRC was explored.

Inhibition of TFF3 Enhances Sensitivity-and Overcomes Acquired Resistance-to Doxorubicin in Estrogen Receptor-Positive Mammary Carcinoma.

Dose-dependent toxicity and acquired resistance are two major challenges limiting the efficacious treatment of mammary carcinoma (MC) with doxorubicin. Herein, we investigated the function of Trefoil Factor 3 (TFF3) in the sensitivity and acquired resistance of estrogen receptor positive (ER+) MC cells to doxorubicin. Doxorubicin treatment of ER+MC cells increased TFF3 expression.

Adzuki Bean Water Extract Attenuates Obesity by Modulating M2/M1 Macrophage Polarization and Gut Microbiota Composition.

Scope: Obesity is a chronic condition resulting in excessive fat accumulation in adipose tissues. Adipose tissue is now considered as an immune organ, at the crossroads between metabolism and immunity. Thus, this study investigates the effects of adzuki beans on obesity and gut microbiota in high fat diet-induced mice.

CCM111 prevents hepatic fibrosis via cooperative inhibition of TGF-β, Wnt and STAT3 signaling pathways.

CCM111 is an aqueous extract of Antrodia cinnamomea (AC) that has exhibited anti-liver fibrosis functions. However, the detailed mechanisms of AC action against liver fibrosis have not been elucidated yet. The present research showed that CCM111 significantly lowered the levels of the hepatic enzyme markers glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), prevented liver damage and collagen deposition, and downregulated TGF-β/Smad signaling in a dose-dependent manner compared with CCl treatment alone.

Optimized Extraction of Phenolics from Jujube Peel and Their Anti-inflammatory Effects in LPS-Stimulated Murine Macrophages.

The extraction of phenolics from jujube peel (PJP) was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). A Box-Behnken design was utilized to analyze the effects of NaOH concentration, temperature, and extraction time on the total phenolic content (TPC). The results showed that RSM could be an adequate approach for modeling the extraction of PJP.