scholarly journals Potential Therapeutic Targets of Quercetin, a Plant Flavonol, and Its Role in the Therapy of Various Types of Cancer through the Modulation of Various Cell Signaling Pathways

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 1315
Author(s):  
Saleh A. Almatroodi ◽  
Mohammed A. Alsahli ◽  
Ahmad Almatroudi ◽  
Amit Kumar Verma ◽  
Abdulaziz Aloliqi ◽  
...  

Polyphenolic flavonoids are considered natural, non-toxic chemopreventers, which are most commonly derived from plants, fruits, and vegetables. Most of these polyphenolics exhibit remarkable antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer properties. Quercetin (Qu) is a chief representative of these polyphenolic compounds, which exhibits excellent antioxidant and anticancer potential, and has attracted the attention of researchers working in the area of cancer biology. Qu can regulate numerous tumor-related activities, such as oxidative stress, angiogenesis, cell cycle, tumor necrosis factor, proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis. The anticancer properties of Qu mainly occur through the modulation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), apoptosis, phosphatidyl inositol-3-kinase (P13K)/Akt (proteinase-kinase B)/mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin), MAPK (mitogen activated protein kinase)/ERK1/2 (extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2), and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways. The anticancer potential of Qu is documented in numerous in vivo and in vitro studies, involving several animal models and cell lines. Remarkably, this phytochemical possesses toxic activities against cancerous cells only, with limited toxic effects on normal cells. In this review, we present extensive research investigations aimed to discuss the therapeutic potential of Qu in the management of different types of cancers. The anticancer potential of Qu is specifically discussed by focusing its ability to target specific molecular signaling, such as p53, epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), VEGF, signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT), PI3K/Akt, and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathways. The anticancer potential of Qu has gained remarkable interest, but the exact mechanism of its action remains unclear. However, this natural compound has great pharmacological potential; it is now believed to be a complementary—or alternative—medicine for the prevention and treatment of different cancers.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vera A van der Weijden ◽  
Meret Schmidhauser ◽  
Mayuko Kurome ◽  
Johannes Knubben ◽  
Veronika L Flöter ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: The transcriptional changes around the time of embryonic genome activation in pre-implantation embryos indicate that this process is highly dynamic. In vitro produced porcine blastocysts are known to be less competent than in vivo developed blastocysts. To understand the conditions that compromise developmental competence of in vitro embryos, it is crucial to evaluate the transcriptional profile of porcine embryos during pre-implantation stages. In this study, we investigated the transcriptome dynamics in in vivo developed and in vitro produced 4-cell embryos, morulae and hatched blastocysts.Results: In vivo developed and in vitro produced embryos displayed largely similar transcriptome profiles during development. Enriched canonical pathways from the 4-cell to the morula transition that were shared between in vivo developed and in vitro produced embryos included oxidative phosphorylation, tRNA charging, and EIF2 signaling. The shared canonical pathways from the morula to the hatched blastocyst transition were 14-3-3-mediated signaling, signaling of Rho family GTPases, and NRF2-mediated oxidative stress response. The in vivo developed and in vitro produced hatched blastocysts were compared to identify molecular signaling pathways indicative of lower developmental competence of in vitro produced hatched blastocysts. A higher metabolic rate and expression of the arginine transporter SLC7A1 were found in in vitro produced hatched blastocysts.Conclusions: Our findings suggest that embryos with compromised developmental potential are arrested at an early stage of development, while embryos developing to the hatched blastocyst stage display largely similar transcriptome profiles, irrespective of the embryo source. The hatched blastocysts derived from the in vitro fertilization-pipeline showed an enrichment in molecular signaling pathways associated with lower developmental competence, compared to the in vivo developed embryos.


2005 ◽  
Vol 288 (6) ◽  
pp. R1432-R1437 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noritoshi Nagaya ◽  
Hidezo Mori ◽  
Shinsuke Murakami ◽  
Kenji Kangawa ◽  
Soichiro Kitamura

Adrenomedullin (AM) is a potent, long-lasting vasodilator peptide that was originally isolated from human pheochromocytoma. AM signaling is of particular significance in endothelial cell biology since the peptide protects cells from apoptosis, promotes angiogenesis, and affects vascular tone and permeability. The angiogenic effect of AM is mediated by activation of Akt, mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2, and focal adhesion kinase in endothelial cells. Both AM and its receptor, calcitonin receptor-like receptor, are upregulated through a hypoxia-inducible factor-1-dependent pathway under hypoxic conditions. Thus AM signaling plays an important role in the regulation of angiogenesis in hypoxic conditions. Recently, we have developed a nonviral vector, gelatin. Positively charged gelatin holds negatively charged plasmid DNA in its lattice structure. DNA-gelatin complexes can delay gene degradation, leading to efficient gene transfer. Administration of AM DNA-gelatin complexes induces potent angiogenic effects in a rabbit model of hindlimb ischemia. Thus gelatin-mediated AM gene transfer may be a new therapeutic strategy for the treatment of tissue ischemia. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play an important role in endothelial regeneration. Interestingly, EPCs phagocytose ionically linked DNA-gelatin complexes in coculture, which allows nonviral gene transfer into EPCs. AM gene transfer into EPCs inhibits cell apoptosis and induces proliferation and migration, suggesting that AM gene transfer strengthens the therapeutic potential of EPCs. Intravenous administration of AM gene-modified EPCs regenerate pulmonary endothelium, resulting in improvement of pulmonary hypertension. These results suggest that in vivo and in vitro transfer of AM gene using gelatin may be applicable for intractable cardiovascular disease.


Planta Medica ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 84 (11) ◽  
pp. 759-767 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhen Zhang ◽  
Shuai Zhao ◽  
Xiaolei Li ◽  
Xiaoqi Zhuo ◽  
Wu Zhang ◽  
...  

AbstractWear debris-induced osteolysis is one of the major reasons for subsequent aseptic loosening after cementless hip arthroplasty. Increasing evidence suggests that receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) ligand-mediated osteoclastogenesis and osteolysis are responsible for wear debris-induced aseptic loosening. In the present study, we explored the effect of amentoflavone (AMF) on inhibiting osteoclast generation and wear debris-induced osteolysis in vitro and in vivo. Twenty-four male C57BL/J6 mice were randomly divided into four groups: a sham group and groups with titanium wear debris treatment followed by intraperitoneal injection of various concentrations of AMF (0, 20, and 40 mg/kg/day). The micro computed tomography scanning and histological analysis were performed. Bone marrow-derived macrophages were cultured to investigate the effect of AMF on osteoclast generation and function. The results showed that AMF suppressed osteoclastogenesis, F-actin ring formation, and bone absorption without cytotoxicity. AMF prevented titanium wear debris-induced osteolysis in mice. AMF suppressed the relative proteins of NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPKs) signaling pathways. Thus, the present study suggests that AMF derived from plants could inhibit osteoclastogenesis and titanium wear debris-induced osteolysis via suppressing NF-κB and MAPKs signaling pathways.


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (24) ◽  
pp. 6123
Author(s):  
Changhao Cui ◽  
Shin Enosawa ◽  
Hitomi Matsunari ◽  
Hiroshi Nagashima ◽  
Akihiro Umezawa

To improve the therapeutic potential of hepatocyte transplantation, the effects of the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 4 (MKK4) inhibitor, myricetin (3,3′,4′,5,5′,7-hexahydroxylflavone) were examined using porcine and human hepatocytes in vitro and in vivo. Hepatocytes were cultured, showing the typical morphology of hepatic parenchymal cell under 1–10 µmol/L of myricetin, keeping hepatocyte specific gene expression, and ammonia removal activity. After injecting the hepatocytes into neonatal Severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mouse livers, cell colony formation was found at 10–15 weeks after transplantation. The human albumin levels in the sera of engrafted mice were significantly higher in the recipients of myricetin-treated cells than non-treated cells, corresponding to the size of the colonies. In terms of therapeutic efficacy, the injection of myricetin-treated hepatocytes significantly prolonged the survival of ornithine transcarbamylase-deficient SCID mice from 32 days (non-transplant control) to 54 days. Biochemically, the phosphorylation of MKK4 was inhibited in the myricetin-treated hepatocytes. These findings suggest that myricetin has a potentially therapeutic benefit that regulates hepatocyte function and survival, thereby treating liver failure.


2000 ◽  
Vol 20 (14) ◽  
pp. 5041-5047 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaime Font de Mora ◽  
Myles Brown

ABSTRACT Growth factor modulation of estrogen receptor (ER) activity plays an important role in both normal estrogen physiology and the pathogenesis of breast cancer. Growth factors are known to stimulate the ligand-independent activity of ER through the activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and the direct phosphorylation of ER. We found that the transcriptional activity of AIB1, a ligand-dependent ER coactivator and a gene amplified preferentially in ER-positive breast cancers, is enhanced by MAPK phosphorylation. We demonstrate that AIB1 is a phosphoprotein in vivo and can be phosphorylated in vitro by MAPK. Finally, we observed that MAPK activation of AIB1 stimulates the recruitment of p300 and associated histone acetyltransferase activity. These results suggest that the ability of growth factors to modulate estrogen action may be mediated through MAPK activation of the nuclear receptor coactivator AIB1.


Blood ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 99 (6) ◽  
pp. 2045-2053 ◽  
Author(s):  
Francesco De Marchis ◽  
Domenico Ribatti ◽  
Claudia Giampietri ◽  
Alessandro Lentini ◽  
Debora Faraone ◽  
...  

Abstract Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) modulate vascular wall cell function in vitro and angiogenesis in vivo. The aim of the current study was to determine how bovine aorta endothelial cells (BAECs) respond to the simultaneous exposure to PDGF-BB and bFGF. It was found that bFGF-dependent BAEC migration, proliferation, and differentiation into tubelike structures on reconstituted extracellular matrix (Matrigel) were inhibited by PDGF-BB. The role played by PDGF receptor α (PDGF-Rα) was investigated by selective stimulation with PDGF-AA, by blocking PDGF-BB-binding to PDGF-Rα with neomycin, or by transfecting cells with dominant-negative forms of the receptors to selectively impair either PDGF-Rα or PDGF-Rβ function. In all cases, PDGF-Rα impairment abolished the inhibitory effect of PDGF-BB on bFGF-directed BAEC migration. In addition, PDGF-Rα phosphorylation was increased in the presence of bFGF and PDGF, as compared to PDGF alone, whereas mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation was decreased in the presence of PDGF-BB and bFGF compared with bFGF alone. In vivo experiments showed that PDGF-BB and PDGF-AA inhibited bFGF-induced angiogenesis in vivo in the chick embryo chorioallantoic membrane assay and that PDGF-BB inhibited bFGF-induced angiogenesis in Matrigel plugs injected subcutaneously in CD1 mice. Taken together these results show that PDGF inhibits the angiogenic properties of bFGF in vitro and in vivo, likely through PDGF-Rα stimulation.


Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 893
Author(s):  
Lili Zhao ◽  
Jingwei Yan ◽  
Yang Xiang ◽  
Yue Sun ◽  
Aying Zhang

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades are primary signaling pathways involved in various signaling pathways triggered by abiotic and biotic stresses in plants. The downstream substrate proteins of MAPKs in maize, however, are still limited. Here, we screened a WRKY IIa transcription factor (TF) in maize (Zeamays L.), ZmWRKY104, and found that it is a substrate of ZmMPK6. ZmWRKY104 physically interacts with ZmMPK6 in vitro and in vivo. Liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) analysis results showed that threonine-59 (Thr-59, T59) was the major phosphorylation site of ZmWRKY104 by ZmMPK6. Subcellular localization analysis suggested that ZmWRKY104 acts in the nucleus and that ZmMPK6 acts in the nucleus and cytoplasmic membrane in the cytosol. Functional analysis revealed that the role of ZmWRKY104 in ABA-induced antioxidant defense depends on ZmMPK6. Moreover, overexpression of ZmWRKY104 in maize can enhance drought tolerance and relieve drought-induced oxidative damage in transgenic lines. The above results help define the mechanism of the function of ZmWRKY104 phosphorylated by ZmMPK6 in ABA-induced antioxidant defense and drought tolerance in maize.


1999 ◽  
Vol 112 (12) ◽  
pp. 2049-2057
Author(s):  
P. Gillis ◽  
U. Savla ◽  
O.V. Volpert ◽  
B. Jimenez ◽  
C.M. Waters ◽  
...  

Keratinocyte growth factor (KGF), also called fibroblast growth factor-7, is widely known as a paracrine growth and differentiation factor that is produced by mesenchymal cells and has been thought to act specifically on epithelial cells. Here it is shown to affect a new cell type, the microvascular endothelial cell. At subnanomolar concentrations KGF induced in vivo neovascularization in the rat cornea. In vitro it was not effective against endothelial cells cultured from large vessels, but did act directly on those cultured from small vessels, inducing chemotaxis with an ED50 of 0.02-0.05 ng/ml, stimulating proliferation and activating mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK). KGF also helped to maintain the barrier function of monolayers of capillary but not aortic endothelial cells, protecting against hydrogen peroxide and vascular endothelial growth factor/vascular permeability factor (VEGF/VPF) induced increases in permeability with an ED50 of 0.2-0.5 ng/ml. These newfound abilities of KGF to induce angiogenesis and to stabilize endothelial barriers suggest that it functions in microvascular tissue as it does in epithelial tissues to protect them against mild insults and to speed their repair after major damage.


2000 ◽  
Vol 113 (23) ◽  
pp. 4331-4339 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Paradis ◽  
R.L. Gendron

The signaling pathways regulating blood vessel growth and development are not well understood. In the present report, an in vitro model was used to identify signaling pathways regulating capillary formation in embryonic endothelial cells. Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) plus leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) optimally stimulate the formation of capillary-like structures of the embryonic endothelial cell line IEM. LIF stimulation of IEM cells leads to activation of the Stat3 as well as the (P41/43)mitogen-activated protein kinase ((P41/43)MAPK) cascade, while bFGF does not activate Stat3 but does induce the (P41/43)MAPK cascade. Inhibition of Stat3 DNA-binding activity by expression of a dominant inhibitory Stat3 mutant increases the capillary outgrowth of the IEM cells induced by LIF. Increased Stat3 activity by overexpression of the wild-type Stat3 greatly reduced capillary outgrowth. In contrast, inhibition of the (P41/43)MAPK cascade using a MEK-1 inhibitor dramatically inhibits the LIF-induced capillary outgrowth. Moreover, the increased formation of capillary-like structures of the IEM cells mediated by Stat3 inhibition does not overcome the requirement for activation of the (P41/43)MAPK pathway for capillary outgrowth. Stat3 activity correlates with the LIF-induced expression of the negative feedback regulators of the Janus (JAK) family of tyrosine kinases, SOCS-1 and SOCS-3. These results provide evidence that Stat3 acts as a negative regulator of capillary outgrowth, possibly by increasing SOCS-1 or SOCS-3 expression. The contradictory signals stimulated by LIF could be necessary to control the intensity of the response leading to capillary outgrowth in vivo.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document