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ObjectiveTo screen the active antitumor components of Gupi Xiaoji decoction by network pharmacology and molecular docking based on the pyroptosis mediated by cysteinyl aspartate-specific protease 1 （Caspase-1） and explore its molecular mechanism in intervening in the pyroptosis of HepG2.2.15 cells through in vitro experiments. MethodThe compounds and targets of Gupi Xiaoji decoction were screened out by Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform（TCMSP） to obtain the corresponding gene symbols. The targets of Caspase-1 were collected from GeneCards，online mendelian inheritance in man（OMIM），PharmGKB，and TTD，and the compound-gene target regulatory network was constructed by Cytoscape. The protein-protein interaction（PPI） network was established and analyzed by STRING. The mechanism of the effective components of Gupi Xiaoji decoction on Caspase-1 was predicted by gene ontology（GO） functional enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes（KEGG） pathway enrichment analyses. The molecular docking was verified with AutoDock Vina. The plasma medicated with Gupi Xiaoji Decoction was prepared and HepG2.2.15 cells were cultured in vitro. HepG2.2.15 cells were divided into a blank plasma group，a VX-765 group，a VX-765+medicated plasma group， and a medicated plasma group. After 48 hours of intervention with 15% medicated plasma， the expression and distribution of gasdermin D-N （GSDMD-N） on the surface of the cell membrane were detected by immunofluorescence staining. The release of lactic dehydrogenase （LDH）， interleukin（IL）-1β，and IL-18 in the cell supernatant was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay（ELISA） kits. The expression of Caspase-1 and GSDMD-N was measured by Western blot. ResultThe mitogen-activated protein kinase 14 （MAPK14），MAPK1，protein kinase B1 （Akt1）， MAPK8， V-Jun sarcoma virus oncogene homolog （JUN）， and TP53 screened by network pharmacology were the main targets. The compounds 7-hydroxy-5，8-dimethoxy-2-phenyl-chromone，wogonin，rhamnazin，moslosooflavone，isorhamnetin，7-O-methylisomucronulatol，formononetin，calycosin，luteolin，quercetin，kaempferol，β-sitosterol，and baicalein screened by network pharmacology were the main active components of Gupi Xiaoji decoction. Go enrichment analysis showed that multiple biological processes were involved， including responses to oxidative stress and metal ions，ubiquitin-like protein ligase binding，and phosphatase binding. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed MAPK pathway，nuclear factor（NF）-κB pathway，p53 pathway， and hypoxia-inducible factor-1（HIF-1） pathway were involved. Molecular docking showed that the targets had good binding with the components. In vitro experiments displayed that compared with the blank plasma group，the VX-765 group showed weakened GSDMD-N fluorescence signal，reduced release of LDH，IL-1β，and IL-18，and declining expression of Caspase-1 and GSDMD-N（P<0.01）， and the medicated plasma group showed increased GSDMD-N fluorescence signal， increased release of LDH，IL-1β，and IL-18，and up-regulated expression of Caspase-1 and GSDMD-N（P<0.01）. ConclusionGupi Xiaoji Decoction can induce the pyroptosis of HepG2.2.15 cells by regulating Caspase-1 through multiple targets and multiple pathways.
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Objective::To investigate the effect of drug-containing serum of Jianpi Xiaoai prescription on protein kinase B (Akt)/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathways in colorectal cells HCT116. Method::The HTC116 cells were treated by 15%concentration of drug-contained serum, and then the cell migration and invasion were detected by Transwell assay, the protein expression levels of Akt, phosphorylated protein kinase B (p-Akt), mTOR, phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin (p-mTOR), ribosomal protein S6 kinase, polypeptide1(S6K1), phosphorylated ribosomal protein S6 kinase, polypeptide1 (p-S6K1), 4E-binding protein1(4EBP1), and phosphorylated 4E-binding protein1(p-4EBP1) in HCT116 cells were detected by Western blot. The control group was treated by untreated serum (15%), and 10%fetal bovine serum(FBS). Result::As compared with the control group, the number of migration and invasion cells was significantly reduced in drug-contained serum group (P<0.01), the expression of Akt had no obvious decrease, p-Akt protein expression was significantly lowered in the drug-contained serum group (P<0.01), the expression of mTOR had no obvious decrease, but p-mTOR protein expression was significantly lowered in drug-contained serum group (P<0.01), the expression of S6K1 had no obvious decrease, but p-S6K1 protein expression was significantly lowered in the drug-contained serum group (P<0.01), the protein expression of 4EBP1 had no obvious decrease, but p-4EBP1 protein expression was significantly lowered in the drug-contained serum group (P<0.01). Conclusion::The anti-tumor mechanism and transfer of Jianpi Xiaoai prescription may be related to inhibiting the activation of Akt/mTOR signaling pathways in colorectal cancer.
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Objective:To observe the effect of polyphyllin Ⅰ on the expressions of forkhead box Q1（FOXQ1）and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related factors, in order to explore the possible mechanism of polyphyllin Ⅰ in inhibiting the metastasis of colon cancer. Method:After the treatment with 1.25，2.50 μmol·L-1 polyphyllin Ⅰ on HCT116 cells, Western blot and Real-time PCR were used to detect the expressions of FOXQ1，E-cadherin，Vimentin protein and mRNA. Result:Compared with the blank group, relative expressions of FOXQ1 protein and mRNA in low-concentration polyphyllin Ⅰ group were decreased, while relative expression of E-cadherin mRNA was increased, the differences were not statistically significant, and relative expressions of Vimentin protein and mRNA in low-concentration polyphyllin Ⅰ group were decreased (P<0.05)， and relative expression of E-cadherin protein in low-concentration polyphyllin Ⅰ group was increased (P<0.01). Compared with the blank group, relative expressions of FOXQ1, Vimentin protein and mRNA in high-concentration polyphyllin Ⅰ group were decreased，while relative expressions of E-cadherin protein and mRNA were increased (P<0.05, P<0.01). Compared with low-concentration polyphyllin Ⅰ group, relative expressions of Vimentin protein and mRNA in high-concentration polyphyllin Ⅰ group were decreased, but the difference was not statistically significant, relative expressions of E-cadherin protein and mRNA in high-concentration polyphyllin Ⅰ group were increased, whereas relative expressions of FOXQ1 protein and mRNA were decreased (P<0.05, P<0.01). Conclusion:Mechanism of polyphyllin Ⅰ inhibiting the metastasis of colon cancer may be related to the decrease of FOXQ1 and Vimentin expressions, and the up-regulation of E-cadherin.
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Objective:To observe the effect of Jianpi Xiaoai prescription on the activation of normal human embryonic lung fibroblasts （HFL1） into tumor-associated fibroblasts （CAFs） induced by human colon cancer cells （HCT116） derived exosomes. Method:SD rats were gavaged with 13.1 g·kg-1 of Jianpi Xiaoai prescription to prepare drug-containing serum， and HCT116 cell exosomes-containing 10% exosomes-free serum and 20% Jianpi Xiaoai prescription drug serum were isolated by ultra-high speed centrifugation. The particle size distribution of exosomes were detected by Nanoparticle tracking analyzer （Zetaview）， and the exosomes' marker proteins apoptotic transfer gene 2 interaction protein X （Alix）， heat shock protein 70 （HSP70）， and tumor-susceptibility gene 101 （TSG101） were identified by Western blot， and the uptake of exosomes labeled with cell membrane staining kit （PKH67） by HFL1 was observed by fluorescence microscope. HFL1 cells were divided into six groups： the blank group， the transforming growth factor-β1 （TGF-β1） group， the TGF-β1 combined with HCT116 exosomes of 2 mg·L-1 group， the TGF-β1 combined with HCT116 exosomes of 4 mg·L-1 group， the TGF-β1 combined with Jianpi Xiaoai prescription exosomes of 2 mg·L-1 group， and the TGF-β1 combined with Jianpi Xiaoai prescription exosomes of 4 mg·L-1 group， and all groups were cultivated for 48 h. Western blot and Real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction （Real-time PCR） were used to determine the protein and mRNA expressions of α-smooth muscle actin （α-SMA）. Result:The particle size distribution detected by Zetaview was mainly between 50-100 nm， and the exosomes were verified based on the expressions of marker proteins Alix， HSP70 and TSG101. After co-incubation of HFL1 cells with exosomes， a large number of exosomes were absorbed by HFL1 cells under fluorescence microscope. Compared with the blank control group， the protein and mRNA expressions of α-SMA in the TGF-β1 group and TGF-β1 combined with HCT116 exosome groups were increased （P<0.01）. Compared with the TGF-β1 combined with HCT116 exosome groups， the protein and mRNA expressions of α-SMA were decreased in the TGF-β1 combined with Jianpi Xiaoai prescription exosome groups （P<0.01）. Conclusion:Human colon cancer cell exosomes combined with TGF-β1 can induce the activation of HFL1 into CAFs， and Jianpi Xiaoai prescription can reduce the activation of HFL1 by affecting the expressions of α-SMA， thus antagonizing the lung metastasis of colon cancer.
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Objective: To investigate the effect of Clerodendrum bungei-containing serum on liver cancer MHCC97-H cells and its possible mechanism from the perspective of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase (Akt) signaling pathway. Method: The medicinal serum of 15% C. bungei was used to treat MHCC97-H cells. The effect of serum containing C. bungei on cell proliferation was observed by cell counting kit-8(CCK-8) method, in order to select the best time and concentration. The apoptosis was detected by Annexin V-FITC/PI double staining method. Western blot was used to detect the posphatase and tensin homologous gene deleted from chromosome 10 in key proteins (PTEN), phosphoprotein kinase B (p-Akt) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-related protein expression of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Real-time PCR was used to detect C. bungei-containing serum on cells for 72 h after activation of nuclear factor-activated B cell kappa light chain(NF-κB) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) mRNA expression. Result: The results of CCK-8 showed an inhibitory effect of the C. bungei-containing serum on the proliferation of tumor cells in a dose and time-dependent manner. Among them, the high-dose group had the most obvious inhibitory effect, and the maximum inhibition rates at 24, 48,72 h were 28%, 32%, and 43%, respectively. The results of flow cytometry showed that with the increase of drug-containing serum concentration, the cell growth was observed. The inhibition rate of cells was increased to different degrees, and the inhibition effect was significantly increased in the 72 h intervention group (PC. bungei-containing serum group was 19.48% and 19.72%, compared with the blank group. The difference was significant (PC. bungei-containing serum (PPC. bungei-containing serum could down-regulate the expression of NF-κB and up-regulate the expression of TNF-α mRNA (PConclusion: The medicinal serum of C. bungei can effectively inhibit the proliferation of MHCC97-H hepatoma cells and promote its apoptosis, which may be related to the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and its key factors.
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Objective To observe the effects of Jianpi Xiaoai Prescription on epithelial-mesenchymal transition of colorectal cancer cell SW620 induced by TGF-β1; To discuss its possible mechanism of action for prevention and treatment of colorectal cancer. Methods Colorectal cancer cells SW620 were cultured in vitro. By conducting CCK-8 and Transwell experiments, the proliferation, invasion and migration of colorectal cancer cell (SW620) were detected. qRT-PCR and Western blot experiments were applied to verify the mRNA and protein expression level of E-cadherin and Vimentin. Results Jianpi Xiaoai Prescription showed in vitro inhibitory effect on the proliferation, invasion and migration of colorectal cancer cell SW620. Compared with blank group, the expression of E-cadherin in TGF-β1 induced group was reduced and Vimentin was increased (P<0.05); Meanwhile, the expression of E-cadherin in Jianpi Xiaoai Prescription group was increased and Vimentin was decreased when compared with TGF-β1 induced group (P<0.05). Conclusion Jianpi Xiaoai Prescription can inhibit the proliferation, invasion and migration of colorectal cancer cell by reverting the epithelial-mesenchymal transition of colorectal cancer cell induced by TGF-β1, with a purpose to achieve the goal of preventing and treating the recurring and migration of colorectal cancer.