雷公藤内酯醇C14位羟基结构修饰及抗肿瘤活性研究进展

雷公藤是我国资源丰富的一种传统中草药,具有抗炎、抗肿瘤、免疫抑制等多种生物活性。本文综述了近年来雷公藤内酯醇C14位羟基的结构修饰和抗肿瘤活性的研究进展。     

雷公藤研究进展

雷公藤具有抗炎、抗免疫、抗肿瘤等多种药理活性,现在临床上广泛用于治疗类风湿性关节炎、红斑狼疮和慢性肾炎等自身免疫性疾病.其化学成分复杂,主要包括生物碱、二萜、三萜、神经酰胺等结构类型.本文就近年来雷公藤属植物雷公藤的化学成分和药理作用研究进展作一综述.     

雷公藤生物碱类成分及其药理活性研究进展

雷公藤具有广泛的药理活性,含多种类型有效成分,在中医临床上有着悠久的应用历史。生物碱类成分是雷公藤的主要有效成分之一,具有免疫抑制、抗炎、镇痛、抗肿瘤、抗HIV、杀虫、神经保护等多种药理活性。迄今为止,已见报道的雷公藤生物碱类成分超过160个,结构丰富多样。本文总结了至今国内外雷公藤生物碱类成分及其药理活性的研究情况,以期为该类成分的进一步研究开发提供参考。     

雷公藤甲素研究进展

雷公藤甲素作为雷公藤的主要活性成分,具有抗炎、免疫抑制、抗生育、抗囊肿和抗肿瘤等药理作用。本文就近期雷公藤甲素的药代动力学研究、药理作用研究以及减毒研究三个方面作一综述。     

雷公藤红素对非小细胞肺癌细胞株H1299增殖与凋亡的影响

目的：研究雷公藤红素对非小细胞肺癌细胞株H1299的杀伤作用及相关调控机制。方法：用细胞计数法测定不同浓度雷公藤红素对H1299细胞增殖的影响;用流式细胞仪检测H1299细胞的细胞周期;用Western blotting检测剪切的（cleaved）聚ADP核糖聚合酶（PARP）、cleaved caspase-3和低氧诱导因子-1（HIF-1）的表达水平;用DCF-DA染色和荧光显微镜检测细胞内的活性氧（ROS）水平;用萤光素酶活性测定法检测NFκB的活性。结果：雷公藤红素以时间和剂量依赖性的方式抑制H1299细胞的增殖,并使细胞阻滞在G2/M期。同时,雷公藤红素显著上调cleaved PARP和cleaved caspase-3的表达,提高细胞内的ROS水平,并且抑制NFκB的活性。结论：雷公藤红素以时间和剂量依赖性的方式抑制H1299细胞的增殖,并诱导caspase依赖性的细胞凋亡,具体机制与细胞内ROS的积累和NFκB的活性抑制有关。     

《PLoS综合》：研究解析雷公藤分子作用机制

从天然产物中寻找抗肿瘤活性成分是发展抗肿瘤药物的重要策略之一,雷公藤是我国一种资源比较丰富的传统中草药,其结构多样的有效成分具有明显的抗炎、免疫抑制和抗肿瘤等作用,是开发治疗药物的一个宝藏,但雷公藤具有很大的毒性,分子靶点和作用机制不清楚,是迄今制约雷公藤发展成真正治疗药物的关键。     

雷公藤红素抑制Cd2+诱导的神经毒性北大核心CSCD

镉(cadmium,Cd)是环境中常见的一种重金属,Cd^(2+)可以通过穿透血脑屏障,产生神经毒性,从而诱发各种神经退行性疾病,雷公藤红素是雷公藤的一种有效成分,具有抗癌、抗炎等一系列药理作用,本文探究雷公藤红素对Cd^(2+)诱导的相应神经毒性的影响作用。通过细胞增殖实验、细胞膜完整性实验、细胞形态实验探索了Cd^(2+)对小胶质细胞HMC3活力的影响;通过一氧化氮(NO)检测实验、脂质过氧化(malondialdehyde,MDA)检测实验、蛋白免疫印迹实验分析了Cd^(2+)的神经毒性以及雷公藤红素对Cd^(2+)诱导的相应神经毒性的影响。结果表明:与对照组相比,当Cd^(2+)浓度达到40μmol/L时,对HMC3细胞增殖抑制率为(57.17±8.23)%(P<0.01,n=5),继续增大Cd^(2+)浓度,细胞活性将进一步降低;当Cd^(2+)浓度达到40μmol/L以上时,HMC3的细胞膜明显受到破坏,并且破坏作用与浓度呈剂量依赖性关系;随着Cd^(2+)浓度的增加,细胞形态开始变化,贴壁效果变差。Cd^(2+)使HMC3细胞释放的NO量显著增加,而雷公藤红素能够有效地抑制Cd^(2+)诱导的HMC3细胞NO的释放;Cd^(2+)使HMC3细胞脂质过氧化水平显著增加,加入10^(-7) mol/L雷公藤红素后,MDA的释放量显著减少;Cd^(2+)会使p-PI3K蛋白含量增加,而加入了雷公藤红素(10^(-7)、10^(-6) mol/L)后,p-PI3K蛋白和p-AKT蛋白的激活均被抑制,从而抑制了细胞凋亡。综上所述,雷公藤红素能够抑制Cd^(2+)诱导的小胶质细胞毒性,从而起到神经保护作用。     

雷公藤红素抑制成人T细胞白血病细胞增殖及机制

本研究旨在分析雷公藤红素对成人T细胞白血病细胞增殖、凋亡的影响,并探讨其分子机制。使用不同浓度的雷公藤红素溶液处理多种成人T细胞白血病细胞株,通过四唑盐比色法(MTT)、克隆形成实验检测细胞的增殖情况;Annexin V/PI双染检测细胞凋亡情况;最后通过Western blotting及双荧光素酶报告基因技术探究雷公藤红素抑制成人T细胞白血病细胞生长的调控机制。结果表明雷公藤红素能显著抑制成人T细胞白血病细胞增殖并诱导其凋亡,随着雷公藤红素浓度的增加Bax/Bcl-2蛋白比率明显升高,凋亡途径中Caspase-3/7蛋白也随之被切割活化,同时病毒编码的癌蛋白Tax的表达也明显受到抑制。以上结果表明,雷公藤红素通过调控Bcl-2家族蛋白,激活了Caspase途径诱导细胞凋亡,并通过抑制病毒关键蛋白Tax的表达,从而有效抑制了成人T细胞白血病细胞的增殖。该研究为临床应用雷公藤红素治疗成人T细胞白血病提供了实验依据。     

雷公藤次生代谢产物雷公藤红素含量与环境因子相关性分析

采用多元逐步回归分析对分布于浙江、福建、湖南、湖北和贵州5个省内6类不同居群药用植物雷公藤（Tripterygium wilfordil）的160株个体进行了雷公藤红素含量和环境因子的相关性分析。结果表明,在空间分布上,各居群间的雷公藤红素含量差异较大,其中湖南黄岩居群雷公藤红素含量最高,为1．0585×10^-2g·g^-1,贵州雷山和福建泰宁居群最低,分别为4．9889×10^-3g·g^-1和4．9887×10^-3g·g^-1;而在居群内的雷公藤红素含量相对一致,基本呈正态分布。实验结果表明,雷公藤中雷公藤红素的积累在很大程度上受环境因子的影响。进一步利用SPSS软件对各个环境因子作逐步回归分析,表明年均日照时长（X）、年均降雨量（X2）和土壤含氮量（蚝）是影响雷公藤中雷公藤红素含量（Ⅵ的主导因子,且各因素均与雷公藤红素含量呈负相关。经检验,回归方程为Y=19．308-0．01X1-0．02X2—0．062X5,雅达到0．917,F检验回归方程的线性关系显著。研究结果表明,环境因子,特别是日照、水分和土壤含氮量能够影响雷公藤中雷公藤红素的含量。该文还对提高雷公藤中药用成分雷公藤红素含量的研究策略进行了讨论。     

内生真菌和内生细菌接种对雷公藤生长和次生代谢产物积累的影响

为探究内生真菌与内生细菌对雷公藤(Tripterygium wilfordii)的生长和次生代谢产物积累的相互作用,用内生真菌NS33、NS6和内生细菌LG3、LY1单独或跨界联合接种雷公藤,对雷公藤的生长和雷公藤甲素、雷公藤红素合成进行了研究。结果表明,单独或混合培养的菌株具有分泌铁载体、吲哚乙酸(IAA)和溶磷能力,对种子萌发、芽伸长和根系活力有显著促进作用。接种菌株NS33、NS6、NS6-LG3和NS6-LY1均显著促进了雷公藤组培苗的生长。单独或联合接种菌株均能显著提高雷公藤组培苗雷公藤甲素和雷公藤红素的积累,其中NS33-LG3和LG3的作用最显著。菌株NS33与LG3能够协同促进IAA的分泌、小麦幼苗根系活力和雷公藤红素的积累;菌株NS6与LY1协同提高了雷公藤组培苗的高度、质量和雷公藤红素的积累。因此,内生真菌与内生细菌联合接种对雷公藤生长和次生代谢产物积累具有一定的协同效应,显示出实际应用潜力。     

Natural proteasome inhibitor celastrol suppresses androgen-independent prostate cancer progression by modulating apoptotic proteins and NF-kappaB

Background

Celastrol is a natural proteasome inhibitor that exhibits promising anti-tumor effects in human malignancies, especially the androgen-independent prostate cancer (AIPC) with constitutive NF-κB activation. Celastrol induces apoptosis by means of proteasome inhibition and suppresses prostate tumor growth. However, the detailed mechanism of action remains elusive. In the current study, we aim to test the hypothesis that celastrol suppresses AIPC progression via inhibiting the constitutive NF-κB activity as well as modulating the Bcl-2 family proteins.

Methodology/Principal Findings

We examined the efficacy of celastrol both in vitro and in vivo, and evaluated the role of NF-κB in celastrol-mediated AIPC regression. We found that celastrol inhibited cell proliferation in all three AIPC cell lines (PC-3, DU145 and CL1), with IC₅₀ in the range of 1–2 µM. Celastrol also suppressed cell migration and invasion. Celastrol significantly induced apoptosis as evidenced by increased sub-G1 population, caspase activation and PARP cleavage. Moreover, celastrol promoted cleavage of the anti-apoptotic protein Mcl-1 and activated the pro-apoptotic protein Noxa. In addition, celastrol rapidly blocked cytosolic IκBα degradation and nuclear translocation of RelA. Likewise, celastrol inhibited the expression of multiple NF-κB target genes that are involved in proliferation, invasion and anti-apoptosis. Celastrol suppressed AIPC tumor progression by inhibiting proliferation, increasing apoptosis and decreasing angiogenesis, in PC-3 xenograft model in nude mouse. Furthermore, increased cellular IκBα and inhibited expression of various NF-κB target genes were observed in tumor tissues.

Conclusions/Significance

Our data suggest that, via targeting the proteasome, celastrol suppresses proliferation, invasion and angiogenesis by inducing the apoptotic machinery and attenuating constitutive NF-κB activity in AIPC both in vitro and in vivo. Celastrol as an active ingredient of traditional herbal medicine could thus be developed as a new therapeutic agent for hormone-refractory prostate cancer.     

Celastrol suppresses breast cancer MCF-7 cell viability via the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-induced p53–polo like kinase 2 (PLK-2) pathway

Celastrol, an anti-oxidant flavonoid that is widely distributed in the plant kingdom, has been suggested to have chemopreventive effects on cancer cells: however, the mechanism of this process is not completely understood. In this study, we found that celastrol suppressed the viability of breast cancer MCF-7 cells in an AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)-dependent fashion. Celastrol also induced an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, leading to AMPK phosphorylation. Protein kinase C (PKC) zeta was also shown to play a role in celastrol-induced ROS generation. In addition, celastrol increased phosphorylation of the pro-apoptotic effector, p53. Inhibition of AMPK blocked celastrol-mediated p53 phosphorylation. Moreover, celastrol increased the expression of tumor suppressor polo like kinase-2 (PLK-2) in a p53-dependent manner. Neither celastrol-induced PLK-2 induction nor celastrol-mediated apoptosis inducing factor poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-2 (PARP-2) induction was observed in p53 knock-out cells. Furthermore, add-back of PLK-2 resulted in an increase in both celastrol-mediated PARP-2 induction and celastrol-induced apoptotic index sub G1 population. Together, these results suggest that celastrol may have anti-tumor effects on MCF-7 cells via AMPK-induced p53 and PLK-2 pathways.     

Celastrol protects against MPTP- and 3-nitropropionic acid-induced neurotoxicity

Oxidative stress and inflammation are implicated in neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson's disease (PD) and Huntington's disease (HD). Celastrol is a potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant compound extracted from a perennial creeping plant belonging to the Celastraceae family. Celastrol is known to prevent the production of proinflammatory cytokines, inducible nitric oxide synthase and lipid peroxidation. Mice were treated with celastrol before and after injections of MPTP, a dopaminergic neurotoxin, which produces a model of PD. A 48% loss of dopaminergic neurons induced by MPTP in the substantia nigra pars compacta was significantly attenuated by celastrol treatment. Moreover, celastrol treatment significantly reduced the depletion in dopamine concentration induced by MPTP. Similarly, celastrol significantly decreased the striatal lesion volume induced by 3-nitropropionic acid, a neurotoxin used to model HD in rats. Celastrol induced heat shock protein 70 within dopaminergic neurons and decreased tumor necrosis factor-alpha and nuclear factor kappa B immunostainings as well as astrogliosis. Celastrol is therefore a promising neuroprotective agent for the treatment of PD and HD.     

Celastrol from ‘Thunder God Vine’ Protects SH-SY5Y Cells Through the Preservation of Mitochondrial Function and Inhibition of p38 MAPK in a Rotenone Model of Parkinson’s Disease

Celastrol, a potent natural triterpene and one of the most promising medicinal molecules, is known to possess a broad range of biological activity. Rotenone, a pesticide and complex I inhibitor, is commonly used to produce experimental models of Parkinson’s disease both in vivo and in vitro. The present study was designed to examine the effects of celastrol on cell injury induced by rotenone in the human dopaminergic cells and to elucidate the possible mechanistic clues in its neuroprotective action. We demonstrate that celastrol protects SH-SY5Y cells from rotenone-induced cellular injury and apoptotic cell death. Celastrol also prevented the increased generation of reactive oxygen species and mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) loss induced by rotenone. Similarly, celastrol treatment inhibited cytochrome c release, Bax/Bcl-2 ratio changes, and caspase-9/3 activation. Celastrol specifically inhibited rotenone-evoked p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation in SH-SY5Y cells. These data suggest that celastrol may serve as a potent agent for prevention of neurotoxin-induced neurodegeneration through multiple mechanisms and thus has therapeutic potential for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.     

Celastrol inhibits growth and induces apoptotic cell death in melanoma cells via the activation ROS-dependent mitochondrial pathway and the suppression of PI3K/AKT signaling

Celastrol has been reported to possess anticancer effects in various cancers; however, the precise mechanism underlying ROS-mediated mitochondria-dependent apoptotic cell death triggered by celastrol treatment in melanoma cells remains unknown. We showed that celastrol effectively induced apoptotic cell death and inhibited tumor growth using tissue culture and in vivo models of B16 melanoma. In addition to apoptotic cell death in B16 cells, several apoptotic events such as PARP cleavage and activation of caspase were confirmed. Pretreatment with caspase inhibitor modestly attenuated the celastrol-induced increase in PARP cleavage and sub-G1 cell population, implying that caspases play a partial role in celastrol-induced apoptosis. Moreover, ROS generation was detected following celastrol treatment. Blocking of ROS accumulation with ROS scavengers resulted in inhibition of celastrol-induced Bcl-2 family-mediated apoptosis, indicating that celastrol-induced apoptosis involves ROS generation as well as an increase in the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio leading to release of cytochrome c and AIF. Importantly, silencing of AIF by transfection of siAIF into cells remarkably attenuated celastrol-induced apoptotic cell death. Moreover, celastrol inhibited the activation of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling cascade in B16 cells. Our data reveal that celastrol inhibits growth and induces apoptosis in melanoma cells via the activation of ROS-mediated caspase-dependent and -independent pathways and the suppression of PI3K/AKT signaling.     

Celastrol Prevents Atherosclerosis via Inhibiting LOX-1 and Oxidative Stress

Celastrol is a triterpenoid compound extracted from the Chinese herb Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F. Previous research has revealed its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and immunosuppressive properties. Here, we investigated whether celastrol inhibits oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) induced oxidative stress in RAW 264.7 cells. In addition, the effect of celastrol on atherosclerosis in vivo was assessed in apolipoprotein E knockout (apoE^−/−) mouse fed a high-fat/high-cholesterol diet (HFC). We found that celastrol significantly attenuated oxLDL-induced excessive expression of lectin-like oxidized low density lipoprotein receptor-1(LOX-1) and generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cultured RAW264.7 macrophages. Celastrol also decreased IκB phosphorylation and degradation and reduced production of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), nitric oxide (NO) and proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and IL-6. Celastrol reduced atherosclerotic plaque size in apoE^−/− mice. The expression of LOX-1 within the atherosclerotic lesions and generation of superoxide in mouse aorta were also significantly reduced by celastrol while the lipid profile was not improved. In conclusion, our results show that celastrol inhibits atherosclerotic plaque developing in apoE^−/− mice via inhibiting LOX-1 and oxidative stress.     

Celastrol suppresses IFN-gamma-induced ICAM-1 expression and subsequent monocyte adhesiveness via the induction of heme oxygenase-1 in the HaCaT cells

Celastrol, a quinone methide triterpenoid derived from the medicinal plant Tripterygium wilfordii, possesses various biological activities such as anti-oxidant, anti-tumor, and anti-inflammatory activities. In this study, we examined the suppressive effect of celastrol on IFN-γ-induced expression of ICAM-1 and the molecular mechanism responsible for these activities. We found that celastrol induced mRNA and protein expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in the human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT. Treatment of HaCaT cells with tin protoporphyrin IX (SnPP), a specific inhibitor of HO-1, reversed the suppressive effect of celastrol on IFN-γ-induced protein and mRNA expression of ICAM-1. HO-1 knockdown using small interfering RNA (siRNA) led to reverse inhibition of IFN-γ-induced up-regulation of ICAM-1 by celastrol. In addition, SnPP reversed suppression of IFN-γ-induced promoter activity of ICAM-1 by celastrol. Furthermore, blockage of HO-1 activity by SnPP and HO-1 siRNA reversed the inhibitory effect of celastrol on IFN-γ-induced adhesion of monocytes to keratinocytes. These results suggest that celastrol may exert anti-inflammatory responses by suppressing IFN-γ-induced expression of ICAM-1 and subsequent monocyte adhesion via expression of HO-1 in the keratinocytes.     

NF-Kappa B Modulation Is Involved in Celastrol Induced Human Multiple Myeloma Cell Apoptosis

Celastrol is an active compound extracted from the root bark of the traditional Chinese medicine Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F. To investigate the effect of celastrol on human multiple myeloma cell cycle arrest and apoptosis and explore its molecular mechanism of action. The activity of celastrol on LP-1 cell proliferation was detected by WST-8 assay. The celastrol-induced cell cycle arrest was analyzed by flow cytometry after propidium iodide staining. Nuclear translocation of the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) was observed by fluorescence microscope. Celastrol inhibited cell proliferation of LP-1 myeloma cell in a dose-dependent manner with IC50 values of 0.8817 µM, which was mediated through G1 cell cycle arrest and p27 induction. Celastrol induced apoptosis in LP-1 and RPMI 8226 myeloma cells in a time and dose dependent manner, and it involved Caspase-3 activation and NF-κB pathway. Celastrol down-modulated antiapoptotic proteins including Bcl-2 and survivin expression. The expression of NF-κB and IKKa were decreased after celastrol treatment. Celastrol effectively blocked the nuclear translocation of the p65 subunit and induced human multiple myeloma cell cycle arrest and apoptosis by p27 upregulation and NF-kB modulation. It has been demonstrated that the effect of celastrol on NF-kB was HO-1-independent by using zinc protoporphyrin-9 (ZnPPIX), a selective heme oxygenase inhibitor. From the results, it could be inferred that celastrol may be used as a NF-kB inhibitor to inhibit myeloma cell proliferation.     

Apoptosis induction in HL-60 cells and inhibition of topoisomerase II by triterpene celastrol

Celastrol, which is a triterpene purified from Celastraceae plants, has anticancer and anti-inflammatory activities. In this study we investigated to clarify whether celastrol can induce apoptosis in a human leukemia HL-60 model system. Celastrol was found to induce apoptosis, and the rank order of the potency of celastrol and its derivatives to induce internucleosomal DNA fragmentation was found to be celastrol>cela-H>the other derivatives=vehicle control. Many anticancer agents are known to possess the ability to inhibit topoisomerase II, so the inhibitory activities of celastrol and its derivatives on topoisomerase II were also explored. The rank order of the inhibitory activity was found to be celastrol>etoposide>cela-H, indicating that the apoptosis-inducing activities of cela derivatives correspond to their inhibitory activities on topoisomerase II. These data suggested that celastrol may cause its effects such as anticancer activity by the mechanism of apoptosis along with topoisomerase II inhibition.