Browsing by Author "Anusmita Shekher"

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A colorimetric and ‘OFF-ON’ fluorometric chemosensor based on a rhodamine-pyrazole derivative for the detection of Al3+, Fe3+and Cr3+metal ions, and its intracellular application
(Royal Society of Chemistry, 2023) Sarita Gond; Pranjalee Yadav; Aayoosh Singh; Somenath Garai; Anusmita Shekher; Subash Chandra Gupta; Vinod P. Singh
The colorimetric and fluorescence responses of a new rhodamine-functionalized probe (E)-2-(((5-chloro-3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)methylene)amino)-3′,6′-bis(diethylamino)spiro[isoindoline-1,9′-xanthen]-3-one (RMP) are investigated. RMP has been thoroughly characterized using various spectroscopic tools and single crystal X-ray diffraction. Among different competing cations, it shows highly sensitive colorimetric and “OFF-ON” fluorescence responses towards Al3+, Fe3+and Cr3+metal ions. The spectral shifts are clearly noticeable in the visible region of the absorption spectrum and can be observed with the naked eye. Fluorescence quantum yield, stoichiometric ratio, binding constant and detection limit of RMP towards Al3+, Fe3+and Cr3+metal ions have been calculated. Furthermore, RMP-M3+ complexes are reversible and sensitive to EDTA, which effectively mimics a molecular logic gate. Al3+, Fe3+and Cr3+metal ions have been further applied in intracellular application in model human cells. © 2023 The Royal Society of Chemistry
A multifunctional basic pH indicator probe for distinguishable detection of Co2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+ with its utility in mitotracking and monitoring cytoplasmic viscosity in apoptotic cells
(Royal Society of Chemistry, 2022) Pranjalee Yadav; Sarita Gond; Anusmita Shekher; Subash Chandra Gupta; Udai P. Singh; Vinod P. Singh
Metal ions such as Co2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+ have extensive applications in biological and industrial realms, but the toxicity caused by these ions poses a serious threat to mankind. However, there is no report in the literature on the development of a chemosensor for distinguishable detection of these toxic ions. Addressing this challenge, a multifunctional probe as a basic pH indicator with both colorimetric and fluorescence turn-on responses has been reported. The probe selectively discriminates Co2+, Cu2+ and Zn2+ ions with brown, dark yellow and greenish yellow colors, respectively, in DMF : water (9 : 1 v/v, HEPES 10 mM). Additionally, a fluorescence turn-on response specific to Zn2+ has also been observed. The sensing mechanism has been explored using UV-Vis, fluorescence spectroscopy and 1H NMR titration and confirmed with computational results. The inhibition of C 00000000 00000000 00000000 00000000 11111111 00000000 11111111 00000000 00000000 00000000 N isomerization and excited state intramolecular proton transfer (ESIPT) along with chelation enhanced fluorescence emission (CHEF) result in fluorescence enhancement with Zn2+. Job's plot and HRMS spectra confirm a 1 : 1 (L : M) stoichiometry between the probe and metal ions. The probe is able to exhibit excellent viscochromism in DMF : glycerol medium. Live cell imaging on SiHa cells has been successfully performed for intra-cellular detection of Zn2+ at basic pH. Furthermore, the probe displays its utility in mitotracking and monitoring cytoplasmic viscosity changes in SiHa cells. It is efficiently used to recognize the apoptosis process by displaying an enhancement in fluorescence intensity from cancerous SiHa cells to apoptotic cells. © 2022 The Royal Society of Chemistry.
Association of altered metabolic profiles and long non-coding RNAs expression with disease severity in breast cancer patients: analysis by 1H NMR spectroscopy and RT-q-PCR
(Springer, 2023) Anusmita Shekher; Puneet; Nikee Awasthee; Umesh Kumar; Ritu Raj; Dinesh Kumar; Subash Chandra Gupta
Introduction: Globally, one of the major causes of cancer related deaths in women is breast cancer. Although metabolic pattern is altered in cancer patients, robust metabolic biomarkers with a potential to improve the screening and disease monitoring are lacking. A complete metabolome profiling of breast cancer patients may lead to the identification of diagnostic/prognostic markers and potential targets. Objectives: The aim of this study was to analyze the metabolic profile in the serum from 43 breast cancer patients and 13 healthy individuals. Materials & methods: We used 1H NMR spectroscopy for the identification and quantification of metabolites. q-RT-PCR was used to examine the relative expression of lncRNAs. Results: Metabolites such as amino acids, lipids, membrane metabolites, lipoproteins, and energy metabolites were observed in the serum from both patients and healthy individuals. Using unsupervised PCA, supervised PLS-DA, supervised OPLS-DA, and random forest classification, we observed that more than 25 metabolites were altered in the breast cancer patients. Metabolites with AUC value > 0.9 were selected for further analysis that revealed significant elevation of lactate, LPR and glycerol, while the level of glucose, succinate, and isobutyrate was reduced in breast cancer patients in comparison to healthy control. The level of these metabolites (except LPR) was altered in advanced-stage breast cancer patients in comparison to early-stage breast cancer patients. The altered metabolites were also associated with over 25 signaling pathways related to metabolism. Further, lncRNAs such as H19, MEG3 and GAS5 were dysregulated in the breast tumor tissue in comparison to normal adjacent tissue. Conclusion: The study provides insights into metabolic alteration in breast cancer patients. It also provides an avenue to examine the association of lncRNAs with metabolic patterns in patients. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.
Biogenic synthesis and characterization of selenium nanoparticles and their applications with special reference to antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer and photocatalytic activity
(Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2021) Shraddha Pandey; Nikee Awasthee; Anusmita Shekher; Lal Chand Rai; Subash Chandra Gupta; Santosh Kumar Dubey
Oxyanions of selenium, selenite (SeO3)2− and selenate (SeO4)2− are toxic to terrestrial and aquatic biota but few microorganisms including cyanobacteria are resistant to high levels of selenite. Cyanobacteria evade selenite toxicity through bioreduction and synthesis of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs). In this study, extracellular biosynthesis of SeNPs (Se0) using cyanobacterium, Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 on exposure to sodium selenite and characterization was done by using UV–visible spectroscopy, SEM–EDX, TEM and FTIR analyses which confirmed spherical shape with size range of 5–50 nm diameter. These biogenic SeNPs demonstrated significant antibacterial and anti-biofilm activity against bacterial pathogens. Furthermore, these SeNPs showed high antioxidant activity at minimum concentration of 50 µg/mL and significant anti-proliferative activity against HeLa cell line with IC50 value of 5.5 µg/mL. The SeNPs also induced accumulation of cancer cells in the sub-G1 phase which was clearly observed in cellular and nuclear morphology. These biofabricated SeNPs also reduced and decolorized toxic methylene blue dye significantly through photocatalytic degradation. Therefore Anabaena sp. PCC 7120 may be employed as a green bioresource to synthesize SeNPs with potential applications in medicine and environmental bioremediation. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.
Cannabis and its constituents for cancer: History, biogenesis, chemistry and pharmacological activities
(Academic Press, 2021) Samridhi Lal; Anusmita Shekher; Puneet; Acharan S. Narula; Heidi Abrahamse; Subash C. Gupta
Cannabis has long been used for healing and recreation in several regions of the world. Over 400 bioactive constituents, including more than 100 phytocannabinoids, have been isolated from this plant. The non-psychoactive cannabidiol (CBD) and the psychoactive Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) are the major and widely studied constituents from this plant. Cannabinoids exert their effects through the endocannabinoid system (ECS) that comprises cannabinoid receptors (CB1, CB2), endogenous ligands, and metabolizing enzymes. Several preclinical studies have demonstrated the potential of cannabinoids against leukemia, lymphoma, glioblastoma, and cancers of the breast, colorectum, pancreas, cervix and prostate. Cannabis and its constituents can modulate multiple cancer related pathways such as PKB, AMPK, CAMKK-β, mTOR, PDHK, HIF-1α, and PPAR-γ. Cannabinoids can block cell growth, progression of cell cycle and induce apoptosis selectively in tumour cells. Cannabinoids can also enhance the efficacy of cancer therapeutics. These compounds have been used for the management of anorexia, queasiness, and pain in cancer patients. Cannabinoid based products such as dronabinol, nabilone, nabiximols, and epidyolex are now approved for medical use in cancer patients. Cannabinoids are reported to produce a favourable safety profile. However, psychoactive properties and poor bioavailability limit the use of some cannabinoids. The Academic Institutions across the globe are offering training courses on cannabis. How cannabis and its constituents exert anticancer activities is discussed in this article. We also discuss areas that require attention and more extensive research. © 2020 Elsevier Ltd
Clinical significance of long noncoding RNAs in breast cancer patients
(Elsevier, 2022) Nikee Awasthee; Anusmita Shekher; Vipin Rai; Pranjal K. Baruah; Anurag Sharma; Kishore B. Challagundla; Subash C. Gupta
Breast cancer is one of the commonly diagnosed cancers in women globally. The long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) belong to the category of noncoding RNAs. The lncRNAs are equal to or more than 200 nucleotides in length. Accumulating evidence over the last 5 years has indicated that lncRNAs regulate crucial steps of tumorigenesis in multiple cancer types. Because of high dysregulation, specificity, and sensitivity in the detection, lncRNAs possess the potential of diagnostic and prognostic marker for breast cancer. The commonly identified lncRNAs in breast cancer include antisense ncRNA in the INK4 locus, breast cancer antiestrogen resistance 4, differentiation antagonizing nonprotein-coding RNA, H19-imprinted maternally expressed transcript, hypoxia-inducible factor 1A-antisense RNA 2, HOX transcript antisense RNA, metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1, miR-503 host gene, terminal differentiation-induced ncRNA, TROJAN, and urothelial cancer-associated 1. The most common techniques used for elucidating the functions of lncRNAs in breast cancer patients include reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction, next-generation sequencing, RNA-sequencing, microarray, TILING array, serial analysis of gene expression, cap analysis gene expression, and computational methods. The clinical specimens used to detect lncRNAs in patients include serum, plasma, tissues, urine, and saliva. The lncRNAs are reported to modulate multiple cell signaling pathways in breast cancer patients. The dysregulation in lncRNA expression is also one of the mechanisms by which breast cancer cells develop resistance to therapeutic agents. Thus breast cancer cells could also be sensitized to the therapeutic agents by targeting lncRNAs. The common strategies for targeting lncRNAs include the use of small molecules, antisense oligonucleotides, and RNA interference (RNAi) technology. The focus of this chapter is to review the potential of lncRNAs in breast cancer patients. © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Combination Therapy Comprising Paclitaxel and 5-Fluorouracil by Using Folic Acid Functionalized Bovine Milk Exosomes Improves the Therapeutic Efficacy against Breast Cancer
(MDPI, 2022) Dulla Naveen Kumar; Aiswarya Chaudhuri; Deepa Dehari; Anusmita Shekher; Subash C. Gupta; Shreyasi Majumdar; Sairam Krishnamurthy; Sanjay Singh; Dinesh Kumar; Ashish Kumar Agrawal
Paclitaxel (PAC) has been approved by FDA for clinical use (Taxol®), yet dose-dependent severe toxicity due to the adjuvant Cremophor EL® in combination with ethanol is a major drawback. The drawbacks of the current therapy can be overcome by (i) finding a suitable vehicle that cannot only bypass the above adjuvant but also be used to deliver drugs orally and (ii) combining the PAC with some other chemotherapeutics to have the enhanced therapeutic efficacy. In the current work, we have used folic acid (FA) functionalized bovine milk-derived exosomes for oral delivery of PAC in combination with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). Exosomes before and after the drug loading were found to have a particle size in the range of 80–100 nm, polydispersity index (PDI ~0.20), zeta potential (~−25 mV), entrapment efficiency (~82%), practical drug loading (~28%) and sustained drug release for 48 h. Significant decreases in IC50 were observed in the case of exosomes loaded drugs which further improved following the FA functionalization. FA functionalized coumarin-6-loaded exosomes showed remarkably higher cellular uptake in comparison with free coumarin-6. Moreover, FA-functionalized drug-loaded exosomes showed a higher apoptotic index with better control over cell migration. Collectively, data suggested the enhanced efficacy of the combination following its loading to the folic acid functionalized exosomes against breast cancer. © 2022 by the authors.
Doxorubicin-Intercalated Li-Al-Based LDHs as Potential Drug Delivery Nanovehicle with pH-Responsive Therapeutic Cargo for Tumor Treatment
(American Chemical Society, 2024) Swapan Maity; Dipesh Kumar Dubey; Jairam Meena; Anusmita Shekher; Ram Sharan Singh; Pralay Maiti
Clinical oncology is currently experiencing a technology bottleneck due to the expeditious evolution of therapy defiance in tumors. Although drugs used in chemotherapy work for a sort of cell death with potential clinical application, the effectiveness of chemotherapy-inducing drugs is subject to several endogenous conditions when used alone, necessitating the urgent need for controlled mechanisms. A tumor-targeted drug delivery therapy using Li-Al (M+/M3+)-based layered double hydroxide (LDHs) family has been proposed with the general chemical formula [M+1-x M3+x (OH)]2x+[(Am-)2x/m. n(H2O)]2x−, which is fully biodegradable and works in connection with the therapeutic interaction between LDH nanocarriers and anticancerous doxorubicin (DOX). Compositional variation of Li and Al in LDHs has been used as a nanoplatform, which provides a functional balance between circulation lifetime, drug loading capacity, encapsulation efficiency, and tumor-specific uptake to act as self-regulatory therapeutic cargo to be released intracellularly. First-principle analyses based on DFT have been employed to investigate the interaction of bonding and electronic structure of LDH with DOX and assess its capability and potential for a superior drug carrier. Following the internalization into cancer cells, nanoformulations are carried to the nucleus via lysosomes, and the mechanistic pathways have been revealed. Additionally, in vitro along with in vivo therapeutic assessments on melanoma-bearing mice show a dimensional effect of nanoformulation for better biocompatibility and excellent synergetic anticancer activity. Further, the severe toxic consequences associated with traditional chemotherapy have been eradicated by using injectable hydrogel placed just beneath the tumor site, and regulated release of the drug has been confirmed through protein expression applying various markers. However, Li-Al-based LDH nanocarriers open up new design options for multifunctional nanomedicine, which has intriguing potential for use in cancer treatment through sustained drug delivery. © 2024 American Chemical Society.
Evaluation of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities of diosgenin enriched Paris polyphylla rhizome extract of Indian Himalayan landraces
(Elsevier Ireland Ltd, 2021) Debmalya Das Gupta; Shruti Mishra; Sumit Singh Verma; Anusmita Shekher; Vipin Rai; Nikee Awasthee; Tridip J. Das; Dipayan Paul; Sanjib K. Das; Hui Tag; Subash Chandra Gupta; Pallabi K. Hui
Ethnopharmacological relevance: Traditional medicinal plants have gained attention as a potential therapeutic agent to combat cancer and inflammation. Diosgenin rich fresh extracts of Paris polyphylla rhizome from Indian Himalaya is traditionally used as wound healing, anti-bleeding, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer agent by the folk healers. Aim of the study: Present study was aimed to prepare two types of extracts from Paris polyphylla rhizome of Indian Himalayan landraces – 1. ethanolic extract of Paris polyphylla rhizome (EEPPR) and 2. Diosgenin enriched Paris polyphylla rhizome extract (DPPE), quantification of diosgenin content, and to evaluate their in vitro anti-oxidant, in vivo anti-inflammatory and in vitro cytotoxicity and anti-cancer activities of the DPPE. Materials and methods: Diosgenin content of EEPPR was quantified through GC-MS while diosgenin content of DPPE was quantified through HPTLC, and the diosgenin yield from EEPPR and DPPE were compared. In vitro antioxidant activities of DPPE were performed using DPPH, NOD, RP and SOD assay while in vivo anti-inflammatory activity of DPPE were evaluated in dextran induced hind paw edema in rats. In vitro cytotoxicity and anti-cancer activities of DPPE were evaluated in human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7, MDA-MB-231), cervical cancer cell lines (HeLa) and Hep-2 cell lines. Results: EEPPR obtained through cold extraction method using 70% ethanol showed maximum diosgenin content of 17.90% quantified through GC-MS while similar compounds pennogenin (3.29%), 7β-Dehydrodiosgenin (1.90%), 7-Ketodiosgenin acetate (1.14%), and 7 β-hydroxydiosgenin (0.55%) were detected in low concentration, and thus confirmed diosgenin as major and lead phytochemical. However, DPPE obtained through both cold and repeated hot extraction with the same solvent (70% ethanol) showed diosgenin content of 60.29% which is significantly higher (p < 0.001) than the diosgenin content in EEPPR. DPPE demonstrated significant in vitro antioxidant activities by dose-dependently quenched (p < 0.001) SOD free radicals by 76.66%, followed by DPPH (71.43%), NOD (67.35%), and RP (63.74%) at a max concentration of 2 μg/μl of ascorbic acid and test drugs with remarkable IC50 values (p < 0.01). Further, DPPE also showed potent anti-inflammatory activities by dose-dependently suppressed dextran induced paw edema in rats (p < 0.01) from 2 h to 4 h. DPPE suppressed the proliferation of MCF-7, MDA-MB-231, Hep-2 and HeLa cell lines. Maximum activity was observed in MCF-7 cells. The DPPE also induced apoptosis in MCF-7 cell lines as measured by AO/PI and DAPI staining, as well as DNA laddering, cell cycle analysis and phosphatidylserine externalization assay. The growth-inhibitory effect of DPPE on MCF-7 breast cancer cells was further confirmed from the colony-formation assay. DPPE upregulated expression of Bax and downregulated Bcl-2 and survivin mRNA transcripts. Conclusion: DPPE obtained through both cold and repeated hot extraction using ethanol showed significantly higher content of diosgenin than the diosgenin content detected in EEPPR. However, diosgenin yield of both the extracts (EEPPR & DPPE) clearly confirmed diosgenin as major and lead phytochemical of Paris polyphylla rhizome of Indian Himalayan landraces. Further, DPPE also demonstrated potent in vitro anti-oxidative and in vivo anti-inflammatory activities and showed in vitro cytotoxicity and significant anti-cancer (apoptosis) effects in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. © 2021
Evaluation of Efficacy of Curcumin and Caffeic Acid Phenethyl Ester in Breast Cancer by Preclinical Studies
(Bentham Science Publishers, 2025) Sumit Singh Verma; Avadhesh; Ankit Srivastava; Anusmita Shekher; Anupam Dhasmana; Acharan Singh Narula; Subash Chandra Gupta
Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the combined and comparative efficacy of Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) and curcumin in breast cancer. Background: CAPE and curcumin are a class of phenolics. While curcumin is obtained from turmeric, CAPE is found in Baccharis sarothroides and Populus deltoides. Both agents are reported to produce activities in some cancer types. The combined and comparative effects of the two agents in breast cancer have not yet reported. Objective: We evaluated the potential of CAPE and curcumin in both in vitro and in vivo breast cancer models. Methods: Human breast cancer cell lines, MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7, were exposed to CAPE and curcumin, followed by functional assays such as cell cytotoxicity, cell proliferation and colony formation, cell cycle, mitochondrial membrane potential, apoptosis, and monodansylcadaverine (MDC) staining for autophagy. Computational analyses and mouse models were also used. Results: Employing computational analyses, both agents were found to exhibit drug-like properties. Both molecules interacted with the key molecules of the NF-κB pathway. CAPE and curcumin inhibited cell proliferation, colony formation, and invasion, triggering apoptosis in breast cancer cells. CAPE was found to be more effective than curcumin. Two agents working together were more effective than each agent working alone. Both agents suppressed the expression of survivin, Bcl-xL and GLUT-1. The level of cleaved PARP was increased by both agents. Both phenolics observed an induction in ROS generation. Further, both molecules triggered a dissipation in mitochondrial membrane potential. In mice models implanted with Ehrlich-Lettre ascites carcinoma (EAC) cells, both drugs inhibited the growth of the tumour. The phenolics also modulated the metabolic parameters in tumour-bearing mice. Conclusion: The observations suggest that the combination of curcumin plus CAPE may be better in comparison to individual molecules. Other: The study opens a window for analysing the efficacy of the combination of CAPE and curcumin in animal studies. This will provide a basis for examining the combined efficacy of two agents in a clinical trial. © 2025 Bentham Science Publishers.
Genes involved in phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis correlate with nuclear factor-κB in biliary tract cancer patients: Evidence from 1H NMR and computational analyses
(Elsevier B.V., 2021) Anusmita Shekher; Amit Kumar Tiwari; Nikee Awasthee; Sumit Singh Verma; Vinod Kumar Dixit; Neeraj Sinha; Subash Chandra Gupta; Puneet
Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is an aggressive malignancy of gastrointestinal tract. Due to uncontrolled growth, GBC cells rapidly synthesize biomolecules including lipids. The lipids are integral component of cell membrane with a wide range of cellular functions. In this study, we measured the clinicopathological features in 40 cases of histologically confirmed GBC and 16 cases of chronic cholecystitis (CC). The female to male ratio in the GBC and CC groups were 3.44:1 and 2.2:1, respectively. The GBC patients exhibited well to poorly differentiated tumor. In the CC group, all patients showed cholecystitis with no evidence of dysplasia or malignancy. The majority of GBC and CC patients reported pain. Using 1H NMR spectroscopy, we observed 4-folds increase in the level of choline containing phospholipids (CCPLs) in the gallbladder of GBC patients as compared to CC patients. Other lipid metabolites such as cholesterol ester, C18-cholesterol and saturated fatty acids were insignificantly changed between GBC and CC patients. Moreover, the level of CCPLs in the GBC patients with BMI <25 kg/m2 was significantly higher as compared to CC patients. Further, a significant increase in the CCPLs level was observed in GBC female patients in comparison to CC patients. From the computational analyses, we observed that the genes involved in the biosynthesis of phosphatidylcholine (PtdCho) indirectly interact with the RELA, which encodes the NF-κB p65 subunit. The genes involved in the PtdCho biosynthesis were also correlated with the overall and disease-free survival of cholangiocarcinoma patients. The study opens new window for exploring the diagnostic and therapeutic potential of CCPLs in GBC patients. © 2021 Elsevier B.V.
Microcystis aeruginosa mediated biofabrication of silver nanoparticles exhibiting antibacterial, antioxidant, anticancer, and azo dye degrading catalytic activities
(Springer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH, 2024) Shraddha Pandey; Nikee Awasthee; Anusmita Shekher; Pooja Yadav; Lal Chand Rai; Subash Chandra Gupta; Santosh Kumar Dubey
In this study, a green, facile, and cost-effective method to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) from silver nitrate using cell extract of unicellular cyanobacterium, Microcystis aeruginosa, has been reported. These biosynthesized AgNPs were characterized by UV-visible spectroscopy showing absorption peak at 470 nm. TEM and EDX analyses confirmed spherical shape of AgNPs with diameter range of 5–45 nm. The results of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analyses revealed proteins as reducing/capping agent. These AgNPs clearly demonstrated considerable antibacterial action against Gram positive and Gram negative bacterial pathogens. AgNPs also revealed notable antioxidative potential (71.08±0.78%) at minimum concentration of 100 μg/mL and significant cytotoxic activity against SiHa cancer cell line with IC50 value of 0.89 μg/mL after 72-h treatment. The AgNP treatment also promoted arrest of cancer cells in the sub-G1 phase of cell cycle. Western blot analysis of SiHa cells treated with increasing doses of AgNPs clearly demonstrated decreasing expression of apoptotic proteins, pro-caspase-3 and intact PARP suggesting activation of apoptosis. These AgNPs significantly degrade toxic azo dye and Congo red through catalytic reduction. The degradation observed was 77.21% in 60 min under visible light irradiation. Graphical Abstract: (Figure presented.) © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2023.
Moringin, an isothiocyanate modulates multiple cellular signalling molecules in breast cancer cells
(Elsevier Inc., 2024) Ankit Srivastava; Shruti Mishra; Avadhesh; Anusmita Shekher; Vipin Rai; Anupam Dhasmana; Jayanta Das; Daniele Perenzoni; Renato Iori; Subash C. Gupta
Prohibitin (PHB) is a pleiotropic molecule with a variety of known functions and subcellular locations. PHB's function in breast cancer is poorly understood. Herein, we report that PHB is expressed in cancer types of diverse origin including breast cancer. The cancer patients with changes in PHB were reported to have significantly reduced ‘overall survival’ in comparison to the cases without alterations in PHB. The expression of PHB was increased by H2O2 and also by Moringin (MG), which is an isothiocyanate derived from the seeds of Moringa oleifera. MG interacted with PHB, DRP1, and SLP2 and inhibited the growth of MCF-7 and MDAMB-231 cells. The isothiocyanate triggered apoptosis in breast cancer cells as revealed by AO/PI assay, phosphatidylserine externalization, cell cycle analysis and DAPI staining. MG induced proapoptotic proteins expression such as cytochrome c, p53, and cleaved caspase-7. Further, cell survival proteins such as survivin, Bcl-2, and Bcl-xL were suppressed. A depolarization of membrane potential suggested that the apoptosis was triggered through mitochondria. The isothiocyanate suppressed the cancer cell migration and interacted with NF-κB subunits. MG suppressed p65 nuclear translocation induced by TNF-α. The reactive oxygen species generation was also induced by the isothiocyanate in breast cancer cells. MG also modulated the expression of lncRNAs. Collectively, the functions of PHB in breast cancer growth is evident from this study. The activities of MG against breast cancer might result from its ability to modulate multiple cancer-related targets. © 2023
Oxidative Stress and Cancer Development: Are Noncoding RNAs the Missing Links?
(Mary Ann Liebert Inc., 2020) Leonard Clinton D'Souza; Shruti Mishra; Anirban Chakraborty; Anusmita Shekher; Anurag Sharma; Subash Chandra Gupta
Significance: It is now clear that genetic changes underlie the basis of cancer, and alterations in functions of multiple genes are responsible for the process of tumorigenesis. Besides the classical genes that are usually implicated in cancer, the role of noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) as independent entitites has also been investigated. Recent Advances: The microRNAs and long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), two main classes of ncRNAs, are known to regulate many aspects of tumor development. ROS, generated during oxidative stress and pathological conditions, are known to regulate every step of tumor development. Conversely, oxidative stress and ROS producing agents can suppress tumor development. The malignant cells normally produce high levels of ROS compared with normal cells. The interaction between ROS and ncRNAs regulates the expression of multiple genes and pathways implicated in cancer, suggesting a unique mechanistic relationship among ncRNA-ROS-cancer. The mechanistic relationship has been reported in hepatocellular carcinoma, glioma, and malignancies of blood, breast, colorectum, esophagus, kidney, lung, mouth, ovary, pancreas, prostate, and stomach. The ncRNA-ROS regulate several cancer-related cell signaling pathways, namely, protein kinase B (AKT), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), forkhead box O3 (FOXO3), kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1), nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), p53, phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN), and wingless-related integration site (Wnt)/glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK3β). Critical Issues: To date, most of the reports about ncRNA-oxidative stress-carcinogenesis relationships are based on cell lines. The mechanistic basis for this relationship has not been completely elucidated. Future Directions: Attempts should be made to explore the association of lncRNAs with ROS. The significance of the ncRNA-oxidative stress-carcinogenesis interplay should also be explored through studies in animal models. © 2020, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.
Piperlongumine, a piper alkaloid, enhances the efficacy of doxorubicin in breast cancer: involvement of glucose import, ROS, NF-κB and lncRNAs
(Springer, 2022) Nikee Awasthee; Anusmita Shekher; Vipin Rai; Sumit S. Verma; Shruti Mishra; Anupam Dhasmana; Subash C. Gupta
Piperlongumine (PL, piplartine) is an alkaloid derived from the Piper longum L. (long pepper) roots. Originally discovered in 1961, the biological activities of this molecule against some cancer types was reported during the last decade. Whether PL can synergize with doxorubicin and the underlying mechanism in breast cancer remains elusive. Herein, we report the activities of PL in numerous breast cancer cell lines. PL reduced the migration and colony formation by cancer cells. An enhancement in the sub-G1 population, reduction in the mitochondrial membrane potential, chromatin condensation, DNA laddering and suppression in the cell survival proteins was observed by the alkaloid. Further, PL induced ROS generation in breast cancer cells. While TNF-α induced p65 nuclear translocation, PL suppressed the translocation in cancer cells. The expression of lncRNAs such as MEG3, GAS5 and H19 were also modulated by the alkaloid. The molecular docking studies revealed that PL can interact with both p65 and p50 subunits. PL reduced the glucose import and altered the pH of the medium towards the alkaline side. PL also suppressed the expression of glucose and lactate transporter in breast cancer cells. In tumor bearing mouse model, PL was found to synergize with doxorubicin and reduced the size, volume and weight of the tumor. Overall, the effects of doxorubicin in cancer cells are enhanced by PL. The modulation of glucose import, NF-κB activation and lncRNAs expression may have contributory role for the activities of PL in breast cancer. © 2022, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.
Potential of Long Non-coding RNAs in the Diagnosis and Therapy of Melanoma Skin Cancer
(Springer Nature, 2021) Hitesh Singh Chaouhan; Vipin Rai; Sudarshan Kini; Anusmita Shekher; Anurag Sharma; Subash Chandra Gupta
Skin carcinoma is categorized into melanoma and non-melanoma. Melanoma is among the highly aggressive and deadly forms of skin cancer. Melanoma is frequently associated with metastasis and therapeutic resistance. The combined immunotherapy and targeted therapies have emerged as attractive therapeutic options. However, the efficacy of these therapies is limited to advanced-stage melanoma and those who often acquire resistance. Over the years, the molecular bases of melanoma have been unraveled, which led to establishing specific and reliable biomarkers for the diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy. A good strategy in finding novel cancer targets could include shifting from the protein-translating regions to the genome’s non-coding regions. The non-coding regions constitute approximately 98% of the genome. The microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are two major classes of non-coding RNAs. Apart from coding RNA’s, lncRNAs have also been attributed to exhibit proto-oncogenic and tumor suppressor roles in various cancers, including melanoma. This chapter summarizes the recent advancement of lncRNAs concerning diagnosis, prognosis, and therapy of melanoma. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021.
Reprogramming of glycolysis by chemical carcinogens during tumor development
(Academic Press, 2022) Leonard Clinton D'Souza; Anusmita Shekher; Kishore B. Challagundla; Anurag Sharma; Subash Chandra Gupta
Indiscriminate usage and mismanagement of chemicals in the agricultural and industrial sectors have contaminated different environmental compartments. Exposure to these persistent and hazardous pollutants like heavy metals, endocrine disruptors, aromatic hydrocarbons, and pesticides can result in various health adversities, including cancer. Chemical carcinogens follow a similar pattern of carcinogenesis, like oxidative stress, chromosomal aberration, DNA double-strand break, mismatch repair, and misregulation of oncogenic and/or tumor suppressors. Out of several cancer-associated endpoints, cellular metabolic homeostasis is the commonest to be deregulated upon chemical exposure. Chemical carcinogens hamper glycolytic reprogramming to fuel the malignant transformation of the cells and/or promote cancer progression. Several regulators like Akt, ERK, Ras, c-Myc, HIF-1α, and p53 regulate glycolysis in chemical-induced carcinogenesis. However, the deregulation of the anabolic biochemistry of glucose during chemical-induced carcinogenesis remains to be uncovered. This review comprehensively covers the environmental chemical-induced glycolytic shift during carcinogenesis and its mechanism. The focus is also to fill the major gaps associated with understanding the fairy tale between environmental carcinogens and metabolic reprogramming. Although evidence from studies regarding glycolytic reprogramming in chemical carcinogenesis provides valuable insights into cancer therapy, exposure to a mixture of toxicants and their mechanism of inducing carcinogenesis still needs to be studied. © 2022
Role of IL-1 gene polymorphisms in common solid cancers
(Elsevier, 2023) Ragini D. Singh; Sagar Dholariya; Anusmita Shekher; Avadhesh; Deepak Parchwani; Subash C. Gupta
Because of the strong association of inflammation with cancer, the master cytokine, interleukin-1 (IL-1), has been extensively researched for its role in carcinogenesis. An appropriate, limited, targeted inflammatory response may provide protection to the host. However, on the other hand, an unusually protracted or severe inflammatory response may generate a microenvironment conducive to carcinogenesis. Inherited variants in the IL-1 gene affect its expression and eventually the molecular physiology of the IL-1 system. Studies have reported a wide variety of genetic variations inside the IL-1 gene cluster. Also, interpopulation differences in the distribution of polymorphic IL-1 genotypes are widespread. The polymorphic forms exert effects on cancer risk, development, and progression. This chapter focuses on the structure of the IL-1 gene, the polymorphisms reported in the IL-1 prototypes, i.e., IL1A, IL1B, and IL1RN, and the current knowledge on the involvement of polymorphic forms of IL-1 prototypes in cancer predisposition and prognosis, with particular emphasis on solid tumors. © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.