Mechanism of action of cordycepin in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma via regulation of the Hippo signaling pathway

Hepatocellular carcinoma(HCC)is one of the common most malignant tumors.This study aimed to determine the in vitro and in vivo anticancer activity of cordycepin and elucidate its mechanism of action.The results of in vitro and in vivo studies revealed that cordycepin inhibited proliferation and migration in HepG-2 cells and inhibited the growth of HepG-2 xenograft-bearing nude mice by inducing apoptosis.Transcriptome sequencing analysis revealed a total of 403 differential genes,which revealed that cordycepin may play an anti-HCC role by regulating Hippo signaling pathway.The regulatory effects of cordycepin on the Hippo signaling pathway was further investigated using a YAP1 inhibitor.The results demonstrated that cordycepin upregulated the expression of MST1 and LAST1,and subsequently inhibited YAP1,which activated the Hippo signaling pathway.This in turn downregulated the expression of GBP3 and ETV5,and subsequently inhibited cell proliferation and migration.Additionally,YAP1 regulated the expression of Bax and Bcl-2,regulated the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway,and induced apoptosis by upregulating the expression of the caspase-3 protein.In summary,this study reveals that cordycepin exerts its anti-hepatocarcinoma effect through regulating Hippo signaling pathway,and GBP3 and ETV5 may be potential therapeutic targets for hepatocarcinoma.

国产虫草素(cordycepin)抗小鼠迟发型超敏反应的实验研究

目的:研究国产虫草素抗小鼠迟发型超敏反应的作用及其免疫机理。方法:用2,4-二硝基氯苯(2,4-DNCB)对昆明种小鼠皮肤致敏和诱发,制成迟发型超敏反应模型。以国产虫草素溶液作为实验组,分为两个剂量组(实验组1:12mg/kg;实验组2:16mg/kg),以生理盐水作为阴性对照组,所有溶液均为间隔24小时(最后一次间隔为4小时)重复腹腔注射给药。计算激发后各组小鼠左右耳耳廓肿胀厚度差、耳廓增重值及肿胀度,进行统计分析,并经过HE染色观察虫草素对小鼠致炎耳炎症病理变化及脾脏病理变化的影响。结果:两种给药剂量的国产虫草素溶液对模型鼠红斑,水肿,渗出的接触性皮炎损害有明显抑制作用,可减轻由于充血、水肿等炎症反应导致的局部皮损增厚及重量的增加。与生理盐水对照组相比,两实验组虫草素溶液的抗炎作用均有显著性差异(厚度差:P<0·0001;肿胀度:P<0·05);两实验组间的抗炎作用也有显著性差异(厚度差及肿胀度均为P<0·05),且与给药剂量相关。三组小鼠脾指数未见明显差异(P>0·05),脾脏组织病理变化未见明显差异。结论:虫草素以24小时间隔(最后一次给药间隔为4小时)经腹腔注射后,可能通过其免疫调节作用对迟发型超敏反应引起的小鼠接触性皮炎发挥明显的抑制效应,该效应与给药剂量相关,同时对脾脏组织未见明显毒性作用。

Anti-Cancer Effects of Cordycepin on Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Proliferation and Apoptosis in Vitro

Cordycepin is an active component of parasitic fungus, Cordyceps militaris, and investigated for its pharmacologic efficacy. Increasing evidence supports the anti-tumoral effects of Cordycepin in various types of human solid tumors. We sought to determine the effects of Cordycepin on oral squamous cell carcinoma in vitro and in vivo. Two oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines, KB and HSC3, were used in this study. Cells were treated with Cordycepin or diluent, followed by determinations of proliferation by sulforhodamine method and apoptosis by TUNEL assay in vitro. For in vivo experiments, tumor cells were transplanted into nude mice, followed by treatment with Cordycepin or control diluent. In addition, cells were examined for expression of adenosine receptor isotypes, and tested whether cordycepin-induced effects were mediated through adenosine receptors by combinatorial treatment of cordycepin and antagonists specific to each isotype of adenosine receptors. Two cell lines expressed protein of all types of adenosine receptors stronger than normal oral keratinocytes. Cordycepin showed anti-proliferating effect and apoptotic effect on both cell lines in vitro in a dose dependent manner. However, any adenosine receptors did not reverse the effect of cordycepin. In our in vivo experiments, cordycepin failed to decrease the tumor volume significantly, and failed to induce more apoptosis of tumor cells. Cordycepin has anti-proliferating effect and induces apoptosis not mediated by adenosine receptor on oral squamous cell carcinoma cells in vitro. However, in vivo results suggest that cordycepin in itself has a limited value as a novel chemotherapeutic agent for oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Determination of Cordycepin in Cordyceps kyushuensis by Capillary Electrophoresis and its Antitumour Activity

A simple, rapid and low-cost method of determination for cordycepin in Cordyceps kyushuensis by capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) was developed. Based on the finding that there is a high concentration of cordycepin in both natural and cultured Cordyceps kyushuensis, the in vitro antitumor activity of cordycepin and the water extracts of Cordyceps kyushuensis has been investigated. This is the first report about the antitumor effect of Cordyceps kyushuensis.

Study on the Binding Effect between Cordycepin and Calf Thymus DNA by Circular Dichroism

Binding of cordycepin to the double helical DNA with a high affinity was investigated by CD spectra in this paper. The results proved that uncoiling, unbinding and denaturation of DNA proceeded continuously upon the increase of the concentration of cordycepin.

Layered Double Hydroxide as Cordycepin Delivery Nanocarrier

Layered double hydroxide was investigated as cordycepin delivery nanocarrier for the first time in this study. Negatively charged biomolecule-cordycepin was intercalated in the gallery spaces of [Mg-Al-NO3], which was corff＇trmed by the results of X-ray diffraction and electrophoretic mobility. Cell experiment suggested that the new bio-LDH nanohybrid could prevent cordycepin decomposition by adenosine deaminase. This new formulation could possibly be used as a novel form cordycepin intravenous injection.

Study on Intercalative Nanohybrid of Cordycepin in Layered Double Hydroxide

A novel negatively charged biomolecule-cordycepin has been intercalated within the gallery spaces of [Mg-Al-NO3]. Results of TEM, PXRD and FT-IR spectroscopy confirmed that cordycepin could be intercalated into [Mg-Al-NO3] interlayers as the charge-compensating species. Initial studies suggest that the new bioinorganic nanocomposite may be used as a novel inorganic reservoir or carrier of pharmaceutically active compounds.

Preliminary Study on Cordycepin-DNA Interaction by Raman Spectroscopy

The interaction of cordycepin with calf thymus DNA was investigated at physiological pH with drug/DNA molar ratio of 8. The Raman spectroscopy results indicated that the intercalation of high concentration cordycepin and the interaction of cordycepin with PO2 group led to a major reduction of B-form DNA structure in favor of A-form DNA.

Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry based quantitative analysis of cordycepin from Cordyceps militaris

Cordycepin,which has great immunomodulatory activities such as anticancer,antifungal,antivirus,antileukemia and lipid-lowering ones,is the secondary metabolite of Cordyceps militaris(C.militaris).Liquid submerged fermentation is the common cultivation process to produce cordycepin.To optimize the fermentation process and improve production,monitoring the cordycepin secretion in the fermentation is essential.The measurement based on chromatography-mass spectrometry methods is generally involved in the complex sample pretreatments and time-consuming separation,so more rapid and convenient methods are required.Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization mass spectrometry(MALDI-MS)is more attractive for faster and direct detection.Therefore,MALDI-MS detection combined with isotope-labeled internal standard was applied to the measurement of cordycepin content in the fermentation broth and mycelium.This method made accurate quantification of cordycepin in the range of 5-400μg/mL with a relative standard deviation of 5.6%.The recovery rates of fermentation samples after the 1,13,and 25 days were 90.15%,94.27%,and 95.06%,respectively.The contents of cordycepin in the mycelium and fermentation broth were 136 mg/g and 148.39 mg/mL on the 20 th culture day,respectively.The cordycepin secretion curve of the liquid fermentation of C.militaris was real-time traced over 25 days.

Effect of cordycepin on non-small cell lung cancer cell line H358 proliferation and related gene expression

Objective: To study the effect of cordycepin on non-small cell lung cancer cell line H358 proliferation and related gene expression. Methods: C57BL/6 mice were selected as experimental animals, and the mouse model with transplanted tumor was established after non-small cell lung cancer cell line H358 was cultured;the mice with transplanted tumor were divided into the intervention group who received Corbrin Capsule therapy and the model group who received no drug therapy. 30 d after treatment, the expression of proliferation activity indexes, proliferation genes and invasion genes in transplanted tumor tissue were determined. Results: 30 d after treatment, the mRNA expression and protein expression of PCNA and Ki-67 in transplanted tumor lesion of intervention group were significantly lower than those of model group, and Notch-1, Bmi-1, MIF, Rap2a, NGAL and SIRT1 mRNA expression in transplanted tumor lesion were significantly lower than those of model group while PAQR3, LATS1, E-cadherin, ZO-1 and TES mRNA expression were significantly higher than those of model group. Conclusion: Cordycepin can inhibit the proliferation and invasive growth of non-small cell lung cancer cell line H358 in transplanted tumor tissue.

Cordycepin regulates the malignant biological behaviors of lung cancer cell lines A549

Objective:To study the effect of cordycepin on proliferation, apoptosis and invasion-related molecule expression in lung cancer cell lines A549. Methods:Lung cancer cell lines A549 were cultured and treated with different doses of cordycepin (0, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 ng/mL) for 24 h, and then the proliferation, apoptosis and invasion-related molecule mRNA expression in cells were detected. Results:After 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0 ng/mL cordycepin treatment, Caspase-3, Caspase-8, NOX1 and LATS1 mRNA expression were significantly higher than those after 0 ng/mL cordycepin treatment (P<0.05) while CyclinD1, Bcl-2, c-Myc, c-FLIP, TRAF6, N-cadherin and Vimentin mRNA expression were significantly lower than those after 0 ng/mL cordycepin treatment (P<0.05). The greater the cordycepin dosage, the higher the Caspase-3, Caspase-8, NOX1 and LATS1 mRNA expression, and the lower the CyclinD1, Bcl-2, c-Myc, c-FLIP, TRAF6, N-cadherin and Vimentin mRNA expression. Conclusions: Cordycepin can promote pro-apoptosis gene expression and inhibit pro-proliferation and pro-invasion gene expression in lung cancer cell lines A549.

Rapid detection of cordycepin in food by surface-enhanced Raman technique

In this paper,a method for rapid detection of cordycepin in food was established based on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopic analysis method.The surface-enhanced Raman substrates were screened and the Raman detection conditions and sample pretreatment methods were optimized.The optimal substrate was gold nanocolloid,and the optimal detection conditions were as follows:the addition amount of gold nanocolloid was 200μL of gold nanocolloid and the sample addition amount was 5μL.Under the optimal conditions,the detection limit of cordycepin was 1 mg/L,and the sample pretreatment was performed by methanol extraction.Based on the established surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy(SERS)method,cordycepin in two Cordyceps militaris was detected,which confirmed the practical application of this method.

Engineering Komagataella phaffii to biosynthesize cordycepin from methanol which drives global metabolic alterations at the transcription level

Cordycepin has the potential to be an alternative to the disputed herbicide glyphosate.However,current laborious and time-consuming production strategies at low yields based on Cordyceps militaris lead to extremely high cost and restrict its application in the field of agriculture.In this study,Komagataella phaffii(syn.Pichia pastoris)was engineered to biosynthesize cordycepin from methanol,which could be converted from CO_(2).Combined with fermentation optimization,cordycepin content in broth reached as high as 2.68±0.04 g/L within 168 h,around 15.95 mg/(L⋅h)in productivity.Additionally,a deaminated product of cordycepin was identified at neutral or weakly alkaline starting pH during fermentation.Transcriptome analysis found the yeast producing cordycepin was experiencing severe inhibition in methanol assimilation and peroxisome biogenesis,responsible for delayed growth and decreased carbon flux to pentose phosphate pathway(PPP)which led to lack of precursor supply.Amino acid interconversion and disruption in RNA metabolism were also due to accumu-lation of cordycepin.The study provided a unique platform for the manufacture of cordycepin based on the emerging non-conventional yeast and gave practical strategies for further optimization of the microbial cell factory.

虫草素及其代谢物3′-脱氧肌苷在大鼠体内的药动学

目的建立血浆虫草素及代谢物3’-脱氧肌苷(3′-Deo)的液相色谱-串联质谱(LC-MS/MS)测定方法,研究其在大鼠体内的药动学。方法以2-氯腺苷(2-Chl)为内标,甲醇沉淀蛋白,色谱柱为Kinetex C18(3 mm×100 mm,2.6μm),流动相为水(5 mmol·L^(-1)乙酸铵)-甲醇溶液,梯度洗脱。电喷雾离子源,正离子多反应监测。研究大鼠灌胃虫草素(10 mg·kg^(-1))后血浆虫草素及3′-Deo药动学。结果虫草素和3′-Deo分别在0.5~100和1~200 ng·mL^(-1)范围内线性关系良好,定量下限分别为0.5和1 ng·mL^(-1)。大鼠灌胃虫草素后,血浆虫草素浓度较低,主要转化为3′-Deo。虫草素和3′-Deo的峰浓度(C_(max))分别为(5.4±3.4)和(142.0±50.0)ng·mL^(-1),血药浓度-时间曲线下面积(AUC_(0-360 min))分别为(658.4±459.3)和(18034.9±4981.1)ng·min·mL^(-1)。结论该方法简单、灵敏、准确,适用于虫草素与3′-Deo血药浓度测定及药动学研究。

虫草素调控受体相互作用蛋白激酶1介导的凋亡改善缺氧/复氧诱导的人肾小管上皮细胞损伤

目的基于基因表达综合(gene expression omnibus,GEO)数据库中的基因芯片、网络药理学、分子对接和体外实验探讨虫草素治疗急性肾损伤(acute kidney injury,AKI)的作用机制。方法从GEO(GSE87025)、GeneCards 2个数据库获得AKI的疾病靶点。从TargetNet、BATMAN和GeneCards 3个数据库获得虫草素相关靶点。对AKI和虫草素相关靶点取并集,筛选出共同靶基因。进行基因本体论(gene ontology,GO)注释和京都基因与基因组百科全书(kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes,KEGG)通路富集分析后对虫草素及关键靶点进行分子对接。细胞实验设计对照组、缺氧/复氧组、缺氧/复氧+虫草素组对相关靶点进行实验验证。结果AKI和虫草素共同靶基因共12个,GO功能注释结果表明主要参与凋亡信号通路的负调控、坏死性凋亡过程等生物学过程,KEGG富集分析结果表明主要参与Toll样受体信号通路、坏死性凋亡、核苷酸结合寡聚化结构域(nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain,NOD)样受体信号通路、核因子κB(nuclear factor-κB,NF-κB)信号通路、肿瘤坏死因子(tumor necrosis factor,TNF)信号通路和细胞凋亡等常见信号通路。虫草素和受体相互作用蛋白激酶1(receptor-interacting protein kinase 1,RIPK1)分子对接的最优结合能为-7.1,表明两者有较强的结合活性。蛋白免疫印迹结果表明虫草素可下调RIPK1、Bcl-2相关X蛋白、凋亡指标胱天蛋白酶表达、上调B细胞淋巴瘤/白血病-2的表达,细胞免疫荧光结果表明虫草素可下调RIPK1表达。结论虫草素可通过调控RIPK1介导的凋亡缓解缺氧/复氧诱导的人肾小管上皮细胞损伤,以达到治疗AKI的效果。

北虫草饮品配方优化及其理化特性

以北虫草粉为主要原料,添加麦芽糖醇、羧甲基纤维素钠、柠檬酸和D-异抗坏血酸钠制作北虫草饮品。通过单因素试验和响应面试验对北虫草饮品的配方进行优化,测定酸价、过氧化值等指标。最佳工艺条件结果表明:羧甲基纤维素钠和六偏磷酸钠添加量为0.04%,北虫草粉添加量为9.5%,麦芽糖醇和木糖醇添加量为6.4%,柠檬酸和D-异抗坏血酸钠添加量为0.25%,该条件下,各项理化性质均符合饮品的质量和卫生指标,北虫草饮品的差异性化合物主要有虫草素、苏氨酸、甲硫氨酸。

Cordycepin induces apoptosis by enhancing JNK and p38 kinase activity and increasing the protein expression of Bcl-2 pro-apoptotic molecules

Objective:To explore the molecular mechanism by which cordycepin inhibits cell proliferation and induces apoptosis of human colorectal cancer cells.Methods:Cell counting and MTS(3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfopheny)-2H-tetrazolium,inner salt) method were used to monitor the effects of cordycepin on cell proliferation.Flow cytometry(FCM) was used to analyze the effects of cordycepin on the cell cycle progress.Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate(FITC) analysis was used to detect apoptosis at a very early stage.Caspase-Glo was used to determine caspase activity and Western blot was used to measure protein expression levels of c-Jun N-terminal kinase(JNK),p38,and Bcl-2 pro-apoptosis family.Results:The numbers of viable SW480 and SW620 cells and the proliferation of these cells were significantly reduced with increases in cordycepin concentration(P<0.01).The cell cycle progression of SW480 and SW620 was arrested at the G0/G1 phase by the addition of cordycepin,and apoptosis rates of cordycepin treatments were increased compared with the control group.Cordycepin-treated cells showed phosphatidylserine valgus,suggesting the existence of early apoptosis.Caspase-3/7 and-9 activity significantly increased and the protein expression levels of JNK,p38,and Bax,Bid,Bim,and Puma from Bcl-2 pro-apoptosis molecules also increased after the treatment with cordycepin.Conclusions:Cordycepin can inhibit SW480 and SW620 cell proliferation and induce apoptosis.Apoptosis might be induced by enhancing JNK and p38 kinase activity and increasing the protein expression of Bcl-2 pro-apoptotic molecules.

Cordycepin promotes browning of white adipose tissue through an AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK)-dependent pathway

Obesity is a worldwide epidemic. Promoting browning of white adipose tissue(WAT)contributes to increased energy expenditure and hence counteracts obesity. Here we show that cordycepin(Cpn), a natural derivative of adenosine, increases energy expenditure, inhibits weight gain, improves metabolic profile and glucose tolerance, decreases WAT mass and adipocyte size, and enhances cold tolerance in normal and high-fat diet-fed mice. Cpn markedly increases the surface temperature around the inguinal WAT and turns the inguinal fat browner. Further investigations show that Cpn induces the development of brown-like adipocytes in inguinal and, to a less degree, epididymal WAT depots. Cpn also increases the expression of uncoupling protein 1(UCP1) and other thermogenic genes in WAT and3T3-L1 differentiated adipocytes, in which AMP-activated protein kinase(AMPK) plays an important role. Our results provide novel insights into the function of Cpn in regulating energy balance, and suggest a potential utility of Cpn in the treatment of obesity.

Cordycepin inhibits pancreatic cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo via targeting FGFR2 and blocking ERK signaling

Cordycepin(3′-deoxyadenosine) from Cordyceps militaris has been reported to have anti-tumor effects. However, the molecular target and mechanism underlying cordycepin impeding pancreatic cancer cell growth in vitro and in vivo remain vague. In this study, we reported functional target molecule of cordycepin which inhibited pancreatic cancer cells growth in vitro and in vivo.Cordycepin was confirmed to induce apoptosis by activating caspase-3, caspase-9 and cytochrome c. Further studies suggested that MAPK pathway was blocked by cordycepin via inhibiting the expression of Ras and the phosphorylation of Erk. Moreover, cordycepin caused S-phase arrest and DNA damage associated with activating Chk2(checkpoint kinase 2) pathway and downregulating cyclin A2 and CDK2 phosphorylation. Very interestingly, we showed that cordycepin could bind to FGFR2(KD = 7.77 × 10-9) very potently to inhibit pancreatic cancer cells growth by blocking Ras/Er K pathway. These results suggest that cordycepin could potentially be a leading compound which targeted FGFR2 to inhibit pancreatic cells growth by inducing cell apoptosis and causing cell cycle arrest via blocking FGFR/Ras/ERK signaling for anti-pancreatic cancer new drug development.

蛹虫草缓解新型冠状病毒感染研究进展

严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2(SARS-CoV-2)引起的COVID-19在全球范围内大流行,危害了人类健康和公共安全,随着对SARS-CoV-2的结构、功能和致病过程的了解,越来越多的潜在药物被开发。蛹虫草(Cordyceps militaris)是我国传统的药用真菌,具有显著的抗病毒作用,虫草素作为蛹虫草的主要活性成分能够与SARS-CoV-2刺突蛋白、主蛋白酶(Mpro)相结合,抑制病毒RNA依赖的RNA聚合酶(RDRP)活性,阻断SARS-CoV-2在机体内复制。蛹虫草还具有提升机体免疫力、修复受损组织的作用。本文概述虫草素抗SARS-CoV-2的机制和蛹虫草其他相关药理作用,以期为蛹虫草用于新型冠状病毒感染的辅助治疗提供参考。