MicroRNAs (miRNAs) have emerged as key players in the regulation of expression of target mRNAs expression. They have been associated with diverse biological processes, and recent studies have demonstrated that miRNAs play a role in inflammatory responses. We reported previously that LPS-activated fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) isolated from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients express IL-18 mRNA but they do not release IL-18. Based on the observation that this inhibition was due to a rapid degradation of IL-18 mRNA, our group has conducted a study to identify miRNAs that could play a role in the “antiinflammatory” response of LPS-activated RA FLS. LPS challenge modulated the expression of 63 miRNAs as assessed by microarray analysis. Fifteen miRNAs were up-regulated, including miR-346, for which overexpression upon LPS treatment was validated by quantitative RT-PCR. We then transfected FLS with an antisense oligonucleotide targeting miR-346 and found that, in these conditions, IL-18 release could be measured upon LPS activation of FLS. Moreover, we also demonstrated that miR-346 indirectly regulated IL-18 release by indirectly inhibiting LPS-induced Bruton’s tyrosine kinase expression in LPS-activated RA FLS. These findings suggest that miRNAs function as regulators that help to fine-tune the inflammatory response in RA.

Cardiac steroids are used to treat various diseases including congestive heart failure and cancer. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-leukemic activity of UNBS1450, a hemi-synthetic cardenolide belonging to the cardiac steroid glycoside family. Here, we report that, at low nanomolar concentrations, UNBS1450 induces apoptotic cell death. Subsequently, we have investigated the molecular mechanisms leading to apoptosis activation. Our results show that UNBS1450 inhibits NF-κB transactivation and triggers apoptosis by cleavage of pro-caspases 8, 9 and 3/7, by decreasing expression of anti-apoptotic Mcl-1 and by recruitment of pro-apoptotic Bak and Bax protein eventually resulting in cell death.

Curcumin, a natural product isolated from the plant Curcuma longa, has a diverse range of molecular targets that influence numerous biochemical and molecular cascades. Curcumin has been shown to inhibit nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation at several steps in the NF-kappaB signaling pathways and thereby controls numerous NF-kappaB-regulated genes involved in various diseases. In the present study, we investigated the effect of curcumin pretreatment on 84 tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-activated genes of NF-kappaB pathways in K562 cells, using a real-time PCR array. Our results show that transcription of 29 NF-kappaB-related mRNAs was significantly downregulated (CARD4, CCL2, CD40, CSF2, F2R, ICAM1, IKBKB, IKBKE, IL1A, IL1B, IL6, IL8, IRAK2, MALT1, MAP3K1, MYD88, NFKB1, NFKB2, NFKBIA, PPM1A, RAF1, RELB, STAT1, TLR3, TNF, TNFalphaIP3, TNFSF10, and TICAM1), whereas 10 mRNAs were induced (AGT, CASP1, CSF3, FOS, IFNG, IL10, TICAM2, TLR2, TLR9, and TNFRSF7). Western blot analysis of CD40, NFKB1 (p50), RELB, NFKBIA (IkappaBalpha), and IL10 as well as an IL8 secretion assay confirmed our results. Taken together, we show that curcumin regulates an impressive number of NF-kappaB genes within the different NF-kappaB signaling pathways.

Despite significant progress in oncology therapeutics in the last decades, the urge to discover and to develop new, alternative or synergistic anti-cancer agents still remains. For centuries it has been known that the coarse shrub Calotropis procera is a very promising source of ascaricidal, schizonticidal, anti-bacterial, anthelmintic, insecticidal, anti-inflammatory, anti-diarrhoeal, larvicidal and cytotoxic chemicals. Different compounds like norditerpenic esters, organic carbonates, the cysteine protease procerain, alkaloids, flavonoids, sterols as well as numerous types of cardenolides have provided this plant for centuries with scientists' interest. The chemical class of cardenolides and their related bioactivity evaluation and structure-activity relationship (SAR) studies pointed out their therapeutic utility and led to the discovery of promising drug candidates. Recently the cardiotonic steroid UNBS1450 01 (derived from 2-oxovoruscharin 02) from C. procera was shown to additionally exert an anti-cancer activity. UNBS1450 01 has been proven to be a potent sodium pump inhibitor, showing anti-proliferative and cell death-inducing activities. This anti-cancer potential of UNBS1450 01 is achieved by disorganization of the actin cytoskeleton after binding to the sodium pump at the cellular membrane, by inducing autophagy-related cell death, by repressing NF-kappaB activation as well as by down-regulating c-Myc in cancer cells. We aim to review pharmacologically important chemical extracts from C. procera and focus more specifically on the anti-cancer activities of UNBS1450 01.

No abstract