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Cancer continues to be a prominent global threat, and current chemotherapy options often involve tubulin-targeting compounds disrupting microtubule function. Autophagy's role in cancer varies across cell types, tumor stages, and carcinogenic stimuli. Recent attention has focused on autophagy as a response to antimitotic drugs. Our study spotlights TubA, a myxobacteria-derived peptide with potent antimitotic properties, demonstrating notable antiproliferative effects on diverse cancer cell lines at low concentrations. Remarkably, TubA proved more effective than TubB, another myxobacterial compound. In MCF-7 cells, TubA induced autophagy, increasing LC3-I lipidation to LC3-II and enhancing lysosomal activity and acidity. Intriguingly, TubA triggered an intrinsic apoptotic pathway mediated by autophagy, evidenced by increased cathepsin B activity, cytosolic leakage, and subsequent apoptosis through cytochrome c release. In summary, our findings indicate that TubA promotes cell death via cytotoxic autophagic activity in the MCF-7 cancer cell line.

Tubulin is still a highly valued target in cancer chemotherapy. Agents that target tubulin and microtubule dynamic are considered to be of high therapeutic potential. We conducted a study to assess the effects of TAM1344, a synthetic cytolysin that is derived from the natural tubulysins on the proliferation of cancer cell lines. Tubulysins are a group of naturally occurring cytotoxic compounds that are produced by Myxobacteria. Our results show that TAM1344 exhibit strong antiproliferative activity against different cancer cell lines at low nanomolar concentration. The measured IC50 values in HCT116, A549 and MCF7 cancer cell lines were 0.14 nM, 0.24 nM & 0.09 nM, respectively. In a direct comparison, the three cell lines were more sensitive to the drugs than the myxobacterial natural products tubulysin-A and –B. Additionally, in HCT116 cells, TAM1344 induces destabilization and depletion of the interphase microtubules as indicated by Immunofluorescence staining. Furthermore, the spindle pools of dividing cells show unusual, condensed phenotyping, a characteristic phenotype of many anti-tubulin agents. The nuclei of treated cells look fragmented in comparison to control cells, as detected with DAPI or PI staining. Furthermore, at low concentrations, TAM1344 induces an accumulation of the cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle, and therefore apoptotic induction, as indicated with flow cytometry analysis. In addition, it provoked an apoptotic process, marked by elevated caspase-3 activity. To conclude, the results indicate that TAM1344 is a novel, highly effective microtubule-targeting agent.

Colon cancer (CC) is a common form of cancer worldwide. According to growing incidence of cancer and little information about the possible protective role of Ivermectin (IVM) on colon cancer, this study aimed to investigate the chemoprotective role of IVM against colon cancer induced by Dimethylhydrazine (DMH) in Male Wistar Rats. Based on LD50, three doses of IVM (0.25, 0.5, and 1 mg/kg) were applied before assayingthe antioxidant status, apoptotic markers, and microscopic analysis. Our result showed that glutathione (GSH) level was significantly increased in low dose of IVM-treated rats. Hight levels of oxidative stress and tissue damage consumed GSH and catalase (CAT), and dismutase (SOD) as indicated by significant drop in the treated groups. mRNA levels of Bax and caspase-3 were upregulated in rats treated with the high dose. Contrastingly, the expression of Bcl-2 was significantly downregulated with high dose. Changes in genes expression proved that IVM triggered apoptosis in treated groups compared to untreated control group. Microscopic analysis showed that rats treated with DMH exhibited high development of colorectal tumor. After induction of colorectal tumor, medium and high dose of DMH induced reduction in medullary carcinoma with great incidence of lymphoid nodules and desmoplastic reaction. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the potential of IVM as an anticancer drug against colon cancer in male Wistar rats.

Cancer is emerging as one of the most significant challenges to the human health. Ivermectin (IVM) is one of the most effective drugs in veterinary and human medicine. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the potential preventative effect of IVM against cytotoxicity induced by dimethylhydrazine (DMH) in Male Wistar rats. Three concentrations of IVM (0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg) were utilized in this study. Liver function enzymes, inflammatory markers and histopathological alterations in liver and kidney tissues were investigated. Obtained data showed that the combination of DMH with each concentration of IVM increased the activity of liver enzymes (ALT, ALP, AST, and GGT) compared to control and DMH alone. RT-PCR findings showed upregulation in the level of INF-γ, IL-6, IL-1β, Cox1, and Cox2 genes compared to control. In contrast, IL-6 gene was down-regulated. The levels of genes expression were down-regulated with combined DMH with medium and high concentrations compared to DMH alone. Microscopic analysis demonstrated histological alterations in the liver and kidney of rats treated with DMH. Combinations of DMH either with medium or high concentration resulted in less pathological features in both liver and kidney tissues. In conclusion, this study showed that IVM mitigated the toxic effects of DMH on the liver and kidney of male Wistar rats.

Background: Kidney is a vital organ which plays an important and irreplaceable role in detoxification and removal of xenobiotics. And therefore is vulnerable to develop various forms of injuries. Hence, making it immensely important to search for natural reno-protective compounds. Objectives: This study therefore, aims to evaluate the reno-protective properties of propolis against gentamicin induced renal toxicity in mice. Methods: Three groups of 10 male mice each were used for this study. First group served as control, the second group (Gm group) was administered orally 80 mg/kg body weight gentamicin for 7 days, and the third group (GmP group) was administered same dose of gentamicin with propolis (500 mg/kg body weight) for 7 days. Various parameters were used to study the renal toxicity. Results: Gentamicin caused significant renal damage as evident by the rise in BUN levels, diminished glomeruli hypocellularity, moderately dilated tubules, and mild loss of brush border, severe infiltration, extensive tubular degeneration and presence of tubular cast. Histochemistry results show presence of collagen and reticular fibres. Immunohistochemical reactions show kidney injury (Kim-1 gene-expression), oxidative stress (MDA gene-expression), and an increase in apoptosis (caspase-3 gene-expression). Co-administration of propolis with gentamicin showed significant decrease in BUN levels, appearance of healthy glomeruli with normal cellularity, reduction of tubular injury, decrease of collagen and reticular fibres deposition, reduction of apoptosis, kidney injury and oxidative stress. Conclusion: Results presented in this study clearly show the reno-protective role of propolis against gentamicin-induced toxicity on mice kidney.