Network Pharmacology Research and Dual-omic Analyses Reveal the Molecular Mechanism of Natural Product Nodosin Inhibiting Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer in Vitro and in Vivo

J Nat Prod. 2022 Aug 26;85(8):2006-2017. doi: 10.1021/acs.jnatprod.2c00400. Epub 2022 Aug 17.

Abstract

Bladder cancer, specifically, muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC), is among the most common malignant tumors. Patients with MIBC who cannot tolerate standard drugs require novel treatments. Targeting apoptosis may help treat cancer, which may be achieved with the use of some natural products. Nodosin, found in Isodon serra (Maxim.) Kudo (known as Xihuangcao), may inhibit bladder cancer cells. Transcriptomics and proteomics dual-omic analyses revealed the network pharmacological mechanism: (1) blocking the S phase by up-regulating RPA2, CLSPN, MDC1, PDCD2L, and E2F6 gene expressions, suppressing cancer cell proliferation; (2) inducing apoptosis and autophagy and restraining ferroptosis by up-regulating HMOX1, G0S2, SQSTM1, FTL, SLC7A11, and AIFM2 gene expressions; (3) preventing cancer cell migration by down-regulating NEXN, LIMA1, CFL2, PALLD, and ITGA3 gene expressions. In vivo, nodosin inhibited bladder cancer cell growth in a model of xenograft tumor in nude mice. This study is the first to report basic research findings on the network pharmacological mechanism of cytotoxicity of bladder cancer cells by nodosin, providing novel evidence for the application of nodosin in the field of oncology; however, other mechanisms may be involved in the effects of nodosin for further research. These findings provide a foundation for the development of novel MIBC drugs.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / metabolism
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / pharmacology
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing / therapeutic use
  • Animals
  • Biological Products* / pharmacology
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / metabolism
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / pharmacology
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins / therapeutic use
  • Diterpenes
  • Humans
  • Mice
  • Mice, Nude
  • Microfilament Proteins / metabolism
  • Microfilament Proteins / pharmacology
  • Microfilament Proteins / therapeutic use
  • Muscles / metabolism
  • Muscles / pathology
  • Network Pharmacology
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* / drug therapy
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* / genetics
  • Urinary Bladder Neoplasms* / pathology

Substances

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Biological Products
  • CLSPN protein, human
  • Cytoskeletal Proteins
  • Diterpenes
  • LIMA1 protein, human
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • NEXN protein, mouse
  • nodosin