Jing Liu

The complement system is a part of the immune system and consists of multiple complement components with biological functions such as defense against pathogens and immunomodulation. The complement system has three activation pathways: the classical pathway, the lectin pathway, and the alternative pathway. Increasing evidence indicates that the complement system plays a role in aging. Complement plays a role in inflammatory processes, metabolism, apoptosis, mitochondrial function, and Wnt signaling pathways. In addition, the complement system plays a significant role in aging-related diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, age-related macular degeneration, and osteoarthritis. However, the effect of complement on aging and aging-related diseases is still unclear. Thus, a better understanding of the potential relationship between complement, aging, and aging-related diseases will provide molecular targets for treating aging, while focusing on the balance of complement in during treatment. Inhibition of a single component does not result in a good outcome. In this review, we discussed the research progress and effects of complement in aging and aging-related diseases.

Si Jun Zi Tang (SJZT) is a classic Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) prescription used to treat aging-related diseases. However, the potential molecular mechanisms of the anti-aging effects of the bioactive compounds and their targets remain elusive. In this study, we combined network pharmacology and molecular docking with in vivo experiments to elucidate the anti-aging molecular mechanism of SJZT. A series of network pharmacology strategies were used to predict potential targets and therapeutic mechanisms of SJZT, including compound screening, pathway enrichment analysis and molecular docking studies. Based on the network pharmacology predictions and observation of outward signs of aging, the expression levels of selected genes and proteins and possible key targets were subsequently validated and analysed using qRT-PCR and immunoblotting. Using a data mining approach, 235 effective targets of SJZT and aging were obtained. AKT1, STAT3, JUN, MAPK3, TP53, MAPK1, TNF, RELA, MAPK14 and IL6 were identified as core genes in the Protein-Protein Interaction Networks (PPI) analysis. The results of the effective target Gene Ontology (Go) functional enrichment analysis suggested that SJZT may be involved aging and antiapoptotic biological processes. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis indicated that the anti-aging mechanism of SJZT may be associated with the PI3K-AKT and P38 MAPK signalling pathways. Molecular docking analysis suggested that kaempferol and quercetin could fit in the binding pockets of the core targets. In addition, SJZT alleviated the aging symptoms of mice such as osteoporosis and hair loss. In conclusion, the anti-aging effect of SJZT was associated with the inhibition of the PI3K-AKT and P38 MAPK signalling pathways, and these findings were consistent with the network pharmacology prediction.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is one of the most common primary malignant tumors of the digestive system. Compound 5-chloro-N′-(2,4-dimethoxybenzylidene)-1H-indole-2-carbohydrazide (IHZ-1/ZJQ-24) is a novel indole hydrazide derivative. In a recent study, we demonstrated that IHZ-1 inhibits tumor growth and induces cell apoptosis through inhibiting the kinase activity of mTORC1 without activation of AKT, which is associated with JNK/IRS-1 activation. However, the impact and mechanisms of JNK activation by IHZ-1 in hepatocellular carcinoma remains entirely unknown. Here, we find that IHZ-1 increases the generation of intracellular ROS and enhances autophagy. The phosphorylation of JNK induced by IHZ-1 was reversed by the decreased ROS level. Moreover, inhibition of ROS/JNK or autophagy equally attenuated apoptotic effect induced by IHZ-1. Our findings suggest that the activation of JNK by IHZ-1 treatment is dependent on the generation of ROS that mediates apoptosis and autophagy in hepatocellular carcinoma.

A major problem in the treatment of breast cancer at present is the lack of more sensitive and specific tumour biomarkers. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) were first discovered as important regulators of development in Caenorhabditis elegans, and their functions have been widely investigated. miR-155 is an oncogenic miRNA which has been explored mainly in leukaemia but is also known to play an important role in the progression of breast cancer. There is an accumulating body of evidence about additional roles of miR-155 in the development of breast cancer. In this mini-review, we provide an overview and update of miR-155 expression and its roles in breast cancer. We also attempt to summarize the current understanding of miR-155 regulation networks and speculate on the potential of miR-155 as a putative accessory parameter for diagnosis of breast cancer.

Inconclusive information for the role of dairy food intake in relation to ovarian cancer risk may associate with adverse effects of lactose, which has been hypothesized to increase gonadotropin levels in animal models and ecological studies. Up to now, several studies have indicated the association between dairy food intake and risk of ovarian cancer, but no identified founding was reported. We performed this meta-analysis to derive a more precise estimation of the association between dairy food intake and ovarian cancer risk. Using the data from 19 available publications, we examined dairy food including low-fat/skim milk, whole milk, yogurt and lactose in relation to risk of ovarian cancer by meta-analysis. Pooled odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) were used to assess the association. We observed a slightly increased risk of ovarian cancer with high intake of whole milk, but has no statistical significance (OR = 1.228, 95% CI = 1.031–1.464, P = 0.022). The results of other milk models did not provide evidence of positive association with ovarian cancer risk. This meta-analysis suggests that low-fat/skim milk, whole milk, yogurt and lactose intake has no associated with increased risk of ovarian cancer. Further studies with larger participants worldwide are needed to validate the association between dairy food intake and ovarian cancer.