[Functional cumulation of influence of vascular peptide bioregulator on microcirculation in the brain cortex of spontaneously hypertensive rats.]

We investigated the influence of vascular peptide bioregulator on microcirculation in the brain cortex of spontaneously hypertensive rats of different ages and figured out whether there is functional cumulation during two-time application of the drug «Slavinorm» by above-mentioned animals. It was shown that a single course treatment with vascular peptide bioregulator had increased the density of microvascular network of the pia mater in young animals ca. 1,2-fold and had not affected the perfusion and oxygen saturation of sensorimotor cortex. The second course treatment with «Slavinorm» was provided in a 6 months. Functional cumulation was revealed in 12 month-aged rats which had 2 course treatments with vascular peptide bioregulation: the density of microvascular network of the pia mater was increased ca. 1,6-fold; level of perfusion was increased ca. 15% in comparison with intact animals of the same age. These animals were more tolerant to cerebral vasospasm (the application of vasoconstrictor on the surface of the brain): the highest level of tissue oxygen saturation was remained at fairly constant perfusion in comparison with other animals.

[Transcription factor p53 and skin aging]

The review is devoted to an actual problem of cosmetics in gerontology, one of molecular aspects of skin aging. Cell renewal processes slow down with aging, and the proliferation apoptosis ratio shifts towards cell death. One of the most pivotal apoptotic markers is the transcription factor p53. p53 protein expression in the skin keratinocytes increases under the influence of ultraviolet radiation. Wherein when exposed to ultraviolet radiation mutant forms of p53 have been revealed in 70 % of keratinocytes. On the one hand, suppression of p53 expression decreases apoptosis in skin cells that slows down the process of aging. On the other hand, it promotes the development of tumors in the skin. Thus, maintaining the physiological balance of p53 expression in skin cells is important for the basic and practical cosmetic medicine in gerontology. In addition, p53 protein may be used as a functionality marker of skin cells when administered with geroprotective cosmetic means and instrumental cosmetology methods.

Short Peptides Regulate Gene Expression

Short peptides constitute the system of signal molecules regulating the functions of the organism at the molecular, genetic, subcellular, cellular, and tissue levels. One short peptide can regulate dozens of genes, but the molecular mechanism of this process remains unclear. We suppose that short peptides penetrate through the cytoplasmic and nuclear membrane and bind to DNA. Spatial models of DNA-peptide complexes are constructed for 19 short peptides by the docking method. Some peptides have the same binding sites. Peptides KE and EDP bind agat sequence, peptides KEDW and AED to acct sequence, and peptides AEDL and EDL to ctcc sequence.

[The JAM Family of Molecules and Their Role in the Regulation of Physiological and Pathological Processes]

The review covers the main functions of the family of adhesion molecules JAMs (Junctional adhesion molecules). This review provides information about the role of the molecules JAM-AH, JAM-BH and JAM-CF in the occurrence of pathological conditions, including diseases of the nervous and cardiovascular systems, atherosclerosis, thrombosis and malignant growth. A molecule JAM-C and JAM-C directly affect platelet’s adhesion to endothelial and dendritic cells, neutrophils, and other types of leukocytes, which makes their involvement in the regulation of hemostasis, and migration processes. JAM-A has an effect on the inflammatory response, leading to impaired cognitive function in HIV infection. JAM-B is involved in suppression of tumor growth in patients with Down syndrome. It is described the role of molecule JAM-A and JAM-C in the pathogenesis of hypertension, hypertensive crisis, atherosclerosis, cardiac abnormalities in the syndrome of Jacobson. Molecules JAM-B and JAM-C reduce the growth and invasion of human gliomas, and JAM-A has static effect against breast cancer. JAM-A molecule, JAM-B and JAM-C are involved in the development of inflammatory reactions and pathological neoangiogenesis in the cornea. The molecule JAM-C is involved in differentiation and polarization photoreceptors of the retina. The review provides own data of the authors, suggests the presence of epigenetic mechanisms of regulation of expression of the family of molecules JAMs, carried out with the direct participation of peptide geroprotectors.

[Molecular Mechanisms of Functional Activity Decreasing of the Skin Cells With Its Aging]

The article discusses the pool of signaling molecules that regulate the functional activity of the skin cells. Molecules of apoptosis and cells skin aging are p53, p21, p15, Cdk 4/6 and Bcl-2. Inflammation in skin fibroblasts are realized through the cytokines TNF-α, TGF-β, IL-1, ICAM-1, matrix metalloproteinase MMP-1,2,3,9, transcription factor NF-κB and activator protein AP-1. An important role in the aging of skin cells play neuroimmunoendocrine signaling molecules--melatonin, serotonin, skin fibroblast proliferation marker chromogranin A and CD98hc. Age-related changes in the activity of immune cells of the skin is associated with impaired expression of cluster of differentiation of T-lymphocytes (CD3, CD4, CD5, CD8, CD11) and dendritic cells (CD83⁺). These signaling molecules produced by the fibroblasts of the skin, regulate the activity of immune cells involved in the cascade of reactions associated with inflammatory responses, proliferation, apoptosis and cell regeneration. Based on these data nowadays new highly selective approaches to the diagnosis of the skin and the creation of cosmetic agents for the prevention of aging are developed.

[Molecular aspects of vasoprotective peptide KED activity during atherosclerosis and restenosis]

Peptide KED (Lys-Glu-Asp) has vasoprotective effects and is effective substance in treatment of of atherosclerosis and other cardio-vascular disorders in elderly people. One of the probable mechanisms of biological activity of this peptide is epigenetic genes regulation. These genes can coding proteins, which are markers of endothelium functional activity. The goal of investigation was to study the KED peptide effect on signal molecules expression in normal, atherosclerotic and restenotic endothelium in vitro. It was shown, that KED peptide has normalized endothelin-1 expression, which increased during atherosclerosis and restenosis. KED peptide also restorates cells interactions by connexin expression. Geroprotective effect of KED peptide is realized by increasing of sirtuin1 expression, which has took part in DNA reparation.

[Suppression of alternative telomere lengthening in cancer cells with reverse transcriptase inhibitors]

Telomerase is a ribonucleoprotein enzyme that elongates telomeres and therefore maintains chromosomal stability in germline, and in the majority of cancer cells, during cell doubling. However, up to 30 % of human tumors of different types do not express telomerase, but instead use an alternative lengthening of telomeres (ALT). Here authors show that human tumor-derived ALT cell lines express a LINE-1 (L1) retrotransposon, which suggests its participation in telomere maintenance, possibly by a «slippage» mechanism of telomeric DNA synthesis. Moreover, suppression of the L1 encoded reverse transcriptase activity using an antisense strategy, or treatment of the ALT cells with the reverse transcriptase inhibitor 3'-azido-2',3'-dideoxythymidine (AZT), induces progressive telomere loss, arrest in G2-phase of the cell cycle, and, eventually, in cancer cell death. This finding suggests an exciting opportunity for the cure of up to 30 % of cancer cases.

[The effect of vascular peptide bioregulator on the microcirculation in the brain cortex of old rats]

Using a TV device to study brain microcirculation, we found that after a course of vascular peptide bioregulator the density of microvascular network of pia matter of old rats (22-24 months) sensomotor cortex increased about 2,5-2,8 times compared to control old rates; and noradrenaline-induced constriction reactions and acetylcholine-induced dilative reactions of the pial arterioles increased significantly. This perfusion in the tissue of the cerebral cortex is not increased, but the degree of blood oxygen saturation in the microvasculature of this tissue region raised.

["Protein of senility" CCL11, "protein of juvenility" GDF11 and their role in age-related pathology]

The paper presents the latest literature data on the structure and functions of «protein of juvenility» - CCL11 and «protein of senility» - GDF11. Chemokine CCL11 injected to young animals has been shown to lead to degenerative changes in the central nervous system (CNS), disturb cognitive functions and impede tissue regeneration. CCL11 concentration increases dramatically in schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, neuro-inflammatory disorders, cerebral malaria, drug addiction, as well as in atherosclerosis, periodontal disease, macular degeneration, cancer and other pathologies. In contrast to CCL11, differentiation growth factor 11 (GDF11), being administered to old mice, eliminates age-associated hypertrophy of the heart, improves muscle tone and prevents degenerative changes in the CNS, improves cognitive functions and enhances tissue regeneration. Its concentration decreases in cardiovascular disease, osteoporosis, and other «diseases of old age». At the same time, the higher the GDF11 level in the blood, the milder myocardial infarction, stroke and other age-related diseases of the cardiovascular system.

Epigenetic mechanisms of peptidergic regulation of gene expression during aging of human cells

Expression levels of genes encoding specific transcription factors and other functionally important proteins vary upon aging of pancreatic and bronchial epithelium cell cultures. The peptides KEDW and AEDL tissue-specifically affect gene expression in pancreatic and bronchial cell cultures, respectively. It is established in this work that the DNA methylation patterns of the PDX1, PAX6, NGN3, NKX2-1, and SCGB1A1 gene promoter regions change upon aging in pancreatic and bronchial cell cultures in correlation with variations in their expression levels. Thus, stable changes in gene expression upon aging of cell cultures could be caused by changes in their promoter methylation patterns. The methylation patterns of the PAX4 gene in pancreatic cells as well as those of the FOXA1, SCGB3A2, and SFTPA1 genes in bronchial cells do not change upon aging and are unaffected by peptides, whereas their expression levels change in both cases. The promoter region of the FOXA2 gene in pancreatic cells contains a small number of methylated CpG sites, their methylation levels being affected by cell culture aging and KEDW, though without any correlation with gene expression levels. The promoter region of the FOXA2 gene is completely unmethylated in bronchial cells irrespective of cell culture age and AEDL action. Changes in promoter methylation might be the cause of age- and peptide-induced variations in expression levels of the PDX1, PAX6, and NGN3 genes in pancreatic cells and NKX2-1 and SCGB1A1 genes in bronchial cells. Expression levels of the PAX4 and FOXA2 genes in pancreatic cells and FOXA1, FOXA2, SCGB3A2, and SFTPA1 genes in bronchial cells seem to be controlled by some other mechanisms.

Effects of Geroprotectors on Age-Related Changes in Proteolytic Digestive Enzyme Activities at Different Lighting Conditions

We studied the effect of melatonin and epithalon on age-related changes in proteolytic digestive enzyme activity in the pancreas and gastric mucosa of rats kept under different lighting conditions. In rats kept under standard illumination, pepsin activity and the total proteolytic activity in the stomach and pancreas increased by the age of 12 months, but then decreased. Constant and natural lighting disturbed the age dynamics of proteolytic digestive enzyme activity. Administration of melatonin and epithalon to animals exposed to constant lighting restored age dynamics of pepsin activity and little affected total proteolytic activity.

[The Role of Cytokines MIC-1/GDF15 in Development of the Old Age Disease]

This review provides information about the structure and basic functions of the cytokine MIC-1/GDF15. MIC-1/GDF15 is normally contained not only in blood, but also expressed on cells of reproductive and nervous system. Its concentration increases in various diseases of the central nervous system, cardiovascular system, thromboembolism, malignant tumors and other pathological conditions, the most common in the elderly. It was demonstrated that the correlation between the level of MIC-1/GDF15 and the severity of the pathological process, disease prognosis, including fatalities, therefore it was named "predictor of death". In gene promoter MIC-1/GDF15 was detected geroprotective binding sites for peptides Lys-Glu, Lys-Glu-Asp, and Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly. Probably, these peptides regulate the synthesis of MIC-1/GDF15, whereby its geroprotective effect may be accounted.

Role of peptide bond in the realization of biological activity of short peptides

We performed a comparative analysis of biological activity of Lys-Glu peptide and its amino acid constituents. It was established that Lys-Glu stimulated proliferation of splenic cells in organotypic culture, while the mixture of glutamic acid and lysine inhibited culture growth. Using the method of molecular docking, we showed that glutamic acid, lysine, and Lys-Glu peptide can interact with different DNA sequences. The energy of interaction and the most beneficial localization of glutamic acid, lysine, and Lys-Glu peptide in DNA molecule was calculated. We demonstrated the interaction of the peptide and amino acids with DNA along the minor groove. The energy of DNA interaction with the peptide is higher than with individual amino acids. The peptide bonds increase the interaction of Lys-Glu peptide with DNA, which potentiates the biological effect on cell proliferation in organotypic culture of splenic cells.

[Correction of impaired glucose tolerance using tetrapeptide (Pancragen) in old female rhesus monkeys]

The aim of the investigation was comparative study of the influence tetrapeptide Pancragen (St. Petersburg Institute of Bioregulation and Gerontology, St. Petersburg) on hormonal function of the pancreas compared to the effect of widely used hypoglycemic drug - glimepiride. The investigation involved 9 old (20-25 years) clinically healthy rhesus monkey females (Macaca mulatta). Five of them were injected with Pancragen (0,05 mg/animal per day during 10 days, intramuscularly) for 10 days; 4 animals received glimepiride (4 mg/animal per day during 10 days, per os). Blood samples were taken from all the animals with subsequent analysis of glucose, insulin and C peptide levels; the manipulation was performed before administration of the drugs, on the background of their administration and after their withdrawal in basal conditions, as well as during glucose tolerance testing. Pancragen and glimepiride administration induced the decrease of blood glucose basal levels in both groups of old monkeys. Pancragen also normalized insulin and C peptide levels suggesting its recovering effect on the disturbed tolerance to glucose in old animals. At the same time, glimepiride administration led to a more expressed and delayed hypoglycemic effect and C peptide secretion stimulation without any significant effect on insulin secretion. The data suggest that Pancragen is effective and safe for correction of age-related imbalance of endocrine pancreatic function, and can be used for elderly patient with disturbed glucose tolerance.

[Adhesion molecule JAM-A, its function and mechanism of epigenetic regulation]

The article represents evidence about structures, properties and functions of adhesion molecule JAM-A/1 belonging to JAM subfamily. This protein plays an important role in epithelial tight junction formation and immune function. Current article focuses on the role of JAM-A protein in pathogenesis associated to ageing: atherosclerosis, apoplexy, thrombosis, hypertension, ophthalmological pathology. We propose short peptides Lys-Glu, Lys-Glu-Asp, and Ala-Glu-Asp-Gly could influence on F11R gene expression that leads to recovery of JAM-A synthesis in cells.

Peptides stimulate expression of signal molecules in neuronal cultures from animals of different age

Molecular mechanisms of the neuroprotective effect of peptide T-33 and cortexin were studied on organotypic cultures of the brain from young and old Wistar rats. The effective concentration of peptide T-33 stimulating proliferative activity of neurons considerably surpassed that of cortexin. Cortexin and peptide T-33 stimulated the expression of serotonin, Ki-67, and vimentin in cells of the brain cortex; peptide T-33 was most effective in this respect.

Peptide regulation of gene expression and protein synthesis in bronchial epithelium

INTRODUCTION

Some studies have shown that peptides have high treatment potential due to their biological activity, harmlessness, and tissue-specific action. Tetrapeptide Ala-Asp-Glu-Leu (ADEL) was effective on models of acute bacterial lung inflammation, fibrosis, and toxic lung damage in several studies.

METHODS

We measured Ki67, Mcl-1, p53, CD79, and NOS-3 protein levels in the 1st, 7th, and 14th passages of bronchoepithelial human embryonic cell cultures. Gene expression of NKX2-1, SCGB1A1, SCGB3A2, FOXA1, FOXA2, MUC4, MUC5AC, and SFTPA1 was measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Using the methods of spectrophotometry, viscometry, and circular dichroism, we studied the ADEL-DNA interaction in vitro.

RESULTS

Peptide ADEL regulates the levels of Ki67, Mcl-1, p53, CD79, and NOS-3 proteins in cell cultures of human bronchial epithelium in various passages. The strongest activating effect of peptide ADEL on bronchial epithelial cell proliferation through Ki67 and Mcl-1 was observed in "old" cell cultures. ADEL regulates the expression of genes involved in bronchial epithelium differentiation: NKX2-1, SCGB1A1, SCGB3A2, FOXA1, and FOXA2. ADEL also activates several genes, which reduced expression correlated with pathological lung development: MUC4, MUC5AC, and SFTPA1. Spectrophotometry, viscometry, and circular dichroism showed ADEL-DNA interaction, with a binding region in the major groove (N7 guanine).

CONCLUSIONS

ADEL can bind to specific DNA regions and regulate gene expression and synthesis of proteins involved in the differentiation and maintenance of functional activity of the bronchial epithelium. Through activation of some specific gene expression, peptide ADEL may protect the bronchial epithelium from pulmonary pathology. ADEL also may have a geroprotective effect on bronchial tissue.

[Molecular mechanisms of cardiovascular disease]

There are the point of molecular personified medicine view the applied importance of studying the expression of a variety of genetic and epigenetic factors (miRNAs, chemokines, cytokines, adhesion molecules, proliferation and apoptosis factors of vessel endothelium) as an innovative approach to the diagnostics and treatment of atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, myocardial infarction. The review has described the data, which is connected with development new biological active vaso- and cardioprotective substances on the peptides base. These substances can regulate the expression of signaling molecules--the molecular markers of cardiovaslular diseases.

Short peptides stimulate serotonin expression in cells of brain cortex

Peptides Glu-Asp-Arg and Lys-Glu-Asp stimulate serotonin expression in aging cultures of brain cortex cells. Peptide regulation of 5-tryptophan hydroxylase gene encoding the enzyme involved in serotonin synthesis was demonstrated by the molecular docking method. The CCTGCC nucleotide sequence in 5-tryptophan hydroxylase gene was found to be complementary to these peptides. Hence, Glu-Asp-Arg and Lys-Glu-Asp peptides epigenetically regulate serotonin synthesis in the brain cortex, which indicates their neuro- and geroprotective activities.

[Molecular aspects of renal desease]

The review considers molecular mechanisms of chronic renal failure and cancer kidney disease. The most important molecules inducing inflammation are cytokines (MCP-1, TNFalpha, IFN-gamma, IL-1,6,8,18), matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2,3,9,14, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) and grow factors (VEGF PDGE FGF). This signal molecules regulate the activity of immune cells and remodeling extracellular matrix (ECM) components taken place in inflammatory reactions, proliferation, apoptosis and also in the differentiation of kidney cells. On the basis of these data nowadays developed new highly selective approaches to diagnosis, prediction, estimation of efficiency of treatment of renal disease and creating of target drugs.

[Molecular-physiological aspects of peptide regulation of function of the retina in retinitis pigmentosa]

Peptide's bioregulators promotes restoration of the physiological activity of the retina in retinitis pigmentosa in older adults and in animal models. The molecular mechanism of physiological activity of peptides is connected with its ability to regulate synthesis of protein markers of differentiation of neurons and retinal pigment epithelium epigenetically.

[Molecular aspects of immunoprotective activity of peptides in spleen during the ageing process]

Vilon, Timogen, Crystagen and R-1 short peptides possess various immunoprotective effects in spleen during its ageing. Both R-1 and Vilon peptides activate T-helpers. The effect of Vilon is provided by decreased level of apoptosis, as well as the effect of R-1 peptide is provided by increased proliferation and differentiation processes. Timogen activates B-cells by decreasing apoptosis level and increasing the proliferation of spleen cells. Crystagen also activates B-cells of the immune system; however, the peptide doesn't cause cell renewal in spleen as it ages.

[Short peptides stimulate skin cell regeneration during ageing]

The actual goal of gerontocosmetology is deal with the research of new effective and harmless low- molecular substances. The influence of LK and AEDG peptides in concentrations 0.05-2.00 ng/ml on organotypic skin cell cultures proliferation in young and old animals were investigated. Peptides stimulated skin fibroblasts proliferation on 29-45% in skin cell cultures of young and old rats. This effect was observed in smaller concentration diapason and level during skin ageing in old cell cultures as compared to young cell cultures. These data open new approach for creation cosmetology substances in the base of LKand AEDG peptides.

[The efficacy of peptide bioregulators of vessels in lower limbs chronic arterial insufficiency treatment in old and elderly people]

Atherosclerosis is a leading cause of obliterating diseases of the arteries in 80-90% of cases. The main pathogenetic mechanism is endothelial dysfunction, leading to hypertension, diabetes, congestive heart failure. The desire of modern society to improve the quality of life increases interest of human health in general and sexual health in particular, because the erectile function is an important factor in the quality of life, which makes us look for more effective methods of diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation. The objective of the study was to assess the effectiveness of vasoactive tripeptide Vezugen in patients with vasculogenic erectile dysfunction as manifestation of atherosclerosis. Treatment results of erectile dysfunction in 41 patients were studied. A comparative analysis of clinical and instrumental parameters of blood flow in the main penile arteries before and after monotherapy was undertaken. The results show that the blood flow through the main artery of the penis after Vezugen treatment significantly improved both clinical and by objective indicators.