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Liu H, Yang H, You M, Zhang S, Huang S, Tan X, Liu Q, Jiang C, Xie L. Discovery of Potential Drug Targeting Key Genes in Alzheimer's Disease: Insights from Transcriptome Analysis and Molecular Docking. J Mol Neurosci 2024; 74:56. [PMID: 38802701 DOI: 10.1007/s12031-024-02208-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder that presents a significant global health challenge. To explore drugs targeting key genes in AD, R software was used to analyze the data of single nuclei transcriptome from human cerebral frontal cortex in AD, and the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were screened. Then the gene ontology (GO) analysis, Kyoto gene and genome encyclopedia (KEGG) pathway enrichment and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network were analyzed. The hub genes were calculated by Cytoscape software. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation were used to evaluate and visualize the binding between candidate drugs and key genes. A total of 564 DEGs were screened, and the hub genes were ISG15, STAT1, MX1, IFIT3, IFIT2, RSAD2, IFIT1, IFI44, IFI44L and DDX58. Enrichment terms mainly included response to virus, IFN-γ signaling pathway and virus infection. Diclofenac had good binding effect with IFI44 and IFI44L. Potential drugs may act on key gene targets and then regulate biological pathways such as virus response and IFN-γ-mediated signal pathway, so as to achieve anti-virus, improve immune balance and reduce inflammatory response, and thus play a role in anti-AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanjie Liu
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, Sichuan, China
| | - Hui Yang
- Chengdu Shuangliu Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610200, Sichuan, China
| | - Maochun You
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, Sichuan, China
| | - Siyu Zhang
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, Sichuan, China
| | - Sihan Huang
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, Sichuan, China
| | - Xin Tan
- Affiliated Reproductive & Women-Children Hospital, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610041, Sichuan, China
| | - Qi Liu
- Acupuncture and Tuina School, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xi'an, 712046, Shaanxi, China
| | - Cen Jiang
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, Sichuan, China
| | - Lushuang Xie
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, Sichuan, China.
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Manoutcharian K, Gevorkian G. Recombinant Antibody Fragments for Immunotherapy of Parkinson's Disease. BioDrugs 2024; 38:249-257. [PMID: 38280078 PMCID: PMC10912140 DOI: 10.1007/s40259-024-00646-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/29/2024]
Abstract
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common age-related neurodegenerative disorder. Multiple genetic and environmental factors leading to progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SN) and consequent depletion of dopamine were described. Current clinical approaches, such as dopamine replacement or deep brain stimulation using surgically implanted probes, provide symptomatic relief but cannot modify disease progression. Therefore, disease-modifying therapeutic tools are urgently needed. Immunotherapy approaches, including passive transfer of protective antibodies and their fragments, have shown therapeutic efficacy in several animal models of neurodegenerative diseases, including PD. Recombinant antibody fragments are promising alternatives to conventional full-length antibodies. Modern computational approaches and molecular biology tools, directed evolution methodology, and the design of tissue-penetrating fusion peptides allowed for the development of recombinant antibody fragments with superior specificity and affinity, reduced immunogenicity, the capacity to target hidden epitopes and cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB), higher solubility and stability, the ability to refold after heat denaturation, and inexpensive large-scale production. In addition, antibody fragments do not induce microglia Fcγ receptor (FcγR)-mediated proinflammatory response and tissue damage in the central nervous system (CNS), because they lack the Fc portion of the immunoglobulin molecule. In the present review, we summarized data on recombinant antibody fragments evaluated as immunotherapeutics in preclinical models of PD and discussed their potential for developing therapeutic and preventive protocols for patients with PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karen Manoutcharian
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomedicas, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM), Apartado Postal 70228, Cuidad Universitaria, CP 04510, Mexico, DF, Mexico
| | - Goar Gevorkian
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomedicas, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM), Apartado Postal 70228, Cuidad Universitaria, CP 04510, Mexico, DF, Mexico.
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Chen J, Chen JS, Li S, Zhang F, Deng J, Zeng LH, Tan J. Amyloid Precursor Protein: A Regulatory Hub in Alzheimer's Disease. Aging Dis 2024; 15:201-225. [PMID: 37307834 PMCID: PMC10796103 DOI: 10.14336/ad.2023.0308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Decades of research have demonstrated an incontrovertible role of amyloid-β (Aβ) in the etiology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, the overemphasis on the pathological impacts of Aβ may obscure the role of its metabolic precursor, amyloid precursor protein (APP), as a significant hub in the occurrence and progression of AD. The complicated enzymatic processing, ubiquitous receptor-like properties, and abundant expression of APP in the brain, as well as its close links with systemic metabolism, mitochondrial function and neuroinflammation, imply that APP plays multifaceted roles in AD. In this review, we briefly describe the evolutionarily conserved biological characteristics of APP, including its structure, functions and enzymatic processing. We also discuss the possible involvement of APP and its enzymatic metabolites in AD, both detrimental and beneficial. Finally, we describe pharmacological agents or genetic approaches with the capability to reduce APP expression or inhibit its cellular internalization, which can ameliorate multiple aspects of AD pathologies and halt disease progression. These approaches provide a basis for further drug development to combat this terrible disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiang Chen
- Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China.
- Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China.
| | - Jun-Sheng Chen
- Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China.
- Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China.
| | - Song Li
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Dalian Medical University, Dalian, Liaoning, China.
| | - Fengning Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China.
- Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China.
| | - Jie Deng
- Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China.
- Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China.
| | - Ling-Hui Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University City College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jun Tan
- Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China.
- Key Laboratory of Endemic and Ethnic Diseases, Ministry of Education, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China.
- Key Laboratory of Novel Targets and Drug Study for Neural Repair of Zhejiang Province, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University City College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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