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Fountain WA, Bopp TS, Bene M, Walston JD. Metabolic dysfunction and the development of physical frailty: an aging war of attrition. GeroScience 2024; 46:3711-3721. [PMID: 38400874 PMCID: PMC11226579 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-024-01101-7] [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: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The World Health Organization recently declared 2021-2030 the decade of healthy aging. Such emphasis on healthy aging requires an understanding of the biologic challenges aging populations face. Physical frailty is a syndrome of vulnerability that puts a subset of older adults at high risk for adverse health outcomes including functional and cognitive decline, falls, hospitalization, and mortality. The physiology driving physical frailty is complex with age-related biological changes, dysregulated stress response systems, chronic inflammatory pathway activation, and altered energy metabolism all likely contributing. Indeed, a series of recent studies suggests circulating metabolomic distinctions can be made between frail and non-frail older adults. For example, marked restrictions on glycolytic and mitochondrial energy production have been independently observed in frail older adults and collectively appear to yield a reliance on the highly fatigable ATP-phosphocreatine (PCr) energy system. Further, there is evidence that age-associated impairments in the primary ATP generating systems (glycolysis, TCA cycle, electron transport) yield cumulative deficits and fail to adequately support the ATP-PCr system. This in turn may acutely contribute to several major components of the physical frailty phenotype including muscular fatigue, weakness, slow walking speed and, over time, result in low physical activity and accelerate reductions in lean body mass. This review describes specific age-associated metabolic declines and how they can collectively lead to metabolic inflexibility, ATP-PCr reliance, and the development of physical frailty. Further investigation remains necessary to understand the etiology of age-associated metabolic deficits and develop targeted preventive strategies that maintain robust metabolic health in older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- William A Fountain
- Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Taylor S Bopp
- Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Michael Bene
- Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Jeremy D Walston
- Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA.
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2
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Pinelli M, Makdissi S, Scur M, Parsons BD, Baker K, Otley A, MacIntyre B, Nguyen HD, Kim PK, Stadnyk AW, Di Cara F. Peroxisomal cholesterol metabolism regulates yap-signaling, which maintains intestinal epithelial barrier function and is altered in Crohn's disease. Cell Death Dis 2024; 15:536. [PMID: 39069546 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-024-06925-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2024] [Revised: 07/08/2024] [Accepted: 07/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Intestinal epithelial cells line the luminal surface to establish the intestinal barrier, where the cells play essential roles in the digestion of food, absorption of nutrients and water, protection from microbial infections, and maintaining symbiotic interactions with the commensal microbial populations. Maintaining and coordinating all these functions requires tight regulatory signaling, which is essential for intestinal homeostasis and organismal health. Dysfunction of intestinal epithelial cells, indeed, is linked to gastrointestinal disorders such as irritable bowel syndrome, inflammatory bowel disease, and gluten-related enteropathies. Emerging evidence suggests that peroxisome metabolic functions are crucial in maintaining intestinal epithelial cell functions and intestinal epithelium regeneration and, therefore, homeostasis. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanisms by which peroxisome metabolism impacts enteric health using the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster and murine model organisms and clinical samples. We show that peroxisomes control cellular cholesterol, which in turn regulates the conserved yes-associated protein-signaling and contributes to intestinal epithelial structure and epithelial barrier function. Moreover, analysis of intestinal organoid cultures derived from biopsies of patients affected by Crohn's Disease revealed that the dysregulation of peroxisome number, excessive cellular cholesterol, and inhibition of Yap-signaling are markers of disease and could be novel diagnostic and/or therapeutic targets for treating Crohn's Disease. Our studies provided mechanistic insights on peroxisomal signaling in intestinal epithelial cell functions and identified cholesterol as a novel metabolic regulator of yes-associated protein-signaling in tissue homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marinella Pinelli
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, Izaak Walton Killam (IWK) Health Centre, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Stephanie Makdissi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, Izaak Walton Killam (IWK) Health Centre, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Michal Scur
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Brendon D Parsons
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Kristi Baker
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Anthony Otley
- Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, Izaak Walton Killam (IWK) Health Centre, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Brad MacIntyre
- Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, Izaak Walton Killam (IWK) Health Centre, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Huong D Nguyen
- Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, Izaak Walton Killam (IWK) Health Centre, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Peter K Kim
- The Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Andrew W Stadnyk
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, Izaak Walton Killam (IWK) Health Centre, Halifax, NS, Canada
- Department of Pathology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada
| | - Francesca Di Cara
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada.
- Department of Pediatrics, Dalhousie University, Izaak Walton Killam (IWK) Health Centre, Halifax, NS, Canada.
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3
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Blanchard CE, Gomeiz AT, Avery K, Gazzah EE, Alsubaie AM, Sikaroodi M, Chiari Y, Ward C, Sanchez J, Espina V, Petricoin E, Baldelli E, Pierobon M. Signaling dynamics in coexisting monoclonal cell subpopulations unveil mechanisms of resistance to anti-cancer compounds. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:377. [PMID: 39061010 PMCID: PMC11282632 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-024-01742-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/06/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tumor heterogeneity is a main contributor of resistance to anti-cancer targeted agents though it has proven difficult to study. Unfortunately, model systems to functionally characterize and mechanistically study dynamic responses to treatment across coexisting subpopulations of cancer cells remain a missing need in oncology. METHODS Using single cell cloning and expansion techniques, we established monoclonal cell subpopulations (MCPs) from a commercially available epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant non-small cell lung cancer cell line. We then used this model sensitivity to the EGFR inhibitor osimertinib across coexisting cell populations within the same tumor. Pathway-centered signaling dynamics associated with response to treatment and morphological characteristics of the MCPs were assessed using Reverse Phase Protein Microarray. Signaling nodes differentially activated in MCPs less sensitive to treatment were then pharmacologically inhibited to identify target signaling proteins putatively implicated in promoting drug resistance. RESULTS MCPs demonstrated highly heterogeneous sensitivities to osimertinib. Cell viability after treatment increased > 20% compared to the parental line in selected MCPs, whereas viability decreased by 75% in other MCPs. Reduced treatment response was detected in MCPs with higher proliferation rates, EGFR L858R expression, activation of EGFR binding partners and downstream signaling molecules, and expression of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition markers. Levels of activation of EGFR binding partners and MCPs' proliferation rates were also associated with response to c-MET and IGFR inhibitors. CONCLUSIONS MCPs represent a suitable model system to characterize heterogeneous biomolecular behaviors in preclinical studies and identify and functionally test biological mechanisms associated with resistance to targeted therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire E Blanchard
- School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, 10920 George Mason Circle, Room 2016, Manassas, VA, 20110, USA
| | - Alison T Gomeiz
- School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, 10920 George Mason Circle, Room 2016, Manassas, VA, 20110, USA
| | - Kyle Avery
- School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, 10920 George Mason Circle, Room 2016, Manassas, VA, 20110, USA
| | - Emna El Gazzah
- School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, 10920 George Mason Circle, Room 2016, Manassas, VA, 20110, USA
| | - Abduljalil M Alsubaie
- School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, 10920 George Mason Circle, Room 2016, Manassas, VA, 20110, USA
| | - Masoumeh Sikaroodi
- Microbiome Analysis Center, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, 20110, USA
| | - Ylenia Chiari
- Department of Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA
- School of Life Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2TQ, UK
| | - Chelsea Ward
- School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, 10920 George Mason Circle, Room 2016, Manassas, VA, 20110, USA
| | - Jonathan Sanchez
- School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, 10920 George Mason Circle, Room 2016, Manassas, VA, 20110, USA
| | - Virginia Espina
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, 20110, USA
| | - Emanuel Petricoin
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, 20110, USA
| | - Elisa Baldelli
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, 20110, USA
| | - Mariaelena Pierobon
- School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, 10920 George Mason Circle, Room 2016, Manassas, VA, 20110, USA.
- Center for Applied Proteomics and Molecular Medicine, George Mason University, Manassas, VA, 20110, USA.
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4
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Larsen K, Petrovski G, Boix-Lemonche G. Alternative cryoprotective agent for corneal stroma-derived mesenchymal stromal cells for clinical applications. Sci Rep 2024; 14:15788. [PMID: 38982099 PMCID: PMC11233711 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65469-4] [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: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Cryopreservation of human corneal stroma-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (hCS-MSCs) with dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) as a cryoprotective agent (CPA) has not been previously compared to that with glycerol under standard conditions. The hCS-MSCs were hereby cryopreserved with both compounds using a freezing rate of 1 °C/minute. The CPAs were tested by different concentrations in complete Minimum Essential Medium (MEM) approved for good manufacturing practice, and a medium frequently used in cell laboratory culturing-Dulbecco's modified eagle serum. The hCS-MSCs were isolated from cadaveric human corneas obtained from the Norwegian Eye Bank, and immunophenotypically characterized by flow cytometry before and after cryopreservation. The survival rate, the cellular adhesion, proliferation and cell surface coverage after cryopreservation of hCS-MSCs has been studied. The hCS-MSCs were immunofluorescent stained and examined for their morphology microscopically. The results showed that cryopreservation of hCS-MSCs in MEM with 10% glycerol gives a higher proliferation rate compared to other cryopreserving media tested. Based on the results, hCS-MSCs can safely be cryopreserved using glycerol instead of the traditional use of DMSO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristoffer Larsen
- Center for Eye Research and Innovative Diagnostics, Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Goran Petrovski
- Center for Eye Research and Innovative Diagnostics, Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Ophthalmology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
- School of Medicine, University of Split, 21000, Split, Croatia
- UKLONetwork, University St. Kliment Ohridski -Bitola, 7000, Bitola, North Macedonia
| | - Gerard Boix-Lemonche
- Center for Eye Research and Innovative Diagnostics, Department of Ophthalmology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.
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Singuru G, Pulipaka S, Shaikh A, Sahoo S, Jangam A, Thennati R, Kotamraju S. Mitochondria targeted esculetin administration improves insulin resistance and hyperglycemia-induced atherosclerosis in db/db mice. J Mol Med (Berl) 2024; 102:927-945. [PMID: 38758435 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-024-02449-1] [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: 11/14/2023] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024]
Abstract
The development and progression of hyperglycemia (HG) and HG-associated atherosclerosis are exacerbated by mitochondrial dysfunction due to dysregulated mitochondria-derived ROS generation. We recently synthesized a novel mitochondria-targeted esculetin (Mito-Esc) and tested its dose-response therapeutic efficacy in mitigating HG-induced atherosclerosis in db/db mice. In comparison to simvastatin and pioglitazone, Mito-Esc administration resulted in a considerable reduction in body weights and improved glucose homeostasis, possibly by reducing hepatic gluconeogenesis, as indicated by a reduction in glycogen content, non-esterified free fatty acids (NEFA) levels, and fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase) activity. Interestingly, Mito-Esc treatment, by regulating phospho-IRS and phospho-AKT levels, greatly improved palmitate-induced insulin resistance, resulting in enhanced glucose uptake in adipocytes and HepG2 cells. Also, and importantly, Mito-Esc administration prevented HG-induced atheromatous plaque formation and lipid accumulation in the descending aorta. In addition, Mito-Esc administration inhibited the HG-mediated increase in VACM, ICAM, and MAC3 levels in the aortic tissue, as well as reduced the serum pro-inflammatory cytokines and markers of senescence. In line with this, Mito-Esc significantly inhibited monocyte adherence to human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) treated with high glucose and reduced high glucose-induced premature senescence in HAECs by activating the AMPK-SIRT1 pathway. In contrast, Mito-Esc failed to regulate high glucose-induced endothelial cell senescence under AMPK/SIRT1-depleted conditions. Together, the therapeutic efficacy of Mito-Esc in the mitigation of hyperglycemia-induced insulin resistance and the associated atherosclerosis is in part mediated by potentiating the AMPK-SIRT1 axis. KEY MESSAGES: Mito-Esc administration significantly mitigates diabetes-induced atherosclerosis. Mito-Esc improves hyperglycemia (HG)-associated insulin resistance. Mito-Esc inhibits HG-induced vascular senescence and inflammation in the aorta. Mito-Esc-mediated activation of the AMPK-SIRT1 axis regulates HG-induced endothelial cell senescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gajalakshmi Singuru
- Department of Applied Biology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, 500007, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - Sriravali Pulipaka
- Department of Applied Biology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, 500007, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - Altab Shaikh
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Ghaziabad, 201002, India
- Department of Organic Synthesis and Process Chemistry, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, 500007, India
| | - Shashikanta Sahoo
- Department of Applied Biology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, 500007, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - Aruna Jangam
- Department of Applied Biology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, 500007, India
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - Rajamannar Thennati
- High Impact Innovations-Sustainable Health Solutions (HISHS), Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., Vadodara, 390012, India
| | - Srigiridhar Kotamraju
- Department of Applied Biology, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, 500007, India.
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research, Ghaziabad, 201002, India.
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6
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Altangerel N, Neuman BW, Hemmer PR, Yakovlev VV, Sokolov AV, Scully MO. A Novel Non-Destructive Rapid Tool for Estimating Amino Acid Composition and Secondary Structures of Proteins in Solution. SMALL METHODS 2024; 8:e2301191. [PMID: 38485686 PMCID: PMC11260246 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202301191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
Amino-acid protein composition plays an important role in biology, medicine, and nutrition. Here, a groundbreaking protein analysis technique that quickly estimates amino acid composition and secondary structure across various protein sizes, while maintaining their natural states is introduced and validated. This method combines multivariate statistics and the thermostable Raman interaction profiling (TRIP) technique, eliminating the need for complex preparations. In order to validate the approach, the Raman spectra are constructed of seven proteins of varying sizes by utilizing their amino acid frequencies and the Raman spectra of individual amino acids. These constructed spectra exhibit a close resemblance to the actual measured Raman spectra. Specific vibrational modes tied to free amino and carboxyl termini of the amino acids disappear as signals linked to secondary structures emerged under TRIP conditions. Furthermore, the technique is used inversely to successfully estimate amino acid compositions and secondary structures of unknown proteins across a range of sizes, achieving impressive accuracy ranging between 1.47% and 5.77% of root mean square errors (RMSE). These results extend the uses for TRIP beyond interaction profiling, to probe amino acid composition and structure.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Marlan O Scully
- Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
- Baylor University, Waco, TX, 76798, USA
- Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA
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7
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Khoshnam SE, Moalemnia A, Anbiyaee O, Farzaneh M, Ghaderi S. LncRNA MALAT1 and Ischemic Stroke: Pathogenesis and Opportunities. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:4369-4380. [PMID: 38087169 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03853-3] [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: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
Ischemic stroke (IS) stands as a prominent cause of mortality and long-term disability around the world. It arises primarily from a disruption in cerebral blood flow, inflicting severe neural injuries. Hence, there is a pressing need to comprehensively understand the intricate mechanisms underlying IS and identify novel therapeutic targets. Recently, long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as a novel class of regulatory molecules with the potential to attenuate pathogenic mechanisms following IS. Among these lncRNAs, MALAT1 (metastasis-associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1) has been extensively studied due to its involvement in the pathophysiological processes of IS. In this review, we provide an in-depth analysis of the essential role of MALAT1 in the development and progression of both pathogenic and protective mechanisms following IS. These mechanisms include oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, cell death signaling, blood brain barrier dysfunction, and angiogenesis. Furthermore, we summarize the impact of MALAT1 on the susceptibility and severity of IS. This review highlights the potential risks associated with the therapeutic use of MALAT1 for IS, which are attributable to the stimulatory action of MALAT1 on ischemia/reperfusion injury. Ultimately, this review sheds light on the potential molecular mechanisms and associated signaling pathways underlying MALAT1 expression post-IS, with the aim of uncovering potential therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seyed Esmaeil Khoshnam
- Persian Gulf Physiology Research Center, Medical Basic Sciences Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
| | - Arash Moalemnia
- Faculty of Medicine, Dezful University of Medical Sciences, Dezful, Iran
| | - Omid Anbiyaee
- School of Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Center, Namazi Hospital, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Maryam Farzaneh
- Fertility, Infertility and Perinatology Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
| | - Shahab Ghaderi
- Department of Neuroscience, School of Science and Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
- Neurophysiology Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
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8
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Elvira-Blázquez D, Fernández-Justel JM, Arcas A, Statello L, Goñi E, González J, Ricci B, Zaccara S, Raimondi I, Huarte M. YTHDC1 m 6A-dependent and m 6A-independent functions converge to preserve the DNA damage response. EMBO J 2024:10.1038/s44318-024-00153-x. [PMID: 38951610 DOI: 10.1038/s44318-024-00153-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 05/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Cells have evolved a robust and highly regulated DNA damage response to preserve their genomic integrity. Although increasing evidence highlights the relevance of RNA regulation, our understanding of its impact on a fully efficient DNA damage response remains limited. Here, through a targeted CRISPR-knockout screen, we identify RNA-binding proteins and modifiers that participate in the p53 response. Among the top hits, we find the m6A reader YTHDC1 as a master regulator of p53 expression. YTHDC1 binds to the transcription start sites of TP53 and other genes involved in the DNA damage response, promoting their transcriptional elongation. YTHDC1 deficiency also causes the retention of introns and therefore aberrant protein production of key DNA damage factors. While YTHDC1-mediated intron retention requires m6A, TP53 transcriptional pause-release is promoted by YTHDC1 independently of m6A. Depletion of YTHDC1 causes genomic instability and aberrant cancer cell proliferation mediated by genes regulated by YTHDC1. Our results uncover YTHDC1 as an orchestrator of the DNA damage response through distinct mechanisms of co-transcriptional mRNA regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Elvira-Blázquez
- Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Institute of Health Research of Navarra (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - José Miguel Fernández-Justel
- Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Institute of Health Research of Navarra (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Aida Arcas
- Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Institute of Health Research of Navarra (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
- Clarivate, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Luisa Statello
- Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Institute of Health Research of Navarra (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Enrique Goñi
- Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Institute of Health Research of Navarra (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Jovanna González
- Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain
- Institute of Health Research of Navarra (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain
| | - Benedetta Ricci
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sara Zaccara
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ivan Raimondi
- New York Genome Center, New York, NY, USA.
- Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
| | - Maite Huarte
- Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA), University of Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
- Institute of Health Research of Navarra (IdiSNA), Pamplona, Spain.
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9
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Beaumont E, Müller-Trutwin M, Huot N. SARS-CoV-2 viral persistence in lung alveolar macrophages is controlled by IFN-γ and NK cells. Genes Immun 2024:10.1038/s41435-024-00284-5. [PMID: 38926590 DOI: 10.1038/s41435-024-00284-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Affiliation(s)
- Emma Beaumont
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris-Cité, HIV, Inflammation and Persistence Unit, Paris, France
| | - Michaela Müller-Trutwin
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris-Cité, HIV, Inflammation and Persistence Unit, Paris, France.
| | - Nicolas Huot
- Institut Pasteur, Université Paris-Cité, HIV, Inflammation and Persistence Unit, Paris, France
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10
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Mishra S, Sannigrahi A, Ruidas S, Chatterjee S, Roy K, Misra D, Maity BK, Paul R, Ghosh CK, Saha KD, Bhaumik A, Chattopadhyay K. Conformational Switch of a Peptide Provides a Novel Strategy to Design Peptide Loaded Porous Organic Polymer for Pyroptosis Pathway Mediated Cancer Therapy. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2024:e2402953. [PMID: 38923392 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202402953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024]
Abstract
While peptide-based drug development is extensively explored, this strategy has limitations due to rapid excretion from the body (or shorter half-life in the body) and vulnerability to protease-mediated degradation. To overcome these limitations, a novel strategy for the development of a peptide-based anticancer agent is introduced, utilizing the conformation switch property of a chameleon sequence stretch (PEP1) derived from a mycobacterium secretory protein, MPT63. The selected peptide is then loaded into a new porous organic polymer (PG-DFC-POP) synthesized using phloroglucinol and a cresol derivative via a condensation reaction to deliver the peptide selectively to cancer cells. Utilizing ensemble and single-molecule approaches, this peptide undergoes a transition from a disordered to an alpha-helical conformation, triggered by the acidic environment within cancer cells that is demonstrated. This adopted alpha-helical conformation resulted in the formation of proteolysis-resistant oligomers, which showed efficient membrane pore-forming activity selectively for negatively charged phospholipids accumulated in cancer cell membranes. The experimental results demonstrated that the peptide-loaded PG-DFC-POP-PEP1 exhibited significant cytotoxicity in cancer cells, leading to cell death through the Pyroptosis pathway, which is established by monitoring numerous associated events starting from lysosome membrane damage to GSDMD-induced cell membrane demolition. This novel conformational switch-based drug design strategy is believed to have great potential in endogenous environment-responsive cancer therapy and the development of future drug candidates to mitigate cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Snehasis Mishra
- Department of Cell, Developmental, & Integrative Biology, University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA
| | - Achinta Sannigrahi
- Molecular genetics department, University of Texas Southwestern Medical center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Santu Ruidas
- School of Materials Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata, 700032, India
| | - Sujan Chatterjee
- NIPM and SoLs, University of Nevada Las Vegas, Nevada, NV, 89154, USA
| | - Kamalesh Roy
- School of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, 700032, India
| | - Deblina Misra
- Department of Biology, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, 88003, USA
| | - Barun Kumar Maity
- Department of Physics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Rabindranath Paul
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL, 61801, USA
| | - Chandan Kumar Ghosh
- School of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, Jadavpur University, Kolkata, 700032, India
| | - Krishna Das Saha
- Cancer Biology and Inflammatory Disorder Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, 700032, India
| | - Asim Bhaumik
- School of Materials Sciences, Indian Association for the Cultivation of Science, Jadavpur, Kolkata, 700032, India
| | - Krishnananda Chattopadhyay
- Structural Biology and Bioinformatics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkata, 700032, India
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11
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Artimovič P, Špaková I, Macejková E, Pribulová T, Rabajdová M, Mareková M, Zavacká M. The ability of microRNAs to regulate the immune response in ischemia/reperfusion inflammatory pathways. Genes Immun 2024:10.1038/s41435-024-00283-6. [PMID: 38909168 DOI: 10.1038/s41435-024-00283-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/11/2024] [Indexed: 06/24/2024]
Abstract
MicroRNAs play a crucial role in regulating the immune responses induced by ischemia/reperfusion injury. Through their ability to modulate gene expression, microRNAs adjust immune responses by targeting specific genes and signaling pathways. This review focuses on the impact of microRNAs on the inflammatory pathways triggered during ischemia/reperfusion injury and highlights their ability to modulate inflammation, playing a critical role in the pathophysiology of ischemia/reperfusion injury. Dysregulated expression of microRNAs contributes to the pathogenesis of ischemia/reperfusion injury, therefore targeting specific microRNAs offers an opportunity to restore immune homeostasis and improve patient outcomes. Understanding the complex network of immunoregulatory microRNAs could provide novel therapeutic interventions aimed at attenuating excessive inflammation and preserving tissue integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Artimovič
- Department of Medical and Clinical Biochemistry, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Faculty of Medicine, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Ivana Špaková
- Department of Medical and Clinical Biochemistry, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Faculty of Medicine, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Ema Macejková
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Faculty of Medicine, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Timea Pribulová
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Faculty of Medicine, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Miroslava Rabajdová
- Department of Medical and Clinical Biochemistry, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Faculty of Medicine, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Mária Mareková
- Department of Medical and Clinical Biochemistry, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Faculty of Medicine, Košice, Slovakia
| | - Martina Zavacká
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Faculty of Medicine, Košice, Slovakia.
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12
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Piszker W, Simunovic M. The fusion of physics and biology in early mammalian embryogenesis. Curr Top Dev Biol 2024; 160:31-64. [PMID: 38937030 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2024.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Biomechanics in embryogenesis is a dynamic field intertwining the physical forces and biological processes that shape the first days of a mammalian embryo. From the first cell fate bifurcation during blastulation to the complex symmetry breaking and tissue remodeling in gastrulation, mechanical cues appear critical in cell fate decisions and tissue patterning. Recent strides in mouse and human embryo culture, stem cell modeling of mammalian embryos, and biomaterial design have shed light on the role of cellular forces, cell polarization, and the extracellular matrix in influencing cell differentiation and morphogenesis. This chapter highlights the essential functions of biophysical mechanisms in blastocyst formation, embryo implantation, and early gastrulation where the interplay between the cytoskeleton and extracellular matrix stiffness orchestrates the intricacies of embryogenesis and placenta specification. The advancement of in vitro models like blastoids, gastruloids, and other types of embryoids, has begun to faithfully recapitulate human development stages, offering new avenues for exploring the biophysical underpinnings of early development. The integration of synthetic biology and advanced biomaterials is enhancing the precision with which we can mimic and study these processes. Looking ahead, we emphasize the potential of CRISPR-mediated genomic perturbations coupled with live imaging to uncover new mechanosensitive pathways and the application of engineered biomaterials to fine-tune the mechanical conditions conducive to embryonic development. This synthesis not only bridges the gap between experimental models and in vivo conditions to advancing fundamental developmental biology of mammalian embryogenesis, but also sets the stage for leveraging biomechanical insights to inform regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Walter Piszker
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Mijo Simunovic
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Columbia University, New York, NY, United States; Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States; Department of Genetics and Development, Columbia Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States.
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13
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Aslan H, Renzi G, Angeli A, D'Agostino I, Ronca R, Massardi ML, Tavani C, Carradori S, Ferraroni M, Governa P, Manetti F, Carta F, Supuran CT. Benzenesulfonamide decorated dihydropyrimidin(thi)ones: carbonic anhydrase profiling and antiproliferative activity. RSC Med Chem 2024; 15:1929-1941. [PMID: 38911163 PMCID: PMC11187566 DOI: 10.1039/d4md00101j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/25/2024] Open
Abstract
In the last decades, carbonic anhydrases (CAs) have become the top investigated innovative pharmacological targets and, in particular, isoforms IX and XII have been widely studied due to the evidence of their overexpression in hypoxic tumors. The frantic race to find new anticancer agents places the quick preparation of large libraries of putative bioactive compounds as the basis of a successful drug discovery and development programme. In this context, multi-component and, in general, one-step reactions are becoming very popular and, among them, Biginelli's reaction gave clean and easy-to-isolate products. Thus, we synthesized a series of Biginelli's products (10-17a-b) and similar derivatives (20-21) bearing the benzenesulfonamide moiety, which is known to inhibit CA enzymes. Through the stopped-flow technique, we were able to assess their ability to inhibit the targeted CAs IX and XII in the nanomolar range with promising selectivity over the physiologically relevant isoforms I and II. Crystallography studies and docking simulations helped us to gain insight into the interaction patterns established in the enzyme-inhibitor complex. From a chemical similarity-based screening of in-house libraries of compounds, a diphenylpyrimidine (23) emerged. The surprisingly potent inhibitory activity of 23 for CAs IX and XII along with its strong antiproliferative effect on two (triple-negative breast cancer MDA-MB-231 and glioblastoma U87MG) cell lines laid the foundation for further investigation, again confirming the key role of CAs in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hakan Aslan
- Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Arts, Sinop University Sinop Turkey
- NEUROFARBA Department, Sezione di Scienze Farmaceutiche, University of Florence Sesto Fiorentino Florence 50019 Italy
| | - Gioele Renzi
- NEUROFARBA Department, Sezione di Scienze Farmaceutiche, University of Florence Sesto Fiorentino Florence 50019 Italy
| | - Andrea Angeli
- NEUROFARBA Department, Sezione di Scienze Farmaceutiche, University of Florence Sesto Fiorentino Florence 50019 Italy
| | - Ilaria D'Agostino
- NEUROFARBA Department, Sezione di Scienze Farmaceutiche, University of Florence Sesto Fiorentino Florence 50019 Italy
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Pisa 56126 Pisa Italy
| | - Roberto Ronca
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia 25123 Brescia Italy
| | - Maria Luisa Massardi
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia 25123 Brescia Italy
| | - Camilla Tavani
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia 25123 Brescia Italy
| | - Simone Carradori
- Department of Pharmacy, "G. d'Annunzio" University of Chieti-Pescara 66100 Chieti Italy
| | - Marta Ferraroni
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence Sesto Fiorentino Florence 50019 Italy
| | - Paolo Governa
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena 53100 Siena Italy
| | - Fabrizio Manetti
- Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena 53100 Siena Italy
| | - Fabrizio Carta
- NEUROFARBA Department, Sezione di Scienze Farmaceutiche, University of Florence Sesto Fiorentino Florence 50019 Italy
| | - Claudiu T Supuran
- NEUROFARBA Department, Sezione di Scienze Farmaceutiche, University of Florence Sesto Fiorentino Florence 50019 Italy
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14
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Shahid S, Khan A, Shahid W, Rehan M, Asif R, Nisar H, Kanwal Q, Choi JR. Nanoenzymes: A Radiant Hope for the Early Diagnosis and Effective Treatment of Breast and Ovarian Cancers. Int J Nanomedicine 2024; 19:5813-5835. [PMID: 38895143 PMCID: PMC11184228 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s460712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast and ovarian cancers, despite having chemotherapy and surgical treatment, still have the lowest survival rate. Experimental stages using nanoenzymes/nanozymes for ovarian cancer diagnosis and treatment are being carried out, and correspondingly the current treatment approaches to treat breast cancer have a lot of adverse side effects, which is the reason why researchers and scientists are looking for new strategies with less side effects. Nanoenzymes have intrinsic enzyme-like activities and can reduce the shortcomings of naturally occurring enzymes due to the ease of storage, high stability, less expensive, and enhanced efficiency. In this review, we have discussed various ways in which nanoenzymes are being used to diagnose and treat breast and ovarian cancer. For breast cancer, nanoenzymes and their multi-enzymatic properties can control the level of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells or tissues, for example, oxidase (OXD) and peroxidase (POD) activity can be used to generate ROS, while catalase (CAT) or superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity can scavenge ROS. In the case of ovarian cancer, most commonly nanoceria is being investigated, and also when folic acid is combined with nanoceria there are additional advantages like inhibition of beta galactosidase. Nanocarriers are also used to deliver small interfering RNA that are effective in cancer treatment. Studies have shown that iron oxide nanoparticles are actively being used for drug delivery, similarly ferritin carriers are used for the delivery of nanozymes. Hypoxia is a major factor in ovarian cancer, therefore MnO2-based nanozymes are being used as a therapy. For cancer diagnosis and screening, nanozymes are being used in sonodynamic cancer therapy for cancer diagnosis and screening, whereas biomedical imaging and folic acid gold particles are also being used for image guided treatments. Nanozyme biosensors have been developed to detect ovarian cancer. This review article summarizes a detailed insight into breast and ovarian cancers in light of nanozymes-based diagnostic and therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samiah Shahid
- Research Centre for Health Sciences (RCHS), The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB), The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Ayesha Khan
- Research Centre for Health Sciences (RCHS), The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Wajeehah Shahid
- Department of Physics, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Mehvesh Rehan
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IMBB), The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Roha Asif
- Research Centre for Health Sciences (RCHS), The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Haseeb Nisar
- School of Life Sciences, University of Management and Technology, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Qudsia Kanwal
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Lahore, Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Jeong Ryeol Choi
- School of Electronic Engineering, Kyonggi University, Suwon, Kyeonggi-do, 16227, Republic of Korea
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15
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Yap SY, Butcher T, Spears RJ, McMahon C, Thanasi IA, Baker JR, Chudasama V. Chemo- and regio-selective differential modification of native cysteines on an antibody via the use of dehydroalanine forming reagents. Chem Sci 2024; 15:8557-8568. [PMID: 38846383 PMCID: PMC11151841 DOI: 10.1039/d4sc00392f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Protein modification has garnered increasing interest over the past few decades and has become an important tool in many aspects of chemical biology. In recent years, much effort has focused on site-selective modification strategies that generate more homogenous bioconjugates, and this is particularly so in the antibody modification space. Modifying native antibodies by targeting solvent-accessible cysteines liberated by interchain disulfide reduction is, perhaps, the predominant strategy for achieving more site-selectivity on an antibody scaffold. This is evidenced by numerous approved antibody therapeutics that have utilised cysteine-directed conjugation reagents and the plethora of methods/strategies focused on antibody cysteine modification. However, all of these methods have a common feature in that after the reduction of native solvent-accessible cystines, the liberated cysteines are all reacted in the same manner. Herein, we report the discovery and application of dehydroalanine forming reagents (including novel reagents) capable of regio- and chemo-selectively modifying these cysteines (differentially) on a clinically relevant antibody fragment and a full antibody. We discovered that these reagents could enable differential reactivity between light chain C-terminal cysteines, heavy chain hinge region cysteines (cysteines with an adjacent proline residue, Cys-Pro), and other heavy chain internal cysteines. This differential reactivity was also showcased on small molecules and on the peptide somatostatin. The application of these dehydroalanine forming reagents was exemplified in the preparation of a dually modified antibody fragment and full antibody. Additionally, we discovered that readily available amide coupling agents can be repurposed as dehydroalanine forming reagents, which could be of interest to the broader field of chemical biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Y Yap
- Department of Chemistry, University College London 20 Gordon Street London WC1H 0AJ UK
| | - Tobias Butcher
- Department of Chemistry, University College London 20 Gordon Street London WC1H 0AJ UK
| | - Richard J Spears
- Department of Chemistry, University College London 20 Gordon Street London WC1H 0AJ UK
| | - Clíona McMahon
- Department of Chemistry, University College London 20 Gordon Street London WC1H 0AJ UK
| | - Ioanna A Thanasi
- Department of Chemistry, University College London 20 Gordon Street London WC1H 0AJ UK
| | - James R Baker
- Department of Chemistry, University College London 20 Gordon Street London WC1H 0AJ UK
| | - Vijay Chudasama
- Department of Chemistry, University College London 20 Gordon Street London WC1H 0AJ UK
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16
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Singh V, Singh SK, Sharma R. A novel framework based on explainable AI and genetic algorithms for designing neurological medicines. Sci Rep 2024; 14:12807. [PMID: 38834718 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63561-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The advent of the fourth industrial revolution, characterized by artificial intelligence (AI) as its central component, has resulted in the mechanization of numerous previously labor-intensive activities. The use of in silico tools has become prevalent in the design of biopharmaceuticals. Upon conducting a comprehensive analysis of the genomes of many organisms, it has been discovered that their tissues can generate specific peptides that confer protection against certain diseases. This study aims to identify a selected group of neuropeptides (NPs) possessing favorable characteristics that render them ideal for production as neurological biopharmaceuticals. Until now, the construction of NP classifiers has been the primary focus, neglecting to optimize these characteristics. Therefore, in this study, the task of creating ideal NPs has been formulated as a multi-objective optimization problem. The proposed framework, NPpred, comprises two distinct components: NSGA-NeuroPred and BERT-NeuroPred. The former employs the NSGA-II algorithm to explore and change a population of NPs, while the latter is an interpretable deep learning-based model. The utilization of explainable AI and motifs has led to the proposal of two novel operators, namely p-crossover and p-mutation. An online application has been deployed at https://neuropred.anvil.app for designing an ideal collection of synthesizable NPs from protein sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vishakha Singh
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi, 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India.
| | - Sanjay Kumar Singh
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (BHU), Varanasi, 221005, Uttar Pradesh, India.
| | - Ritesh Sharma
- Department of ICT, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal, 576104, Uttar Pradesh, India
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17
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Rezabakhsh A, Sadaie MR, Ala A, Roosta Y, Habtemariam S, Sahebnasagh A, Khezri MR. STING agonists as promising vaccine adjuvants to boost immunogenicity against SARS-related coronavirus derived infection: possible role of autophagy. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:305. [PMID: 38831299 PMCID: PMC11145937 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-024-01680-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
As a major component of innate immunity and a positive regulator of interferons, the Stimulator of interferon gene (STING) has an immunotherapy potential to govern a variety of infectious diseases. Despite the recent advances regarding vaccines against COVID-19, nontoxic novel adjuvants with the potential to enhance vaccine efficacy are urgently desired. In this connection, it has been well-documented that STING agonists are applied to combat COVID-19. This approach is of major significance for boosting immune responses most likely through an autophagy-dependent manner in susceptible individuals against infection induced by severe acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus (SARS‑CoV‑2). Given that STING agonists exert substantial immunomodulatory impacts under a wide array of pathologic conditions, these agents could be considered novel adjuvants for enhancing immunogenicity against the SARS-related coronavirus. Here, we intend to discuss the recent advances in STING agonists' recruitment to boost innate immune responses upon vaccination against SARS-related coronavirus infections. In light of the primordial role of autophagy modulation, the potential of being an antiviral vaccine adjuvant was also explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aysa Rezabakhsh
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Shahid Madani specialized Heart Hospita, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, University St, Tabriz, 5166615573, Iran.
| | - M Reza Sadaie
- NovoMed Consulting, Biomedical Sciences, Germantown, Maryland, USA
| | - Alireza Ala
- Emergency and Trauma Care Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran
| | - Yousef Roosta
- Hematology, Immune Cell Therapy, and Stem Cells Transplantation Research Center, Clinical Research Institute, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, Iran
| | - Solomon Habtemariam
- Pharmacognosy Research and Herbal Analysis Services UK, University of Greenwich, Kent, UK
| | - Adeleh Sahebnasagh
- Clinical Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran
| | - Mohammad Rafi Khezri
- Reproductive Health Research Center, Clinical Research Institute, Urmia University of Medical Sciences, Urmia, 5715799313, Iran.
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18
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Chen P, Cabral H. Enhancing Targeted Drug Delivery through Cell-Specific Endosomal Escape. ChemMedChem 2024:e202400274. [PMID: 38830827 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202400274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Revised: 06/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Endosome is a major barrier in the intracellular delivery of drugs, especially for biologics, such as proteins, peptides, and nucleic acids. After being endocytosed, these cargos will be trapped inside the endosomal compartments and finally degraded in the lysosomes. Thus, various strategies have been developed to facilitate the escape of cargos from the endosomes to improve the intracellular delivery efficiency. While the majority of the studies are focusing on strengthening the endosomal escape capability to maximize the delivery outcome, recent evidence suggests that a careful control of the endosomal escape process could provide opportunity for targeted drug delivery. In this concept review, we examined current delivery systems that can sense intra-endosomal factors or external stimuli for controlling endosomal escape toward a targeted intracellular delivery of cargos. Furthermore, the prospects and challenges of such strategies are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengwen Chen
- Department of Bioengineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
| | - Horacio Cabral
- Department of Bioengineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan
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19
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Chheda D, Shete S, Tanisha T, Devrao Bahadure S, Sampathi S, Junnuthula V, Dyawanapelly S. Multifaceted therapeutic applications of biomimetic nanovaccines. Drug Discov Today 2024; 29:103991. [PMID: 38663578 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2024.103991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
The development of vaccines has had a crucial role in preventing and controlling infectious diseases on a global scale. Innovative formulations of biomimetic vaccines inspired by natural defense mechanisms combine long-term antigen stability, immunogenicity, and targeted delivery with sustained release. Types of biomimetic nanoparticle (NP) include bacterial outer membrane vesicles (OMVs), cell membrane-decorated NPs, liposomes, and exosomes. These approaches have shown potential for cancer immunotherapy, and in antibacterial and antiviral applications. Despite current challenges, nanovaccines have immense potential to transform disease prevention and treatment, promising therapeutic approaches for the future. In this review, we highlight recent advances in biomimetic vaccine design, mechanisms of action, and clinical applications, emphasizing their role in personalized medicine, targeted drug delivery, and immunomodulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dev Chheda
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, India
| | - Sukhen Shete
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, India
| | - Tanisha Tanisha
- Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Hajipur, India
| | - Sumedh Devrao Bahadure
- Department of Pharmaceutics, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Guwahati, India
| | - Sunitha Sampathi
- Department of Pharmacy, School of Pharmacy, Vishwakarma University, Pune, Maharashtra, India.
| | | | - Sathish Dyawanapelly
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technology, Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, India.
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20
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Xu J, Chen D, Wu W, Ji X, Dou X, Gao X, Li J, Zhang X, Huang WE, Xiong D. A metabolic map and artificial intelligence-aided identification of nasopharyngeal carcinoma via a single-cell Raman platform. Br J Cancer 2024; 130:1635-1646. [PMID: 38454165 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-024-02637-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a complex cancer influenced by various factors. This study explores the use of single-cell Raman spectroscopy as a potential diagnostic tool for investigating biomolecular changes associated with NPC carcinogenesis. METHODS Seven NPC cell lines, one immortalised nasopharyngeal epithelial cell line, six nasopharyngeal mucosa tissues and seven NPC tissue samples were analysed by performing confocal Raman spectroscopic measurements and imaging. The single-cell Raman spectral dataset was used to quantify relevant biomolecules and build machine learning classification models. Metabolomic profiles were investigated using ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometer (UPLC-MS/MS). RESULTS By generating a metabolic map of seven NPC cell lines, we identified an interplay of altered metabolic processes involving nucleic acids, amino acids, lipids and sugars. The results from spatially resolved Raman maps and UPLC-MS/MS metabolomics were consistent, revealing an increase of unsaturated fatty acids in cancer cells, particularly in highly metastatic 5-8F and poorly differentiated CNE2 cells. The classification model achieved a nearly perfect classification when identifying NPC and non-NPC cells with an ROC-AUC of 0.99 and a value of 0.97 when identifying 13 tissue samples. CONCLUSION This study unveils a complex interplay of metabolic network and highlights the potential roles of unsaturated fatty acids in NPC progression and metastasis. This renders further research to provide deeper insights into NPC pathogenesis, identify new metabolic targets and improve the efficacy of targeted therapies in NPC. Artificial intelligence-aided analysis of single-cell Raman spectra has achieved high accuracies in the classification of both cancer cells and patient tissues, paving the way for a simple, less invasive and accurate diagnostic test.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiabao Xu
- Division of Biomedical Engineering, James Watt School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8LT, UK
| | - Dayang Chen
- Medical Laboratory of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wei Wu
- Medical Laboratory of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiang Ji
- Medical Laboratory of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaowen Dou
- Medical Laboratory of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Xiaojuan Gao
- Medical Laboratory of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Jian Li
- Department of Otolaryngology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiuming Zhang
- Medical Laboratory of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Wei E Huang
- Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, OX1 3PJ, Oxford, UK.
| | - Dan Xiong
- Medical Laboratory of the Third Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China.
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21
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Dai P, Ma C, Jiang T, Shi J, Liu S, Zheng M, Zhou Y, Li X, Liu Y, Chen H. CD147 mediates S protein pseudovirus of SARS-CoV-2 infection and its induction of spermatogonia apoptosis. Endocrine 2024:10.1007/s12020-024-03891-4. [PMID: 38824220 DOI: 10.1007/s12020-024-03891-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
Male cases diagnosed COVID-19 with more complications and higher mortality compared with females, and the overall consequences of male sex hormones and semen parameters deterioration were observed in COVID-19 patients, whereas the involvement and mechanism for spermatogenic cell remains unclear. The study was aimed to investigate the infection mode of S protein (D614G) pseudovirus (pseu-S-D614G) to spermatogenic cells, as well as the influence on cell growth. Both mouse spermatogonia (GC-1 cell, immortalized spermatogonia) and spermatocyte (GC-2 cell, immortalized spermatocytes) were used to detect the infection of pseu-S-D614G of SARS-CoV-2, and further explored the effect of SARS-CoV-2-spike protein (S-protein) and SARS-CoV-2-spike protein (omicron) (O-protein) on GC-1 cell apoptosis and proliferation. The data showed that the pseu-S-D614G invaded into GC-1 cells through either human ACE2 (hACE2) or human CD147 (hCD147), whereas GC-2 cells were insensitive to viral infection. In addition, the apoptosis and proliferation suppression inflicted by S-protein and O-protein on GC-1 cells was through Bax-Caspase3 signaling rather than arresting cell cycle progression. These findings suggest that CD147, apart from ACE2, may be a potential receptor for SARS-CoV-2 infection in testicular tissues, and that the apoptotic effect was induced in spermatogonia cells by S-protein or O-protein, eventually resulted in the damage to male fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengyuan Dai
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, PR China
| | - Chaoye Ma
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, PR China
| | - Ting Jiang
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, PR China
| | - Jianwu Shi
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, PR China
| | - Sha Liu
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, PR China
| | - Meihua Zheng
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, PR China
| | - Yiwen Zhou
- Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Xiaofeng Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Lianhua Road No. 1120, Futian District, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, PR China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, PR China.
| | - Hao Chen
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Medical School of Nantong University, Nantong, PR China.
- Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, GMU-GIBH Joint school of Life Science, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China.
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22
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Na B, Shah SR, Vasudevan HN. Past, Present, and Future Therapeutic Strategies for NF-1-Associated Tumors. Curr Oncol Rep 2024; 26:706-713. [PMID: 38709422 PMCID: PMC11169015 DOI: 10.1007/s11912-024-01527-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) is a cancer predisposition syndrome caused by mutations in the NF1 tumor suppressor gene that encodes the neurofibromin protein, which functions as a negative regulator of Ras signaling. We review the past, current, and future state of therapeutic strategies for tumors associated with NF-1. RECENT FINDINGS Therapeutic efforts for NF-1-associated tumors have centered around inhibiting Ras output, leading to the clinical success of downstream MEK inhibition for plexiform neurofibromas and low-grade gliomas. However, MEK inhibition and similar molecular monotherapy approaches that block Ras signaling do not work for all patients and show limited efficacy for more aggressive cancers such as malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors and high-grade gliomas, motivating novel treatment approaches. We highlight the current therapeutic landscape for NF-1-associated tumors, broadly categorizing treatment into past strategies for serial Ras pathway blockade, current approaches targeting parallel oncogenic and tumor suppressor pathways, and future avenues of investigation leveraging biologic and technical innovations in immunotherapy, pharmacology, and gene delivery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Na
- Department of Neurology, UCLA Neuro-Oncology Program, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Shilp R Shah
- Samueli School of Engineering, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Harish N Vasudevan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA.
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA.
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23
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Yasamineh S, Mehrabani FJ, Derafsh E, Danihiel Cosimi R, Forood AMK, Soltani S, Hadi M, Gholizadeh O. Potential Use of the Cholesterol Transfer Inhibitor U18666A as a Potent Research Tool for the Study of Cholesterol Mechanisms in Neurodegenerative Disorders. Mol Neurobiol 2024; 61:3503-3527. [PMID: 37995080 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03798-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/24/2023]
Abstract
Cholesterol is an essential component of mammalian cell membranes and a precursor for crucial signaling molecules. The brain contains the highest level of cholesterol in the body, and abnormal cholesterol metabolism links to many neurodegenerative disorders. The results indicate that faulty cholesterol metabolism is a common feature among people living with neurodegenerative conditions. The researchers suggest that restoring cholesterol levels may become a beneficial new strategy in treating certain neurodegenerative conditions. Several neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Niemann-Pick type C (NPC) disease, and Parkinson's disease (PD), have been connected to abnormalities in brain cholesterol metabolism. Consequently, using a lipid research tool is vital to study further and understand the effect of lipids in neurodegenerative disorders such as NPC, AD, PD, and Huntington's disease (HD). U18666A, also known as 3-(2-(diethylamino) ethoxy) androst-5-en-17-one, is a pharmaceutical drug that suppresses cholesterol trafficking and is a well-known class-2 amphiphile. U18666A has performed many functions, allowing for essential discoveries in lipid studies and shedding light on the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative disorders. Additionally, U18666A prevented the downregulation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors that are induced by LDL and led to the buildup of cholesterol in lysosomes. Numerous studies show that U18666A impacts the function of cholesterol trafficking to control the metabolism and transport of amyloid precursor proteins (APPs). Treating cortical neurons with U18666A may provide a new in vitro model system for studying the underlying molecular process of NPC, AD, HD, and PD. In this article, we review the mechanism and function of U18666A as a vital tool for studying cholesterol mechanisms in neurological diseases related to abnormal cholesterol metabolism, such as AD, NPC, HD, and PD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ehsan Derafsh
- Windsor University School of Medicine, Cayon, Saint Kitts and Nevis
| | | | | | - Siamak Soltani
- Department of Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Meead Hadi
- Department Of Microbiology, Faculty of Basic Sciences, Tehran Central Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
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24
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Walzik D, Wences Chirino TY, Zimmer P, Joisten N. Molecular insights of exercise therapy in disease prevention and treatment. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:138. [PMID: 38806473 PMCID: PMC11133400 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01841-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2024] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite substantial evidence emphasizing the pleiotropic benefits of exercise for the prevention and treatment of various diseases, the underlying biological mechanisms have not been fully elucidated. Several exercise benefits have been attributed to signaling molecules that are released in response to exercise by different tissues such as skeletal muscle, cardiac muscle, adipose, and liver tissue. These signaling molecules, which are collectively termed exerkines, form a heterogenous group of bioactive substances, mediating inter-organ crosstalk as well as structural and functional tissue adaption. Numerous scientific endeavors have focused on identifying and characterizing new biological mediators with such properties. Additionally, some investigations have focused on the molecular targets of exerkines and the cellular signaling cascades that trigger adaption processes. A detailed understanding of the tissue-specific downstream effects of exerkines is crucial to harness the health-related benefits mediated by exercise and improve targeted exercise programs in health and disease. Herein, we review the current in vivo evidence on exerkine-induced signal transduction across multiple target tissues and highlight the preventive and therapeutic value of exerkine signaling in various diseases. By emphasizing different aspects of exerkine research, we provide a comprehensive overview of (i) the molecular underpinnings of exerkine secretion, (ii) the receptor-dependent and receptor-independent signaling cascades mediating tissue adaption, and (iii) the clinical implications of these mechanisms in disease prevention and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Walzik
- Division of Performance and Health (Sports Medicine), Institute for Sport and Sport Science, TU Dortmund University, 44227, Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
| | - Tiffany Y Wences Chirino
- Division of Performance and Health (Sports Medicine), Institute for Sport and Sport Science, TU Dortmund University, 44227, Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
| | - Philipp Zimmer
- Division of Performance and Health (Sports Medicine), Institute for Sport and Sport Science, TU Dortmund University, 44227, Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
| | - Niklas Joisten
- Division of Performance and Health (Sports Medicine), Institute for Sport and Sport Science, TU Dortmund University, 44227, Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany.
- Division of Exercise and Movement Science, Institute for Sport Science, University of Göttingen, 37075, Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany.
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25
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Talat A, Khan F, Khan AU. Genome analyses of colistin-resistant high-risk bla NDM-5 producing Klebsiella pneumoniae ST147 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa ST235 and ST357 in clinical settings. BMC Microbiol 2024; 24:174. [PMID: 38769479 PMCID: PMC11103832 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-024-03306-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Colistin is a last-resort antibiotic used in extreme cases of multi-drug resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacterial infections. Colistin resistance has increased in recent years and often goes undetected due to the inefficiency of predominantly used standard antibiotic susceptibility tests (AST). To address this challenge, we aimed to detect the prevalence of colistin resistance strains through both Vitek®2 and broth micro-dilution. We investigated 1748 blood, tracheal aspirate, and pleural fluid samples from the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), and Tuberculosis and Respiratory Disease centre (TBRD) in an India hospital. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) of extremely drug-resitant (XDR) and pan-drug resistant (PDR) strains revealed the resistance mechanisms through the Resistance Gene Identifier (RGI.v6.0.0) and Snippy.v4.6.0. Abricate.v1.0.1, PlasmidFinder.v2.1, MobileElementFinder.v1.0.3 etc. detected virulence factors, and mobile genetic elements associated to uncover the pathogenecity and the role of horizontal gene transfer (HGT). RESULTS This study reveals compelling insights into colistin resistance among global high-risk clinical isolates: Klebsiella pneumoniae ST147 (16/20), Pseudomonas aeruginosa ST235 (3/20), and ST357 (1/20). Vitek®2 found 6 colistin-resistant strains (minimum inhibitory concentrations, MIC = 4 μg/mL), while broth microdilution identified 48 (MIC = 32-128 μg/mL), adhering to CLSI guidelines. Despite the absence of mobile colistin resistance (mcr) genes, mechanisms underlying colistin resistance included mgrB deletion, phosphoethanolamine transferases arnT, eptB, ompA, and mutations in pmrB (T246A, R256G) and eptA (V50L, A135P, I138V, C27F) in K. pneumoniae. P. aeruginosa harbored phosphoethanolamine transferases basS/pmrb, basR, arnA, cprR, cprS, alongside pmrB (G362S), and parS (H398R) mutations. Both strains carried diverse clinically relevant antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), including plasmid-mediated blaNDM-5 (K. pneumoniae ST147) and chromosomally mediated blaNDM-1 (P. aeruginosa ST357). CONCLUSION The global surge in MDR, XDR and PDR bacteria necessitates last-resort antibiotics such as colistin. However, escalating resistance, particularly to colistin, presents a critical challenge. Inefficient colistin resistance detection methods, including Vitek2, alongside limited surveillance resources, accentuate the need for improved strategies. Whole-genome sequencing revealed alarming colistin resistance among K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa in an Indian hospital. The identification of XDR and PDR strains underscores urgency for enhanced surveillance and infection control. SNP analysis elucidated resistance mechanisms, highlighting the complexity of combatting resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Absar Talat
- Medical Microbiology and Molecular Biology Lab, Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, India
| | - Fatima Khan
- Microbiology Department, JNMC and Hospital, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, India
| | - Asad U Khan
- Medical Microbiology and Molecular Biology Lab, Interdisciplinary Biotechnology Unit, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, India.
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26
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Li Z, Xie HY, Nie W. Nano-Engineering Strategies for Tumor-Specific Therapy. ChemMedChem 2024; 19:e202300647. [PMID: 38356248 DOI: 10.1002/cmdc.202300647] [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: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 02/09/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Nanodelivery systems (NDSs) provide promising prospects for decreasing drug doses, reducing side effects, and improving therapeutic effects. However, the bioapplications of NDSs are still compromised by their fast clearance, indiscriminate biodistribution, and limited tumor accumulation. Hence, engineering modification of NDSs aiming at promoting tumor-specific therapy and avoiding systemic toxicity is usually needed. An NDS integrating various functionalities, including flexible camouflage, specific biorecognition, and sensitive stimuli-responsiveness, into one sequence would be "smart" and highly effective. Herein, we systematically summarize the related principles, methods, and progress. At the end of the review, we predict the obstacles to precise nanoengineering and prospects for the future application of NDSs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zijin Li
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, No. 5, Zhongguancun South Street, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Hai-Yan Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chemical Biology Center, Peking University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Weidong Nie
- School of Life Science, Beijing Institute of Technology, No. 5, Zhongguancun South Street, Beijing, 100081, China
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27
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Kumar P, Hassan M, Tacke F, Engelmann C. Delineating the heterogeneity of senescence-induced-functional alterations in hepatocytes. Cell Mol Life Sci 2024; 81:200. [PMID: 38684535 PMCID: PMC11058795 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-024-05230-2] [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: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM Cellular senescence of hepatocytes involves permanent cell cycle arrest, disrupted cellular bioenergetics, resistance to cell death, and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines. This 'zombie-like' state perpetuates harmful effects on tissues and holds potential implications for liver disease progression. Remarkably, senescence exhibits heterogeneity, stemming from two crucial factors: the inducing stressor and the cell type. As such, our present study endeavors to characterize stressor-specific changes in senescence phenotype, its related molecular patterns, and cellular bioenergetics in primary mouse hepatocytes (PMH) and hepatocyte-derived liver organoids (HepOrgs). METHODS PMH, isolated by collagenase-perfused mouse liver (C57B6/J; 18-23 weeks), were cultured overnight in William's E-medium supplemented with 2% FBS, L-glutamine, and hepatocyte growth supplements. HepOrgs were developed by culturing cells in a 3D matrix for two weeks. The senescence was induced by DNA damage (doxorubicin, cisplatin, and etoposide), oxidative stress (H2O2, and ethanol), and telomere inhibition (BIBR-1532), p53 activation (nutlin-3a), DNA methyl transferase inhibition (5-azacitidine), and metabolism inhibitors (galactosamine and hydroxyurea). SA-β galactosidase activity, immunofluorescence, immunoblotting, and senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), and cellular bioenergetics were used to assess the senescence phenotype. RESULTS Each senescence inducer triggers a unique combination of senescence markers in hepatocytes. All senescence inducers, except hydroxyurea and ethanol, increased SA-β galactosidase activity, the most commonly used marker for cellular senescence. Among the SASP factors, CCL2 and IL-10 were consistently upregulated, while Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 exhibited global downregulation across all modes of senescence. Notably, DNA damage response was activated by DNA damage inducers. Cell cycle markers were most significantly reduced by doxorubicin, cisplatin, and galactosamine. Additionally, DNA damage-induced senescence shifted cellular bioenergetics capacity from glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation. In HepOrgs exposed to senescence inducers, there was a notable increase in γH2A.X, p53, and p21 levels. Interestingly, while showing a similar trend, SASP gene expression in HepOrgs was significantly higher compared to PMH, demonstrating a several-fold increase. CONCLUSION In our study, we demonstrated that each senescence inducer activates a unique combination of senescence markers in PMH. Doxorubicin demonstrated the highest efficacy in inducing senescence, followed by cisplatin and H2O2, with no impact on apoptosis. Each inducer prompted DNA damage response and mitochondrial dysfunction, independent of MAPK/AKT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pavitra Kumar
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Medizinische Klinik m. S. Hepatologie und Gastroenterologie, Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum (CVK) and Campus Charité Mitte (CCM), Augustenburger Platz 1, Forum 4, Raum 2.0704a, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mohsin Hassan
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Medizinische Klinik m. S. Hepatologie und Gastroenterologie, Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum (CVK) and Campus Charité Mitte (CCM), Augustenburger Platz 1, Forum 4, Raum 2.0704a, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Frank Tacke
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Medizinische Klinik m. S. Hepatologie und Gastroenterologie, Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum (CVK) and Campus Charité Mitte (CCM), Augustenburger Platz 1, Forum 4, Raum 2.0704a, 13353, Berlin, Germany
| | - Cornelius Engelmann
- Department of Hepatology and Gastroenterology, Medizinische Klinik m. S. Hepatologie und Gastroenterologie, Charité, Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Campus Virchow-Klinikum (CVK) and Campus Charité Mitte (CCM), Augustenburger Platz 1, Forum 4, Raum 2.0704a, 13353, Berlin, Germany.
- Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), 10178, Berlin, Germany.
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28
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Kanwal M, Polakova I, Olsen M, Kasi MK, Tachezy R, Smahel M. Heterogeneous Response of Tumor Cell Lines to Inhibition of Aspartate β-hydroxylase. J Cancer 2024; 15:3466-3480. [PMID: 38817852 PMCID: PMC11134442 DOI: 10.7150/jca.94452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Cancer development involves alterations in key cellular pathways, with aspartate β-hydroxylase (ASPH) emerging as an important player in tumorigenesis. ASPH is upregulated in various cancer types, where it promotes cancer progression mainly by regulating the Notch1 and SRC pathways. Methods: This study explored the responses of various human cervical, pharyngeal, and breast tumor cell lines to second- and third-generation ASPH inhibitors (MO-I-1151 and MO-I-1182) using proliferation, migration, and invasion assays; western blotting; and cell cycle analysis. Results: ASPH inhibition significantly reduced cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and disrupted both the canonical and noncanonical Notch1 pathways. The noncanonical pathway was particularly mediated by AKT signaling. Cell cycle analysis revealed a marked reduction in cyclin D1 expression, further confirming the inhibitory effect of ASPH inhibitors on cell proliferation. Additional analysis revealed G0/G1 arrest and restricted progression into S phase, highlighting the regulatory impact of ASPH inhibitors on the cell cycle. Furthermore, ASPH inhibition induced distinctive alterations in nuclear morphology. The high heterogeneity in the responses of individual tumor cell lines to ASPH inhibitors, both quantitatively and qualitatively, underscores the complex network of mechanisms that are regulated by ASPH and influence the efficacy of ASPH inhibition. The effects of ASPH inhibitors on Notch1 pathway activity, cyclin D1 expression, and nuclear morphology contribute to the understanding of the multifaceted effects of these inhibitors on cancer cell behavior. Conclusion: This study not only suggests that ASPH inhibitors are effective against tumor cell progression, in part through the induction of cell cycle arrest, but also highlights the diverse and heterogeneous effects of these inhibitors on the behavior of tumor cells of different origins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madiha Kanwal
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, BIOCEV, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Ingrid Polakova
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, BIOCEV, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Mark Olsen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy - Glendale, Midwestern University, Glendale, AZ, USA
| | - Murtaza Khan Kasi
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, BIOCEV, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Ruth Tachezy
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, BIOCEV, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Michal Smahel
- Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Charles University, BIOCEV, Vestec, Czech Republic
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Fleishman JS, Kumar S. Bile acid metabolism and signaling in health and disease: molecular mechanisms and therapeutic targets. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2024; 9:97. [PMID: 38664391 PMCID: PMC11045871 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-024-01811-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Bile acids, once considered mere dietary surfactants, now emerge as critical modulators of macronutrient (lipid, carbohydrate, protein) metabolism and the systemic pro-inflammatory/anti-inflammatory balance. Bile acid metabolism and signaling pathways play a crucial role in protecting against, or if aberrant, inducing cardiometabolic, inflammatory, and neoplastic conditions, strongly influencing health and disease. No curative treatment exists for any bile acid influenced disease, while the most promising and well-developed bile acid therapeutic was recently rejected by the FDA. Here, we provide a bottom-up approach on bile acids, mechanistically explaining their biochemistry, physiology, and pharmacology at canonical and non-canonical receptors. Using this mechanistic model of bile acids, we explain how abnormal bile acid physiology drives disease pathogenesis, emphasizing how ceramide synthesis may serve as a unifying pathogenic feature for cardiometabolic diseases. We provide an in-depth summary on pre-existing bile acid receptor modulators, explain their shortcomings, and propose solutions for how they may be remedied. Lastly, we rationalize novel targets for further translational drug discovery and provide future perspectives. Rather than dismissing bile acid therapeutics due to recent setbacks, we believe that there is immense clinical potential and a high likelihood for the future success of bile acid therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua S Fleishman
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, NY, USA
| | - Sunil Kumar
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, St. John's University, Queens, NY, USA.
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30
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Gumede DB, Abrahamse H, Houreld NN. Targeting Wnt/β-catenin signaling and its interplay with TGF-β and Notch signaling pathways for the treatment of chronic wounds. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:244. [PMID: 38671406 PMCID: PMC11046856 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-024-01623-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Wound healing is a tightly regulated process that ensures tissue repair and normal function following injury. It is modulated by activation of pathways such as the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β), Notch, and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways. Dysregulation of this process causes poor wound healing, which leads to tissue fibrosis and ulcerative wounds. The Wnt/β-catenin pathway is involved in all phases of wound healing, primarily in the proliferative phase for formation of granulation tissue. This review focuses on the role of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in wound healing, and its transcriptional regulation of target genes. The crosstalk between Wnt/β-catenin, Notch, and the TGF-β signaling pathways, as well as the deregulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in chronic wounds are also considered, with a special focus on diabetic ulcers. Lastly, we discuss current and prospective therapies for chronic wounds, with a primary focus on strategies that target the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway such as photobiomodulation for healing diabetic ulcers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dimakatso B Gumede
- Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 17011, Doornfontein, 2028, South Africa
| | - Heidi Abrahamse
- Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 17011, Doornfontein, 2028, South Africa
| | - Nicolette N Houreld
- Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, P.O. Box 17011, Doornfontein, 2028, South Africa.
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Ahammad I, Bhattacharjee A, Chowdhury ZM, Rahman A, Hossain MU, Dewan G, Talukder S, Das KC, Keya CA, Salimullah M. Gut microbiome composition reveals the distinctiveness between the Bengali people and the Indigenous ethnicities in Bangladesh. Commun Biol 2024; 7:500. [PMID: 38664512 PMCID: PMC11045797 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06191-9] [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: 09/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Ethnicity has a significant role in shaping the composition of the gut microbiome, which has implications in human physiology. This study intends to investigate the gut microbiome of Bengali people as well as several indigenous ethnicities (Chakma, Marma, Khyang, and Tripura) residing in the Chittagong Hill Tracts areas of Bangladesh. Following fecal sample collection from each population, part of the bacterial 16 s rRNA gene was amplified and sequenced using Illumina NovaSeq platform. Our findings indicated that Bangladeshi gut microbiota have a distinct diversity profile when compared to other countries. We also found out that Bangladeshi indigenous communities had a higher Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio than the Bengali population. The investigation revealed an unclassified bacterium that was differentially abundant in Bengali samples while the genus Alistipes was found to be prevalent in Chakma samples. Further research on these bacteria might help understand diseases associated with these populations. Also, the current small sample-sized pilot study hindered the comprehensive understanding of the gut microbial diversity of the Bangladeshi population and its potential health implications. However, our study will help establish a basic understanding of the gut microbiome of the Bangladeshi population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ishtiaque Ahammad
- Bioinformatics Division, National Institute of Biotechnology, Ganakbari, Ashulia, Savar, Dhaka, 1349, Bangladesh
| | - Arittra Bhattacharjee
- Bioinformatics Division, National Institute of Biotechnology, Ganakbari, Ashulia, Savar, Dhaka, 1349, Bangladesh
| | - Zeshan Mahmud Chowdhury
- Bioinformatics Division, National Institute of Biotechnology, Ganakbari, Ashulia, Savar, Dhaka, 1349, Bangladesh
| | - Anisur Rahman
- Bioinformatics Division, National Institute of Biotechnology, Ganakbari, Ashulia, Savar, Dhaka, 1349, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammad Uzzal Hossain
- Bioinformatics Division, National Institute of Biotechnology, Ganakbari, Ashulia, Savar, Dhaka, 1349, Bangladesh
| | - Gourab Dewan
- Rangamati Medical College, Hospital Road, Rangamati-4500, Rangamati, Bangladesh
| | - Shiny Talukder
- Rangamati Medical College, Hospital Road, Rangamati-4500, Rangamati, Bangladesh
| | - Keshob Chandra Das
- Molecular Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Biotechnology, Ganakbari, Ashulia, Savar, Dhaka, 1349, Bangladesh
| | - Chaman Ara Keya
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, North South University, Bashundhara, Dhaka, 1229, Bangladesh
| | - Md Salimullah
- Molecular Biotechnology Division, National Institute of Biotechnology, Ganakbari, Ashulia, Savar, Dhaka, 1349, Bangladesh.
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32
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Zhang W, Wang M, Liu B, Chen H, Tan J, Meng Q, Li J, Ding B, Ma P, Lin J. Glutathione Induced In situ Synthesis of Cu Single-Atom Nanozymes with Anaerobic Glycolysis Metabolism Interference for Boosting Cuproptosis. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024; 63:e202402397. [PMID: 38389036 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202402397] [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: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Single-atom nanozyme (SAzyme) has sparked increasing interest for catalytic antitumor treatment due to their more tunable and diverse active sites than natural metalloenzymes in complex physiological conditions. However, it is usually a hard task to precisely conduct catalysis at tumor sites after intravenous injection of those SAzyme with high reactivity. Moreover, the explorations of SAzymes in the anticancer application are still in its infancy and need to be developed. Herein, an in situ synthesis strategy for Cu SAzyme was constructed to convert adsorbed copper ions into isolated atoms anchored by oxygen atoms (Cu-O2/Cu-O4) via GSH-responsive deformability of supports. Our results suggest that the in situ activation process could further facilitate the dissociation of copper ions and the consumption of glutathione, thereby leading to copper deposition in cytoplasm and triggering cuproptosis. Moreover, the in situ synthesis of Cu SAzyme with peroxidase-like activity enabled the intracellular reactive oxygen species production, resulting in specifically disturbance of copper metabolism pathway. Meanwhile, the in situ exposed glucose transporter (GLUT) inhibitor phloretin (Ph) can block the glycose uptake to boost cuproptosis efficacy. Overall, this in situ activation strategy effectively diminished the off-target effects of SACs-induced catalytic therapies and introduced a promising treatment paradigm for advancing cuproptosis-associated therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenying Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130022, China
- School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Meifang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130022, China
| | - Bin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130022, China
| | - Hao Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130022, China
- School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Jia Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130022, China
- School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Qi Meng
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130022, China
- School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Jing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130022, China
- School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Binbin Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130022, China
| | - Ping'an Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130022, China
- School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
| | - Jun Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130022, China
- School of Applied Chemistry and Engineering, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, 230026, China
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Scalzitti N, Miralavy I, Korenchan DE, Farrar CT, Gilad AA, Banzhaf W. Computational peptide discovery with a genetic programming approach. J Comput Aided Mol Des 2024; 38:17. [PMID: 38570405 DOI: 10.1007/s10822-024-00558-0] [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: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
The development of peptides for therapeutic targets or biomarkers for disease diagnosis is a challenging task in protein engineering. Current approaches are tedious, often time-consuming and require complex laboratory data due to the vast search spaces that need to be considered. In silico methods can accelerate research and substantially reduce costs. Evolutionary algorithms are a promising approach for exploring large search spaces and can facilitate the discovery of new peptides. This study presents the development and use of a new variant of the genetic-programming-based POET algorithm, called POETRegex , where individuals are represented by a list of regular expressions. This algorithm was trained on a small curated dataset and employed to generate new peptides improving the sensitivity of peptides in magnetic resonance imaging with chemical exchange saturation transfer (CEST). The resulting model achieves a performance gain of 20% over the initial POET models and is able to predict a candidate peptide with a 58% performance increase compared to the gold-standard peptide. By combining the power of genetic programming with the flexibility of regular expressions, new peptide targets were identified that improve the sensitivity of detection by CEST. This approach provides a promising research direction for the efficient identification of peptides with therapeutic or diagnostic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolas Scalzitti
- BEACON Center of Evolution in Action, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - Iliya Miralavy
- BEACON Center of Evolution in Action, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - David E Korenchan
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Christian T Farrar
- Athinoula A. Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging, Department of Radiology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Assaf A Gilad
- BEACON Center of Evolution in Action, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
- Department of Radiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
| | - Wolfgang Banzhaf
- BEACON Center of Evolution in Action, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA.
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Nazeri Z, Zarezade V, Jamalan M, Cheraghzadeh M, Azizidoost S, Kheirollah A. Carbon nanotubes induce cytotoxicity and apoptosis through increasing protein levels of Bax and ROS in mouse skin fibroblasts. Res Pharm Sci 2024; 19:148-156. [PMID: 39035585 PMCID: PMC11257208 DOI: 10.4103/rps.rps_157_22] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Background and purpose Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are a significant discovery in nanotechnology, with widespread applications in modern technology. However, there are concerns about their potential toxicity, particularly in skin cells. This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms by which CNTs induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis in mouse skin fibroblasts. Experimental approach The mice skin fibroblasts were isolated and exposed to two types of CNTs at various concentrations and then analyzed for changes in viability, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, the levels of Bcl-2-associated X protein (Bax), and lactate production. Findings/Results The results demonstrated that CNTs reduced cell viability and increased ROS production in a dose-dependent manner. Additionally, the current study found that CNTs increased the protein levels of Bax, a pro-apoptotic protein, in mouse skin fibroblasts. Furthermore, it was observed a significant decrease in lactate production in cells exposed to CNTs. Conclusion and implications The findings concluded that CNTs have the potential to be toxic substances for skin fibroblasts, which serve as the body's first line of defense. This is evidenced by their ability to increase the production of ROS and the protein levels of Bax, as well as reduce lactic acid levels. As lactic acid has been reported to have beneficial effects on skin collagen production, further studies are needed to fully understand the impact of carbon nanotube exposure on human skin health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zahra Nazeri
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
- Cellular and Molecular Research Center, Medical Basic Sciences Research Institute, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Vahid Zarezade
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Behbahan Faculty of Medical Sciences, Behbahan, Iran
| | - Mostafa Jamalan
- Department of Biochemistry, Abadan University of Medical Sciences, Abadan, Iran
| | - Maryam Cheraghzadeh
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Shirin Azizidoost
- Atherosclerosis Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | - Alireza Kheirollah
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
- 548-E Borwell Research Building, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH 03755, USA
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35
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Kordi M, Talkhounche PG, Vahedi H, Farrokhi N, Tabarzad M. Heterologous Production of Antimicrobial Peptides: Notes to Consider. Protein J 2024; 43:129-158. [PMID: 38180586 DOI: 10.1007/s10930-023-10174-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024]
Abstract
Heavy and irresponsible use of antibiotics in the last century has put selection pressure on the microbes to evolve even faster and develop more resilient strains. In the confrontation with such sometimes called "superbugs", the search for new sources of biochemical antibiotics seems to have reached the limit. In the last two decades, bioactive antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which are polypeptide chains with less than 100 amino acids, have attracted the attention of many in the control of microbial pathogens, more than the other types of antibiotics. AMPs are groups of components involved in the immune response of many living organisms, and have come to light as new frontiers in fighting with microbes. AMPs are generally produced in minute amounts within organisms; therefore, to address the market, they have to be either produced on a large scale through recombinant DNA technology or to be synthesized via chemical methods. Here, heterologous expression of AMPs within bacterial, fungal, yeast, plants, and insect cells, and points that need to be considered towards their industrialization will be reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masoumeh Kordi
- Department of Cell & Molecular Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Parnian Ghaedi Talkhounche
- Department of Cell & Molecular Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Helia Vahedi
- Department of Cell & Molecular Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Naser Farrokhi
- Department of Cell & Molecular Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences & Biotechnology, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Maryam Tabarzad
- Protein Technology Research Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Nayak D, Lv D, Yuan Y, Zhang P, Hu W, Nayak A, Ruben EA, Lv Z, Sung P, Hromas R, Zheng G, Zhou D, Olsen SK. Development and crystal structures of a potent second-generation dual degrader of BCL-2 and BCL-xL. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2743. [PMID: 38548768 PMCID: PMC10979003 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46922-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Overexpression of BCL-xL and BCL-2 play key roles in tumorigenesis and cancer drug resistance. Advances in PROTAC technology facilitated recent development of the first BCL-xL/BCL-2 dual degrader, 753b, a VHL-based degrader with improved potency and reduced toxicity compared to previous small molecule inhibitors. Here, we determine crystal structures of VHL/753b/BCL-xL and VHL/753b/BCL-2 ternary complexes. The two ternary complexes exhibit markedly different architectures that are accompanied by distinct networks of interactions at the VHL/753b-linker/target interfaces. The importance of these interfacial contacts is validated via functional analysis and informed subsequent rational and structure-guided design focused on the 753b linker and BCL-2/BCL-xL warhead. This results in the design of a degrader, WH244, with enhanced potency to degrade BCL-xL/BCL-2 in cells. Using biophysical assays followed by in cell activities, we are able to explain the enhanced target degradation of BCL-xL/BCL-2 in cells. Most PROTACs are empirically designed and lack structural studies, making it challenging to understand their modes of action and specificity. Our work presents a streamlined approach that combines rational design and structure-based insights backed with cell-based studies to develop effective PROTAC-based cancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Digant Nayak
- Department of Biochemistry & Structural Biology and Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Dongwen Lv
- Department of Biochemistry & Structural Biology and Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Yaxia Yuan
- Department of Biochemistry & Structural Biology and Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Peiyi Zhang
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Wanyi Hu
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | - Anindita Nayak
- Department of Biochemistry & Structural Biology and Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Eliza A Ruben
- Department of Biochemistry & Structural Biology and Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Zongyang Lv
- Department of Biochemistry & Structural Biology and Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Patrick Sung
- Department of Biochemistry & Structural Biology and Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Robert Hromas
- Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA
| | - Guangrong Zheng
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA.
| | - Daohong Zhou
- Department of Biochemistry & Structural Biology and Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA.
| | - Shaun K Olsen
- Department of Biochemistry & Structural Biology and Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, 78229, USA.
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Cai H, Pang Y, Ren Z, Fu X, Jia L. Delivering synaptic protein mRNAs via extracellular vesicles ameliorates cognitive impairment in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. BMC Med 2024; 22:138. [PMID: 38528511 DOI: 10.1186/s12916-024-03359-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/15/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Synaptic dysfunction with reduced synaptic protein levels is a core feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Synaptic proteins play a central role in memory processing, learning, and AD pathogenesis. Evidence suggests that synaptic proteins in plasma neuronal-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) are reduced in patients with AD. However, it remains unclear whether levels of synaptic proteins in EVs are associated with hippocampal atrophy of AD and whether upregulating the expression of these synaptic proteins has a beneficial effect on AD. METHODS In this study, we included 57 patients with AD and 56 healthy controls. We evaluated their brain atrophy through magnetic resonance imaging using the medial temporal lobe atrophy score. We measured the levels of four synaptic proteins, including synaptosome-associated protein 25 (SNAP25), growth-associated protein 43 (GAP43), neurogranin, and synaptotagmin 1 in both plasma neuronal-derived EVs and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). We further examined the association of synaptic protein levels with brain atrophy. We also evaluated the levels of these synaptic proteins in the brains of 5×FAD mice. Then, we loaded rabies virus glycoprotein-engineered EVs with messenger RNAs (mRNAs) encoding GAP43 and SNAP25 and administered these EVs to 5×FAD mice. After treatment, synaptic proteins, dendritic density, and cognitive function were evaluated. RESULTS The results showed that GAP43, SNAP25, neurogranin, and synaptotagmin 1 were decreased in neuronal-derived EVs but increased in CSF in patients with AD, and the changes corresponded to the severity of brain atrophy. GAP43 and SNAP25 were decreased in the brains of 5×FAD mice. The engineered EVs efficiently and stably delivered these synaptic proteins to the brain, where synaptic protein levels were markedly upregulated. Upregulation of synaptic protein expression could ameliorate cognitive impairment in AD by promoting dendritic density. This marks the first successful delivery of synaptic protein mRNAs via EVs in AD mice, yielding remarkable therapeutic effects. CONCLUSIONS Synaptic proteins are closely related to AD processes. Delivery of synaptic protein mRNAs via EVs stands as a promising effective precision treatment strategy for AD, which significantly advances the current understanding of therapeutic approaches for the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huimin Cai
- Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders and Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, 45 Changchun St., Beijing, 100053, China
- Center of Alzheimer's Disease, Beijing Institute of Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yana Pang
- Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders and Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, 45 Changchun St., Beijing, 100053, China
- Center of Alzheimer's Disease, Beijing Institute of Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ziye Ren
- Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders and Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, 45 Changchun St., Beijing, 100053, China
- Center of Alzheimer's Disease, Beijing Institute of Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaofeng Fu
- Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders and Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, 45 Changchun St., Beijing, 100053, China
- Center of Alzheimer's Disease, Beijing Institute of Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Longfei Jia
- Innovation Center for Neurological Disorders and Department of Neurology, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Diseases, 45 Changchun St., Beijing, 100053, China.
- Center of Alzheimer's Disease, Beijing Institute of Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
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38
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Sadeghian I, Akbarpour M, Chafjiri FMA, Chafjiri PMA, Heidari R, Morowvat MH, Sadeghian R, Raee MJ, Negahdaripour M. Potential of oligonucleotide- and protein/peptide-based therapeutics in the management of toxicant/stressor-induced diseases. NAUNYN-SCHMIEDEBERG'S ARCHIVES OF PHARMACOLOGY 2024; 397:1275-1310. [PMID: 37688622 DOI: 10.1007/s00210-023-02683-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/11/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to toxicants/stressors has been linked to the development of many human diseases. They could affect various cellular components, such as DNA, proteins, lipids, and non-coding RNAs (ncRNA), thereby triggering various cellular pathways, particularly oxidative stress, inflammatory responses, and apoptosis, which can contribute to pathophysiological states. Accordingly, modulation of these pathways has been the focus of numerous investigations for managing related diseases. The involvement of various ncRNAs, such as small interfering RNA (siRNA), microRNAs (miRNA), and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA), as well as various proteins and peptides in mediating these pathways, provides many target sites for pharmaceutical intervention. In this regard, various oligonucleotide- and protein/peptide-based therapies have been developed to treat toxicity-induced diseases, which have shown promising results in vitro and in vivo. This comprehensive review provides information about various aspects of toxicity-related diseases including their causing factors, main underlying mechanisms and intermediates, and their roles in pathophysiological states. Particularly, it highlights the principles and mechanisms of oligonucleotide- and protein/peptide-based therapies in the treatment of toxicity-related diseases. Furthermore, various issues of oligonucleotides and proteins/peptides for clinical usage and potential solutions are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Issa Sadeghian
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Biotechnology Incubator, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mina Akbarpour
- Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
| | | | | | - Reza Heidari
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hossein Morowvat
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | | | - Mohammad Javad Raee
- Center for Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Manica Negahdaripour
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
- Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, School of Pharmacy, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.
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39
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Lim B, Domsch K, Mall M, Lohmann I. Canalizing cell fate by transcriptional repression. Mol Syst Biol 2024; 20:144-161. [PMID: 38302581 PMCID: PMC10912439 DOI: 10.1038/s44320-024-00014-z] [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: 09/19/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Precision in the establishment and maintenance of cellular identities is crucial for the development of multicellular organisms and requires tight regulation of gene expression. While extensive research has focused on understanding cell type-specific gene activation, the complex mechanisms underlying the transcriptional repression of alternative fates are not fully understood. Here, we provide an overview of the repressive mechanisms involved in cell fate regulation. We discuss the molecular machinery responsible for suppressing alternative fates and highlight the crucial role of sequence-specific transcription factors (TFs) in this process. Depletion of these TFs can result in unwanted gene expression and increased cellular plasticity. We suggest that these TFs recruit cell type-specific repressive complexes to their cis-regulatory elements, enabling them to modulate chromatin accessibility in a context-dependent manner. This modulation effectively suppresses master regulators of alternative fate programs and their downstream targets. The modularity and dynamic behavior of these repressive complexes enables a limited number of repressors to canalize and maintain major and minor cell fate decisions at different stages of development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryce Lim
- Cell Fate Engineering and Disease Modeling Group, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- HITBR Hector Institute for Translational Brain Research gGmbH, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68159, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Katrin Domsch
- Heidelberg University, Centre for Organismal Studies (COS) Heidelberg, Department of Developmental Biology and Cell Networks - Cluster of Excellence, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Moritz Mall
- Cell Fate Engineering and Disease Modeling Group, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
- HITBR Hector Institute for Translational Brain Research gGmbH, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.
- Central Institute of Mental Health, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68159, Mannheim, Germany.
| | - Ingrid Lohmann
- Heidelberg University, Centre for Organismal Studies (COS) Heidelberg, Department of Developmental Biology and Cell Networks - Cluster of Excellence, Heidelberg, Germany.
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Tang S, Zhang J, Lou F, Zhou H, Cai X, Wang Z, Sun L, Sun Y, Li X, Fan L, Li Y, Jin X, Deng S, Yin Q, Bai J, Wang H, Wang H. A lncRNA Dleu2-encoded peptide relieves autoimmunity by facilitating Smad3-mediated Treg induction. EMBO Rep 2024; 25:1208-1232. [PMID: 38291338 PMCID: PMC10933344 DOI: 10.1038/s44319-024-00070-4] [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: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Micropeptides encoded by short open reading frames (sORFs) within long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are beginning to be discovered and characterized as regulators of biological and pathological processes. Here, we find that lncRNA Dleu2 encodes a 17-amino-acid micropeptide, which we name Dleu2-17aa, that is abundantly expressed in T cells. Dleu2-17aa promotes inducible regulatory T (iTreg) cell generation by interacting with SMAD Family Member 3 (Smad3) and enhancing its binding to the Foxp3 conserved non-coding DNA sequence 1 (CNS1) region. Importantly, the genetic deletion of Dleu2-17aa in mice by start codon mutation impairs iTreg generation and worsens experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Conversely, the exogenous supplementation of Dleu2-17aa relieves EAE. Our findings demonstrate an indispensable role of Dleu2-17aa in maintaining immune homeostasis and suggest therapeutic applications for this peptide in treating autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sibei Tang
- Precision Research Center for Refractory Diseases, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201610, China
| | - Junxun Zhang
- Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Fangzhou Lou
- Precision Research Center for Refractory Diseases, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201610, China
| | - Hong Zhou
- Precision Research Center for Refractory Diseases, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201610, China
| | - Xiaojie Cai
- Precision Research Center for Refractory Diseases, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201610, China
| | - Zhikai Wang
- Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Libo Sun
- Precision Research Center for Refractory Diseases, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201610, China
| | - Yang Sun
- Precision Research Center for Refractory Diseases, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201610, China
| | - Xiangxiao Li
- Precision Research Center for Refractory Diseases, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201610, China
| | - Li Fan
- Precision Research Center for Refractory Diseases, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201610, China
| | - Yan Li
- Precision Research Center for Refractory Diseases, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201610, China
| | - Xinping Jin
- Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Siyu Deng
- Precision Research Center for Refractory Diseases, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201610, China
| | - Qianqian Yin
- Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Jing Bai
- Precision Research Center for Refractory Diseases, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201610, China
| | - Hong Wang
- Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Honglin Wang
- Precision Research Center for Refractory Diseases, Shanghai General Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 201610, China.
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Patil N, Mirveis Z, Byrne HJ. Kinetic modelling of the cellular metabolic responses underpinning in vitro glycolysis assays. FEBS Open Bio 2024; 14:466-486. [PMID: 38217078 PMCID: PMC10909989 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13765] [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: 09/03/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/14/2024] Open
Abstract
This study aims to demonstrate the benefits of augmenting commercially available, real-time, in vitro glycolysis assays with phenomenological rate equation-based kinetic models, describing the contributions of the underpinning metabolic pathways. To this end, a commercially available glycolysis assay, sensitive to changes in extracellular acidification (extracellular pH), was used to derive the glycolysis pathway kinetics. The pathway was numerically modelled using a series of ordinary differential rate equations, to simulate the obtained experimental results. The sensitivity of the model to the key equation parameters was also explored. The cellular glycolysis pathway kinetics were determined for three different cell-lines, under nonmodulated and modulated conditions. Over the timescale studied, the assay demonstrated a two-phase metabolic response, representing the differential kinetics of glycolysis pathway rate as a function of time, and this behaviour was faithfully reproduced by the model simulations. The model enabled quantitative comparison of the pathway kinetics of three cell lines, and also the modulating effect of two known drugs. Moreover, the modelling tool allows the subtle differences between different cell lines to be better elucidated and also allows augmentation of the assay sensitivity. A simplistic numerical model can faithfully reproduce the differential pathway kinetics for three different cell lines, with and without pathway-modulating drugs, and furthermore provides insights into the cellular metabolism by elucidating the underlying mechanisms leading to the pathway end-product. This study demonstrates that augmenting a relatively simple, real-time, in vitro assay with a model of the underpinning metabolic pathway provides considerable insights into the observed differences in cellular systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nitin Patil
- FOCAS Research InstituteTU DublinIreland
- School of Physics, Optometric and Clinical SciencesTU DublinIreland
| | - Zohreh Mirveis
- FOCAS Research InstituteTU DublinIreland
- School of Physics, Optometric and Clinical SciencesTU DublinIreland
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Natami M, Gorgzadeh A, Gholipour A, Fatemi SN, Firouzeh N, Zokaei M, Mohammed Ali SH, Kheradjoo H, Sedighi S, Gholizadeh O, Kalavi S. An overview on mRNA-based vaccines to prevent monkeypox infection. J Nanobiotechnology 2024; 22:86. [PMID: 38429829 PMCID: PMC10908150 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-024-02355-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
The human monkeypox virus (Mpox) is classified as a member of the Poxviridae family and belongs to the Orthopoxvirus genus. Mpox possesses double-stranded DNA, and there are two known genetic clades: those originating in West Africa and the Congo Basin, commonly known as Central African clades. Mpox may be treated with either the vaccinia vaccination or the therapeutics. Modifying the smallpox vaccine for treating and preventing Mpox has shown to be beneficial because of the strong link between smallpox and Mpox viruses and their categorization in the same family. Cross-protection against Mpox is effective with two Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved smallpox vaccines (ACAM2000 and JYNNEOSTM). However, ACAM2000 has the potential for significant adverse effects, such as cardiac issues, whereas JYNNEOS has a lower risk profile. Moreover, Mpox has managed to resurface, although with modified characteristics, due to the discontinuation and cessation of the smallpox vaccine for 40 years. The safety and efficacy of the two leading mRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 and its many variants have been shown in clinical trials and subsequent data analysis. This first mRNA treatment model involves injecting patients with messenger RNA to produce target proteins and elicit an immunological response. High potency, the possibility of safe administration, low-cost manufacture, and quick development is just a few of the benefits of RNA-based vaccines that pave the way for a viable alternative to conventional vaccines. When protecting against Mpox infection, mRNA vaccines are pretty efficient and may one day replace the present whole-virus vaccines. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to provide a synopsis of the ongoing research, development, and testing of an mRNA vaccine against Mpox.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Natami
- Department of Urology, Shahid Mohammadi Hospital, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran
| | | | - Arsalan Gholipour
- Free Researchers, Biotechnology and Nanobiotechnology, Babolsar, Iran
| | | | - Nima Firouzeh
- Vector-borne Diseases Research Center, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran
| | - Maryam Zokaei
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Nutrition Science, Food Science and Technology/National Nutrition and Food Technology Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | | | | | | | - Shaylan Kalavi
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Islamic Azad University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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Kane G, Lusi C, Brassil M, Atukorale P. Engineering approaches for innate immune-mediated tumor microenvironment remodeling. IMMUNO-ONCOLOGY TECHNOLOGY 2024; 21:100406. [PMID: 38213392 PMCID: PMC10777078 DOI: 10.1016/j.iotech.2023.100406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Cancer immunotherapy offers transformative promise particularly for the treatment of lethal cancers, since a correctly trained immune system can comprehensively orchestrate tumor clearance with no need for continued therapeutic intervention. Historically, the majority of immunotherapies have been T cell-focused and have included immune checkpoint inhibitors, chimeric antigen receptor T cells, and T-cell vaccines. Unfortunately T-cell-focused therapies have failed to achieve optimal efficacy in most solid tumors largely because of a highly immunosuppressed 'cold' or immune-excluded tumor microenvironment (TME). Recently, a rapidly growing treatment paradigm has emerged that focuses on activation of tumor-resident innate antigen-presenting cells, such as dendritic cells and macrophages, which can drive a proinflammatory immune response to remodel the TME from 'cold' or immune-excluded to 'hot'. Early strategies for TME remodeling centered on free cytokines and agonists, but these approaches have faced significant hurdles in both delivery and efficacy. Systemic toxicity from off-target inflammation is a paramount concern in these therapies. To address this critical gap, engineering approaches have provided the opportunity to add 'built-in' capabilities to cytokines, agonists, and other therapeutic agents to mediate improved delivery and efficacy. Such capabilities have included protective encapsulation to shield them from degradation, targeting to direct them with high specificity to tumors, and co-delivery strategies to harness synergistic proinflammatory pathways. Here, we review innate immune-mediated TME remodeling engineering approaches that focus on cytokines, innate immune agonists, immunogenic viruses, and cell-based methods, highlighting emerging preclinical approaches and strategies that are either being tested in clinical trials or already Food and Drug Administration approved.
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Affiliation(s)
- G.I. Kane
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst
- University of Massachusetts Cancer Center, Worcester
| | - C.F. Lusi
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst
- University of Massachusetts Cancer Center, Worcester
| | - M.L. Brassil
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst
- University of Massachusetts Cancer Center, Worcester
| | - P.U. Atukorale
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst
- University of Massachusetts Cancer Center, Worcester
- Division of Innate Immunity, Department of Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, USA
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Coll De Peña A, Vaduva M, Li NS, Shah S, Ben Frej M, Tripathi A. Enzymatic isolation and microfluidic electrophoresis analysis of residual dsRNA impurities in mRNA vaccines and therapeutics. Analyst 2024; 149:1509-1517. [PMID: 38265070 DOI: 10.1039/d3an02157b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
The versatility, rapid development, and ease of production scalability of mRNA therapeutics have placed them at the forefront of biopharmaceutical research. However, despite their vast potential to treat diseases, their novelty comes with unsolved analytical challenges. A key challenge in ensuring sample purity has been monitoring residual, immunostimulatory dsRNA impurities generated during the in vitro transcription of mRNA. Here, we present a method that combines an enzyme, S1 nuclease, to identify and isolate dsRNA from an mRNA sample with a microfluidic electrophoresis analytical platform to characterize the impurity. After the method was developed and optimized, it was tested with clinically relevant, pseudouridine-modified 700 and 1800 bp dsRNA and 818-4451 nt mRNA samples. While the treatment impacted the magnitude of the fluorescent signal used to analyze the samples due to the interference of the buffer with the labeling of the sample, this signal loss was mitigated by 8.8× via treatment optimization. In addition, despite the mRNA concentration being up to 400× greater than that of the dsRNA, under every condition, there was a complete disappearance of the main mRNA peak. While the mRNA peak was digested, the dsRNA fragments remained physically unaffected by the treatment, with no change to their migration time. Using these samples, we detected 0.25% dsRNA impurities in mRNA samples using 15 μL with an analytical runtime of 1 min per sample after digestion and were able to predict their size within 8% of the expected length. The short runtime, sample consumption, and high throughput compatibility make it suitable to support the purity assessment of mRNA during purification and downstream.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adriana Coll De Peña
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
| | - Matei Vaduva
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, Division of Biology and Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Nina S Li
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
| | | | | | - Anubhav Tripathi
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, School of Engineering, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
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Skv M, Abraham SM, Eshwari O, Golla K, Jhelum P, Maity S, Komal P. Tremendous Fidelity of Vitamin D3 in Age-related Neurological Disorders. Mol Neurobiol 2024:10.1007/s12035-024-03989-w. [PMID: 38372958 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-024-03989-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Vitamin D3 (VD) is a secosteroid hormone and shows a pleiotropic effect in brain-related disorders where it regulates redox imbalance, inflammation, apoptosis, energy production, and growth factor synthesis. Vitamin D3's active metabolic form, 1,25-dihydroxy Vitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3 or calcitriol), is a known regulator of several genes involved in neuroplasticity, neuroprotection, neurotropism, and neuroinflammation. Multiple studies suggest that VD deficiency can be proposed as a risk factor for the development of several age-related neurological disorders. The evidence for low serum levels of 25-hydroxy Vitamin D3 (25(OH)D3 or calcidiol), the major circulating form of VD, is associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD), dementia, and cognitive impairment. Despite decades of evidence on low VD association with neurological disorders, the precise molecular mechanism behind its beneficial effect remains controversial. Here, we will be delving into the neurobiological importance of VD and discuss its benefits in different neuropsychiatric disorders. The focus will be on AD, PD, and HD as they share some common clinical, pathological, and epidemiological features. The central focus will be on the different attributes of VD in the aspect of its anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, anti-cholinesterase activity, and psychotropic effect in different neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manjari Skv
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science-Pilani (BITS-Pilani) Hyderabad campus, Shameerpet-Mandal, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Sharon Mariam Abraham
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science-Pilani (BITS-Pilani) Hyderabad campus, Shameerpet-Mandal, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Omalur Eshwari
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science-Pilani (BITS-Pilani) Hyderabad campus, Shameerpet-Mandal, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Kishore Golla
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science-Pilani (BITS-Pilani) Hyderabad campus, Shameerpet-Mandal, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Priya Jhelum
- Centre for Research in Neuroscience and Brain Program, The Research Instituteof the, McGill University Health Centre , Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Shuvadeep Maity
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science-Pilani (BITS-Pilani) Hyderabad campus, Shameerpet-Mandal, Hyderabad, Telangana, India
| | - Pragya Komal
- Department of Biological Sciences, Birla Institute of Technology and Science-Pilani (BITS-Pilani) Hyderabad campus, Shameerpet-Mandal, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
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Rahman MM, Islam MR, Talukder MEK, Atif MF, Alam R, Uddin AFMS, Anis-Ul-Haque KM, Islam MS, Uddn MJ, Akhter S. Unveiling therapeutic efficacy of extract and multi-targeting phytocompounds from Christella dentata (Forssk.) Brownsey & Jermy against multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa. RSC Adv 2024; 14:6096-6111. [PMID: 38370460 PMCID: PMC10871032 DOI: 10.1039/d3ra08367e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Christella dentata (Forssk.) Brownsey & Jermy has been commonly used in traditional medicinal practices but its effects on multi-drug-resistant (MDR) bacteria have remained unexplored. We aimed to assess the in vitro antibacterial potential of the ethanol extract of Christella dentata (EECD) against MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa and to identify potential multi-targeting antibacterial phytocompounds through computer-aided drug design focusing on the LasR and LpxC proteins. PPS, FT-IR and GC-MS were used for profiling of the phytocompounds in EECD. The antimicrobial activity of EECD was assessed using in vitro agar well diffusion, disc diffusion, MIC and MBC. Computer-aided drug design was used to identify multi-targeting leads from GC-MS-annotated phytocompounds. EECD exhibited dose-dependent antibacterial activity and revealed the presence of 51 phytocompounds in GC-MS analysis. Among these, three phytocompounds; (2E,4E)-N-isobutylhexadeca-2,4-dienamide (CID 6442402), bicyclo[4.3.0]nonane, 2,2,6,7-tetramethyl-7-hydroxy- (CID 536446) and 1,4-diethylbenzene (CID 7734) were identified as promising antibacterial phytocompounds as they strongly bonded with LasR and LpxC. Of them, CID 536446 and CID 7734 exhibited multiple targeting abilities with LasR and LpxC. On further screening, both CID 536446 and CID 7734 exhibited favorable drug-able, pharmacokinetics and toxicity properties. Finally, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation proved the binding stability of bicyclo[4.3.0]nonane, 2,2,6,7-tetramethyl-7-hydroxy- and 1,4-diethylbenzene to active pockets of LasR and LpxC. The results of this study offer scientific validation for the traditional use of Christella dentata in bacterial infection-related diseases. It also suggests that bicyclo[4.3.0]nonane, 2,2,6,7-tetramethyl-7-hydroxy- and 1,4-diethylbenzene from Christella dentata might be responsible for the antibacterial activity and could act as phytopharmacological leads for the development of LasR and LpxC inhibitors against MDR P. aeruginosa.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Mashiar Rahman
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory, Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Jashore University of Science and Technology Jashore 7408 Bangladesh
| | - Md Rakibul Islam
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory, Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Jashore University of Science and Technology Jashore 7408 Bangladesh
| | - Md Enamul Kabir Talukder
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory, Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Jashore University of Science and Technology Jashore 7408 Bangladesh
| | - Md Farhan Atif
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory, Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Jashore University of Science and Technology Jashore 7408 Bangladesh
| | - Rahat Alam
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Laboratory, Department of Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Jashore University of Science and Technology Jashore 7408 Bangladesh
| | - A F M Shahab Uddin
- Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Jashore University of Science and Technology Jashore 7408 Bangladesh
| | - K M Anis-Ul-Haque
- Department of Chemistry, Jashore University of Science and Technology Jashore 7408 Bangladesh
| | - Md Saidul Islam
- Korea Institute of Radiological & Medical Sciences 75, Nowon-ro, Nowon-gu Seoul South Korea
| | - Mohammad Jashim Uddn
- Department of Pharmacy, Jashore University of Science and Technology Jashore 7408 Bangladesh
| | - Shahina Akhter
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, University of Science and Technology Chittagong (USTC) Foy's Lake Chittagong 4202 Bangladesh
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Bell AG, McMurtrie J, Bolaños LM, Cable J, Temperton B, Tyler CR. Influence of host phylogeny and water physicochemistry on microbial assemblages of the fish skin microbiome. FEMS Microbiol Ecol 2024; 100:fiae021. [PMID: 38366921 PMCID: PMC10903987 DOI: 10.1093/femsec/fiae021] [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: 12/05/2023] [Revised: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The skin of fish contains a diverse microbiota that has symbiotic functions with the host, facilitating pathogen exclusion, immune system priming, and nutrient degradation. The composition of fish skin microbiomes varies across species and in response to a variety of stressors, however, there has been no systematic analysis across these studies to evaluate how these factors shape fish skin microbiomes. Here, we examined 1922 fish skin microbiomes from 36 studies that included 98 species and nine rearing conditions to investigate associations between fish skin microbiome, fish species, and water physiochemical factors. Proteobacteria, particularly the class Gammaproteobacteria, were present in all marine and freshwater fish skin microbiomes. Acinetobacter, Aeromonas, Ralstonia, Sphingomonas and Flavobacterium were the most abundant genera within freshwater fish skin microbiomes, and Alteromonas, Photobacterium, Pseudoalteromonas, Psychrobacter and Vibrio were the most abundant in saltwater fish. Our results show that different culturing (rearing) environments have a small but significant effect on the skin bacterial community compositions. Water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen concentration, and salinity significantly correlated with differences in beta-diversity but not necessarily alpha-diversity. To improve study comparability on fish skin microbiomes, we provide recommendations for approaches to the analyses of sequencing data and improve study reproducibility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley G Bell
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Exeter, Exter, Devon EX4 4QD, United Kingdom
- Sustainable Aquaculture Futures, The University of Exeter, Exter, Devon EX4 4QD, United Kingdom
| | - Jamie McMurtrie
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Exeter, Exter, Devon EX4 4QD, United Kingdom
- Sustainable Aquaculture Futures, The University of Exeter, Exter, Devon EX4 4QD, United Kingdom
| | - Luis M Bolaños
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Exeter, Exter, Devon EX4 4QD, United Kingdom
| | - Jo Cable
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, United Kingdom
| | - Ben Temperton
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Exeter, Exter, Devon EX4 4QD, United Kingdom
| | - Charles R Tyler
- College of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Exeter, Exter, Devon EX4 4QD, United Kingdom
- Sustainable Aquaculture Futures, The University of Exeter, Exter, Devon EX4 4QD, United Kingdom
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48
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Gao Q, Liu JH, Ma WY, Cheng ZL, Hao PS, Luo NN. Genomics-Microbiome Based Assessment of Bidirectional Causality Between Gut Microbiota and Psoriasis. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol 2024; 17:435-445. [PMID: 38375439 PMCID: PMC10874884 DOI: 10.2147/ccid.s450227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/21/2024]
Abstract
Background Traditional observational studies have found a possible risk association of the gut microbiota for psoriasis. Meanwhile, psoriasis may also affect the changes in the gut microbiota. However, the available evidence does not demonstrate a reciprocal relationship between the gut microbiota and psoriasis. This limits our understanding on the role of the gut microbiota in the mechanisms of psoriasis. Methods To address this question we used Mendelian randomization, a novel epidemiological approach, and acquired the largest current gut microbiota GWAS data from the MiBioGen consortium as well as psoriasis GWAS data from the FinnGen consortium, and performed two-sample bidirectional MR analyses using a multiple MR analysis approach. Finally, the robustness of the results was assessed by sensitivity analysis. Results Our results indicate that five bacterial genera are causally related to psoriasis and psoriasis is causally related to four bacterial genera. Conclusion These results suggest a bidirectional causal influence of psoriasis on the gut microbiota. Our results somewhat challenge the causal inferences of previous observational studies. We found that the specific bacterial genera with a risk effect on psoriasis were different from those found to characterize psoriasis in previous observational studies, and that these psoriasis-characterizing genera were inversely associated with psoriasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Gao
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jing-Hua Liu
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wen-Yi Ma
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zi-Lin Cheng
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ping-Sheng Hao
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
| | - Na-Na Luo
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, People’s Republic of China
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de Almeida Gomes I, da Lima AB, da Silva Brito DM, Almeida Lima A, de Oliveira FL, Espino Zelaya EA, Magalhães Rebello Alencar L, Castelo Branco de Souza Collares Maia D, Amaral de Moraes ME, Pantoja Mesquita F, Noronha Souza PF, Montenegro RC. Recalculating the Route: Repositioning Antimicrobial Peptides for Cancer Treatment. Chem Biodivers 2024; 21:e202301840. [PMID: 38088493 DOI: 10.1002/cbdv.202301840] [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: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2024]
Abstract
Resistance to antimicrobial drugs has been considered a public health problem. Likewise, the increasing resistance of cancer cells to drugs currently used in therapy has also become a problem. Therefore, the research and development of synthetic peptides bring a new perspective on the emergence of new drugs for treating this resistance since bioinformatics provides a means to optimize these molecules and save time and costs in research. Peptides have several mechanisms of action, such as forming pores on the cell membrane and inhibiting protein synthesis. Some studies report the use of antimicrobial peptides with the potential for action against cancer cells, suggesting a repositioning of antimicrobial peptides to fight back cancer resistance. There is an alteration in the microenvironment, making its net charge negative for the survival and growth of cancer cells. The changes in glycoproteins favor the membrane to have a more negative charge, favoring the interaction between the cells and the peptide, thus making possible the repositioning of these antimicrobial peptides against cancer. Here, we will discuss the mechanism of action, targets and effects of peptides, comparison between microbial and cancer cells, and proteomic changes caused by the interaction of peptides and cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isadora de Almeida Gomes
- Pharmacogenetics Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Federal University of Ceará, Rua Coronel Nunes de Melo 1000, Fortaleza, CE, 60430-275, Brazil
| | - Ana Beatriz da Lima
- Pharmacogenetics Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Federal University of Ceará, Rua Coronel Nunes de Melo 1000, Fortaleza, CE, 60430-275, Brazil
| | - Daiane Maria da Silva Brito
- Pharmacogenetics Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Federal University of Ceará, Rua Coronel Nunes de Melo 1000, Fortaleza, CE, 60430-275, Brazil
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, 60020-181, CE, Brazil
| | - Arlene Almeida Lima
- Pharmacogenetics Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Federal University of Ceará, Rua Coronel Nunes de Melo 1000, Fortaleza, CE, 60430-275, Brazil
| | - Francisco Laio de Oliveira
- Pharmacogenetics Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Federal University of Ceará, Rua Coronel Nunes de Melo 1000, Fortaleza, CE, 60430-275, Brazil
| | - Elmer Adilson Espino Zelaya
- Pharmacogenetics Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Federal University of Ceará, Rua Coronel Nunes de Melo 1000, Fortaleza, CE, 60430-275, Brazil
| | | | | | - Maria Elisabete Amaral de Moraes
- Pharmacogenetics Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Federal University of Ceará, Rua Coronel Nunes de Melo 1000, Fortaleza, CE, 60430-275, Brazil
| | - Felipe Pantoja Mesquita
- Pharmacogenetics Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Federal University of Ceará, Rua Coronel Nunes de Melo 1000, Fortaleza, CE, 60430-275, Brazil
| | - Pedro Filho Noronha Souza
- Pharmacogenetics Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Federal University of Ceará, Rua Coronel Nunes de Melo 1000, Fortaleza, CE, 60430-275, Brazil
| | - Raquel C Montenegro
- Pharmacogenetics Laboratory, Drug Research and Development Center (NPDM), Federal University of Ceará, Rua Coronel Nunes de Melo 1000, Fortaleza, CE, 60430-275, Brazil
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50
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Sievers BL, Cheng MTK, Csiba K, Meng B, Gupta RK. SARS-CoV-2 and innate immunity: the good, the bad, and the "goldilocks". Cell Mol Immunol 2024; 21:171-183. [PMID: 37985854 PMCID: PMC10805730 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-023-01104-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
An ancient conflict between hosts and pathogens has driven the innate and adaptive arms of immunity. Knowledge about this interplay can not only help us identify biological mechanisms but also reveal pathogen vulnerabilities that can be leveraged therapeutically. The humoral response to SARS-CoV-2 infection has been the focus of intense research, and the role of the innate immune system has received significantly less attention. Here, we review current knowledge of the innate immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection and the various means SARS-CoV-2 employs to evade innate defense systems. We also consider the role of innate immunity in SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and in the phenomenon of long COVID.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Mark T K Cheng
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Kata Csiba
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Bo Meng
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID), Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | - Ravindra K Gupta
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Cambridge Institute of Therapeutic Immunology & Infectious Disease (CITIID), Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
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