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Churchill ML, Holdsworth-Carson SJ, Cowley KJ, Luu J, Simpson KJ, Healey M, Rogers PAW, Donoghue JF. Using a Quantitative High-Throughput Screening Platform to Identify Molecular Targets and Compounds as Repurposing Candidates for Endometriosis. Biomolecules 2023; 13:965. [PMID: 37371546 DOI: 10.3390/biom13060965] [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: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Endometriosis, defined as the growth of hormonally responsive endometrial-like tissue outside of the uterine cavity, is an estrogen-dependent, chronic, pro-inflammatory disease that affects up to 11.4% of women of reproductive age and gender-diverse people with a uterus. At present, there is no long-term cure, and the identification of new therapies that provide a high level of efficacy and favourable long-term safety profiles with rapid clinical access are a priority. In this study, quantitative high-throughput compound screens of 3517 clinically approved compounds were performed on patient-derived immortalized human endometrial stromal cell lines. Following assay optimization and compound criteria selection, a high-throughput screening protocol was developed to enable the identification of compounds that interfered with estrogen-stimulated cell growth. From these screens, 23 novel compounds were identified, in addition to their molecular targets and in silico cell-signalling pathways, which included the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway, metabolic pathways, and cancer-associated pathways. This study demonstrates for the first time the feasibility of performing large compound screens for the identification of new translatable therapeutics and the improved characterization of endometriosis molecular pathophysiology. Further investigation of the molecular targets identified herein will help uncover new mechanisms involved in the establishment, symptomology, and progression of endometriosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly L Churchill
- Gynaecology Research Centre, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne and The Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Sarah J Holdsworth-Carson
- Gynaecology Research Centre, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne and The Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
- Julia Argyrou Endometriosis Centre, Epworth HealthCare, Richmond, VIC 3121, Australia
| | - Karla J Cowley
- Victorian Centre for Functional Genomics, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Jennii Luu
- Victorian Centre for Functional Genomics, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Kaylene J Simpson
- Victorian Centre for Functional Genomics, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Martin Healey
- Gynaecology Research Centre, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne and The Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
- Gynaecology Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain Unit, Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Peter A W Rogers
- Gynaecology Research Centre, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne and The Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - J F Donoghue
- Gynaecology Research Centre, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, University of Melbourne and The Royal Women's Hospital, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
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Tang H, Zhang D, Jiang F, Yu L, Tang H, Zhu J, Wu S, Niu H. Enhancement of Cell Adhesion by Anaplasma phagocytophilum Nucleolin-Interacting Protein AFAP. J Pers Med 2023; 13:jpm13020302. [PMID: 36836536 PMCID: PMC9965380 DOI: 10.3390/jpm13020302] [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: 11/27/2022] [Revised: 02/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Anaplasma phagocytophilum, the aetiologic agent of human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA), is an obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacterium. During infection, A. phagocytophilum enhances the adhesion of neutrophils to the infected endothelial cells. However, the bacterial factors contributing to this phenomenon remain unknown. In this study, we characterized a type IV secretion system substrate of A. phagocytophilum, AFAP (an actin filament-associated Anaplasma phagocytophilum protein) and found that it dynamically changed its pattern and subcellular location in cells and enhanced cell adhesion. Tandem affinity purification combined with mass spectrometry identified host nucleolin as an AFAP-interacting protein. Further study showed the disruption of nucleolin by RNA interference, and the treatment of a nucleolin-binding DNA aptamer AS1411 attenuated AFAP-mediated cell adhesion, indicating that AFAP enhanced cell adhesion in a nucleolin-dependent manner. The characterization of cell adhesion-enhancing AFAP and the identification of host nucleolin as its interaction partner may help understand the mechanism underlying A. phagocytophilum-promoting cell adhesion, facilitating the elucidation of HGA pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongcheng Tang
- Department of Microbiology, School of Biology & Basic Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Daxiu Zhang
- Clinical Laboratory Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541001, China
| | - Fenfen Jiang
- Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541001, China
| | - Lifeng Yu
- Clinical Laboratory Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541001, China
| | - Hui Tang
- Clinical Laboratory Center, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541001, China
| | - Jiafeng Zhu
- Department of Microbiology, School of Biology & Basic Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Shuyan Wu
- Department of Microbiology, School of Biology & Basic Medical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou 215123, China
| | - Hua Niu
- Laboratory of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541001, China
- Guangxi Key Laboratory of Molecular Medicine in Liver Injury and Repair, Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541001, China
- Guangxi Health Commission Key Laboratory of Basic Research in Sphingolipid Metabolism Related Diseases, Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University, Guilin 541001, China
- Correspondence:
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Correia AS, Silva I, Oliveira JC, Reguengo H, Vale N. Serotonin Type 3 Receptor Is Potentially Involved in Cellular Stress Induced by Hydrogen Peroxide. Life (Basel) 2022; 12:life12101645. [PMID: 36295079 PMCID: PMC9605598 DOI: 10.3390/life12101645] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2022] [Revised: 10/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Depression is a disease with several molecular mechanisms involved, such as problems in the serotonergic pathway. This disease is very complex and prevalent, and thus important to deeply study and aim to overcome high rates of relapse and therapeutic failure. In this study, two cellular lines were used (HT-22 and SH-SY5Y cells) to gain insight about the role of the serotonin type 3 (5-HT3) receptor in cellular stress induced by hydrogen peroxide and/or corticosterone. In research, these compounds are known to mimic the high levels of oxidative stress and dysfunction of the hypothalamus–hypophysis–adrenal axis by the action of glucocorticoids, usually present in depressed individuals. The receptor 5-HT3 is also known to be involved in depression, previously demonstrated in studies that highlight the role of these receptors as promising targets for antidepressant therapy. Indeed, the drugs used in this work (mirtazapine, scopolamine, and lamotrigine) interact with this serotonergic receptor. Thus, by using cell morphology, cell viability (neutral red and MTT), and HPLC assays, this work aimed to understand the role of these drugs in the stress induced by H2O2/corticosterone to HT-22 and SH-SY5Y cell lines. We concluded that the antagonism of the 5-HT3 receptor by these drugs may be important in the attenuation of H2O2-induced oxidative stress to the cells, but not in the corticosterone-induced stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Salomé Correia
- OncoPharma Research Group, Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences Abel Salazar (ICBAS), University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
- CINTESIS@RISE, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
| | - Isabel Silva
- Clinical Chemistry, Department of Laboratory Pathology, Hospital Center of the University of Porto (CHUP), Largo Professor Abel Salazar, 4099-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - José Carlos Oliveira
- Clinical Chemistry, Department of Laboratory Pathology, Hospital Center of the University of Porto (CHUP), Largo Professor Abel Salazar, 4099-313 Porto, Portugal
- Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine (UMIB), University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Henrique Reguengo
- Clinical Chemistry, Department of Laboratory Pathology, Hospital Center of the University of Porto (CHUP), Largo Professor Abel Salazar, 4099-313 Porto, Portugal
- Unit for Multidisciplinary Research in Biomedicine (UMIB), University of Porto, Rua de Jorge Viterbo Ferreira 228, 4050-313 Porto, Portugal
| | - Nuno Vale
- OncoPharma Research Group, Center for Health Technology and Services Research (CINTESIS), Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
- CINTESIS@RISE, Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Alameda Professor Hernâni Monteiro, 4200-319 Porto, Portugal
- Department of Community Medicine, Health Information and Decision (MEDCIDS), Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Rua Doutor Plácido da Costa, 4200-450 Porto, Portugal
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +351-220426537
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Zhang CC, Zhu LX, Shi HJ, Zhu LJ. The Role of Vesicle Release and Synaptic Transmission in Depression. Neuroscience 2022; 505:171-185. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Overcoming Depression with 5-HT2A Receptor Ligands. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 23:ijms23010010. [PMID: 35008436 PMCID: PMC8744644 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23010010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/18/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Depression is a multifactorial disorder that affects millions of people worldwide, and none of the currently available therapeutics can completely cure it. Thus, there is a need for developing novel, potent, and safer agents. Recent medicinal chemistry findings on the structure and function of the serotonin 2A (5-HT2A) receptor facilitated design and discovery of novel compounds with antidepressant action. Eligible papers highlighting the importance of 5-HT2A receptors in the pathomechanism of the disorder were identified in the content-screening performed on the popular databases (PubMed, Google Scholar). Articles were critically assessed based on their titles and abstracts. The most accurate papers were chosen to be read and presented in the manuscript. The review summarizes current knowledge on the applicability of 5-HT2A receptor signaling modulators in the treatment of depression. It provides an insight into the structural and physiological features of this receptor. Moreover, it presents an overview of recently conducted virtual screening campaigns aiming to identify novel, potent 5-HT2A receptor ligands and additional data on currently synthesized ligands acting through this protein.
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John Jayakumar JAK, Panicker MM. The roles of serotonin in cell adhesion and migration, and cytoskeletal remodeling. Cell Adh Migr 2021; 15:261-271. [PMID: 34494935 PMCID: PMC8437456 DOI: 10.1080/19336918.2021.1963574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Revised: 07/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Serotonin is well known as a neurotransmitter. Its roles in neuronal processes such as learning, memory or cognition are well established, and also in disorders such as depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and dementia. However, its effects on adhesion and cytoskeletal remodelling which are strongly affected by 5-HT receptors, are not as well studied with some exceptions for e.g. platelet aggregation. Neuronal function is strongly dependent on cell-cell contacts and adhesion-related processes. Therefore the role played by serotonin in psychiatric illness, as well as in the positive and negative effects of neuropsychiatric drugs through cell-related adhesion can be of great significance. In this review, we explore the role of serotonin in some of these aspects based on recent findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joe Anand Kumar John Jayakumar
- Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, India
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bengaluru, India
| | - Mitradas M. Panicker
- National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bengaluru, India
- Present Address - Department of Physiology and Biophysics, School of Medicine, University of California, Irvine, USA
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Chen MX, Cheng S, Lei L, Zhang XF, Liu Q, Lin A, Wallis CU, Lukowicz MJ, Sham PC, Li Q, Ao LJ. The effects of maternal SSRI exposure on the serotonin system, prefrontal protein expression and behavioral development in male and female offspring rats. Neurochem Int 2021; 146:105041. [PMID: 33836218 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuint.2021.105041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2020] [Revised: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Fluoxetine (FLX), a commonly used selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, is often used to treat depression during pregnancy. However, prenatal exposure to FLX has been associated with a series of neuropsychiatric illnesses. The use of a rodent model can provide a clear indication as to whether prenatal exposure to SSRIs, independent of maternal psychiatric disorders or genetic syndromes, can cause long-term behavioral abnormalities in offspring. Thus, the present study aimed to explore whether prenatal FLX exposure causes long-term neurobehavioral effects, and identify the underlying mechanism between FLX and abnormal behaviors. In our study, 12/mg/kg/day of FLX or equal normal saline (NS) was administered to pregnant Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats (FLX = 30, NS = 27) on gestation day 11 till birth. We assessed the physical development and behavior of offspring, and in vivo magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was conducted to quantify biochemical alterations in the prefrontal cortex (PFC). Ex vivo measurements of brain serotonin level and a proteomic analysis were also undertaken. Our results showed that the offspring (male offspring in particular) of fluoxetine exposed mothers showed delayed physical development, increased anxiety-like behavior, and impaired social interaction. Moreover, down-regulation of 5-HT and SERT expression were identified in the PFC. We also found that prenatal FLX exposure significantly decreased NAA/tCr with 1H-MRS in the PFC of offspring. Finally, a proteomic study revealed sex-dependent differential protein expression. These findings may have translational importance suggesting that using SSRI medication alone in pregnant mothers may result in developmental delay in their offspring. Our results also help guide the choice of outcome measures in identifying of molecular and developmental mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mo Xian Chen
- School of Rehabilitation, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | - Shu Cheng
- Department of Rehabilitation, China Resources & WISCO General Hospital, Wuhan, China
| | - Lei Lei
- Rehabilitation Medicine Department, The Affiliated Hospital of Southwest Medical University, Tai Ping Road, Luzhou, Sichuan, China
| | - Xiao Fan Zhang
- Department of Psychiatry, Tongji Hospital of Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), China
| | - Qiang Liu
- Department of Surgery, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Aijin Lin
- School of Rehabilitation, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China
| | | | | | - Pak C Sham
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China; State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China; Centre for Genomic Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China
| | - Qi Li
- Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China; State Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China.
| | - Li Juan Ao
- School of Rehabilitation, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, China.
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