Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors may affect pulmonary function in lymphangioleiomyomatosis

Multi-omics integration analysis of GPCRs in pan-cancer to uncover inter-omics relationships and potential driver genes

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are the largest drug target family. Unfortunately, applications of GPCRs in cancer therapy are scarce due to very limited knowledge regarding their correlations with cancers. Multi-omics data enables systematic investigations of GPCRs, yet their effective integration remains a challenge due to the complexity of the data. Here, we adopt two types of integration strategies, multi-staged and meta-dimensional approaches, to fully characterize somatic mutations, somatic copy number alterations (SCNAs), DNA methylations, and mRNA expressions of GPCRs in 33 cancers. Results from the multi-staged integration reveal that GPCR mutations cannot well predict expression dysregulation. The correlations between expressions and SCNAs are primarily positive, while correlations of the methylations with expressions and SCNAs are bimodal with negative correlations predominating. Based on these correlations, 32 and 144 potential cancer-related GPCRs driven by aberrant SCNA and methylation are identified, respectively. In addition, the meta-dimensional integration analysis is carried out by using deep learning models, which predict more than one hundred GPCRs as potential oncogenes. When comparing results between the two integration strategies, 165 cancer-related GPCRs are common in both, suggesting that they should be prioritized in future studies. However, 172 GPCRs emerge in only one, indicating that the two integration strategies should be considered concurrently to complement the information missed by the other such that obtain a more comprehensive understanding. Finally, correlation analysis further reveals that GPCRs, in particular for the class A and adhesion receptors, are generally immune-related. In a whole, the work is for the first time to reveal the associations between different omics layers and highlight the necessity of combing the two strategies in identifying cancer-related GPCRs.

Lichen planus drugs re-purposing as potential anti COVID-19 therapeutics through molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation approach

Background and Aim

The present study intends to investigate COVID-19 by targeting their main proteins with 17 selected drugs used for treating Oral Lichen Planus (OLP) which is a chronic muco-cutaneous disorder. Here, an attempt is made to gain better insight into the structure of various drugs targeting specific proteins which will be helpful in developing drugs useful for therapeutic and preventive measures.

Method

In silico studies, molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulations were performed to repurpose the therapeutic drugs (n = 17) which were used to treat OLP against COVID-19. In addition, the maximum binding affinities of the key protein spike glycoprotein, main-protease (M^pro) of coronavirus, and Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme-2 (ACE-2) in the human body were evaluated with the selected drugs.

Results

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) showed the highest docking values among the drugs selected for repurposing. Among the target proteins, EGCG has shown maximum binding affinity with ACE-2 receptor. Further, according to the molecular dynamic simulation studies, EGCG has shown the least conformational fluctuations with M^pro.

Conclusion

EGCG can be a potential inhibitor drug which can bind with ACE-2 receptor thus inhibiting the interaction of mainly M^pro protein and spike glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2.

Relevance for Patients

EGCG, a natural compound shows antiviral potential having considerably high affinity and stability with SARS-CoV-2. It might be further employed as a lead drug against selective inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 for the therapeutic management of COVID-19 patients after necessary clinical trials.

N-Acetyl-Seryl-Asparyl-Lysyl-Proline regulates lung renin angiotensin system to inhibit epithelial-mesenchymal transition in silicotic mice

Silicosis is a major public health concern with various contributing factors. The renin-angiotensin system (RAS)is a critical regulator in the pathogenesis of this disease. We focused on two key RAS enzymes, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), to elucidate the activation of the ACE-angiotensin II (Ang II)-angiotensin II receptor 1 (AT1) axis and the inhibition of the ACE2-angiotensin-(1-7) [Ang-(1-7)]-Mas receptor axis in C57BL/6mice following SiO₂ treatment. Silica exposure caused nodule formation, pulmonary interstitial fibrosis, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), abnormal deposition of extracellular matrix, and impaired lung function in mice. These effects were attenuated by the inhibition of ACE (captopril), blockade of the AT1(losartan), or systemic knockdown of the Ace gene. These effects were exacerbated by the inhibition of ACE2 (MLN-4760), blockade of the Mas (A779), or knockdown of the Ace2 gene. N-Acetyl-Seryl-Asparyl-Lysyl-Proline (Ac-SDKP), an anti-fibrotic peptide, ameliorated the silica-exposure-induced pathological changes by targeting the RAS system by activating the protective ACE2-Ang-(1-7)-Mas axis and inhibiting the deleterious ACE-Ang II-AT1 axis, thereby exerting a protective effect. This was confirmed in mouse lung type II epithelial cells (MLE-12) pretreated with Ang II and/or gene silencing separately targeting Ace and Ace2.The effects of Ac-SDKP were similar to those produced by Ace gene silencing and were partly attenuated by Ace2 deficiency. These findings suggested that RAS plays critical roles in the pathomechanism of silicosis fibrosis and that Ac-SDKP regulates lung RAS to inhibit EMT in silicotic mice and MLE-12 cells.