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Taracena-Agarwal ML, Walter-Nuno AB, Bottino-Rojas V, Mejia APG, Xu K, Segal S, Dotson EM, Oliveira PL, Paiva-Silva GO. Juvenile Hormone as a contributing factor in establishing midgut microbiota for fecundity and fitness enhancement in adult female Aedes aegypti. Commun Biol 2024; 7:687. [PMID: 38839829 PMCID: PMC11153597 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-024-06334-y] [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: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 06/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Understanding the factors influencing mosquitoes' fecundity and longevity is important for designing better and more sustainable vector control strategies, as these parameters can impact their vectorial capacity. Here, we address how mating affects midgut growth in Aedes aegypti, what role Juvenile Hormone (JH) plays in this process, and how it impacts the mosquito's immune response and microbiota. Our findings reveal that mating and JH induce midgut growth. Additionally, the establishment of a native bacterial population in the midgut due to JH-dependent suppression of the immune response has important reproductive outcomes. Specific downregulation of AMPs with an increase in bacteria abundance in the gut results in increased egg counts and longer lifespans. Overall, these findings provide evidence of a cross-talk between JH response, gut epithelial tissue, cell cycle regulation, and the mechanisms governing the trade-offs between nutrition, immunity, and reproduction at the cellular level in the mosquito gut.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mabel L Taracena-Agarwal
- Programa de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM), Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA, USA.
- Entomology Department, Cornell University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Ithaca, NY, USA.
| | - Ana Beatriz Walter-Nuno
- Programa de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM), Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Vanessa Bottino-Rojas
- Programa de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM), Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | | | - Kelsey Xu
- Entomology Department, Cornell University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Steven Segal
- Entomology Department, Cornell University, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Ellen M Dotson
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Pedro L Oliveira
- Programa de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM), Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - Gabriela O Paiva-Silva
- Programa de Biologia Molecular e Biotecnologia, Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
- Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia em Entomologia Molecular (INCT-EM), Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
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2
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Baena-Lopez LA, Wang L, Wendler F. Cellular stress management by caspases. Curr Opin Cell Biol 2024; 86:102314. [PMID: 38215516 DOI: 10.1016/j.ceb.2023.102314] [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: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024]
Abstract
Cellular stress plays a pivotal role in the onset of numerous human diseases. Consequently, the removal of dysfunctional cells, which undergo excessive stress-induced damage via various cell death pathways, including apoptosis, is essential for maintaining organ integrity and function. The evolutionarily conserved family of cysteine-aspartic-proteases, known as caspases, has been a key player in orchestrating apoptosis. However, recent research has unveiled the capability of these enzymes to govern fundamental cellular processes without triggering cell death. Remarkably, some of these non-lethal functions of caspases may contribute to restoring cellular equilibrium in stressed cells. This manuscript discusses how caspases can function as cellular stress managers and their potential impact on human health and disease. Additionally, it sheds light on the limitations of caspase-based therapies, given our still incomplete understanding of the biology of these enzymes, particularly in non-apoptotic contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Li Wang
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX13RE, UK
| | - Franz Wendler
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX13RE, UK. https://twitter.com/wendlerfranz
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3
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Alzamami A, Radwan EM, Abo-Elabass E, Behery ME, Alshwyeh HA, Al-Olayan E, Altamimi AS, Attallah NGM, Altwaijry N, Jaremko M, Saied EM. Novel 8-Methoxycoumarin-3-Carboxamides with potent anticancer activity against liver cancer via targeting caspase-3/7 and β-tubulin polymerization. BMC Chem 2023; 17:174. [PMID: 38041156 PMCID: PMC10693084 DOI: 10.1186/s13065-023-01063-5] [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: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023] Open
Abstract
In the present study, we explored the potential of coumarin-based compounds, known for their potent anticancer properties, by designing and synthesizing a novel category of 8-methoxycoumarin-3-carboxamides. Our aim was to investigate their antiproliferative activity against liver cancer cells. Toward this, we developed a versatile synthetic approach to produce a series of 8-methoxycoumarin-3-carboxamide analogues with meticulous structural features. Assessment of their antiproliferative activity demonstrated their significant inhibitory effects on the growth of HepG2 cells, a widely studied liver cancer cell line. Among screened compounds, compound 5 exhibited the most potent antiproliferative activity among the screened compounds (IC50 = 0.9 µM), outperforming the anticancer drug staurosporine (IC50 = 8.4 µM), while showing minimal impact on normal cells. The flow cytometric analysis revealed that compound 5 induces cell cycle arrest during the G1/S phase and triggers apoptosis in HepG2 cells by increasing the percentage of cells arrested in the G2/M and pre-G1 phases. Annexin V-FITC/PI screening further supported the induction of apoptosis without significant necrosis. Further, compound 5 exhibited the ability to activate caspase3/7 protein and substantially inhibited β-tubulin polymerization activity in HepG2 cells. Finally, molecular modelling analysis further affirmed the high binding affinity of compound 5 toward the active cavity of β-tubulin protein, suggesting its mechanistic involvement. Collectively, our findings highlight the therapeutic potential of the presented class of coumarin analogues, especially compound 5, as promising candidates for the development of effective anti-hepatocellular carcinoma agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad Alzamami
- Clinical Laboratory Science Department, College of Applied Medical Science, Shaqra University, AlQuwayiyah 11961, Sahqra, Saudi Arabia
| | - Eman M Radwan
- Chemistry Department (The Division of Organic Chemistry), Faculty of Science, Port-Said University, Port-Said, Egypt
| | - Eman Abo-Elabass
- Chemistry Department (The Division of Biochemistry), Faculty of Science, Port-Said University, Port-Said, Egypt
| | - Mohammed El Behery
- Chemistry Department (The Division of Biochemistry), Faculty of Science, Port-Said University, Port-Said, Egypt
| | - Hussah Abdullah Alshwyeh
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, 31441, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
- Basic & Applied Scientific Research Centre, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, P.O. Box 1982, 31441, Dammam, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ebtesam Al-Olayan
- Department of Zoology, College of Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulmalik S Altamimi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, PO Box 173, 11942, Alkharj, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Najla Altwaijry
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, 11671, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mariusz Jaremko
- Division of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Smart-Health Initiative and Red Sea Research Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, P.O. Box 4700, 23955-6900, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia.
| | - Essa M Saied
- Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, 41522, Egypt.
- Institute for Chemistry, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Brook-Taylor-Str. 2, 12489, Berlin, Germany.
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4
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Suthar KP, Bergmann A. Something new under the sun: caspases promote cell survival under moderate heat stress. EMBO Rep 2023; 24:e57276. [PMID: 37165748 PMCID: PMC10240193 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202357276] [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: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the discovery of caspases in 1993 (Yuan et al, 1993), they have largely been regarded as essential Cys proteases in apoptosis. However, more recently, it has become evident that caspases also have non-apoptotic functions in the so-called caspase-dependent non-lethal processes (CDPs) including cell proliferation and cell differentiation (Aram et al, 2017). While most of the non-apoptotic functions were characterized under normal developmental conditions, a new study by Galasso et al took this examination a step further-to the analysis of moderate stress conditions. The authors now report that caspases have a non-apoptotic prosurvival function in Drosophila ovarian somatic cells exposed to moderate heat stress by controlling Hedgehog signaling and autophagy (Galasso et al, 2023).
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Affiliation(s)
- Komal Panchal Suthar
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer BiologyUMass Chan Medical SchoolWorcesterMAUSA
| | - Andreas Bergmann
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer BiologyUMass Chan Medical SchoolWorcesterMAUSA
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Galasso A, Xu DC, Hill C, Iakovleva D, Stefana MI, Baena‐Lopez LA. Non-apoptotic caspase activation ensures the homeostasis of ovarian somatic stem cells. EMBO Rep 2023; 24:e51716. [PMID: 37039000 PMCID: PMC10240206 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202051716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 04/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Current evidence has associated caspase activation with the regulation of basic cellular functions without causing apoptosis. Malfunction of non-apoptotic caspase activities may contribute to specific neurological disorders, metabolic diseases, autoimmune conditions and cancers. However, our understanding of non-apoptotic caspase functions remains limited. Here, we show that non-apoptotic caspase activation prevents the intracellular accumulation of the Patched receptor in autophagosomes and the subsequent Patched-dependent induction of autophagy in Drosophila follicular stem cells. These events ultimately sustain Hedgehog signalling and the physiological properties of ovarian somatic stem cells and their progeny under moderate thermal stress. Importantly, our key findings are partially conserved in ovarian somatic cells of human origin. These observations attribute to caspases a pro-survival role under certain cellular conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessia Galasso
- Faculty of Medicine CentreImperial College London, South Kensington CampusLondonUK
| | - Derek Cui Xu
- Sir William Dunn School of PathologyUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Claire Hill
- School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical SciencesQueen's University Belfast MedicineBelfastUK
| | - Daria Iakovleva
- Center for Regenerative MedicineUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
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