1
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Lockwood TD. Coordination chemistry suggests that independently observed benefits of metformin and Zn 2+ against COVID-19 are not independent. Biometals 2024; 37:983-1022. [PMID: 38578560 PMCID: PMC11255062 DOI: 10.1007/s10534-024-00590-5] [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: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024]
Abstract
Independent trials indicate that either oral Zn2+ or metformin can separately improve COVID-19 outcomes by approximately 40%. Coordination chemistry predicts a mechanistic relationship and therapeutic synergy. Zn2+ deficit is a known risk factor for both COVID-19 and non-infectious inflammation. Most dietary Zn2+ is not absorbed. Metformin is a naked ligand that presumably increases intestinal Zn2+ bioavailability and active absorption by cation transporters known to transport metformin. Intracellular Zn2+ provides a natural buffer of many protease reactions; the variable "set point" is determined by Zn2+ regulation or availability. A Zn2+-interactive protease network is suggested here. The two viral cysteine proteases are therapeutic targets against COVID-19. Viral and many host proteases are submaximally inhibited by exchangeable cell Zn2+. Inhibition of cysteine proteases can improve COVID-19 outcomes and non-infectious inflammation. Metformin reportedly enhances the natural moderating effect of Zn2+ on bioassayed proteome degradation. Firstly, the dissociable metformin-Zn2+ complex could be actively transported by intestinal cation transporters; thereby creating artificial pathways of absorption and increased body Zn2+ content. Secondly, metformin Zn2+ coordination can create a non-natural protease inhibitor independent of cell Zn2+ content. Moderation of peptidolytic reactions by either or both mechanisms could slow (a) viral multiplication (b) viral invasion and (c) the pathogenic host inflammatory response. These combined actions could allow development of acquired immunity to clear the infection before life-threatening inflammation. Nirmatrelvir (Paxlovid®) opposes COVID-19 by selective inhibition the viral main protease by a Zn2+-independent mechanism. Pending safety evaluation, predictable synergistic benefits of metformin and Zn2+, and perhaps metformin/Zn2+/Paxlovid® co-administration should be investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas D Lockwood
- Department Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Wright State University, Dayton, OH, 45435, USA.
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2
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Gao Y, Dong K, Gao Y, Jin X, Yang J, Yan G, Liu Q. Unified cross-modality integration and analysis of T cell receptors and T cell transcriptomes by low-resource-aware representation learning. CELL GENOMICS 2024; 4:100553. [PMID: 38688285 PMCID: PMC11099349 DOI: 10.1016/j.xgen.2024.100553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024]
Abstract
Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) and T cell receptor sequencing (TCR-seq) are pivotal for investigating T cell heterogeneity. Integrating these modalities, which is expected to uncover profound insights in immunology that might otherwise go unnoticed with a single modality, faces computational challenges due to the low-resource characteristics of the multimodal data. Herein, we present UniTCR, a novel low-resource-aware multimodal representation learning framework designed for the unified cross-modality integration, enabling comprehensive T cell analysis. By designing a dual-modality contrastive learning module and a single-modality preservation module to effectively embed each modality into a common latent space, UniTCR demonstrates versatility in connecting TCR sequences with T cell transcriptomes across various tasks, including single-modality analysis, modality gap analysis, epitope-TCR binding prediction, and TCR profile cross-modality generation, in a low-resource-aware way. Extensive evaluations conducted on multiple scRNA-seq/TCR-seq paired datasets showed the superior performance of UniTCR, exhibiting the ability of exploring the complexity of immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yicheng Gao
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration (Tongji University), Ministry of Education, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, Bioinformatics Department, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; State Key Laboratory of Cardiology and Medical Innovation Center, Shanghai East Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, Bioinformatics Department, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Kejing Dong
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration (Tongji University), Ministry of Education, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, Bioinformatics Department, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; State Key Laboratory of Cardiology and Medical Innovation Center, Shanghai East Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, Bioinformatics Department, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Yuli Gao
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration (Tongji University), Ministry of Education, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, Bioinformatics Department, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; State Key Laboratory of Cardiology and Medical Innovation Center, Shanghai East Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, Bioinformatics Department, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Xuan Jin
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration (Tongji University), Ministry of Education, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, Bioinformatics Department, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; State Key Laboratory of Cardiology and Medical Innovation Center, Shanghai East Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, Bioinformatics Department, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Jingya Yang
- Shanghai Research Institute for Intelligent Autonomous Systems, Shanghai 201804, China
| | - Gang Yan
- Shanghai Research Institute for Intelligent Autonomous Systems, Shanghai 201804, China.
| | - Qi Liu
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration (Tongji University), Ministry of Education, Tongji Hospital, School of Medicine, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, Bioinformatics Department, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; State Key Laboratory of Cardiology and Medical Innovation Center, Shanghai East Hospital, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, Bioinformatics Department, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Research Institute for Intelligent Autonomous Systems, Shanghai 201804, China; Research Institute of Intelligent Computing, Zhejiang Lab, Hangzhou 311121, China.
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3
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Salama AM, Elmahy RA, Ibrahim HA, Amer AIM, Eltantawy AF, Elgendy DI. Effects of metformin on parasitological, pathological changes in the brain and liver and immunological aspects during visceral toxocariasis in mice. Parasitol Res 2023; 122:3213-3231. [PMID: 37874393 PMCID: PMC10667394 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-023-08011-1] [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: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
There are currently insufficient anthelmintic medications available for the treatment of toxocariasis. For instance, Albendazole (ABZ) is the preferred medication, but its effectiveness against tissue-dwelling parasites is limited. In addition, Metformin (MTF) is a widely used oral antidiabetic medication that is considered to be safe for treatment. This study aimed to investigate any potential effects of MTF, alone or in combination with ABZ, on mice infections caused by Toxocara canis (T. canis). The efficacy of the treatment was assessed in the acute and chronic phases of the infection by larval recovery and histopathological, immunohistochemical, and biochemical studies. The results showed that combined therapy significantly reduced larval counts in the liver, brain, and muscles and ameliorated hepatic and brain pathology. It reduced oxidative stress and TGF-β mRNA expression and increased FGF21 levels in the liver. It decreased TNF-α levels and MMP-9 expression in the brain. In addition, it increased serum levels of IL-12 and IFN-γ and decreased serum levels of IL-4 and IL-10. In the acute and chronic phases of the infection, the combined treatment was more effective than ABZ alone. In conclusion, this study highlights the potential role of MTF as an adjuvant in the treatment of experimental T. canis infection when administered with ABZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amina M Salama
- Medical Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
| | - Rasha A Elmahy
- Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Tanta University, Tanta, 31527, Egypt
| | - Hoda A Ibrahim
- Medical Biochemistry Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
| | | | - Asmaa Fawzy Eltantawy
- Medical Pharmacology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
| | - Dina I Elgendy
- Medical Parasitology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.
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4
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Liu C, Zhang S, Xue J, Zhang H, Yin J. Evaluation of PEN2-ATP6AP1 axis as an antiparasitic target for metformin based on phylogeny analysis and molecular docking. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2023; 255:111580. [PMID: 37473813 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2023.111580] [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: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Metformin (Met), the first-line drug used in the treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus, is effective against a variety of parasites. However, the molecular target of Met at clinical dose against various parasites remains unclear. Recently, low-dose Met (clinical dose) has been reported to directly bind PEN2 (presenilin enhancer protein 2) and initiate the lysosomal glucose-sensing pathway for AMPK activation via ATP6AP1 (V-type proton ATPase subunit S1), rather than perturbing AMP/ATP levels. METHODS To explore the possibility of PEN2-ATP6AP1 axis as a drug target of Met for the treatment of parasitic diseases, we identified and characterized orthologs of PEN2 and ATP6AP1 genes in parasites, by constructing phylogenetic trees, analyzing protein sequences and predicting interactions between Met and parasite PEN2. RESULTS The results showed that PEN2 and ATP6AP1 genes are only found together in a few of parasite species in the cestoda and nematoda groups. Indicated by molecular simulation, Met might function by interacting with PEN2 on V37/W38/E5 (Trichinella spiralis) with similar binding energy, and on F35/S39 (Caenorhabditis elegans) with higher binding energy, comparing to human PEN2. Hence, these results indicated that only the T. spiralis PEN2-ATP6AP1 axis has the potential to be the direct target of low-concentration Met. Together with contribution of host cells including immune cells in vivo, T. spiralis PEN2-ATP6AP1 axis might play roles in reducing parasite load at low-concentration Met. However, the mechanisms of low-concentration Met on other parasitic infections might be mainly achieved by regulating host cells, rather than directly targeting PEN2-ATP6AP1 axis. CONCLUSIONS These findings revealed the potential mechanisms by which Met treats various parasitic diseases, and shed new light on the development of antiparasitic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congshan Liu
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Shangrui Zhang
- Henan Medical College, No. 8 Shuanghu Avenue, Longhu Town, Xinzheng, Zhengzhou City 451191, Henan Province, China
| | - Jian Xue
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Haobing Zhang
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Jianhai Yin
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (Chinese Center for Tropical Diseases Research), NHC Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, National Center for International Research on Tropical Diseases, Shanghai 200025, China.
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5
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Chen D, Guo Y, Jiang J, Wu P, Zhang T, Wei Q, Huang J, Wu D. γδ T cell exhaustion: Opportunities for intervention. J Leukoc Biol 2022; 112:1669-1676. [PMID: 36000310 PMCID: PMC9804355 DOI: 10.1002/jlb.5mr0722-777r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2022] [Revised: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
T lymphocytes are the key protective contributors in chronic infection and tumor, but experience exhaustion by persistent antigen stimulation. As an unconventional lineage of T cells, γδ T cells can rapidly response to varied infectious and tumor challenges in a non-MHC-restricted manner and play key roles in immune surveillance via pleiotropic effector functions, showing promising as candidates for cellular tumor immunotherapy. Activated γδ T cells can also acquire exhaustion signature with elevated expression of immune checkpoints, such as PD-1, decreased cytokine production, and functional impairment. However, the exhaustion features of γδ T cells are distinct from conventional αβ T cells. Here, we review the researches regarding the characteristics, heterogeneity, and mechanisms of γδ T cell exhaustion. These studies provide insights into the combined strategies to overcome the exhaustion of γδ T cells and enhance antitumor immunity. Summary sentence: Review of the characteristics, heterogeneity, and mechanisms of γδ T cell exhaustion provides insights into the combined strategies to enhance γδ T cell-based antitumor immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Chen
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Second Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina,Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Second Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina,Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, National Ministry of Education), Second Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Yinglu Guo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Second Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina,Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, National Ministry of Education), Second Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Jiahuan Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Second Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina,Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, National Ministry of Education), Second Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina,Department of Breast Surgery, Second Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Pin Wu
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Second Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina,Department of Thoracic Surgery, Second Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Ting Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Second Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina,Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Second Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina,Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, National Ministry of Education), Second Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Qichun Wei
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Second Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina,Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, National Ministry of Education), Second Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Jian Huang
- Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Second Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina,Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, National Ministry of Education), Second Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina,Department of Breast Surgery, Second Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Dang Wu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Second Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina,Key Laboratory of Tumor Microenvironment and Immune Therapy of Zhejiang Province, Second Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina,Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, National Ministry of Education), Second Affiliated HospitalZhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
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6
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Olatunde AC, Cornwall DH, Roedel M, Lamb TJ. Mouse Models for Unravelling Immunology of Blood Stage Malaria. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:1525. [PMID: 36146602 PMCID: PMC9501382 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10091525] [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: 07/10/2022] [Revised: 09/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria comprises a spectrum of disease syndromes and the immune system is a major participant in malarial disease. This is particularly true in relation to the immune responses elicited against blood stages of Plasmodium-parasites that are responsible for the pathogenesis of infection. Mouse models of malaria are commonly used to dissect the immune mechanisms underlying disease. While no single mouse model of Plasmodium infection completely recapitulates all the features of malaria in humans, collectively the existing models are invaluable for defining the events that lead to the immunopathogenesis of malaria. Here we review the different mouse models of Plasmodium infection that are available, and highlight some of the main contributions these models have made with regards to identifying immune mechanisms of parasite control and the immunopathogenesis of malaria.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Tracey J. Lamb
- Department of Pathology, University of Utah, Emma Eccles Jones Medical Research Building, 15 N Medical Drive E, Room 1420A, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
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7
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Ibraheem Y, Bayarsaikhan G, Inoue SI. Host immunity to Plasmodium infection: Contribution of Plasmodium berghei to our understanding of T cell-related immune response to blood-stage malaria. Parasitol Int 2022; 92:102646. [PMID: 35998816 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2022.102646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/12/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by infection with Plasmodium parasites. The goal of developing an effective malaria vaccine is yet to be reached despite decades of massive research efforts. CD4+ helper T cells, CD8+ cytotoxic T cells, and γδ T cells are associated with immune responses to both liver-stage and blood-stage Plasmodium infection. The immune responses of T cell-lineages to Plasmodium infection are associated with both protection and immunopathology. Studies with mouse model of malaria contribute to our understanding of host immune response. In this paper, we focus primarily on mouse malaria model with blood-stage Plasmodium berghei infection and review our knowledge of T cell immune responses against Plasmodium infection. Moreover, we also discuss findings of experimental human studies. Uncovering the precise mechanisms of T cell-mediated immunity to Plasmodium infection can be accomplished through further investigations using mouse models of malaria with rodent Plasmodium parasites. Those findings would be invaluable to advance the efforts for development of an effective malaria vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yarob Ibraheem
- Division of Immunology, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki-city, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
| | - Ganchimeg Bayarsaikhan
- Division of Immunology, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki-city, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
| | - Shin-Ichi Inoue
- Division of Immunology, Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Nagasaki University, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki-city, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan.
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8
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Wiernsperger N, Al-Salameh A, Cariou B, Lalau JD. Protection by metformin against severe Covid-19: an in-depth mechanistic analysis. DIABETES & METABOLISM 2022; 48:101359. [PMID: 35662580 PMCID: PMC9154087 DOI: 10.1016/j.diabet.2022.101359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Since the outbreak of Covid-19, several observational studies on diabetes and Covid-19 have reported a favourable association between metformin and Covid-19-related outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). This is not surprising since metformin affects many of the pathophysiological mechanisms implicated in SARS-CoV-2 immune response, systemic spread and sequelae. A comparison of the multifactorial pathophysiological mechanisms of Covid-19 progression with metformin's well-known pleiotropic properties suggests that the treatment of patients with this drug might be particularly beneficial. Indeed, metformin could alleviate the cytokine storm, diminish virus entry into cells, protect against microvascular damage as well as prevent secondary fibrosis. Although our in-depth analysis covers many potential metformin mechanisms of action, we want to highlight more particularly its unique microcirculatory protective effects since worsening of Covid-19 disease clearly appears as largely due to severe defects in the structure and functioning of microvessels. Overall, these observations confirm that metformin is a unique, pleiotropic drug that targets many of Covid-19′s pathophysiology processes in a diabetes-independent manner.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Abdallah Al-Salameh
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes Mellitus and Nutrition, Amiens University Hospital, Amiens, France; PériTox/UMR-I 01, University of Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France
| | - Bertrand Cariou
- Département d'Endocrinologie, Diabétologie et Nutrition, l'institut du thorax, Inserm, CNRS, UNIV Nantes, CHU Nantes, Hôpital Guillaume et René Laennec, 44093 Nantes Cedex 01, France
| | - Jean-Daniel Lalau
- Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes Mellitus and Nutrition, Amiens University Hospital, Amiens, France; PériTox/UMR-I 01, University of Picardie Jules Verne, Amiens, France.
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9
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Justice JN, Gubbi S, Kulkarni AS, Bartley JM, Kuchel GA, Barzilai N. A geroscience perspective on immune resilience and infectious diseases: a potential case for metformin. GeroScience 2021; 43:1093-1112. [PMID: 32902818 PMCID: PMC7479299 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-020-00261-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 08/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We are in the midst of the global pandemic. Though acute respiratory coronavirus (SARS-COV2) that leads to COVID-19 infects people of all ages, severe symptoms and mortality occur disproportionately in older adults. Geroscience interventions that target biological aging could decrease risk across multiple age-related diseases and improve outcomes in response to infectious disease. This offers hope for a new host-directed therapeutic approach that could (i) improve outcomes following exposure or shorten treatment regimens; (ii) reduce the chronic pathology associated with the infectious disease and subsequent comorbidity, frailty, and disability; and (iii) promote development of immunological memory that protects against relapse or improves response to vaccination. We review the possibility of this approach by examining available evidence in metformin: a generic drug with a proven safety record that will be used in a large-scale multicenter clinical trial. Though rigorous translational research and clinical trials are needed to test this empirically, metformin may improve host immune defenses and confer protection against long-term health consequences of infectious disease, age-related chronic diseases, and geriatric syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie N Justice
- Sticht Center for Healthy Aging and Alzheimer's Prevention, Internal Medicine - Gerontology and Geriatric Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Medical Center Blvd, Winston-Salem, NC, 27157, USA.
| | - Sriram Gubbi
- Metabolic Diseases Branch, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20814, USA
| | - Ameya S Kulkarni
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
- Institute for Aging Research, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Jenna M Bartley
- Center on Aging, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, 06030, USA
- Department of Immunology, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, 06030, USA
| | - George A Kuchel
- Center on Aging, University of Connecticut School of Medicine, Farmington, CT, 06030, USA
| | - Nir Barzilai
- Department of Medicine, Division of Endocrinology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
- Institute for Aging Research, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
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10
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Oringanje C, Delacruz LR, Han Y, Luckhart S, Riehle MA. Overexpression of Activated AMPK in the Anopheles stephensi Midgut Impacts Mosquito Metabolism, Reproduction and Plasmodium Resistance. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12010119. [PMID: 33478058 PMCID: PMC7835765 DOI: 10.3390/genes12010119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Mitochondrial integrity and homeostasis in the midgut are key factors controlling mosquito fitness and anti-pathogen resistance. Targeting genes that regulate mitochondrial dynamics represents a potential strategy for limiting mosquito-borne diseases. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a key cellular energy sensor found in nearly all eukaryotic cells. When activated, AMPK inhibits anabolic pathways that consume ATP and activates catabolic processes that synthesize ATP. In this study, we overexpressed a truncated and constitutively active α-subunit of AMPK under the control of the midgut-specific carboxypeptidase promotor in the midgut of female Anopheles stephensi. As expected, AMPK overexpression in homozygous transgenic mosquitoes was associated with changes in nutrient storage and metabolism, decreasing glycogen levels at 24 h post-blood feeding when transgene expression was maximal, and concurrently increasing circulating trehalose at the same time point. When transgenic lines were challenged with Plasmodium falciparum, we observed a significant decrease in the prevalence and intensity of infection relative to wild type controls. Surprisingly, we did not observe a significant difference in the survival of adult mosquitoes fed either sugar only or both sugar and bloodmeals throughout adult life. This may be due to the limited period that the transgene was activated before homeostasis was restored. However, we did observe a significant decrease in egg production, suggesting that manipulation of AMPK activity in the mosquito midgut resulted in the re-allocation of resources away from egg production. In summary, this work identifies midgut AMPK activity as an important regulator of metabolism, reproduction, and innate immunity in An. stephensi, a highly invasive and important malaria vector species.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yunan Han
- Department of Health Sciences, ECPI University, Virginia Beach, VA 23462, USA;
| | - Shirley Luckhart
- Department of Entomology, Plant Pathology and Nematology, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA;
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA
| | - Michael A. Riehle
- Department of Entomology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA;
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-520-626-8500
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11
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Juárez-López D, Schcolnik-Cabrera A. Drug Repurposing: Considerations to Surpass While Re-directing Old Compounds for New Treatments. Arch Med Res 2020; 52:243-251. [PMID: 33190955 DOI: 10.1016/j.arcmed.2020.10.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Revised: 10/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Drug repurposing has increased in recent years as an attractive option for treating a number of diseases. Compared to those brought forward via traditional chemical development, drugs intended for repurposing can enter the market faster and with lower investment from pharmaceutical companies. However, a common trend is to focus on diseases that yield higher returns to the industry, such as cancer and common metabolic and inflammatory conditions, resulting in orphan illnesses and neglected tropical diseases having fewer repurposing options for affected patients. In addition, certain legal concerns, including limited patent coverage for the repurposed drugs and pharmacological challenges in performing clinical trials, reduce the likelihood of success. In this review, we discuss the most important concerns that affect the pathway of drug repurposing, with special emphasis on the economic revenues, government-industry associations, and legal considerations that together impact the pharmaceutical industry's decision-making on which compounds may be eligible for repurposing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Juárez-López
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, México
| | - Alejandro Schcolnik-Cabrera
- Département de Biochimie et Médecine Moléculaire, Université de Montréal, Succursale Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC, Canada; Maisonneuve-Rosemont Hospital Research Centre, Montréal, QC, Canada.
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12
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Lima FR, Ferreira LDM, Malta TA, Bonyek-Silva I, Santos RL, Tavares NM, de Carvalho Filho EM, Arruda S. Metformin promotes susceptibility to experimental Leishmania braziliensis infection. Mem Inst Oswaldo Cruz 2020; 115:e200272. [PMID: 33206822 PMCID: PMC7668079 DOI: 10.1590/0074-02760200272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2020] [Accepted: 11/03/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Metformin (MET) is a hypoglycemic drug used for the treatment of diabetes, despite interference in host immunity against microorganisms. Cutaneous infection caused by pathogens such as Leishmania braziliensis (Lb), the agent responsible for cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) in Brazil, represents an interesting model in which to evaluate the effects associated with MET. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the modulatory effect of MET in Lb infection. MATERIAL AND METHODS Experimental study of Lb infection and MET treatment in BALB/c mice and Raw 264.7 macrophages. FINDINGS MET treatment interfered with lesion kinetics, increased parasite load and reduced macrophage proliferation. Low concentrations of MET in Lb culture allow for the maintenance of stationary parasite growth phase. Lb-infected cells treated with MET exhibited increased parasite load. While both MET and Lb infection alone promoted the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), reduced levels of ROS were seen in MET-treated Lb-infected macrophages. MAIN CONCLUSION Experimental treatment with MET interfered with the kinetics of cutaneous ulceration, increased Lb parasite load, altered ROS production and modulated cellular proliferation. Our experimental results indicate that MET interfere with the evolution of CL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipe Rocha Lima
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Laboratório Avançado de Saúde Pública, Salvador, BA, Brasil
- Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brasil
| | - Lais de Melo Ferreira
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Laboratório Avançado de Saúde Pública, Salvador, BA, Brasil
- Universidade Estadual da Bahia, Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Salvador, BA, Brasil
| | - Tainá Alves Malta
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Laboratório Avançado de Saúde Pública, Salvador, BA, Brasil
- Universidade Estadual da Bahia, Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Salvador, BA, Brasil
| | - Icaro Bonyek-Silva
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Laboratório de Interação Parasito-Hospedeiro e Epidemiologia, Salvador, BA, Brasil
- Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brasil
| | - Reinan Lima Santos
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Laboratório de Interação Parasito-Hospedeiro e Epidemiologia, Salvador, BA, Brasil
- Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brasil
| | - Natália Machado Tavares
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Laboratório de Interação Parasito-Hospedeiro e Epidemiologia, Salvador, BA, Brasil
| | - Edgar Marcelino de Carvalho Filho
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Laboratório de Pesquisa Clínica, Salvador, BA, Brasil
- Universidade Federal da Bahia, Salvador, BA, Brasil
| | - Sérgio Arruda
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz-Fiocruz, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Laboratório Avançado de Saúde Pública, Salvador, BA, Brasil
- Universidade Estadual da Bahia, Departamento de Ciências da Vida, Salvador, BA, Brasil
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13
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Repurposing Drugs to Fight Hepatic Malaria Parasites. Molecules 2020; 25:molecules25153409. [PMID: 32731386 PMCID: PMC7435416 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25153409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2020] [Revised: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Malaria remains one of the most prevalent infectious diseases worldwide, primarily affecting some of the most vulnerable populations around the globe. Despite achievements in the treatment of this devastating disease, there is still an urgent need for the discovery of new drugs that tackle infection by Plasmodium parasites. However, de novo drug development is a costly and time-consuming process. An alternative strategy is to evaluate the anti-plasmodial activity of compounds that are already approved for other purposes, an approach known as drug repurposing. Here, we will review efforts to assess the anti-plasmodial activity of existing drugs, with an emphasis on the obligatory and clinically silent liver stage of infection. We will also review the current knowledge on the classes of compounds that might be therapeutically relevant against Plasmodium in the context of other communicable diseases that are prevalent in regions where malaria is endemic. Repositioning existing compounds may constitute a faster solution to the current gap of prophylactic and therapeutic drugs that act on Plasmodium parasites, overall contributing to the global effort of malaria eradication.
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14
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Vera IM, Grilo Ruivo MT, Lemos Rocha LF, Marques S, Bhatia SN, Mota MM, Mancio-Silva L. Targeting liver stage malaria with metformin. JCI Insight 2019; 4:127441. [PMID: 31852843 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.127441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2019] [Accepted: 11/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite an unprecedented 2 decades of success, the combat against malaria - the mosquito-transmitted disease caused by Plasmodium parasites - is no longer progressing. Efforts toward eradication are threatened by the lack of an effective vaccine and a rise in antiparasite drug resistance. Alternative approaches are urgently needed. Repurposing of available, approved drugs with distinct modes of action are being considered as viable and immediate adjuncts to standard antimicrobial treatment. Such strategies may be well suited to the obligatory and clinically silent first phase of Plasmodium infection, where massive parasite replication occurs within hepatocytes in the liver. Here, we report that the widely used antidiabetic drug, metformin, impairs parasite liver stage development of both rodent-infecting Plasmodium berghei and human-infecting P. falciparum parasites. Prophylactic treatment with metformin curtails parasite intracellular growth in vitro. An additional effect was observed in mice with a decrease in the numbers of infected hepatocytes. Moreover, metformin provided in combination with conventional liver- or blood-acting antimalarial drugs further reduced the total burden of P. berghei infection and substantially lessened disease severity in mice. Together, our findings indicate that repurposing of metformin in a prophylactic regimen could be considered for malaria chemoprevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iset Medina Vera
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Margarida T Grilo Ruivo
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Leonardo F Lemos Rocha
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Sofia Marques
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Sangeeta N Bhatia
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cambridge, Masschusetts, USA
| | - Maria M Mota
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Liliana Mancio-Silva
- Instituto de Medicina Molecular João Lobo Antunes, Faculdade de Medicina Universidade de Lisboa, Lisboa, Portugal.,Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.,Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA
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15
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Xu P, Yin K, Tang X, Tian J, Zhang Y, Ma J, Xu H, Xu Q, Wang S. Metformin inhibits the function of granulocytic myeloid-derived suppressor cells in tumor-bearing mice. Biomed Pharmacother 2019; 120:109458. [PMID: 31550676 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2019.109458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Revised: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Metformin, an oral medicine broadly used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, has been found to significantly improve tumor incidence and survival in large-scale clinical analysis. In recent years, the antitumor effect and mechanism of metformin have received much attention. Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), a major immunosuppressive cell type that accumulates in tumor-bearing hosts, can inhibit T cells and promote tumor immune escape. The mechanism by which metformin exerts its anti-tumor effect by regulating MDSCs remains unclear. Here, we found that metformin could inhibit the accumulation and suppressive capacity of G-MDSCs, delay tumor progression and elicit Th1 and CTL responses in murine colon cancer CT-26 cell-transplanted mice. In additionally, metformin could enhance the phosphorylation of AMPK, reduce STAT3 phosphorylation levels, and down-regulate the inhibitory function of G-MDSCs in vitro. These results suggest that metformin may be a potential clinical benefit for antitumor immunotherapy in tumor-bearing mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiqi Xu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Affiliated People's Hospital, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China; The Affiliated Huaian Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Huaian, China
| | - Kai Yin
- Department of General Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
| | - Xinyi Tang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Affiliated People's Hospital, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Jie Tian
- Department of Immunology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Affiliated People's Hospital, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Jie Ma
- Department of Immunology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Huaxi Xu
- Department of Immunology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China
| | - Qinglei Xu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shuyang People's Hospital, Shuyang Hospital Affiliated to Xuzhou Medical University, Shuyang, China
| | - Shengjun Wang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, The Affiliated People's Hospital, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China; Department of Immunology, Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Laboratory Medicine, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, China.
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