Glutathione-Mediated Conjugation of Anticancer Drugs: An Overview of Reaction Mechanisms and Biological Significance for Drug Detoxification and Bioactivation

Combining untargeted and targeted metabolomics to reveal the mechanisms of herb pair Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge and Phellodendron chinense C. K. Schneid on benign prostatic hyperplasia

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Anemarrhena asphodeloides Bunge (Ane) and Phellodendron chinense C. K. Schneid (Phe) is classical herb pair in traditional Chinese medicine, commonly used to ameliorate the symptoms of Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH). However, the mechanisms underlying this effect are remained indistinct.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This study aimed to clarify potential therapeutic mechanisms of herb pair on BPH from a metabolic perspective.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Testosterone propionate-induced BPH rat model was established, prostatic parameters, histopathology and the levels of serum dihydrotestosterone (DHT) and testosterone (T) were used to evaluate the pharmacological effect of the herb pair on BPH. Subsequently, untargeted metabolomics of prostate tissues samples was performed by UHPLC-Q-Exactive-Orbitrap-MS, followed by multivariate statistical analysis. Targeted metabolomics by UHPLC-QQQ-MS was further utilized to verify and supplement the results of lipids and amino acids found by untargeted metabolomics, clarifying the relationship between disease, herbal pair and metabolism pathway.

RESULTS

The study found that Ane-Phe could relieve the progression of BPH and regulate metabolic imbalances. The levels of 13 metabolites decreased and 11 increased in prostatic tissues including glycerolphospholipid, arachidonic acid, citric acid and so on, these altered metabolites were primarily associated with TCA cycle, arachidonic acid metabolism, lipid metabolism and amino acid metabolism. Furthermore, targeted metabolomics was fulfilled to further analyze the lipid metabolism disorders, the levels of 5 lipids in serum and 21 in prostatic tissues were changed in the herb pair group compared to the model group, which closely related to glycerophospholipid, sphingolipid and glycerolipid metabolism. Besides, amino acid metabolism may be regulated by activating arginine metabolism pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, the combination of untargeted metabolomics and targeted metabolomics was applied to explore therapeutic mechanisms of Ane-Phe on BPH. In summary, Ane-Phe could improve the levels of endogenous metabolites by regulating multiple metabolic pathways and plays a role in energy supply, anti-inflammation and oxidative stress in BPH treatment.

More than an Amide Bioisostere: Discovery of 1,2,4-Triazole-containing Pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine Host CSNK2 Inhibitors for Combatting β-Coronavirus Replication

The pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine scaffold is a promising scaffold to develop potent and selective CSNK2 inhibitors with antiviral activity against β-coronaviruses. Herein, we describe the discovery of a 1,2,4-triazole group to substitute a key amide group for CSNK2 binding present in many potent pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine inhibitors. Crystallographic evidence demonstrates that the 1,2,4-triazole replaces the amide in forming key hydrogen bonds with Lys68 and a water molecule buried in the ATP-binding pocket. This isosteric replacement improves potency and metabolic stability at a cost of solubility. Optimization for potency, solubility, and metabolic stability led to the discovery of the potent and selective CSNK2 inhibitor 53. Despite excellent in vitro metabolic stability, rapid decline in plasma concentration of 53 in vivo was observed and may be attributed to lung accumulation, although in vivo pharmacological effect was not observed. Further optimization of this novel chemotype may validate CSNK2 as an antiviral target in vivo.

Methionine Restriction Reduces Lung Cancer Progression and Increases Chemotherapy Response

Targeting tumor metabolism through dietary interventions is an area of growing interest, and may help to improve the significant mortality of aggressive cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Here we show that the restriction of methionine in the aggressive KRAS/Lkb1-mutant NSCLC autochthonous mouse model drives decreased tumor progression and increased carboplatin treatment efficacy. Importantly, methionine restriction during early stages of tumorigenesis prevents the lineage switching known to occur in the model, and alters the tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) to have fewer tumor-infiltrating neutrophils. Mechanistically, mutations in LKB1 are linked to anti-oxidant production through changes to cystathionine-β-synthase (CBS) expression. Human cell lines with rescued LKB1 show increased CBS levels and resistance to carboplatin, which can be partially rescued by methionine restriction. Furthermore, LKB1 rescued cells, but not mutant cells, show less G2-M arrest and apoptosis in high methionine conditions. Knock-down of CBS sensitized both LKB1 mutant and non-mutated lines to carboplatin, again rescuing the carboplatin resistance of the LKB1 rescued lines. Given that immunotherapy is commonly combined with chemotherapy for NSCLC, we next wanted to understand if T cells are impaired by MR. Therefore, we examined the ability of T cells from MR and control tumor bearing mice to proliferate in culture and found that T cells from MR treated mice had no defects in proliferation, even though we continued the MR conditions ex vivo. We also identified that CBS is most highly correlated with smoking, adenocarcinomas with alveolar and bronchiolar features, and adenosquamous cell carcinomas, implicating its roles in oxidative stress response and lineage fate in human tumors. Taken together, we have shown the importance of MR as a dietary intervention to slow tumor growth and improve treatment outcomes for NSCLC.

Discovery and Preclinical Characterization of BIIB129, a Covalent, Selective, and Brain-Penetrant BTK Inhibitor for the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic disease with an underlying pathology characterized by inflammation-driven neuronal loss, axonal injury, and demyelination. Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK), a nonreceptor tyrosine kinase and member of the TEC family of kinases, is involved in the regulation, migration, and functional activation of B cells and myeloid cells in the periphery and the central nervous system (CNS), cell types which are deemed central to the pathology contributing to disease progression in MS patients. Herein, we describe the discovery of BIIB129 (25), a structurally distinct and brain-penetrant targeted covalent inhibitor (TCI) of BTK with an unprecedented binding mode responsible for its high kinome selectivity. BIIB129 (25) demonstrated efficacy in disease-relevant preclinical in vivo models of B cell proliferation in the CNS, exhibits a favorable safety profile suitable for clinical development as an immunomodulating therapy for MS, and has a low projected total human daily dose.

Mechanisms of lipopolysaccharide protection in tumor drug-induced macrophage damage

Malignant tumors contribute significantly to human mortality. Chemotherapy is a commonly used treatment for tumors. However, due to the low selectivity of chemotherapeutic drugs, immune cells can be damaged during antitumor treatment, resulting in toxicity. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) can stimulate immune cells to respond to foreign substances. Here, we found that 10 ng/mL LPS could induce tolerance to antitumor drugs in macrophages without altering the effect of the drugs on tumor cells. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between cells before and after LPS administration using transcriptome sequencing and found to be mainly associated with ATP-binding cassette (ABC)-resistant transporters and glutathione S-transferase (GST). LPS was shown by qRT-PCR and western blotting to promote the expression of ABCC1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 by 38.3 %, 194.8 %, and 27.0 %. Furthermore, three inhibitors (inhibitors of GST, glutathione synthesis, and ABCC1) were used for further investigation, showing that these inhibitors reduced macrophage survival rates by 44.0 %, 52.3 %, and 43.3 %, while the intracellular adriamycin content increased by 28.9 %, 42.9 %, and 51.3 %, respectively. These findings suggest that the protective mechanism of LPS on macrophages is associated with increased GST activity, the consumption of glutathione, and increased expression of ABCC1 protein. Therefore, LPS has a potential role in enhancing immunity.

The Chan-Lam-type synthesis of thioimidazolium salts for thiol-(hetero)arene conjugation

The design of stable and variable aryl linkers for conjugating drug moieties to the metabolism-related thiols is of importance in drug discovery. We disclosed that thioimidazolium groups are unique scaffolds for the thiol-(hetero)arene conjugation under mild conditions. The drug bound thioimidazolium salts, which are easily accessible via a copper-mediated Chan-Lam process in gram-scale, could be successfully applied to the late-stage coupling of bioactive thiols to construct a broad array of drug-like molecules.

Establishment and characterization of cytochrome P450 1A1 CRISPR/Cas9 Knockout Bovine Foetal Hepatocyte Cell Line (BFH12)

The cytochrome P450 1A (CYP1A) subfamily of xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes (XMEs) consists of two different isoforms, namely CYP1A1 and CYP1A2, which are highly conserved among species. These two isoenzymes are involved in the biotransformation of many endogenous compounds as well as in the bioactivation of several xenobiotics into carcinogenic derivatives, thereby increasing the risk of tumour development. Cattle (Bos taurus) are one of the most important food-producing animal species, being a significant source of nutrition worldwide. Despite daily exposure to xenobiotics, data on the contribution of CYP1A to bovine hepatic metabolism are still scarce. The CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout (KO) is a useful method for generating in vivo and in vitro models for studying xenobiotic biotransformations. In this study, we applied the ribonucleoprotein (RNP)-complex approach to successfully obtain the KO of CYP1A1 in a bovine foetal hepatocyte cell line (BFH12). After clonal expansion and selection, CYP1A1 excision was confirmed at the DNA, mRNA and protein level. Therefore, RNA-seq analysis revealed significant transcriptomic changes associated with cell cycle regulation, proliferation, and detoxification processes as well as on iron, lipid and mitochondrial homeostasis. Altogether, this study successfully generates a new bovine CYP1A1 KO in vitro model, representing a valuable resource for xenobiotic metabolism studies in this important farm animal species.

Structural Basis for Oxidized Glutathione Recognition by the Yeast Cadmium Factor 1

Transporters from the ABCC family have an essential role in detoxifying electrophilic compounds including metals, drugs, and lipids, often through conjugation with glutathione complexes. The Yeast Cadmium Factor 1 (Ycf1) transports glutathione alone as well as glutathione conjugated to toxic heavy metals including Cd2+, Hg2+, and As3+. To understand the complicated selectivity and promiscuity of heavy metal substrate binding, we determined the cryo-EM structure of Ycf1 bound to the substrate, oxidized glutathione. We systematically tested binding determinants with cellular survival assays against cadmium to determine how the substrate site accommodates different-sized metal complexes. We identify a "flex-pocket" for substrate binding that binds glutathione complexes asymmetrically and flexes to accommodate different size complexes.

Novel protective aspects of dietary polyphenols against pesticidal toxicity and its prospective application in rice-fish mode: A Review

The rice fish system represents an innovative and sustainable approach to integrated farming, combining rice cultivation with fish rearing in the same ecosystem. However, one of the major challenges in this system is the pesticidal pollution resulting from various sources, which poses risks to fish health and overall ecosystem balance. In recent years, dietary polyphenols have emerged as promising bioactive compounds with potential chemo-preventive and therapeutic properties. These polyphenols, derived from various plant sources, have shown great potential in reducing the toxicity of pesticides and improving the health of fish within the rice fish system. This review aims to explore the novel aspects of using dietary polyphenols to mitigate pesticidal toxicity and enhance fish health in the rice fish system. It provides comprehensive insights into the mechanisms of action of dietary polyphenols and their beneficial effects on fish health, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and detoxification properties. Furthermore, the review discusses the potential application methods of dietary polyphenols, such as direct supplementation in fish diets or through incorporation into the rice fields. By understanding the interplay between dietary polyphenols and pesticides in the rice fish system, researchers can develop innovative and sustainable strategies to promote fish health, minimize pesticide impacts, and ensure the long-term viability of this integrated farming approach. The information presented in this review will be valuable for scientists, aqua-culturists, and policymakers aiming to implement eco-friendly and health-enhancing practices in the rice fish system.

Understanding Cancer's Defense against Topoisomerase-Active Drugs: A Comprehensive Review

In recent years, the emergence of cancer drug resistance has been one of the crucial tumor hallmarks that are supported by the level of genetic heterogeneity and complexities at cellular levels. Oxidative stress, immune evasion, metabolic reprogramming, overexpression of ABC transporters, and stemness are among the several key contributing molecular and cellular response mechanisms. Topo-active drugs, e.g., doxorubicin and topotecan, are clinically active and are utilized extensively against a wide variety of human tumors and often result in the development of resistance and failure to therapy. Thus, there is an urgent need for an incremental and comprehensive understanding of mechanisms of cancer drug resistance specifically in the context of topo-active drugs. This review delves into the intricate mechanistic aspects of these intracellular and extracellular topo-active drug resistance mechanisms and explores the use of potential combinatorial approaches by utilizing various topo-active drugs and inhibitors of pathways involved in drug resistance. We believe that this review will help guide basic scientists, pre-clinicians, clinicians, and policymakers toward holistic and interdisciplinary strategies that transcend resistance, renewing optimism in the ongoing battle against cancer.

Netting into the Sophoretin pool: An approach to trace GSTP1 inhibitors for reversing chemoresistance

Chemoresistance, a significant challenge in cancer treatment, is often associated with the cellular glutathione-related detoxification system. The GSTP1 isoenzyme (glutathione S-transferases) plays a critical role in the cytoplasmic inactivation of anticancer drugs. This suggests the identification of GSTP1 inhibitors to combat chemoresistance. We screened Sophoretin (also called quercetin) derivatives for molecular properties, pharmacokinetics, and toxicity profiles. Following that, we conducted molecular docking and simulations between selected derivatives and GSTP1. The best-docked complex, GSTP1-quercetin 7-O-β-D-glucoside, exhibited a binding affinity of -8.1 kcal/mol, with no predicted toxicity and good pharmacokinetic properties. Molecular dynamics simulations confirmed the stability of this complex. Quercetin 7-O-β-D-glucoside shows promise as a lead candidate for addressing chemoresistance in cancer patients, although further experimental studies are needed to validate its efficacy and therapeutic potential.

Suppression of Lung Oxidative Stress, Inflammation, and Fibrosis following Nitrogen Mustard Exposure by the Selective Farnesoid X Receptor Agonist Obeticholic Acid

Nitrogen mustard (NM) is a cytotoxic vesicant known to cause pulmonary injury that can progress to fibrosis. NM toxicity is associated with an influx of inflammatory macrophages in the lung. Farnesoid X receptor (FXR) is a nuclear receptor involved in bile acid and lipid homeostasis that has anti-inflammatory activity. In these studies, we analyzed the effects of FXR activation on lung injury, oxidative stress, and fibrosis induced by NM. Male Wistar rats were exposed to phosphate-buffered saline (vehicle control) or NM (0.125 mg/kg) by intratracheal Penncentury-MicroSprayer aerosolization; this was followed by treatment with the FXR synthetic agonist, obeticholic acid (OCA, 15 mg/kg), or vehicle control (0.13-0.18 g peanut butter) 2 hours later and then once per day, 5 days per week thereafter for 28 days. NM caused histopathological changes in the lung, including epithelial thickening, alveolar circularization, and pulmonary edema. Picrosirius red staining and lung hydroxyproline content were increased, indicative of fibrosis; foamy lipid-laden macrophages were also identified in the lung. This was associated with aberrations in pulmonary function, including increases in resistance and hysteresis. Following NM exposure, lung expression of HO-1 and iNOS, and the ratio of nitrates/nitrites in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL), markers of oxidative stress increased, along with BAL levels of inflammatory proteins, fibrinogen, and sRAGE. Administration of OCA attenuated NM-induced histopathology, oxidative stress, inflammation, and altered lung function. These findings demonstrate that FXR plays a role in limiting NM-induced lung injury and chronic disease, suggesting that activating FXR may represent an effective approach to limiting NM-induced toxicity. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: In this study, the role of farnesoid-X-receptor (FXR) in mustard vesicant-induced pulmonary toxicity was analyzed using nitrogen mustard (NM) as a model. This study's findings that administration of obeticholic acid, an FXR agonist, to rats reduces NM-induced pulmonary injury, oxidative stress, and fibrosis provide novel mechanistic insights into vesicant toxicity, which may be useful in the development of efficacious therapeutics.

The comprehensive mechanism underlying Schisandra polysaccharide in AD-like symptoms of Aβ25-35-induced rats based on hippocampal metabolomics and serum lipidomics techniques

As is well documented, Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative disease. Meanwhile, Schisandra polysaccharide (SCP) has been reported to exert a protective effect on the nervous system and can regulate metabolic disorders in AD-like symptoms of amyloid β-peptide (Aβ) 25-35-induced rats. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanisms and metabolic markers for the diagnosis of AD are yet to be determined. This study aimed to explore the neuroprotective effect and potential mechanism of action of SCP in AD-like symptoms of Aβ25-35-induced rats by combining pharmacodynamics, metabolomics, and lipidomics. The pharmacodynamic results revealed that SCP significantly improved the spatial learning and long-term memory function and the morphology of neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region, alleviated inflammatory damage and oxidative stress, inhibited the activation of microglia and astrocytes, and increased the proportion of mature neurons of AD-like symptoms of Aβ25-35-induced rats. The results of hippocampal metabolomics and serum lipidomics showed 46 and 48 potential biomarkers were identified for the SCP treatment of AD, respectively. The involved pathways principally comprised lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and energy metabolism. This study elucidates the neuroprotective effect of SCP in AD and its mechanism from the perspective of metabolomics and lipidomics and provides a theoretical basis for the therapeutic effect of SCP in AD.

The Key Role of GSH in Keeping the Redox Balance in Mammalian Cells: Mechanisms and Significance of GSH in Detoxification via Formation of Conjugates

Glutathione (GSH) is a ubiquitous tripeptide that is biosynthesized in situ at high concentrations (1-5 mM) and involved in the regulation of cellular homeostasis via multiple mechanisms. The main known action of GSH is its antioxidant capacity, which aids in maintaining the redox cycle of cells. To this end, GSH peroxidases contribute to the scavenging of various forms of ROS and RNS. A generally underestimated mechanism of action of GSH is its direct nucleophilic interaction with electrophilic compounds yielding thioether GSH S-conjugates. Many compounds, including xenobiotics (such as NAPQI, simvastatin, cisplatin, and barbital) and intrinsic compounds (such as menadione, leukotrienes, prostaglandins, and dopamine), form covalent adducts with GSH leading mainly to their detoxification. In the present article, we wish to present the key role and significance of GSH in cellular redox biology. This includes an update on the formation of GSH-S conjugates or GSH adducts with emphasis given to the mechanism of reaction, the dependence on GST (GSH S-transferase), where this conjugation occurs in tissues, and its significance. The uncovering of the GSH adducts' formation enhances our knowledge of the human metabolome. GSH-hematin adducts were recently shown to have been formed spontaneously in multiples isomers at hemolysates, leading to structural destabilization of the endogenous toxin, hematin (free heme), which is derived from the released hemoglobin. Moreover, hemin (the form of oxidized heme) has been found to act through the Kelch-like ECH associated protein 1 (Keap1)-nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) signaling pathway as an epigenetic modulator of GSH metabolism. Last but not least, the implications of the genetic defects in GSH metabolism, recorded in hemolytic syndromes, cancer and other pathologies, are presented and discussed under the framework of conceptualizing that GSH S-conjugates could be regarded as signatures of the cellular metabolism in the diseased state.

Optimization of 3-Cyano-7-cyclopropylamino-pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines toward the Development of an In Vivo Chemical Probe for CSNK2A

3-Cyano-7-cyclopropylamino-pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines, including the chemical probe SGC-CK2-1, are potent and selective inhibitors of CSNK2A in cells but have limited utility in animal models due to their poor pharmacokinetic properties. While developing analogues with reduced intrinsic clearance and the potential for sustained exposure in mice, we discovered that phase II conjugation by GST enzymes was a major metabolic transformation in hepatocytes. A protocol for codosing with ethacrynic acid, a covalent reversible GST inhibitor, was developed to improve the exposure of analogue 2h in mice. A double codosing protocol, using a combination of ethacrynic acid and irreversible P450 inhibitor 1-aminobenzotriazole, increased the blood level of 2h by 40-fold at a 5 h time point.

Preface to the Special Issue "Glutathione: Chemistry and Biochemistry"

This year we celebrate the 135th anniversary of the discovery of glutathione (L-γ-glutamyl-L-cysteinyl-glycine) [...].

Glutathione: Lights and Shadows in Cancer Patients

In cases of cellular injury, there is an observed increase in the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). When this production becomes excessive, it can result in various conditions, including cancerogenesis. Glutathione (GSH), the most abundant thiol-containing antioxidant, is fundamental to re-establishing redox homeostasis. In order to evaluate the role of GSH and its antioxi-dant effects in patients affected by cancer, we performed a thorough search on Medline and EMBASE databases for relevant clinical and/or preclinical studies, with particular regard to diet, toxicities, and pharmacological processes. The conjugation of GSH with xenobiotics, including anti-cancer drugs, can result in either of two effects: xenobiotics may lose their harmful effects, or GSH conjugation may enhance their toxicity by inducing bioactivation. While being an interesting weapon against chemotherapy-induced toxicities, GSH may also have a potential protective role for cancer cells. New studies are necessary to better explain the relationship between GSH and cancer. Although self-prescribed glutathione (GSH) implementation is prevalent among cancer patients with the intention of reducing the toxic effects of anticancer treatments and potentially preventing damage to normal tissues, this belief lacks substantial scientific evidence for its efficacy in reducing toxicity, except in the case of cisplatin-related neurotoxicity. Therefore, the use of GSH should only be considered under medical supervision, taking into account the appropriate timing and setting.

Optimization of 3-Cyano-7-cyclopropylamino-pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines Toward the Development of an In Vivo Chemical Probe for CSNK2A

3-cyano-7-cyclopropylamino-pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidines, including the chemical probe SGC-CK2-1, are potent and selective inhibitors of CSNK2A in cells but have limited utility in animal models due to their poor pharmacokinetic properties. While developing analogs with reduced intrinsic clearance and the potential for sustained exposure in mice, we discovered that Phase II conjugation by GST enzymes was a major metabolic transformation in hepatocytes. A protocol for co-dosing with ethacrynic acid, a covalent reversible GST inhibitor, was developed to improve the exposure of analog 2h in mice. A double co-dosing protocol, using a combination of ethacrynic acid and irreversible P450 inhibitor 1-aminobenzotriazole increased the blood level of 2h by 40-fold at a 5 h time point.

Natural Compounds and Glutathione: Beyond Mere Antioxidants

The tripeptide glutathione plays important roles in many cell processes, including differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis; in fact, disorders in glutathione homeostasis are involved both in the etiology and in the progression of several human diseases, including cancer. Natural compounds have been found to modulate glutathione levels and function beyond their role as mere antioxidants. For example, certain compounds can upregulate the expression of glutathione-related enzymes, increase the availability of cysteine, the limiting amino acid for glutathione synthesis, or directly interact with glutathione and modulate its function. These compounds may have therapeutic potential in a variety of disease states where glutathione dysregulation is a contributing factor. On the other hand, flavonoids' potential to deplete glutathione levels could be significant for cancer treatment. Overall, while natural compounds may have potential therapeutic and/or preventive properties and may be able to increase glutathione levels, more research is needed to fully understand their mechanisms of action and their potential benefits for the prevention and treatment of several diseases. In this review, particular emphasis will be placed on phytochemical compounds belonging to the class of polyphenols, terpenoids, and glucosinolates that have an impact on glutathione-related processes, both in physiological and pathological conditions. These classes of secondary metabolites represent the most food-derived bioactive compounds that have been intensively explored and studied in the last few decades.

Malignancy diseases and kidneys: A nephrologist prospect and updated review

Acute kidney injury (AKI), chronic renal failure, and tubular abnormalities represent the kidney disease spectrum of malignancy. Prompt diagnosis and treatment may prevent or reverse these complications. The pathogenesis of AKI in cancer is multifactorial. AKI affects outcomes in cancer, oncological therapy withdrawal, increased hospitalization rate, and hospital stay. Renal function derangement can be recovered with early detection and targeted therapy of cancers. Identifying patients at higher risk of renal damage and implementing preventive measures without sacrificing the benefits of oncological therapy improve survival. Multidisciplinary approaches, such as relieving obstruction, hydration, etc., are required to minimize the kidney injury rate. Different keywords, texts, and phrases were used to search Google, EMBASE, PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar for related original and review articles that serve the article's aim well. In this nonsystematic article, we aimed to review the published data on cancer-associated kidney complications, their pathogenesis, management, prevention, and the latest updates. Kidney involvement in cancer occurs due to tumor therapy, direct kidney invasion by tumor, or tumor complications. Early diagnosis and therapy improve the survival rate. Pathogenesis of cancer-related kidney involvement is different and complicated. Clinicians' awareness of all the potential causes of cancer-related complications is essential, and a kidney biopsy should be conducted to confirm the kidney pathologies. Chronic kidney disease is a known complication in malignancy and therapies. Hence, avoiding nephrotoxic drugs, dose standardization, and early cancer detection are mandatory measures to prevent renal involvement.

Inhibition Analysis and High-Resolution Crystal Structure of Mus musculus Glutathione Transferase P1-1

Multidrug resistance is a significant barrier that makes anticancer therapies less effective. Glutathione transferases (GSTs) are involved in multidrug resistance mechanisms and play a significant part in the metabolism of alkylating anticancer drugs. The purpose of this study was to screen and select a lead compound with high inhibitory potency against the isoenzyme GSTP1-1 from Mus musculus (MmGSTP1-1). The lead compound was selected following the screening of a library of currently approved and registered pesticides that belong to different chemical classes. The results showed that the fungicide iprodione [3-(3,5-dichlorophenyl)-2,4-dioxo-N-propan-2-ylimidazolidine-1-carboxamide] exhibited the highest inhibition potency (ΙC50 = 11.3 ± 0.5 μΜ) towards MmGSTP1-1. Kinetics analysis revealed that iprodione functions as a mixed-type inhibitor towards glutathione (GSH) and non-competitive inhibitor towards 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene (CDNB). X-ray crystallography was used to determine the crystal structure of MmGSTP1-1 at 1.28 Å resolution as a complex with S-(p-nitrobenzyl)glutathione (Nb-GSH). The crystal structure was used to map the ligand-binding site of MmGSTP1-1 and to provide structural data of the interaction of the enzyme with iprodione using molecular docking. The results of this study shed light on the inhibition mechanism of MmGSTP1-1 and provide a new compound as a potential lead structure for future drug/inhibitor development.

Heritable Risk and Protective Genetic Components of Glaucoma Medication Non-Adherence

Glaucoma is the leading cause of irreversible blindness, affecting 76 million globally. It is characterized by irreversible damage to the optic nerve. Pharmacotherapy manages intraocular pressure (IOP) and slows disease progression. However, non-adherence to glaucoma medications remains problematic, with 41–71% of patients being non-adherent to their prescribed medication. Despite substantial investment in research, clinical effort, and patient education protocols, non-adherence remains high. Therefore, we aimed to determine if there is a substantive genetic component behind patients’ glaucoma medication non-adherence. We assessed glaucoma medication non-adherence with prescription refill data from the Marshfield Clinic Healthcare System’s pharmacy dispensing database. Two standard measures were calculated: the medication possession ratio (MPR) and the proportion of days covered (PDC). Non-adherence on each metric was defined as less than 80% medication coverage over 12 months. Genotyping was done using the Illumina HumanCoreExome BeadChip in addition to exome sequencing on the 230 patients (1) to calculate the heritability of glaucoma medication non-adherence and (2) to identify SNPs and/or coding variants in genes associated with medication non-adherence. Ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) was utilized to derive biological meaning from any significant genes in aggregate. Over 12 months, 59% of patients were found to be non-adherent as measured by the MPR80, and 67% were non-adherent as measured by the PDC80. Genome-wide complex trait analysis (GCTA) suggested that 57% (MPR80) and 48% (PDC80) of glaucoma medication non-adherence could be attributed to a genetic component. Missense mutations in TTC28, KIAA1731, ADAMTS5, OR2W3, OR10A6, SAXO2, KCTD18, CHCHD6, and UPK1A were all found to be significantly associated with glaucoma medication non-adherence by whole exome sequencing after Bonferroni correction (p < 10−3) (PDC80). While missense mutations in TINAG, CHCHD6, GSTZ1, and SEMA4G were found to be significantly associated with medication non-adherence by whole exome sequencing after Bonferroni correction (p < 10−3) (MPR80). The same coding SNP in CHCHD6 which functions in Alzheimer’s disease pathophysiology was significant by both measures and increased risk for glaucoma medication non-adherence by three-fold (95% CI, 1.62–5.8). Although our study was underpowered for genome-wide significance, SNP rs6474264 within ZMAT4 (p = 5.54 × 10–6) was found to be nominally significant, with a decreased risk for glaucoma medication non-adherence (OR, 0.22; 95% CI, 0.11–0.42)). IPA demonstrated significant overlap, utilizing, both standard measures including opioid signaling, drug metabolism, and synaptogenesis signaling. CREB signaling in neurons (which is associated with enhancing the baseline firing rate for the formation of long-term potentiation in nerve fibers) was shown to have protective associations. Our results suggest a substantial heritable genetic component to glaucoma medication non-adherence (47–58%). This finding is in line with genetic studies of other conditions with a psychiatric component (e.g., post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or alcohol dependence). Our findings suggest both risk and protective statistically significant genes/pathways underlying glaucoma medication non-adherence for the first time. Further studies investigating more diverse populations with larger sample sizes are needed to validate these findings.

Potential Anti-Cancer Effect of Helenalin as a Natural Bioactive Compound on the Growth and Telomerase Gene Expression in Breast Cancer Cell Line

OBJECTIVE

The telomerase gene is overexpressed in the majority of tumors and cancers compared to normal and healthy cells, and on the other hand, this enzymatic protein is overactive, therefore, the telomerase enzyme is considered a primary target for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes in most cancers. This has been hypothesized that Helenalin has anti-telomerase activity in a wide range of cancers and Tumor tissues. In this study, we investigated the inhibitory effect of helenalin extract on telomerase gene expression in the T47D breast cancer cell line.

METHODS

We used the MTT assay to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of different concentrations of helenalin on the T47D breast cancer cell line at 24, 48, and 72 hours. Besides, the expression of the hTERT gene in T47D cell lines treated with 1.0 and 5.0 µM helenalin after 24, 48, and 72 h incubation times was investigated through real-time PCR.

RESULTS

According to the MTT assay, the inhibitory effect of helenalin on T47D cell proliferation is time and dose-dependent. Moreover, the results of Real-time PCR showed that exposure of T47D cell lines to helenalin led to a significant Decreasing in the expressional values of the hTERT gene as a time and dose-dependent procedure compared with the control group (P ≤ 0.05).

CONCLUSION

These preliminary results demonstrated the cytotoxic potential of helenalin through inhibition of hTERT against T47D breast cancer cells.