1
|
Sharifi F, Sharifi I, Babaei Z, Alahdin S, Afgar A. Bioinformatics evaluation of anticancer properties of GP63 protein-derived peptides on MMP2 protein of melanoma cancer. J Pathol Inform 2023; 14:100190. [PMID: 36700237 PMCID: PMC9867975 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpi.2023.100190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background GP63, also known as Leishmanolysin, is a multifunctional virulence factor abundant on the surface of Leishmania spp. small peptides with anticancer capabilities that are selective and toxic to cancer cells are known as anticancer peptides. We aimed to demonstrate the activity of GP63 and its anticancer properties on melanoma using a range of in silico tools and screening methods to identify predicted and designed anticancer peptides. Methods Various in silico modeling methodologies are used to establish the three-dimensional (3D) structure of GP63. Refinement and re-evaluation of the modeled structures and the built models' quality evaluated using the different docking used to find the interacting amino acids between MMP2 and GP63 and its anticancer peptides. AntiCP2.0 is used for screening anticancer peptides. 2D interaction plots of protein-ligand complexes evaluated by Protein-Ligand Interaction Profiler server. It is for the first time that used anticancer peptides of GP63 and the predicted and designed peptides. Results We used 3 peptides of GP63 based on the AntiCP 2.0 server with scores of 0.63, 0.53, and 0.49, and common peptides of GP63/MMP2 (continues peptide: mean the completely selected peptide after docking with non-anticancer effect, predicted with 0.58 score and designed peptides with 0.47 and 0.45 scores by AntiCP 2.0 server). Conclusions The antileishmanial and anticancer peptide research topics exemplify the multidisciplinary nature of peptide research. The advancement of therapeutics targeting cancer and/or Leishmania requires an interconnected research strategy shown in this work.
Collapse
Key Words
- ACPs, anticancer peptides
- Anticancer
- CASTp, Computed Atlas of Surface Topography of proteins
- CL, cutaneous leishmaniasis
- GP63, Glycoprotein 63
- In silico
- Leishmania
- Leishmanolysin
- MD, molecular dynamics
- MMPs, matrix metalloproteases
- MSP, major surface protease
- Matrix metalloproteases
- PDB, Protein Data Bank
- PLIP, Protein–Ligand Interaction Profiler
- Peptide
- Protein–Ligand Interaction Profiler
- ROS, reactive oxygen species formation
- SVM, Support Vector Machine
- VL, visceral leishmaniasis
- kNN, k-Nearest Neighbors
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fatemeh Sharifi
- Research Center of Tropical and Infectious Diseases, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Iraj Sharifi
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Zahra Babaei
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Sodabeh Alahdin
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran,Student Research Committee, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Ali Afgar
- Research Center for Hydatid Disease in Iran, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran,Corresponding author.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Mouhoub B, Bensalah M, Berhili A, Azghar A, El Malki J, El Mezgueldi I, Nassiri O, Slaoui M, Miri A, Rochdi C, Benajiba N, Seddik R. Visceral leishmaniasis associated with macrophage activation syndrome: Case report and literature review. IDCases 2021; 26:e01247. [PMID: 34430207 PMCID: PMC8371194 DOI: 10.1016/j.idcr.2021.e01247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The combination of visceral leishmaniasis (VL) and macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) makes the diagnosis difficult due to their similar clinical presentation, with a poor prognosis especially since the treatment is still poorly codified. We report the case of a 17-month-old female patient from Berkane, presenting for a 3 months history of anarchic fever with anemic syndrome made up of pallor and hemorrhagic syndrome made up of epistaxis. Physical examination revealed a temperature of 39 ° C, lower limbsedema, paleness of skin and mucous membranes, gingival petechiae, bleached hair, and hepatosplenomegaly. Case presentation The complete blood count showed pancytopenia with deep aregenerative normochromic normocytic anemia at 3 g/dL, leukocytes were at 4860/mm 3 with neutropenia at 680/mm 3 and thrombocytopenia at 12.000/mm3, the blood smear was without abnormality. These anomalies were associated with a hypoalbunemia, hypertriglyceridemia, hyperferritinemia, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level was at 337 IU/L, low prothrombin time (PT) at 56 % and fibrinogen level at 1 g/L. The direct Coombs test was positive. Examination of the myelogram revealed the presence of leishmania bodies and figures of hemophagocytosis. A diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis associated with MAS was made. The patient was put on liposomal amphotericin B and corticosteroid therapy with good clinical and biological evolution and good therapeutic tolerance. Conclusion The association of VL and MAS remains rare and should be evoked even in non-endemic areas since late diagnosis worsens the prognosis and may even be responsible for the death of patients despite an aggressive treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Boutaina Mouhoub
- Central Laboratory, University Hospital Center Mohamed VI Oujda, Morocco.,Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy Oujda, Mohammed First University Oujda, Morocco
| | - Mohammed Bensalah
- Central Laboratory, University Hospital Center Mohamed VI Oujda, Morocco.,Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy Oujda, Mohammed First University Oujda, Morocco
| | - Abdelilah Berhili
- Central Laboratory, University Hospital Center Mohamed VI Oujda, Morocco
| | - Ali Azghar
- Central Laboratory, University Hospital Center Mohamed VI Oujda, Morocco.,Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy Oujda, Mohammed First University Oujda, Morocco
| | - Jalila El Malki
- Central Laboratory, University Hospital Center Mohamed VI Oujda, Morocco.,Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy Oujda, Mohammed First University Oujda, Morocco
| | - Imane El Mezgueldi
- Central Laboratory, University Hospital Center Mohamed VI Oujda, Morocco.,Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy Oujda, Mohammed First University Oujda, Morocco
| | - Oumaima Nassiri
- Central Laboratory, University Hospital Center Mohamed VI Oujda, Morocco.,Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy Oujda, Mohammed First University Oujda, Morocco
| | - Mounia Slaoui
- Central Laboratory, University Hospital Center Mohamed VI Oujda, Morocco
| | - Achraf Miri
- Central Laboratory, University Hospital Center Mohamed VI Oujda, Morocco.,Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy Oujda, Mohammed First University Oujda, Morocco
| | - Chaymae Rochdi
- Central Laboratory, University Hospital Center Mohamed VI Oujda, Morocco
| | - Noufissa Benajiba
- Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy Oujda, Mohammed First University Oujda, Morocco.,Pediatric Service, University Hospital Center Mohamed VI Oujda, Morocco
| | - Rachid Seddik
- Central Laboratory, University Hospital Center Mohamed VI Oujda, Morocco.,Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy Oujda, Mohammed First University Oujda, Morocco
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Bogdan C. Macrophages as host, effector and immunoregulatory cells in leishmaniasis: Impact of tissue micro-environment and metabolism. Cytokine X 2020; 2:100041. [PMID: 33604563 PMCID: PMC7885870 DOI: 10.1016/j.cytox.2020.100041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmania are protozoan parasites that predominantly reside in myeloid cells within their mammalian hosts. Monocytes and macrophages play a central role in the pathogenesis of all forms of leishmaniasis, including cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis. The present review will highlight the diverse roles of macrophages in leishmaniasis as initial replicative niche, antimicrobial effectors, immunoregulators and as safe hideaway for parasites persisting after clinical cure. These multiplex activities are either ascribed to defined subpopulations of macrophages (e.g., Ly6ChighCCR2+ inflammatory monocytes/monocyte-derived dendritic cells) or result from different activation statuses of tissue macrophages (e.g., macrophages carrying markers of of classical [M1] or alternative activation [M2]). The latter are shaped by immune- and stromal cell-derived cytokines (e.g., IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-10, TGF-β), micro milieu factors (e.g., hypoxia, tonicity, amino acid availability), host cell-derived enzymes, secretory products and metabolites (e.g., heme oxygenase-1, arginase 1, indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase, NOS2/NO, NOX2/ROS, lipids) as well as by parasite products (e.g., leishmanolysin/gp63, lipophosphoglycan). Exciting avenues of current research address the transcriptional, epigenetic and translational reprogramming of macrophages in a Leishmania species- and tissue context-dependent manner.
Collapse
Key Words
- (L)CL, (localized) cutaneous leishmaniasis
- AHR, aryl hydrocarbon receptor
- AMP, antimicrobial peptide
- Arg, arginase
- Arginase
- CAMP, cathelicidin-type antimicrobial peptide
- CR, complement receptor
- DC, dendritic cells
- DCL, diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis
- HO-1, heme oxygenase 1
- Hypoxia
- IDO, indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase
- IFN, interferon
- IFNAR, type I IFN (IFN-α/β) receptor
- IL, interleukin
- Interferon-α/β
- Interferon-γ
- JAK, Janus kinase
- LPG, lipophosphoglycan
- LRV1, Leishmania RNA virus 1
- Leishmaniasis
- Macrophages
- Metabolism
- NCX1, Na+/Ca2+ exchanger 1
- NFAT5, nuclear factor of activated T cells 5
- NK cell, natural killer cell
- NO, nitric oxide
- NOS2 (iNOS), type 2 (or inducible) nitric oxide synthase
- NOX2, NADPH oxidase 2 (gp91 or cytochrome b558 β-subunit of Phox)
- Nitric oxide
- OXPHOS, mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation
- PKDL, post kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis
- Phagocyte NADPH oxidase
- Phox, phagocyte NADPH oxidase
- RNS, reactive nitrogen species
- ROS, reactive oxygen species
- SOCS, suppressor of cytokine signaling
- STAT, signal transducer and activator of transcription
- TGF-β, transforming growth factor-beta
- TLR, toll-like receptor
- Th1 (Th2), type 1 (type2) T helper cell
- Tonicity
- VL, visceral leishmaniasis
- mTOR, mammalian/mechanistic target of rapamycin
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christian Bogdan
- Mikrobiologisches Institut - klinische Mikrobiologie, Immunologie und Hygiene, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen and Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) Erlangen-Nürnberg, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany.,Medical Immunology Campus Erlangen, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Nascimento LFM, Miranda DFH, Moura LD, Pinho FA, Werneck GL, Khouri R, Reed SG, Duthie MS, Barral A, Barral-Netto M, Cruz MSP. Allopurinol therapy provides long term clinical improvement, but additional immunotherapy is required for sustained parasite clearance, in L. infantum-infected dogs. Vaccine X 2019; 4:100048. [PMID: 31891152 PMCID: PMC6928333 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvacx.2019.100048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Revised: 11/01/2019] [Accepted: 11/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
L. infantum-infected dogs were treated with allopurinol alone or plus Leish-F2 + SLA-SE. Both treatment regimen generated long term clinical improvement. Immunochemotherapy, but not chemotherapy alone, generated sustained parasite control.
There is little evidence that current control strategies for canine leishmaniosis (CanL), the veterinary disease caused by L. infantum infection, are having a positive impact. This is of critical importance because dogs are a primary reservoir for L. infantum and a significant source of parasite transmission to humans. Drugs intended primarily for human use are prohibited for the treatment of CanL because of concerns over the propagation of resistant parasites. Although allopurinol effectively decreases parasite burden in CanL the treatment needs to be maintained for life. We hypothesized that during the allopurinol-induced parasite reduction dogs may become capable of developing a more robust immune response that may permit more effective control of parasites. To test this, we investigated the clinical and parasitological impact of short-term treatment with allopurinol, either alone or in combination with a defined subunit vaccine, on dogs naturally infected with L. infantum. A total of 28 dogs were distributed as follows: untreated; oral allopurinol alone (20 mg/kg, once each day for 90 days); or allopurinol with immunization with the Leish-F2 antigen formulated with the Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 agonist Second generation Lipid Adjuvant (SLA) in stable emulsion (SE; SLA-SE). Dogs that did not receive treatment had a progressive decline in their clinical condition and an increase in their infection levels, while treatment with allopurinol alone alleviated the clinical symptoms of CanL but did not generate sustained reduction in parasites. Concomitant immunization with Leish-F2 + SLA-SE, however, improved clinical condition while also providing long-term clearance of L. infantum from lymphoid tissues and systemic organs. These results have important implications for both the management of CanL and for limiting L. infantum transmission to humans.
Collapse
Key Words
- CanL, canine leishmaniosis
- Canine visceral leishmaniasis
- Clinical signs
- Drug
- GLA, glycopyranosyl lipid
- IFN, interferon
- IL, interleukin
- MPL, monophosphoryl lipid A
- Parasite
- SE, stable emulsion
- SLA, Second generation Lipid Adjuvant
- TLR, Toll-like receptor
- Th1, T helper 1-like cells
- VL, visceral leishmaniasis
- Vaccine
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leopoldo F M Nascimento
- Universidade Federal do Piauí, Departamento de Morfofisiologia Veterinária, Teresina, PI, Brazil
| | | | - Luana D Moura
- Universidade Federal do Piauí, Departamento de Morfofisiologia Veterinária, Teresina, PI, Brazil
| | - Flaviane A Pinho
- Universidade Federal da Bahia, Faculdade de Medicina, Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | - Guilherme Loureiro Werneck
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Instituto de Estudos em Saúde Coletiva, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Ricardo Khouri
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz- Fiocruz, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Salvador, BA, Brazil.,Universidade Federal da Bahia, Faculdade de Medicina, Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | - Steven G Reed
- Infectious Diseases Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98102, USA.,HDT Biotech Corporation, Seattle, WA 98102, USA
| | - Malcolm S Duthie
- Infectious Diseases Research Institute, Seattle, WA 98102, USA.,HDT Biotech Corporation, Seattle, WA 98102, USA
| | - Aldina Barral
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz- Fiocruz, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Salvador, BA, Brazil.,Universidade Federal da Bahia, Faculdade de Medicina, Salvador, BA, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia, Instituto de Investigação em Imunologia, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Manoel Barral-Netto
- Fundação Oswaldo Cruz- Fiocruz, Instituto Gonçalo Moniz, Salvador, BA, Brazil.,Universidade Federal da Bahia, Faculdade de Medicina, Salvador, BA, Brazil.,Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia, Instituto de Investigação em Imunologia, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Maria S P Cruz
- Universidade Federal do Piauí, Departamento de Morfofisiologia Veterinária, Teresina, PI, Brazil
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Prajapati R, Kumar A, Sharma P, Singla V, Bansal N, Dhawan S, Arora A. A Rare Presentation of Leishmaniasis. J Clin Exp Hepatol 2016; 6:146-8. [PMID: 27493461 PMCID: PMC4963322 DOI: 10.1016/j.jceh.2016.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2014] [Accepted: 01/06/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Leishmaniasis or kala-azar is a protozoan disease that can present as cutaneous, mucocutaneous, visceral, and disseminated disease. In India, it is usually localized in distinct areas of Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and parts of Eastern Uttar Pradesh. Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) involves the visceral organs, mainly the liver, the spleen and bone marrow. VL is characterized by prolonged fever, massive splenomegaly, weight loss, progressive anemia, pancytopenia, and hypergammaglobulinemia, and can be complicated by serious infections. In most of the patient the diagnosis is made on bone marrow biopsy or splenic aspirate. We hereby present an unusual case of kala-azar in a 52-year-old patient non-resident of endemic area presenting with pyrexia of unknown origin, in whom bone marrow biopsy was negative for Leishmanin Donovan (LD) bodies, and diagnosis was made by liver biopsy in which LD bodies were seen.
Collapse
Key Words
- ALP, alkaline phosphatase
- ALT, alanine aminotransferase
- ANA, anti-nuclear antibodies
- AST, aspartate aminotransferase
- CT, computerized tomography
- E, eosinophils
- ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate
- GGT, gamma glutamyl transferase
- HBsAg, hepatitis B surface antigen
- HCV, hepatitis C virus
- HIV, human immunodeficiency virus
- L, lymphocytes
- LD, Leishmanin Donovan
- Leishmanin Donovan bodies
- P, polymorphs
- PET, positron emission tomography
- PUO, pyrexia of unknown origin
- VL, visceral leishmaniasis
- WBC, white blood count
- kala-azar
- protozoan disease
- pyrexia of unknown origin
- visceral leishmaniasis
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ritesh Prajapati
- Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - Ashish Kumar
- Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, India,Address for correspondence: Dr. Ashish Kumar, Associate Professor, Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Ganga Ram Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (GRIPMER), Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Rajinder Nagar, New Delhi 110 060, India. Tel.: +91 9312792573; fax: +91 11 25861002.
| | - Praveen Sharma
- Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - Vikas Singla
- Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - Naresh Bansal
- Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - Shashi Dhawan
- Department of Pathology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - Anil Arora
- Department of Gastroenterology & Hepatology, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, India
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Santos Silva AF, Figueiredo Dias JPBC, Nuak JMNGS, Rocha Aguiar F, Araújo Pinto JA, Sarmento ACEM. Visceral leishmaniasis in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus. IDCases 2015; 2:102-5. [PMID: 26793472 PMCID: PMC4712211 DOI: 10.1016/j.idcr.2015.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2015] [Revised: 09/22/2015] [Accepted: 09/22/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Visceral leishmaniasis is an infection with an insidious and disabling course caused by parasites of the genus Leishmania. In Europe, it is mostly associated with HIV infection. Systemic lupus erythematosus and its treatment are associated with increased risk of infection, neoplastic and concomitant autoimmune disorders. The association of these diseases may go unnoticed. A 60 year-old Caucasian woman with lupus presented with a one-year history of fever, malaise, weakness and weight loss. The highlights on physical examination were pallor, palpable hepatosplenomegaly and low-grade fever. Blood tests showed pancytopenia, hyperproteinemia with hypoalbuminemia and hypergammaglobulinemia; electrophoresis showed a polyclonal gamma curve. Full-body CT scan revealed massive hepatosplenomegaly. Microbiology investigation was negative for the most common pathogens, including tuberculosis. There were no signs of hematologic malignancy in the bone marrow smear. PCR for Leishmania infantum was positive both in blood and bone marrow. The patient was treated with liposomal amphotericin B, and immunosuppression was adjusted. She showed rapid clinical improvement and 6 months later had no signs of disease. The differential diagnosis in a patient with lupus presenting with fever and multisystemic manifestations includes infectious or neoplastic disorders. The patient lived in an endemic area of Leishmania, and typical clinical and analytical changes were all present, making this case highly educational. The case highlights the importance of a patient's epidemiological background and how it can lead to the diagnosis and timely treatment of a rare disease.
Collapse
Key Words
- ANA, anti-nuclear antibodies
- AmB, amphotericin B
- CMV, cytomegalovirus
- CT, computerized tomography
- EBV, Epstein–Barr virus
- ENA, anti-extractable nuclear antigens
- ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate
- Fever
- HIV, human immunodeficiency virus
- ID, infectious diseases
- LAB, liposomal amphotericin B
- LDH, lactic dehydrogenase
- PCP, primary care physician
- PCR, polymerase chain reaction
- RNA, ribonucleic acid
- SLE, systemic lupus erythematosus
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- VL, visceral leishmaniasis
- Visceral leishmaniasis
- WBC, white blood cell count
- dsDNA, double-stranded deoxyribonucleic acid
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- André Filipe Santos Silva
- Infectious Diseases Department, São João Hospital Center, Alameda Hernâni Monteiro, Estrada da Circunvalação, 4200-019 Oporto, Portugal; Faculty of Medicine of the University of Oporto, Alameda Hernâni Monteiro, Estrada da Circunvalação, 4200-019 Oporto, Portugal
| | - João Paulo Branco Calheiros Figueiredo Dias
- Infectious Diseases Department, São João Hospital Center, Alameda Hernâni Monteiro, Estrada da Circunvalação, 4200-019 Oporto, Portugal; Faculty of Medicine of the University of Oporto, Alameda Hernâni Monteiro, Estrada da Circunvalação, 4200-019 Oporto, Portugal
| | - João Miguel Neves Gonçalves Santos Nuak
- Infectious Diseases Department, São João Hospital Center, Alameda Hernâni Monteiro, Estrada da Circunvalação, 4200-019 Oporto, Portugal; Faculty of Medicine of the University of Oporto, Alameda Hernâni Monteiro, Estrada da Circunvalação, 4200-019 Oporto, Portugal
| | - Francisca Rocha Aguiar
- Rheumatology Department, São João Hospital Center, Alameda Hernâni Monteiro, Estrada da Circunvalação, 4200-019 Oporto, Portugal
| | - José António Araújo Pinto
- Rheumatology Department, São João Hospital Center, Alameda Hernâni Monteiro, Estrada da Circunvalação, 4200-019 Oporto, Portugal
| | - António Carlos Eugénio Megre Sarmento
- Infectious Diseases Department, São João Hospital Center, Alameda Hernâni Monteiro, Estrada da Circunvalação, 4200-019 Oporto, Portugal; Faculty of Medicine of the University of Oporto, Alameda Hernâni Monteiro, Estrada da Circunvalação, 4200-019 Oporto, Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Balaña-Fouce R, Alvarez-Velilla R, Fernández-Prada C, García-Estrada C, Reguera RM. Trypanosomatids topoisomerase re-visited. New structural findings and role in drug discovery. Int J Parasitol Drugs Drug Resist 2014; 4:326-37. [PMID: 25516844 PMCID: PMC4266802 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpddr.2014.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
There is an urgent need of new treatments against trypanosomatids-borne diseases. DNA topoisomerases are pointed as potential drug targets against unicellular parasites. Trypanosomatids have a full set of DNA topoisomerases in both nucleus and kinetoplast. TopII and TopIII are located in the kinetoplast and fully involved in kDNA replication. Tritryps TopIB differ in structure from mammalian’s pointing to an attractive target.
The Trypanosomatidae family, composed of unicellular parasites, causes severe vector-borne diseases that afflict human populations worldwide. Chagas disease, sleeping sickness, as well as different sorts of leishmaniases are amongst the most important infectious diseases produced by Trypanosoma cruzi, Trypanosoma brucei and Leishmania spp., respectively. All these infections are closely related to weak health care services in low-income populations of less developed and least economically developed countries. Search for new therapeutic targets in order to hit these pathogens is of paramount priority, as no effective vaccine is currently in use against any of these parasites. Furthermore, present-day chemotherapy comprises old-fashioned drugs full of important side effects. Besides, they are prone to produce tolerance and resistance as a consequence of their continuous use for decades. DNA topoisomerases (Top) are ubiquitous enzymes responsible for solving the torsional tensions caused during replication and transcription processes, as well as in maintaining genomic stability during DNA recombination. As the inhibition of these enzymes produces cell arrest and triggers cell death, Top inhibitors are among the most effective and most widely used drugs in both cancer and antibacterial therapies. Top relaxation and decatenation activities, which are based on a common nicking–closing cycle involving one or both DNA strands, have been pointed as a promising drug target. Specific inhibitors that bind to the interface of DNA-Top complexes can stabilize Top-mediated transient DNA breaks. In addition, important structural differences have been found between Tops from the Trypanosomatidae family members and Tops from the host. Such dissimilarities make these proteins very interesting for drug design and molecular intervention. The present review is a critical update of the last findings regarding trypanosomatid’s Tops, their new structural features, their involvement both in the physiology and virulence of these parasites, as well as their use as promising targets for drug discovery.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Balaña-Fouce
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana s/n, 24071 León, Spain
| | - Raquel Alvarez-Velilla
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana s/n, 24071 León, Spain
| | | | - Carlos García-Estrada
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana s/n, 24071 León, Spain
| | - Rosa M Reguera
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana s/n, 24071 León, Spain
| |
Collapse
|