scholarly journals The SARS-CoV-2 Spike protein disrupts human cardiac pericytes function through CD147-receptor-mediated signalling: a potential non-infective mechanism of COVID-19 microvascular disease

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisa Avolio ◽  
Michele Carrabba ◽  
Rachel Milligan ◽  
Maia Kavanagh Williamson ◽  
Antonio Beltrami ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Network Formation ◽  
Microvascular Disease ◽  
Microvascular Damage ◽  
S Protein ◽  
Therapeutic Implications ◽  
Extracellular Signal ◽  
Protein Receptors ◽  
Clinical Responses ◽  
Inflammatory Molecules

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causes a broad range of clinical responses including prominent microvascular damage. The capacity of SARS-CoV-2 to infect vascular cells is still debated. Additionally, the SARS-CoV-2 Spike (S) protein may act as a ligand to induce non-infective cellular stress. We tested this hypothesis in pericytes (PCs), which are reportedly reduced in the heart of patients with severe coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Here we newly show that the in vitro exposure of primary human cardiac PCs to the SARS-CoV-2 wild type strain or the Alpha and Delta variants caused rare infection events. Exposure to the recombinant S protein alone elicited signalling and functional alterations, including: (1) increased migration, (2) reduced ability to support endothelial cell (EC) network formation on Matrigel, (3) secretion of pro-inflammatory molecules typically involved in the cytokine storm, and (4) production of pro-apoptotic factors causing EC death. Next, adopting a blocking strategy against the S protein receptors angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and CD147, we discovered that the S protein stimulates the phosphorylation/activation of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) through the CD147 receptor, but not ACE2, in PCs. The neutralisation of CD147, either using a blocking antibody or mRNA silencing, reduced ERK1/2 activation, and rescued PC function in the presence of the S protein. Immunoreactive S protein was detected in the peripheral blood of infected patients. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the S protein may prompt PC dysfunction, potentially contributing to microvascular injury. This mechanism may have clinical and therapeutic implications.

L-Tetrahydropalmatine Inhibits the Progression of Glioblastoma Tumor by Suppressing the Extracellular-Signal-Regulated Kinase/Nuclear Factor-Kappa B Signaling Pathway

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 164-171
Author(s):  
Feng Xue ◽  
Tingting Chen
Keyword(s):  
Glioblastoma Multiforme ◽  
Nuclear Factor Kappa B ◽  
Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 ◽  
Nuclear Factor ◽  
Nuclear Factor Kappa ◽  
Extracellular Signal ◽  
Apoptosis Protein ◽  
Endothelial Growth Factor

Glioblastoma multiforme is the most common malignancy of central nervous system. Herein we have evaluated the effect of L-tetrahydropalmatine, an isoquinoline alkaloid, on the tumor growth both in vivo and in vitro using C6 glioblastoma multiforme cells and BALB/c mice injected subcutaneously with C6/luc2 cells. The results of these studies show that L-tetrahydropalmatine exhibited cytotoxic effect on C6 glioblastoma multiforme cells, suppressed nuclear factor-kappa B activity, suppressed the levels of tumor-linked proteins such as matrix metalloproteinase-2/9, Cyclin-D1, vascular endothelial growth factor, and X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein via ERK/nuclear factor-kappa B cascade. Further, L-tetrahydropalmatine inhibited the cell migration and invasion properties of C6 cells, and also suppressed the tumor weight and volume in mice. Immunohistochemical staining of tumor tissues suggested that L-tetrahydropalmatine inhibited the extracellular-signal-regulated kinase/nuclear factor-kappa B cascade and suppressed the levels of Cyclin-D1; matrix metalloproteinase-2/9; X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein; and vascular endothelial growth factor, and also the progression and growth of glioblastoma multiforme in mice. In summary, L-tetrahydropalmatine inhibits the ERK/nuclear factor-kappa B cascade, decreases the tumor volume, and inhibits the proteins responsible for tumor growth both in vivo and in vitro.

Overexpression of p62 Induces Autophagy and Promotes Proliferation, Migration and Invasion of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cells through Promoting ERK Signaling Pathway

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (8) ◽  
pp. 624-637 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiong Wu ◽  
Manlin Xiang ◽  
Kun Wang ◽  
Zhen Chen ◽  
Lu Long ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma ◽  
Clinical Analysis ◽  
Carcinoma Cells ◽  
Immunofluorescent Staining ◽  
Clinicopathological Parameters ◽  
Migration And Invasion ◽  
Extracellular Signal Regulated Kinase ◽  
Extracellular Signal ◽  
Potential Biomarker

Background: Increasing evidence has shown that p62 plays an important role in tumorigenesis. However, relatively little is known about the association between p62 and tumor invasion and metastasis; in addition, its role in NPC (nasopharyngeal carcinoma, NPC) has been rarely investigated. Objective: To investigate the effect of p62 on tumorigenesis and metastasis in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Methods: Western blotting, immunofluorescent staining and immunohistochemistry were used to evaluate p62 protein expression. Subsequently, cell viability, colony formation, migration, invasion and autophagy assays were performed. anti-p62 autoantibodies in sera were detected by ELISA. These data were correlated with clinicopathological parameters. Results: We confirmed that p62 was significantly up-regulated in NPC tissues. Furthermore, high expression of p62 was observed in NPC cell lines, and especially in the highly metastatic 5-8F cells. In vitro, down-regulation of p62 inhibited proliferation, clone forming ability, autophagy, migration, and invasion in 5-8F cells, whereas p62 overexpression resulted in the opposite effects in 6-10B cells. Moreover, we confirmed that p62 promotes NPC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion by activating ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase, ERK). Clinical analysis indicated that high p62 expression correlates with lymph node and distant metastasis (P<0.05). Serum anti-p62 autoantibodies were increased in NPC patients and levels were associated with metastasis. Conclusion : Our data establish p62 targeting ERK as potential determinant in the NPC, which supplies a new pathway to treat NPC. Furthermore, p62 is a potential biomarker which might be closely related to the tumorigenesis and metastasis in NPC.

Targeting Tau Hyperphosphorylation via Kinase Inhibition: Strategy to Address Alzheimer's Disease

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (12) ◽  
pp. 1059-1073 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad Abu Turab Naqvi ◽  
Gulam Mustafa Hasan ◽  
Md. Imtaiyaz Hassan
Keyword(s):  
Alzheimer’S Disease ◽  
Alzheimer's Disease ◽  
Tau Protein ◽  
Glycogen Synthase ◽  
Paired Helical Filaments ◽  
Tau Hyperphosphorylation ◽  
Microtubule Stabilization ◽  
Extracellular Signal

Microtubule-associated protein tau is involved in the tubulin binding leading to microtubule stabilization in neuronal cells which is essential for stabilization of neuron cytoskeleton. The regulation of tau activity is accommodated by several kinases which phosphorylate tau protein on specific sites. In pathological conditions, abnormal activity of tau kinases such as glycogen synthase kinase-3 &#946; (GSK3&#946;), cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (CDK5), c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs), extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) and microtubule affinity regulating kinase (MARK) lead to tau hyperphosphorylation. Hyperphosphorylation of tau protein leads to aggregation of tau into paired helical filaments like structures which are major constituents of neurofibrillary tangles, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease. In this review, we discuss various tau protein kinases and their association with tau hyperphosphorylation. We also discuss various strategies and the advancements made in the area of Alzheimer&#039;s disease drug development by designing effective and specific inhibitors for such kinases using traditional in vitro/in vivo methods and state of the art in silico techniques.

ACIS, A Novel KepTide™, Binds to ACE-2 Receptor and Inhibits the Infection of SARS-CoV2 Virus in vitro in Primate Kidney Cells: Therapeutic Implications for COVID-19 (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Avik Sotira Scientific
Keyword(s):  
Social Life ◽  
Plaque Assay ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Surface Glycoprotein ◽  
Crystallographic Structure ◽  
Therapeutic Implications ◽  
Biochemical Assays ◽  
Targeted Medicine

UNSTRUCTURED Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) caused by a virus known as SARS-Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2). Without a targeted-medicine, this disease has been causing a massive humanitarian crisis not only in terms of mortality, but also imposing a lasting damage to social life and economic progress of humankind. Therefore, an immediate therapeutic strategy needs to be intervened to mitigate this global crisis. Here, we report a novel KepTide™ (Knock-End Peptide) therapy that nullifies SARS-CoV2 infection. SARS-CoV2 employs its surface glycoprotein “spike” (S-glycoprotein) to interact with angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) receptor for its infection in host cells. Based on our in-silico-based homology modeling study validated with a recent X-ray crystallographic structure (PDB ID:6M0J), we have identified that a conserved motif of S-glycoprotein that intimately engages multiple hydrogen-bond (H-bond) interactions with ACE-2 enzyme. Accordingly, we designed a peptide, termed as ACIS (ACE-2 Inhibitory motif of Spike), that displayed significant affinity towards ACE-2 enzyme as confirmed by biochemical assays such as BLItz and fluorescence polarization assays. Interestingly, more than one biochemical modifications were adopted in ACIS in order to enhance the inhibitory action of ACIS and hence called as KEpTide™. Consequently, a monolayer invasion assay, plaque assay and dual immunofluorescence analysis further revealed that KEpTide™ efficiently mitigated the infection of SARS-CoV2 in vitro in VERO E6 cells. Finally, evaluating the relative abundance of ACIS in lungs and the potential side-effects in vivo in mice, our current study discovers a novel KepTide™ therapy that is safe, stable, and robust to attenuate the infection of SARS-CoV2 virus if administered intranasally. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT RR2-https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.10.13.337584

scholarly journals Radiofrequency Irradiation Modulates TRPV1-Related Burning Sensation in Rosacea

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 1424
Author(s):  
Seyeon Oh ◽  
Myeongjoo Son ◽  
Joonhong Park ◽  
Donghwan Kang ◽  
Kyunghee Byun
Keyword(s):  
Burning Sensation ◽  
In Vivo Model ◽  
Molecular Evidence ◽  
Exposed Skin ◽  
Heat Treated ◽  
Vitro Model ◽  
Effective Use ◽  
Inflammatory Molecules

Rosacea is a skin inflammatory condition that is accompanied by not only redness and flushing but also unseen symptoms, such as burning, stinging, and itching. TRPV1 expression in UVB-exposed skin can lead to a painful burning sensation. Upregulated TRPV1 expression helps release neuropeptides, including calcitonin gene-related peptide, pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide, and vasoactive intestinal peptide, which can activate macrophage and inflammatory molecules. In this study, we found that radiofrequency (RF) irradiation reduced TRPV1 activation and neuropeptide expression in a UVB-exposed in vivo model and UVB- or heat-treated in an in vitro model. RF irradiation attenuated neuropeptide-induced macrophage activation and inflammatory molecule expression. Interestingly, the burning sensation in the skin of UVB-exposed mice and patients with rosacea was significantly decreased by RF irradiation. These results can provide experimental and molecular evidence on the effective use of RF irradiation for the burning sensation in patients with rosacea.

scholarly journals Radiobiological Studies of Microvascular Damage through In Vitro Models: A Methodological Perspective

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1182
Author(s):  
Luca Possenti ◽  
Laura Mecchi ◽  
Andrea Rossoni ◽  
Veronica Sangalli ◽  
Simone Bersini ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
In Vitro Models ◽  
Microvascular Endothelial Cells ◽  
Microvascular Damage ◽  
Essential Information ◽  
Reliable Model ◽  
Critical Issues ◽  
Irradiation Scheme ◽  
In Vitro Effects

Ionizing radiation (IR) is used in radiotherapy as a treatment to destroy cancer. Such treatment also affects other tissues, resulting in the so-called normal tissue complications. Endothelial cells (ECs) composing the microvasculature have essential roles in the microenvironment’s homeostasis (ME). Thus, detrimental effects induced by irradiation on ECs can influence both the tumor and healthy tissue. In-vitro models can be advantageous to study these phenomena. In this systematic review, we analyzed in-vitro models of ECs subjected to IR. We highlighted the critical issues involved in the production, irradiation, and analysis of such radiobiological in-vitro models to study microvascular endothelial cells damage. For each step, we analyzed common methodologies and critical points required to obtain a reliable model. We identified the generation of a 3D environment for model production and the inclusion of heterogeneous cell populations for a reliable ME recapitulation. Additionally, we highlighted how essential information on the irradiation scheme, crucial to correlate better observed in vitro effects to the clinical scenario, are often neglected in the analyzed studies, limiting the translation of achieved results.

scholarly journals Sesquiterpene Lactones: Promising Natural Compounds to Fight Inflammation

Pharmaceutics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 991
Author(s):  
Melanie S. Matos ◽  
José D. Anastácio ◽  
Cláudia Nunes dos Santos
Keyword(s):  
Biological Activities ◽  
Sesquiterpene Lactones ◽  
Physiological State ◽  
Plant Secondary Metabolites ◽  
Inflammatory Pathways ◽  
Inflammatory State ◽  
Anti Inflammatory ◽  
Inflammatory Molecules

Inflammation is a crucial and complex process that reestablishes the physiological state after a noxious stimulus. In pathological conditions the inflammatory state may persist, leading to chronic inflammation and causing tissue damage. Sesquiterpene lactones (SLs) are composed of a large and diverse group of highly bioactive plant secondary metabolites, characterized by a 15-carbon backbone structure. In recent years, the interest in SLs has risen due to their vast array of biological activities beneficial for human health. The anti-inflammatory potential of these compounds results from their ability to target and inhibit various key pro-inflammatory molecules enrolled in diverse inflammatory pathways, and prevent or reduce the inflammatory damage on tissues. Research on the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of SLs has thrived over the last years, and numerous compounds from diverse plants have been studied, using in silico, in vitro, and in vivo assays. Besides their anti-inflammatory potential, their cytotoxicity, structure–activity relationships, and pharmacokinetics have been investigated. This review aims to gather the most relevant results and insights concerning the anti-inflammatory potential of SL-rich extracts and pure SLs, focusing on their effects in different inflammatory pathways and on different molecular players.

scholarly journals IMMU-31. QUANTITATIVE EVALUATION OF ROUTES OF ADMINISTRATION OF IMMUNOTHERAPEUTIC T CELLS TO ORTHOTOPIC GLIOMA

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. ii111-ii111
Author(s):  
Lan Hoang-Minh ◽  
Angelie Rivera-Rodriguez ◽  
Fernanda Pohl-Guimarães ◽  
Seth Currlin ◽  
Christina Von Roemeling ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
T Cell ◽  
Tumor Growth ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Adoptive T Cell Therapy ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
T Cell Therapy ◽  
Clinical Responses

Abstract SIGNIFICANCE Adoptive T cell therapy (ACT) has emerged as the most effective treatment against advanced malignant melanoma, eliciting remarkable objective clinical responses in up to 75% of patients with refractory metastatic disease, including within the central nervous system. Immunologic surrogate endpoints correlating with treatment outcome have been identified in these patients, with clinical responses being dependent on the migration of transferred T cells to sites of tumor growth. OBJECTIVE We investigated the biodistribution of intravenously or intraventricularly administered T cells in a murine model of glioblastoma at whole body, organ, and cellular levels. METHODS gp100-specific T cells were isolated from the spleens of pmel DsRed transgenic C57BL/6 mice and injected intravenously or intraventricularly, after in vitro expansion and activation, in murine KR158B-Luc-gp100 glioma-bearing mice. To determine transferred T cell spatial distribution, the brain, lymph nodes, heart, lungs, spleen, liver, and kidneys of mice were processed for 3D imaging using light-sheet and multiphoton imaging. ACT T cell quantification in various organs was performed ex vivo using flow cytometry, 2D optical imaging (IVIS), and magnetic particle imaging (MPI) after ferucarbotran nanoparticle transfection of T cells. T cell biodistribution was also assessed in vivo using MPI. RESULTS Following T cell intravenous injection, the spleen, liver, and lungs accounted for more than 90% of transferred T cells; the proportion of DsRed T cells in the brains was found to be very low, hovering below 1%. In contrast, most ACT T cells persisted in the tumor-bearing brains following intraventricular injections. ACT T cells mostly concentrated at the periphery of tumor masses and in proximity to blood vessels. CONCLUSIONS The success of ACT immunotherapy for brain tumors requires optimization of delivery route, dosing regimen, and enhancement of tumor-specific lymphocyte trafficking and effector functions to achieve maximal penetration and persistence at sites of invasive tumor growth.

scholarly journals Targeting of p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases to MEF2 Transcription Factors

1999 ◽  
Vol 19 (6) ◽  
pp. 4028-4038 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shen-Hsi Yang ◽  
Alex Galanis ◽  
Andrew D. Sharrocks
Keyword(s):  
Transcription Factors ◽  
Transcriptional Activation ◽  
Cellular Response ◽  
Map Kinases ◽  
Biological Response ◽  
Extracellular Signals ◽  
Extracellular Signal ◽  
Mitogen Activated Protein

ABSTRACT Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase-mediated signalling to the nucleus is an important event in the conversion of extracellular signals into a cellular response. However, the existence of multiple MAP kinases which phosphorylate similar phosphoacceptor motifs poses a problem in maintaining substrate specificity and hence the correct biological response. Both the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) subfamilies of MAP kinases use a second specificity determinant and require docking to their transcription factor substrates to achieve maximal substrate activation. In this study, we demonstrate that among the different MAP kinases, the MADS-box transcription factors MEF2A and MEF2C are preferentially phosphorylated and activated by the p38 subfamily members p38α and p38β2. The efficiency of phosphorylation in vitro and transcriptional activation in vivo of MEF2A and MEF2C by these p38 subtypes requires the presence of a kinase docking domain (D-domain). Furthermore, the D-domain from MEF2A is sufficient to confer p38 responsiveness on different transcription factors, and reciprocal effects are observed upon the introduction of alternative D-domains into MEF2A. These results therefore contribute to our understanding of signalling to MEF2 transcription factors and demonstrate that the requirement for substrate binding by MAP kinases is an important facet of three different subclasses of MAP kinases (ERK, JNK, and p38).

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