scholarly journals Cardiac miRNAs were involved in the regulation of pathophysiological mechanisms underlying HF in pediatric patients after ventricular assist device implantation

2021 ◽  
Vol 42 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
R Ragusa ◽  
A Di Molfetta ◽  
S Del Turco ◽  
G Basta ◽  
M Rizzo ◽  
...  

Abstract Background VAD use in heart failure (HF) children have undergone rapid progress in the last three decades through pump technological innovation and improvement of perioperative care. Studies in HF adults showed that VAD put native heart at rest and lead to molecular changes in cardiac muscle, including at microRNA (miRNA) level. However, little is known on changes induced by VAD implant in cardiac miRNA expression and their putative targets in HF children. Purpose The aims of this study were to evaluate: 1) modification of miRNA expression in cardiac muscle from HF children after VAD support; 2) the putative targets of selected miRNAs by in silico analysis; 2) the role of the identify miRNAs on putative targets by in vitro study. Methods Cardiac biopsies were collected from HF children at the moment of VAD implant [n=8; 20 (7.5–64.5) months, 2 males; 19 (15.75–32.25) LVEF%] and at the time of heart transplant after VAD support [n=5; 32 (5–204) months; 4 males; 13.5 (10–18) LVEF%]. Cardiac miRNA expression was evaluated by NGS. The potential miRNA targets were identified by bioinformatics analyses and their cardiac expression by real-time PCR was evaluated. HL-1 cell line was used for testing the regulatory role of selected miRNA on predicted targets by miRNA mimic transfection study. Results At NGS, 465 miRNA were found on average in each sample and the cardiac expression levels of miR19a-3p, miR-1246 and miR-199b-5p decreased in HF children after VAD support compared to pre-implant (Fig. 1A-B). In silico analysis showed that more than 5000 potential gene targets regulated by miR-19a-3p, miR-1246 and miR-199b-5p. Among them, adiponectin receptors (AdipoR1, AdipoR2, T-CAD) were identified as common targets for 3 miRNAs. Real-time PCR data showed that levels of all adiponectin receptors increased significantly whilst the expression of 3 miRNAs decreased after VAD support (Fig. 1C). Moreover, AdipoR2 and T-CAD were inversely related to miRNA levels (Fig. 1D). In vitro studies confirmed the regulatory role of miR-1246 and miR-199b-5p on AdipoR2 (Fig. 1E-F), whilst only miR-199b-5p reduced the expression of T-CAD (Fig. 1G). Finally, AdipoR1 expression levels are not modified compared to control by miRNAs mimic transfection (data not shown). Conclusion In HF children the use of VAD could modify the expression of several miRNAs potentially involved in the regulation of several pathophysiological mechanisms underlying HF. Specifically, the reductions of miR-1246, mir-19a-3p, miR-199b-5p were associated with an increase of the adiponectin receptors AdipoR2 and T-CAD mRNA, suggesting the existence of a miRNAs related fine tuning of the adiponectin system at cardiac tissue level by VAD implant, able to favour the protective effect of adiponectin in HF cardiac muscle. FUNDunding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – EU funding. Main funding source(s): FP7-ICT-2009 Project, Grant Agreement 24863 Figure 1

2019 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-170 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vishal Ahuja ◽  
Aashima Sharma ◽  
Ranju Kumari Rathour ◽  
Vaishali Sharma ◽  
Nidhi Rana ◽  
...  

Background: Lignocellulosic residues generated by various anthropogenic activities can be a potential raw material for many commercial products such as biofuels, organic acids and nutraceuticals including xylitol. Xylitol is a low-calorie nutritive sweetener for diabetic patients. Microbial production of xylitol can be helpful in overcoming the drawbacks of traditional chemical production process and lowring cost of production. Objective: Designing efficient production process needs the characterization of required enzyme/s. Hence current work was focused on in-vitro and in-silico characterization of xylose reductase from Emericella nidulans. Methods: Xylose reductase from one of the hyper-producer isolates, Emericella nidulans Xlt-11 was used for in-vitro characterization. For in-silico characterization, XR sequence (Accession No: Q5BGA7) was used. Results: Xylose reductase from various microorganisms has been studied but the quest for better enzymes, their stability at higher temperature and pH still continues. Xylose reductase from Emericella nidulans Xlt-11 was found NADH dependent and utilizes xylose as its sole substrate for xylitol production. In comparison to whole cells, enzyme exhibited higher enzyme activity at lower cofactor concentration and could tolerate higher substrate concentration. Thermal deactivation profile showed that whole cell catalysts were more stable than enzyme at higher temperature. In-silico analysis of XR sequence from Emericella nidulans (Accession No: Q5BGA7) suggested that the structure was dominated by random coiling. Enzyme sequences have conserved active site with net negative charge and PI value in acidic pH range. Conclusion: Current investigation supported the enzyme’s specific application i.e. bioconversion of xylose to xylitol due to its higher selectivity. In-silico analysis may provide significant structural and physiological information for modifications and improved stability.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. 5645
Author(s):  
Stefano Morotti ◽  
Haibo Ni ◽  
Colin H. Peters ◽  
Christian Rickert ◽  
Ameneh Asgari-Targhi ◽  
...  

Background: The mechanisms underlying dysfunction in the sinoatrial node (SAN), the heart’s primary pacemaker, are incompletely understood. Electrical and Ca2+-handling remodeling have been implicated in SAN dysfunction associated with heart failure, aging, and diabetes. Cardiomyocyte [Na+]i is also elevated in these diseases, where it contributes to arrhythmogenesis. Here, we sought to investigate the largely unexplored role of Na+ homeostasis in SAN pacemaking and test whether [Na+]i dysregulation may contribute to SAN dysfunction. Methods: We developed a dataset-specific computational model of the murine SAN myocyte and simulated alterations in the major processes of Na+ entry (Na+/Ca2+ exchanger, NCX) and removal (Na+/K+ ATPase, NKA). Results: We found that changes in intracellular Na+ homeostatic processes dynamically regulate SAN electrophysiology. Mild reductions in NKA and NCX function increase myocyte firing rate, whereas a stronger reduction causes bursting activity and loss of automaticity. These pathologic phenotypes mimic those observed experimentally in NCX- and ankyrin-B-deficient mice due to altered feedback between the Ca2+ and membrane potential clocks underlying SAN firing. Conclusions: Our study generates new testable predictions and insight linking Na+ homeostasis to Ca2+ handling and membrane potential dynamics in SAN myocytes that may advance our understanding of SAN (dys)function.


2021 ◽  
pp. 105068
Author(s):  
Devendra Kumar ◽  
Ravi Ranjan Kumar ◽  
Shelly Pathania ◽  
Pankaj Kumar Singh ◽  
Sourav Kalra ◽  
...  

Metallomics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shi-Yong Zhu ◽  
Li-Li Liu ◽  
Yue-Qiang Huang ◽  
Xiao-Wei Li ◽  
Milton Talukder ◽  
...  

Abstract Selenoprotein N (SEPN1) is critical to the normal muscular physiology. Mutation of SEPN1 can raise congenital muscular disorder in human. It is also central to maturation and structure of skeletal muscle in chicken. However, human SEPN1 contained an EF-hand motif, which was not found in chicken. And the biochemical and molecular characterization of chicken SEPN1 remains unclear. Hence, protein domains, transcription factors, and interactions of Ca2+ in SEPN1 were analyzed in silico to provide the divergence and homology between chicken and human in this work. The results showed that vertebrates’ SEPN1 evolved from a common ancestor. Human and chicken's SEPN1 shared a conserved CUGS-helix domain with function in antioxidant protection. SEPN1 might be a downstream target of JNK pathway, and it could respond to multiple stresses. Human's SEPN1 might not combine with Ca2+ with a single EF-hand motif in calcium homeostasis, and chicken SEPN1 did not have the EF-hand motif in the prediction, indicating the EF-hand motif malfunctioned in chicken SEPN1.


2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (32) ◽  
pp. 894-898
Author(s):  
D. F. SILVA ◽  
H. D. NETO ◽  
M. D. L. FERREIRA ◽  
A. A. O. FILHO ◽  
E. O. LIMA

β-citronellol (3,7-dimethyl-6-octen-1-ol) has been exhibiting a number of pharmacological effects that creates interest about its antimicrobial potential, since several substances of the monoterpene class have already demonstrated to possess activity in this profile. In addition, the emergence of fungal species resistant to current pharmacotherapy poses a serious challenge to health systems, making it necessary to search for new effective therapeutic alternatives to deal with this problem. In this study, the antimicrobial profile of β-citronellol was analyzed. The Prediction of Activity Spectra for Substances (PASS) online software was used to study the antimicrobial activity of the β-citronellol molecule by the use of in silico analysis. In contrast, an in vitro antifungal study of this monoterpene was carried out. For this purpose, the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was determined by the microdilution technique in 96-well plates in Saboraud Dextrose Broth/RPMI against sensitive strains of Candida albicans, and this assay was performed in duplicate. In the in silico analysis of the antimicrobial profile, it was revealed that the monoterpene β-citronellol had a diverse antimicrobial bioactivity profile. For the antifungal activity, it presented a percentage value with Pa: 58.4% (predominant) and its MIC of 128 μg/mL, which was equivalent for all strains tested. The in silico study of the β-citronellol molecule allowed us to consider that the monoterpenoid is very likely to be bioactive against agents that cause fungal infections.


Author(s):  
Ashis Kumar Goswami ◽  
Hemanta Kumar Sharma ◽  
Neelutpal Gogoi ◽  
Ankita Kashyap ◽  
Bhaskar Jyoti Gogoi

Background: Malaria is caused by different species of Plasmodium; among which P. falciparum is the most severe. Coptis teeta is an ethnomedicinal plant of enormous importance for tribes of north east India. Objective: In this study, the anti malarial activity of the methanol extracts of Coptis teeta was evaluated in vitro and lead identification via in silico study. Method: On the basis of the in vitro results, in silico analysis by application of different modules of Discovery Studio 2018 was performed on multiple targets of P. falciparum taking into consideration some of the compounds reported from C. teeta. Results: The IC50 of the methanol extract of Coptis teeta 0.08 µg/ml in 3D7 strain and 0.7 µg/ml in Dd2 strain of P. falciparum. From the docking study, noroxyhydrastatine was observed to have better binding affinity in comparison to chloroquine. The binding of noroxyhydrastinine with dihydroorotate dehydrogenase was further validated by molecular dynamics simulation and was observed to be significantly stable in comparison to the co-crystal inhibitor. During simulations it was observed that noroxyhydrastinine retained the interactions, giving strong indications of its effectiveness against the P. falciparum proteins and stability in the binding pocket. From the Density-functional theory analysis, the band gap energy of noroxyhydrastinine was found to be 0.186 Ha indicating a favourable interaction. Conclusion: The in silico analysis as an addition to the in vitro results provide strong evidence of noroxyhydrastinine as an anti malarial agent.


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