Circadian oscillations of cytosine modification in humans contribute to epigenetic variability, aging, and complex disease

The identification and validation of novel drug–target combinations are key steps in the drug discovery processes. Cancer is a complex disease that involves several genetic and environmental factors. High-throughput omics technologies are now widely available, however the integration of multi-omics data to identify viable anticancer drug-target combinations, that allow for a better clinical outcome when considering the efficacy-toxicity spectrum, is challenging. This review article provides an overview of systems approaches which help to integrate a broad spectrum of technologies and data. We focus on network approaches and investigate anticancer mechanism and biological targets of resveratrol using reverse pharmacophore mapping as an in-depth case study. The results of this case study demonstrate the use of systems approaches for a better understanding of the behavior of small molecule inhibitors in receptor binding sites. The presented network analysis approach helps in formulating hypotheses and provides mechanistic insights of resveratrol in neoplastic transformations.

Download Full-text

Genetic and Epigenetic Modulation of Drug Resistance in Cancer: Challenges and Opportunities

Current Drug Metabolism ◽

10.2174/1389200221666200103111539 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 20 (14) ◽

pp. 1114-1131 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Kanisha Shah ◽

Rakesh M. Rawal

Keyword(s):

Drug Resistance ◽

Drug Targets ◽

Complex Disease ◽

Cancer Therapies ◽

Altered Expression ◽

Acquired Drug Resistance ◽

Challenges And Opportunities ◽

Chemotherapeutic Treatment ◽

Epigenetic Modulation ◽

Targeted Drug Therapies

Cancer is a complex disease that has the ability to develop resistance to traditional therapies. The current chemotherapeutic treatment has become increasingly sophisticated, yet it is not 100% effective against disseminated tumours. Anticancer drugs resistance is an intricate process that ascends from modifications in the drug targets suggesting the need for better targeted therapies in the therapeutic arsenal. Advances in the modern techniques such as DNA microarray, proteomics along with the development of newer targeted drug therapies might provide better strategies to overcome drug resistance. This drug resistance in tumours can be attributed to an individual’s genetic differences, especially in tumoral somatic cells but acquired drug resistance is due to different mechanisms, such as cell death inhibition (apoptosis suppression) altered expression of drug transporters, alteration in drug metabolism epigenetic and drug targets, enhancing DNA repair and gene amplification. This review also focusses on the epigenetic modifications and microRNAs, which induce drug resistance and contributes to the formation of tumour progenitor cells that are not destroyed by conventional cancer therapies. Lastly, this review highlights different means to prevent the formation of drug resistant tumours and provides future directions for better treatment of these resistant tumours.

Download Full-text

Monogenic Diabetes: Genetics and Relevance on Diabetes Mellitus Personalized Medicine

Current Diabetes Reviews ◽

10.2174/1573399816666191230114352 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 16 (8) ◽

pp. 807-819 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Madalena Sousa ◽

Jácome Bruges-Armas

Keyword(s):

Diabetes Mellitus ◽

Complex Disease ◽

Clinical Manifestations ◽

Neonatal Diabetes ◽

Monogenic Diabetes ◽

Diabetes Genetics ◽

Individualize Treatment

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a complex disease with significant impression in today's world. Aside from the most common types recognized over the years, such as type 1 diabetes (T1DM) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM), recent studies have emphasized the crucial role of genetics in DM, allowing the distinction of monogenic diabetes. Methods: Authors did a literature search with the purpose of highlighting and clarifying the subtypes of monogenic diabetes, as well as the accredited genetic entities responsible for such phenotypes. Results: The following subtypes were included in this literature review: maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY), neonatal diabetes mellitus (NDM) and maternally inherited diabetes and deafness (MIDD). So far, 14 subtypes of MODY have been identified, while three subtypes have been identified in NDM - transient, permanent, and syndromic. Discussion: Despite being estimated to affect approximately 2% of all the T2DM patients in Europe, the exact prevalence of MODY is still unknown, accentuating the need for research focused on biomarkers. Consequently, due to its impact in the course of treatment, follow-up of associated complications, and genetic implications for siblings and offspring of affected individuals, it is imperative to diagnose the monogenic forms of DM accurately. Conclusion: Currently, advances in the genetics field allowed the recognition of new DM subtypes, which until now, were considered slight variations of the typical forms. Thus, it is imperative to act in the close interaction between genetics and clinical manifestations, to facilitate diagnosis and individualize treatment.

Download Full-text

Dl-3-n-Butylphthalide (NBP): A Promising Therapeutic Agent for Ischemic Stroke

CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets ◽

10.2174/1871527317666180612125843 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 17 (5) ◽

pp. 338-347 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

Shan Wang ◽

Fei Ma ◽

Longjian Huang ◽

Yong Zhang ◽

Yuchen Peng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Complex Disease ◽

Time Window ◽

Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator ◽

Research Progress ◽

Apium Graveolens ◽

Synthetic Compound ◽

Stroke Treatment ◽

Single Target ◽

Anti Oxidant

Background and Objective: Stroke is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in both developed and developing countries all over the world. The only drug for ischemic stroke approved by FDA is recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (rtPA). However, only 2-5% stroke patients receive rtPAs treatment due to its strict therapeutic time window. As ischemic stroke is a complex disease involving multiple mechanisms, medications with multi-targets may be more powerful compared with single-target drugs. Dl-3-n-Butylphthalide (NBP) is a synthetic compound based on l-3-n- Butylphthalide that is isolated from seeds of Apium graveolens. The racemic 3-n-butylphthalide (dl- NBP) was approved by Food and Drug Administration of China for the treatment of ischemic stroke in 2002. A number of clinical studies indicated that NBP not only improved the symptoms of ischemic stroke, but also contributed to the long-term recovery. The potential mechanisms of NBP for ischemic stroke treatment may target different pathophysiological processes, including anti-oxidant, antiinflammation, anti-apoptosis, anti-thrombosis, and protection of mitochondria et al. Conclusion: In this review, we have summarized the research progress of NBP for the treatment of ischemic stroke during the past two decades.

Download Full-text

MAPK: A Key Player in the Development and Progression of Stroke

CNS & Neurological Disorders - Drug Targets ◽

10.2174/1871527319666200613223018 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 19 (4) ◽

pp. 248-256

Author(s):

Yangmin Zheng ◽

Ziping Han ◽

Haiping Zhao ◽

Yumin Luo

Keyword(s):

Ischemic Stroke ◽

Signaling Pathway ◽

Complex Disease ◽

Therapeutic Targets ◽

Cell Types ◽

Mapk Signaling ◽

Mapk Signaling Pathway ◽

Effective Prevention ◽

Prevention And Treatment ◽

Different Cell Types

Conclusion: Stroke is a complex disease caused by genetic and environmental factors, and its etiological mechanism has not been fully clarified yet, which brings great challenges to its effective prevention and treatment. MAPK signaling pathway regulates gene expression of eukaryotic cells and basic cellular processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, metabolism and apoptosis, which are considered as therapeutic targets for many diseases. Up to now, mounting evidence has shown that MAPK signaling pathway is involved in the pathogenesis and development of ischemic stroke. However, the upstream kinase and downstream kinase of MAPK signaling pathway are complex and the influencing factors are numerous, the exact role of MAPK signaling pathway in the pathogenesis of ischemic stroke has not been fully elucidated. MAPK signaling molecules in different cell types in the brain respond variously after stroke injury, therefore, the present review article is committed to summarizing the pathological process of different cell types participating in stroke, discussed the mechanism of MAPK participating in stroke. We further elucidated that MAPK signaling pathway molecules can be used as therapeutic targets for stroke, thus promoting the prevention and treatment of stroke.

Download Full-text

The role of microRNAs in gliomas – Therapeutic implications

Current Molecular Pharmacology ◽

10.2174/1874467213666200730115837 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 ◽

Author(s):

Theodora Katsila ◽

Dimitrios Kardamakis

Keyword(s):

Complex Disease ◽

Malignant Gliomas ◽

Kappa Statistic ◽

Individual Variability ◽

Response To Treatment ◽

Disease Phenotype ◽

Therapeutic Implications ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Gene Environment ◽

Sas Macro

Background: Malignant gliomas constitute a complex disease phenotype that demands optimum decisionmaking. Despite being the most common type of primary brain tumors, gliomas are highly heterogeneous when their pathophysiology and response to treatment are considered. Such inter-individual variability also renders differential and early diagnosis extremely difficult. Recent evidence highlight that the gene-environment interplay becomes of fundamental importance in oncogenesis and progression of gliomas. Objective: To unmask key features of the gliomas disease phenotype and map the inter-individual variability of patients, we explore genotype-to-phenotype associations. Emphasis is put on microRNAs as they regulate gene expression, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of gliomas and may serve as theranostics, empowering non-invasive strategies (circulating free or in exosomes). Method: We mined text and omic datasets (as of 2019) and conducted a mixed-method content analysis. A novel framework was developed to meet the aims of our analysis, interrogating data in terms of content and context. We relied on literature data from PubMed/Medline and Scopus, as they are considered the largest abstract and citation databases of peer-reviewed literature. To avoid selection biases, both publicly available and private texts have been assessed. Both percent agreement and Cohen's kappa statistic have been calculated to avoid biases by SAS macro MAGREE with multicategorical ratings. Results: Gliomas serve as a paradigm for multifaceted datasets, despite data sparsity and scarcity. miRNAs and miRNAbased therapeutics are ready for prime time. Exosomal miRNAs empower non-invasive strategies, surpassing circulating free miRNAs, when accuracy and precision are considered. Conclusion: miRNAs holds promise as theranostics.

Download Full-text