scholarly journals A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase—Control Elements in Infectious Diseases

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahmad Aljohmani ◽  
Daniela Yildiz

Despite recent advances in treatment strategies, infectious diseases are still under the leading causes of death worldwide. Although the activation of the inflammatory cascade is one prerequisite of defense, persistent and exuberant immune response, however, may lead to chronicity of inflammation predisposing to a temporal or permanent tissue damage not only of the site of infection but also among different body organs. The initial response to invading pathogens is mediated by the recognition through various pattern-recognition receptors along with cellular engulfment resulting in a coordinated release of soluble effector molecules and cytokines aiming to terminate the external stimuli. Members of the ‘a disintegrin and metalloproteinase’ (ADAM) family have the capability to proteolytically cleave transmembrane molecules close to the plasma membrane, a process called ectodomain shedding. In fact, in infectious diseases dysregulation of numerous ADAM substrates such as junction molecules (e.g., E-cadherin, VE-cadherin, JAM-A), adhesion molecules (e.g., ICAM-1, VCAM-1, L-selectin), and chemokines and cytokines (e.g., CXCL16, TNF-α) has been observed. The alpha-cleavage by ADAM proteases represents a rate limiting step for downstream regulated intramembrane proteolysis (RIPing) of several substrates, which influence cellular differentiation, cell signaling pathways and immune modulation. Both the substrates mentioned above and RIPing crucially contribute to a systematic damage in cardiovascular, endocrine, and/or gastrointestinal systems. This review will summarize the current knowledge of ADAM function and the subsequent RIPing in infectious diseases (e.g., pathogen recognition and clearance) and discuss the potential long-term effect on pathophysiological changes such as cardiovascular diseases.

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 1392
Author(s):  
Hidaya A. Kader ◽  
Muhammad Azeem ◽  
Suhib A. Jwayed ◽  
Aaesha Al-Shehhi ◽  
Attia Tabassum ◽  
...  

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is one of the most prevalent inflammatory disease among non-fatal skin diseases, affecting up to one fifth of the population in developed countries. AD is characterized by recurrent pruritic and localized eczema with seasonal fluctuations. AD initializes the phenomenon of atopic march, during which infant AD patients are predisposed to progressive secondary allergies such as allergic rhinitis, asthma, and food allergies. The pathophysiology of AD is complex; onset of the disease is caused by several factors, including strong genetic predisposition, disrupted epidermal barrier, and immune dysregulation. AD was initially characterized by defects in the innate immune system and a vigorous skewed adaptive Th2 response to environmental agents; there are compelling evidences that the disorder involves multiple immune pathways. Symptomatic palliative treatment is the only strategy to manage the disease and restore skin integrity. Researchers are trying to more precisely define the contribution of different AD genotypes and elucidate the role of various immune axes. In this review, we have summarized the current knowledge about the roles of innate and adaptive immune responsive cells in AD. In addition, current and novel treatment strategies for the management of AD are comprehensively described, including some ongoing clinical trials and promising therapeutic agents. This information will provide an asset towards identifying personalized targets for better therapeutic outcomes.


Author(s):  
Christopher Marlowe A. Caipang

Increasing pace in aquaculture development to meet the growing food requirements of the population has greatly compromised the carrying capacity of the culture environment and has placed the aquacultured animals at heightened risk of getting diseases due to pathogens. At present, chemotherapy is widely used as means to prevent or treat infectious diseases in aquaculture; however, the use of these drugs poses multiple negative impacts on fish and human health, as well as the environment. Recently, research initiatives are focused on the use of plant products and their derivatives as a means of controlling diseases in aquaculture. They are regarded as a promising alternative to the use of chemical treatments for infectious diseases in fish. Plant-derived products or phytogenics have been shown to stimulate appetite and promote weight gain in farmed animals, act as immunostimulants, and possess potent anti-pathogenic properties in fish. Their potency is mediated by the presence of bioactive molecules including alkaloids, terpenoids, saponins, and flavonoids, among others. Moreover, nutritional strategies are geared towards the use of these phytogenics in modulating immune and physiological responses, as well as promoting optimum health and microbial community in the gastrointestinal tract of fish. This review synthesizes the current knowledge on the use of phytogenic feed additives in aquaculture by focusing on how these substances act as modulators of health and bacterial community in the gut of fish.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mariolina Bruno ◽  
Vasiliki Matzaraki ◽  
Frank L van de Veerdonk ◽  
Vinod Kumar ◽  
Mihai G. Netea

Infectious diseases are a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and human pathogens have long been recognized as one of the main sources of evolutionary pressure, resulting in a high variable genetic background in immune-related genes. The study of the genetic contribution to infectious diseases has undergone tremendous advances over the last decades. Here, focusing on genetic predisposition to fungal diseases, we provide an overview of the available approaches for studying human genetic susceptibility to infections, reviewing current methodological and practical limitations. We describe how the classical methods available, such as family-based studies and candidate-gene studies, have contributed to the discovery of crucial susceptibility factors for fungal infections. We will also discuss the contribution of novel unbiased approaches to the field, highlighting their success but also their limitations for the fungal immunology field. Finally, we show how a systems genomics approach can overcome those limitations and can lead to efficient prioritization and identification of genes and pathways with a critical role in susceptibility to fungal diseases. This knowledge will help stratify patients at risk groups and, subsequently, develop early appropriate prophylactic and treatment strategies.


1995 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 117-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Basil A. Pruitt ◽  
William G. Cioffi

Inhalation remains the most frequent and serious comorbid event that occurs in thermally injured patients. A thorough understanding of the pathophysiology enables individualization of therapy and appropriate triage of patients. We summarize our current knowledge of the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of inhalation injury, with a focus on newer treatment strategies that are evolving secondary to laboratory research.


Neurology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 10.1212/WNL.0000000000012744
Author(s):  
Renzo Guerrini ◽  
Simona Balestrini ◽  
Elaine C. Wirrell ◽  
Matthew C. Walker

A monogenic aetiology can be identified in up to 40% of people with severe epilepsy. To address earlier and more appropriate treatment strategies, clinicians are required to know the implications that specific genetic causes might have on pathophysiology, natural history, comorbidities and treatment choices. In this narrative review, we summarise concepts on the genetic epilepsies based on the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and present the current knowledge on treatment options based on evidence provided by controlled trials or studies with lower classification of evidence. Overall, evidence robust enough to guide antiseizure medication (ASM) choices in genetic epilepsies remains limited to the more frequent conditions for which controlled trials and observational studies have been possible. Most monogenic disorders are very rare and ASM choices for them are still based on inferences drawn from observational studies and early, often anecdotal, experiences with precision therapies. Precision medicine remains applicable to only a narrow number of patients with monogenic epilepsies and may target only part of the actual functional defects. Phenotypic heterogeneity is remarkable, and some genetic mutations activate epileptogenesis through their developmental effects, which may not be reversed postnatally. Other genes seem to have pure functional consequences on excitability, acting through either loss- or gain-of-function effects, and these may have opposite treatment implications. In addition, the functional consequences of missense mutations may be difficult to predict, making precision treatment approaches considerably more complex than estimated by deterministic interpretations. Knowledge of genetic aetiologies can influence the approach to surgical treatment of focal epilepsies. Identification of germline mutations in specific genes contraindicates surgery while mutations in other genes do not. Identification, quantification and functional characterization of specific somatic mutations before surgery using cerebrospinal fluid liquid biopsy or after surgery in brain specimens, will likely be integrated in planning surgical strategies and re-intervention after a first unsuccessful surgery as initial evidence suggests that mutational load may correlate with the epileptogenic zone. Promising future directions include gene manipulation by DNA or mRNA targeting; although most are still far from clinical use, some are in early phase clinical development.


2021 ◽  
Vol 135 (10) ◽  
pp. 1289-1293
Author(s):  
Gregor Werba ◽  
Tamas A. Gonda

Abstract Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) features a hostile tumor microenvironment (TME) that renders it remarkably resistant to most therapeutic interventions. Consequently, survival remains among the poorest compared with other gastrointestinal cancers. Concerted efforts are underway to decipher the complex PDAC TME, break down barriers to efficacious therapies and identify novel treatment strategies. In the recent Clinical Science, Li and colleagues identify the long noncoding RNA KLHDC7B-DT as a crucial epigenetic regulator of IL-6 transcription in PDAC and illustrate its potent influences on the pancreatic TME. In this commentary, we introduce epigenetics in pancreatic cancer and put the findings by Li et al. in context with current knowledge.


2012 ◽  
pp. 782-798
Author(s):  
Liang Hu ◽  
Fan Lu

The chapter is intended to introduce Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS), a widely spreading but largely unknown epidemic among professional and ordinary computer users, especially internet users. Dr. Sheedy and Dr. Anshel are two leading researchers in the ergonomics and optometry fields, and CVS has been extensively studied in these fields. The authors have summarized their views about CVS, including five major symptoms of CVS, three key contributing factors of CVS, and basic preventive and treatment strategies. Future researches are needed to continue the advancement of current knowledge regarding computer screens, computer task, and computer environments, and to expand research in diverse computer user populations, especially younger computer users.


Author(s):  
J.F. Pagel

Humans utilize sensory and motor systems developed genetically, physically and socially for interfacing with our external environment. We use these same systems to interface in our interactions with artificial intelligence. There are other functioning central nervous system (CNS) systems, however, involved in cognitive processing for which the function and environmental interface is less clear. The synchronous physiologic electrical field system utilizes broadcast extracellular electrical fields for a wide variety of CNS functions. The operations of this system are usually non-conscious and most apparent during sleep (especially the conscious states of sleep that include dreaming), and un-focused waking. The electrical fields of this system are altered and affected by both internal and external stimuli. These fields can be monitored and analyzed by artificial intelligence (AI) systems, and independently of human input, AI systems can utilize similar frequency based electrical potentials to convey data, communicate, supply power, and to store memory. From both human and AI perspectives, these systems have the potential to function more fully in human/machine interaction. This chapter reviews our current knowledge as to function, current interactive approaches, and interface potential for these physiological electrical fields.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 20180064 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susanne Bloch ◽  
Markus B. Tomek ◽  
Valentin Friedrich ◽  
Paul Messner ◽  
Christina Schäffer

Periodontitis is a polymicrobial, biofilm-caused, inflammatory disease affecting the tooth-supporting tissues. It is not only the leading cause of tooth loss worldwide, but can also impact systemic health. The development of effective treatment strategies is hampered by the complicated disease pathogenesis which is best described by a polymicrobial synergy and dysbiosis model. This model classifies the Gram-negative anaerobe Tannerella forsythia as a periodontal pathogen, making it a prime candidate for interference with the disease. Tannerella forsythia employs a protein O -glycosylation system that enables high-density display of nonulosonic acids via the bacterium's two-dimensional crystalline cell surface layer. Nonulosonic acids are sialic acid-like sugars which are well known for their pivotal biological roles. This review summarizes the current knowledge of T. forsythia' s unique cell envelope with a focus on composition, biosynthesis and functional implications of the cell surface O -glycan. We have obtained evidence that glycobiology affects the bacterium's immunogenicity and capability to establish itself in the polymicrobial oral biofilm. Analysis of the genomes of different T. forsythia isolates revealed that complex protein O -glycosylation involving nonulosonic acids is a hallmark of pathogenic T. forsythia strains and, thus, constitutes a valuable target for the design of novel anti-infective strategies to combat periodontitis.


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