scholarly journals The Role of Natural Products in Rheumatoid Arthritis: Current Knowledge of Basic In Vitro and In Vivo Research

Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 599
Author(s):  
Georgia-Eirini Deligiannidou ◽  
Vasiliki Gougoula ◽  
Eugenia Bezirtzoglou ◽  
Christos Kontogiorgis ◽  
Theodoros K. Constantinides
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Natural Products ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Relevant Literature ◽  
Basic Research ◽  
Publication Date

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder affecting a vast variety of the population. The onset of RA as well as the development of systematic immunization is affected by both genetic and environmental risk factors. This review aims to point out the role of natural products in the management of RA, focusing on the reports of basic research (in vitro and animal studies) emphasizing the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties considered in the field of RA. A systematic screening of the relevant literature was carried out on PubMed, Google Scholar, and Scopus with the following criteria: publication date, 2015–2020; language, English; study design, in vitro or animal models; and the investigation of one or several natural products in the context of RA, including, when available, the molecular mechanisms implicated. A total of 211 papers were initially obtained and screened. In vitro and animal studies referring to 20 natural products and 15 pure compounds were ultimately included in this review. The outcomes of this work provide an overview of the methods employed in basic research over the past five years, with emphasis on the limitations presented, while demonstrating the potential benefits of utilizing natural products in the management of RA as supported by in vitro and animal studies.

Modulation of Matrix Metalloproteinases by Plant-Derived Products

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nur Najmi Mohamad Anuar ◽  
Nurul Iman Natasya Zulkafali ◽  
Azizah Ugusman
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Natural Products ◽  
Matrix Metalloproteinases ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
In Vitro Models ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Extracellular Matrix Components

: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a group of zinc-dependent metallo-endopeptidase that are responsible towards the degradation, repair and remodelling of extracellular matrix components. MMPs play an important role in maintaining a normal physiological function and preventing diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Natural products derived from plants have been used as traditional medicine for centuries. Its active compounds, such as catechin, resveratrol and quercetin, are suggested to play an important role as MMPs inhibitors, thereby opening new insights into their applications in many fields, such as pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries. This review summarises the current knowledge on plant-derived natural products with MMP-modulating activities. Most of the reviewed plant-derived products exhibit an inhibitory activity on MMPs. Amongst MMPs, MMP-2 and MMP-9 are the most studied. The expression of MMPs is inhibited through respective signalling pathways, such as MAPK, NF-κB and PI3 kinase pathways, which contribute to the reduction in cancer cell behaviours, such as proliferation and migration. Most studies have employed in vitro models, but a limited number of animal studies and clinical trials have been conducted. Even though plant-derived products show promising results in modulating MMPs, more in vivo studies and clinical trials are needed to support their therapeutic applications in the future.

scholarly journals Increased Concentrations of Antibody-Bound Circulatory Cell-Free DNA in Rheumatoid Arthritis

2007 ◽  
Vol 53 (9) ◽  
pp. 1609-1614 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao-Yan Zhong ◽  
Ines von Mühlenen ◽  
Ying Li ◽  
Anjeung Kang ◽  
Anurag Kumar Gupta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Animal Experiments ◽  
Basic Research ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Cell Free Dna ◽  
Free Dna ◽  
New Evidence

Abstract Background: Increased concentrations of cell-free DNA have been found in several disorders and have been interpreted as evidence of increased rates of cell death or turnover. Evidence from in vitro and animal experiments suggests that DNA may play a role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods: We measured cell-free DNA in plasma and serum from patients with RA and healthy controls by use of quantitative PCR for glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) DNA. We used protein G Sepharose™ bead adsorption of plasma and elution to isolate antibody-bound DNA. Results: In paired plasma and serum samples of 16 healthy controls the median GAPDH copies were 4500 genome equivalents (GE)/mL plasma (range 319–21 000) and in 26 RA patients 17 000 GE/mL plasma (2100–2 375 000, P = 0.0001). In the serum from normal controls the median GAPDH copies were 35 000 GE/mL (1700–239 000) and from RA patients 222 000 GE/mL (21 000–2 375 000, P = 0.004). A median of 81% of the cell-free DNA in RA was associated with antibody compared with 9% in healthy controls (P = 0.001). The concentrations of DNA did not vary with the type of therapy patients received. Conclusions: These results provide new evidence for a role of cell-free DNA-antibody complexes in the etiology of RA, suggest new avenues for basic research, and may prove to be relevant to diagnosis and assessment of therapy.

scholarly journals LncRNA EBLN3P promotes the progression of osteosarcoma through modifying the miR-224-5p/Rab10 signaling axis

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuhong Dai ◽  
Ning Li ◽  
Ming Zhou ◽  
Yue Yuan ◽  
Ding Yue ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Cell Counting ◽  
Luciferase Assay ◽  
Migration And Invasion ◽  
Osteosarcoma Cell ◽  
Regulatory Loop

AbstractThe treatment of patients with advanced-stage osteosarcoma represents a major challenge, with very few treatments currently approved. Although accumulating evidence has demonstrated the importance of lncRNAs in osteosarcoma, the current knowledge on the functional roles and molecular mechanisms of lncRNA endogenous born avirus-like nucleoprotein (EBLN3P) is limited. At present, the expressions of EBLN3P and miR-224-5p in osteosarcoma tissues were quantified by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR assay, and the expression of Ras-related protein 10 (Rab10) in osteosarcoma tissues was quantified by immunohistochemistry and western-blotting. The bioinformatics prediction software ENCORI was used to predict the putative binding sites of EBLN3P, Rab10 and miR-224-5p. The regulatory role of EBLN3P or miR-224-5p on cell proliferation, migration and invasion ability were verified by Cell Counting Kit-8, wound healing and Transwell assays, respectively. The interaction among EBLN3P, miR-224-5p and Rab10 were testified by luciferase. The increased expression of EBLN3P and Rab10 and decreased expression of miR-224-5p were observed in osteosarcoma tissues and cell lines. Besides, the overexpression of EBLN3P or knockdown of miR-224-5p were revealed to promote the proliferation, migration and invasion of osteosarcoma cells. Bioinformatics analysis and luciferase assay revealed that EBLN3P could directly interacted with miR-224-5p to attenuate miR-224-5p binding to the Rab10 3′-untranslated region. Furthermore, the mechanistic investigations revealed activation of the miR-224-5p/Rab10 regulatory loop by knockdown of miR‐372-3p or overexpression of Rab10, thereby confirming the in vitro role of EBLN3P in promoting osteosarcoma cell proliferation, migration and invasion. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first to demonstrate that EBLN3P may act as a competitive endogenous RNA to modulate Rab10 expression by competitive sponging to miR-224-5p, leading to the regulation of osteosarcoma progression, which indicates a possible new approach to osteosarcoma diagnosis and treatment.

scholarly journals Several Alkaloids Derived from Plants and Their Underlying Molecular Mechanisms of Action in the Fight Against Cancer

2016 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 83
Author(s):  
Siribhorn Madla ◽  
Potchanapond Graidist
Keyword(s):  
Natural Products ◽  
Anticancer Agents ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Causes Of Death ◽  
Short Review ◽  
Mechanisms Of Action ◽  
Apoptosis Pathways ◽  
Potential Use

Multidrug resistance is one of the major obstacles to successful cancer chemotherapy, which causes cancer to remain one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Therefore, the use of natural products for cancer prevention and therapy has been continuously investigated and developed for decades. Alkaloids are one of the important compounds derived from natural products that have been extensively studied for their potential use as cancer chemopreventive and chemotherapeutic drugs in both in vitro and animal studies. This short review intends to present the molecular mechanisms of action of alkaloids on stimulation and inhibition some signaling molecules involved in cell proliferation, differentiation, angiogenesis, metastasis and apoptosis pathways of cancer cells. The understanding of the molecular mechanisms of alkaloids against cancer will provide clues towards a diagnostic, prevention and therapeutic applications. Based on the information provided in this article, alkaloids show remarkable potential as anticancer agents. However, more research and clinical trials are crucial before applying any of these alkaloids as new medicine to treat cancer patients. 

scholarly journals Dual Role of Chondrocytes in Rheumatoid Arthritis: The Chicken and the Egg

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 1071 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chia-Chun Tseng ◽  
Yi-Jen Chen ◽  
Wei-An Chang ◽  
Wen-Chan Tsai ◽  
Tsan-Teng Ou ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Cartilage Destruction ◽  
Molecular Alterations ◽  
Diagnosis And Prognosis ◽  
Potential Applications ◽  
Biochemical Mechanisms ◽  
Holistic Vision

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is one of the inflammatory joint diseases that display features of articular cartilage destruction. The underlying disturbance results from immune dysregulation that directly and indirectly influence chondrocyte physiology. In the last years, significant evidence inferred from studies in vitro and in the animal model offered a more holistic vision of chondrocytes in RA. Chondrocytes, despite being one of injured cells in RA, also undergo molecular alterations to actively participate in inflammation and matrix destruction in the human rheumatoid joint. This review covers current knowledge about the specific cellular and biochemical mechanisms that account for the chondrocyte signatures of RA and its potential applications for diagnosis and prognosis in RA.

Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Antithrombogenic Plants: A Narrative Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 176-190 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tatiane C. Mendes ◽  
Francislaine Aparecida dos Reis Lívero ◽  
Priscila de Souza ◽  
Karimi S. Gebara ◽  
Arquimedes Gasparotto Junior
Keyword(s):  
Natural Products ◽  
Deep Vein Thrombosis ◽  
Heart Attack ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Coagulation Factors ◽  
Vein Thrombosis ◽  
Main Components ◽  
Deep Vein

Heart attack, stroke, and deep vein thrombosis are among the conditions that alter blood coagulation and are modulated by antithrombogenic drugs. Natural products are an important source of antithrombogenic agents and have been considered remarkable alternatives with greater efficacy and usually with fewer side effects. However, the efficacy and toxicity of many of these plants that are used in traditional medicine must be scientifically tested. Despite a large number of published articles that report that plants or plant-derived components may act as antithrombogenic agents, few studies have investigated the mechanism of action of medicinal plants. This review presents the current knowledge about the major cellular and molecular mechanisms of antithrombogenic plants and their main components. Many well-established mechanisms (e.g., platelet aggregation, coagulation factors, and thrombolysis) are related to the antithrombogenic activity of many natural products. However, the central pathways that are responsible for their activity remain unclear. Further studies are needed to clarify the central role of each of these pathways in the pleiotropic response to these agents.

scholarly journals Role of Vitamin C in Prophylaxis and Treatment of Gout—A Literature Review

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 701
Author(s):  
Olga Brzezińska ◽  
Filip Styrzyński ◽  
Joanna Makowska ◽  
Konrad Walczak
Keyword(s):  
Uric Acid ◽  
Vitamin C ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Daily Intake ◽  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Acute Attack ◽  
Crystal Deposition

Gout, known as “the disease of the kings”, is the most frequent type of arthritis. It results from sustained hyperuricemia that leads to monosodium urate crystal deposition in joint structures and soft tissue. Environmental factors such as diet affect the incidence of gout; there is a known relationship between the occurrence of an acute attack of gout and the consumption of alcohol and meat; and a low purine diet is a widely recognized nonpharmacological method of supplementing the treatment and preventing recurrence of arthritis. This review aims to summarize the current knowledge about the role of vitamin C in prevention and treatment of gout. A PubMed/Medline database search on the role of vitamin C in purine metabolism was done. Reports from in vitro and animal studies seem to be promising and to allow explanation of the physiological relationship between vitamin C and uric acid. Most epidemiological studies indicate a significant correlation between high vitamin C intake and lower serum uric acid levels. Despite promising observations, there are few observational and interventional studies, and their results do not clearly define the benefits of a high daily intake of vitamin C in preventing the development and recurrence of gout.

scholarly journals Molecular Basis of Bone Aging

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (10) ◽  
pp. 3679 ◽  
Author(s):  
Addolorata Corrado ◽  
Daniela Cici ◽  
Cinzia Rotondo ◽  
Nicola Maruotti ◽  
Francesco Paolo Cantatore
Keyword(s):  
Animal Studies ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Bone Cells ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Cellular Tissue ◽  
Bone Cell ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Bone Cell Differentiation ◽  
Bone Changes

A decline in bone mass leading to an increased fracture risk is a common feature of age-related bone changes. The mechanisms underlying bone senescence are very complex and implicate systemic and local factors and are the result of the combination of several changes occurring at the cellular, tissue and structural levels; they include alterations of bone cell differentiation and activity, oxidative stress, genetic damage and the altered responses of bone cells to various biological signals and to mechanical loading. The molecular mechanisms responsible for these changes remain greatly unclear and many data derived from in vitro or animal studies appear to be conflicting and heterogeneous, probably due to the different experimental approaches; nevertheless, understanding the main physio-pathological processes that cause bone senescence is essential for the development of new potential therapeutic options for treating age-related bone loss. This article reviews the current knowledge concerning the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of age-related bone changes.

Mesophyll conductance: the leaf corridors for photosynthesis

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (2) ◽  
pp. 429-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge Gago ◽  
Danilo M. Daloso ◽  
Marc Carriquí ◽  
Miquel Nadal ◽  
Melanie Morales ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Main Role ◽  
Mesophyll Conductance ◽  
Future Studies ◽  
Cell Structures ◽  
Leaf Tissues ◽  
Change Framework ◽  
Chloroplast Stroma

Besides stomata, the photosynthetic CO2 pathway also involves the transport of CO2 from the sub-stomatal air spaces inside to the carboxylation sites in the chloroplast stroma, where Rubisco is located. This pathway is far to be a simple and direct way, formed by series of consecutive barriers that the CO2 should cross to be finally assimilated in photosynthesis, known as the mesophyll conductance (gm). Therefore, the gm reflects the pathway through different air, water and biophysical barriers within the leaf tissues and cell structures. Currently, it is known that gm can impose the same level of limitation (or even higher depending of the conditions) to photosynthesis than the wider known stomata or biochemistry. In this mini-review, we are focused on each of the gm determinants to summarize the current knowledge on the mechanisms driving gm from anatomical to metabolic and biochemical perspectives. Special attention deserve the latest studies demonstrating the importance of the molecular mechanisms driving anatomical traits as cell wall and the chloroplast surface exposed to the mesophyll airspaces (Sc/S) that significantly constrain gm. However, even considering these recent discoveries, still is poorly understood the mechanisms about signaling pathways linking the environment a/biotic stressors with gm responses. Thus, considering the main role of gm as a major driver of the CO2 availability at the carboxylation sites, future studies into these aspects will help us to understand photosynthesis responses in a global change framework.

Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Uterine Fibroids

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 247-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hajra Takala ◽  
Qiwei Yang ◽  
Ahmed M. Abd El Razek ◽  
Mohamed Ali ◽  
Ayman Al-Hendy
Keyword(s):  
Alcohol Consumption ◽  
Animal Studies ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Legal Status ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Uterine Fibroids ◽  
Future Directions ◽  
Working Adults ◽  
The Us ◽  
Alcohol Related Problems

Lifestyle factors, such as alcohol intake, have placed a substantial burden on public health. Alcohol consumption is increasing globally due to several factors including easy accessibility of this addictive substance besides its legal status and social acceptability. In the US, alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of death (after tobacco, poor diet and physical inactivity) with an estimated 88,000 people dying from alcohol-related causes annually, representing 1 in 10 deaths among working adults. Furthermore, the economic burden of excess drinking costs the US around $249 billion ($191.1 billion related to binge drinking). Although men likely drink more than women do, women are at much higher risk for alcohol-related problems. Alcohol use is also considered to be one of the most common non-communicable diseases, which affects reproductive health. This review article summarizes the current knowledge about alcohol-related pathogenesis of uterine fibroids (UFs) and highlights the molecular mechanisms that contribute to the development of UFs in response to alcohol consumption. Additionally, the effect of alcohol on the levels of various factors that are involved in UFs pathogenesis, such as steroid hormones, growth factors and cytokines, are summarized in this review. Animal studies of deleterious alcohol effect and future directions are discussed as well.

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