Targeting SHIP1 and SHIP2 in Cancer

Membrane-anchored and soluble inositol phospholipid species are critical mediators of intracellular cell signaling cascades. Alterations in their normal production or degradation are implicated in the pathology of a number of disorders including cancer and pro-inflammatory conditions. The SH2-containing 5′ inositol phosphatases, SHIP1 and SHIP2, play a fundamental role in these processes by depleting PI(3,4,5)P3, but also by producing PI(3,4)P2 at the inner leaflet of the plasma membrane. With the intent of targeting SHIP1 or SHIP2 selectively, or both paralogs simultaneously, small molecule inhibitors and agonists have been developed and tested in vitro and in vivo over the last decade in various disease models. These studies have shown promising results in various pre-clinical models of disease including cancer and tumor immunotherapy. In this review the potential use of SHIP inhibitors in cancer is discussed with particular attention to the molecular structure, binding site and efficacy of these SHIP inhibitors.

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Potential for Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases with Natural Products or Synthetic Compounds that Stabilize Microtubules

Current Pharmaceutical Design ◽

10.2174/1381612826666200621171302 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 26 (35) ◽

pp. 4362-4372

Author(s):

John H. Miller ◽

Viswanath Das

Keyword(s):

Natural Products ◽

Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽

In Vivo Models ◽

Synthetic Compounds ◽

Stabilizing Agents ◽

Animal Models Of Disease ◽

Model Studies ◽

Models Of Disease

No effective therapeutics to treat neurodegenerative diseases exist, despite significant attempts to find drugs that can reduce or rescue the debilitating symptoms of tauopathies such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Pick’s disease. A number of in vitro and in vivo models exist for studying neurodegenerative diseases, including cell models employing induced-pluripotent stem cells, cerebral organoids, and animal models of disease. Recent research has focused on microtubulestabilizing agents, either natural products or synthetic compounds that can prevent the axonal destruction caused by tau protein pathologies. Although promising results have come from animal model studies using brainpenetrant natural product microtubule-stabilizing agents, such as paclitaxel analogs that can access the brain, epothilones B and D, and other synthetic compounds such as davunetide or the triazolopyrimidines, early clinical trials in humans have been disappointing. This review aims to summarize the research that has been carried out in this area and discuss the potential for the future development of an effective microtubule stabilizing drug to treat neurodegenerative disease.

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Ultramicronized Palmitoylethanolamide (um-PEA): A New Possible Adjuvant Treatment in COVID-19 patients

Pharmaceuticals ◽

10.3390/ph14040336 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 14 (4) ◽

pp. 336

Author(s):

Annalisa Noce ◽

Maria Albanese ◽

Giulia Marrone ◽

Manuela Di Lauro ◽

Anna Pietroboni Zaitseva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Adjuvant Treatment ◽

Pulmonary Involvement ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Pharmacological Treatments ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Coronavirus Infection ◽

Ultramicronized Palmitoylethanolamide ◽

Potential Use

The Coronavirus Disease-19 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused more than 100,000,000 cases of coronavirus infection in the world in just a year, of which there were 2 million deaths. Its clinical picture is characterized by pulmonary involvement that culminates, in the most severe cases, in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, COVID-19 affects other organs and systems, including cardiovascular, urinary, gastrointestinal, and nervous systems. Currently, unique-drug therapy is not supported by international guidelines. In this context, it is important to resort to adjuvant therapies in combination with traditional pharmacological treatments. Among natural bioactive compounds, palmitoylethanolamide (PEA) seems to have potentially beneficial effects. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized an ongoing clinical trial with ultramicronized (um)-PEA as an add-on therapy in the treatment of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. In support of this hypothesis, in vitro and in vivo studies have highlighted the immunomodulatory, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective and pain-relieving effects of PEA, especially in its um form. The purpose of this review is to highlight the potential use of um-PEA as an adjuvant treatment in SARS-CoV-2 infection.

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A study of deregulated MMR pathways and anticancer potential of curcuma derivatives using computational approach

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-021-89282-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Priyanjali Bhattacharya ◽

Trupti N. Patel

Keyword(s):

Mismatch Repair ◽

Protein Function ◽

Curcuma Longa ◽

Signaling Cascades ◽

Altered Expression ◽

Anticancer Properties ◽

Medicinal Properties ◽

Multiple Signaling

AbstractPlant derived products have steadily gained momentum in treatment of cancer over the past decades. Curcuma and its derivatives, in particular, have diverse medicinal properties including anticancer potential with proven safety as supported by numerous in vivo and in vitro studies. A defective Mis-Match Repair (MMR) is implicated in solid tumors but its role in haematologic malignancies is not keenly studied and the current literature suggests that it is limited. Nonetheless, there are multiple pathways interjecting the mismatch repair proteins in haematologic cancers that may have a direct or indirect implication in progression of the disease. Here, through computational analysis, we target proteins that are involved in rewiring of multiple signaling cascades via altered expression in cancer using various curcuma derivatives (Curcuma longa L. and Curcuma caesia Roxb.) which in turn, profoundly controls MMR protein function. These biomolecules were screened to identify their efficacy on selected targets (in blood-related cancers); aberrations of which adversely impacted mismatch repair machinery. The study revealed that of the 536 compounds screened, six of them may have the potential to regulate the expression of identified targets and thus revive the MMR function preventing genomic instability. These results reveal that there may be potential plant derived biomolecules that may have anticancer properties against the tumors driven by deregulated MMR-pathways.

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The Novel Arylamidine T-2307 MaintainsIn VitroandIn VivoActivity against Echinocandin-Resistant Candida albicans

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy ◽

10.1128/aac.04228-14 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 59 (2) ◽

pp. 1341-1343 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Nathan P. Wiederhold ◽

Laura K. Najvar ◽

Annette W. Fothergill ◽

Rosie Bocanegra ◽

Marcos Olivo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Candida Albicans ◽

Invasive Candidiasis ◽

Placebo Control ◽

The Novel ◽

Content Type ◽

Fungal Burden ◽

Potential Use

ABSTRACTWe evaluated thein vitroandin vivoactivities of the investigational arylamidine T-2307 against echinocandin-resistantCandida albicans. T-2307 demonstrated potentin vitroactivity, and daily subcutaneous doses between 0.75 and 6 mg/kg of body weight significantly improved survival and reduced fungal burden compared to placebo control and caspofungin (10 mg/kg/day) in mice with invasive candidiasis caused by an echinocandin-resistant strain. Thus, T-2307 may have potential use in the treatment of echinocandin-resistantC. albicansinfections.

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Is There Potential for Repurposing Statins as Novel Antimicrobials?

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy ◽

10.1128/aac.00192-16 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 60 (9) ◽

pp. 5111-5121 ◽

Cited By ~ 52

Author(s):

Emma Hennessy ◽

Claire Adams ◽

F. Jerry Reen ◽

Fergal O'Gara

Keyword(s):

Serum Cholesterol ◽

Bacterial Growth ◽

Bacterial Infections ◽

Statin Treatment ◽

Therapeutic Agents ◽

Pleiotropic Effects ◽

Current Information ◽

Potential Use

ABSTRACTStatins are members of a class of pharmaceutical widely used to reduce high levels of serum cholesterol. In addition, statins have so-called “pleiotropic effects,” which include inflammation reduction, immunomodulation, and antimicrobial effects. An increasing number of studies are emerging which detail the attenuation of bacterial growth andin vitroandin vivovirulence by statin treatment. In this review, we describe the current information available concerning the effects of statins on bacterial infections and provide insight regarding the potential use of these compounds as antimicrobial therapeutic agents.

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Pre-clinical models of cellular therapy combined with cytokines demonstrate in vitro and in vivo ovarian cancer cell killing

Gynecologic Oncology ◽

10.1016/j.ygyno.2011.12.105 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 125 ◽

pp. S45

Author(s):

S. Ingersoll ◽

S. Ahmad ◽

G. Stoltzfus ◽

M. Merchant ◽

A. Ahmed ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ovarian Cancer ◽

Cancer Cell ◽

Cellular Therapy ◽

Ovarian Cancer Cell ◽

Cell Killing ◽

Clinical Models

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Serum Amyloid A1 Induces Classically Activated Macrophages: A Role for Enhanced Fibril Formation

Frontiers in Immunology ◽

10.3389/fimmu.2021.691155 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Ann-Kathrin Gaiser ◽

Shanna Bauer ◽

Stephanie Ruez ◽

Karlheinz Holzmann ◽

Marcus Fändrich ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Amyloid Fibrils ◽

Intervention Strategy ◽

Serum Amyloid ◽

Macrophage Phenotype ◽

Aa Amyloidosis ◽

Inflammatory Conditions ◽

Serum Amyloid A1 ◽

And Function

AA amyloidosis belongs to the group of amyloid diseases which can follow chronic inflammatory conditions of various origin. The disease is characterized by the deposition of insoluble amyloid fibrils formed by serum amyloid A1 (SAA1) leading eventually to organ failure. Macrophages are intimately involved in the fibrillogenesis as well as in the clearance of amyloid fibrils. In vivo, macrophages may occur as classically (M1) or alternatively activated (M2) macrophages. We investigate here how SAA1 might affect the macrophage phenotype and function. Gene microarray analysis revealed upregulation of 64 M1-associated genes by SAA1. M1-like polarization was further confirmed by the expression of the M1-marker MARCO, activation of the NF-κB transcription factor, and secretion of the M1-cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, and MCP-1. Additionally, we demonstrate here that M1-polarized macrophages exhibit enhanced fibrillogenic activity towards SAA1. Based on our data, we propose reconsideration of the currently used cellular amyloidosis models towards an in vitro model employing M1-polarized macrophages. Furthermore, the data suggest macrophage repolarization as potential intervention strategy in AA amyloidosis.

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Prospects for use of peptides and their derivatives, structurally corresponding to the G protein-coupled receptors, in medicine

Biomeditsinskaya Khimiya ◽

10.18097/pbmc20156101019 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 61 (1) ◽

pp. 19-29 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

A.O. Shpakov ◽

E.A. Shpakova

Keyword(s):

G Protein ◽

Intracellular Signaling ◽

High Efficiency ◽

Clinical Medicine ◽

Inflammatory Diseases ◽

G Protein Coupled Receptors ◽

Signaling Cascades ◽

G Protein Coupled

The regulation of signaling pathways involved in the control of many physiological functions is carried out via the heterotrimeric G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR). The search of effective and selective regulators of GPCR and intracellular signaling cascades coupled with them is one of the important problems of modern fundamental and clinical medicine. Recently data suggest that synthetic peptides and their derivatives, structurally corresponding to the intracellular and transmembrane regions of GPCR, can interact with high efficiency and selectivity with homologous receptors and influence, thus, the functional activity of intracellular signaling cascades and fundamental cellular processes controlled by them. GPCR-peptides are active in both in vitro and in vivo. They regulate hematopoiesis, angiogenesis and cell proliferation, inhibit tumor growth and metastasis, and prevent the inflammatory diseases and septic shock. These data show greatest prospects in the development of the new generations of drugs based on GPCR-derived peptides, capable of regulating the important functions of the organism.

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Root Bacteria Recruited by Phragmites australis in Constructed Wetlands Have the Potential to Enhance Azo-Dye Phytodepuration

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms7100384 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 7 (10) ◽

pp. 384 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Valentina Riva ◽

Francesca Mapelli ◽

Evdokia Syranidou ◽

Elena Crotti ◽

Redouane Choukrallah ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Plant Growth ◽

Phragmites Australis ◽

Textile Industry ◽

Azo Dye ◽

Growth Promotion ◽

Wide Spectrum ◽

Reactive Black 5 ◽

Potential Use

The microbiome associated with plants used in phytodepuration systems can boost plant growth and services, especially in ecosystems dealing with recalcitrant compounds, hardly removed via traditional wastewater (WW) treatments, such as azo-dyes used in textile industry. In this context, we aimed to study the cultivable microbiome selected by Phragmites australis plants in a Constructed Wetland (CW) in Morocco, in order to obtain candidate inoculants for the phytodepuration of azo-dye contaminated WW. A collection of 152 rhizospheric and endophytic bacteria was established. The strains were phylogenetically identified and characterized for traits of interest in the phytodepuration context. All strains showed Plant Growth Promotion potential in vitro and 67% of them significantly improved the growth of a model plant in vivo compared to the non bacterized control plants. Moreover, most of the isolates were able to grow in presence of several model micropollutants typically found in WW, indicating their potential use in phytodepuration of a wide spectrum of effluents. The six most promising strains of the collection were tested in CW microcosms alone or as consortium: the consortium and two single inocula demonstrated to significantly increase the removal of the model azo-dye Reactive Black 5 compared to the non bacterized controls.

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Differential YAP nuclear signaling in healthy and dystrophic skeletal muscle

AJP Cell Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpcell.00432.2018 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 317 (1) ◽

pp. C48-C57 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Shama R. Iyer ◽

Sameer B. Shah ◽

Christopher W. Ward ◽

Joseph P. Stains ◽

Espen E. Spangenburg ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Muscle Development ◽

Signaling Cascades ◽

In Vitro Assays ◽

Pcr Analysis ◽

Western Blots ◽

Downstream Signaling ◽

Nuclear Signaling ◽

Extracellular Matrix Stiffness

Mechanical forces regulate muscle development, hypertrophy, and homeostasis. Force-transmitting structures allow mechanotransduction at the sarcolemma, cytoskeleton, and nuclear envelope. There is growing evidence that Yes-associated protein (YAP) serves as a nuclear relay of mechanical signals and can induce a range of downstream signaling cascades. Dystrophin is a sarcolemma-associated protein, and its absence underlies the pathology in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. We tested the hypothesis that the absence of dystrophin in muscle would result in reduced YAP signaling in response to loading. Following in vivo contractile loading in muscles of healthy (wild-type; WT) mice and mice lacking dystrophin ( mdx), we performed Western blots of whole and fractionated muscle homogenates to examine the ratio of phospho (cytoplasmic) YAP to total YAP and nuclear YAP, respectively. We show that in vivo contractile loading induced a robust increase in YAP expression and its nuclear localization in WT muscles. Surprisingly, in mdx muscles, active YAP expression was constitutively elevated and unresponsive to load. Results from qRT-PCR analysis support the hyperactivation of YAP in vivo in mdx muscles, as evidenced by increased gene expression of YAP downstream targets. In vitro assays of isolated myofibers plated on substrates with high stiffness showed YAP nuclear labeling for both genotypes, indicating functional YAP signaling in mdx muscles. We conclude that while YAP signaling can occur in the absence of dystrophin, dystrophic muscles have altered mechanotransduction, whereby constitutively active YAP results in a failure to respond to load, which could be attributed to the increased state of “pre-stress” with increased cytoskeletal and extracellular matrix stiffness.

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