scholarly journals The Potential of Gamma Secretase as a Therapeutic Target for Cardiac Diseases

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (12) ◽  
pp. 1294
Author(s):  
Sujoita Sen ◽  
Logan Hallee ◽  
Chi Keung Lam
Keyword(s):  
Therapeutic Target ◽  
Cardiac Development ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Heart Diseases ◽  
Human Life ◽  
Heart Association ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Cardiac Diseases ◽  
Gamma Secretase ◽  
Protease Enzyme

Heart diseases are some of the most common and pressing threats to human health worldwide. The American Heart Association and the National Institute of Health jointly work to annually update data on cardiac diseases. In 2018, 126.9 million Americans were reported as having some form of cardiac disorder, with an estimated direct and indirect total cost of USD 363.4 billion. This necessitates developing therapeutic interventions for heart diseases to improve human life expectancy and economic relief. In this review, we look into gamma-secretase as a potential therapeutic target for cardiac diseases. Gamma-secretase, an aspartyl protease enzyme, is responsible for the cleavage and activation of a number of substrates that are relevant to normal cardiac development and function as found in mutation studies. Some of these substrates are involved in downstream signaling processes and crosstalk with pathways relevant to heart diseases. Most of the substrates and signaling events we explored were found to be potentially beneficial to maintain cardiac function in diseased conditions. This review presents an updated overview of the current knowledge on gamma-secretase processing of cardiac-relevant substrates and seeks to understand if the modulation of gamma-secretase activity would be beneficial to combat cardiac diseases.

scholarly journals Role of Epigenetics in Cardiac Development and Congenital Diseases

2018 ◽  
Vol 98 (4) ◽  
pp. 2453-2475 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas Moore-Morris ◽  
Patrick Piet van Vliet ◽  
Gregor Andelfinger ◽  
Michel Puceat
Keyword(s):  
Cell Fate ◽  
Cardiac Development ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Heart Diseases ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Congenital Diseases ◽  
Heart Formation ◽  
Fate Decision ◽  
Essential Knowledge ◽  
The Impact

The heart is the first organ to be functional in the fetus. Heart formation is a complex morphogenetic process regulated by both genetic and epigenetic mechanisms. Congenital heart diseases (CHD) are the most prominent congenital diseases. Genetics is not sufficient to explain these diseases or the impact of them on patients. Epigenetics is more and more emerging as a basis for cardiac malformations. This review brings the essential knowledge on cardiac biology of development. It further provides a broad background on epigenetics with a focus on three-dimensional conformation of chromatin. Then, we summarize the current knowledge of the impact of epigenetics on cardiac cell fate decision. We further provide an update on the epigenetic anomalies in the genesis of CHD.

Effects of Maternal Obesity and Gestational Diabetes Mellitus on the Placenta: Current Knowledge and Targets for Therapeutic Interventions

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 176-192
Author(s):  
Samantha Bedell ◽  
Janine Hutson ◽  
Barbra de Vrijer ◽  
Genevieve Eastabrook
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Gestational Diabetes ◽  
Gestational Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Maternal Obesity ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Placental Development ◽  
Exchange Site ◽  
And Function

: Obesity and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) are becoming more common among pregnant women worldwide and are individually associated with a number of placenta-mediated obstetric complications, including preeclampsia, macrosomia, intrauterine growth restriction and stillbirth. The placenta serves several functions throughout pregnancy and is the main exchange site for the transfer of nutrients and gas from mother to fetus. In pregnancies complicated by maternal obesity or GDM, the placenta is exposed to environmental changes, such as increased inflammation and oxidative stress, dyslipidemia, and altered hormone levels. These changes can affect placental development and function and lead to abnormal fetal growth and development as well as metabolic and cardiovascular abnormalities in the offspring. This review aims to summarize current knowledge on the effects of obesity and GDM on placental development and function. Understanding these processes is key in developing therapeutic interventions with the goal of mitigating these effects and preventing future cardiovascular and metabolic pathology in subsequent generations.

scholarly journals Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts as Players in Cancer Development and Progression and Their Role in Targeted Radionuclide Imaging and Therapy

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1100
Author(s):  
Sofia Koustoulidou ◽  
Mark W. H. Hoorens ◽  
Simone U. Dalm ◽  
Shweta Mahajan ◽  
Reno Debets ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Tumour Microenvironment ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Great Promise ◽  
Cancer Associated Fibroblasts ◽  
Functional Heterogeneity ◽  
Radioligand Therapy ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Theranostic Applications ◽  
Complex Origin

Cancer Associated Fibroblasts (CAFs) form a major component of the tumour microenvironment, they have a complex origin and execute diverse functions in tumour development and progression. As such, CAFs constitute an attractive target for novel therapeutic interventions that will aid both diagnosis and treatment of various cancers. There are, however, a few limitations in reaching successful translation of CAF targeted interventions from bench to bedside. Several approaches targeting CAFs have been investigated so far and a few CAF-targeting tracers have successfully been developed and applied. This includes tracers targeting Fibroblast Activation Protein (FAP) on CAFs. A number of FAP-targeting tracers have shown great promise in the clinic. In this review, we summarize our current knowledge of the functional heterogeneity and biology of CAFs in cancer. Moreover, we highlight the latest developments towards theranostic applications that will help tumour characterization, radioligand therapy and staging in cancers with a distinct CAF population.

scholarly journals Cellular and Molecular Players in the Interplay between Adipose Tissue and Breast Cancer

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 1359
Author(s):  
Francesca Reggiani ◽  
Paolo Falvo ◽  
Francesco Bertolini
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Metabolic Disorders ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Preclinical Research ◽  
The World ◽  
Adipose Cells

The incidence and severity of obesity are rising in most of the world. In addition to metabolic disorders, obesity is associated with an increase in the incidence and severity of a variety of types of cancer, including breast cancer (BC). The bidirectional interaction between BC and adipose cells has been deeply investigated, although the molecular and cellular players involved in these mechanisms are far from being fully elucidated. Here, we review the current knowledge on these interactions and describe how preclinical research might be used to clarify the effects of obesity over BC progression and morbidity, with particular attention paid to promising therapeutic interventions.

Nuclear receptor Nur77: its role in chronic inflammatory diseases

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanne C. Lith ◽  
Carlie J.M. de Vries
Keyword(s):  
Nuclear Receptor ◽  
Inflammatory Disease ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Inflammatory Diseases ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Experimental Models ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Alternative Mechanism ◽  
Signaling Complex

Abstract Nur77 is a nuclear receptor that has been implicated as a regulator of inflammatory disease. The expression of Nur77 increases upon stimulation of immune cells and is differentially expressed in chronically inflamed organs in human and experimental models. Furthermore, in a variety of animal models dedicated to study inflammatory diseases, changes in Nur77 expression alter disease outcome. The available studies comprise a wealth of information on the function of Nur77 in diverse cell types and tissues. Negative cross-talk of Nur77 with the NFκB signaling complex is an example of Nur77 effector function. An alternative mechanism of action has been established, involving Nur77-mediated modulation of metabolism in macrophages as well as in T cells. In this review, we summarize our current knowledge on the role of Nur77 in atherosclerosis, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, and sepsis. Detailed insight in the control of inflammatory responses will be essential in order to advance Nur77-targeted therapeutic interventions in inflammatory disease.

scholarly journals The Cardioprotective Effects of Hydrogen Sulfide in Heart Diseases: From Molecular Mechanisms to Therapeutic Potential

2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yaqi Shen ◽  
Zhuqing Shen ◽  
Shanshan Luo ◽  
Wei Guo ◽  
Yi Zhun Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Hydrogen Sulfide ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Inflammatory Responses ◽  
Ischemia Reperfusion Injury ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Heart Diseases ◽  
Ischemia Reperfusion ◽  
Cardiac Diseases ◽  
Mammalian Tissues ◽  
Antioxidative Action

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is now recognized as a third gaseous mediator along with nitric oxide (NO) and carbon monoxide (CO), though it was originally considered as a malodorous and toxic gas. H2S is produced endogenously from cysteine by three enzymes in mammalian tissues. An increasing body of evidence suggests the involvement of H2S in different physiological and pathological processes. Recent studies have shown that H2S has the potential to protect the heart against myocardial infarction, arrhythmia, hypertrophy, fibrosis, ischemia-reperfusion injury, and heart failure. Some mechanisms, such as antioxidative action, preservation of mitochondrial function, reduction of apoptosis, anti-inflammatory responses, angiogenic actions, regulation of ion channel, and interaction with NO, could be responsible for the cardioprotective effect of H2S. Although several mechanisms have been identified, there is a need for further research to identify the specific molecular mechanism of cardioprotection in different cardiac diseases. Therefore, insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying H2S action in the heart may promote the understanding of pathophysiology of cardiac diseases and lead to new therapeutic targets based on modulation of H2S production.

scholarly journals Drosophila Heart as a Model for Cardiac Development and Diseases

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 3078
Author(s):  
Anissa Souidi ◽  
Krzysztof Jagla
Keyword(s):  
Cardiac Dysfunction ◽  
Congenital Heart ◽  
Cardiac Development ◽  
Heart Diseases ◽  
Heart Defects ◽  
Fruit Fly ◽  
Model System ◽  
Fast Imaging

The Drosophila heart, also referred to as the dorsal vessel, pumps the insect blood, the hemolymph. The bilateral heart primordia develop from the most dorsally located mesodermal cells, migrate coordinately, and fuse to form the cardiac tube. Though much simpler, the fruit fly heart displays several developmental and functional similarities to the vertebrate heart and, as we discuss here, represents an attractive model system for dissecting mechanisms of cardiac aging and heart failure and identifying genes causing congenital heart diseases. Fast imaging technologies allow for the characterization of heartbeat parameters in the adult fly and there is growing evidence that cardiac dysfunction in human diseases could be reproduced and analyzed in Drosophila, as discussed here for heart defects associated with the myotonic dystrophy type 1. Overall, the power of genetics and unsuspected conservation of genes and pathways puts Drosophila at the heart of fundamental and applied cardiac research.

scholarly journals ISCA1 Deficiency Induces Iron Metabolism Disorder and Myocardial Oncosis in Rat

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yahao Ling ◽  
Xinlan Yang ◽  
Xu Zhang ◽  
Feifei Guan ◽  
Xiaolong Qi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Dysfunction ◽  
Iron Metabolism ◽  
Heart Development ◽  
Cardiac Development ◽  
Heart Diseases ◽  
Pathological Process ◽  
Metabolism Disorder ◽  
Abnormal Metabolism ◽  
Validation Experiments

Abstract The effects of multiple mitochondrial dysfunction (MMD) on heart, a highly mitochondria-dependent tissue, is still unclear. This study was the first to verify the effect of ISCA1 gene deficiency, which has been shown to cause multiple mitochondrial dysfunction syndromes type 5 (MMDS5), on cardiac development in vivo, that is cardiomyocytes suffer from energy shortage due to abnormal metabolism of iron ion, which leads to oncosis and eventually HF and body death. Subsequently, we determine a new interacting molecule for ISCA1, six-transmembrane epithelial antigen of prostate 3 (STEAP3), which acts as a reductase in the reduction of Fe3+ to Fe2+. Forward and reverse validation experiments demonstrated that STEAP3 plays an important role in iron metabolism and energy generation impairment induced by ISCA1 deficiency. This result provides theoretical basis for understanding of MMDS pathogenesis, especially on heart development and the pathological process of heart diseases, and finally provides new clues for searching of clinical therapeutic targets.

scholarly journals Update on FXR Biology: Promising Therapeutic Target?

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (7) ◽  
pp. 2069 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chang Han
Keyword(s):  
Therapeutic Target ◽  
Energy Homeostasis ◽  
Metabolic Diseases ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Farnesoid X Receptor ◽  
Metabolic Effects ◽  
Metabolic Dysfunction ◽  
Energy Status ◽  
Safety Issues ◽  
Attractive Therapeutic Target

Farnesoid X receptor (FXR), a metabolic nuclear receptor, plays critical roles in the maintenance of systemic energy homeostasis and the integrity of many organs, including liver and intestine. It regulates bile acid, lipid, and glucose metabolism, and contributes to inter-organ communication, in particular the enterohepatic signaling pathway, through bile acids and fibroblast growth factor-15/19 (FGF-15/19). The metabolic effects of FXR are also involved in gut microbiota. In addition, FXR has various functions in the kidney, adipose tissue, pancreas, cardiovascular system, and tumorigenesis. Consequently, the deregulation of FXR may lead to abnormalities of specific organs and metabolic dysfunction, allowing the protein as an attractive therapeutic target for the management of liver and/or metabolic diseases. Indeed, many FXR agonists have been being developed and are under pre-clinical and clinical investigations. Although obeticholic acid (OCA) is one of the promising candidates, significant safety issues have remained. The effects of FXR modulation might be multifaceted according to tissue specificity, disease type, and/or energy status, suggesting the careful use of FXR agonists. This review summarizes the current knowledge of systemic FXR biology in various organs and the gut–liver axis, particularly regarding the recent advancement in these fields, and also provides pharmacological aspects of FXR modulation for rational therapeutic strategies and novel drug development.

Clinical analyses of 383 cases with maternal cardiac diseases

2018 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 293-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emine Aydin ◽  
Ozgur Ozyuncu ◽  
Dila Kasapoglu ◽  
Gokcen Orgul ◽  
Necla Ozer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pregnancy Outcomes ◽  
Heart Diseases ◽  
Class Ii ◽  
World Health ◽  
Main Concern ◽  
Cardiac Diseases ◽  
Class Iii ◽  
Mortality And Morbidity ◽  
Eisenmenger’S Syndrome ◽  
Health Organization

Abstract Aim: To evaluate the pregnancy outcomes of women with heart disease. Materials and methods: In this retrospective study, 383 pregnant women with cardiac diseases were examined. The cases were classified according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification. The distribution of the cases according to class, congenital heart diseases, mean birthweight, mean gestational week at delivery, type of delivery [cesarean section (CS) or vaginal delivery], and cardivascular events (during pregnancy and puerperium) were evaluated. Results: Of the 383 patients, 25 were in Class I; 39, Class II; 255, Class II or III; 31, Class III; and 33, Class IV cardiac diseases. The neonatal birth weights were significantly lower in Class III than in Classes II, and II or III. The preterm delivery rate was higher in Class III than in the other classes. Delivery was performed by CS due to cardiac indications in the high-risk classes, however, only obstetric indications were considered in the low-risk classes. Only one case of maternal death occurred during the postpartum period, in a patient with Eisenmenger’s syndrome. Discussion: Cardiovascular diseases are an important cause of mortality and morbidity in pregnancy. The adverse impact of cardiovascular disorders on pregnancy outcomes should be the main concern during the management of these women.

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