scholarly journals NOP Receptor Ligands as Potential Agents for Inflammatory and Autoimmune Diseases

2011 ◽  
Vol 2011 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaine C. Gavioli ◽  
Pedro R. T. Romão

Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) is a seventeen-amino acid peptide that is the endogenous ligand of a G-protein-coupled receptor (NOP). Various immune cells express the precursor protein and secrete N/OFQ as well as display binding sites for this peptide. The functional capacity of NOP receptor was demonstrated in vitro and in vivo studies by the ability of N/OFQ to induce chemotaxis of immune cells, to regulate the expression of cytokines and other inflammatory mediators, and to control cellular and humoral immunity. In this context, N/OFQ could modulate the outcome of some inflammatory diseases, such as sepsis and autoimmune pathologies by mechanisms not clearly elucidated yet. In fact, human body fluid revealed increased levels of N/OFQ under sepsis, arthritis, and Parkinson's diagnose. Preclinical studies pointed to the blockade of NOP receptor signaling as successful in treating these experimental conditions. Further preclinical and clinical studies are required to investigate the potential of NOP ligands in treating inflammatory diseases.

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mouna Moutia ◽  
Norddine Habti ◽  
Abdallah Badou

Allium Sativum L. (garlic), which is a species of the onion family, Alliaceae, is one of the most used plants in traditional medicine worldwide. More than 200 chemicals with diverse properties have been found in garlic extracts. Several garlic compounds were suggested to be efficient in improving various pathologies including certain types of cancer. This paper is an overview of data about garlic biological activities in vitro and/or in vivo on immune cells, on the development of certain inflammatory diseases, and on different types of carcinomas and sarcomas. Garlic and its compounds were found to have notable antioxidant properties. Garlic therapeutic potential has also been studied in several inflammatory diseases such as allergic-airway inflammation, inflammatory bowel disease, arthritic rheumatism, and atherosclerosis. Furthermore, garlic was found to be able to maintain the immune system homeostasis and to exhibit beneficial effects on immune cells especially through regulation of proliferation and cytokine gene expression. Finally, we will show how major garlic components such as sulfur compounds and polyphenols might be responsible for the garlic biological activities revealed in different situations. If identified, specific compounds present in garlic could potentially be used in therapy.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (574) ◽  
pp. eaau8072 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anika Mann ◽  
Lionel Moulédous ◽  
Carine Froment ◽  
Patrick R. O’Neill ◽  
Pooja Dasgupta ◽  
...  

Agonists of the nociceptin/orphanin FQ opioid peptide (NOP) receptor, a member of the opioid receptor family, are under active investigation as novel analgesics, but their modes of signaling are less well characterized than those of other members of the opioid receptor family. Therefore, we investigated whether different NOP receptor ligands showed differential signaling or functional selectivity at the NOP receptor. Using newly developed phosphosite-specific antibodies to the NOP receptor, we found that agonist-induced NOP receptor phosphorylation occurred primarily at four carboxyl-terminal serine (Ser) and threonine (Thr) residues, namely, Ser346, Ser351, Thr362, and Ser363, and proceeded with a temporal hierarchy, with Ser346 as the first site of phosphorylation. G protein–coupled receptor kinases 2 and 3 (GRK2/3) cooperated during agonist-induced phosphorylation, which, in turn, facilitated NOP receptor desensitization and internalization. A comparison of structurally distinct NOP receptor agonists revealed dissociation in functional efficacies between G protein–dependent signaling and receptor phosphorylation. Furthermore, in NOP-eGFP and NOP-eYFP mice, NOP receptor agonists induced multisite phosphorylation and internalization in a dose-dependent and agonist-selective manner that could be blocked by specific antagonists. Our study provides new tools to study ligand-activated NOP receptor signaling in vitro and in vivo. Differential agonist-selective NOP receptor phosphorylation by chemically diverse NOP receptor agonists suggests that differential signaling by NOP receptor agonists may play a role in NOP receptor ligand pharmacology.


2019 ◽  
Vol 87 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anupama Ariyaratne ◽  
Constance A. M. Finney

ABSTRACTGranuloma formation is a key host immune response generated to confine invading pathogens and limit extensive host damage. It consists of an accumulation of host immune cells around a pathogen. This host response has been extensively studied in the context of inflammatory diseases. However, there is much less known about Th2-type granulomas generated in response to parasitic worms. Based onin vitrodata, innate immune cells within the granuloma are thought to immobilize and kill parasites but also act to repair damaged tissue. Understanding this dual function is key. The two billion people and many livestock/wild animals infected with helminths demonstrate that granulomas are not effective at clearing infection. However, the lack of high mortality highlights their importance in ensuring that parasite migration/tissue damage is restricted and wound healing is effective. In this review, we define two key cellular players (macrophages and eosinophils) and their associated molecular players involved in Th2 granuloma function. To date, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood, which is in part due to a lack of conclusive studies. Most have been performedin vitrorather thanin vivo, using cells that have not been obtained from granulomas. Experiments using genetically modified mouse strains and/or antibody/chemical-mediated cell depletion have also generated conflicting results depending on the model. We discuss the caveats of previous studies and the new tools available that will help fill the gaps in our knowledge and allow a better understanding of the balance between immune killing and healing.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahyar Ostadkarampour ◽  
Edward E. Putnins

Chronic inflammatory diseases are debilitating, affect patients’ quality of life, and are a significant financial burden on health care. Inflammation is regulated by pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines that are expressed by immune and non-immune cells, and their expression is highly controlled, both spatially and temporally. Their dysregulation is a hallmark of chronic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Significant evidence supports that monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor drugs have anti-inflammatory effects. MAO inhibitors are principally prescribed for the management of a variety of central nervous system (CNS)-associated diseases such as depression, Alzheimer’s, and Parkinson’s; however, they also have anti-inflammatory effects in the CNS and a variety of non-CNS tissues. To bolster support for their development as anti-inflammatories, it is critical to elucidate their mechanism(s) of action. MAO inhibitors decrease the generation of end products such as hydrogen peroxide, aldehyde, and ammonium. They also inhibit biogenic amine degradation, and this increases cellular and pericellular catecholamines in a variety of immune and some non-immune cells. This decrease in end product metabolites and increase in catecholamines can play a significant role in the anti-inflammatory effects of MAO inhibitors. This review examines MAO inhibitor effects on inflammation in a variety of in vitro and in vivo CNS and non-CNS disease models, as well as their anti-inflammatory mechanism(s) of action.


Peptides ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 26 (9) ◽  
pp. 1590-1597 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Broccardo ◽  
G. Linari ◽  
R. Guerrini ◽  
S. Agostini ◽  
C. Petrella ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Shaik ◽  
G. Sabatino ◽  
G. Maccauro ◽  
G. Varvara ◽  
G. Murmura ◽  
...  

IL-36 is another family member of IL-1 and induces the production of proinflammatory cytokines and activates MAPK and NFκB pathways. IL-36 is a common mediator of innate and adaptive immune response and is inhibited by IL-36 receptor antagonist (RA). IL-36RA acts on IL-36 receptor ligand which exerts proinflammatory effect in vivo and in vitro. IL-38 binds to IL-36 receptor as does IL-36RA and has similar biological effects on immune cells. IL-38 is also a member of IL-1 cytokine and shares some characteristics of IL-1RA, binding the same IL-1 receptor type I. IL-38 plays a role in the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases, exerting protective effect in some autoimmune diseases. Both IL-38 and IL-36RA have an anti-inflammatory biological effect, however in some cases have contrary effects.


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joaquim Azevedo Neto ◽  
Chiara Ruzza ◽  
Chiara Sturaro ◽  
Davide Malfacini ◽  
Salvatore Pacifico ◽  
...  

Nociceptin/orphanin FQ controls several functions, including pain transmission, via stimulation of the N/OFQ peptide (NOP) receptor. Here we tested the hypothesis that NOP biased agonism may be instrumental for identifying innovative analgesics. In vitro experiments were performed with the dynamic mass redistribution label free assay and the NOP non-peptide agonists Ro 65-6570, AT-403 and MCOPPB. In vivo studies were performed in wild type and β-arrestin 2 knockout mice using the formalin, rotarod and locomotor activity tests. In vitro all compounds mimicked the effects of N/OFQ behaving as potent NOP full agonists. In vivo Ro 65-6570 demonstrated a slightly higher therapeutic index (antinociceptive vs. motor impairment effects) in knockout mice. However, all NOP agonists displayed very similar therapeutic index in normal mice despite significant differences in G protein biased agonism. In conclusion the different ability of inducing G protein vs. β-arrestin 2 recruitment of a NOP agonist cannot be applied to predict its antinociceptive vs. motor impairment properties.


1981 ◽  
Vol 45 (03) ◽  
pp. 290-293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter H Levine ◽  
Danielle G Sladdin ◽  
Norman I Krinsky

SummaryIn the course of studying the effects on platelets of the oxidant species superoxide (O- 2), Of was generated by the interaction of xanthine oxidase plus xanthine. Surprisingly, gel-filtered platelets, when exposed to xanthine oxidase in the absence of xanthine substrate, were found to generate superoxide (O- 2), as determined by the reduction of added cytochrome c and by the inhibition of this reduction in the presence of superoxide dismutase.In addition to generating Of, the xanthine oxidase-treated platelets display both aggregation and evidence of the release reaction. This xanthine oxidase induced aggreagtion is not inhibited by the addition of either superoxide dismutase or cytochrome c, suggesting that it is due to either a further metabolite of O- 2, or that O- 2 itself exerts no important direct effect on platelet function under these experimental conditions. The ability of Of to modulate platelet reactions in vivo or in vitro remains in doubt, and xanthine oxidase is an unsuitable source of O- 2 in platelet studies because of its own effects on platelets.


1997 ◽  
Vol 77 (05) ◽  
pp. 0975-0980 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angel Gálvez ◽  
Goretti Gómez-Ortiz ◽  
Maribel Díaz-Ricart ◽  
Ginés Escolar ◽  
Rogelio González-Sarmiento ◽  
...  

SummaryThe effect of desmopressin (DDAVP) on thrombogenicity, expression of tissue factor and procoagulant activity (PCA) of extracellular matrix (ECM) generated by human umbilical vein endothelial cells cultures (HUVEC), was studied under different experimental conditions. HUVEC were incubated with DDAVP (1, 5 and 30 ng/ml) and then detached from their ECM. The reactivity towards platelets of this ECM was tested in a perfusion system. Coverslips covered with DD A VP-treated ECMs were inserted in a parallel-plate chamber and exposed to normal blood anticoagulated with low molecular weight heparin (Fragmin®, 20 U/ml). Perfusions were run for 5 min at a shear rate of 800 s1. Deposition of platelets on ECMs was significantly increased with respect to control ECMs when DDAVP was used at 5 and 30 ng/ml (p <0.05 and p <0.01 respectively). The increase in platelet deposition was prevented by incubation of ECMs with an antibody against human tissue factor prior to perfusion. Immunofluorescence studies positively detected tissue factor antigen on DDAVP derived ECMs. A chromogenic assay performed under standardized conditions revealed a statistically significant increase in the procoagulant activity of the ECMs produced by ECs incubated with 30 ng/ml DDAVP (p <0.01 vs. control samples). Northern blot analysis revealed increased levels of tissue factor mRNA in extracts from ECs exposed to DDAVP. Our data indicate that DDAVP in vitro enhances platelet adhesion to the ECMs through increased expression of tissue factor. A similar increase in the expression of tissue factor might contribute to the in vivo hemostatic effect of DDAVP.


2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 339-347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dilani G. Gamage ◽  
Ajith Gunaratne ◽  
Gopal R. Periyannan ◽  
Timothy G. Russell

Background: The dipeptide composition-based Instability Index (II) is one of the protein primary structure-dependent methods available for in vivo protein stability predictions. As per this method, proteins with II value below 40 are stable proteins. Intracellular protein stability principles guided the original development of the II method. However, the use of the II method for in vitro protein stability predictions raises questions about the validity of applying the II method under experimental conditions that are different from the in vivo setting. Objective: The aim of this study is to experimentally test the validity of the use of II as an in vitro protein stability predictor. Methods: A representative protein CCM (CCM - Caulobacter crescentus metalloprotein) that rapidly degrades under in vitro conditions was used to probe the dipeptide sequence-dependent degradation properties of CCM by generating CCM mutants to represent stable and unstable II values. A comparative degradation analysis was carried out under in vitro conditions using wildtype CCM, CCM mutants and two other candidate proteins: metallo-β-lactamase L1 and α -S1- casein representing stable, borderline stable/unstable, and unstable proteins as per the II predictions. The effect of temperature and a protein stabilizing agent on CCM degradation was also tested. Results: Data support the dipeptide composition-dependent protein stability/instability in wt-CCM and mutants as predicted by the II method under in vitro conditions. However, the II failed to accurately represent the stability of other tested proteins. Data indicate the influence of protein environmental factors on the autoproteolysis of proteins. Conclusion: Broader application of the II method for the prediction of protein stability under in vitro conditions is questionable as the stability of the protein may be dependent not only on the intrinsic nature of the protein but also on the conditions of the protein milieu.


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