HIV Apheresis Tags (HIVAT) Aided Elimination of Viremia

Introduction: HIV viremia is the essential element for progression of an initial HIV infection into AIDS and death. The currently approved management relies primarily on chemotherapy repressing the HIV replication in the infected CD4+ cells, although with severe systemic adverse effects. The problem is that it does not physically eliminate viruses, which then not only keep infecting healthy cells of these patients, but also promote infectivions of other people. Specific aim: An overall objective of our work is biomolecular engineering of virus apheresis tags (VAT) that eliminate viremias without adverse effects. The specific aim of this project was biomolecular engineering of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Apheresis Tags (HIVAT): CD4-Au-Fe3O4, CD4-SiO2-Fe3O4, anti-gp120-Au-Fe3O4, and anti-gp120-SiO2-Fe3O4. Healthy Donors and Patients: Per the Institutional Review Board’s approval and in compliance with Declaration of Helsinki, healthy donors and patients were presented with Patient Bill of Rights and provided Patient Informed Consent, while all the procedures were pursued by the licensed physicians. Materials and Methods: CD4, gp120, gp41, gp160, anti-gp120, p24 were transgenomically expressed. Superparamagnetic core-shell particles (SPM-CSP) were synthesized. SPM-CSP were used as the nucleation centers for assembling the expressed molecules upon them to create virus apheresis tags (VAT). VAT were injected into the blood or lymph acquired from the HIV+ and HBV+ patients followed by apheresis at 0.47 - 9.4 T. VAT efficacy in eliminating viremia was determined through immunoblots, NMR and q-RT-PCR. Results: Treatment of blood or lymph of the HIV+ patients’ with VAT followed by virus apheresis resulted in rapid elimination of the HIV viremia. Efficacy of apheresis was contingent upon the gravity of viremia versus doses and regimens of VAT. Importantly, administration of VAT also effectively improved levels of non-infected CD4+ lymphocytes. Discussion/Conclusions: Herein, we present in vitro the proof of concept for a new, effective treatment with virus apheresis tags (VAT), specifically Human Immunodeficiency Virus Apheresis Tags (HIVAT), of the HIV+ patients’ blood and lymph, which is eliminating the HIV viremia. It can be easily adapted as treatments of viremias perpetrated by other deadly viruses, which we vigorously pursue.

HIV Universal Vaccine

Background: For many deadly viruses, there are no preventive and / or therapeutic vaccines approved by health authorities World-wide (e.g., HIV, Ebola, Dengue, and many others). Although, for some viruses, prophylactic vaccines are very effective (e.g., HBV, Polio, Rota, and many others). In this realm, we design, manufacture, test, and streamline into the clinics novel viral universal vaccines (VUV). VUV have such unique features, that medical vaccination or natural infection induced immunity against some viruses (e.g., HBV) in patients, who became infected with other viruses (e.g., HIV), upon the VUV’s administration, is redirected against these other, newly infecting viruses (e.g., HIV). Specific Aim: The specific aim of this work was biomolecular engineering of the HIV universal vaccine (HIVUV) comprising the two main functional domains: CD4 or anti-gp120 - as the HIV tagging domain and HBsAg - as the immune response eliciting domain, so that upon its administration the HBV medical immunization or natural infection induced immunity would be redirected, accelerated, and amplified to fight the HIV infection. Healthy Donors and Patients: Per the Institutional Review Board approval and in compliance with the Declaration of Helsinki, all healthy donors and patients were presented with the Patients’ Bill of Rights and provided Patient Informed Consent. All the procedures were pursued by the licensed medical doctors. Methods & Results: We have biomolecularly engineered HIV universal vaccine (HIVUV) comprising human CD4 or anti-gp120 and HBsAg of HBV. By immunoblotting and magnetic activated molecular sorting, we have demonstrated high specificity of this vaccine in binding HIV. By flow cytometry and nuclear magnetic resonance, we have demonstrated high efficacy of these vaccines to engage HBV immunized patients’ immune system to work against HIV. Administration of HIVUV to blood or lymph of the HIV+ patients resulted in rapid reduction of the HIV viremia down to undetectable. It also resulted in protection of populations of CD4+ cells against HIV caused decline. Conclusions: We have demonstrated the proof of concept for high efficacy of VUV, specifically HIVUV, in annihilating HIV. Nevertheless, the same compositions, processes, and methods, for persons skilled in biotechnology, pharmacogenomics, and molecular medicine, are adaptable for other deadly viral infections, which we vigorously pursue.

RIPK1 and RIPK3 - emerging targets in cancer?

RIPK1 and RIPK3 are homologous Ser/Thr kinases, which act in concert within the necrosome complexes to initiate a sub-type of regulated necrosis, termed necroptosis. Necroptosis has gradually emerged as a highly clinically relevant form of necrosis, which can be targeted therapeutically. Besides necroptosis, RIPK1 and RIPK3 have been implicated in other pathophysiologically-relevant responses, including regulation of apoptosis and inflammation. More recently, it became evident that RIPK1/RIPK3 pathways may be systematically altered in cancers. Status of these pathways may provide a prognostic value, and therapeutic modulation of RIPK1/RIPK3 signaling may represent a new strategy against various forms of human cancer.

Effects of phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitor SHBM1009 on cancer cells proliferation

BACKGROUND: Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) plays an important role in cellular proliferation and tumor progression. The objective of this study is to evaluate the potential mechanism and therapeutic effects of new PI3K inhibitor SHBM1009 on various cancer cells of digestive system on proliferation. METHODS: Six human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines including 97H, 97L, A3, F11, MHCC-1, SMMC7721, one gastric cell line SGC-7901 and three primary testicular cancer TYST,TYST1,TYST2 cells were treated by 100ng/ml epidermal growth factor with or without 1uM NVP-BEZ-235 and SHBM1009 in Cell-IQ system in 24-well plates for 48h and up to 72h. The cell bio-behaviors, especially for cell proliferation of total cell number were measured by a real-time cell monitoring system, Cell-IQ continuous cell culturing platform. Images were captured at 30 min intervals. Cell-IQ system uses machine vision technology for monitoring and recording time-lapse data, and the cell functions and morphological parameters were quantified and analyzed. RESULTS: SHBM1009 could prevent EGF-induced cancer cells proliferation. Different patterns of inhibitory effects of SHBM1009 and NVP-BEZ-235, a dual PI3K/mechanistic target of rapamycin inhibitor, on EGF-induced cancer cells proliferation were observed. CONCLUSIONS: PI3K plays a critical role in the development of cancer progress, including proliferation, differentiation and anti-apoptosis. SHBM1009, a new PI3K inhibitor, could be new therapeutic alternatives for cancer treatment.

Assessment of efficacy of trastuzumab (Herceptin) comprising adjuvant therapy of HER2+ breast cancer patients determined based upon statistical analysis of overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (PFS)

Introduction In patients suffering from breast cancer, adjuvant radiation, chemotherapy, or immunotherapy, which immediately follow the surgery as the first line therapy, greatly improve overall (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS). Various regimens of adjuvant therapy for these patients have been tested contingent upon the clinical staging. Inclusion of adjuvant immunotherapy is particularly promising. Specific aim The aim of this study was to assess efficacy of trastuzumab (Herceptin) - comprising adjuvant immunotherapy in terms of overall and disease-free survival as compared to other adjuvant therapies. Patients All patients were presented with the Patient Bill of Rights and have provided the Patient Informed Consent to participate in this study. Eligible patients include those with primary tumors initially staged at the clinical stages: I-T1c N0, II-T0-2, N0-1, or IIIA-T3 N1, or patients for whom neoadjuvant chemotherapy provides the possibility to remove surgically a tumor at the stage IIIA T0-3 N2. Of 9,058 patients enrolled in the Breast Cancer Treatment Program between 2008 and 2015, 6,832 fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Statistical Analysis The effects of clinical and demographic factors on overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were assessed using Cox’s proportional hazards regression models. OS and DFS were evaluated with Kaplan-Meier calculations. The study was meeting the criteria for a controlled, open-access clinical trial. Results OS rates for years 1-7 were, respectively, 99.42%, 97.26%, 94.57%, 92.41%, 90.48%, 88.63%, and 88.23%; thus with the 5-year survival at 90.48%. The corresponding data for DFS were 96.17%, 84.07%, 77.26%, 72.57%, 68.59%, 65.04%, and 63.05%, respectively; thus with the 5-year DFS at 68.59%. Adverse effects, with the exception of cardiac complications, occurred in 1194 (17%), while causing withdrawal of 421 (6%) patients. Most of other adverse events were related to hepatotoxicity 1755 (25%) and fatigue 681 (9.7%). Conclusion These results demonstrate the great benefits of inclusion of immunotherapy as the adjuvant component as currently the best overall therapeutic strategy for the patients suffering breast cancers. As this strategy greatly exceeds any other therapeutic options available for practicing oncologists at the present time, it definitely justifies allocation of all needed public resources, while assuring highest quality health service for the patients in Poland.

The role of mitochondria-targeted antioxidant MitoQ in neurodegenerative disease

The discovery of charged molecules being able to cross the mitochondrial membrane has prompted many scholars to exploit this idea to find a way of preventing or slowing down aging. In this paper, we will focus on mitochondria-targeted antioxidants, which are cationic derivatives of plastoquinone, and in particular on the mitochondria-targeted antioxidant therapy of neurodegenerative diseases. It is well known that the accumulation of amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) in mitochondria and its related mitochondrial dysfunction are critical signatures of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In another neurodegenerative disease, Parkinson’s disease (PD), the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and the production of Lewy bodies are among their pathological features. Pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease has been frequently linked to mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress. Recent studies show that MitoQ, a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant, may possess therapeutic potential for Aβ-related and oxidative stress-associated neurodegenerative diseases, especially AD. Although MitoQ has been developed to the stage of clinical trials in PD, its true clinical effect still need further verification. This review aims to discuss the role of mitochondrial pathology in neurodegenerative diseases, as well as the recent development of mitochondrial targeted antioxidants as a potential treatment for these diseases by removing excess oxygen free radicals and inhibiting lipid peroxidation in order to improve mitochondrial function.

Inhibitory effects of Actinidia Chinensis planch root extracts (acRoots) on human lung cancer cells through retinoic acid receptor beta

Actinidia Chinensis Planch roots (acRoots) are used to treat many cancers, although the anti-tumor mechanism by which acRoots inhibit cancer cell growth remains unclear. The present study aims at investigating inhibitory effects of acRoots on human lung cancer cells and potential mechanisms. Our data demonstrate that the inhibitory effects of acRoots on lung cancer cells depend on genetic backgrounds and phenotypes of cells. We furthermore found the expression of metabolism-associated gene profiles varied between acRoots-hypersensitive (H460) or hyposensitive lung cancer cells (H1299) after screening lung cancer cells with different genetic backgrounds. We selected retinoic acid receptor beta (RARB) as the core target within metabolism-associated core gene networks and evaluated RARB changes and roles in cells treated with acRoots at different concentrations and timeframes. Hypersensitive cancer cells with the deletion of RARB expression did not response to the treatment with acRoots, while RARB deletion did not change effects of acRoots on hyposensitive cells. Thus, it seems that RARB as the core target within metabolism-associated networks plays important roles in the regulation of lung cancer cell sensitivity to acRoots.

Magic power of phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitors

Phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3K) play critical roles in the maintenance of cell biological functions and are suggested as a therapeutic target for drug discovery and development. PI3K inhibitors has the magic power to prevent the development of pathological changes and cure the diseases, while such magic powers can be faded by the large profile of their toxicity and side-effects. A number of strategies can prevent, reduce, or decline PI3K inhibitor-associated toxicities, e.g. to make the inhibitors targeting the core molecules more precisely, select the optimal approach of drug delivery, bind the “recognizing” pullets with PI3K inhibitors to target-specific cells, or gene editing. We spotlight that PI3K definitely is an important therapeutic targets for cancer, inflammation, or organ dysfunction and injury, while to catch and hold such magic power of PI3K inhibitors is still the challenge to be faced and solved.