Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Iris Lindberg, Lloyd D. Fricker
Summary: Peptides derived from POMC are converted into MSH by various enzymes, and defects in PC1/3 or CPE activity alone cannot explain the obesity observed in global PC1/3 or CPE mutants. Obesity in animals lacking PC1/3 or CPE activity may depend, at least in part, on deficient processing of peptides in non-POMC-expressing cells in the brain and/or the periphery.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Hitomi Tsuchida, Narumi Kawai, Koki Yamada, Marina Takizawa, Naoko Inoue, Yoshihisa Uenoyama, Hiroko Tsukamura
Summary: Energetic status can impact reproductive function, glucose homeostasis, and feeding in mammals. Central beta-endorphin-MOR signaling may play a role in suppressing pulsatile LH release and increasing gluconeogenesis/feeding during malnutrition.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yingying Qian, Xuanjun Zhang, Qingru Fei, Yu Zhou
Summary: The study confirmed the degradation mechanism of Lysobacter sp. CW239 towards ochratoxin A (OTA), highlighting the significant role of carboxypeptidase CP4 in the process. The experimental results supported the hypothesis that OTA is degraded by the joint action of multiple enzymes in CW239, as proposed earlier.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lisa Landskron, Jitske Bak, Athanassios Adamopoulos, Konstantina Kaplani, Maria Moraiti, Lisa G. van den Hengel, Ji-Ying Song, Onno B. Bleijerveld, Joppe Nieuwenhuis, Tatjana Heidebrecht, Linda Henneman, Marie-Jo Moutin, Marin Barisic, Stavros Taraviras, Anastassis Perrakis, Thijn R. Brummelkamp
Summary: The detyrosination-tyrosination cycle is an important process implicated in cognitive, cardiac, and mitotic defects. This study identified an unannotated protein, MATCAP, as a component of this cycle, revealing its importance in brain formation.
Review
Immunology
Melanie Rose, Marie Duhamel, Franck Rodet, Michel Salzet
Summary: Proprotein convertases (PCs) are a family of serine proteases that process cellular pro-proteins and play a crucial role in cellular homeostasis. Specifically, in lymphoid organs, PCs such as Furin are involved in immune response regulation, with knock-out of Furin in T cells associated with increased inflammatory cytokine secretion and autoantibody production. Additionally, PCs like Furin and PC1/3 have been shown to regulate the innate and adaptive immune responses, suggesting their potential as therapeutic targets in oncoimmune therapy.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Quan Wen, Azazul Islam Chowdhury, Banu Aydin, Mudhir Shekha, Rasmus Stenlid, Anders Forslund, Peter Bergsten
Summary: The study found that metformin can normalize the secretion of proinsulin and insulin in isolated islets after prolonged nutrient overstimulation, coupled with normalization of the converting enzymes. In adolescents with obesity, metformin treatment can improve the proinsulin/insulin ratio and glycemic control.
DIABETES OBESITY & METABOLISM
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Daiane F. Engel, Licio A. Velloso
Summary: In experimental models, hypothalamic dysfunction is a crucial component in the pathophysiology of diet-induced obesity. Structural and functional changes in neurons, microglia, astrocytes, and tanycytes of the mediobasal hypothalamus, shortly after the introduction of a high-fat diet, impact caloric intake, energy expenditure, and systemic glucose tolerance. Inflammation plays a central role in this response, and there is a temporal sequence of events determining the fate of different cells involved in the central regulation of whole-body energy homeostasis.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Karen Claesen, Joni De Loose, Pieter Van Wielendaele, Emilie De Bruyn, Yani Sim, Sofie Thys, Ingrid De Meester, Dirk Hendriks
Summary: Carboxypeptidase U (CPU) is synthesized in the liver as its inactive precursor proCPU and acts as a regulator of fibrinolysis and inflammation. Monocytes and macrophages, which play a central role in inflammation and thrombus formation, were found to express proCPU and secrete CPU. The expression and secretion of proCPU in these cells are related to their differentiation degree.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Karen Claesen, Yani Sim, An Bracke, Michelle De Bruyn, Emilie De Hert, Gwendolyn Vliegen, An Hotterbeekx, Alexandra Vujkovic, Lida van Petersen, Fien H. R. De Winter, Isabel Brosius, Caroline Theunissen, Sabrina van Ierssel, Maartje van Frankenhuijsen, Erika Vlieghe, Koen Vercauteren, Samir Kumar-Singh, Ingrid De Meester, Dirk Hendriks
Summary: The changes in CPU and fibrinolytic antigen levels in COVID-19 patients may be associated with disease severity and duration of hospitalization.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Aristea Sideri Gugger, Cara Dimino, Sunil K. Panigrahi, Laurel Mayer, Richard M. Smiley, Judith Korner, Sharon L. Wardlaw
Summary: The study found that Lorcaserin (LOR) affects the brain melanocortin system in humans and is more effective in individuals with lower melanocortin activity.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ENDOCRINOLOGY & METABOLISM
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Jakob L. Andersen, Rolf Fagerberg, Christoph Flamm, Walter Fontana, Juraj Kolcak, Christophe V. F. P. Laurent, Daniel Merkle, Nikolai Nojgaard
Summary: This study uses graph transformation to distinguish between rules and reactions in chemistry, deriving around 1000 amino acid side chain chemistry rules from the M-CSA database and proposing hundreds of hypothetical catalytic mechanisms for unrelated reactions in the Rhea database. Analysis shows that these mechanisms combine individual steps from known multistep mechanisms in a chemically sound manner, indicating that plausible novel mechanisms for catalysis can be computationally constructed.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kazunori Kageyama, Yasumasa Iwasaki, Yutaka Watanuki, Kanako Niioka, Makoto Daimon
Summary: The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis is stimulated in response to stress, and glucocorticoids regulate its activity by inhibiting Pomc gene expression.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Fabiane Ferreira Martins, Thiago Santos-Reis, Thatiany Souza Marinho, Marcia Barbosa Aguila, Carlos Alberto Mandarim-de-Lacerda
Summary: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of semaglutide on neuropeptide signaling in the hypothalamic energy metabolism of diet-induced obese mice. The results showed that semaglutide improved leptin sensitivity and anorexigenic signaling, while decreasing orexigenic signaling. Furthermore, semaglutide also affected biometric data and hypothalamic gene expressions. Therefore, semaglutide can activate anorexigenic signaling by restoring leptin, amylin, and POMC pathways in diet-induced obese mice.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Victor Taleb, Qinghua Liao, Yoshiki Narimatsu, Ana Garcia-Garcia, Ismael Companon, Rafael Junqueira Borges, Andres Manuel Gonzalez-Ramirez, Francisco Corzana, Henrik Clausen, Carme Rovira, Ramon Hurtado-Guerrero
Summary: This study provides molecular insights into the interaction between mucinase AM0627 and O-glycans in gut bacteria. The enzyme specifically cleaves bis-T O-glycopeptides by recognizing both the sugar moieties and the peptide sequence. Structural comparison reveals a conserved residue responsible for the common activity of AM0627 and another mucinase with bis-T/Tn substrates.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Soyeon Yoo, Min Su Han
Summary: A new strategy using DS and albumin as components to design a fluorescent substrate for carboxypeptidases was developed. The designed fluorescent substrate showed potential for measuring CP activities and inhibitor efficiency as a high-throughput screening method.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Lukas Dehe, Mohammed Shaqura, Michael Nordine, Helmut Habazettl, Petra von Kwiatkowski, Helena Schluchter, Mehdi Shakibaei, Shaaban A. Mousa, Michael Schafer, Sascha Treskatsch
Summary: Myocardial opioid receptors exist in the left ventricle and co-localize with calcium channels. Blockade of the cardiac opioid system by naltrexone improves left ventricular function, reduces cardiac pressure, and enhances cardiac function.
CARDIOVASCULAR DRUGS AND THERAPY
(2021)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Piotr Z. Sobanski, Malgorzata Krajnik, Sarah J. Goodlin
Summary: There are differences in the distribution of individual heart diseases between women and men, with women usually being affected at an older age and experiencing more symptoms than men. After a husband or partner's death, women tend to feel a stronger sense of loneliness and dependence on care. Heart failure is a common end-stage pathway of many cardiovascular diseases, and modern medicine strives to alleviate symptoms as efficiently as possible through personalized treatment approaches.
FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Anesthesiology
Michael Schafer, Sascha Tafelski
Summary: Following the legalization of cannabis-based medicines and cannabinoids for medical use, there has been a significant rise in prescriptions for cannabis. This article compiles and evaluates clinical evidence on the use of cannabis and cannabinoids for acute and chronic pain, providing guidance for decision-making in clinical practice based on systematic literature reviews and recommendations from health authorities.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Joanna Drat-Gzubicka, Anna Pyszora, Jacek Budzynski, David Currow, Malgorzata Krajnik
Summary: This study found that the prevalence of NP-RPN in hospice patients is 29%, and the absence of this pain is not sufficient to rule out peripheral neuropathy. Some patients met the electrophysiological criteria for neuropathy even without NP-RPN.
Article
Anesthesiology
Erika Schulte, Claudia Spies, Claudia Denke, Joerg J. Meerpohl, Norbert Donner-Banzhoff, Frank Petzke, Ralph Hertwig, Michael Schafer, Odette Wegwarth
Summary: Strong opioids used by patients with chronic noncancer pain not only have physical side effects but also significant psychological effects. Most patients have received information about opioid effects, but more discussions about discontinuation of opioid therapy are needed.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PAIN
(2022)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Lukas Dehe, Shaaban A. Mousa, Noureddin Aboryag, Mohammed Shaqura, Antje Beyer, Michael Schaefer, Sascha Treskatsch
Summary: This study provides the first evidence of local expression of MR, 11 beta-HSD2, and aldosterone with its processing enzyme CYP11B2 in neurons of the cardiac autonomic nervous system, suggesting a possible modulatory role of the mineralocorticoid system on the endogenous neuronal activity on heart performance.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROANATOMY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Erika Schulte, Frank Petzke, Claudia Spies, Claudia Denke, Michael Schaefer, Norbert Donner-Banzhoff, Ralph Hertwig, Odette Wegwarth
Summary: This study, based on physician self-reporting, reveals that some physicians experience negative emotions when faced with a patient's request for an increase in opioid dosage, which may lead to inappropriate prescribing of strong opioids. Self-awareness of physician emotions is crucial for ensuring responsible, guideline-based long-term opioid prescriptions.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Shaaban A. Mousa, Baled I. Khalefa, Mohammed Shaqura, Mohammed Al-Madol, Sascha Treskatsch, Michael Schaefer
Summary: This study found that CRF-R1 in opioid-peptide-containing brain areas plays an important role in the modulation of inflammatory pain and may be a useful therapeutic target for its control.
JOURNAL OF NEUROINFLAMMATION
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Lukas Dehe, Shaaban A. Mousa, Mohammed Shaqura, Mehdi Shakibaei, Michael Schaefer, Sascha Treskatsch
Summary: This study examined the effects of chronic volume overload on myocardial opioid receptors and the inflammatory response in the failing heart. The results showed that opioid receptor blockade by naltrexone improved left ventricular function and reduced inflammatory cytokine expression. This suggests that antagonism of the myocardial opioid system can improve cardiac function and modulate the inflammatory response.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Malgorzata Fopka-Kowalczyk, Megan Best, Malgorzata Krajnik
Summary: This study aimed to design, validate and standardize the Spiritual Supporter Scale, a tool used to assess competency in providing spiritual care. The results showed that the scale demonstrated high overall reliability, satisfactory diagnostic accuracy, and satisfactory discriminatory power of the items. It is recommended for use in both clinical and research settings in Poland.
JOURNAL OF RELIGION & HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Shaaban A. Mousa, Lukas Dehe, Noureddin Aboryag, Mohammed Shaqura, Antje Beyer, Michael Schaefer, Sascha Treskatsch
Summary: This study demonstrates the expression of glucocorticoid receptors (GR) in relation to the parasympathetic and sympathetic innervations of the heart. GRs were found to be co-expressed with the parasympathetic neuronal marker VAChT and the sympathetic neuronal marker TH, suggesting a functional role of cardiac GR in modulating the cardiac autonomic nervous system.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROANATOMY
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Jan D. Wandrey, Joanna Kastelik, Thomas Fritzsche, Claudia Denke, Michael Schaefer, Sascha Tafelski
Summary: Patients with refractory neuralgia of cranial nerves may benefit from invasive therapy with local anesthetics. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) prior to local anesthetic infiltration may prolong pain response, but results may be influenced by placebo effects and high drop-out rates, warranting further investigation.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Sascha Tafelski, Jan D. D. Wandrey, Mohammed Shaqura, Xueqi Hong, Antje Beyer, Michael Schaefer, Shaaban A. A. Mousa
Summary: The activation of MR and GR receptors on peripheral sensory neurons can modify pain perception through direct and indirect pathways. The expression of MR and GR was examined in sensory neuron subpopulations in human and rat peripheral nerves. MR showed colocalization with CGRP, TRPV1, and Nav1.8 in both human and rat nerve tissue, while GR primarily colocalized with NF200 positive mechanoreceptive fibers. Intrathecal administration of GR agonist decreased mechanical hyperalgesia, while MR agonist increased it in rats. These findings suggest a translational approach to sensory modulation through MR and GR activation.
Article
Anesthesiology
Jan D. Wandrey, Michael Schaefer, Joachim Erlenwein, Sascha Tafelski
Summary: This study aims to assess the current state of perioperative anesthesiological pain management for patients with phantom limb pain. It reveals the unmet need for specialized pain treatment during this period and suggests further research questions.
Letter
Medicine, General & Internal
Jakub Pawlikowski, Andrzej Muszala, Piotr Gajewski, Malgorzata Krajnik
POLISH ARCHIVES OF INTERNAL MEDICINE-POLSKIE ARCHIWUM MEDYCYNY WEWNETRZNEJ
(2021)