Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anastasia V. Strokotova, Elvira V. Grigorieva
Summary: Glucocorticoids are commonly used to treat various diseases but can cause side effects. Recent studies suggest that the toxic effects of glucocorticoids on key extracellular components in the brain may be an underlying mechanism for these side effects.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Saber Shakibi, Patrick R. R. Onck, Erik van der Giessen
Summary: Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are polysaccharides that play crucial roles in biological processes. They are important structural components of cartilage and the extracellular matrix of the brain. Coarse-grained modeling is essential due to the large size of GAGs.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL THEORY AND COMPUTATION
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Peter Bober, Sona Tkacikova, Ivan Talian, Peter Urdzik, Silvia Toporcerova, Jan Sabo
Summary: HPV-associated lesions and malignancies have changes in the composition and functionality of the extracellular matrix (ECM), affecting the interactions between infection and disease. A study analyzed urine samples from cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 (CIN3) patients and healthy controls using label-free quantitative analysis and found significant changes in 48 proteins. The down-regulation of ECM-receptor interaction proteins in the CIN3 group may play a role in the development and progression of cervical cancer.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marina Marozzi, Arianna Parnigoni, Aide Negri, Manuela Viola, Davide Vigetti, Alberto Passi, Evgenia Karousou, Federica Rizzi
Summary: Cancer is a complex pathology characterized by uncontrolled cell proliferation and decreased apoptosis, often in an inflammatory environment. Changes in the extracellular matrix (ECM) and signaling pathways play crucial roles in tumor growth and metastasis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Haiyi Chen, Yu Kang, Mojie Duan, Tingjun Hou
Summary: The study revealed that the presence of heparan sulfate is crucial for the binding between the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 and host ACE2, while the stability of the T470-F490 loop and hydrophobic interactions play key roles in the binding process.
JOURNAL OF PHYSICAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2021)
Review
Oncology
George N. Tzanakakis, Eirini-Maria Giatagana, Aikaterini Berdiaki, Ioanna Spyridaki, Kyoko Hida, Monica Neagu, Aristidis M. Tsatsakis, Dragana Nikitovic
Summary: Bone sarcomas, mesenchymal origin tumors, present challenges in chemotherapy response, resistance, and metastasis prevention. The multifactorial system, IGF-1 and IGF-2, and their receptors significantly contribute to sarcoma pathogenesis. Targeted therapies aiming at the IGF pathway have faced limitations, necessitating the development of combinatorial strategies to enhance antitumor responses. Focus on the tumor microenvironment and interplay with IGF signaling may provide opportunities for therapeutic advancements.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xiumin Sun, Haiqian Liu, Zan Tan, Yuhui Hou, Mao Pang, Shengfeng Chen, Longyou Xiao, Qiuju Yuan, Bin Liu, Limin Rong, Liumin He
Summary: In this study, a functional self-assembling peptide (F-SAP) hydrogel loaded with membrane-permeable intracellular sigma peptide (ISP) and intracellular LAR peptide (ILP) was used to bridge the fluid-filled cystic cavity formed after spinal cord injury. Compared to previous methods, this approach promotes a beneficial anti-inflammatory response and improves functional recovery.
Review
Oncology
Arianna Parnigoni, Paola Moretto, Manuela Viola, Evgenia Karousou, Alberto Passi, Davide Vigetti
Summary: Breast cancer is the most common neoplasm in women, and its lethality is mainly due to the ability of tumor cells to invade and seed distant organs. Hormone receptors play a critical role in determining tumor aggressiveness and targeted therapies, but the role of the tumor microenvironment is also evident. This article focuses on the role of the extracellular matrix polysaccharide hyaluronan in relation to hormone receptor expression in breast cancer cells.
Review
Cell Biology
Nourhan Hassan, Burkhard Greve, Nancy A. Espinoza-Sanchez, Martin Gotte
Summary: Proteoglycans play crucial roles in the extracellular matrix, modulating cell adhesion, proliferation, and movement, as well as participating in inflammation, development, angiogenesis, and tumor progression. By regulating signaling pathways, especially those involving cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and adhesion molecules, HSPGs are implicated in cancer initiation, progression, and malignancy.
CELLULAR SIGNALLING
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Isabel Faria-Ramos, Juliana Pocas, Catarina Marques, Joao Santos-Antunes, Guilherme Macedo, Celso A. Reis, Ana Magalhaes
Summary: Heparan sulfate (HS) plays a crucial role in cancer development, impacting various aspects such as proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Due to its interaction with different ligands, HS has pleiotropic effects on important cellular receptors and downstream signaling pathways. Aberrant expression of HS can determine malignant features of tumors.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Javier Barallobre-Barreiro, Tamas Radovits, Marika Fava, Ursula Mayr, Wen-Yu Lin, Elizaveta Ermolaeva, Diego Martinez-Lopez, Eric L. Lindberg, Elisa Duregotti, Laszlo Daroczi, Maria Hasman, Lukas E. Schmidt, Bhawana Singh, Ruifang Lu, Ferheen Baig, Aleksandra Malgorzata Siedlar, Friederike Cuello, Norman Catibog, Konstantinos Theofilatos, Ajay M. Shah, Maria G. Crespo-Leiro, Nieves Domenech, Norbert Hubner, Bela Merkely, Manuel Mayr
Summary: The study identified ADAMTS5 protease as critical for versican degradation in the heart and found that versican accumulation is associated with impaired cardiac function in heart failure patients and animal models. Versikine, an ADAMTS-specific cleavage product, accumulated in ischemic heart failure patients and following cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury in animal models. The use of beta-blockers in heart failure patients was associated with a reduction in ECM deposition, particularly in the levels of versican, indicating a potential beneficial effect on cardiac chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan content.
Review
Cell Biology
Arianna Parnigoni, Manuela Viola, Evgenia Karousou, Simona Rovera, Cristina Giaroni, Alberto Passi, Davide Vigetti
Summary: Hyaluronic acid (HA) plays a crucial role in blood vessel structure, cell dedifferentiation, and immune cell recruitment.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-CELL PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maxim O. Politko, Alexandra Y. Tsidulko, Oxana A. Pashkovskaya, Konstantin E. Kuper, Anastasia V. Suhovskih, Galina M. Kazanskaya, Lyubov S. Klyushova, Dmitry K. Sokolov, Alexander M. Volkov, Evgenii E. Kliver, Alexander A. Zheravin, Svetlana V. Aidagulova, Elvira V. Grigorieva
Summary: The study found that multiple irradiation affects the cellular and extracellular glycosylated components of normal brain tissue, resulting in changes in PGs and GAGs, and an increased adhesion and proliferation of GBM cells.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Toshihiro Inubushi, Nag Priyanka, Masakatsu Watanabe, Yusuke Takahashi, Shinnosuke Kusano, Hiroshi Kurosaka, Silvana Papagerakis, Petros Papagerakis, Mikako Hayashi, Takashi Yamashiro
Summary: This study demonstrates that the chlorinated oxidant MA-T can enhance dentinogenesis by modifying HSPG and activating Wnt signaling. The treatment decreases sulfation of HSPG, upregulates the expression of dentin-related genes, and promotes dentin formation in developing teeth.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Wenlong Chen, Yiwen Wang, Haitao Gu, Yi Zhang, Cong Chen, Tingting Yu, Tao Chen
Summary: This study systematically evaluated the interaction between extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and prognosis and the immune microenvironment in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. It developed a prognostic model based on two ECM remodeling-related genes (MEIS2, SLC2A3) and showed their reliable predictive ability. The study also found significant differences in the tumor microenvironment and immune function between high- and low-risk CRC patients. Overall, this study has important clinical implications for immunotherapy and individualized treatment in CRC.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Valeria De Pasquale, Michele Costanzo, Rosa Anna Siciliano, Maria Fiorella Mazzeo, Valeria Pistorio, Laura Bianchi, Emanuela Marchese, Margherita Ruoppolo, Luigi Michele Pavone, Marianna Caterino
Article
Microbiology
Francesco Prisco, Davide De Biase, Giuseppe Piegari, Francesco Oriente, Ilaria Cimmino, Valeria De Pasquale, Michele Costanzo, Pasquale Santoro, Manuela Gizzarelli, Serenella Papparella, Orlando Paciello
Summary: Leishmania spp. infection in dogs is associated with an inflammatory myopathy (IM) with immune-mediated myositis. This study identified circulating autoantibodies targeting skeletal muscle antigens in leishmania-infected dogs, with the main autoantigen being SERCA1. Antigen mimicry is hypothesized as the underlying mechanism for the production of these autoantibodies in leishmania-infected dogs.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Valeria De Pasquale, Miriam Shasa Quiccione, Simona Tafuri, Luigi Avallone, Luigi Michele Pavone
Summary: Heparan sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs) are a group of glycoproteins with diverse structures, capable of interacting with various ligands to regulate cellular processes; they also assist many viruses in invading host cells.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Gianluca Scerra, Valeria De Pasquale, Luigi Michele Pavone, Maria Gabriella Caporaso, Andreas Mayer, Maurizio Renna, Massimo D'Agostino
Summary: This study demonstrates how the acute accumulation of a single substrate leads to rapid redistribution of lysosomes, causing their expansion and reducing secretion by inhibiting organelle motility towards the plasma membrane. Furthermore, evidence suggests that these defects may be due to extensive contacts between enlarged lysosomes and the intertwined membrane structures of the endoplasmic reticulum, potentially leading to secondary defects observed in LSD models and patients.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Valeria De Pasquale, Gianluca Scerra, Melania Scarcella, Massimo D'Agostino, Luigi Michele Pavone
Summary: Mucopolysaccharidoses (MPSs) are a group of inherited lysosomal storage disorders caused by deficiency of lysosomal enzymes, leading to glycosaminoglycan accumulation and tissue dysfunction. Current treatments for MPS III do not cure the disease, but NK1 treatment shows potential in improving neurological symptoms by reducing lysosomal pathology and promoting neuronal differentiation.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH
(2021)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Valeria De Pasquale, Melania Scarcella, Luigi Michele Pavone
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Melania Scarcella, Danila d'Angelo, Mariangela Ciampa, Simona Tafuri, Luigi Avallone, Luigi Michele Pavone, Valeria De Pasquale
Summary: Cathepsins are a family of proteases involved in protein degradation and turnover. Their dysregulation has been associated with various human diseases. In viral infections, cathepsins play crucial roles and their inhibitors have potential therapeutic applications.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Valeria De Pasquale, Anna Esposito, Gianluca Scerra, Melania Scarcella, Mariangela Ciampa, Antonietta Luongo, Daniele D'Alonzo, Annalisa Guaragna, Massimo D'Agostino, Luigi Michele Pavone
Summary: Sanfilippo syndrome is a group of genetic diseases characterized by the accumulation of heparan sulfate (HS) in lysosomes and other cellular compartments, leading to tissue and organ dysfunctions. This study found that N-substituted L-iminosugars can reduce substrate storage and lysosomal dysfunctions in Sanfilippo fibroblasts and a neuronal cellular model of Sanfilippo B subtype. These compounds also increase the levels of defective enzyme alpha-N-acetylglucosaminidase and correct its sorting, as well as reduce HS accumulation by downregulating protein levels of exostosin glycosyltransferases.
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Giuseppe Piegari, Valeria De Pasquale, Ilaria d'Aquino, Davide De Biase, Giulia Caccia, Carlo Pietro Campobasso, Simona Tafuri, Valeria Russo, Orlando Paciello
Summary: This study investigated the degradation of desmin and dystrophin in muscle tissue after death in dogs, and found that dystrophin degrades at a faster rate than desmin. This provides a reference basis for better estimating the postmortem interval in dogs.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Valeria De Pasquale, Anna Esposito, Gianluca Scerra, Melania Scarcella, Mariangela Ciampa, Antonietta Luongo, Daniele D'Alonzo, Annalisa Guaragna, Massimo D'Agostino, Luigi Michele Pavone
Summary: Sanfilippo syndrome is a group of genetic diseases caused by a lack or decreased activity of enzymes involved in heparan sulfate catabolism. This leads to the accumulation of heparan sulfate in cells, resulting in tissue and organ dysfunctions, including severe neurodegeneration. In this study, N-substituted L-iminosugars were found to significantly reduce substrate storage and lysosomal dysfunctions in Sanfilippo fibroblasts and a neuronal cellular model of Sanfilippo B subtype. They also corrected the sorting of defective alpha-N-acetylglucosaminidase and reduced heparan sulfate accumulation by downregulating exostosin glycosyltransferases. These findings suggest a promising pharmacological potential for these glycomimetics in treating Sanfilippo syndrome.
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)