Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Laurie M. C. Kerkhof, Bart P. C. van de Warrenburg, Willeke M. C. van Roon-Mom, Ronald A. M. Buijsen
Summary: Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) is a rare neurodegenerative disorder caused by an extended CAG repeat in the ATXN1 gene, leading to loss of cerebellar Purkinje cells and coordination issues. Currently, no cure exists for SCA1, but various therapeutic strategies are being investigated, including genetic, pharmacological, and cell replacement therapies that target the underlying disease mechanisms or aim to restore lost cells. This review provides a summary of these different therapeutic strategies for SCA1.
Review
Oncology
Adrian Gottschlich, Stefan Endres, Sebastian Kobold
Summary: Interleukin-1 cytokines play a crucial role in inflammation and have implications in cancer research. Clinical trials have shown the potential of IL-1 blockade in cancer treatment, but it may also lead to immune toxicities. Current research focuses on utilizing IL-1 blocking agents to enhance the efficacy and safety of adoptive T cell therapy.
Review
Cell Biology
Xueman Zhou, Wenxiu Yuan, Xin Xiong, Zhenzhen Zhang, Jiaqi Liu, Yingcheng Zheng, Jun Wang, Jin Liu
Summary: Osteoporosis, characterized by bone mass reduction and deterioration of bone microarchitecture, is associated with inflammation, oxidative stress, and bone cell senescence. HO-1, an enzyme catalyzing heme degradation, has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidative stress, and anti-apoptosis properties, making it a potential target for osteoporosis treatment. Further research is needed to explore the potential of HO-1-based pharmacological therapeutics for osteoporosis treatment.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shailendra Kumar Mishra, Vyshnavy Balendra, Josephine Esposto, Ahmad A. Obaid, Ricardo B. Maccioni, Niraj Kumar Jha, George Perry, Mahmoud Moustafa, Mohammed Al-Shehri, Mahendra P. Singh, Anmar Anwar Khan, Emanuel Vamanu, Sandeep Kumar Singh
Summary: Aging is a progressive physiological change in organisms, leading to alterations in normal biological functions and eventual cellular senescence. Nine hallmarks characterize this process, which are risk factors for diseases like cardiovascular diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, and cancer. Research focuses on genetic pathways and biological processes related to these hallmarks to address therapeutic approaches aimed at slowing down aging.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Long Qin, Long Wang, Junchang Zhang, Huinian Zhou, Zhiliang Yang, Yan Wang, Weiwen Cai, Fei Wen, Xiangyan Jiang, Tiansheng Zhang, Huili Ye, Bo Long, Junjie Qin, Wengui Shi, Xiaoying Guan, Zeyuan Yu, Jing Yang, Qi Wang, Zuoyi Jiao
Summary: This study identifies urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) as a potential therapeutic target for diffuse-type gastric cancer (DGC), a subtype of gastric cancer with low HER2 positivity rate and insensitivity to chemotherapy and immune checkpoint inhibitors. The combination of anti-uPAR and anti-Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) is shown to effectively inhibit tumor growth and prolong survival through multiple mechanisms. Furthermore, uPAR chimeric antigen receptor-expressing T cells demonstrate the ability to kill DGC cells and improve survival in preclinical models, especially when combined with PD-1 blockade therapy.
Review
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Jie Liu, Zhen-Ni Guo, Xiu-Li Yan, Yi Yang, Shuo Huang
Summary: Myotonic dystrophy type 1 is a common muscular dystrophy affecting multiple systems, caused by toxic RNA aggregation due to CTG expansion in the DMPK gene. Research is focusing on developing novel therapeutic tools to tackle the disease.
FRONTIERS IN AGING NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Mohammad Ghanbari, Salar Momen Maragheh, Aida Aghazadeh, Seyed Reza Mehrjuyan, Bashdar Mahmud Hussen, Mahdi Abdoli Shadbad, Narges Dastmalchi, Reza Safaralizadeh
Summary: Obesity leads to chronic low-grade inflammation by upregulating pro-inflammatory interleukins (ILs), particularly IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta, which promote insulin resistance and dysfunction of adipocytes. The study aims to review the molecular mechanisms and roles of IL-1 in obesity-related complications like type II diabetes, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, atherosclerosis, and cognitive disorders, as well as discuss advances in treating these complications through IL-1 suppression with natural drugs, synthetic agents, and gene therapy.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Paul A. Insel, Terrence F. Blaschke, Susan G. Amara, Urs A. Meyer
Summary: The reviews in Volume 62 of the Annual Review of Pharmacology and Toxicology cover a diverse range of topics, including common diseases and important aspects of therapeutics. These reviews emphasize new mechanistic insights, experimental and therapeutic strategies, and novel insights regarding topics in the disciplines of pharmacology and toxicology.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF PHARMACOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Giampaolo Calissi, Eric W. -F. Lam, Wolfgang Link
Summary: FOXO proteins are transcription factors that are involved in regulating stress responses to maintain cellular homeostasis. Dysregulation of FOXO protein functions contributes to cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, and neurological diseases. This review summarizes the biology of FOXO proteins, their roles in disease and longevity, and discusses pharmacological approaches to develop FOXO-targeting therapeutics.
NATURE REVIEWS DRUG DISCOVERY
(2021)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Jaqueline A. Picache, Wei Zheng, Catherine Z. Chen
Summary: This paper summarizes various drug development strategies for TSD and discusses the methods for evaluating the efficacy of these therapies. It also explores the possibility of discovering compounds through high throughput screening.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Georg A. A. Petroianu, Lujain Aloum, Abdu Adem
Summary: Physiopathology and neurotransmission of pain are complex, and our ability to suppress chronic pain is limited. The number of clinically available medications is low and their success is modest. Pain Medicine practitioners face an ethical dichotomy, as they strive to adhere to the principle of primum non nocere while also aiming for successful pain relief. This article provides an overview of nociceptive pain, including nociceptive input, modulatory output, and local control. It also discusses the transition to neuropathic pain and the process of pain sensitization and chronification. The article then explores the sites and modes of action of clinically available drugs used in chronic pain treatment, with a focus on adjuvant medication.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Victoria Volfson-Sedletsky, Albert Jones, Jaileene Hernandez-Escalante, Hans Dooms
Summary: Despite decades of research, translating autoimmune mechanisms underlying Type 1 Diabetes into effective therapeutics remains challenging. Restoring Treg functions to target specific autoantigens or localize in the pancreas is a sought-after strategy for treating the disease. Developing precise Treg therapies beyond broad activation is promising, with a focus on ex vivo generation and in situ stimulation of optimized Tregs.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chloe Bernhard, Damien Reita, Sophie Martin, Natacha Entz-Werle, Monique Dontenwill
Summary: Tumor metabolism is a potential target for cancer therapies, particularly for the treatment of glioblastoma, a resistant brain tumor. Glioma stem cells play a critical role in therapy resistance, making their elimination crucial for patients' long-term survival. Recent advancements have revealed the heterogeneous nature of glioblastoma metabolism and the specific metabolic traits of cancer stem cells, providing insights for therapeutic approaches targeting these processes.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Francis Ledesma, Bora Ozcan, Xiaoqi Sun, Sebastiana Meza Medina, Markita P. Landry
Summary: Significant progress has been made in developing nanoparticle-mediated delivery systems over the past decade, but the balance between efficacy and safety remains a challenge for clinical translation. Design strategies for efficient and safe in vivo nanoparticle delivery systems should prioritize safety, biodegradability, and covalent functionalization. The complexity of protein cargo introduces additional challenges for cargo loading and stabilization.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Giulia D. S. Ferretti, Julia Quarti, Gileno dos Santos, Luciana P. Rangel, Jerson L. Silva
Summary: p53 is a mutated tumor suppressor protein that often aggregates and promotes cancer growth. Studying new molecules and therapeutic targets that disrupt p53 aggregates is a promising strategy against cancer. This review classifies anticancer molecules into four categories and highlights the role of autophagy in degrading aggregated p53.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
