Article
Immunology
Lei Wang, Wan-Yang Xu, Yi-Wen Tang, Feng Hu
Summary: Pulmonary fibrosis is a common complication of inflammatory lung diseases, and there is currently no effective clinical drug treatment. This study investigated the role of thioredoxin (Trx) in pulmonary fibrosis and found that nitrated Trx and the p38-MAPK apoptosis pathway are involved in the development of this condition. The results suggest that blocking Trx-1 nitration or supplementing with exogenous rhTrx-1 may be novel therapeutic strategies for attenuating pulmonary fibrosis.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Jing-Yi Liu, Yi-Chen Zhang, Rong-Rong Xie, Li-Ni Song, Wei-Li Yang, Zhong Xin, Xi Cao, Jin-Kui Yang
Summary: Nifu significantly improves cell vitality and insulin secretion function in high glucose-induced cells, inhibits oxidative stress and apoptosis factors, reduces inflammatory response, and suppresses the activation of the STAT3/SOCS3 signaling pathway.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Xi Chen, Weijie Ma, Ye Yao, Qi Zhang, Jinghua Li, Xiaoling Wu, Chengjie Mei, Xiang Jiang, Yiran Chen, Ganggang Wang, Kunlei Wang, Yingyi Liu, Yonghua Guo, Zhisu Liu, Yufeng Yuan
Summary: The study identified SDPR as a tumor suppressor in HCC by promoting apoptosis through the activation of the ASK1-JNK/p38 MAPK signaling pathways. This inhibits tumor growth and migration by enhancing cell apoptosis.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Qijing Wu, Juan Chen, Xiyin Zheng, Jing Song, Lulu Yin, Hai Guo, Qian Chen, Yi Liu, Qianli Ma, Hong Zhang, Qianqian Yang
Summary: The study aimed to evaluate the protective effect of kaempferol (KPF) in doxorubicin (DOX)-induced nephrotoxicity. The results showed that KPF could alleviate DOX-induced renal injury, improve proteinuria and renal function, restore antioxidant activity in kidneys, suppress oxidative stress, and inhibit the activation of the MAPK signaling pathway. In cell experiments, KPF also inhibited DOX-induced ROS overproduction, reduced cell damage and loss of viability. Therefore, KPF may provide a viable solution to lessen renal toxicity in cancer patients receiving DOX.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Uchechukwu C. C. Ogbodo, Toheeb A. A. Balogun, Victor Omoboyede
Summary: Cancers are characterized by aberrant gene expression that leads to dysregulated cell division. Inhibiting these gene products has become a rational approach in cancer therapy. The protein ASK1, encoded by the MAP3K5 gene, is often found at elevated levels in cancer and has emerged as a potential target for developing chemotherapeutics. This study employed molecular modelling approaches to identify potential ASK1 inhibitors from phytochemicals. Three hit compounds, ellagic acid, luteolin, and kaempferol, showed promising inhibitory potentials and had suitable properties for further exploration in in vitro and in vivo studies.
JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR STRUCTURE & DYNAMICS
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Han-Chow E. Koh, Chao Cao, Bettina Mittendorfer
Summary: Plasma insulin clearance plays an important role in determining plasma insulin concentration and is closely related to excess adiposity, insulin sensitivity, and type 2 diabetes. The lower insulin clearance rate observed in people with obesity is not a compensatory response to insulin resistance, but directly linked to insulin sensitivity. Additionally, postprandial insulin clearance decreases due to increased delivery of insulin to tissues that clear insulin.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Huan Li, Qin Yang, Zhen Huang, Cui Liang, Dian-Hong Zhang, Hui-Ting Shi, Jia-Qi Du, Bin-Bin Du, Yan-Zhou Zhang
Summary: Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a heart dysfunction that occurs in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). This study found that dual-specificity phosphatase 12 (DUSP12) plays an important role in DCM. Overexpression of DUSP12 worsens cardiac dysfunction and increases oxidative stress and apoptosis, while DUSP12 deficiency exacerbates these effects. The study also found that DUSP12 interacts with a specific signaling pathway.
FREE RADICAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Nutrition & Dietetics
Clive J. Petry
Summary: Iron supplementation in pregnancy may increase the risk of gestational diabetes, particularly in women who are already iron-replete. However, current evidence on this topic is contradictory, and the magnitude of any increased risk appears relatively small, urging caution in interpreting the results.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kang Xia, Tianyu Wang, Zhongbao Chen, Jiayu Guo, Bo Yu, Qi Chen, Tao Qiu, Jiangqiao Zhou, Shusen Zheng
Summary: This study found that lysine methyltransferase SETDB1 is involved in liver ischemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI)-induced inflammation and apoptosis. SETDB1 interacts with ASK1 and facilitates the methylation of its lysine residues. Inhibition of SETDB1 can alleviate liver damage, inflammation, and apoptosis caused by HIRI, while restoration of JNK/p38 signaling activation through ASK1 overexpression reverses this therapeutic effect.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xiangxu Wei, Miao Zhong, Song Wang, Lexun Li, Zi-Long Song, Junmin Zhang, Jianqiang Xu, Jianguo Fang
Summary: The study synthesized 72 disulfides and identified two compounds with significant antitumor activity against HeLa cells. Kinetic studies showed one of the disulfides had faster inhibition of Trx compared to the other. These findings suggest potential for the development of anticancer candidates with Trx inhibition.
BIOORGANIC CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Biology
Zhongying Wang, Tatyana Gurlo, Aleksey Matveyenko, David Elashoff, Peiyu Wang, Madeline Rosenberger, Jason A. Junge, Raymond C. Stevens, Kate L. White, Scott E. Fraser, Peter C. Butler
Summary: In Type 2 diabetes, there are differential usages of oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis in living islet cells following glucose stimulation, as revealed by phasor-FLIM. This study suggests the potential applicability of FLIM as a sensitive tool for drug discovery in diabetes by reporting perturbations in glucose metabolism in living islet cells.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xuebin Yu, Qiufeng Teng, Kaimin Bao, Maryam Chudhary, Hui Qi, Wenying Zhou, Hongxin Che, Junli Liu, Xiang Ren, Li Kong
Summary: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common complication of diabetes mellitus (DM), and Muller cell reactive gliosis is an early feature of DR. This study found that overexpression of Trx1 can protect Muller cells from diabetes-induced damage by inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) via ASK1.
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Zhigao Song, Cong Chen, Jipei He, Bixia Liu, Weidong Ji, Liangping Wu, Li He
Summary: This study found that AIP1 plays a crucial role in the development of type 2 diabetes. It regulates the expression of TNF-alpha through multiple inflammatory pathways. AIP1 deficiency leads to increased inflammatory factors and impairs glucose uptake. The loss of AIP1 in human adipocytes activates the JNK, p38 MAPK, and ERK1/2 signaling pathways, and inhibition of these pathways can alleviate insulin resistance caused by AIP1 deficiency.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Dandan Xiao, Wenguang Chang
Summary: This article discusses the role of phospholipids in cell membrane structure as well as various cellular processes. Studies have found a relationship between certain phospholipids and insulin sensitivity. Additionally, phospholipids play a significant role in controlling insulin secretion, regulating insulin signaling transduction, and contributing to the progression of diabetic complications. PS supplements and PS-containing liposomes have shown protective effects against diabetes in animal studies.
MOLECULAR PHARMACEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Francesca Pacifici, David Della-Morte, Barbara Capuani, Andrea Coppola, Maria Giovanna Scioli, Giulia Donadel, Aikaterini Andreadi, Fabiola Ciccosanti, Gian Maria Fimia, Alfonso Bellia, Augusto Orlandi, Davide Lauro
Summary: By controlling mitochondrial homeostasis, Prdx6 plays a pivotal role in regulating GSIS in pancreatic beta cells. Its depletion leads to impaired mitochondrial morphology and function, as well as enhanced apoptotic death.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Correction
Cell Biology
Jasmina Zivanovic, Emilia Kouroussis, Joshua B. Kohl, Bikash Adhikari, Biljana Bursac, Sonia Schott-Roux, Dunja Petrovic, Jan Lj. Miljkovic, Daniel Thomas-Lopez, Youngeun Jung, Marko Miler, Sarah Mitchell, Verica Milosevic, Jose Eduardo Gomes, Moran Benhar, Bruno Gonzalez-Zorn, Ivana Ivanovic-Burmazovic, Roberta Torregrossa, James R. Mitchell, Matthew Whiteman, Guenter Schwarz, Solomon H. Snyder, Bindu D. Paul, Kate S. Carroll, Milos R. Filipovic
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ilana Braunstein, Rotem Engelman, Ofer Yitzhaki, Tamar Ziv, Erwan Galardon, Moran Benhar
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nicole Y. Leung, Dhananjay P. Thakur, Adishthi S. Gurav, Sang Hoon Kim, Antonella Di Pizio, Masha Y. Niv, Craig Montell
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Moran Benhar
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Yaron Ben Shoshan-Galeczki, Masha Y. Niv
Review
Otorhinolaryngology
Constantin A. Hintschich, Masha Y. Niv, Thomas Hummel
Summary: Subjective impairment of taste is a common symptom of COVID-19, reported in around 50% of cases, but psychophysical testing shows a lower prevalence of 26% due to misinterpretation of olfactory dysfunction. Researchers hypothesize that COVID-19-related hyposmia may contribute to the decrease in gustatory function, requiring further investigation.
INTERNATIONAL FORUM OF ALLERGY & RHINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Otorhinolaryngology
Kathrin Ohla, Maria G. Veldhuizen, Tomer Green, Mackenzie E. Hannum, Alyssa J. Bakke, Shima T. Moein, Arnaud Tognetti, Elbrich M. Postma, Robert Pellegrino, Daniel Liang-Dar Hwang, Javier Albayay, Sachiko Koyama, Alissa A. Nolden, Thierry Thomas-Danguin, Carla Mucignat-Caretta, Nick S. Menger, Ilja Croijmans, Lina Ozturk, Huseyin Yanik, Denis Pierron, Veronica Pereda-Loth, Alexia Nunez-Parra, Aldair M. Martinez Pineda, David Gillespie, Michael C. Farruggia, Cinzia Cecchetto, Marco A. Fornazieri, Carl Philpott, Vera Voznessenskaya, Keiland W. Cooper, Paloma Rohlfs Dominguez, Orietta Calcinoni, Jasper de Groot, Sanne Boesveldt, Surabhi Bhutani, Elisabeth M. Weir, Cara Exten, Paule V. Joseph, Valentina Parma, John E. Hayes, Masha Y. Niv
Summary: Sudden smell loss is a specific early symptom of COVID-19. A longitudinal survey on smell function and recovery reveals that while smell ability improves for many individuals during acute COVID-19, the prevalence of parosmia and phantosmia increases over time. Persistent smell impairment may be a key marker of long-term COVID-19 illness.
Review
Food Science & Technology
Kim Asseo, Masha Y. Niv
Summary: The study analyzed online reviews of food products to investigate sweetness levels, liking, and ingredients. Approximately 7-16% of reviews mentioned oversweetness, which was generally disliked by consumers. This suggests an opportunity for customized products with reduced sweetness.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hiba Abu Hariri, Ilana Braunstein, Talal Salti, Fabian Glaser, Tal Gefen, Naama Geva-Zatorsky, Tamar Ziv, Moran Benhar
Summary: This study characterized the dynamic cysteine proteome of human macrophages and identified the role of thiol redox control in regulating inflammatory responses. The findings provide insights into the adaptability of macrophages to changing inflammatory and redox environments.
ANTIOXIDANTS & REDOX SIGNALING
(2023)
Article
Biology
Mariano Mastinu, Michal Pieniak, Anne Wolf, Tomer Green, Antje Haehner, Masha Y. Niv, Thomas Hummel
Summary: This study aimed to develop a test that assesses human gustatory sensitivity together with somatosensory functions of astringency and spiciness. The test discriminated patients from healthy controls and showed gender differences among healthy controls. It provides new evidence on the mutual interaction between the two sensory systems.
Article
Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
Eitan Margulis, Tatjana Lang, Anne Tromelin, Evgenii Ziaikin, Maik Behrens, Masha Y. Niv
Summary: Flavor is perceived through multiple systems and receptors, with some cross-reactivity between taste and odor receptors. This study predicts the bitterness and taste receptor targets of thousands of odorants, finding that a small percentage have a bitter taste and even fewer are intensely bitter. Bitter odorants are more commonly associated with unpleasant smells, while non-bitter odorants often have pleasant smells. The main bitter receptor for odorants is predicted to be TAS2R14, and its activity may have physiological implications through the expression of taste and smell receptors.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Hongyang Li, Richard C. Gerkin, Alyssa Bakke, Raquel Norel, Guillermo Cecchi, Christophe Laudamiel, Masha Y. Niv, Kathrin Ohla, John E. Hayes, Valentina Parma, Pablo Meyer
Summary: A machine learning method based on Natural Language Processing was developed to predict COVID-19 diagnosis using text descriptions of changes in chemosensation caused by the disease. The results showed that this method performs comparably to models based on self-reported changes and can accurately predict the diagnostic status of a subject.
COMMUNICATIONS MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Nitzan Dubovski, Yaron Ben-Shoshan Galeczki, Einav Malach, Masha Y. Niv
Summary: We have found that L-glucose, the non-caloric enantiomer of D-glucose, can activate the human sweet taste receptor T1R2/T1R3 transiently expressed in HEK293T cells. Both D-glucose and L-glucose can also activate T1R2 and T1R3 without their counterpart monomer. Mutation of residue 147 in the binding site of T1R3 VFT domain abolishes activation by L- or D-glucose, while T1R2/T1R3S147A responds similarly to T1R2 alone. We have also discovered that the original T1R2 reference sequence is less sensitive compared to the reference sequence at the time of the study, with a specific mutation in the VFT domain responsible for this effect.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eitan Margulis, Ayana Dagan-Wiener, Robert S. Ives, Sara Jaffari, Karsten Siems, Masha Y. Niv
Summary: BitterIntense is a machine learning tool that classifies molecules into very bitter or not very bitter based on their chemical structure, with over 80% accuracy. The study suggests that around 25% of drugs are predicted to be very bitter, with a higher prevalence in COVID19 drug candidates and microbial natural products. Strong bitterness may be linked to cardiotoxicity.
COMPUTATIONAL AND STRUCTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alaa Knany, Rotem Engelman, Hiba Abu Hariri, Shyam Biswal, Haguy Wolfenson, Moran Benhar
FREE RADICAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2020)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Paola Orlandi, Marta Banchi, Francesca Vaglini, Marco Carli, Stefano Aringhieri, Arianna Bandini, Carla Pardini, Cristina Viaggi, Michele Lai, Greta Ali, Alessandra Ottani, Eleonora Vandini, Patrizia Guidi, Margherita Bernardeschi, Veronica La Rocca, Giulio Francia, Gabriella Fontanini, Mauro Pistello, Giada Frenzilli, Daniela Giuliani, Marco Scarselli, Guido Bocci
Summary: This study investigates the role of MC4R in melanoma and the use of the selective antagonist ML in combination with vemurafenib. The results show that ML can inhibit melanoma cell proliferation and induce apoptosis through the inhibition of ERK1/2 phosphorylation and reduction of BCL-XL expression. The combination of vemurafenib and ML exhibits a synergistic effect in vitro and inhibits tumor growth in vivo without causing adverse effects.
BIOCHEMICAL PHARMACOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Conor J. Bloxham, Katina D. Hulme, Fabrizio Fierro, Christian Fercher, Cassandra L. Pegg, Shannon L. O'Brien, Simon R. Foster, Kirsty R. Short, Sebastian G. B. Furness, Melissa E. Reichelt, Masha Y. Niv, Walter G. Thomas
Summary: Bitter taste receptors (T2Rs) are a type of G protein-coupled receptors that allow humans to detect aversive and toxic substances. This study characterized the functional properties of previously identified T2Rs in human cardiac tissues and their naturally occurring polymorphisms. The results showed differences in signaling among different T2R variants, and revealed a potential association between the T2R50 Tyr203 variant and cardiovascular disease.
BIOCHEMICAL PHARMACOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Lu Chen, Huanying Shi, Wenxin Zhang, Yongjun Zhu, Haifei Chen, Zimei Wu, Huijie Qi, Jiafeng Liu, Mingkang Zhong, Xiaojin Shi, Tianxiao Wang, Qunyi Li
Summary: This study demonstrates that Carfilzomib exhibits potent anti-tumor activity against esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) by triggering mitochondrial apoptosis and reprogramming cellular metabolism. It has been identified that activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) plays a crucial role as a cellular target in ESCC cells treated with Carfilzomib. Overexpression of ATF3 effectively counteracts the effects of Carfilzomib on ESCC cell proliferation, apoptosis, and metabolic reprogramming. Furthermore, ATF3 mediates the anti-tumor activity of Carfilzomib, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic agent for ESCC.
BIOCHEMICAL PHARMACOLOGY
(2024)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Xing Zhang, Xiang Li, Ran Xia, Hong-Sheng Zhang
Summary: This review summarizes recent progress on the mechanisms of ferroptosis resistance in cancer and highlights the role of redox status and metabolism. Combination therapy for ferroptosis has great potential in treating resistant malignant tumors.
BIOCHEMICAL PHARMACOLOGY
(2024)