Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Carlos Barrera-Avalos, Pedro Briceno, Daniel Valdes, Monica Imarai, Elias Leiva-Salcedo, Leonel E. Rojo, Luis A. Milla, Juan Pablo Huidobro-Toro, Claudia Robles-Planells, Alejandro Escobar, Francesco Di Virgilio, Gabriel Moron, Daniela Sauma, Claudio Acuna-Castillo
Summary: The research highlights the significance of cross-dressing as a non-conventional antigen presentation mechanism, and demonstrates the crucial role of the P2X7 receptor in inducing cross-dressing between apoptotic cells and bone marrow dendritic cells.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Sergei A. Kozlovskiy, Evgeny A. Pislyagin, Ekaterina S. Menchinskaya, Ekaterina A. Chingizova, Yuriy E. Sabutski, Sergey G. Polonik, Galina N. Likhatskaya, Dmitry L. Aminin
Summary: In this study, 1,4-naphthoquinone thioglucoside derivatives U-286 and U-548 were found to inhibit inflammation induced by ATP/LPS via P2X7 receptors. These compounds were able to inhibit calcium influx and reactive oxygen species production, and showed antioxidant activity in mouse brain homogenate. They also decreased COX-2 enzyme activity, reduced the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and protected macrophage cells against the toxic effects of ATP and LPS.
Article
Immunology
Pramod Kumar Gupta, Priyanka Jahagirdar, Devavrat Tripathi, Padma V. Devarajan, Savita Kulkarni
Summary: The rapid emergence of antibiotic resistance in tuberculosis has led to limited resources for treating multi drug resistant (MDR) cases, necessitating the development of novel therapeutics. Curcumin, the active ingredient in turmeric, has been found to have anti-TB activity against MDR strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) in macrophages. In this study, it was discovered that curcumin treatment induced autophagy and apoptosis in uninfected and MTB-infected macrophages, leading to enhanced intracellular killing of MTB. Furthermore, encapsulating curcumin in polymeric nanoparticles resulted in improved bioavailability and synergistic effects with the drug isoniazid in combating MTB. These findings highlight the potential of curcumin-based host directed therapies as a valuable approach in the fight against tuberculosis.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Raul G. Barletta, John P. Bannantine, Judith R. Stabel, Ezhumalai Muthukrishnan, Dirk K. Anderson, Enakshy Dutta, Vamsi Manthena, Mostafa Hanafy, Denise K. Zinniel
Summary: This study developed a model cell culture system to screen MAP mutants with vaccine potential for apoptosis. The results showed that deletion mutants of MAP strains induced more cell death, consistent with previous experiments on bovine macrophages. These deletion mutants may be good vaccine candidates.
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Milan Urban, Veronika Slachtova, Lucie Brulikova
Summary: Mycobacterial energy metabolism, particularly the oxidative phosphorylation pathway, has become increasingly important as a molecular target for the development of new anti-TB drugs. Small organic molecules targeting this pathway have shown promising activity against latent and resistant TB strains, with FDA-approved inhibitors confirming the value of targeting mycobacterial energy metabolism.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Elena De Marchi, Anna Pegoraro, Elena Adinolfi
Summary: The P2X7 receptor, known for its role in immune responses, has emerged as a critical factor in promoting cancer. Studies have shown a correlation between P2X7 alterations and lymphoproliferative and myeloproliferative diseases. Recent research suggests that P2X7 and its genetic variants could be new biomarkers in hematological malignancies, and that both P2X7 antagonists and agonists could be potential therapeutic tools.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Shuxin Jiang, Huanan Yin, Xiaohui Qi, Weiguo Song, Weiwei Shi, Jiaojiao Mou, Jie Yang
Summary: Fucosylated chondroitin sulfate from Stichopus chloronotus has immune activation effects on RAW 264.7 macrophages, promoting cell activity and cytokine production. This potentially promising immunomodulator may improve macrophage function through NF-kappa B pathway.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Stephanie Alexia Cristina Silva Santos, Pedro Muanis Persechini, Bianca Monteiro Henriques-Santos, Victoria Gabriela Bello-Santos, Newton G. Castro, Julia Costa de Sousa, Fernando Ariel Genta, Marcelo Felippe Santiago, Robson Coutinho-Silva, Luiz Eduardo Baggio Savio, Eleonora Kurtenbach
Summary: The activation of P2X7 receptor in immune cells is associated with lysosomal dysfunction and leakage. This study reveals that the P2X7 receptor and pannexin-1 channels mediate calcium influx, leading to the activation of specific ion channels on the membranes of endosomes and lysosomes, resulting in lysosomal dysfunction and cathepsin release.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Hamish S. S. Sutherland, Guo-Liang Lu, Amy S. T. G. Tong, Daniel M. Conole, Scott G. U. Franzblau, Anna B. Upton, Manisha U. D. Lotlikar, Christopher B. J. Cooper, Brian D. A. Palmer, Peter J. Choi, William A. Denny
Summary: This study reports tetrahydronaphthalene amides (THNAs) as a new class of ATP synthase inhibitors that effectively inhibit the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb). The design, synthesis, and structure-activity relationship studies of THNA analogues were conducted, and several compounds with potent in vitro M.tb growth inhibition were identified. Pharmacokinetic and off-target profiling studies were also performed to evaluate the potential of these THNAs as therapeutic options for TB.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kate Dunning, Adeline Martz, Francisco Andres Peralta, Federico Cevoli, Eric Boue-Grabot, Vincent Compan, Fanny Gautherat, Patrick Wolf, Thierry Chataigneau, Thomas Grutter
Summary: Activation of P2X7 receptors leads to various physiological responses, such as the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and modulation of cell death. Current facilitation and macropore formation involve functional complexes that increase P2X7 open probability and mediate large molecule permeation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Cheng Cheng, Jiaoyao Ma, Xiaoling Lu, Panpan Zhang, Xiaohan Wang, Luo Guo, Peifan Li, Ying Wei, Geng-Lin Li, Xia Gao, Yuqiu Zhang, Renjie Chai, Huawei Li, Shan Sun
Summary: Aminoglycoside antibiotics (AGAs) are commonly used in life-threatening infections but can cause hearing loss by accumulating in cochlear hair cells (HCs). This study demonstrated that the P2X7 receptor, which is activated by high ATP concentrations, may be involved in the entry of AGAs into HCs. Knocking out the P2X7 receptor protected HCs against neomycin-induced injury and inhibited oxidative stress and apoptosis in the cochlea. Therefore, the P2X7 receptor could be a potential therapeutic target for auditory HC protection.
NEUROBIOLOGY OF DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Fabio Grassi, Benedetta De Ponte Conti
Summary: eATP, as a danger-associated molecular pattern, plays a role in immune response by stimulating P2 receptors. However, its impact in the tumor microenvironment is complex and not well-established.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Anna Pegoraro, Elena De Marchi, Manuela Ferracin, Elisa Orioli, Michele Zanoni, Cristian Bassi, Anna Tesei, Marina Capece, Emi Dika, Massimo Negrini, Francesco Di Virgilio, Elena Adinolfi
Summary: Research has shown that the overexpression of P2X7 is closely correlated with reduced overall survival in patients with metastatic malignant melanoma. Inhibiting the P2X7 receptor in melanoma cells can effectively suppress growth, migration, and metastasis. P2X7 stimulation triggers the release of microvesicles and exosomes containing miRNA from melanoma cells, suggesting a potential mechanism for the pro-metastatic activity of P2X7.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Yan Liang, Xiaoping Li, Yourong Yang, Li Xiao, Yumei Liang, Jie Mi, Yong Xue, Wenping Gong, Lan Wang, Jie Wang, Junxian Zhang, Yingchang Shi, Bizhen Peng, Xiaoyang Chen, Weiguo Zhao, Xueqiong Wu
Summary: This study compared the effects of MTB ag85ab and 7 latent DNA vaccines on clearing and preventing activation of latent MTB in a mouse model of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). The results showed that all vaccine groups significantly reduced the bacterial count and lesion degree in the lungs of mice, and induced antigen-specific cellular immune responses. Among them, MTB ag85ab and rv2659c, rv1733c DNA vaccines showed the most significant preventive effect.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Valerie J. Brock, Insa M. A. Wolf, Marco Er-Lukowiak, Niels Lory, Tobias Staehler, Lena-Marie Woelk, Hans-Willi Mittrucker, Christa E. Mueller, Friedrich Koch-Nolte, Bjoern Rissiek, Rene Werner, Andreas H. Guse, Bjoern-Philipp Diercks
Summary: The purinergic cation channels P2X4 and P2X7 play a role in the formation of initial Ca2+ microdomains in T cells within a short time after activation. Their activation is crucial for T cell activation.
Article
Biology
Larissa Mattos Feijo, Viviane Abreu de Andrade, Robson Coutinho-Silva
Summary: The digestive system is an important topic in biological science teaching, but students' knowledge on the topic often does not meet recommended levels. A study has shown that a practical activity can help students reconstruct accurate concepts of the digestive system and overcome epistemological obstacles.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL EDUCATION
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Rodrigo Scopel, Manuel A. Falcao, Angelica Regina Cappellari, Fernanda B. Morrone, Silvia S. Guterres, Eduardo Cassel, Andrea M. Kasko, Rubem M. F. Vargas
Summary: In this study, vitamin D(3) functionalized hybrid lipid-polymer nanoparticles were synthesized to target melanoma cells. The nanoparticles showed efficient cellular uptake and hold promise as a delivery vehicle for melanoma treatment.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF POLYMERIC MATERIALS AND POLYMERIC BIOMATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Thamiris Becker Scheffel, Liliana Rockenbach, Fernanda Fernandes Cruz, Luiza Wilges Kist, Mauricio Reis Bogo, Juliete Nathali Scholl, Fabricio Figueiro, Guido Lenz, Fernanda Bueno Morrone
Summary: This study reveals the regulatory role of extracellular ATPase activity in the cytotoxicity and migration process of malignant gliomas.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Surgery
Rodrigo Benedetti Gassen, Thiago J. Borges, Maria Jose Perez-Saez, Hengcheng Zhang, Ayman Al Jurdi, Laura Llinas-Mallol, Bruno Aoyama, Mauricio Lima, Julio Pascual, Peter T. Sage, Naoka Murakami, Leonardo V. Riella
Summary: Antibody-mediated rejection is a major cause of long-term graft loss in kidney transplant patients, and patients receiving anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) treatment showed an increase in T follicular helper (Tfh) cells at 6 months post-transplant. In mouse experiments, ATG-treated animals had an expansion of Tfh cells, increased germinal center B cells, and higher levels of antigen-specific antibodies. ATG depletion favors Tfh expansion, enhancing antibody-mediated response.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION
(2022)
Letter
Urology & Nephrology
Ayman Al Jurdi, Rodrigo B. Gassen, Thiago J. Borges, Isadora T. Lape, Leela Morena, Orhan Efe, Zhabiz Solhjou, Rania El Fekih, Christa Deban, Brigid Bohan, Vikram Pattanayak, Camille N. Kotton, Jamil R. Azzi, Leonardo V. Riella
KIDNEY INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Ayman Al Jurdi, Rodrigo B. Gassen, Thiago J. Borges, Zhabiz Solhjou, Frank E. Hullekes, Isadora T. Lape, Orhan Efe, Areej Alghamdi, Poojan Patel, John Y. Choi, Mostafa T. Mohammed, Brigid Bohan, Vikram Pattanayak, Ivy Rosales, Paolo Cravedi, Camille N. Kotton, Jamil R. Azzi, Leonardo V. Riella
Summary: This study investigated the immune responses of kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination and found that there was no significant alloimmune response. Approximately half of the recipients who developed anti-wild-type spike antibodies showed neutralizing responses against the Delta variant, and there was no association between anti-viral humoral and cellular responses.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Andreza Barbosa Silva Cavalcanti, Mayara Dos Santos Maia, Pedro Thiago Ramalho de Figueiredo, Renata Priscila Barros de Menezes, Alex France Messias Monteiro, Roseana Araujo Ramos Meireles, Gabriela Cristina Soares Rodrigues, Ana Rita Rodrigues de Almeida Silva, Jociano da Silva Lins, Laisa Vilar Cordeiro, Valnes S. Rodrigues Junior, Ana Paula O. T. Castelo Branco, Maria de Fatima Agra, Zoe L. Sessions, Eugene N. Muratov, Luciana Scotti, Marcelo Sobral da Silva, Vicente Carlos de Oliveira Costa, Josean Fechine Tavares, Marcus Tullius Scotti
Summary: Plants of the Hyptidinae subtribe, such as Mesosphaerum sidifolium, have been found to contain bioactive molecules with potential as new drug candidates. In this study, the chemical composition of diterpenes isolated from M. sidifolium was analyzed using NMR spectral data. In silico modeling predicted 48 diterpenes with potential biological activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In vitro testing revealed that four compounds showed antimicrobial activity against M. tuberculosis, with Pomiferin D and 1 exhibiting the strongest effect.
NATURAL PRODUCT RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Maysa O. A. Oliveira, Alvaro R. Leonco, Vinicius B. Pavani, Isadora R. Barbosa, Maria M. Campos
Summary: Periodontal disease (PD) and metabolic syndrome (MS) can negatively influence each other, increasing the risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVD). This study found that omega-3 supplementation can have beneficial effects in inhibiting inflammation, improving blood glucose and triglyceride levels in the context of co-induced PD and MS.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Josiane Delgado Paz, Nathalia Denise de Moura Sperotto, Alessandro Silva Ramos, Kenia Pissinate, Valnes da Silva Rodrigues Junior, Bruno Lopes Abbadi, Ana Flavia Borsoi, Raoni Scheibler Rambo, Ana Carolina Corso Minotto, Adilio da Silva Dadda, Luiza Galina, Fernanda Souza Macchi Hopf, Mauro Neves Muniz, Leonardo Kras Borges Martinelli, Candida Deves Roth, Rodrigo Braccini Madeira Silva, Marcia Alberton Perello, Alexia de Matos Czeczot, Christiano Ev Neves, Lovaine Silva Duarte, Mariana Leyser, Silvia Dias de Oliveira, Cristiano Valim Bizarro, Pablo Machado, Luiz Augusto Basso
Summary: A series of 4-aminoquinolines were synthesized and evaluated for their antitubercular activity. These compounds showed potent inhibitory activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis and were effective against multidrug-resistant strains. Additionally, they exhibited satisfactory absorption properties, low toxicity, and demonstrated activity in an intracellular model of tuberculosis infection. Treatment with a selected compound showed a bacteriostatic effect in a murine model of tuberculosis. These findings suggest that this chemical class could be potential candidates for the development of tuberculosis treatments.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Flavia Tasmin Techera Antunes, Maria Martha Campos, Vanice de Paula Ricardo Carvalho, Claudio Antonio da Silva Junior, Luiz Alexandre Viana Magno, Alessandra Hubner de Souza, Marcus Vinicius Gomez
Summary: Voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) are being investigated as treatment targets for pain conditions. This review provides an overview of naturally based and synthetic VGCC blockers, highlighting new evidence on drugs targeting VGCC subtypes and mixed targets with both pre-clinical and clinical analgesic effects.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Betina B. G. Crescente, Natalia V. M. Bisatto, Gabriel Rubensam, Guilherme G. Fritscher, Maria M. Campos
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the presence of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) in dentofacial deformity (DFD) patients and correlate these findings with quality of life (QoL) and salivary levels of biochemical markers. The results showed that DFD patients had a positive diagnosis for TMD and exhibited poorer outcomes in pain, functional, and psychological dimensions. The QoL evaluation demonstrated poorer outcomes for DFD individuals, accompanied by higher salivary levels of biochemical markers. These findings highlight the relevance of TMD in DFD patients and its impact on QoL and biochemical markers.
Review
Immunology
Karina Lima, Guilherme T. Ribas, Leonardo V. Riella, Thiago J. Borges
Summary: The regulatory arm of the immune system is crucial for maintaining immune tolerance and preventing excessive immune responses. While most studies have focused on T cells and the adaptive immune system, the innate immune system also has inhibitory receptors that can counteract activating signals and suppress immune responses. Investigating the role of these innate inhibitory receptors in solid organ transplantation could lead to new therapeutic approaches.
TRANSPLANTATION REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Carla Fernanda Furtado Gardani, Eduardo Luiz Pedrazza, Victoria Santos Paz, Gabriele Goulart Zanirati, Jaderson Costa da Costa, Roberta Andrejew, Henning Ulrich, Juliete Nathali Scholl, Fabricio Figueiro, Liliana Rockenbach, Fernanda Bueno Morrone
Summary: This study investigated the expression of CD39 and CD73 enzymes in prostate cancer and their potential as therapeutic targets. The results showed higher levels of CD39 expression compared to CD73 in tissue samples and a correlation with Gleason score. In blood samples, CD39 expression in extracellular vesicles was significantly increased and positively correlated with ADP hydrolysis and Gleason score.
