Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Adi Gabarin, Ludmila Yarmolinsky, Arie Budovsky, Boris Khalfin, Shimon Ben-Shabat
Summary: Cannabis plants have been used in medicine for a long time due to their various medicinal properties. However, few cannabis-related drugs have been approved. Research indicates that targeting the endocannabinoid system and other receptors with cannabinoid compounds shows promise for treating multiple medical conditions.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tomislav Pejcic, Zoran Todorovic, Sinisa Durasevic, Lazar Popovic
Summary: Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer worldwide, causing nearly 400,000 deaths each year. Various factors contribute to its development, including age, genetic mutations, ethnicity, diet, and inflammation. Modern treatment involves surgery or radiation therapy for localized tumors, while androgen deprivation therapy is used for metastasized cases. However, tumor cells can adapt to the castration level of testosterone and continue growing despite therapy. Understanding the biology of castration-resistant prostate cancer can lead to the development of new drugs to prolong patient survival.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Yifei Xie, Ke Yao, Zigang Dong, Kangdong Liu
Summary: Proliferating cancer cells have metabolic alterations and specific nutritional needs, making targeting metabolic abnormalities for cancer chemoprevention promising. Many FDA-approved anti-metabolic drugs have been shown to decrease tumor risk, inhibit tumor growth, or enhance the effect of chemotherapy drugs, with fewer side effects compared to chemotherapeutic drugs.
Article
Oncology
Claudia Marchetti, Francesca De Felice, Alessia Romito, Valentina Iacobelli, Carolina Maria Sassu, Giacomo Corrado, Caterina Ricci, Giovanni Scambia, Anna Fagotti
Summary: Ovarian cancer is a fatal malignancy with most patients experiencing recurrent and chemotherapy-resistant disease. Understanding the complexity of platinum-resistant OC, identifying reliable biomarkers, and developing innovative therapies are crucial in improving management. Efforts to overcome platinum resistance in OC represent a dynamic field with rapidly developing drugs and clinical trials.
SEMINARS IN CANCER BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Jianwei Chen, Yasheng Li, Siqi Wang, Hongfang Zhang, Yujie Du, Qiang Wu, Hong Wang
Summary: This paper presents a refined focus on 16 FDA-approved drugs that could be further developed as potential anti-C. difficile drugs. Only ursodeoxycholic acid has entered Phase IV clinical trials so far. Drug repurposing promotes the study of mechanistic and therapeutic strategies, providing new options for the development of next-generation anti-C. difficile agents.
DRUG DISCOVERY TODAY
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Michelle McMullen, Ainhoa Madariaga, Stephanie Lheureux
Summary: Platinum drugs are crucial in ovarian cancer treatment, but resistance is a major challenge, with complex mechanisms involving both intracellular and microenvironment factors. Clinical trials are essential for improving outcomes, and future research should focus on understanding the biology of the disease and enhancing quality of life and survival for patients.
SEMINARS IN CANCER BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lukasz Zapala, Kajetan Juszczak, Przemyslaw Adamczyk, Jan Adamowicz, Aleksander Slusarczyk, Tomasz Kluz, Marcin Misiek, Artur Rogowski, Magdalena Emilia Grzybowska, Klaudia Stangel-Wojcikiewicz, Mikolaj Piotr Zaborowski, Ewa Poleszak, Piotr Radziszewski, Andrzej Wrobel
Summary: The aim of this study was to determine whether the phytomedicine Urox (R) could reverse changes induced by retinyl acetate (RA) in bladder overactivity. The results showed that Urox (R) improved the affected biomarker levels, improved cystometric parameters, and normalized the expression of c-Fos in the neuronal voiding centers.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Supreeti Mahajan, Shweta Choudhary, Pravindra Kumar, Shailly Tomar
Summary: Researchers suggest that targeting host factors instead of viral enzymes is an alternative antiviral strategy that increases the threshold of antiviral resistance and provides broad-spectrum antiviral action against different viruses.
BIOORGANIC & MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jingjing Jia, Haiqiang Jin, Ding Nan, Weiwei Yu, Yining Huang
Summary: Stroke is a major cause of disability and death in adults worldwide. Mitochondrial dysfunction plays a crucial role in ischemic stroke, and preserving mitochondrial function is essential for neuronal survival and function maintenance. Damaged mitochondria can trigger neuronal apoptosis, emphasizing the importance of mitochondrial quality control processes in preventing cell death.
Review
Oncology
Massimo Papale, Giuseppe Stefano Netti, Giovanni Stallone, Elena Ranieri
Summary: This review discusses the regulation of RAF-kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP) expression and activity in tumors, as well as the potential advantages and potential of measuring RKIP levels in various biological fluids. The review focuses on the role of RKIP in different tumor types and explores the potential of RKIP dosing in accessible biological matrices. Identification of dysregulated markers and understanding of the regulatory mechanisms in cancer cell biology are essential for targeted therapies.
Article
Immunology
Rafael Alfaro, Helios Martinez-Banaclocha, Santiago Llorente, Victor Jimenez-Coll, Jose Antonio Galian, Carmen Botella, Maria Rosa Moya-Quiles, Antonio Parrado, Manuel Muro-Perez, Alfredo Minguela, Isabel Legaz, Manuel Muro
Summary: This study analyzed kidney biopsies with/without AMR to identify DEGs and potential therapeutic targets, as well as studied infiltrating leukocyte populations, new target drugs, and protein-protein interactions using various bioinformatics tools. These findings suggest the importance of IRF/STAT1 pathways in humoral kidney rejection, the role of NK cells and monocytes in graft damage during rejection, and the potential use of imatinib to improve kidney transplantation outcomes.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Qirong Lu, Pu Guo, Jingchao Guo, Irma Ares, Bernardo Lopez-Torres, Maria-Rosa Martinez-Larranaga, Xu Wang, Arturo Anadon, Maria-Aranzazu Martinez
Summary: Cardiac fibrosis is a pathogenic factor of many cardiovascular diseases, and PPARs have been shown to regulate its progression. This review systematically summarizes literature on cardiac fibrosis from 2010 to 2020, clarifying the role of PPARs and discussing treatment strategies against cardiac fibrosis based on PPAR activity.
PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Luca Rinaldi, Erica Vetrano, Barbara Rinaldi, Raffaele Galiero, Alfredo Caturano, Teresa Salvatore, Ferdinando Carlo Sasso
Summary: In recent years, significant progress has been made in the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma. In addition to traditional drugs such as sorafenib and lenvatinib, combination therapy has shown a significant improvement in survival rates. Second-line therapy options for HCC are expanding, while immune therapy, cancer vaccines, and epigenetic drugs show promise for treatment.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sourav Khanra, Preethi Reddy, Anna Gimenez-Palomo, Chun Hui J. Park, Bruna Panizzutti, Madeleine McCallum, Shyam Sundar Arumugham, Shreekantiah Umesh, Monojit Debnath, Basudeb Das, Ganesan Venkatasubramanian, Melanie Ashton, Alyna Turner, Olivia M. Dean, Ken Walder, Eduard Vieta, Lakshmi N. Yatham, Isabella Pacchiarotti, Y. C. Janardhan Reddy, Nishant Goyal, Muralidharan Kesavan, Lluc Colomer, Michael Berk, Jee Hyun Kim
Summary: The core feature of bipolar disorder is pathological disturbances in mood, along with disrupted thinking and behavior. Due to its complex and heterogeneous etiology, a range of genetic and environmental factors are involved. This complexity and poorly understood neurobiology make it challenging to develop drugs, resulting in limited treatment options, especially for bipolar depression. Therefore, novel approaches are needed, such as investigating the potential of trimetazidine as a treatment option for bipolar depression.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Alibek Kuanyshbek, Meng Wang, Asa Andersson, Marie Tuifua, Elizabeth E. Palmer, Rani K. Sachdev, Ting-Wei Mu, Irina Vetter, Angelo Keramidas
Summary: This research identified a new variant of GABAA receptor associated with seizures and studied its pathogenicity and response to anti-seizure drugs. The study found that the variant reduced receptor surface trafficking and peak GABA-gated currents, leading to shorter receptor activity duration. However, certain anti-seizure drugs were able to enhance the variant receptor expression and restore receptor function.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Zheng Zhong, David M. Virshup
MOLECULAR PHARMACOLOGY
(2020)
Review
Oncology
Zheng Zhong, Jia Yu, David M. Virshup, Babita Madan
CANCER AND METASTASIS REVIEWS
(2020)
Article
Oncology
Jia Yu, Permeen A. Mohamed Yusoff, Danielle T. J. Woutersen, Pamela Goh, Nathan Harmston, Ron Smits, David M. Epstein, David M. Virshup, Babita Madan
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Shiyang Liu, Nathan Harmston, Trudy Lee Glaser, Yunka Wong, Zheng Zhong, Babita Madan, David M. Virshup, Enrico Petretto
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rie Nygaard, Jia Yu, Jonathan Kim, Daniel R. Ross, Giacomo Parisi, Oliver B. Clarke, David M. Virshup, Filippo Mancia
Summary: Wnts are evolutionarily conserved ligands that regulate morphogenesis, cell fate, and stem cell renewal. The secretion of Wnts involves O-palmitoleation and loading onto WLS. The cryo-EM structure of palmitoleated human WNT8A in complex with WLS reveals molecular insights into their physiological implications and central mechanisms in animal body plan development and stem cell biology.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Amanpreet Kaur, Jun Yi Stanley Lim, Sugunavathi Sepramaniam, Siddhi Patnaik, Nathan Harmston, May Ann Lee, Enrico Petretto, David M. Virshup, Babita Madan
Summary: The study reveals that Wnt signaling plays a critical role in regulating DNA repair genes in stem cells and cancer, maintaining genomic integrity. Blocking Wnt signaling may sensitize cancers to radiation and other DNA damaging agents.
EMBO MOLECULAR MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Pathology
Kenon Chua, David M. Virshup, Eugene G. Odono, Kenneth Tou En Chang, Nicholas Jin Hong Tan, Susan Swee-Shan Hue, Arthur Yi Loong Sim, Victor Kwan Min Lee
Summary: The study evaluated WLS expression in bone and soft tissue tumours using the YJ5 antibody, finding strong YJ5 immunoreactivity in almost all osteosarcomas, chondroblastomas, osteoblastomas, and osteoid osteomas. This marker may be useful in determining the osteogenic lineage in malignant bone tumours, especially in distinguishing osteosarcomas with unusual features.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lucy Brunt, Gediminas Greicius, Sally Rogers, Benjamin D. Evans, David M. Virshup, Kyle C. A. Wedgwood, Steffen Scholpp
Summary: Vangl2 regulates Wnt ligand distribution by controlling cytoneme behavior, enhancing paracrine Wnt/β-catenin signaling. This study reveals the crucial role of Vangl2 in intercellular Wnt signal transduction through cytonemes.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Jia Yu, Pei-Ju Liao, Weijun Xu, Julie R. Jones, David B. Everman, Heather Flanagan-Steet, Thomas H. Keller, David M. Virshup
Summary: Wnt signaling is essential for normal development and a therapeutic target in cancer. PORCN is a crucial enzyme for the post-translational modification of Wnts and slowing the growth of Wnt-dependent cancers. A structural model of human PORCN has been developed to enhance the understanding of its catalytic mechanism and pharmacologic inhibition, facilitating the development of improved inhibitors.
JOURNAL OF CELL SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jia Yu, David M. Virshup
Summary: Wnts are lipid-modified signaling glycoproteins that play critical roles in development and homeostasis. Their function is regulated by post-translational modifications, such as O-linked palmitoleation. The abundance and activity of Wnt are controlled by intracellular recycling, ubiquitylation-mediated degradation, and cleavage by metalloprotease TIKI. Understanding these modifications provides insights into the regulation of Wnt signaling.
BIOCHEMICAL SOCIETY TRANSACTIONS
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Zheng Zhong, Nathan Harmston, Kris C. Wood, Babita Madan, David M. Virshup
Summary: Wnt signaling plays a crucial role in regulating the balance between stemness and differentiation. RNF43-mutant pancreatic cancers are resistant to PORCN inhibitors due to genetic alterations that silence EP300 and downregulate GATA6 expression, leading to a shift in phenotype and resistance to Wnt inhibition.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Biophysics
Clarisse Gravina Ricci, Jonathan M. Philpott, Rajesh Narasimamurthy, Alfred M. Freeberg, Sabrina R. Hunt, Lauren E. Yee, Rebecca S. Pelofsky, Sarvind Tripathi, David M. Virshup, Carrie L. Partch
BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2020)