Article
Cell Biology
Byunghyun Park, Mingyu Lee, Sang Doo Kim, Yu Sun Jeong, Ji Cheol Kim, Siyoung Yang, Hye Young Kim, Yoe-Sik Bae
Summary: The study demonstrates that WKYMVm stimulation of FPR1 in DCs suppresses the generation of T(H)1 and T(H)17 cells via IL-10 production, providing novel insight into the function of FPR1 in regulating CIA pathogenesis.
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Bhargavi Duvvuri, Al Anoud Baddour, Kevin D. Deane, Marie L. Feser, J. Lee Nelson, M. Kristen Demoruelle, Christian Lood
Summary: Elevated levels of total fMet in the circulation of RA patients are associated with disease activity, joint involvement, and the development of rheumatoid nodules. Total fMet levels can predict erosive disease and improve the prognostic ability of ACPA, suggesting a potential role as novel biomarkers for disease monitoring and prognosis in RA. Additionally, circulating mtNFPs induce neutrophil activation through FPR1-dependent mechanisms, indicating FPR1 as a potential therapeutic target for RA.
JOURNAL OF AUTOIMMUNITY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kirstie M. Rawson, Melissa M. Lacey, Peter N. Strong, Keith Miller
Summary: Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are potential alternatives to traditional antibiotics due to their rapid killing mechanism and low resistance potential. However, off-target toxicity limits their further development. This study aimed to improve the AMP Smp24 by performing single amino acid substitutions, enhancing its antimicrobial activity and reducing mammalian cytotoxicity.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Byeong Jun Jeon, Nayeon Yoo, Jeong Do Kim, Jaeyoung Choi
Summary: This study identified highly conserved protein sequence profiles within the genus Streptomyces and discovered a highly conserved sequence with antimicrobial activity against bacterial and fungal plant pathogens. This sequence could be a potential antimicrobial agent for controlling plant diseases.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Ilaria Mormile, Francesca Wanda Rossi, Nella Prevete, Francescopaolo Granata, Valentina Pucino, Amato de Paulis
Summary: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease involving innate immunity mechanisms. Formyl peptide receptors (FPRs) play a key role in modulating inflammatory responses in RA. Research suggests a potential association between FPRs and clinic-pathologic parameters in RA patients.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Letizia Crocetti, Claudia Vergelli, Gabriella Guerrini, Maria Paola Giovannoni, Liliya N. Kirpotina, Andrei Khlebnikov, Carla Ghelardini, Lorenzo Di Cesare Mannelli, Elena Lucarini, Igor A. Schepetkin, Mark T. Quinn
Summary: Research has shown the potential value of N-formyl peptide receptors for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, with demonstrated efficacy in animal models. Further studies on pyridinone derivatives, supported by molecular modeling and pharmacological tests in rat models, have shown promising biological results.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Camila Maurmann de Souza, Allan Pires da Silva, Nelson Gomes Oliveira Junior, Osmel Fleitas Martinez, Octavio Luiz Franco
Summary: Increasing levels of resistance to antibiotics have led to the search for new therapeutic options. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have shown potential against Klebsiella pneumoniae, a highly resistant bacterium. This article provides an overview of recent developments in AMPs against K. pneumoniae, including their different designs and mechanisms, as well as their potential in combination with conventional antibiotics and against biofilms. The challenges and perspectives for applying AMPs in clinical practice are also discussed.
TRENDS IN PHARMACOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Daniela Ariaudo, Francesca Cavalieri, Antonio Rinaldi, Ana Aguilera, Matilde Lopez, Hilda Garay Perez, Ariel Felipe, Maria del Carmen Dominguez, Odalys Ruiz, Gillian Martinez, Mariano Venanzi
Summary: In this study, porous polysaccharide-based microsponges based on crosslinked alginate polymers were developed and characterized. These microsponges showed efficient loading and sustained release of a therapeutic peptide, suggesting their potential as a carrier for controlled peptide delivery.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Julio Cesar Moreira Brito, William Gustavo Lima, Jarbas Magalhaes Resende, Debora Cristina Sampaio de Assis, Daiane Boff, Valbert Nascimento Cardoso, Flavio Almeida Amaral, Elaine Maria Souza-Fagundes, Simone Odilia Antunes Fernandes, Maria Elena de Lima
Summary: This study evaluated the toxicity and in vitro and in vivo activities of PEGylated LyeTx I-b on pneumonia caused by multi-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii. PEGylated LyeTx I-b maintained its antimicrobial activity, exhibited anti-biofilm activity, synergistic effects with commercial antimicrobial agents, and showed reduced toxicity compared to non-PEGylated LyeTx I-b. This suggests that PEGylated LyeTx I-b is a promising candidate against multidrug-resistant A. baumannii-caused pneumonia.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hong-Yu Liang, Huan-Xin Yin, Shu-Fang Li, Yong Chen, Ying-Jie Zhao, Wei Hu, Ren-Peng Zhou
Summary: This article introduces the major calcium-permeable channels involved in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and explains the specific roles and mechanisms of these calcium-permeable channels in the pathogenesis of RA. It provides more comprehensive ideas and targets for the treatment of RA.
Review
Immunology
Qi Jiang, Xin Wang, Enyu Huang, Qiao Wang, Chengping Wen, Guocan Yang, Liwei Lu, Dawei Cui
Summary: Inflammasome is a cellular complex involved in the innate inflammatory response, and its excessive or abnormal activation has been implicated in various diseases. In rheumatoid arthritis, inflammasome activation plays a key role in immune dysregulation and joint inflammation. This review summarizes recent research on inflammasome activation and its effector mechanisms in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis, as well as potential therapeutic strategies.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Jiena Wu, Haiyun Zhang, Xiaoxin Chen, Jinwei Chai, Yunrui Hu, Weichen Xiong, Wancheng Lu, Maolin Tian, Xin Chen, Xueqing Xu
Summary: The newly discovered frog skin defense peptide FM-CATH exhibits antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties in vitro and in vivo, showing potential effectiveness against sepsis and serving as a promising agent for its treatment.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kyung Rae Ko, Hyunil Lee, Soo-Hong Han, Wooyeol Ahn, Do Kyung Kim, Il-Su Kim, Bo Sung Jung, Soonchul Lee
Summary: This review provides an overview of the role of substance P and the neurokinin-1 receptor in musculoskeletal disorders and highlights their potential as therapeutic targets.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Daniel J. Lightwood, Rebecca J. Munro, John Porter, David McMillan, Bruce Carrington, Alison Turner, Anthony Scott-Tucker, Elizabeth S. Hickford, Antje Schmidt, David Fox, Alison Maloney, Tom Ceska, Tim Bourne, James O'Connell, Alastair D. G. Lawson
Summary: TNF can be inhibited by small molecules that stabilize the TNF trimer in an asymmetric conformation. The authors also developed a monoclonal antibody that selectively binds this inactive form of TNF, enabling both target engagement assessment and structural characterization of TNF binding to TNF receptor 1.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Leman Buzoglu Kurnaz, Swagatam Barman, Xiaoming Yang, Claire Fisher, F. Wayne Outten, Prakash Nagarkatti, Mitzi Nagarkatti, Chuanbing Tang
Summary: Inspired by the facial amphiphilic nature and antimicrobial efficacy of antimicrobial peptides, this study developed a new class of facial amphiphilic bicyclic naphthoic acid derivatives that were attached to poly(glycidyl methacrylate). These polymers exhibited potent antibacterial activity against multi-drug resistant gram-negative pathogens and showed low hemolysis and high antimicrobial selectivity. They were also effective in eradicating biofilms and killing dormant cells, suggesting a mechanism of action through membrane disruption. Overall, these facial amphiphiles have the potential to address antimicrobial resistance in both planktonic and biofilm-related infections.