Article
Immunology
Roberto Rodrigues Ferreira, Elen Mello de Souza, Glaucia Vilar-Pereira, Wim M. S. Degrave, Rayane da Silva Abreu, Marcelo Meuser-Batista, Nilma Valeria Caldeira Ferreira, Steve Ledbeter, Robert H. Barker, Sabine Bailly, Jean-Jacques Feige, Joseli Lannes-Vieira, Tania C. De Araujo-Jorge, Mariana Caldas Waghabi
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the effect of TGF-beta neutralization on T. cruzi infection. The results showed that treatment with the 1D11 antibody greatly reduced cardiomyocyte invasion by T. cruzi and the number of parasites per infected cell. 1D11 treatment also reduced cardiac fibrosis and improved cardiac performance.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Roberto Rodrigues Ferreira, Mariana Caldas Waghabi, Sabine Bailly, Jean-Jacques Feige, Alejandro M. Hasslocher-Moreno, Roberto M. Saraiva, Tania C. Araujo-Jorge
Summary: The anti-inflammatory cytokine TGF-beta plays a crucial role in Chagas disease, affecting the infection of Trypanosoma cruzi and the immune response and inflammation in the host. Inhibitors of the TGF-beta signaling pathway show promise as a potential therapeutic approach, and the level of TGF-beta in serum can serve as a biomarker of clinical relevance. Furthermore, TGF-beta polymorphisms are associated with susceptibility to Chagas disease.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Peng Qi, Qian Zhai, Xiquan Zhang
Summary: Inhibition of RUNX1 can alleviate cardiac enlargement, improve ejection fraction and fractional shortening in a heart failure animal model. It also reduces myocardial fibrosis and cell apoptosis, potentially through activation of the TGF-beta/Smads signaling pathway.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Edyta Dzialo, Marcin Czepiel, Karolina Tkacz, Maciej Siedlar, Gabriela Kania, Przemyslaw Blyszczuk
Summary: The study revealed that WNT/beta-catenin signaling promotes the transition of cardiac fibroblasts to myofibroblasts by enhancing IL-11 production in TGF-beta-mediated pathways, while non-canonical WNT5a co-activation suppressed TGF-beta-induced collagen I production.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Thanachai Methatham, Ryozo Nagai, Kenichi Aizawa
Summary: The accumulation of fibrosis in cardiac tissues is a major cause of heart failure, with activated fibroblasts and myofibroblasts playing a key role. TGF-beta signaling pathways and the control of TGF-beta by KLF5 have been found to be important in cardiac fibrosis. Understanding metabolic alterations, particularly in glycolysis, is essential in explaining fibrosis. However, the interplay among TGF-beta, KLF5, and glycolysis in fibrosis pathogenesis is still unclear.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jeff Yat-Fai Chung, Max Kam-Kwan Chan, Jane Siu-Fan Li, Alex Siu-Wing Chan, Philip Chiu-Tsun Tang, Kam-Tong Leung, Ka-Fai To, Hui-Yao Lan, Patrick Ming-Kuen Tang
Summary: TGF-beta signaling plays crucial roles in inflammatory diseases by regulating immunocytes in tissue fibrosis and accelerating tumor development in cancer. The pleiotropic nature of TGF-beta signaling in generating fibrotic TME, containing CAFs and matrix proteins, remains largely unclear, despite recent studies demonstrating its clinical implications in cancer.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Cheol Ho Park, Tae-Hyun Yoo
Summary: Kidney fibrosis is a common mechanism in the progression of chronic kidney disease, and TGF-beta 1 plays a key role in driving fibrosis. However, blocking the TGF-beta 1 signaling pathway as a therapeutic strategy for CKD management has shown unsatisfactory results.
Review
Oncology
Jun Ho Lee, Joan Massague
Summary: TGF-beta plays a crucial role in development, wound healing, fibrosis, and cancer by inducing epithelial-mesenchymal transitions (EMTs). EMTs are regulated by multiple signaling inputs, with RAS-MAPK signaling frequently required for EMT induction by TGF-beta. Recent studies have revealed the molecular basis for the cooperation between the TGF-beta-SMAD and RAS-MAPK pathways in EMT induction, offering insights into EMT and progenitor cell differentiation during gastrulation and cancer metastasis.
SEMINARS IN CANCER BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Li-Li Ren, Xiao-Jun Li, Ting-Ting Duan, Zheng-Hai Li, Jun-Zheng Yang, Ya-Mei Zhang, Liang Zou, Hua Miao, Ying-Yong Zhao
Summary: Fibrosis is the excessive deposition of extracellular matrix components in the processes of tissue repair, causing organ structural integrity and functional impairment. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is a key factor in promoting fibrosis by activating profibrotic signals. This review discusses the role of TGF-beta signaling in fibrotic organs, as well as potential therapeutic options for targeting tissue fibrosis through modulating TGF-beta signaling.
CHEMICO-BIOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
An-Hui Wang, Hao-Yue Ma, Yan-Liang Yi, Su-Jie Zhu, Zhe-Wei Yu, Jie Zhu, Si Mei, Shamuha Bahetibike, You-Qun Lu, Li-Ting Huang, Ruo-Yao Yang, Su-Long Xiao, Rong Qi
Summary: Compound B, a derivative of oleanolic acid, has been found to have stronger inhibition of PTP1B activity and effectively alleviate cardiac fibrosis through regulation of the AMPK/TGF-beta/Smads signaling pathway, compared to oleanolic acid.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Brittany A. Potz, Ashraf A. Sabe, Sharif A. Sabe, Isabella J. Lawandy, M. Ruhul Abid, Richard T. Clements, Frank W. Sellke
Summary: The study suggests that calpain inhibition can reduce collagen formation in myocardial tissue under conditions of hypercholesterolemia and chronic myocardial ischemia, potentially through modulation of the Jak/STAT/MCP-1 signaling pathway.
JOURNAL OF THORACIC AND CARDIOVASCULAR SURGERY
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Chenchen Zhuang, Ziyi Guo, Jumo Zhu, Wenjuan Wang, Runmin Sun, Miaomiao Qi, Qiongying Wang, Xin Fan, Runxin Ma, Jing Yu
Summary: VO-OHpic promotes M2 macrophage polarization and inhibits M1 macrophage inflammatory response by activating the PI3K/AKT/TGF-β/Smad2/3 pathway, thereby attenuating cardiac fibrosis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CARDIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Kadiam C. Venkata Subbaiah, Jiangbin Wu, Wai Hong Wilson Tang, Peng Yao
Summary: FAM114A1 is upregulated in failing human and mouse hearts and plays a critical role in cardiac remodeling by regulating angiotensin II signaling and activating cardiac fibroblasts and other cardiac cells.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Chun Hao Ong, Chau Ling Tham, Hanis Hazeera Harith, Nazmi Firdaus, Daud Ahmad Israf
Summary: TGF-beta plays critical roles in fibrotic diseases, and inhibiting its activity has therapeutic potential. Researchers have developed various strategies to modulate TGF-beta activity, such as antisense oligonucleotides, neutralizing monoclonal antibodies, and small molecule inhibitors.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Xiaocheng Cheng, Liyou Wang, Xuesong Wen, Lei Gao, Guoxing Li, Guanglei Chang, Shu Qin, Dongying Zhang
Summary: The study investigated the role of TNAP in cardiac fibrosis after myocardial infarction, finding that high serum TNAP levels were associated with increased mortality in patients with ischemic heart disease and MI. The findings suggest that TNAP plays a crucial role in cardiac fibrosis by activating the TGF-beta/Smads and ERK1/2 signaling pathways.
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Nicolas Ricard, Sabine Bailly, Christophe Guignabert, Michael Simons
Summary: Endothelial cells play a crucial role in controlling oxygen, nutrient exchange, and cellular trafficking between blood and organs. The quiescent state of endothelium is actively regulated and constantly receives important signalling inputs. Understanding organ-specific pathways and their disruption in vascular pathologies can lead to the development of preventive strategies and new therapeutic targets.
NATURE REVIEWS CARDIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Paula Finamore-Araujo, Amanda Faier-Pereira, Carlos Ramon do Nascimento Brito, Eldrinei Gomes Peres, Klenicy Kazumy de Lima Yamaguchi, Renata Trotta Barroso Ferreira, Otacilio Cruz Moreira
Summary: Oral transmission of T. cruzi infection has become the most relevant mechanism in Brazil, with contaminated food or beverages being a major source of Chagas disease cases. A molecular method has been developed to detect and quantify T. cruzi DNA in acai berries, with the potential for high sensitivity and fast results to aid in the epidemiology, control, and surveillance of Chagas disease outbreaks.
Review
Anatomy & Morphology
Agnes Desroches-Castan, Emmanuelle Tillet, Claire Bouvard, Sabine Bailly
Summary: BMPs are a group of cytokines that play diverse roles in the body. In humans, there are 15 BMP ligands that initiate cellular signaling by forming complexes with specific receptors. Certain receptors have been directly linked to rare vascular diseases.
DEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS
(2022)
Review
Microbiology
Natalia Vacani-Martins, Marcelo Meuser-Batista, Carina de Lima Pereira dos Santos, Alejandro Marcel Hasslocher-Moreno, Andrea Henriques-Pons
Summary: Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, was described over a century ago by Dr. Carlos Chagas in Brazil. Liver involvement, particularly hepatomegaly, is a common clinical sign and is more pronounced in cases of oral infection found in the Amazon region. Despite efforts to understand the mechanisms leading to cardiac and digestive manifestations in chronic patients, the importance of liver involvement and hepatic immune response in disease progression has not received much attention.
Article
Infectious Diseases
Paula Finamore-Araujo, Gabriel Lucio Silva da Fonseca, Cecilia Stahl Vieira, Daniele Pereira de Castro, Otacilio Cruz Moreira
Summary: In this study, a new Real-Time PCR with Reverse Transcription (RT-qPCR) was developed to determine T. cruzi viability in R. prolixus samples. The amplification signals of DNA and mRNA were compared to analyze the colonization kinetics of T. cruzi in experimentally infected R. prolixus. The results suggest that RNA can serve as a molecular viability marker for parasite activity and contribute to understanding the dynamics of parasite infection in invertebrate hosts.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Virology
Andre Luiz N. Parcial, Natalia Gedeao Salomao, Elyzabeth Avvad Portari, Laiza Vianna Arruda, Jorge Jose de Carvalho, Herbert Leonel de Matos Guedes, Thayana Camara Conde, Maria Elizabeth Moreira, Marcelo Meuser Batista, Marciano Viana Paes, Kissila Rabelo, Adriano Gomes-Silva
Summary: This study reports the clinical history of five pregnant women infected with SARS-CoV-2 and investigates the placental alterations caused by the virus. The findings reveal significant pathological changes in the infected placentas, including vascular abnormalities, fibrin deposits, and inflammatory responses. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on placental tissue and vertical transmission.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Natalia Lins da Silva-Gomes, Leonardo Alexandre de Souza Ruivo, Claudia Moreira, Marcelo Meuser-Batista, Cristiane Franca da Silva, Denise da Gama Jaen Batista, Stenio Fragoso, Gabriel Melo de Oliveira, Maria de Nazare Correia Soeiro, Otacilio C. Moreira
Summary: In this study, genetically modified strains of Trypanosoma cruzi were used to evaluate the role of NTPDases in parasite infectivity. The results showed that parasites overexpressing TcNTPDase-1 had higher infectivity, while hemi-knockout parasites had lower infectivity and no significant electrocardiographic changes. These findings highlight the potential of NTPDases as a therapeutic target for Chagas disease.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Carolina Valenca-Barbosa, Paula Finamore-Araujo, Otacilio Cruz Moreira, Marcus Vinicius Niz Alvarez, Andre Borges-Veloso, Silvia Ermelinda Barbosa, Lileia Diotaiuti, Rita de Cassia Moreira de Souza
Summary: This study characterizes the parasitic and epidemiological aspects of the sylvatic population of Triatoma melanica in rural areas of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The findings highlight the need for surveillance and control measures for this vector species.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
L. Chomette, E. Hupkens, M. Romitti, L. Dewachter, J. L. Vachiery, S. Bailly, S. Costagliola, G. Smits, E. Tillet, Antoine Bondue
Summary: This study describes a pediatric case of PAH with a novel GDF2 mutation, resulting in the absence of circulating mature BMP9 and mature BMP9-10 heterodimers in the patient's plasma. Further in vitro studies showed that the mutation hampers the correct processing of BMP9, leading to the secretion of inactive pro-BMP9. Heterozygous carriers of the variant were asymptomatic, similar to previous reports.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS PART A
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Veronica G. Mendes, Lorena Rimolo, Ana Carolina B. de Lima, Roberto R. Ferreira, Luciano S. Oliveira, Lindice M. Nisimura, Samuel I. M. Horita, Andrea R. Costa, Gilberto Marcelo S. da Silva, Luiz Henrique C. Sangenis, Fernanda S. N. S. Mendes, Andrea S. Sousa, Henrique H. Veloso, Marcelo T. Holanda, Mauro F. F. Mediano, Mariana C. Waghabi, Luciana R. Garzoni, Otacilio C. Moreira, Constanca Britto, Ademir B. Cunha, Alejandro Marcel Hasslocher-Moreno, Roberto M. Saraiva
Summary: This study investigated the prognostic value of biomarkers and new echocardiogram parameters in predicting outcomes of patients with chronic Chagas disease. The results showed that LV end-diastolic volume, strain analyses, 3-dimensional analyses, brain natriuretic peptide, and positive T cruzi polymerase chain reaction were independent predictors of cardiovascular events in CD patients.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Luciane Almeida Amado, Wagner Luis da Costa Nunes Pimentel Coelho, Arthur Daniel Rocha Alves, Vanessa Cristine de Souza Carneiro, Otacilio da Cruz Moreira, Vanessa Salete de Paula, Andreza Salvio Lemos, Larissa Araujo Duarte, Elisa Gouvea Gutman, Fabricia Lima Fontes-Dantas, Joao Paulo da Costa Goncalves, Carlos Henrique Ferreira Ramos, Carlos Henrique Ferreira Ramos Filho, Marta Guimaraes Cavalcanti, Marisa Pimentel Amaro, Rafael Lopes Kader, Roberto de Andrade Medronho, Dmitry Jose de Santana Sarmento, Soniza Vieira Alves-Leon
Summary: Since the declaration of COVID-19 as a pandemic, Brazil has been severely affected. The second wave of COVID-19, caused by a new SARS-CoV-2 variant, has led to an increase in severe cases and a higher need for invasive respiratory support. Laboratory biomarkers related to various bodily functions were significantly associated with severe COVID-19.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Ana Carolina Oliveira, Amanda Roberta Revoredo Vicentino, Daniele Andrade, Isabela Resende Pereira, Leonardo Saboia-Vahia, Otacilio da Cruz Moreira, Carla Eponina Carvalho-Pinto, Julia Barbalho da Mota, Leonardo Maciel, Glaucia Vilar-Pereira, Joao B. Pesquero, Joseli Lannes-Vieira, Pierre Sirois, Antonio Carlos Campos de Carvalho, Julio Scharfstein
Summary: We investigated the role of B1R receptor in the development of Chagas disease caused by Trypanosoma cruzi. Our findings suggest that blocking the B1R receptor can reduce heart parasitism and cardiac injury in acute and chronic Chagas disease.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Biology
Otacilio C. Moreira, Alice Gomes Fernandes, Natalia Lins da Silva Gomes, Carolina Messias dos Santos, Thiago Jacomasso, Alexandre Dias Tavares Costa, Lucas de O. Rossetti Nascimento, Alejandro Marcel Hasslocher-Moreno, Pedro Emmanuel Alvarenga Americano do Brasil, Luis Gustavo Morello, Fabricio Klerynton Marchini, Marco Aurelio Krieger, Constanca Britto
Summary: In the absence of validated biomarkers, PCR-based diagnosis is being used for an early indication of therapeutic failure in Chagas disease. The NAT Chagas kit, based on qPCR, has been validated as an excellent alternative for molecular diagnosis in both public and private diagnostic centers. It showed 100% sensitivity and specificity in comparison to the in-house real-time PCR assay.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Vanessa Cristine de Souza Carneiro, Otacilio da Cruz Moreira, Wagner Luis da Costa Nunes Pimentel Coelho, Beatriz Chan Rio, Dmitry Jose de Santana Sarmento, Andreza Lemos Salvio, Soniza Vieira Alves-Leon, Vanessa Salete de Paula, Luciane Almeida Amado Leon
Summary: In patients co-infected with COVID-19 and HHV-6, miRNA is associated with neurological manifestations and may serve as potential biomarkers for diagnosis and therapeutic strategies of neurological disorders.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)