Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
M. Charveriat, F. Mouthon, W. Rein, A. Verkhratsky
Summary: Astrocytes play a crucial role in the central nervous system through gap junctions formed by connexins, influencing neurodegenerative diseases and pharmacological profiles of CNS drugs. Modulation of astrocytic connexins represents an innovative approach for CNS disorders and offers new therapeutic perspectives.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR BASIS OF DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Sejal Mistry, Ramkiran Gouripeddi, Julio C. Facelli
Summary: We developed an in-silico pipeline to evaluate molecular mimicry in the etiology of type 1 diabetes, and identified potential high-impact molecular mimics. These findings provide valuable insights for further research and prevention efforts related to type 1 diabetes.
JOURNAL OF AUTOIMMUNITY
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Feng Chen, Huiyi Chen, Yanting Chen, Wenyan Wei, Yuanhong Sun, Lu Zhang, Lili Cui, Yan Wang
Summary: Communication between neurons relies on synaptic vesicle exocytosis, a process facilitated by the SNARE complex. Dysfunction of the SNARE complex in synapses may contribute to abnormal neurotransmission and lead to synaptic dysfunction. Research suggests that the SNARE complex could be a significant molecular target in neurological diseases.
PHARMACOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Niloufar Zia, Parsa Ravanfar, Sepideh Allahdadian, Mehdi Ghasemi
Summary: In addition to common COVID-19 symptoms, the disease can lead to various neuropsychiatric conditions and may exacerbate underlying neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental issues in patients.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Francesca Maselli, Salvatore D'Antona, Mattia Utichi, Matteo Arnaudi, Isabella Castiglioni, Danilo Porro, Elena Papaleo, Paolo Gandellini, Claudia Cava
Summary: This study used a computational approach to investigate the shared genetic factors and specific gene loci of multiple neurodegenerative diseases. The results revealed genetic correlations between certain SNPs and the diseases, and identified differentially expressed miRNAs that may be involved in the regulation of genes associated with selected SNPs.
COMPUTATIONAL AND STRUCTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Y. Emiliani, G. Muzi, A. Sanchez, J. Sanchez, M. Munera
Summary: The immune response against pathogens can protect against future infection, but molecular mimicry between pathogens and human hosts can lead to autoreactive responses. Using computational approaches, researchers identified molecular mimicry between Trypanosoma sp. and human autoantigens associated with the development of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This finding provides insight into the potential mechanisms underlying the development of autoimmune diseases.
MICROBIAL PATHOGENESIS
(2022)
Article
Biology
Noor Rahman, Sara Begum, Asifullah Khan, Sahib Gul Afridi, Muhammad Umar Khayam Sahibzada, Banan Atwah, Zain Alhindi, Haroon Khan
Summary: This study used bioinformatics analyses to determine the molecular mimicry and sequence between S. typhi and human host proteins, aiming to understand the molecular basis of S. typhi-related autoimmune disorders. The results identified several potential candidate proteins and peptides that could cause autoimmune diseases in humans mediated by S. typhi infection.
COMPUTERS IN BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nicole Hartwig Trier, Gunnar Houen, Giuseppe Murdaca
Summary: Autoimmunity is characterized by the presence of antibodies and/or T cells targeting self-components. It is often associated with infections, which may increase the risk of autoimmune diseases. Molecular mimicry, referring to cross-reactivity between foreign pathogens and self-antigens, can cause tissue damage and contribute to autoimmunity. This review aims to explore the nature of potential cross-reactive immune reactions between infectious non-self and self-tissue antigens associated with autoimmunity.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Olga I. Isaeva, Steven L. C. Ketelaars, Pia Kvistborg
Summary: A study has found that the recent SARS-CoV-2 variants of interest and concern have limited ability to escape memory CD8 T cell responses raised by vaccination or prior infection. Most of the recognized CD8 T cell epitopes are not altered by variant-specific mutations, and mutated epitopes show a high degree of sequence similarity with reference epitopes. However, mutated epitopes in certain variants display reduced binding affinity. Overall, the impact of mutations on CD8 T cell cross-recognition is low, primarily due to receptor binding affinity and antibody selection pressures exerted on the spike protein, unrelated to T cell immunity.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fatimah K. Khalaf, Jacob Connolly, Bella Khatib-Shahidi, Abdulsahib Albehadili, Iman Tassavvor, Meghana Ranabothu, Noha Eid, Prabhatchandra Dube, Samer J. Khouri, Deepak Malhotra, Steven T. Haller, David J. Kennedy
Summary: Paraoxonase enzymes are an important redox system that protect cells against oxidative stress. The PON enzymes family, consisting of PON-1, PON-2, and PON-3, play a role in preventing cardiovascular disease and are associated with neurological disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. This review summarizes the evidence on the role of PONs in these diseases and their ability to modify risk factors for neurological disorders, focusing on Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and other neurodegenerative and neurological diseases.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Manuel Rojas, Maria Herran, Carolina Ramirez-Santana, Patrick S. C. Leung, Juan-Manuel Anaya, William M. Ridgway, M. Eric Gershwin
Summary: Infectious diseases are known to contribute to the development of autoimmune diseases in susceptible individuals, and molecular mimicry is believed to be one of the mechanisms involved. Other factors such as defects in central tolerance and constant antigenic stimuli may also contribute to the breach of tolerance and the development of autoimmune diseases. The use of peptide modeling and molecular docking analyses are emerging as critical strategies to study the links between molecular mimicry and autoimmunity.
JOURNAL OF AUTOIMMUNITY
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Hyunsu An, Minho Eun, Jawoon Yi, Jihwan Park
Summary: This study developed a scalable immunoinformatics pipeline to identify cross-reactive epitopes between SARS-CoV-2 and human proteins, providing a foundation for the investigation of molecular mimicry in the pathogenesis of autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases following COVID-19.
BRIEFINGS IN BIOINFORMATICS
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Tanima Bhattacharya, Giselle Amanda Borges e Soares, Hitesh Chopra, Md. Mominur Rahman, Ziaul Hasan, Shasank S. Swain, Simona Cavalu
Summary: The strategies for therapeutics development for neurodegenerative disorders are complex and challenging due to the blood-brain barrier. Nanotechnology combined with phytomedicine shows promise in enhancing drug delivery to the brain and reducing adverse effects.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Matilde Contardo, Roberta De Gioia, Delia Gagliardi, Giacomo Pietro Comi, Linda Ottoboni, Monica Nizzardo, Stefania Corti
Summary: In vivo cell reprogramming offers a promising approach to generate new neurons in the adult mammalian nervous system, with the successful conversion of glial cells into neurons through the repression of a single gene Ptbp1. However, concerns about the reliability of this strategy, particularly regarding the nature of converted neurons in vivo, necessitate further investigation with stringent lineage tracing methods.
Review
Genetics & Heredity
Shalini Mani, Divya Jindal, Manisha Singh
Summary: Neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders pose significant risks to the healthcare system, causing a substantial socioeconomic burden. Current pharmacotherapeutics offer limited relief and fail to provide effective treatment for these conditions. Gene therapy, by deleting, silencing, or editing faulty genes and inserting healthier genes, is considered a potential approach for permanent cure of these disorders. However, there are limitations in gene delivery methods and effective assessment of therapy effectiveness.
CURRENT GENE THERAPY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Christiana C. Christodoulou, Margarita Zachariou, Marios Tomazou, Evangelos Karatzas, Christiana A. Demetriou, Eleni Zamba-Papanicolaou, George M. Spyrou
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andrea C. Kakouri, Christina Votsi, Marios Tomazou, George Minadakis, Evangelos Karatzas, Kyproula Christodoulou, George M. Spyrou
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2020)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andria Constantinou, Varvara Kanti, Katarzyna Polak-Witka, Ulrike Blume-Peytavi, George M. Spyrou, Annika Vogt
Summary: Human skin and hair follicles are sites of microbial colonization, with microbiota playing a role in regulating host immune mechanisms and influencing homeostasis and inflammation. Bacteria can impact immune responses by controlling the local inflammatory environment, and shifts in follicular microbiome may be linked to the development of inflammatory skin diseases. Immune privilege maintenance in different regions of the hair follicle is crucial for hair growth and regeneration, with collapse and inflammation characterizing inflammatory hair disorders.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andria Constantinou, Katarzyna Polak-Witka, Marios Tomazou, Anastasis Oulas, Varvara Kanti, Rolf Schwarzer, Johannes Helmuth, Anke Edelmann, Ulrike Blume-Peytavi, George M. Spyrou, Annika Vogt
Summary: This study investigated the bacterial composition of scalp skin and hair follicles in patients with FFA, LPP, AAc, and healthy individuals, finding dysbiosis in the bacterial communities of FFA and LPP patients and observed molecular signals associated with increased expression in lesional sites. This suggests the need for further research on the role of exogenous factors and molecular interactions in disease onset and propagation.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Marios Tomazou, Marilena M. Bourdakou, George Minadakis, Margarita Zachariou, Anastasis Oulas, Evangelos Karatzas, Eleni M. Loizidou, Andrea C. Kakouri, Christiana C. Christodoulou, Kyriaki Savva, Maria Zanti, Anna Onisiforou, Sotiroula Afxenti, Jan Richter, Christina G. Christodoulou, Theodoros Kyprianou, George Kolios, Nikolas Dietis, George M. Spyrou
Summary: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is considered the most severe global health emergency since the 1918 Influenza outbreak and is expected to become an endemic infectious respiratory disease with seasonal flare-ups. While efforts are being made to develop a vaccine, it is equally important to find effective prevention and treatment options for COVID-19. Developing a multiplex drug repurposing approach based on multi-omics data could offer a rapid mapping and prioritization of drugs against any pathogen-related disease.
BRIEFINGS IN BIOINFORMATICS
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Anna Onisiforou, George M. Spyrou
Summary: Virus-host protein-protein interactions are critical for viral replication and survival, potentially leading to various complex diseases. Viral-mediated perturbations may play a key role in pathogenic mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic interventions.
BRIEFINGS IN BIOINFORMATICS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Emily Shorter, Roberto Avelar, Margarita Zachariou, George M. Spyrou, Priyanka Raina, Aibek Smagul, Yalda Ashraf Kharaz, Mandy Peffers, Kasia Goljanek-Whysall, Joao Pedro de Magalhaes, Blandine Poulet
Summary: This study conducted a systematic meta-analysis of differentially expressed mRNA and micro-RNAs to identify and rank osteoarthritis-associated genes and micro-RNAs. Cellular senescence was identified as an enriched pathway, and a co-expression network was built to prioritize the most integral factors. Experimental confirmation revealed five novel osteoarthritis-associated proteins. Focusing future studies on these novel targets may lead to new therapies for osteoarthritis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Anna Onisiforou, George M. Spyrou
Summary: Bidirectional cross-talk between commensal microbiota and the immune system is crucial for regulating immune responses and forming immunological memory. This paper investigates the immunomodulatory effects of microbiota and their influence on immune responses and the development of immunological memory cells. It also explores the role of microbiota in neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS, MS, PD, and AD. The findings suggest the importance of microbiota in modulating the immune response and the potential impact on disease development.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Kyriaki Savva, Margarita Zachariou, Demos Kynigopoulos, Eleni Fella, Maria-Ioanna Vitali, Xeni Kosofidou, Michail Spyrou, Irene Sargiannidou, Elena Panayiotou, Nikolas Dietis, George M. M. Spyrou
Summary: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common neurodegenerative disease with no effective disease modifying treatment. This study tested the effects of top candidate repurposed drugs proposed in previous research on AD in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. Two compounds (clomiphene citrate and Pik-90) showed significant inhibition against the BACE1 enzyme, while tetrabenazine (TBZ) did not produce significant effects in behavioral tests and A beta 40 immunoassay in AD mice. These findings suggest further investigation of clomiphene citrate and Pik-90 as potential treatment options for AD.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Michail Spathakis, Gesthimani Tarapatzi, Eirini Filidou, Leonidas Kandilogiannakis, Evangelos Karatzas, Paschalis Steiropoulos, Dimitrios Mikroulis, George M. Spyrou, Vangelis G. Manolopoulos, George Kolios, Konstantinos Arvanitidis
Summary: Niclosamide, a commonly used helminthicidic drug, has been shown to attenuate the abnormal expression of collagen and fibronectin induced by cytokine stimulation, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic agent against lung fibrosis.
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Styliana Philippou, Nikolaos P. Mastroyiannopoulos, Marios Tomazou, Anastasios Oulas, Matthew Ackers-Johnson, Roger S. Foo, George M. Spyrou, Leonidas A. Phylactou
Summary: In vivo SELEX is an advanced method that allows the development of aptamers capable of recognizing targets directly within their natural microenvironment. By modifying the methodology, aptamers can be enriched in specific cardiac cell types, holding great potential as drug delivery vehicles.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Christiana C. Christodoulou, Anna Onisiforou, Panos Zanos, Eleni Zamba Papanicolaou
Summary: This study compared the molecular characteristics of neural and immune cells in PD and MDD patients, revealing differences in the two diseases. PD patients exhibit neuroinflammation in the cerebral cortex, while brain activity in MDD patients is regulated. Additionally, the expression of certain genes differs significantly in both conditions, which could aid in future diagnostic and therapeutic research.
FRONTIERS IN AGING NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
