Expression changes of antioxidant, apoptotic, anti-apoptotic genes and miR-15b-34a-21-98 in over tissue by using erythromycin, quinacrine and tetracycline in non-surgical sterilization

Facile and Novel Synthetic Approach, Molecular Docking, Molecular Dynamics, and Drug-Likeness Evaluation of 9-Substituted Acridine Derivatives as Dual Anticancer and Antimicrobial Agents

In the present study, numerous acridine derivatives A1-A20 were synthesized via aromatic nucleophilic substitution (SNAr) reaction of 9-chloroacridine with carbonyl hydrazides, amines, or phenolic derivatives depending upon facile, novel, and eco-friendly approaches (Microwave and ultrasonication assisted synthesis). The structures of the new compounds were elucidated using spectroscopic methods. The title products were assessed for their antimicrobial, antioxidant, and antiproliferative activities using numerous assays. Promisingly, the investigated compounds mainstream revealed promising antibacterial and anticancer activities. Thereafter, the investigated compounds' expected mode of action was debated by using an array of in silico studies. Compounds A2 and A3 were the most promising antimicrobial agents, while compounds A2, A5, and A7 revealed the most cytotoxic activities. Accordingly, RMSD, RMSF, Rg, and SASA analyses of compounds A2 and A3 were performed, and MMPBSA was calculated. Lastly, the ADMET (absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity) analyses of the novel acridine derivatives were investigated. The tested compounds' existing screening results afford an inspiring basis leading to developing new compelling antimicrobial and anticancer agents based on the acridine scaffold.

Application of Drug Repurposing Approach for Therapeutic Intervention of Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), represented by Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC), is a chronic inflammatory disorder of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) characterized by chronic relapsing intestinal inflammation, abdominal pain, cramping, loss of appetite, fatigue, diarrhoea, and weight loss. Although the etiology of IBD remains unclear, it is believed to be an interaction between genes, and environmental factors, such as an imbalance of the intestinal microbiota, changing food habits, an ultra-hygiene environment, and an inappropriate immune system. The development of novel effective therapies is stymied by a lack of understanding of the aetiology of IBD. The current therapy involves the use of aminosalicylates, immunosuppressants, and corticosteroids that can effectively manage symptoms, induce and sustain remission, prevent complications, modify the course of the disease, provide diverse treatment options, showcase advancements in biologic therapies, and enhance the overall quality of life. However, the efficacy of current therapy is overshadowed by a plethora of adverse effects, such as loss of weight, mood swings, skin issues, loss of bone density, higher vulnerability to infections, and elevated blood pressure. Biologicals, like anti-tumour necrosis factor agents, can stimulate an autoimmune response in certain individuals that may diminish the effectiveness of the medication over time, necessitating a switch to alternative treatments. The response of IBD patients to current drug therapy is quite varied, which can lead to disease flares that underlines the urgent need to explore alternative treatment option to address the unmet need of developing new treatment strategies for IBD with high efficacy and fewer adverse effects. Drug repurposing is a novel strategy where existing drugs that have already been validated safe in patients for the management of certain diseases are redeployed to treat other, unindicated diseases. The present narrative review focuses on potential drug candidates that could be repurposed for the management of IBD using on-target and off-target strategies. It covers their preclinical, clinical assessment, mechanism of action, and safety profiles, and forecasts their appropriateness in the management of IBD. The review presents useful insights into the most promising candidates for repurposing, like anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic troxerutin, which has been found to improve the DSS-induced colitis in rats, an antiosteoarthritic drug diacetylrhein that has been found to have remarkable ameliorating effects on DSS-induced colitis via anti-oxidant and anti- inflammatory properties and by influencing both apoptosis and pyroptosis. Topiramate, an antiepileptic and anticonvulsant drug, has remarkably decreased overall pathophysiological and histopathological events in the experimental model of IBD in rodents by its cytokine inhibitory action.

Epigenetic silencing of microRNA-874-3p implicates in erectile dysfunction in diabetic rats by activating the Nupr1/Chop-mediated pathway

Diabetes is a global medical problem that causes many deaths every year. Complications caused by diabetes are serious and affect patients' quality of life. Diabetes mellitus erectile dysfunction (DMED) affects more than half of male diabetes patients. In this study, we determined the role of microRNA-874-3p (miR-874-3p) and nuclear protein-1 (Nupr1) in streptozocin-induced DMED rats. Control rats received equal amount of vehicle. These rats were also injected with lentiviral vector or agomir to silence or overexpress miR-874-3p or Nupr1. Apomorphine (100 μg/kg, s.c.) was used to induce erection and time of erection was recorded. Intracavernosal and mean arterial pressure ratio (ICP/MAP) were also recorded. O^2- level and concentration of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs) were detected using lucigenin-derived chemiluminescence method and Colorimetry. Rat cavernosum tissues were collected for subsequent experiments. Cavernosum smooth muscle cells (CSMCs) were also used for in vitro experiments. Nupr1 was found highly expressed (by RT-qPCR and Western blot analysis) in cavernosum tissues from DMED rats. Nupr1 silencing improved the ICP/MAP ratio and erection time. Nupr1 silencing also reduced CSMC apoptosis (by TUNEL assay) as well as decreased O^2- level and TBAR concentration. Nupr1 was targeted and inhibited by miR-874-3p (by luciferase activity and RNA immunoprecipitation assays), which was downregulated in DMED. miR-874-3p downregulation was due to increased methylation at the promoter region (methylation-specific PCR). miR-874-3p overexpression improved erection time and reduced apoptosis. In summary, miR-874-3p was downregulated which led to increased apoptosis and erectile dysfunction in DMED rats, through inhibition of Nupr1-mediated pathway. This study may also provide a new therapeutic direction for the treatment of DMED.

Notoginsenoside R1 up-regulates microRNA-132 to protect human lung fibroblast MRC-5 cells from lipopolysaccharide-caused injury

BACKGROUND

Pneumonia is a common lung disease in children with high fatality rate. Notoginsenoside R1 (NGR1) is the main active component extracted from the roots of Panax notoginseng (Burk.) F.H. Chen (Araliaceae). Here, we carefully explored the potential anti-inflammatory and protective effects of NGR1 on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced lung fibroblast MRC-5 cell injury.

METHODS

Viability and apoptosis of MRC-5 cells after different treatment or transfection were respectively assessed using CCK-8 assay and Annexin V-FITC/PI staining. The expression levels of microRNA-132 (miR-132), IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in MRC-5 cells were measured using qRT-PCR. MicroRNA transfection was conducted to reduce the expression level of miR-132. Western blotting was used to analyze the protein expression levels of key factors involving in cell proliferation, apoptosis, NF-κB pathway and JNK pathway.

RESULTS

LPS treatment caused MRC-5 cell proliferation inhibition, apoptosis and over-production of inflammatory cytokines. NGR1 treatment had no significant effects on MRC-5 cell proliferation, apoptosis and production of inflammatory cytokines, but protected MRC-5 cells from LPS-caused cell proliferation inhibition, apoptosis and over-production of inflammatory cytokines. In addition, NGR1 increased the expression level of miR-132 in MRC-5 cells. Knockdown of miR-132 reversed the protective effects of NGR1 on LPS-treated MRC-5 cells. Furthermore, NGR1 attenuated LPS-activated NF-κB and JNK pathways in MRC-5 cells via up-regulation of miR-132.

CONCLUSION

This research confirmed the protective roles of NGR1 in lung fibroblast cell inflammatory injury. NGR1 protected MRC-5 cells from LPS-caused inflammatory injury through up-regulating miR-132 and then inactivating NF-κB and JNK pathways.

Repurposing the anti-malarial drug, quinacrine: new anti-colitis properties

Background

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease that is associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer in 8-10 years after disease onset. Current colitis treatment strategies do not offer a cure for the disease, but only treat the symptoms with limited success and dangerous side-effects. Also, there is no preventive treatment for either UC or colorectal cancer. Quinacrine is an anti-malarial drug with versatile use in the treatment of diseases involving inflammatory response such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus erythematosus. It also has putative anti-cancer effect. Quinacrine's anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant properties, and anti-tumorigenic properties make it a potential small molecule preventive agent for both UC and associated colorectal cancer.

Results

There were obvious changes in the CDI, histology, and inflammatory load in quinacrine-treated groups in a dose and time dependent manner in both models of UC, induced by chemical or haptenating agent.

Methods

We tested quinacrine at two different doses as a colitis treatment agent in two mouse models of UC - the dextran sulfate sodium and oxazolone. The clinical disease index (CDI), histological changes of the colon, levels of inflammatory markers (Cox-2, iNOS, p53) and overall health vitals were evaluated.

Conclusions

We demonstrate that quinacrine successfully suppresses colitis without any indication of toxicity or side-effects in two mouse models of UC.

MicroRNAs; easy and potent targets in optimizing therapeutic methods in reparative angiogenesis

The age‐related senescence of adult tissues is associated with the decreased level of angiogenic capability and with the development of a degenerative disease such as atherosclerosis which thereafter result in the deteriorating function of multiple systems. Findings indicate that tissue senescence not only diminishes repair processes but also promotes atherogenesis, serving as a double‐edged sword in the development and prognosis of ischaemia‐associated diseases. Evidence evokes microRNAs (miRNAs) as molecular switchers that underlie cellular events in different tissues. Here, miRNAs would promote new potential targets for optimizing therapeutic methods in blood flow recovery to the ischaemic area. Effectively beginning an ischaemia therapy, a more characteristic of miRNA changes in adult tissues is prerequisite and in the forefront. It may also be a preliminary phase in treatment strategies by stem cell‐based therapy.

Application of talcum powder, trichloroacetic acid and silver nitrate in female rats for non-surgical sterilization: evaluation of the apoptotic pathway mRNA and miRNA genes

There are several methods used for non-surgical sterilization in birth control including quinacrine, trichloroacetic acid (TCA), erythromycin, tetracycline, silver nitrate and talcum powder. Among these, talcum powder, TCA and silver nitrate are the most commonly used. However, the toxic and carcinogenic activities of these chemicals in ovarian tissue have been poorly elucidated. This study demonstrates the expression levels of antioxidant, apoptotic and anti-apoptotic genes after administration of talc powder, TCA and silver nitrate for non-surgical sterilization in female rat models. The expression changes of some microRNAs (miR-15b, miR-21, miR-34a and miR-98) that play key roles in the apoptosis pathway were also included. All expression analyses were evaluated with real-time PCR. The expression levels of all genes appeared to be upregulated in the talcum powder group, but the results were not statistically significant. Increased expression of Gsr and Sod1 genes was statistically significant in the talcum powder group. In TCA and silver nitrate group, expression of all genes was appeared to be elevated but only the Gsr expression was statistically significant in the TCA-administrated group; there were no statistically significant changes in the silver nitrate group. miRNA expression levels were increased in talcum powder and TCA-administrated groups, but these results were not significant. Expression levels of miR-15b, miR-21 and miR-98 in the silver nitrate group were significantly increased. Consequently, these chemicals appear to be non-carcinogenic agents for rat ovarian tissue which do not induce apoptosis. However, talcum powder and TCA can be considered as agents that are toxic to ovarian tissue.