Epidermal growth factor receptor mediates injury in rapidly progressive glomerular disease

Deciphering the Precise Target for Saroglitazar Associated Antiangiogenic Effect: A Computational Synergistic Approach

Antidiabetic drugs that have a secondary pharmacological effect on angiogenesis inhibition may help diabetic patients delay or avoid comorbidities caused by angiogenesis including malignancies. In recent studies, saroglitazar has exhibited antiangiogenic effects in diabetic retinopathy. The current study investigates the antiangiogenic effects of saroglitazar utilizing the chicken chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) assay and then identifies its precise mode of action on system-level protein networks. To determine the regulatory effect of saroglitazar on the protein-protein interaction network (PIN), 104 target genes were retrieved and tested using an acid server and Swiss target prediction tools. A string-based interactome was created and analyzed using Cytoscape. It was determined that the constructed network was scale-free, making it biologically relevant. Upon topological analysis of the network, 37 targets were screened on the basis of centrality values. Submodularization of the interactome resulted in the formation of four clusters. A total of 20 common targets identified in topological analysis and modular analysis were filtered. A total of 20 targets were compiled and were integrated into the pathway enrichment analysis using ShinyGO. The majority of hub genes were associated with cancer and PI3-AKT signaling pathways. Molecular docking was utilized to reveal the most potent target, which was validated by using molecular dynamic simulations and immunohistochemical staining on the chicken CAM. The comprehensive study offers an alternate research paradigm for the investigation of antiangiogenic effects using CAM assays. This was followed by the identification of the precise off-target use of saroglitazar using system biology and network pharmacology to inhibit angiogenesis.

[Impact of lung cancer treatments on renal function]

INTRODUCTION

Renal failure in patients with lung cancer may be multifactorial: related to the patients and their comorbidities, direct tumor compression or the toxicity of cancer treatments and other associated medications. This literature review is intended to describe the state of knowledge regarding the nephrotoxicity of treatments used in thoracic oncology.

FINDINGS

The majority of chemotherapy treatments are potentially nephrotoxic. Cisplatin and pemetrexed exhibit mainly renal tubular toxicity, while vascular renal impairment is found with gemcitabine and bevacizumab. Cisplatin results in acute renal failure in 30% of patients. Renal protective strategies (compliance with recommendations, limitation of nephrotoxic treatments, hydration, magnesium supplementation) must be employed systematically. Targeted therapies do not require any adjustment of the dosage in case of moderate or severe renal insufficiency but adapting the doses of biphosphonates to renal function is necessary.

CONCLUSION

This review highlights the need for monitoring of renal function in patients with lung cancer during treatment with chemotherapy or biphosphonates.

The role of epidermal growth factor receptor in diabetes-induced cardiac dysfunction

The incidence of diabetes mellitus is increasing rapidly and set to reach near epidemic proportions with the latest estimates suggesting that by 2030 there will be over 550 million people with this debilitating disease. Cardiovascular complications and dysfunctions are three- to eight-folds more likely in diabetic patients and are major causes of increased mortality. The exact underlying mechanisms for the development of complications of the diabetic heart are poorly understood and may involve multiple signaling pathways that are affected by hyperglycemia. This focused article reviews the recent evidence for a possible dual role of epidermal growth factor receptor signaling in diabetes-induced cardiac dysfunction.