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Thibonnier M, Ghosh S. Strategy for Pre-Clinical Development of Active Targeting MicroRNA Oligonucleotide Therapeutics for Unmet Medical Needs. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087126. [PMID: 37108289 PMCID: PMC10138879 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
We present here an innovative modular and outsourced model of drug research and development for microRNA oligonucleotide therapeutics (miRNA ONTs). This model is being implemented by a biotechnology company, namely AptamiR Therapeutics, in collaboration with Centers of Excellence in Academic Institutions. Our aim is to develop safe, effective and convenient active targeting miRNA ONT agents for the metabolic pandemic of obesity and metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD), as well as deadly ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sujoy Ghosh
- Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore and Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70808, USA
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Jiang B, Wang M, Li X, Ren P, Li G, Wang Y, Wang L, Li X, Yang D, Qin L, Xin S. Hexarelin attenuates abdominal aortic aneurysm formation by inhibiting SMC phenotype switch and inflammasome activation. Microvasc Res 2022; 140:104280. [PMID: 34856183 DOI: 10.1016/j.mvr.2021.104280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2021] [Accepted: 11/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Hexarelin, a synthetic growth hormone-releasing peptide, is shown to be protective in cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial infraction and atherosclerosis. However, the functional role of hexarelin in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) remains undefined. The present study determined the effect of hexarelin administration (200 μg/kg twice per day) in a mouse model of elastase-induced abdominal aortic aneurysm. Echocardiography and in situ pictures showed hexarelin decreased infrarenal aorta diameter. Histology staining showed elastin degradation was improved in hexarelin-treated group. Hexarelin rescued smooth muscle cell contractile phenotype with increased α-SMA and decreased MMP2. Furthermore, hexarelin inhibited inflammatory cell infiltration, NLRP3 inflammasome activation and IL-18 production. Particularly, hexarelin suppressed NF-κB signaling pathway which is a key initiator of inflammatory response. These results demonstrated that hexarelin attenuated AAA development by inhibiting SMC phenotype switch and NF-κB signaling mediated inflammatory response.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology
- Aorta, Abdominal/drug effects
- Aorta, Abdominal/immunology
- Aorta, Abdominal/metabolism
- Aorta, Abdominal/pathology
- Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal/immunology
- Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal/metabolism
- Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal/pathology
- Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal/prevention & control
- Cell Plasticity/drug effects
- Cytokines/metabolism
- Disease Models, Animal
- Inflammasomes/antagonists & inhibitors
- Inflammasomes/metabolism
- Male
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/drug effects
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/immunology
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/metabolism
- Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/pathology
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/drug effects
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/immunology
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/metabolism
- Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/pathology
- NF-kappa B/metabolism
- NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/antagonists & inhibitors
- NLR Family, Pyrin Domain-Containing 3 Protein/metabolism
- Oligopeptides/pharmacology
- Phenotype
- Signal Transduction
- Vascular Remodeling/drug effects
- Mice
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Affiliation(s)
- Bo Jiang
- Department of Vascular Surgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Therapeutics of Aortic Aneurysm, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, China
| | - Mo Wang
- Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, USA
| | - Xue Li
- Department of Nephrology, Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, Liaoning 110004, China
| | - Pengwei Ren
- Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, USA
| | - Guangxin Li
- Department of Breast and Thyroid Surgery, Peking University Shenzhen Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518036, China
| | - Yuqi Wang
- Yale Stem Cell Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520, USA; Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Vascular Surgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Therapeutics of Aortic Aneurysm, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, China
| | - Xuan Li
- Department of Vascular Surgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Therapeutics of Aortic Aneurysm, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, China
| | - Dong Yang
- Department of Vascular Surgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Therapeutics of Aortic Aneurysm, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, China
| | - Lingfeng Qin
- Department of Surgery, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, USA.
| | - Shijie Xin
- Department of Vascular Surgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Key Laboratory of Pathogenesis, Prevention and Therapeutics of Aortic Aneurysm, Shenyang, Liaoning 110001, China.
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Wang W, Huang Z, Huang L, Gao L, Cui L, Cowley M, Guo L, Chen C. Time-Restricted Feeding Restored Insulin-Growth Hormone Balance and Improved Substrate and Energy Metabolism in MC4RKO Obese Mice. Neuroendocrinology 2022; 112:174-185. [PMID: 33735897 DOI: 10.1159/000515960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dysregulation of metabolic regulatory hormones often occurs during the progress of obesity. Key regulatory hormone insulin-growth hormone (GH) balance has recently been proposed to maintain metabolism profiles. Time-restricted feeding (TRF) is an effective strategy against obesity without detailed research on pulsatile GH releasing patterns. METHODS TRF was performed in an over-eating melanocortin 4 receptor-knockout (MC4RKO) obese mouse model using normal food. Body weight and food intake were measured. Series of blood samples were collected for 6-h pulsatile GH profile, glucose tolerance test, and insulin tolerance test at 5, 8, and 9 weeks of TRF, respectively. Indirect calorimetric recordings were performed by the Phenomaster system at 6 weeks for 1 week, and body composition was measured by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). Substrate- and energy metabolism-related gene expressions were measured in terminal liver and subcutaneous white adipose tissues. RESULTS TRF increased pulsatile GH secretion in dark phase and suppressed hyperinsulinemia in MC4RKO obese mice to reach a reduced insulin/GH ratio. This was accompanied by the improvement in insulin sensitivity, metabolic flexibility, glucose tolerance, and decreased glucose fluctuation, together with appropriate modification of gene expression involved in substrate metabolism and adipose tissue browning. NMR measurement showed that TRF decreased fat mass but increased lean mass. Indirect calorimeter recording indicated that TRF decreased the respiratory exchange ratio (RER) reflecting consumption of more fatty acid in energy production in light phase and increased the oxygen consumption during activities in dark phase. CONCLUSIONS TRF effectively decreases hyperinsulinemia and restores pulsatile GH secretion in the overeating obese mice with significant improvement in substrate and energy metabolism and body composition without reducing total caloric intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weihao Wang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Department of Endocrinology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhengxiang Huang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Lili Huang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Lyn Gao
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Ling Cui
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Michael Cowley
- Department of Physiology, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lixin Guo
- Department of Endocrinology, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Institute of Geriatric Medicine, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Graduate School of Peking Union Medical College, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chen Chen
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
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Baser T, Ozdemir E, Filiz AK, Taskiran AS, Gursoy S. Ghrelin receptor agonist hexarelin attenuates antinociceptive tolerance to morphine in rats. Can J Physiol Pharmacol 2021; 99:461-467. [PMID: 32893668 DOI: 10.1139/cjpp-2020-0218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Ghrelin, a peptide hormone released from the gastric endocrine glands, shows analgesic activity apart from its various physiological effects. Nevertheless, the effects of ghrelin receptor (GHS-R) agonists on morphine analgesia and tolerance have not yet been elucidated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of the ghrelin receptor agonist hexarelin and antagonist [d-Lys3]-GHRP-6 on morphine antinociception and tolerance in rats. A total of 104 Wistar albino male adult rats (weighing approximately 220-240 g) were used in the experiments. To induce morphine tolerance, a three-day cumulative dose regimen was used in the rats. Then, randomly selected rats were evaluated for morphine tolerance on day 4. The analgesic effects of hexarelin (0.2 mg·kg-1), [d-Lys3]-GHRP-6 (10 mg·kg-1), and morphine (5 mg·kg-1) were measured at 30-min intervals (0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 min) by tail-flick and hot-plate analgesia tests. The findings suggest that hexarelin in combination with morphine attenuates analgesic tolerance to morphine. On the other hand, ghrelin receptor antagonist [d-Lys3]-GHRP-6 has no significant analgesic activity on the morphine tolerance in analgesia tests. Furthermore, co-administration of hexarelin and morphine increases the analgesic effect. In conclusion, these data indicate that administration of GHS-R agonist hexarelin with morphine enhances the antinociception and attenuates morphine tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tayfun Baser
- Department of Physiology, Sivas Cumhuriyet University School of Medicine, Sivas, Turkey
| | - Ercan Ozdemir
- Department of Physiology, Sivas Cumhuriyet University School of Medicine, Sivas, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Kemal Filiz
- Department of Physiology, Sivas Cumhuriyet University School of Medicine, Sivas, Turkey
| | - Ahmet Sevki Taskiran
- Department of Physiology, Sivas Cumhuriyet University School of Medicine, Sivas, Turkey
| | - Sinan Gursoy
- Department of Anesthesiology and Reanimation, Sivas Cumhuriyet University School of Medicine, Sivas, Turkey
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Aquila G, Re Cecconi AD, Forti M, Frapolli R, Bello E, Novelli D, Russo I, Licandro SA, Staszewsky L, Martinelli GB, Talamini L, Pasetto L, Resovi A, Giavazzi R, Scanziani E, Careccia G, Vénéreau E, Masson S, Latini R, D’Incalci M, Piccirillo R. Trabectedin and Lurbinectedin Extend Survival of Mice Bearing C26 Colon Adenocarcinoma, without Affecting Tumor Growth or Cachexia. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12082312. [PMID: 32824440 PMCID: PMC7463843 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12082312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Trabectedin (ET743) and lurbinectedin (PM01183) limit the production of inflammatory cytokines that are elevated during cancer cachexia. Mice carrying C26 colon adenocarcinoma display cachexia (i.e., premature death and body wasting with muscle, fat and cardiac tissue depletion), high levels of inflammatory cytokines and subsequent splenomegaly. We tested whether such drugs protected these mice from cachexia. Ten-week-old mice were inoculated with C26 cells and three days later randomized to receive intravenously vehicle or 0.05 mg/kg ET743 or 0.07 mg/kg PM01183, three times a week for three weeks. ET743 or PM01183 extended the lifespan of C26-mice by 30% or 85%, respectively, without affecting tumor growth or food intake. Within 13 days from C26 implant, both drugs did not protect fat, muscle and heart from cachexia. Since PM01183 extended the animal survival more than ET743, we analyzed PM01183 further. In tibialis anterior of C26-mice, but not in atrophying myotubes, PM01183 restrained the NF-κB/PAX7/myogenin axis, possibly reducing the pro-inflammatory milieu, and failed to limit the C/EBPβ/atrogin-1 axis. Inflammation-mediated splenomegaly of C26-mice was inhibited by PM01183 for as long as the treatment lasted, without reducing IL-6, M-CSF or IL-1β in plasma. ET743 and PM01183 extend the survival of C26-bearing mice unchanging tumor growth or cachexia but possibly restrain muscle-related inflammation and C26-induced splenomegaly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgio Aquila
- Department of Neurosciences, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research IRCCS, 20156 Milan, Italy; (G.A.); (A.D.R.C.); (M.F.); (G.B.M.)
| | - Andrea David Re Cecconi
- Department of Neurosciences, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research IRCCS, 20156 Milan, Italy; (G.A.); (A.D.R.C.); (M.F.); (G.B.M.)
| | - Mara Forti
- Department of Neurosciences, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research IRCCS, 20156 Milan, Italy; (G.A.); (A.D.R.C.); (M.F.); (G.B.M.)
| | - Roberta Frapolli
- Department of Oncology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, 20156 Milan, Italy; (R.F.); (E.B.); (S.A.L.); (R.G.); (M.D.)
| | - Ezia Bello
- Department of Oncology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, 20156 Milan, Italy; (R.F.); (E.B.); (S.A.L.); (R.G.); (M.D.)
| | - Deborah Novelli
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, 20156 Milan, Italy; (D.N.); (I.R.); (L.S.); (S.M.); (R.L.)
| | - Ilaria Russo
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, 20156 Milan, Italy; (D.N.); (I.R.); (L.S.); (S.M.); (R.L.)
| | - Simonetta Andrea Licandro
- Department of Oncology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, 20156 Milan, Italy; (R.F.); (E.B.); (S.A.L.); (R.G.); (M.D.)
| | - Lidia Staszewsky
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, 20156 Milan, Italy; (D.N.); (I.R.); (L.S.); (S.M.); (R.L.)
| | - Giulia Benedetta Martinelli
- Department of Neurosciences, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research IRCCS, 20156 Milan, Italy; (G.A.); (A.D.R.C.); (M.F.); (G.B.M.)
| | - Laura Talamini
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, 20156 Milan, Italy; (L.T.); (L.P.)
| | - Laura Pasetto
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, 20156 Milan, Italy; (L.T.); (L.P.)
| | - Andrea Resovi
- Department of Oncology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, 24126 Bergamo, Italy;
| | - Raffaella Giavazzi
- Department of Oncology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, 20156 Milan, Italy; (R.F.); (E.B.); (S.A.L.); (R.G.); (M.D.)
| | - Eugenio Scanziani
- Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Università di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy;
- Mouse and Animal Pathology Lab (MAPLab), Fondazione UniMi, Università di Milano, 20139 Milan, Italy
| | - Giorgia Careccia
- Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy; (G.C.); (E.V.)
| | - Emilie Vénéreau
- Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, 20132 Milan, Italy; (G.C.); (E.V.)
| | - Serge Masson
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, 20156 Milan, Italy; (D.N.); (I.R.); (L.S.); (S.M.); (R.L.)
| | - Roberto Latini
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, 20156 Milan, Italy; (D.N.); (I.R.); (L.S.); (S.M.); (R.L.)
| | - Maurizio D’Incalci
- Department of Oncology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, 20156 Milan, Italy; (R.F.); (E.B.); (S.A.L.); (R.G.); (M.D.)
| | - Rosanna Piccirillo
- Department of Neurosciences, Mario Negri Institute for Pharmacological Research IRCCS, 20156 Milan, Italy; (G.A.); (A.D.R.C.); (M.F.); (G.B.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-02-39014371
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Huang L, Huang Z, Chen C. Rhythmic growth hormone secretion in physiological and pathological conditions: Lessons from rodent studies. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2019; 498:110575. [PMID: 31499134 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2019.110575] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2019] [Revised: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Evolutionally conserved in all mammalians, the release of GH occurs in a rhythmic pattern, characterized by several dominant surges (pulsatile GH) with tonic low inter-pulse levels (tonic GH). Such pulsatile secretion pattern is essential for many physiological actions of GH on different tissues with defined gender dimorphism. Rhythmic release of pulsatile GH is tightly controlled by hypothalamic neurons as well as peripheral metabolic factors. Changes of GH pattern occur within a range of sophisticated physiological and pathological settings and significantly contribute to growth, ageing, survival and disease predispositions. Precise analysis of GH secretion pattern is vitally important for a comprehensive understanding of the function of GH and the components that regulate GH secretion pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lili Huang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Zhengxiang Huang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Chen Chen
- School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Australia.
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The CD36-PPARγ Pathway in Metabolic Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19051529. [PMID: 29883404 PMCID: PMC5983591 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19051529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2018] [Revised: 05/08/2018] [Accepted: 05/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Uncovering the biological role of nuclear receptor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) has greatly advanced our knowledge of the transcriptional control of glucose and energy metabolism. As such, pharmacological activation of PPARγ has emerged as an efficient approach for treating metabolic disorders with the current use of thiazolidinediones to improve insulin resistance in diabetic patients. The recent identification of growth hormone releasing peptides (GHRP) as potent inducers of PPARγ through activation of the scavenger receptor CD36 has defined a novel alternative to regulate essential aspects of lipid and energy metabolism. Recent advances on the emerging role of CD36 and GHRP hexarelin in regulating PPARγ downstream actions with benefits on atherosclerosis, hepatic cholesterol biosynthesis and fat mitochondrial biogenesis are summarized here. The response of PPARγ coactivator PGC-1 is also discussed in these effects. The identification of the GHRP-CD36-PPARγ pathway in controlling various tissue metabolic functions provides an interesting option for metabolic disorders.
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