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Mishra I, Gupta K, Mishra R, Chaudhary K, Sharma V. An Exploration of Organoid Technology: Present Advancements, Applications, and Obstacles. Curr Pharm Biotechnol 2023:CPB-EPUB-134710. [PMID: 37807405 DOI: 10.2174/0113892010273024230925075231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 08/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Organoids are in vitro models that exhibit a three-dimensional structure and effectively replicate the structural and physiological features of human organs. OBJECTIVE This work examines the potential applications of organoid technology, as well as the challenges and future directions associated with its implementation. METHODS The manuscript was put together by conducting a comprehensive literature review, which involved an in-depth evaluation of globally renowned scientific research databases. RESULTS The field of organoids has generated significant attention due to its potential applications in tissue development and disease modelling, as well as its implications for personalised medicine, drug screening, and cell-based therapies. The utilisation of organoids has proven to be effective in the examination of various conditions, encompassing genetic disorders, cancer, neurodevelopmental disorders and infectious diseases. CONCLUSION The exploration of the wider uses of organoids is still in its early phases. Research shall be conducted to integrate 3D organoid systems as alternatives for current models, potentially improving both fundamental and clinical studies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isha Mishra
- Galgotias College of Pharmacy, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 201310, India
| | - Komal Gupta
- Galgotias College of Pharmacy, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 201310, India
| | - Raghav Mishra
- GLA University, Mathura, 281406, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | | | - Vikram Sharma
- Galgotias College of Pharmacy, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 201310, India
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Dyson A, Ryan M, Garg S, Evans DG, Baines RA. A targeted, low-throughput compound screen in a Drosophila model of neurofibromatosis type 1 identifies simvastatin and BMS-204352 as potential therapies for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). eNeuro 2023; 10:ENEURO.0461-22.2023. [PMID: 37185294 DOI: 10.1523/eneuro.0461-22.2023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a common neurodevelopmental condition for which there are no pharmacological therapies that effectively target its core symptomatology. Animal models of syndromic forms of ASD, such as neurofibromatosis type 1, may be of use in screening for such treatments. Drosophila larvae lacking Nf1 expression exhibit tactile hypersensitivity following mechanical stimulation, proposed to mirror the sensory sensitivity issues comprising part of the ASD diagnostic criteria. Such behavior is associated with synaptic dysfunction at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ). Both phenotypes may thus provide tractable outputs with which to screen for potential ASD therapies. In this study, we demonstrate that, while loss of Nf1 expression within the embryo is sufficient to impair NMJ synaptic transmission in the larva, constitutive Nf1 knockdown is required to induce tactile hypersensitivity, suggesting that a compound must be administered throughout development to rescue this behavior. With such a feeding regime, we identify two compounds from a targeted, low-throughput screen that significantly and consistently reduce, but do not fully rescue, tactile hypersensitivity in Nf1P1 larvae. These are the HMG-CoA reductase inhibitor simvastatin, and the BKCa channel activator BMS-204352. At the NMJ, both compounds induce a significant reduction in the enhanced spontaneous transmission frequency of Nf1P1 larvae, though again not to the level of vehicle-treated controls. However, both compounds fully rescue the increased quantal size of Nf1P1 mutants, with simvastatin also fully rescuing their reduced quantal content. Thus, the further study of both compounds as potential ASD interventions is warranted.Significance StatementNo therapies currently exist that consistently and effectively target the core symptoms of autism spectrum disorder (ASD), which include altered responses to sensory stimuli. Previously it was shown that Drosophila larvae lacking expression of ASD-associated Nf1 display a heightened response to a mechanical stimulus and increased neuronal excitability, likely due to excessive Ras activity. Here, out of a screen for compounds targeting such mechanisms, we identified simvastatin and BMS-204352 to reduce the likelihood of a response in Nf1 -/- larvae following mechanical stimulation. These compounds also improved synaptic transmission defects at the neuromuscular junction. Such findings support the further study of these drugs as potential ASD therapies in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alex Dyson
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom, M13 9PT
| | - Megan Ryan
- Division of Neuroscience, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom, M13 9PT
| | - Shruti Garg
- Division of Neuroscience, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom, M13 9PT
- Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services, Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom, M13 9WL
| | - D Gareth Evans
- Division of Evolution, Infection and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom, M13 9PT
| | - Richard A Baines
- Division of Neuroscience, School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, United Kingdom, M13 9PT
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Duan X, Zhang GQ, Ji S, Zhang Y, Li J, Ou H, Gao Z, Feng G, Ding D. Activatable Persistent Luminescence from Porphyrin Derivatives and Supramolecular Probes with Imaging-Modality Transformable Characteristics for Improved Biological Applications. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022; 61:e202116174. [PMID: 35030286 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202116174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Persistent luminescence without excitation light and tissue autofluorescence interference holds great promise for biological applications, but is limited by available materials with long-wavelength emission and excellent clinical potential. Here, we report that porphyrin derivatives can emit near-infrared persistent luminescence over 60 min after cessation of excitation light or on interaction with peroxynitrite. A plausible mechanism of the successive oxidation of vinylene bonds was demonstrated. A supramolecular probe with a β-sheet structure was constructed to enhance the tumor targeting ability and the photoacoustic and persistent luminescence signals. Such probes featuring light-triggered function transformation from photoacoustic imaging to persistent luminescence imaging permit advanced image-guided cancer surgery. Furthermore, peroxynitrite-activated persistent luminescence of the supramolecular probe also enables rapid and precise screening of immunogenic cell death drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingchen Duan
- Frontiers Science Center for Cell Responses, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, and College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Guo-Qiang Zhang
- Frontiers Science Center for Cell Responses, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, and College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Shenglu Ji
- Frontiers Science Center for Cell Responses, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, and College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Yiming Zhang
- Frontiers Science Center for Cell Responses, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, and College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Jun Li
- Frontiers Science Center for Cell Responses, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, and College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Hanlin Ou
- Frontiers Science Center for Cell Responses, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, and College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Zhiyuan Gao
- Frontiers Science Center for Cell Responses, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, and College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China
| | - Guangxue Feng
- AIE Institute, State Key Laboratory of Luminescent Materials and Devices, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Luminescence from Molecular Aggregates, School of Materials Science and Engineering, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510640, China
| | - Dan Ding
- Frontiers Science Center for Cell Responses, State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, and College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300071, China.,Tianjin Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Function Reconstruction, Tianjin Stomatological Hospital, The Affiliated Stomatological Hospital of Nankai University, Tianjin, 300041, China
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Gomez-Martinez I, Bliton RJ, Breau KA, Czerwinski MJ, Williamson IA, Wen J, Rawls JF, Magness ST. A Planar Culture Model of Human Absorptive Enterocytes Reveals Metformin Increases Fatty Acid Oxidation and Export. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 14:409-34. [PMID: 35489715 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2022.04.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Fatty acid oxidation by absorptive enterocytes has been linked to the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes, obesity, and dyslipidemia. Caco-2 and organoids have been used to study dietary lipid-handling processes including fatty acid oxidation, but are limited in physiological relevance or preclude simultaneous apical and basal access. Here, we developed a high-throughput planar human absorptive enterocyte monolayer system for investigating lipid handling, and then evaluated the role of fatty acid oxidation in fatty acid export, using etomoxir, C75, and the antidiabetic drug metformin. METHODS Single-cell RNA-sequencing, transcriptomics, and lineage trajectory was performed on primary human jejunum. In vivo absorptive enterocyte maturational states informed conditions used to differentiate human intestinal stem cells (ISCs) that mimic in vivo absorptive enterocyte maturation. The system was scaled for high-throughput drug screening. Fatty acid oxidation was modulated pharmacologically and BODIPY (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, MA) (B)-labeled fatty acids were used to evaluate fatty acid handling via fluorescence and thin-layer chromatography. RESULTS Single-cell RNA-sequencing shows increasing expression of lipid-handling genes as absorptive enterocytes mature. Culture conditions promote ISC differentiation into confluent absorptive enterocyte monolayers. Fatty acid-handling gene expression mimics in vivo maturational states. The fatty acid oxidation inhibitor etomoxir decreased apical-to-basolateral export of medium-chain B-C12 and long-chain B-C16 fatty acids, whereas the CPT1 agonist C75 and the antidiabetic drug metformin increased apical-to-basolateral export. Short-chain B-C5 was unaffected by fatty acid oxidation inhibition and diffused through absorptive enterocytes. CONCLUSIONS Primary human ISCs in culture undergo programmed maturation. Absorptive enterocyte monolayers show in vivo maturational states and lipid-handling gene expression profiles. Absorptive enterocytes create strong epithelial barriers in 96-Transwell format. Fatty acid export is proportional to fatty acid oxidation. Metformin enhances fatty acid oxidation and increases basolateral fatty acid export, supporting an intestine-specific role.
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Abstract
The advent of human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) presented a new paradigm to employ hPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (hPSC-CMs) in drug screening and disease modeling. However, hPSC-CMs differentiated in conventional two-dimensional systems are structurally and functionally immature. Moreover, these differentiation systems generate predominantly one type of cell. Since the heart includes not only CMs but other cell types, such monolayer cultures have limitations in simulating the native heart. Accordingly, three-dimensional (3D) cardiac tissues have been developed as a better platform by including various cardiac cell types and extracellular matrices. Two advances were made for 3D cardiac tissue generation. One type is engineered heart tissues (EHTs), which are constructed by 3D cell culture of cardiac cells using an engineering technology. This system provides a convenient real-time analysis of cardiac function, as well as a precise control of the input/output flow and mechanical/electrical stimulation. The other type is cardiac organoids, which are formed through self-organization of differentiating cardiac lineage cells from hPSCs. While mature cardiac organoids are more desirable, at present only primitive forms of organoids are available. In this review, we discuss various models of hEHTs and cardiac organoids emulating the human heart, focusing on their unique features, utility, and limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaeyeaon Cho
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyein Lee
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Woongchan Rah
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyuk Jae Chang
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Brain Korea 21 PLUS Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Young-sup Yoon
- Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
- Severance Biomedical Science Institute, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Karis Bio Inc., Seoul, Republic of Korea
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Hirt CK, Booij TH, Grob L, Simmler P, Toussaint NC, Keller D, Taube D, Ludwig V, Goryachkin A, Pauli C, Lenggenhager D, Stekhoven DJ, Stirnimann CU, Endhardt K, Ringnalda F, Villiger L, Siebenhüner A, Karkampouna S, De Menna M, Beshay J, Klett H, Kruithof-de Julio M, Schüler J, Schwank G. Drug screening and genome editing in human pancreatic cancer organoids identifies drug-gene interactions and candidates for off-label treatment. Cell Genom 2022; 2:100095. [PMID: 35187519 PMCID: PMC7612395 DOI: 10.1016/j.xgen.2022.100095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer (PDAC) is a highly aggressive malignancy for which the identification of novel therapies is urgently needed. Here, we establish a human PDAC organoid biobank from 31 genetically distinct lines, covering a representative range of tumor subtypes, and demonstrate that these reflect the molecular and phenotypic heterogeneity of primary PDAC tissue. We use CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing and drug screening to characterize drug-gene interactions with ARID1A and BRCA2. We find that missense- but not frameshift mutations in the PDAC driver gene ARID1A are associated with increased sensitivity to the kinase inhibitors dasatinib (p < 0.0001) and VE-821 (p < 0.0001). We conduct an automated drug-repurposing screen with 1,172 FDA-approved compounds, identifying 26 compounds that effectively kill PDAC organoids, including 19 chemotherapy drugs currently approved for other cancer types. We validate the activity of these compounds in vitro and in vivo. The in vivo validated hits include emetine and ouabain, compounds which are approved for non-cancer indications and which perturb the ability of PDAC organoids to respond to hypoxia. Our study provides proof-of-concept for advancing precision oncology and identifying candidates for drug repurposing via genome editing and drug screening in tumor organoid biobanks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian K. Hirt
- Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Tijmen H. Booij
- NEXUS Personalized Health Technologies, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Linda Grob
- NEXUS Personalized Health Technologies, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
- SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Patrik Simmler
- Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nora C. Toussaint
- NEXUS Personalized Health Technologies, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
- SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - David Keller
- NEXUS Personalized Health Technologies, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Doreen Taube
- Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Vanessa Ludwig
- Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Chantal Pauli
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Daniela Lenggenhager
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Daniel J. Stekhoven
- NEXUS Personalized Health Technologies, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
- SIB Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Katharina Endhardt
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Pathology, University Hospital Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Femke Ringnalda
- Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lukas Villiger
- Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Zurich, Switzerland
| | | | - Sofia Karkampouna
- Department for BioMedical Research, Urology Research laboratory, University Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Urology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Switzerland
| | - Marta De Menna
- Department for BioMedical Research, Urology Research laboratory, University Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Urology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Switzerland
| | - Janette Beshay
- Discovery Services, Oncotest, Charles River, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Hagen Klett
- Discovery Services, Oncotest, Charles River, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Marianna Kruithof-de Julio
- Department for BioMedical Research, Urology Research laboratory, University Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Urology, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, Switzerland
| | - Julia Schüler
- Discovery Services, Oncotest, Charles River, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Gerald Schwank
- Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, ETH Zurich, Switzerland
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University Zurich, Switzerland
- Corresponding author
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Zubair F. MALDI mass Spectrometry based proteomics for drug discovery & development. Drug Discov Today Technol 2021; 40:29-35. [PMID: 34916018 DOI: 10.1016/j.ddtec.2021.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ ionization (MALDI) is a soft ionization technique for introducing wide range of analytes into a mass spectrometer (MS). MALDI MS is a powerful tool in drug discovery research and development, providing a high-throughput molecular analysis technique in both preclinical and clinical systems. In particular, MALDI MS is invaluable in the study of peptides and proteins that drive all biological functions. This technology is label-free, provides high specificity in molecular identification, and is high-throughput. MALDI MS has been used in biomarker discovery and quantitation in virtually all tissues, serum, plasma, CSF, and urine for diagnostics, patient stratification, and monitoring drug efficacy. Other applications include characterization of biological drugs, spatial mapping of biomarkers and drugs in tissues, drug screening, and toxicological assessment.
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Zhai J, Li H, Wong AHH, Dong C, Yi S, Jia Y, Mak PI, Deng C, Martins RP. A Novel and Robust Single-cell Trapping Method on Digital Microfluidics. Bio Protoc 2020; 10:e3769. [PMID: 33659427 PMCID: PMC7842684 DOI: 10.21769/bioprotoc.3769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2020] [Revised: 07/29/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to cell heterogeneity, the differences among individual cells are averaged out in bulk analysis methods, especially in the analysis of primary tumor biopsy samples from patients. To deeply understand the cell-to-cell variation in a primary tumor, single-cell culture and analysis with limited amount of cells are in high demand. Microfluidics has been an optimum platform to address the issue given its small reaction volume requirements. Digital microfluidics, which utilizes an electric signal to manipulate individual droplets has shown promise in cell-culture with easy controls. In this work, we realize single cell trapping on digital microfluidic platform by fabricating 3D microstructures on-chip to form semi-closed micro-wells. With this design, 20% of 30 x 30 array can be occupied by isolated single cells. We also use a low evaporation silicon oil and a fluorinated surfactant to lower the droplet actuation voltage and prevent the drop from evaporation, while allowing cell respiration during the long term of culture (24 h). The main steps for single cell trapping on digital microfluidics, as illustrated in this protocol, include 3D microstructures design, 3D microstructures construction on chip and oil film with surfactant for single cell trapping on chip.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiao Zhai
- State-Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI, Institute of Microelectronics, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China
| | - Haoran Li
- State-Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI, Institute of Microelectronics, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China
- Faculty of Science and Technology-ECE, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
| | - Ada Hang-Heng Wong
- Cancer Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Cheng Dong
- State-Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI, Institute of Microelectronics, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China
| | - Shuhong Yi
- Liver Transplantation Center, the Third Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510000, China
| | - Yanwei Jia
- State-Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI, Institute of Microelectronics, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China
- Faculty of Science and Technology-ECE, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
- Cancer Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Pui-In Mak
- State-Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI, Institute of Microelectronics, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China
- Faculty of Science and Technology-ECE, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
| | - Chuxia Deng
- Cancer Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Rui P. Martins
- State-Key Laboratory of Analog and Mixed-Signal VLSI, Institute of Microelectronics, University of Macau, Macao SAR, China
- Faculty of Science and Technology-ECE, University of Macau, Macau SAR, China
- Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal
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Yu L, Wei F, Liang J, Ren G, Liu X, Wang CZ, Yuan J, Zeng J, Luo Y, Bi Y, Yuan CS. Target Molecular-Based Neuroactivity Screening and Analysis of Panax ginseng by Affinity Ultrafiltration, UPLC-QTOF-MS and Molecular Docking. Am J Chin Med 2019; 47:1345-1363. [PMID: 31495181 DOI: 10.1142/s0192415x19500691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Panax ginseng exerts good neuroprotective activity at the cell and animal level, but the specific bioactive compounds and action mechanism are needed to be investigated, verified, and confirmed. In this work, affinity ultrafiltration (AUF), UPLC-QTOF-MS, and molecular docking were integrated into one strategy to screen, identify, and evaluate the bioactive compounds in ginseng at the molecular level. Three biological macromolecules (AChE, MAO-B, and NMDA receptor) were selected as the target protein for AUF-MS screening for the first time, and 16 potential neuroactive compounds were found with suitable binding degree. Then, the bioactivity of ginseng and its components were evaluated by AChE-inhibitory test and DPPH assay, and the data indicate that ginseng extract and the screened compounds have good neuroactivity. The interaction between the three targets and the screened compounds was further analyzed by molecular docking, and the results were consistent with a few discrepancies in comparison with the AUF results. Finally, according to the corresponding relation between component-target-pathway, the action mechanism of ginseng elucidated that ginseng exerts a therapeutic effect on AD through multiple relations of components, targets, and pathways, which is in good accordance with the TCM theory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lide Yu
- Key Laboratory of Modern Preparation of TCM, Ministry of Education and School of Pharmacy, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang 330004, P. R. China
| | - Feiting Wei
- Key Laboratory of Modern Preparation of TCM, Ministry of Education and School of Pharmacy, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang 330004, P. R. China
| | - Jian Liang
- Key Laboratory of Modern Preparation of TCM, Ministry of Education and School of Pharmacy, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang 330004, P. R. China
| | - Gang Ren
- Key Laboratory of Modern Preparation of TCM, Ministry of Education and School of Pharmacy, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang 330004, P. R. China
| | - Xiaofei Liu
- Key Laboratory of Modern Preparation of TCM, Ministry of Education and School of Pharmacy, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang 330004, P. R. China
| | - Chong-Zhi Wang
- Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research, and Department of Anesthesia & Critical Care, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Jinbin Yuan
- Key Laboratory of Modern Preparation of TCM, Ministry of Education and School of Pharmacy, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang 330004, P. R. China
| | - Jinxiang Zeng
- Key Laboratory of Modern Preparation of TCM, Ministry of Education and School of Pharmacy, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang 330004, P. R. China
| | - Yun Luo
- Key Laboratory of Modern Preparation of TCM, Ministry of Education and School of Pharmacy, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang 330004, P. R. China
| | - Yi Bi
- School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology and Drug Evaluation, Ministry of Education, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, P. R. China
| | - Chun-Su Yuan
- Tang Center for Herbal Medicine Research, and Department of Anesthesia & Critical Care, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
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Sekiba K, Otsuka M, Ohno M, Yamagami M, Kishikawa T, Suzuki T, Ishibashi R, Seimiya T, Tanaka E, Koike K. Inhibition of HBV Transcription From cccDNA With Nitazoxanide by Targeting the HBx-DDB1 Interaction. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2019; 7:297-312. [PMID: 30704981 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2018.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Revised: 10/16/2018] [Accepted: 10/16/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major health concern worldwide. Although currently used nucleos(t)ide analogs efficiently inhibit viral replication, viral proteins transcribed from the episomal viral covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) minichromosome continue to be expressed long-term. Because high viral RNA or antigen loads may play a biological role during this chronicity, the elimination of viral products is an ultimate goal of HBV treatment. HBV regulatory protein X (HBx) was recently found to promote transcription of cccDNA with degradation of Smc5/6 through the interaction of HBx with the host protein DDB1. Here, this protein-protein interaction was considered as a new molecular target of HBV treatment. METHODS To identify candidate compounds that target the HBx-DDB1 interaction, a newly constructed split luciferase assay system was applied to comprehensive compound screening. The effects of the identified compounds on HBV transcription and cccDNA maintenance were determined using HBV minicircle DNA, which mimics HBV cccDNA, and the natural HBV infection model of human primary hepatocytes. RESULTS We show that nitazoxanide (NTZ), a thiazolide anti-infective agent that has been approved by the FDA for protozoan enteritis, efficiently inhibits the HBx-DDB1 protein interaction. NTZ significantly restores Smc5 protein levels and suppresses viral transcription and viral protein production in the HBV minicircle system and in human primary hepatocytes naturally infected with HBV. CONCLUSIONS These results indicate that NTZ, which targets an HBV-related viral-host protein interaction, may be a promising new therapeutic agent and a step toward a functional HBV cure.
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Kuzmenkov AI, Vassilevski AA, Kudryashova KS, Nekrasova OV, Peigneur S, Tytgat J, Feofanov AV, Kirpichnikov MP, Grishin EV. Variability of Potassium Channel Blockers in Mesobuthus eupeus Scorpion Venom with Focus on Kv1.1: AN INTEGRATED TRANSCRIPTOMIC AND PROTEOMIC STUDY. J Biol Chem 2015; 290:12195-209. [PMID: 25792741 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m115.637611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The lesser Asian scorpion Mesobuthus eupeus (Buthidae) is one of the most widely spread and dispersed species of the Mesobuthus genus, and its venom is actively studied. Nevertheless, a considerable amount of active compounds is still under-investigated due to the high complexity of this venom. Here, we report a comprehensive analysis of putative potassium channel toxins (KTxs) from the cDNA library of M. eupeus venom glands, and we compare the deduced KTx structures with peptides purified from the venom. For the transcriptome analysis, we used conventional tools as well as a search for structural motifs characteristic of scorpion venom components in the form of regular expressions. We found 59 candidate KTxs distributed in 30 subfamilies and presenting the cysteine-stabilized α/β and inhibitor cystine knot types of fold. M. eupeus venom was then separated to individual components by multistage chromatography. A facile fluorescent system based on the expression of the KcsA-Kv1.1 hybrid channels in Escherichia coli and utilization of a labeled scorpion toxin was elaborated and applied to follow Kv1.1 pore binding activity during venom separation. As a result, eight high affinity Kv1.1 channel blockers were identified, including five novel peptides, which extend the panel of potential pharmacologically important Kv1 ligands. Activity of the new peptides against rat Kv1.1 channel was confirmed (IC50 in the range of 1-780 nm) by the two-electrode voltage clamp technique using a standard Xenopus oocyte system. Our integrated approach is of general utility and efficiency to mine natural venoms for KTxs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexey I Kuzmenkov
- From the Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 117997, Russia
| | - Alexander A Vassilevski
- From the Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 117997, Russia,
| | - Kseniya S Kudryashova
- From the Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 117997, Russia, the Biological Faculty, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119992, Russia, and
| | - Oksana V Nekrasova
- From the Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 117997, Russia
| | - Steve Peigneur
- the Laboratory of Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Jan Tytgat
- the Laboratory of Toxicology and Pharmacology, University of Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Alexey V Feofanov
- From the Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 117997, Russia, the Biological Faculty, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119992, Russia, and
| | - Mikhail P Kirpichnikov
- From the Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 117997, Russia, the Biological Faculty, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow 119992, Russia, and
| | - Eugene V Grishin
- From the Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 117997, Russia
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12
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Long J, Li B, Rodriguez-Blanco J, Pastori C, Volmar CH, Wahlestedt C, Capobianco A, Bai F, Pei XH, Ayad NG, Robbins DJ. The BET bromodomain inhibitor I-BET151 acts downstream of smoothened protein to abrogate the growth of hedgehog protein-driven cancers. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:35494-502. [PMID: 25355313 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.595348] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic enzymes modulate signal transduction pathways in different biological contexts. We reasoned that epigenetic regulators might modulate the Hedgehog (HH) signaling pathway, a main driver of cell proliferation in various cancers including medulloblastoma. To test this hypothesis, we performed an unbiased small-molecule screen utilizing an HH-dependent reporter cell line (Light2 cells). We incubated Light2 cells with small molecules targeting different epigenetic modulators and identified four histone deacetylase inhibitors and a bromodomain and extra terminal domain (BET) protein inhibitor (I-BET151) that attenuate HH activity. I-BET151 was also able to inhibit the expression of HH target genes in Sufu(-/-) mouse embryonic fibroblasts, in which constitutive Gli activity is activated in a Smoothened (Smo)-independent fashion, consistent with it acting downstream of Smo. Knockdown of Brd4 (which encodes one of the BET proteins) phenocopies I-BET151 treatment, suggesting that Brd4 is a regulator of the HH signaling pathway. Consistent with this suggestion, Brd4 associates with the proximal promoter region of the Gli1 locus, and does so in a manner that can be reversed by I-BET151. Importantly, I-BET151 also suppressed the HH activity-dependent growth of medulloblastoma cells, in vitro and in vivo. These studies suggest that BET protein modulation may be an attractive therapeutic strategy for attenuating the growth of HH-dependent cancers, such as medulloblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Long
- From the Molecular Oncology Program, The DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery and
| | - Bin Li
- From the Molecular Oncology Program, The DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery and
| | | | - Chiara Pastori
- the Center for Therapeutic Innovation, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33136 and
| | - Claude-Henry Volmar
- the Center for Therapeutic Innovation, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33136 and
| | - Claes Wahlestedt
- the Center for Therapeutic Innovation, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33136 and the Sylvester Cancer Center and
| | - Anthony Capobianco
- From the Molecular Oncology Program, The DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery and the Sylvester Cancer Center and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami, Miami, Florida 33136
| | - Feng Bai
- From the Molecular Oncology Program, The DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery and
| | - Xin-Hai Pei
- From the Molecular Oncology Program, The DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery and the Sylvester Cancer Center and
| | - Nagi G Ayad
- the Center for Therapeutic Innovation, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, Florida 33136 and the Sylvester Cancer Center and
| | - David J Robbins
- From the Molecular Oncology Program, The DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery and the Sylvester Cancer Center and Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami, Miami, Florida 33136
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13
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Vaghi V, Polacchini A, Baj G, Pinheiro VLM, Vicario A, Tongiorgi E. Pharmacological profile of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) splice variant translation using a novel drug screening assay: a "quantitative code". J Biol Chem 2014; 289:27702-13. [PMID: 25074925 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.586719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The neurotrophin brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a key regulator of neuronal development and plasticity. BDNF is a major pharmaceutical target in neurodevelopmental and psychiatric disorders. However, pharmacological modulation of this neurotrophin is challenging because BDNF is generated by multiple, alternatively spliced transcripts with different 5'- and 3'UTRs. Each BDNF mRNA variant is transcribed independently, but translation regulation is unknown. To evaluate the translatability of BDNF transcripts, we developed an in vitro luciferase assay in human neuroblastoma cells. In unstimulated cells, each BDNF 5'- and 3'UTR determined a different basal translation level of the luciferase reporter gene. However, constructs with either a 5'UTR or a 3'UTR alone showed poor translation modulation by BDNF, KCl, dihydroxyphenylglycine, AMPA, NMDA, dopamine, acetylcholine, norepinephrine, or serotonin. Constructs consisting of the luciferase reporter gene flanked by the 5'UTR of one of the most abundant BDNF transcripts in the brain (exons 1, 2c, 4, and 6) and the long 3'UTR responded selectively to stimulation with the different receptor agonists, and only transcripts 2c and 6 were increased by the antidepressants desipramine and mirtazapine. We propose that BDNF mRNA variants represent "a quantitative code" for regulated expression of the protein. Thus, to discriminate the efficacy of drugs in stimulating BDNF synthesis, it is appropriate to use variant-specific in vitro screening tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Vaghi
- From the Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Alessio Polacchini
- From the Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Gabriele Baj
- From the Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Vera L M Pinheiro
- From the Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Annalisa Vicario
- From the Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Enrico Tongiorgi
- From the Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
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14
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Kamath-Loeb AS, Balakrishna S, Whittington D, Shen JC, Emond MJ, Okabe T, Masutani C, Hanaoka F, Nishimura S, Loeb LA. Sphingosine, a modulator of human translesion DNA polymerase activity. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:21663-72. [PMID: 24928506 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.570242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Translesion (TLS) DNA polymerases are specialized, error-prone enzymes that synthesize DNA across bulky, replication-stalling DNA adducts. In so doing, they facilitate the progression of DNA synthesis and promote cell proliferation. To potentiate the effect of cancer chemotherapeutic regimens, we sought to identify inhibitors of TLS DNA polymerases. We screened five libraries of ∼ 3000 small molecules, including one comprising ∼ 600 nucleoside analogs, for their effect on primer extension activity of DNA polymerase η (Pol η). We serendipitously identified sphingosine, a lipid-signaling molecule that robustly stimulates the activity of Pol η by ∼ 100-fold at low micromolar concentrations but inhibits it at higher concentrations. This effect is specific to the Y-family DNA polymerases, Pols η, κ, and ι. The addition of a single phosphate group on sphingosine completely abrogates this effect. Likewise, the inclusion of other sphingolipids, including ceramide and sphingomyelin to extension reactions does not elicit this response. Sphingosine increases the rate of correct and incorrect nucleotide incorporation while having no effect on polymerase processivity. Endogenous Pol η activity is modulated similarly as the recombinant enzyme. Importantly, sphingosine-treated cells exhibit increased lesion bypass activity, and sphingosine tethered to membrane lipids mimics the effects of free sphingosine. Our studies have uncovered sphingosine as a modulator of TLS DNA polymerase activity; this property of sphingosine may be associated with its known role as a signaling molecule in regulating cell proliferation in response to cellular stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashwini S Kamath-Loeb
- From the Departments of Pathology and Biochemistry, The Gottstein Memorial Cancer Research Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195
| | - Sharath Balakrishna
- From the Departments of Pathology and Biochemistry, The Gottstein Memorial Cancer Research Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195
| | - Dale Whittington
- the Department of Medicinal Chemistry, Mass Spectrometry Center, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195
| | - Jiang-Cheng Shen
- From the Departments of Pathology and Biochemistry, The Gottstein Memorial Cancer Research Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195
| | - Mary J Emond
- Biostatistics and Center for Biomedical Statistics, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195
| | - Takayoshi Okabe
- the Open Innovation Center for Drug Discovery, University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-0033, Japan
| | - Chikahide Masutani
- the Department of Genome Dynamics, Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, Nagoya University, Nagoya 464-8601, Japan
| | - Fumio Hanaoka
- the Institute for Biomolecular Science, Faculty of Science, Gakushuin University, Tokyo 171-8588, Japan, and
| | - Susumu Nishimura
- the Laboratory Animal Resource Center, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8575, Japan
| | - Lawrence A Loeb
- From the Departments of Pathology and Biochemistry, The Gottstein Memorial Cancer Research Laboratory, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195,
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15
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Doyle JR, Krishnaji ST, Zhu G, Xu ZZ, Heller D, Ji RR, Levy BD, Kumar K, Kopin AS. Development of a membrane-anchored chemerin receptor agonist as a novel modulator of allergic airway inflammation and neuropathic pain. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:13385-96. [PMID: 24659779 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.522680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The chemerin receptor (CMKLR1) is a G protein-coupled receptor found on select immune, epithelial, and dorsal root ganglion/spinal cord neuronal cells. CMKLR1 is primarily coupled to the inhibitory G protein, Gαi, and has been shown to modulate the resolution of inflammation and neuropathic pain. CMKLR1 is activated by both lipid and peptide agonists, resolvin E1 and chemerin, respectively. Notably, these ligands have short half-lives. To expedite the development of long acting, stable chemerin analogs as candidate therapeutics, we used membrane-tethered ligand technology. Membrane-tethered ligands are recombinant proteins comprised of an extracellular peptide ligand, a linker sequence, and an anchoring transmembrane domain. Using this technology, we established that a 9-amino acid-tethered chemerin fragment (amino acids 149-157) activates both mouse and human CMKLR1 with efficacy exceeding that of the full-length peptide (amino acids 21-157). To enable in vivo delivery of a corresponding soluble membrane anchored ligand, we generated lipidated analogs of the 9-amino acid fragment. Pharmacological assessment revealed high potency and wash resistance (an index of membrane anchoring). When tested in vivo, a chemerin SMAL decreased allergic airway inflammation and attenuated neuropathic pain in mice. This compound provides a prototype membrane-anchored peptide for the treatment of inflammatory disease. A parallel approach may be applied to developing therapeutics targeting other peptide hormone G protein-coupled receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamie R Doyle
- From the Molecular Pharmacology Research Center, and Molecular Cardiology Research Institute, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111
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16
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Herva ME, Zibaee S, Fraser G, Barker RA, Goedert M, Spillantini MG. Anti-amyloid compounds inhibit α-synuclein aggregation induced by protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA). J Biol Chem 2014; 289:11897-11905. [PMID: 24584936 PMCID: PMC4002097 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.542340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Filaments made of α-synuclein form the characteristic Lewy pathology in Parkinson and other diseases. The formation of α-synuclein filaments can be reproduced in vitro by incubation of recombinant protein, but the filament growth is very slow and highly variable and so unsuitable for fast high throughput anti-aggregation drug screening. To overcome this obstacle we have investigated whether the protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA) technique, used for fast amplification of prion protein aggregates, could be adapted for growing α-synuclein aggregates and thus suitable for screening of drugs to affect α-synuclein aggregation for the treatment of the yet incurable α-synucleinopathies. Circular dichroism, electron microscopy, and native and SDS-polyacrylamide gels were used to demonstrate α-synuclein aggregate formation by PMCA, and the strain imprint of the α-synuclein fibrils was studied by proteinase K digestion. We also demonstrated that α-synuclein fibrils are able to seed new α-synuclein PMCA reactions and to enter and aggregate in cells in culture. In particular, we have generated a line of “chronically infected” cells, which transmit α-synuclein aggregates even after multiple passages. To evaluate the sensitivity of the PMCA system as an α-synuclein anti-aggregating drug screening assay a panel of 10 drugs was tested. Anti-amyloid compounds proved efficient in inhibiting α-synuclein fibril formation induced by PMCA. Our results show that α-synuclein PMCA is a fast and reproducible system that could be used as a high throughput screening method for finding new α-synuclein anti-aggregating compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Eugenia Herva
- John Van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, E. D. Adrian Building, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0PY, United Kingdom.
| | - Shahin Zibaee
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0QH, United Kingdom
| | - Graham Fraser
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0QH, United Kingdom
| | - Roger A Barker
- John Van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, E. D. Adrian Building, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0PY, United Kingdom
| | - Michel Goedert
- Medical Research Council Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Francis Crick Avenue, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0QH, United Kingdom
| | - Maria Grazia Spillantini
- John Van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, E. D. Adrian Building, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0PY, United Kingdom.
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17
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Chang Q, Berdyshev E, Cao D, Bogaard JD, White JJ, Chen S, Shah R, Mu W, Grantner R, Bettis S, Grassi MA. Cytochrome P450 2C epoxygenases mediate photochemical stress-induced death of photoreceptors. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:8337-52. [PMID: 24519941 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.507152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Degenerative loss of photoreceptors occurs in inherited and age-related retinal degenerative diseases. A chemical screen facilitates development of new testing routes for neuroprotection and mechanistic investigation. Herein, we conducted a mouse-derived photoreceptor (661W cell)-based high throughput screen of the Food and Drug Administration-approved Prestwick drug library to identify putative cytoprotective compounds against light-induced, synthetic visual chromophore-precipitated cell death. Different classes of hit compounds were identified, some of which target known genes or pathways pathologically associated with retinitis pigmentosa. Sulfaphenazole (SFZ), a selective inhibitor of human cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C9 isozyme, was identified as a novel and leading cytoprotective compound. Expression of CYP2C proteins was induced by light. Gene-targeted knockdown of CYP2C55, the homologous gene of CYP2C9, demonstrated viability rescue to light-induced cell death, whereas stable expression of functional CYP2C9-GFP fusion protein further exacerbated light-induced cell death. Mechanistically, SFZ inhibited light-induced necrosis and mitochondrial stress-initiated apoptosis. Light elicited calcium influx, which was mitigated by SFZ. Light provoked the release of arachidonic acid from membrane phospholipids and production of non-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid metabolites. Administration of SFZ further stimulated the production of non-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid metabolites, suggesting a metabolic shift of arachidonic acid under inhibition of the CYP2C pathway. Together, our findings indicate that CYP2C genes play a direct causative role in photochemical stress-induced death of photoreceptors and suggest that the CYP monooxygenase system is a risk factor for retinal photodamage, especially in individuals with Stargardt disease and age-related macular degeneration that deposit condensation products of retinoids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Chang
- From the Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and
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18
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Abstract
A need for better clinical outcomes has heightened interest in the use of physiologically relevant human cells in the drug discovery process. Patient-specific human induced pluripotent stem cells may offer a relevant, robust, scalable, and cost-effective model of human disease physiology. Small molecule high throughput screening in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cells with the intent of identifying novel therapeutic compounds is starting to influence the drug discovery process; however, the use of these cells presents many high throughput screening development challenges. This technology has the potential to transform the way drug discovery is performed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra J Engle
- From Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics and Metabolism-New Chemical Entities, Pfizer Inc., Groton, Connecticut 06340
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19
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Dhruv H, Loftus JC, Narang P, Petit JL, Fameree M, Burton J, Tchegho G, Chow D, Yin H, Al-Abed Y, Berens ME, Tran NL, Meurice N. Structural basis and targeting of the interaction between fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 and tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis. J Biol Chem 2013; 288:32261-32276. [PMID: 24056367 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.493536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Deregulation of the TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK)-fibroblast growth factor-inducible 14 (Fn14) signaling pathway is observed in many diseases, including inflammation, autoimmune diseases, and cancer. Activation of Fn14 signaling by TWEAK binding triggers cell invasion and survival and therefore represents an attractive pathway for therapeutic intervention. Based on structural studies of the TWEAK-binding cysteine-rich domain of Fn14, several homology models of TWEAK were built to investigate plausible modes of TWEAK-Fn14 interaction. Two promising models, centered on different anchoring residues of TWEAK (tyrosine 176 and tryptophan 231), were prioritized using a data-driven strategy. Site-directed mutagenesis of TWEAK at Tyr(176), but not Trp(231), resulted in the loss of TWEAK binding to Fn14 substantiating Tyr(176) as the anchoring residue. Importantly, mutation of TWEAK at Tyr(176) did not disrupt TWEAK trimerization but failed to induce Fn14-mediated nuclear factor κ-light chain enhancer of activated B cell (NF-κB) signaling. The validated structural models were utilized in a virtual screen to design a targeted library of small molecules predicted to disrupt the TWEAK-Fn14 interaction. 129 small molecules were screened iteratively, with identification of molecules producing up to 37% inhibition of TWEAK-Fn14 binding. In summary, we present a data-driven in silico study revealing key structural elements of the TWEAK-Fn14 interaction, followed by experimental validation, serving as a guide for the design of small molecule inhibitors of the TWEAK-Fn14 ligand-receptor interaction. Our results validate the TWEAK-Fn14 interaction as a chemically tractable target and provide the foundation for further exploration utilizing chemical biology approaches focusing on validating this system as a therapeutic target in invasive cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harshil Dhruv
- From the Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, Arizona 85004
| | | | | | | | - Maureen Fameree
- From the Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, Arizona 85004
| | - Julien Burton
- From the Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, Arizona 85004
| | - Giresse Tchegho
- From the Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, Arizona 85004
| | - Donald Chow
- From the Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, Arizona 85004
| | - Holly Yin
- From the Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, Arizona 85004
| | - Yousef Al-Abed
- the Center for Molecular Innovation, Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, Manhasset, New York 11030
| | - Michael E Berens
- From the Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, Arizona 85004
| | - Nhan L Tran
- From the Translational Genomics Research Institute, Phoenix, Arizona 85004,.
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20
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Kim JA, Kim Y, Kwon BM, Han DC. The natural compound cantharidin induces cancer cell death through inhibition of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70) and Bcl-2-associated athanogene domain 3 (BAG3) expression by blocking heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) binding to promoters. J Biol Chem 2013; 288:28713-26. [PMID: 23983126 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.488346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Heat shock factor 1 (HSF1) enhances the survival of cancer cells under various stresses. The knock-out of HSF1 impairs cancer formation and progression, suggesting that HSF1 is a promising therapeutic target. To identify inhibitors of HSF1 activity, we performed cell-based screening with a library of marketed and experimental drugs and identified cantharidin as an HSF1 inhibitor. Cantharidin is a potent antitumor agent from traditional Chinese medicine. Cantharidin inhibited heat shock-induced luciferase activity with an IC50 of 4.2 μm. In contrast, cantharidin did not inhibit NF-κB luciferase reporter activity, demonstrating that cantharidin is not a general transcription inhibitor. When the HCT-116 colorectal cancer cells were exposed to heat shock in the presence of cantharidin, the induction of HSF1 downstream target proteins, such as HSP70 and BAG3 (Bcl-2-associated athanogene domain 3), was suppressed. HSP70 and its co-chaperone BAG3 have been reported to protect cells from apoptosis by stabilizing anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins. As expected, treating HCT-116 cancer cells with cantharidin significantly decreased the amounts of BCL-2, BCL-xL, and MCL-1 protein and induced apoptotic cell death. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis showed that cantharidin inhibited the binding of HSF1 to the HSP70 promoter and subsequently blocked HSF1-dependent p-TEFb recruitment. Therefore, the p-TEFb-dependent phosphorylation of the C-terminal domain of RNA polymerase II was blocked, arresting transcription at the elongation step. Protein phosphatase 2A inhibition with PP2CA siRNA or okadaic acid did not block HSF1 activity, suggesting that cantharidin inhibits HSF1 in a protein phosphatase 2A-independent manner. We show for the first time that cantharidin inhibits HSF1 transcriptional activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joo Ae Kim
- From the Biomedical Genomics Research Center, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology and
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21
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Voak AA, Gobalakrishnapillai V, Seifert K, Balczo E, Hu L, Hall BS, Wilkinson SR. An essential type I nitroreductase from Leishmania major can be used to activate leishmanicidal prodrugs. J Biol Chem 2013; 288:28466-76. [PMID: 23946481 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.494781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Nitroaromatic prodrugs are used to treat a range of microbial infections with selectivity achieved by specific activation reactions. For trypanosomatid parasites, this is mediated by type I nitroreductases. Here, we demonstrate that the causative agent of leishmaniasis, Leishmania major, expresses an FMN-containing nitroreductase (LmNTR) that metabolizes a wide range of substrates, and based on electron donor and acceptor preferences, it may function as an NADH:quinone oxidoreductase. Using gene deletion approaches, we demonstrate that this activity is essential to L. major promastigotes, the parasite forms found in the insect vector. Intriguingly, LmNTR(+/-) heterozygote promastigote parasites could readily differentiate into infectious metacyclic cells but these were unable to establish infections in cultured mammalian cells and caused delayed pathology in mice. Furthermore, we exploit the LmNTR activity evaluating a library of nitrobenzylphosphoramide mustards using biochemical and phenotypic screens. We identify a subset of compounds that display significant growth inhibitory properties against the intracellular parasite form found in the mammalian hosts. The leishmanicidal activity was shown to be LmNTR-specific as the LmNTR(+/-) heterozygote promastigotes displayed resistance to the most potent mustards. We conclude that LmNTR can be targeted for drug development by exploiting its prodrug activating property or by designing specific inhibitors to block its endogenous function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew A Voak
- From the Queen Mary Pre-Clinical Drug Discovery Group, School of Biological and Chemical Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, United Kingdom
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22
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Schmid CL, Streicher JM, Groer CE, Munro TA, Zhou L, Bohn LM. Functional selectivity of 6'-guanidinonaltrindole (6'-GNTI) at κ-opioid receptors in striatal neurons. J Biol Chem 2013; 288:22387-98. [PMID: 23775075 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.476234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 70] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
There is considerable evidence to suggest that drug actions at the κ-opioid receptor (KOR) may represent a means to control pain perception and modulate reward thresholds. As a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), the activation of KOR promotes Gαi/o protein coupling and the recruitment of β-arrestins. It has become increasingly evident that GPCRs can transduce signals that originate independently via G protein pathways and β-arrestin pathways; the ligand-dependent bifurcation of such signaling is referred to as "functional selectivity" or "signaling bias." Recently, a KOR agonist, 6'-guanidinonaltrindole (6'-GNTI), was shown to display bias toward the activation of G protein-mediated signaling over β-arrestin2 recruitment. Therefore, we investigated whether such ligand bias was preserved in striatal neurons. Although the reference KOR agonist U69,593 induces the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and Akt, 6'-GNTI only activates the Akt pathway in striatal neurons. Using pharmacological tools and β-arrestin2 knock-out mice, we show that KOR-mediated ERK1/2 phosphorylation in striatal neurons requires β-arrestin2, whereas Akt activation depends upon G protein signaling. These findings reveal a point of KOR signal bifurcation that can be observed in an endogenous neuronal setting and may prove to be an important indicator when developing biased agonists at the KOR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cullen L Schmid
- Department of Molecular Therapeutics, The Scripps Research Institute, Jupiter, Florida 33458, USA
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Chun YS, Chaudhari P, Jang YY. Applications of patient-specific induced pluripotent stem cells; focused on disease modeling, drug screening and therapeutic potentials for liver disease. Int J Biol Sci 2010; 6:796-805. [PMID: 21179587 PMCID: PMC3005346 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.6.796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2010] [Accepted: 12/13/2010] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The recent advances in the induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) research have significantly changed our perspectives on regenerative medicine by providing researchers with a unique tool to derive disease-specific stem cells for study. In this review, we describe the human iPSC generation from developmentally diverse origins (i.e. endoderm-, mesoderm-, and ectoderm- tissue derived human iPSCs) and multistage hepatic differentiation protocols, and discuss both basic and clinical applications of these cells including disease modeling, drug toxicity screening/drug discovery, gene therapy and cell replacement therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yoon-Young Jang
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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