RESUMEN
(1) Background: Pelargonium sidoides extracts and lactoferrin are two important natural, anti-inflammatory, and antiviral agents, which can interfere with the early stages of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation approaches have been applied to check for the occurrence of interactions of the Pelargonium sidoides compounds with lactoferrin and with SARS-CoV-2 components. (2) Methods: Computational methods have been applied to confirm the hypothesis of a direct interaction between PEL compounds and the lactoferrin protein and between Pelargonium sidoides compounds and SARS-CoV-2 Spike, 3CLPro, RdRp proteins, and membrane. Selected high-score complexes were structurally investigated through classical molecular dynamics simulation, while the interaction energies were evaluated using the molecular mechanics energies combined with generalized Born and surface area continuum solvation method. (3) Results: Computational analyses suggested that Pelargonium sidoides extracts can interact with lactoferrin without altering its structural and dynamical properties. Furthermore, Pelargonium sidoides compounds should have the ability to interfere with the Spike glycoprotein, the 3CLPro, and the lipid membrane, probably affecting the functional properties of the proteins inserted in the double layer. (4) Conclusion: Our findings suggest that Pelargonium sidoides may interfere with the mechanism of infection of SARS-CoV-2, especially in the early stages.
Asunto(s)
COVID-19 , Pelargonium , Humanos , Lactoferrina , Simulación del Acoplamiento Molecular , Pelargonium/química , Extractos Vegetales/química , SARS-CoV-2RESUMEN
In recent years, new treatments with novel action mechanisms have been explored for advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Retinoids promote cancer cell differentiation and death and their trafficking and action is mediated from specific cytoplasmic and nuclear receptors, respectively. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of Cellular retinol binding protein-1 (CRBP-1) transfection in H460 human NSCLC cell line, normally not expressing CRBP-1. H460 cells were transfected by using a vector pTargeT Mammalian expression system carrying the whole sequence of CRBP-1 gene. For proliferation and apoptosis studies, cells were treated with different concentrations of all-trans Retinoic Acid (atRA) and retinol. AKT-related gene expression was analyzed by using western blot and Signosis array and results analysed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) or by t-student test. CRBP-1+ showed reduced proliferation and viability in basal condition and after atRA treatment when compared to empty-transfected H460 cells. Reduced proliferation in CRBP-1+ H460 cells associated to the down-regulation of pAKT/pERK/pEGFR-related genes. In particular, gene array documented the down-regulation of AKT and Stat-3-related genes, including M-Tor, Akt1, Akt2, Akt3, Foxo1, p27, Jun. Restoration of CRBP-1 expression in H460 cells reduced proliferation and viability in both basal condition and after atRA treatment, likely by down-regulating AKT-related gene level. Further studies are needed to better clarify how those CRBP-1-related intracellular pathways contribute to counteract NSCLC progression in order to suggest a potential tool to improve efficacy of retinoid anti lung cancer adjuvant therapy.
Asunto(s)
Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión Génica/efectos de los fármacos , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas c-akt/metabolismo , Proteínas Celulares de Unión al Retinol/metabolismo , Transducción de Señal/efectos de los fármacos , Tretinoina/farmacología , Apoptosis/efectos de los fármacos , Apoptosis/genética , Carcinoma de Pulmón de Células no Pequeñas , Línea Celular Tumoral , Proliferación Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Proliferación Celular/genética , Regulación hacia Abajo , Receptores ErbB/genética , Receptores ErbB/metabolismo , Quinasas MAP Reguladas por Señal Extracelular/genética , Quinasas MAP Reguladas por Señal Extracelular/metabolismo , Proteína Forkhead Box O1/genética , Proteína Forkhead Box O1/metabolismo , Regulación Neoplásica de la Expresión Génica/genética , Humanos , Neoplasias Pulmonares , Antígeno Nuclear de Célula en Proliferación/genética , Antígeno Nuclear de Célula en Proliferación/metabolismo , Proteínas Proto-Oncogénicas c-akt/genética , Proteínas Celulares de Unión al Retinol/genética , Transducción de Señal/genética , Serina-Treonina Quinasas TOR/genética , Serina-Treonina Quinasas TOR/metabolismo , TransfecciónRESUMEN
BACKGROUND/AIM: Cellular retinol binding protein-1 regulates retinol bioavailability and contributes to cell differentiation maintenance, but its role in ovarian carcinogenesis remains uncertain. We investigated CRBP-1 expression in ovarian tumors and CRBP-1 signaling-regulated pathways. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed immunohistochemistry, methylation-specific PCR, gene copy number analysis in ovarian tumors and proliferation/apoptosis evaluation, gene array, blot and real-time PCR in CRBP-1-transfected A2780 ovarian cancer cells. RESULTS: CRBP-1 expression was reduced or absent in G2 and G3 ovarian carcinomas. CRBP-1 silencing in 60% of G2 and 66.7% of G3 carcinomas was due to CRBP-1 promoter methylation. A2780 CRBP-1-transfected cells showed increased retinol-induced apoptosis, retinoid-induced reduced clonogenicity and down-regulation of proliferation and transcription genes, including AKT1, AKT3, EGFR, FOS, JUN, STAT1 and STAT5A. CONCLUSION: CRBP-1 loss in G2/G3 ovarian carcinomas and increased apoptotic susceptibility to retinoids in CRBP-1-transfected-A2780 cells suggest CRBP-1 screening as a target to ensure efficacy of an adjuvant retinoid therapy.