Raman spectroscopy study of 7,8-dihydrofolate inhibition on the Wuhan strain SARS-CoV-2 binding to human ACE2 receptor.

Emerging evidence suggests that elevated levels of folic acid in the bloodstream may confer protection against Wuhan-SARS-CoV-2 infection and mitigate its associated symptoms. Notably, two comprehensive studies of COVID-19 patients in Israel and UK uncovered a remarkable trend, wherein individuals with heightened folic acid levels exhibited only mild symptoms and necessitated no ventilatory support. In parallel, research has underscored the potential connection between decreased folic acid levels and the severity of Covid-19 among hospitalized patients. Yet, the underlying mechanisms governing this intriguing inhibition remain elusive. In a quest to elucidate these mechanisms, we conducted a molecular dynamics simulation approach followed by a Raman spectroscopy study to delve into the intricate interplay between the folic acid metabolite, 7,8-dihydrofolate (DHF), and the angiotensin-converting enzyme ACE2 receptor, coupled with its interaction with the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the Wuhan strain of SARS-CoV-2. Through a meticulous exploration, we scrutinized the transformation of the ACE2 + RBD complex, allowing these reactants to form bonds. This was juxtaposed with a similar investigation where ACE2 was initially permitted to react with DHF, followed by the exposure of the ACE2 + DHF complex to RBD. We find that DHF, when bonded to ACE2, functions as a physical barrier, effectively inhibiting the binding of the Wuhan strain RBD. This physicochemical process offers a cogent explanation for the observed inhibition of host cell infection in subjects receiving supplementary folic acid doses, as epidemiologically substantiated in multiple studies. This study not only sheds light on a potential avenue for mitigating SARS-CoV-2 infection but also underscores the crucial role of folic acid metabolites in host-virus interactions. This research paves the way for novel therapeutic strategies in the battle against COVID-19 and reinforces the significance of investigating the molecular mechanisms underlying the protective effects of folic acid in the context of viral infections.

[Eczema herpeticum in a patient with atopic dermatitis, carrying r501x and 2282del4 filaggrin null mutations]. / Eccema herpético en un paciente con dermatitis atópica, portador de las mutaciones R501X y 2282del4 en el gen de la filagrina.

Eczema herpeticum is an acute dermatoses caused by herpes simplex virus type 1 in atopic dermatitis patients, and is considered a dermatology emergency. Eczema herpeticum occurs in less than 3% of atopic patients. We report a patient with a history of atopic dermatitis who presented to an emergency department with eczema herpeticum. He was admitted and treated with antiviral medications with good outcome. We investigated filaggrin null mutations in the patient and his family and correlate them with the severity of the disease. We present the first Mexican patient with eczema herpeticum, atopic dermatitis and the presence of R501 X and 2282del4 filaggrin null mutations.

The 1.3 isoform of Na+-Ca 2+ exchanger expressed in guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle is less sensitive to KB-R7943.

The sodium-calcium exchanger (NCX) plays a major role in the regulation of cytosolic Ca(2+) in muscle cells. In this work, we performed force experiments to explore the role of NCX during contraction and relaxation of Cch-stimulated guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle strips. This tissue showed low sensitivity to NCX inhibitor KB-R7943 (IC50, 57 +/- 2 microM), although a complete relaxation was obtained by NCX inhibition at 100 microM. Interestingly, relaxation after washing the agonist was prolonged in the absence of external Na(+), whereas washing without Na(+) and in the presence of KB-R7943 resembled control conditions with physiological solution. Altogether, this suggests the reversal of NCX to a Ca(2+) influx mode by the manipulation on the Na(+) gradient, which can be inhibited by KB-R7943. In order to understand the low sensitivity to KB-R7943, we studied the molecular aspects of the NCX expressed in this tissue and found that the isoform of NCX expressed is 1.3, similar to that described in human tracheal smooth muscle. Sequencing revealed that amino acid 19 in exon B is phenylalanine, whereas in its human counterpart is leucine, and that the first amino acid after exon D is aspartate instead of glutamate in humans. Results herein presented are discussed in term of their possible functional implications in the exchanger activity and thus in airway physiology.