Antiviral, Cytoprotective, and Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Ampelozizyphus amazonicus Ducke Ethanolic Wood Extract on Chikungunya Virus Infection.

Chikungunya fever, a debilitating disease caused by Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), is characterized by a high fever of sudden onset and an intense arthralgia that impairs individual regular activities. Although most symptoms are self-limited, long-term persistent arthralgia is observed in 30-40% of infected individuals. Currently, there is no vaccine or specific treatment against CHIKV infection, so there is an urgent need for the discovery of new therapeutic options for CHIKF chronic cases. This present study aims to test the antiviral, cytoprotective, and anti-inflammatory activities of an ethanol extract (FF72) from Ampelozizyphus amazonicus Ducke wood, chemically characterized using mass spectrometry, which indicated the major presence of dammarane-type triterpenoid saponins. The major saponin in the extract, with a deprotonated molecule ion m/z 897 [M-H]-, was tentatively assigned as a jujubogenin triglycoside, a dammarane-type triterpenoid saponin. Treatment with FF72 resulted in a significant reduction in both virus replication and the production of infective virions in BHK-21-infected cells. The viability of infected cells was assessed using an MTT, and the result indicated that FF72 treatment was able to revert the toxicity mediated by CHIKV infection. In addition, FF72 had a direct effect on CHIKV, since the infectivity was completely abolished in the presence of the extract. FF72 treatment also reduced the expression of the major pro-inflammatory mediators overexpressed during CHIKV infection, such as IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, and MCP-1. Overall, the present study elucidates the potential of FF72 to become a promising candidate of herbal medicine for alphaviruses infections.

Zinc deficiency disrupts pain signaling promoting nociceptive but not inflammatory pain in mice.

Zinc (Zn) is an essential micronutrient involved in the physiology of nervous system and pain modulation. There is little evidence for the role of nutritional Zn alternations to the onset and progression of neuropathic (NP) and inflammatory pain. The study investigated the effects of a zinc restricted diet on the development of pain. Weaned mice were submitted to a regular (38 mg/kg of Zn) or Zn deficient (11 mg/kg of Zn) diets for four weeks, pain responses evaluated (mechanical, cold and heat allodynia; formalin- and carrageenan-induced inflammatory hypernociception), plasma and tissues collected for biochemical and metabolomic analysis. Zn deficient diet inhibited animal growth (37%) and changed mice sensitivity pattern, inducing an intense allodynia evoked by mechanical, cold and heat stimulus for four weeks. The inflammatory pain behavior of formalin test was drastically reduced or absent when challenged by an inflammatory stimulus. Zn restriction also reduce plasma TNF, increase neuronal activation, oxidative stress, indicating a disruption of the immune response. Liver metabolomic analyses suggest a downregulation of lipid metabolism of arachidonic acid. Zn restriction since weaned disrupts pain signaling considerably and reduce inflammatory pain. Zn could be considered a predisposing factor for the onset of chronic pain such as painful neuropathies.

Nutrient-sensing amyloid metastasis.

Amyloids are organized suprastructural polypeptide arrangements. The prevalence of amyloid-related processes of pathophysiological relevance has been linked to aging-related degenerative diseases. Besides the role of genetic polymorphisms on the relative risk of amyloid diseases, the contributions of nongenetic ontogenic cluster of factors remain elusive. In recent decades, mounting evidences have been suggesting the role of essential micronutrients, in particular transition metals, in the regulation of amyloidogenic processes, both directly (such as binding to amyloid proteins) or indirectly (such as regulating regulatory partners, processing enzymes, and membrane transporters). The features of transition metals as regulatory cofactors of amyloid proteins and the consequences of metal dyshomeostasis in triggering amyloidogenic processes, as well as the evidences showing amelioration of symptoms by dietary supplementation, suggest an exaptative role of metals in regulating amyloid pathways. The self- and cross-talk replicative nature of these amyloid processes along with their systemic distribution support the concept of their metastatic nature. The role of amyloidosis as nutrient sensors would act as intra- and transgenerational epigenetic metabolic programming factors determining health span and life span, viability, which could participate as an evolutive selective pressure.

Overview on Chikungunya Virus Infection: From Epidemiology to State-of-the-Art Experimental Models.

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) is currently one of the most relevant arboviruses to public health. It is a member of the Togaviridae family and alphavirus genus and causes an arthritogenic disease known as chikungunya fever (CHIKF). It is characterized by a multifaceted disease, which is distinguished from other arbovirus infections by the intense and debilitating arthralgia that can last for months or years in some individuals. Despite the great social and economic burden caused by CHIKV infection, there is no vaccine or specific antiviral drugs currently available. Recent outbreaks have shown a change in the severity profile of the disease in which atypical and severe manifestation lead to hundreds of deaths, reinforcing the necessity to understand the replication and pathogenesis processes. CHIKF is a complex disease resultant from the infection of a plethora of cell types. Although there are several in vivo models for studying CHIKV infection, none of them reproduces integrally the disease signature observed in humans, which is a challenge for vaccine and drug development. Therefore, understanding the potentials and limitations of the state-of-the-art experimental models is imperative to advance in the field. In this context, the present review outlines the present knowledge on CHIKV epidemiology, replication, pathogenesis, and immunity and also brings a critical perspective on the current in vitro and in vivo state-of-the-art experimental models of CHIKF.

Vancomycin-loaded nanoparticles against vancomycin intermediate and methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains.

Bacterial infections represent one of the leading causes of mortality in the world. Among causative pathogens, S. aureus is prominently known as the underlying cause of many multidrug resistant infections that are often treated with the first-line choice antibiotic vancomycin (VCM). Loading antibiotics into polymeric nanoparticles (Np) displays promise as an alternative method to deliver therapy due to the greater access and accumulation of the antibiotic at the site of the infection as well as reducing toxicity, irritation and degradation. The aim of this work was to prepare, characterize and evaluate VCM-loaded nanoparticles (VNp) for use against S. aureus strains. Moreover, conjugation of Nps with holo-transferrin (h-Tf) was investigated as an approach for improving targeted drug delivery. VNp were prepared by double emulsion solvent evaporation method using PLGA and PVA or DMAB as surfactants. The particles were characterized for size distribution, Zeta Potential, morphology by transmission electron microscopy, encapsulation yield and protein conjugation efficiency. Process yield and drug loading were also investigated along with an in vitro evaluation of VNp antimicrobial effects against S. aureus strains. Results showed that Np were spontaneously formed with a mean diameter lower than 300 nm in a narrow size distribution that presented a spherical shape. The bioconjugation with h-Tf did not appear to increase the antimicrobial effect of VNp. However, non-bioconjugated Np presented a minimal inhibitory concentration lower than free VCM against a MRSA (Methicillin-resistant S. aureus) strain, and slightly higher against a VISA (VCM intermediate S. aureus) strain. VNp without h-Tf showed potential to assist in the development of new therapies against S. aureus infections.

BZ043, a novel long-acting amylin analog, reduces gastric emptying, food intake, glycemia and insulin requirement in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

Amylin analogs are important adjunctive drugs in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. However, a dual therapy with insulin involves inconvenient multiple injections. Here we describe a novel n-terminal PEGylated human amylin analog - BZ043 - and its potential to improve the control of glycemia using lower doses of insulin. The effect of BZ043 over the insulin-mediated control of fed-glycemia was investigated in rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes treated with the basal analog glargine (GLAR). Fasted rats (3 h) received a single treatment of BZ043 (16, 64 or 128 nmol/kg), GLAR (1.5 IU or 6.0 IU) or BZ043 plus GLAR low dose (1.5 IU) in separate injections, and had free access to 5% glucose rich chow and water. BZ043 dose-proportionally prevented the meal-related increase of glycemia, and the co-treatment (64 or 128 nmol/kg) with GLAR restored normoglycemia without abrupt variations of glycemia. BZ043 showed a prolonged anti-hyperglycemic effect and, together with GLAR, promoted a long-lasting normoglycemia, in vivo. We conceive that combining BZ043 and GLAR in a fixed-ratio co-formulation might conveniently improve the control of diabetes mellitus.

Monoconjugation of Human Amylin with Methylpolyethyleneglycol.

Amylin is a pancreatic hormone cosecreted with insulin that exerts unique roles in metabolism and glucose homeostasis. The therapeutic restoration of postprandial and basal amylin levels is highly desirable in diabetes mellitus. Protein conjugation with the biocompatible polymer polyethylene glycol (PEG) has been shown to extend the biological effects of biopharmaceuticals. We have designed a PEGylated human amylin by using the aminoreactive compound methoxylpolyethylene glycol succinimidyl carbonate (mPEGsc). The synthesis in organic solvent resulted in high yields of monoPEGylated human amylin, which showed large stability against aggregation, an 8 times increase in half-life in vivo compared to the non-conjugated amylin, and pharmacological activity as shown by modulation of cAMP production in MCF-7 cell line, decrease in glucagon and modulation of glycemia following subcutaneous administration in mice. Altogether these data reveal the potential use of PEGylated human amylin for the restoration of fasting amylin levels.

Biophysical and morphological studies on the dual interaction of non-octarepeat prion protein peptides with copper and nucleic acids.

Conversion of prion protein (PrP) to an altered conformer, the scrapie PrP (PrP(Sc)), is a critical step in the development of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. Both Cu(II) and nucleic acid molecules have been implicated in this conversion. Full-length PrP can bind up to six copper ions; four Cu(II) binding sites are located in the octarepeat domain (residues 60-91), and His-96 and His-111 coordinate two additional copper ions. Experimental evidence shows that PrP binds different molecules, resulting in diverse cellular signaling events. However, there is little information about the interaction of macromolecular ligands with Cu(II)-bound PrP. Both RNA and DNA sequences can bind PrP, and this interaction results in reciprocal conformational changes. Here, we investigated the interaction of Cu(II) and nucleic acids with amyloidogenic non-octarepeat PrP peptide models (comprising human PrP residues 106-126 and hamster PrP residues 109-149) that retain His-111 as the copper-anchoring residue. The effect of Cu(II) and DNA or RNA sequences in the aggregation, conformation, and toxicity of PrP domains was investigated at low and neutral pH. Circular dichroism and EPR spectroscopy data indicate that interaction of the PrP peptides with Cu(II) and DNA occurs at pH 7. This dual interaction induces conformational changes in the peptides, modulating their aggregation, and affecting the morphology of the aggregated species, resulting in different cytotoxic effects. These results provide new insights into the role of Cu(II) and nucleic acid sequences in the structural conversion and aggregation of PrP, which are both critical events related to prion pathogenesis.