Design and synthesis of novel rigid dibenzo[b,f]azepines through ring closure technique as promising anticancer candidates against leukaemia and acting as selective topoisomerase II inhibitors and DNA intercalators.

In this research, two novel series of dibenzo[b,f]azepines (14 candidates) were designed and synthesised based on the rigidification principle and following the reported doxorubicin's pharmacophoric features. The anti-proliferative activity was evaluated at the NCI against a panel of 60 cancer cell lines. Further, the promising candidates (5a-g) were evaluated for their ability to inhibit topoisomerase II, where 5e was noticed to be the most active congener. Moreover, its cytotoxicity was evaluated against leukaemia SR cells. Also, 5e arrested the cell cycle at the G1 phase and increased the apoptosis ratio by 37.34%. Furthermore, in vivo studies of 5e showed the inhibition of tumour proliferation and the decrease in its volume. Histopathology and liver enzymes were examined as well. Besides, molecular docking, physicochemical, and pharmacokinetic properties were carried out. Finally, a SAR study was discussed to open the gate for further optimisation of the most promising candidate (5e).HighlightsTwo novel series of dibenzo[b,f]azepines were designed and synthesised based on the rigidification principle in drug design.The anti-proliferative activity was evaluated at the NCI against a panel of 60 cancer cell lines.5e was the most active anti-topo II congener (IC50 = 6.36 ± 0.36 µM).5e was evaluated against leukaemia SR cells and its cytotoxic effect was confirmed (IC50 = 13.05 ± 0.62 µM).In vivo studies of 5e significantly inhibited tumour proliferation by 62.7% and decreased tumour volume to 30.1 mm3 compared to doxorubicin treatment.

Investigating the potential anticancer activities of antibiotics as topoisomerase II inhibitors and DNA intercalators: in vitro, molecular docking, molecular dynamics, and SAR studies.

Topoisomerase II (TOP-2) is a promising molecular target for cancer therapy. Numerous antibiotics could interact with biologically relevant macromolecules and provoke antitumor potential. Herein, molecular docking studies were used to investigate the binding interactions of 138 antibiotics against the human topoisomerase II-DNA complex. Followed by the MD simulations for 200 ns and MM-GBSA calculations. On the other hand, the antitumor activities of the most promising candidates were investigated against three cancer cell lines using doxorubicin (DOX) as a reference drug. Notably, spiramycin (SP) and clarithromycin (CL) showed promising anticancer potentials on the MCF-7 cell line. Moreover, azithromycin (AZ) and CL exhibited good anticancer potentials against the HCT-116 cell line. Finally, the TOP-2 enzyme inhibition assay was carried out to confirm the proposed rationale. Briefly, potent TOP-2 inhibitory potentials were recorded for erythromycin (ER) and roxithromycin (RO). Additionally, a SAR study opened eyes to promising anticancer pharmacophores encountered by these antibiotics.HighlightsMolecular docking studies of 139 antibiotics against the topoisomerase II-DNA complex.SP, RO, AZ, CL, and ER were the most promising and commercially available candidates.Molecular dynamics simulations for 200 ns for the most promising five complexes.MM-GBSA calculations for the frontier five complexes.SP and CL showed promising anticancer potentials on the MCF-7 cell line, besides, AZ and CL exhibited good anticancer potentials against the HCT-116 cell line.Potent TOP-2 inhibitory potentials were recorded for ER and RO.

Targeted Drug Administration onto Cancer Cells Using Hyaluronic Acid-Quercetin-Conjugated Silver Nanoparticles.

Quercetin (QtN) displays low systemic bioavailability caused by poor water solubility and instability. Consequently, it exerts limited anticancer action in vivo. One solution to increase the anticancer efficacy of QtN is the use of appropriate functionalized nanocarriers that preferentially target and deliver the drug to the tumor location. Herein, a direct advanced method was designed to develop water-soluble hyaluronic acid (HA)-QtN-conjugated silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). HA-QtN reduced silver nitrate (AgNO3) while acting as a stabilizing agent to produce AgNPs. Further, HA-QtN#AgNPs served as an anchor for folate/folic acid (FA) conjugated with polyethylene glycol (PEG). The resulting PEG-FA-HA-QtN#AgNPs (further abbreviated as PF/HA-QtN#AgNPs) were characterized both in vitro and ex vivo. Physical characterizations included UV-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), particle size (PS) and zeta potential (ZP) measurements, and biopharmaceutical evaluations. The biopharmaceutical evaluations included analyses of the cytotoxic effects on the HeLa and Caco-2 cancer cell lines using the MTT assay; cellular drug intake into cancer cells using flow cytometry and confocal microscopy; and blood compatibility using an automatic hematology analyzer, a diode array spectrophotometer, and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The prepared hybrid delivery nanosystem was hemocompatible and more oncocytotoxic than the free, pure QtN. Therefore, PF/HA-QtN#AgNPs represent a smart nano-based drug delivery system (NDDS) and could be a promising oncotherapeutic option if the data are validated in vivo.

Anticoagulants as Potential SARS-CoV-2 Mpro Inhibitors for COVID-19 Patients: In Vitro, Molecular Docking, Molecular Dynamics, DFT, and SAR Studies.

In this article, 34 anticoagulant drugs were screened in silico against the main protease (Mpro) of SARS-CoV-2 using molecular docking tools. Idraparinux, fondaparinux, eptifibatide, heparin, and ticagrelor demonstrated the highest binding affinities towards SARS-CoV-2 Mpro. A molecular dynamics study at 200 ns was also carried out for the most promising anticoagulants to provide insights into the dynamic and thermodynamic properties of promising compounds. Moreover, a quantum mechanical study was also conducted which helped us to attest to some of the molecular docking and dynamics findings. A biological evaluation (in vitro) of the most promising compounds was also performed by carrying out the MTT cytotoxicity assay and the crystal violet assay in order to assess inhibitory concentration 50 (IC50). It is worth noting that ticagrelor displayed the highest intrinsic potential for the inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 with an IC50 value of 5.60 µM and a safety index of 25.33. In addition, fondaparinux sodium and dabigatran showed promising inhibitory activities with IC50 values of 8.60 and 9.40 µM, respectively, and demonstrated safety indexes of 17.60 and 15.10, respectively. Moreover, the inhibitory potential of the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro enzyme was investigated by utilizing the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro assay and using tipranavir as a reference standard. Interestingly, promising SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitory potential was attained for fondaparinux sodium with an IC50 value of 2.36 µM, surpassing the reference tipranavir (IC50 = 7.38 µM) by more than three-fold. Furthermore, highly eligible SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitory potential was attained for dabigatran with an IC50 value of 10.59 µM. Finally, an SAR was discussed, counting on the findings of both in vitro and in silico approaches.

Carnosic Acid Protects INS-1 ß-Cells against Streptozotocin-Induced Damage by Inhibiting Apoptosis and Improving Insulin Secretion and Glucose Uptake.

Carnosic acid (CA), a natural polyphenolic diterpene derived from Rosmarinus officinalis, has been proven to possess a broad spectrum of medicinal properties. Nevertheless, no studies on its impact on pancreatic ß-cells have been conducted to date. Herein, clonal rat INS-1 (832/13) cells were pretreated with CA for 24 h and then incubated with streptozotocin (STZ) for 3 h. Several functional experiments were performed to determine the effect of CA on STZ-induced pancreatic ß-cell damage, including cell viability assay, apoptosis analysis, and measurement of the level of insulin secretion, glucose uptake, malondialdehyde (MDA), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and proteins expression. STZ treatment decreased cell survival, insulin secretion, glucose uptake, and increased apoptosis, MDA, and ROS production in INS-1 cells. Furthermore, protein expression/phosphorylation analysis showed significant down-regulation in insulin, PDX-1, PI3K, AKT/p-AKT, and Bcl2. On the other hand, expression of BAX and BAD and cleaved PARP were significantly increased. Interestingly, preincubation with CA reversed the adverse impact of STZ at the cellular and protein expression levels. In conclusion, the data indicate that CA protects ß-cells against STZ-induced damage, presumably through its modulatory effect on the different pathways, including the Pi3K/AKT/PDX-1/insulin pathway and mitochondria-mediated apoptosis.

Topical application of indigo-plant leaves extract enhances healing of skin lesion in an excision wound model in rats.

OBJECTIVES: This study aims to evaluate the pharmacological role of indigo extract in accelerating the wound healing in a rat model. METHODS: Female Sprague-Dawley rats were anesthetized with ketamine (30 mg/kg, i.p.) and the full thickness of the marked skin was then cut carefully and wounds were left undressed. Indigo extract (5%) in PBS was applied topically twice daily until healing was complete. A control group of rats was treated with povidone-iodide (Betadine®). Rats treated with phosphate buffer saline were used as a negative control group. The rate of wound healing was assessed daily. Histopathological examination of skin sections were qualitatively assessed by independent evaluators. The inflammatory and apoptotic markers were assessed in skin tissue homogenates using ELISA. RESULTS: Histopathology data showed that applying indigo to skin wounds enhanced the healing process, resulting in a significant decrease in dermal inflammation in comparison to untreated rats. Topical application of indigo significantly increased antioxidant enzyme activities with reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in wound tissues. The levels of matrix metalloproteases-2 and -9 were significantly lower with an accompanied increase in the level of TGF-ß1 in skin tissues from rats treated with indigo compared to the control group treated with PBS. CONCLUSIONS: The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of indigo leaf extract accelerate the healing of skin injuries.

BMP Antagonist Gremlin 2 Limits Inflammation After Myocardial Infarction.

RATIONALE: We have recently shown that the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) antagonist Gremlin 2 (Grem2) is required for early cardiac development and cardiomyocyte differentiation. Our initial studies discovered that Grem2 is strongly induced in the adult heart after experimental myocardial infarction (MI). However, the function of Grem2 and BMP-signaling inhibitors after cardiac injury is currently unknown. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of Grem2 during cardiac repair and assess its potential to improve ventricular function after injury. METHODS AND RESULTS: Our data show that Grem2 is transiently induced after MI in peri-infarct area cardiomyocytes during the inflammatory phase of cardiac tissue repair. By engineering loss- (Grem2(-/-)) and gain- (TG(Grem2)) of-Grem2-function mice, we discovered that Grem2 controls the magnitude of the inflammatory response and limits infiltration of inflammatory cells in peri-infarct ventricular tissue, improving cardiac function. Excessive inflammation in Grem2(-/-) mice after MI was because of overactivation of canonical BMP signaling, as proven by the rescue of the inflammatory phenotype through administration of the canonical BMP inhibitor, DMH1. Furthermore, intraperitoneal administration of Grem2 protein in wild-type mice was sufficient to reduce inflammation after MI. Cellular analyses showed that BMP2 acts with TNFα to induce expression of proinflammatory proteins in endothelial cells and promote adhesion of leukocytes, whereas Grem2 specifically inhibits the BMP2 effect. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate that Grem2 provides a molecular barrier that controls the magnitude and extent of inflammatory cell infiltration by suppressing canonical BMP signaling, thereby providing a novel mechanism for limiting the adverse effects of excessive inflammation after MI.

CD70 Exacerbates Blood Pressure Elevation and Renal Damage in Response to Repeated Hypertensive Stimuli.

RATIONALE: Accumulating evidence supports a role of adaptive immunity and particularly T cells in the pathogenesis of hypertension. Formation of memory T cells, which requires the costimulatory molecule CD70 on antigen-presenting cells, is a cardinal feature of adaptive immunity. OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that CD70 and immunologic memory contribute to the blood pressure elevation and renal dysfunction mediated by repeated hypertensive challenges. METHODS AND RESULTS: We imposed repeated hypertensive challenges using either N(ω)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride (L-NAME)/high salt or repeated angiotensin II stimulation in mice. During these challenges effector memory T cells (T(EM)) accumulated in the kidney and bone marrow. In the L-NAME/high-salt model, memory T cells of the kidney were predominant sources of interferon-γ and interleukin-17A, known to contribute to hypertension. L-NAME/high salt increased macrophage and dendritic cell surface expression of CD70 by 3- to 5-fold. Mice lacking CD70 did not accumulate T(EM) cells and did not develop hypertension to either high salt or the second angiotensin II challenge and were protected against renal damage. Bone marrow-residing T(EM) cells proliferated and redistributed to the kidney in response to repeated salt feeding. Adoptively transferred T(EM) cells from hypertensive mice homed to the bone marrow and spleen and expanded on salt feeding of the recipient mice. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings illustrate a previously undefined role of CD70 and long-lived T(EM) cells in the development of blood pressure elevation and end-organ damage that occur on delayed exposure to mild hypertensive stimuli. Interventions to prevent repeated hypertensive surges could attenuate formation of hypertension-specific T(EM) cells.

Renal Denervation Prevents Immune Cell Activation and Renal Inflammation in Angiotensin II-Induced Hypertension.

RATIONALE: Inflammation and adaptive immunity play a crucial role in the development of hypertension. Angiotensin II and probably other hypertensive stimuli activate the central nervous system and promote T-cell activation and end-organ damage in peripheral tissues. OBJECTIVE: To determine if renal sympathetic nerves mediate renal inflammation and T-cell activation in hypertension. METHODS AND RESULTS: Bilateral renal denervation using phenol application to the renal arteries reduced renal norepinephrine levels and blunted angiotensin II-induced hypertension. Bilateral renal denervation also reduced inflammation, as reflected by decreased accumulation of total leukocytes, T cells, and both CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in the kidney. This was associated with a marked reduction in renal fibrosis, albuminuria, and nephrinuria. Unilateral renal denervation, which partly attenuated blood pressure, only reduced inflammation in the denervated kidney, suggesting that this effect is pressure independent. Angiotensin II also increased immunogenic isoketal-protein adducts in renal dendritic cells (DCs) and increased surface expression of costimulation markers and production of interleukin (IL)-1α, IL-1ß, and IL-6 from splenic DCs. Norepinephrine also dose dependently stimulated isoketal formation in cultured DCs. Adoptive transfer of splenic DCs from angiotensin II-treated mice primed T-cell activation and hypertension in recipient mice. Renal denervation prevented these effects of hypertension on DCs. In contrast to these beneficial effects of ablating all renal nerves, renal afferent disruption with capsaicin had no effect on blood pressure or renal inflammation. CONCLUSIONS: Renal sympathetic nerves contribute to DC activation, subsequent T-cell infiltration and end-organ damage in the kidney in the development of hypertension.

Integrative network analysis reveals molecular mechanisms of blood pressure regulation.

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified numerous loci associated with blood pressure (BP). The molecular mechanisms underlying BP regulation, however, remain unclear. We investigated BP-associated molecular mechanisms by integrating BP GWAS with whole blood mRNA expression profiles in 3,679 individuals, using network approaches. BP transcriptomic signatures at the single-gene and the coexpression network module levels were identified. Four coexpression modules were identified as potentially causal based on genetic inference because expression-related SNPs for their corresponding genes demonstrated enrichment for BP GWAS signals. Genes from the four modules were further projected onto predefined molecular interaction networks, revealing key drivers. Gene subnetworks entailing molecular interactions between key drivers and BP-related genes were uncovered. As proof-of-concept, we validated SH2B3, one of the top key drivers, using Sh2b3(-/-) mice. We found that a significant number of genes predicted to be regulated by SH2B3 in gene networks are perturbed in Sh2b3(-/-) mice, which demonstrate an exaggerated pressor response to angiotensin II infusion. Our findings may help to identify novel targets for the prevention or treatment of hypertension.

Inflammation and mechanical stretch promote aortic stiffening in hypertension through activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase.

RATIONALE: Aortic stiffening commonly occurs in hypertension and further elevates systolic pressure. Hypertension is also associated with vascular inflammation and increased mechanical stretch. The interplay between inflammation, mechanical stretch, and aortic stiffening in hypertension remains undefined. OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to determine the role of inflammation and mechanical stretch in aortic stiffening. METHODS AND RESULTS: Chronic angiotensin II infusion caused marked aortic adventitial collagen deposition, as quantified by Masson trichrome blue staining and biochemically by hydroxyproline content, in wild-type but not in recombination activating gene-1-deficient mice. Aortic compliance, defined by ex vivo measurements of stress-strain curves, was reduced by chronic angiotensin II infusion in wild-type mice (P<0.01) but not in recombination activating gene-1-deficient mice (P<0.05). Adoptive transfer of T-cells to recombination activating gene-1-deficient mice restored aortic collagen deposition and stiffness to values observed in wild-type mice. Mice lacking the T-cell-derived cytokine interleukin 17a were also protected against aortic stiffening. In additional studies, we found that blood pressure normalization by treatment with hydralazine and hydrochlorothiazide prevented angiotensin II-induced vascular T-cell infiltration, aortic stiffening, and collagen deposition. Finally, we found that mechanical stretch induces the expression of collagen 1α1, 3α1, and 5a1 in cultured aortic fibroblasts in a p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase-dependent fashion, and that inhibition of p38 prevented angiotensin II-induced aortic stiffening in vivo. Interleukin 17a also induced collagen 3a1 expression via the activation of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase. CONCLUSIONS: Our data define a pathway in which inflammation and mechanical stretch lead to vascular inflammation that promotes collagen deposition. The resultant increase in aortic stiffness likely further worsens systolic hypertension and its attendant end-organ damage.

Novel methods for microCT-based analyses of vasculature in the renal cortex reveal a loss of perfusable arterioles and glomeruli in eNOS-/- mice.

BACKGROUND: Two-dimensional measures of vascular architecture provide incomplete information about vascular structure. This study applied a novel rigorous method for 3D microCT-based analysis of total and cortical renal vasculature combined with a novel method to isolate and quantify the number of perfused glomeruli to assess vascular changes in eNOS-/- mice. METHODS: Two month old male wildtype and eNOS-/- mice were perfused with heparinized saline followed by radiopaque Microfil. The Microfil-perfused vasculature of excised kidneys was imaged by µCT with an isotropic voxel-size of 5.0 µm. For analysis of renal cortical vasculature, a custom algorithm was created to define the cortical volume of interest (VOI) as the entire volume within 600 µm of the renal surface. Vessel thickness in the whole kidney or renal cortex was analyzed by plotting the distribution of vascular volume at each measured thickness and examining differences between the genotypes at individual thicknesses. A second image processing algorithm was created to isolate, identify, and extract contrast perfused glomeruli from the cortical vessels. RESULTS: Fractional vascular volume (vascular volume/kidney volume; VV/KV) and Vessel Number/mm (V.N) were significantly lower in eNOS-/- mice vs. WT (p < 0.05). eNOS-/- kidneys had significantly fewer perfusable vessels vs. WT in the range of 20-40 µm in thickness. The cortex of eNOS-/- kidneys had significantly lower VV, VV/cortical volume, and V.N, with an increase in the distance between vessels (all p < 0.05). The total volume of vessels in the range of 20-30 µm was significantly lower in the cortex of eNOS-/- mice compared to WT (p < 0.05). Moreover, the total number of perfused glomeruli was significantly decreased in eNOS-/- mice (p < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: The methods presented here demonstrate a new method to analyze contrast enhanced µCT images for vascular phenotyping of the murine kidney. These data also demonstrate that kidneys in eNOS-/- mice have severe defects in vascular perfusion/structure in the renal cortex.

Natural compound screening predicts novel GSK-3 isoform-specific inhibitors.

Glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK-3) plays important roles in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular, metabolic, neurological disorders and cancer. Isoform-specific loss of either GSK-3α or GSK-3ß often provides cytoprotective effects under such clinical conditions. However, available synthetic small molecule inhibitors are relatively non-specific, and their chronic use may lead to adverse effects. Therefore, screening for natural compound inhibitors to identify the isoform-specific inhibitors may provide improved clinical utility. Here, we screened 70 natural compounds to identify novel natural GSK-3 inhibitors employing comprehensive in silico and biochemical approaches. Molecular docking and pharmacokinetics analysis identified two natural compounds Psoralidin and Rosmarinic acid as potential GSK-3 inhibitors. Specifically, Psoralidin and Rosmarinic acid exhibited the highest binding affinities for GSK-3α and GSK-3ß, respectively. Consistent with in silico findings, the kinase assay-driven IC50 revealed superior inhibitory effects of Psoralidin against GSK-3α (IC50 = 2.26 µM) vs. GSK-3ß (IC50 = 4.23 µM) while Rosmarinic acid was found to be more potent against GSK-3ß (IC50 = 2.24 µM) than GSK-3α (IC50 = 5.14 µM). Taken together, these studies show that the identified natural compounds may serve as GSK-3 inhibitors with Psoralidin serving as a better inhibitor for GSK-3α and Rosmarinic for GSK-3ß isoform, respectively. Further characterization employing in vitro and preclinical models will be required to test the utility of these compounds as GSK-3 inhibitors for cardiometabolic and neurological disorders and cancers.

Insulin-like growth factor family and prostate cancer: new insights and emerging opportunities.

Prostate cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in men. The mammalian insulin-like growth factor (IGF) family is made up of three ligands (IGF-I, IGF-II, and insulin), three receptors (IGF-I receptor (IGF-1R), insulin receptor (IR), and IGF-II receptor (IGF-2R)), and six IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs). IGF-I and IGF-II were identified as potent mitogens and were previously associated with an increased risk of cancer development including prostate cancer. Several reports showed controversy about the expression of the IGF family and their connection to prostate cancer risk due to the high degree of heterogeneity among prostate tumors, sampling bias, and evaluation techniques. Despite that, it is clear that several IGF family members play a role in prostate cancer development, metastasis, and androgen-independent progression. In this review, we aim to expand our understanding of prostate tumorigenesis and regulation through the IGF system. Further understanding of the role of IGF signaling in PCa shows promise and needs to be considered in the context of a comprehensive treatment strategy.

GSK-3α-BNIP3 axis promotes mitophagy in human cardiomyocytes under hypoxia.

Dysregulated autophagy/mitophagy is one of the major causes of cardiac injury in ischemic conditions. Glycogen synthase kinase-3alpha (GSK-3α) has been shown to play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of cardiac diseases. However, the precise role of GSK-3α in cardiac mitophagy remains unknown. Herein, we investigated the role of GSK-3α in cardiac mitophagy by employing AC16 human cardiomyocytes under the condition of acute hypoxia. We observed that the gain-of-GSK-3α function profoundly induced mitophagy in the AC16 cardiomyocytes post-hypoxia. Moreover, GSK-3α overexpression led to increased ROS generation and mitochondrial dysfunction in cardiomyocytes, accompanied by enhanced mitophagy displayed by increased mt-mKeima intensity under hypoxia. Mechanistically, we identified that GSK-3α promotes mitophagy through upregulation of BNIP3, caused by GSK-3α-mediated increase in expression of HIF-1α and FOXO3a in cardiomyocytes post-hypoxia. Moreover, GSK-3α displayed a physical interaction with BNIP3 and, inhibited PINK1 and Parkin recruitment to mitochondria was observed specifically under hypoxia. Taken together, we identified a novel mechanism of mitophagy in human cardiomyocytes. GSK-3α promotes mitochondrial dysfunction and regulates FOXO3a -mediated BNIP3 overexpression in cardiomyocytes to facilitate mitophagy following hypoxia. An interaction between GSK-3α and BNIP3 suggests a role of GSK-3α in BNIP3 recruitment to the mitochondrial membrane where it enhances mitophagy in stressed cardiomyocytes independent of the PINK1/Parkin.

Targeting inflammatory signaling pathways with SGLT2 inhibitors: Insights into cardiovascular health and cardiac cell improvement.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors have attracted significant attention for their broader therapeutic impact beyond simply controlling blood sugar levels, particularly in their ability to influence inflammatory pathways. This review delves into the anti-inflammatory properties of SGLT2 inhibitors, with a specific focus on canagliflozin, empagliflozin, and dapagliflozin. One of the key mechanisms through which SGLT2 inhibitors exert their anti-inflammatory effects is by activating AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a crucial regulator of both cellular energy balance and inflammation. Activation of AMPK by these inhibitors leads to the suppression of pro-inflammatory pathways and a decrease in inflammatory mediators. Notably, SGLT2 inhibitors have demonstrated the ability to inhibit the release of cytokines in an AMPK-dependent manner, underscoring their direct influence on inflammatory signaling. Beyond AMPK activation, SGLT2 inhibitors also modulate several other inflammatory pathways, including the NLRP3 inflammasome, expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4), and activation of NF-κB (Nuclear factor kappa B). This multifaceted approach contributes to their efficacy in reducing inflammation and managing associated complications in conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disorders. Several human and animal studies provide support for the anti-inflammatory effects of SGLT2 inhibitors, demonstrating protective effects on various cardiac cells. Additionally, these inhibitors exhibit direct anti-inflammatory effects by modulating immune cells. Overall, SGLT2 inhibitors emerge as promising therapeutic agents for targeting inflammation in a range of pathological conditions. Further research, particularly focusing on the molecular-level pathways of inflammation, is necessary to fully understand their mechanisms of action and optimize their therapeutic potential in inflammatory diseases.

Unraveling the significance of PPP1R1A gene in pancreatic ß-cell function: A study in INS-1 cells and human pancreatic islets.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The protein phosphatase 1 regulatory inhibitor subunit 1A (PPP1R1A) has been linked with insulin secretion and diabetes mellitus. Yet, its full significance in pancreatic ß-cell function remains unclear. This study aims to elucidate the role of the PPP1R1A gene in ß-cell biology using human pancreatic islets and rat INS-1 (832/13) cells. RESULTS: Disruption of Ppp1r1a in INS-1 cells was associated with reduced insulin secretion and impaired glucose uptake; however, cell viability, ROS, apoptosis or proliferation were intact. A significant downregulation of crucial ß-cell function genes such as Ins1, Ins2, Pcsk1, Cpe, Pdx1, Mafa, Isl1, Glut2, Snap25, Vamp2, Syt5, Cacna1a, Cacna1d and Cacnb3, was observed upon Ppp1r1a disruption. Furthermore, silencing Pdx1 in INS-1 cells altered PPP1R1A expression, indicating that PPP1R1A is a target gene for PDX1. Treatment with rosiglitazone increased Ppp1r1a expression, while metformin and insulin showed no effect. RNA-seq analysis of human islets revealed high PPP1R1A expression, with α-cells showing the highest levels compared to other endocrine cells. Muscle tissues exhibited greater PPP1R1A expression than pancreatic islets, liver, or adipose tissues. Co-expression analysis revealed significant correlations between PPP1R1A and genes associated with insulin biosynthesis, exocytosis machinery, and intracellular calcium transport. Overexpression of PPP1R1A in human islets augmented insulin secretion and upregulated protein expression of Insulin, MAFA, PDX1, and GLUT1, while silencing of PPP1R1A reduced Insulin, MAFA, and GLUT1 protein levels. CONCLUSION: This study provides valuable insights into the role of PPP1R1A in regulating ß-cell function and glucose homeostasis. PPP1R1A presents a promising opportunity for future therapeutic interventions.

Targeting Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1 (HIF-1) in Cancer: Emerging Therapeutic Strategies and Pathway Regulation.

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is a key regulator for balancing oxygen in the cells. It is a transcription factor that regulates the expression of target genes involved in oxygen homeostasis in response to hypoxia. Recently, research has demonstrated the multiple roles of HIF-1 in the pathophysiology of various diseases, including cancer. It is a crucial mediator of the hypoxic response and regulator of oxygen metabolism, thus contributing to tumor development and progression. Studies showed that the expression of the HIF-1α subunit is significantly upregulated in cancer cells and promotes tumor survival by multiple mechanisms. In addition, HIF-1 has potential contributing roles in cancer progression, including cell division, survival, proliferation, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Moreover, HIF-1 has a role in regulating cellular metabolic pathways, particularly the anaerobic metabolism of glucose. Given its significant and potential roles in cancer development and progression, it has been an intriguing therapeutic target for cancer research. Several compounds targeting HIF-1-associated processes are now being used to treat different types of cancer. This review outlines emerging therapeutic strategies that target HIF-1 as well as the relevance and regulation of the HIF-1 pathways in cancer. Moreover, it addresses the employment of nanotechnology in developing these promising strategies.

Serum multi-omics analysis in hindlimb unloading mice model: Insights into systemic molecular changes and potential diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers.

Microgravity, in space travel and prolonged bed rest conditions, induces cardiovascular deconditioning along with skeletal muscle mass loss and weakness. The findings of microgravity research may also aid in the understanding and treatment of human health conditions on Earth such as muscle atrophy, and cardiovascular diseases. Due to the paucity of biomarkers and the unknown underlying mechanisms of cardiovascular and skeletal muscle deconditioning in these environments, there are insufficient diagnostic and preventative measures. In this study, we employed hindlimb unloading (HU) mouse model, which mimics astronauts in space and bedridden patients, to first evaluate cardiovascular and skeletal muscle function, followed by proteomics and metabolomics LC-MS/MS-based analysis using serum samples. Three weeks of unloading caused changes in the function of the cardiovascular system in c57/Bl6 mice, as seen by a decrease in mean arterial pressure and heart weight. Unloading for three weeks also changed skeletal muscle function, causing a loss in grip strength in HU mice and atrophy of skeletal muscle indicated by a reduction in muscle mass. These modifications were partially reversed by a two-week recovery period of reloading condition, emphasizing the significance of the recovery process. Proteomics analysis revealed 12 dysregulated proteins among the groups, such as phospholipid transfer protein, Carbonic anhydrase 3, Parvalbumin alpha, Major urinary protein 20 (Mup20), Thrombospondin-1, and Apolipoprotein C-IV. On the other hand, metabolomics analysis showed altered metabolites among the groups such as inosine, hypoxanthine, xanthosine, sphinganine, l-valine, 3,4-Dihydroxyphenylglycol, and l-Glutamic acid. The joint data analysis revealed that HU conditions mainly impacted pathways such as ABC transporters, complement and coagulation cascades, nitrogen metabolism, and purine metabolism. Overall, our results indicate that microgravity environment induces significant alterations in the function, proteins, and metabolites of these mice. These observations suggest the potential utilization of these proteins and metabolites as novel biomarkers for assessing and mitigating cardiovascular and skeletal muscle deconditioning associated with such conditions.

Genistin modulates high-mobility group box protein 1 (HMGB1) and nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) in Ehrlich-ascites-carcinoma-bearing mice.

Cancer is the world's second-largest cause of death. Although there are numerous cancer treatment options, they are typically uncomfortable owing to side effects and ineffectual due to increased resistance to traditional anti-cancer medications or radiation therapy. A key method in cancer treatment is to target delayed/inhibited inflammation and apoptosis, which are very active areas of research. Natural chemicals originating from plants are of particular interest because of their high bioavailability, safety, few side effects, and, most importantly, cost-effectiveness. Flavonoids have become incredibly common as anti-cancer medications, with promising findings as cytotoxic anti-cancer agents that cause cancer cell death. Isolated compound (genistin) was evaluated for in vitro antiproliferative activity against breast cancer cell line (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231). The compound exhibited good cytotoxic activities against both cell lines. In vivo antiproliferative efficacy was also investigated in Ehrlich's ascites carcinoma (EAC). Compared to the control group, genistin revealed a significant decrease in tumor weight, volume, high-mobility group box1 (HMGB1), and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) contents. On the other hand, B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) contents increase suggesting an anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic activity through inhibition of HMGB1 signaling and activating the Bcl-2 pathway.