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Topic Review
Ceramide Transport Protein CERT and Its Inhibitors
Lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) are recognized as key players in the inter-organelle trafficking of lipids and are rapidly gaining attention as a novel molecular target for medicinal products. In mammalian cells, ceramide is newly synthesized in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and converted to sphingomyelin in the trans-Golgi regions. The ceramide transport protein CERT, a typical LTP, mediates the ER-to-Golgi transport of ceramide at an ER-distal Golgi membrane contact zone. A potent inhibitor of CERT, named (1R,3S)-HPA-12, was found by coincidence among ceramide analogs. Since then, various ceramide-resembling compounds have been found to act as CERT inhibitors. Nevertheless, the inevitable issue remains that natural ligand-mimetic compounds might directly bind both to the desired target and to various undesired targets that share the same natural ligand. To resolve this issue, a ceramide-unrelated compound named E16A, or (1S,2R)-HPCB-5, that potently inhibits the function of CERT has been developed, employing a series of in silico docking simulations, efficient chemical synthesis, quantitative affinity analysis, protein–ligand co-crystallography, and various in vivo assays. (1R,3S)-HPA-12 and E16A together provide a robust tool to discriminate on-target effects on CERT from off-target effects. 
  • 1.2K
  • 14 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Telomeres and Cancer
Telomeres cap the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes and are indispensable chromatin structures for genome protection and replication. Telomere length maintenance has been attributed to several functional modulators, including telomerase, the shelterin complex, and the CST complex, synergizing with DNA replication, repair, and the RNA metabolism pathway components. As dysfunctional telomere maintenance and telomerase activation are associated with several human diseases, including cancer, the molecular mechanisms behind telomere length regulation and protection need particular emphasis. Cancer cells exhibit telomerase activation, enabling replicative immortality. Telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) activation is involved in cancer development through diverse activities other than mediating telomere elongation.
  • 1.2K
  • 23 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Epigenetics of Atrial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation (AF) is known to be the most common supraventricular arrhythmia affecting up to 1% of the general population. Its prevalence exponentially increases with age and could reach up to 8% in the elderly population. The management of AF is a complex issue that is addressed by extensive ongoing basic and clinical research. AF centers around different types of disturbances, including ion channel dysfunction, Ca2+-handling abnormalities, and structural remodeling. 
  • 1.2K
  • 15 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Silk Fibroin-Based Therapeutics
Silk fibroin, the fibrous structural-protein component in silk, has emerged as a promising treatment for these impaired processes by promoting functional tissue regeneration. Silk fibroin’s dynamic properties allow for customizable nanoarchitectures, which can be tailored for effectively treating several wound healing impairments. Different forms of silk fibroin include nanoparticles, biosensors, tissue scaffolds, wound dressings, and novel drug-delivery systems. Silk fibroin can be combined with other biomaterials, such as chitosan or microRNA-bound cerium oxide nanoparticles (CNP), to have a synergistic effect on improving impaired wound healing.
  • 1.2K
  • 01 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Didymo
Didymosphenia geminata diatoms, or Didymo, was first found to be an invasive species that could have negative impacts on the environment due to the aggressive growth of its polysaccharide-based stalks.
  • 1.2K
  • 08 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Role of Hexokinases in Metabolic Reprogramming
The role of hexokinases in metabolic reprogramming in cancer is multifaceted and pivotal for the altered metabolic phenotype observed in cancer cells. Hexokinases, a group of enzymes responsible for catalyzing the first step of glycolysis, play a critical role in regulating glucose metabolism in cancer cells. In cancer, hexokinases are upregulated and exhibit distinct isoform preferences. Hexokinases facilitate the Warburg effect, a hallmark metabolic alteration in cancer cells characterized by increased glycolysis and decreased oxidative phosphorylation by promoting high glucose consumption and ATP production. Furthermore, hexokinases also participate in other metabolic pathways, such as the pentose phosphate pathway and mitochondrial metabolism, contributing to the rewiring of cancer cell metabolism. The overexpression of hexokinases in cancer cells supports the high bioenergetic and biosynthetic demands of rapidly proliferating cells and confers survival advantages by modulating cellular redox status and apoptosis. The dysregulation of hexokinases in cancer cells presents a promising target for cancer therapy. Understanding their role in metabolic reprogramming provides crucial insights into cancer metabolism and potential therapeutic strategies.
  • 1.2K
  • 14 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Targeting Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) lacks estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 expressions, making targeted therapies ineffective. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have emerged as a promising approach for TNBC treatment by modulating the tumor microenvironment (TME) and interacting with cancer cells.
  • 1.2K
  • 08 May 2023
Topic Review
Role of Neuroinflammation on Migraine
Neurogenic inflammation in migraine is mainly characterized by the release of neuropeptides such as CGRP and substance P from the trigeminal nerve, leading to arterial vasodilation, plasma protein extravasation, and mast cell degranulation. The involvement of these neuropeptides in migraine is evident, and pro-inflammatory cytokines or chemokines may be involved in this series of reactions.
  • 1.2K
  • 26 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Amyloidogenic Regions in bPaS1
Bacterial S1 protein is a functionally important ribosomal protein. It is a part of the 30S ribosomal subunit and is also able to interact with mRNA and tmRNA. An important feature of the S1 protein family is a strong tendency towards aggregation. 
  • 1.2K
  • 20 Jul 2021
Biography
Abu Saim Mohammad Saikat
Abu Saim Mohammad Saikat is an enthusiastic and innovative individual with extensive experience in scientific research, leadership, team management, event planning, and social networking. He exhibits a high level of dedication, gets fully engaged, and has a clear vision of his goals. He does not get distracted, uses his energy entirely to manifest his dreams, and fully uses his resources. He wa
  • 1.2K
  • 10 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Tumour Immune Microenvironment
Targeting altered tumour metabolism is an emerging therapeutic strategy for cancer treatment. The metabolic reprogramming that accompanies the development of malignancy creates targetable differences between cancer cells and normal cells, which may be exploited for therapy. In this entry, we focus on the metabolic dysregulation exerted by tumour cells on the immune microenvironment, leading to tumour immunosuppression. This metabolic rewiring and crosstalk with the tumour microenvironment also play a key role in cell proliferation, metastasis, and the development of treatment resistance. Nonetheless, greater understanding of the metabolic crosstalk presents strategies that aid in the precision targeting of altered tumour metabolism, including therapeutic strategies combining metabolic inhibition with immunotherapy.
  • 1.2K
  • 09 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Vitamin D for COVID-19 Vaccination
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is a new, highly pathogenic virus that has recently elicited a global pandemic called the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19). COVID-19 is characterized by significant immune dysfunction, which is caused by strong but unregulated innate immunity with depressed adaptive immunity. Reduced and delayed responses to interferons (IFN-I/IFN-III) can increase the synthesis of proinflammatory cytokines and extensive immune cell infiltration into the airways, leading to pulmonary disease. The development of effective treatments for severe COVID-19 patients relies on our knowledge of the pathophysiological components of this imbalanced innate immune response. Strategies to address innate response factors will be essential. Significant efforts are currently underway to develop vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. COVID-19 vaccines, such as inactivated DNA, mRNA, and protein subunit vaccines, have already been applied in clinical use. Various vaccines display different levels of effectiveness, and it is important to continue to optimize and update their composition in order to increase their effectiveness. However, due to the continuous emergence of variant viruses, improving the immunity of the general public may also increase the effectiveness of the vaccines. Many observational studies have demonstrated that serum levels of vitamin D are inversely correlated with the incidence or severity of COVID-19. Extensive evidence has shown that vitamin D supplementation could be vital in mitigating the progression of COVID-19 to reduce its severity. Vitamin D defends against SARS-CoV-2 through a complex mechanism through interactions between the modulation of innate and adaptive immune reactions, ACE2 expression, and inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). 
  • 1.2K
  • 07 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Antimicrobial Lipids from Plants and Marine Organisms
Medicinal plants and marine organisms are natural sources of many antimicrobial compounds. Plant components with antimicrobial activity include alkaloids, sulfur-containing compounds, diterpenes/terpenoids, fatty acids (FA), some carbohydrates, steroidal glycosides, and phenolic compounds. Both primary and secondary metabolites are “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) substances and the chance of triggering antimicrobial resistance is low. The most studied antimicrobial compounds of marine origin are peptides and alkaloids, contrarily to lipids. However, lipids are ubiquitously distributed in the different marine phyla, being quite abundant in some of them. Besides, several lipid classes from marine organisms have been recognized by their biological activity with a high potential to discover new antimicrobial compounds.
  • 1.2K
  • 15 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Potential of microRNAs to Attenuate Diabetic Kidney Disease
Diabetic Kidney Disease (DKD) is a significant complication of diabetes and primary cause of end-stage renal disease globally. The exact mechanisms underlying DKD remain poorly understood, but multiple factors, including the renin–angiotensin–aldosterone system (RAAS), play a key role in its progression. Aldosterone, a mineralocorticoid steroid hormone, is one of the key components of RAAS and a potential mediator of renal damage and inflammation in DKD. miRNAs, small noncoding RNA molecules, have attracted interest due to their regulatory roles in numerous biological processes. These processes include aldosterone signaling and mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) expression. Numerous miRNAs have been recognized as crucial regulators of aldosterone signaling and MR expression. These miRNAs affect different aspects of the RAAS pathway and subsequent molecular processes, which impact sodium balance, ion transport, and fibrosis regulation.
  • 1.2K
  • 17 Jan 2024
Topic Review
EVs as Potential-Biomarkers in MS
       Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system and its pathophysiology is characterized by a progressive blood-brain barrier dysfunction accompanied by infiltration in the central nervous system of peripheral pathogenic immune cells and inflammatory mediators leading to demyelination, axonal damage, and dysfunction and/or loss of synapses. Accumulating evidence highlights blood and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) as potential biomarkers of MS disease stages and of response to treatment. In particular, EVs released from blood–brain barrier (BBB) endothelial cells, platelets, leukocytes, myeloid cells, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes seem to be involved in the pathogenesis of MS and of its rodent model experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis. Further research is necessary to validate these observations and the screening of specific EVs subsets based on their cargo and membrane compositions associated to specific MS pathophysiological mechanisms might help guiding MS diagnosis, prognosis, and response to therapy. 
  • 1.2K
  • 28 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Non-Coding RNAs in Nervous System
Oxidative stress (OS) is defined as an imbalance between free radicals biogenesis and the cell antioxidant capacity to eliminate them. In neurodegenerative diseases, OS play a central role altering mitochondrial metabolism, protein synthesis, and inducing cellular malfunctioning. Most part of the human genome encodes for non-coding protein genes, which are transcribed into non-coding RNA (ncRNA). Most of these ncRNAs are involved transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of gene and their deregulation has been linked to diverse neurodegenerative disorders. In this review we compiled most recent evidences reporting a role of main types of ncRNAs in the regulation and management of oxidative stress in Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. 
  • 1.2K
  • 19 Nov 2020
Topic Review
PKCtheta in Cancer
Protein Kinase C theta (PKCθ) is a serine/threonine kinase that belongs to the novel PKC sub-family. PKCθ has been extensively studied for its role in the immune system where it plays a critical role in T cell activation. Beyond its physiological role in immune responses, increasing evidence implicates PKCθ in the pathology of various diseases, especially autoimmune disorders and cancers. Particularly, in various types of cancers, the high PKCθ expression leads to aberrant cell proliferation, migration and invasion, thereby promoting cancer aggressiveness. The recent development and application of PKCθ inhibitors in the context of auto-immune diseases could benefit the emergence of treatment for cancers in which PKCθ has been implicated.
  • 1.2K
  • 20 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Targeting Tryptophan Metabolism to Treat Cancers
Major hallmarks of cancers are connected to dysfunctions in many metabolic pathways aiming at providing the energetic needs and the raw material for cellular growth and the signaling molecules needed for oncogenesis. Tryptophan (TRP) catabolism through the kynurenine (KYN) pathway was reported to play immunosuppressive actions across many types of cancer. However, results from clinical trials assessing the benefit of inhibiting key limiting enzymes of this pathway such as indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO1) or tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO2) failed to meet the expectations. Bearing in mind the complexity of the tumoral terrain and the existence of different cancers with IDO1/TDO2 expressing and non-expressing tumoral cells, here we present a comprehensive analysis of the TRP global metabolic hub and the approach of inhibiting these pathways as a potential therapeutic option to treat cancers such as liver cancers. 
  • 1.2K
  • 29 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Molecular concepts in vascular disorders
In physiology and pathophysiology the molecules involved in blood cell–blood cell and blood cell–endothelium interactions have been identified. Platelet aggregation and adhesion to the walls belonging to vessels involve glycoproteins (GP), GP llb and GP llla and the GP Ib–IX–V complex. Red blood cells (RBCs) in normal situations have little interaction with the endothelium. Abnormal adhesion of RBCs was first observed in sickle cell anemia involving vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1, α4β1, Lu/BCAM, and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-4. More recently RBC adhesion was found to be increased in retinal-vein occlusion (RVO) and in polycythemia vera (PV). The molecules which participate in this process are phosphatidylserine and annexin V in RVO, and phosphorylated Lu/BCAM and α5 laminin chain in PV. The additional adhesion in diabetes mellitus occurs due to the glycated RBC band 3 and the advanced glycation end-product receptors. The multiligand receptor binds advanced glycation end products (AGEs) or S100 calgranulins, or β-amyloid peptide. This receptor for advanced glycation end products is known as RAGE. The binding to RAGE-activated endothelial cells leads to an inflammatory reaction and a prothrombotic state via NADPH activation and altered gene expression. RAGE blockade is a potential target for drugs preventing the deleterious consequences of RAGE activation.
  • 1.2K
  • 28 Sep 2021
Topic Review
RBM10−a New Regulator of p53
The tumor suppressor p53 acts as a transcription factor that regulates the expression of a number of genes responsible for DNA repair, cell cycle arrest, metabolism, cell migration, angiogenesis, ferroptosis, senescence, and apoptosis. It is the most commonly silenced or mutated gene in cancer, as approximately 50% of all types of human cancers harbor TP53 mutations. Activation of p53 is detrimental to normal cells, thus it is tightly regulated via multiple mechanisms. One of the recently identified regulators of p53 is RNA-binding motif protein 10 (RBM10). RBM10 is an RNA-binding protein frequently deleted or mutated in cancer cells. Its loss of function results in various deformities, such as cleft palate and malformation of the heart, and diseases such as lung adenocarcinoma. In addition, RBM10 mutations are frequently observed in lung adenocarcinomas, colorectal carcinomas, and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas. RBM10 plays a regulatory role in alternative splicing. Several recent studies not only linked this splicing regulation of RBM10 to cancer development, but also bridged RBM10′s anticancer function to the p53 pathway.
  • 1.2K
  • 09 Oct 2020
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