Targeting reactive oxygen species (ROS) while maintaining cellular redox signaling is crucial in the development of redox medicine as the origin of several prevailing diseases including chronic ...kidney disease (CKD) is linked to ROS imbalance and associated mitochondrial dysfunction. Here, we have shown that a potential nanomedicine comprising of Mn
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nanoparticles duly functionalized with biocompatible ligand citrate (C-Mn
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NPs) can maintain cellular redox balance in an animal model of oxidative injury. We developed a cisplatin-induced CKD model in C57BL/6j mice with severe mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative distress leading to the pathogenesis. Four weeks of treatment with C-Mn
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NPs restored renal function, preserved normal kidney architecture, ameliorated overexpression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and arrested glomerulosclerosis and interstitial fibrosis. A detailed study involving human embryonic kidney (HEK 293) cells and isolated mitochondria from experimental animals revealed that the molecular mechanism behind the pharmacological action of the nanomedicine involves protection of structural and functional integrity of mitochondria from oxidative damage, subsequent reduction in intracellular ROS, and maintenance of cellular redox homeostasis. To the best of our knowledge, such studies that efficiently treated a multifaceted disease like CKD using a biocompatible redox nanomedicine are sparse in the literature. Successful clinical translation of this nanomedicine may open a new avenue in redox-mediated therapeutics of several other diseases (e.g., diabetic nephropathy, neurodegeneration, and cardiovascular disease) where oxidative distress plays a central role in pathogenesis.
As malignant transformation requires synchronization of growth-driving signaling (S) and metabolic (M) pathways, defining cancer-specific S-M interconnected networks (SMINs) could lead to better ...understanding of oncogenic processes. In a systems-biology approach, we developed a mathematical model for SMINs in mutated EGF receptor (EGFRvIII) compared to wild-type EGF receptor (EGFRwt) expressing glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Starting with experimentally validated human protein-protein interactome data for S-M pathways, and incorporating proteomic data for EGFRvIII and EGFRwt GBM cells and patient transcriptomic data, we designed a dynamic model for EGFR-driven GBM-specific information flow. Key nodes and paths identified by in silico perturbation were validated experimentally when inhibition of signaling pathway proteins altered expression of metabolic proteins as predicted by the model. This demonstrated capacity of the model to identify unknown connections between signaling and metabolic pathways, explain the robustness of oncogenic SMINs, predict drug escape, and assist identification of drug targets and the development of combination therapies.
Abstract
The recent prediction of diabetes to be a global pandemic invites a detection strategy preferably non-invasive, and bloodless to manage the disease and the associated complications. Here, we ...have synthesized chitosan polymer functionalized, organic–inorganic bio-compatible nano-hybrids of Mn
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nanoparticles, and characterized it by utilizing several optical methodologies for the structural characterization which shows the Michaelis Menten (MM) kinetics for glucose and alpha-amylase protein (well-known diabetes biomarkers). We have also studied the potentiality for the detection of alpha-amylase in human salivary secretion which is reported to be strongly correlated with uncontrolled hyperglycemia. Finally, we have developed a prototype for the measurement of glucose (LOD of 0.38 mg/dL, LOQ of 1.15 mg/dL) and HbA1c (LOD of 0.15% and LOQ of 0.45%) utilizing the basic knowledge in the study for the detection of uncontrolled hyperglycemia at the point-of-care. With the limited number of clinical trials, we have explored the potential of our work in combating the diabetic pandemic across the globe in near future.
Anti-microbial resistant infection is predicted to be alarming in upcoming years. In the present study, we proposed co-localization of two model drugs viz., rifampicin and benzothiazole used in ...anti-tuberculosis and anti-fungal agents respectively in a nanoscopic cationic micelle (cetyl triethyl ammonium bromide) with hydrodynamic diameter of 2.69 nm. Sterilization effect of the co-localized micellar formulation against a model multi-drug resistant bacterial strain viz., Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus was also investigated. 99.88% decrease of bacterial growth in terms of colony forming unit was observed using the developed formulation. While Dynamic Light Scattering and Forsters Resonance Energy Transfer between benzothiazole and rifampicin show co-localization of the drugs in the nanoscopic micellar environment, analysis of time-resolved fluorescence decays by Infelta-Tachiya model and the probability distribution of the donor-acceptor distance fluctuations for 5 μM,10 μM and 15 μM acceptor concentrations confirm efficacy of the co-localization. Energy transfer efficiency and the donor acceptor distance are found to be 46% and 20.9 Å respectively. We have also used a detailed computational biology framework to rationalize the sterilization effect of our indigenous formulation. It has to be noted that the drugs used in our studies are not being used for their conventional indication. Rather the co-localization of the drugs in the micellar environment shows a completely different indication of their use in the remediation of multi-drug resistant bacteria revealing the re-purposing of the drugs for potential use in hospital-born multi-drug resistant bacterial infection.
Metal-free (diacetoxy)iodobenzene-mediated regioselective imidation of imidazoheterocycles using commercially available N-fluorobenzenesulfonimide as an imidating reagent has been developed. This ...protocol exhibits broad substrate scope with good to excellent yields of the imidated imidazopyridines under mild conditions in short reaction times. The present protocol also represents an efficient way to access the imidated derivatives of imidazo2,1-bthiazole, benzodimidazo-2,1-bthiazole, indoles, and indolizines. A radical mechanistic pathway has been proposed for the present protocol.
The goal of cancer chemotherapy to induce multi-directional apoptosis as targeting a single pathway is unable to decrease all the downstream effect arises from crosstalk. Present study reports that ...Withanolide D (WithaD), a steroidal lactone isolated from Withania somnifera, induced cellular apoptosis in which mitochondria and p53 were intricately involved. In MOLT-3 and HCT116p53+/+ cells, WithaD induced crosstalk between intrinsic and extrinsic signaling through Bid, whereas in K562 and HCT116p53-/- cells, only intrinsic pathway was activated where Bid remain unaltered. WithaD showed pronounced activation of p53 in cancer cells. Moreover, lowered apoptogenic effect of HCT116p53-/- over HCT116p53+/+ established a strong correlation between WithaD-mediated apoptosis and p53. WithaD induced Bax and Bak upregulation in HCT116p53+/+, whereas increase only Bak expression in HCT116p53-/- cells, which was coordinated with augmented p53 expression. p53 inhibition substantially reduced Bax level and failed to inhibit Bak upregulation in HCT116p53+/+ cells confirming p53-dependent Bax and p53-independent Bak activation. Additionally, in HCT116p53+/+ cells, combined loss of Bax and Bak (HCT116Bax-Bak-) reduced WithaD-induced apoptosis and completely blocked cytochrome c release whereas single loss of Bax or Bak (HCT116Bax-Bak+/HCT116Bax+Bak-) was only marginally effective after WithaD treatment. In HCT116p53-/- cells, though Bax translocation to mitochondria was abrogated, Bak oligomerization helped the cells to release cytochrome c even before the disruption of mitochondrial membrane potential. WithaD also showed in vitro growth-inhibitory activity against an array of p53 wild type and null cancer cells and K562 xenograft in vivo. Taken together, WithaD elicited apoptosis in malignant cells through Bax/Bak dependent pathway in p53-wild type cells, whereas Bak compensated against loss of Bax in p53-null cells.
Highlights • Quinacrine exhibited strong antitumor activity against endometrial cancer in vitro. • Quinacrine with cisplatin or paclitaxel exhibited strong synergism in vitro. • Quinacrine combined ...with standard chemotherapy resulted in disease stabilization. • Combination treatment vs. standard chemotherapy resulted in longer median survival. • Maintenance therapy vs. combination resulted in further prolongation of overall survival.
Diacetoxyiodobenzene-mediated remote hydroxylation of 8-aminoquinoline amide at the C-5 position has been developed. Various aryl, heteroaryl, and aliphatic carboxamides work well to afford the ...hydroxylated derivatives in good yields. This protocol is scalable and exhibits high functional group tolerance. Experimental results suggest that the reaction likely proceeds through the single-electron-transfer pathway.
Due to the Covid-19 pandemic more than 6 million people have died, and it has bought unprecedented challenges to our lives. The recent outbreak of monkeypox virus (MPXV) has brought out new tensions ...among the scientific community. Currently, there is no specific treatment protocol for MPXV. Several antivirals, vaccinia immune globulin (VIG) and smallpox vaccines have been used to treat MPXV. Ginseng, one of the more famous among traditional medicines, has been used for infectious disease for thousands of years. It has shown promising antiviral effects. Ginseng could be used as a potential adaptogenic agent to help prevent infection by MPXV along with other drugs and vaccines. In this mini review, we explore the possible use of ginseng in MPXV prevention based on its antiviral activity.
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Indazoles are a very important class of N‐containing heterocycles with a wide range of biological and medicinal properties. The presence of different functionalities on indazole moieties enhances its ...biological activities. Hence, the preparation of indazole compounds bearing functional groups has gained a significant interest to the organic synthetic chemists. A large effort has been made to develop efficient and new methods for the functionalization of indazoles. Direct catalytic functionalization is a very powerful tool for facile synthesis of important indazole derivatives due to its straightforwardness. This review summarizes developments on direct functionalizations of indazoles published in the last two decades.
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