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Enhancement of β-secretase inhibition and antioxidant activities of tempeh, a fermented soybean cake through enrichment of bioactive aglycones

Ahmad A, Ramasamy K, Majeed AB, Mani V

Pharm Biol, 2015 May;53(5):758-66.
PMID: 25756802 DOI: 10.3109/13880209.2014.942791

Soybean and its fermented products are the most common source of isoflavones in human food.

Matched MeSH terms: Aspartic Acid Endopeptidases/antagonists & inhibitors*; Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases/antagonists & inhibitors*
Inhibition by toxic compounds in the hemicellulosic hydrolysates on the activity of xylose reductase from Candida tropicalis

Rafiqul IS, Sakinah AM, Zularisam AW

Biotechnol Lett, 2015 Jan;37(1):191-6.
PMID: 25214231 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-014-1672-5

Xylose reductase (XR) is an oxidoreductase having potential applications in the production of various specialty products, mainly xylitol. It is important to screen for compounds that can decrease XR activity and consequently can decrease xylitol production. We have identified the byproducts in the hemicellulosic hydrolysate that inhibit XR from Candida tropicalis and measured their effects. XR inhibitory activities of byproducts, glucose, acetic acid, arabinose, lignin-degradation products (LDPs), furfural and hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), were evaluated by measuring the MIC and IC50 values. XR activity was 11.2 U/ml. Acetic acid, LDPs, furfural and HMF significantly inhibited XR with IC50 values of 11, 6.4, 2.3 and 0.4 g/l, respectively. This is the first report on the inhibitory activities of several byproducts for XR.

Matched MeSH terms: Aldehyde Reductase/antagonists & inhibitors*; Fungal Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors*
Fulltext Antioxidant, antityrosinase, anticholinesterase, and nitric oxide inhibition activities of three malaysian macaranga species

Mazlan NA, Mediani A, Abas F, Ahmad S, Shaari K, Khamis S, et al.

ScientificWorldJournal, 2013;2013:312741.
PMID: 24319356 DOI: 10.1155/2013/312741

The methanol extracts of three Macaranga species (M. denticulata, M. pruinosa, and M. gigantea) were screened to evaluate their total phenolic contents and activities as cholinesterase inhibitors, nitric oxide (NO) production inhibitors, tyrosinase inhibitors, and antioxidants. The bark of M. denticulata showed the highest total phenolic content (2682 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/100 g) and free radical scavenging activity (IC50 = 0.063 mg/mL). All of the samples inhibited linoleic acid peroxidation by greater than 80%, with the leaves of M. gigantea exhibiting the highest inhibition of 92.21%. Most of the samples exhibited significant antioxidant potential. The bark of M. denticulata and the leaves of both M. pruinosa and M. gigantea exhibited greater than 50% tyrosinase inhibition, with the bark of M. denticulata having the highest percentage of inhibition (68.7%). The bark and leaves of M. denticulata exhibited greater than 50% inhibition (73.82% and 54.50%, resp.) of the acetylcholinesterase enzyme (AChE), while none of the samples showed any significant inhibition of butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). Only the bark of M. denticulata and M. gigantea displayed greater than 50% inhibition of nitric oxide production in cells (81.79% and 56.51%, resp.). These bioactivities indicate that some Macaranga spp. have therapeutic potential in medicinal research.

Matched MeSH terms: Nitric Oxide/antagonists & inhibitors*; Monophenol Monooxygenase/antagonists & inhibitors*
Quinine interactions with tryptophan and tyrosine in malaria patients, and implications for quinine responses in the clinical setting

Islahudin F, Pleass RJ, Avery SV, Ting KN

J Antimicrob Chemother, 2012 Oct;67(10):2501-5.
PMID: 22763566 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dks253

OBJECTIVES: Recent work with the yeast model revealed that the antiprotozoal drug quinine competes with tryptophan for uptake via a common transport protein, causing cellular tryptophan starvation. In the present work, it was hypothesized that similar interactions may occur in malaria patients receiving quinine therapy.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: A direct observational study was conducted in which plasma levels of drug and amino acids (tryptophan, tyrosine and phenylalanine) were monitored during quinine treatment of malaria patients with Plasmodium falciparum infections.
RESULTS: Consistent with competition for uptake from plasma into cells, plasma tryptophan and tyrosine levels increased ≥2-fold during quinine therapy. Plasma quinine levels in individual plasma samples were significantly and positively correlated with tryptophan and tyrosine in the same samples. Control studies indicated no effect on phenylalanine. Chloroquine treatment of Plasmodium vivax-infected patients did not affect plasma tryptophan or tyrosine. During quinine treatment, plasma tryptophan was significantly lower (and quinine significantly higher) in patients experiencing adverse drug reactions.
CONCLUSIONS: Plasma quinine levels during therapy are related to patient tryptophan and tyrosine levels, and these interactions can determine patient responses to quinine. The study also highlights the potential for extrapolating insights directly from the yeast model to human malaria patients.

Matched MeSH terms: Tryptophan/antagonists & inhibitors*; Tyrosine/antagonists & inhibitors*
Fulltext Bioactive compounds, antioxidant, xanthine oxidase inhibitory, tyrosinase inhibitory and anti-inflammatory activities of selected agro-industrial by-products

Oskoueian E, Abdullah N, Hendra R, Karimi E

Int J Mol Sci, 2011;12(12):8610-25.
PMID: 22272095 DOI: 10.3390/ijms12128610

Evaluation of abundantly available agro-industrial by-products for their bioactive compounds and biological activities is beneficial in particular for the food and pharmaceutical industries. In this study, rapeseed meal, cottonseed meal and soybean meal were investigated for the presence of bioactive compounds and antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, xanthine oxidase and tyrosinase inhibitory activities. Methanolic extracts of rapeseed meal showed significantly (P < 0.01) higher phenolics and flavonoids contents; and significantly (P < 0.01) higher DPPH and nitric oxide free radical scavenging activities when compared to that of cottonseed meal and soybean meal extracts. Ferric thiocyanate and thiobarbituric acid tests results showed rapeseed meal with the highest antioxidant activity (P < 0.01) followed by BHT, cotton seed meal and soybean meal. Rapeseed meal extract in xanthine oxidase and tyrosinase inhibitory assays showed the lowest IC(50) values followed by cottonseed and soybean meals. Anti-inflammatory assay using IFN-γ/LPS stimulated RAW 264.7 cells indicated rapeseed meal is a potent source of anti-inflammatory agent. Correlation analysis showed that phenolics and flavonoids were highly correlated to both antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. Rapeseed meal was found to be promising as a natural source of bioactive compounds with high antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, xanthine oxidase and tyrosinase inhibitory activities in contrast to cotton and soybean meals.

Matched MeSH terms: Monophenol Monooxygenase/antagonists & inhibitors; Xanthine Oxidase/antagonists & inhibitors
Fulltext Antihaemolytic and snake venom neutralizing effect of some Indian medicinal plants

Kumarapppan C, Jaswanth A, Kumarasunderi K

Asian Pac J Trop Med, 2011 Sep;4(9):743-7.
PMID: 21967700 DOI: 10.1016/S1995-7645(11)60185-5

OBJECTIVE: To validate traditional claims of usefulness of the Indian plants in management of poisonous snakebite and evaluate the antivenom properties displayed by the alcoholic extracts of Andrographis paniculata (A. paniculata), Crateva magna (C. magna), Gloriosa superba (G. superba) and Hydrocotyle javanica (H. javanica).
METHODS: These plants were collected, identified and the extracts were prepared by using conventional Soxhlet ethanol extraction technique. The venom neutralization activity was accessed in mice (20-25g) and number of mortalities was observed against clinically important snake (Naja nigricollis) venom. Present study also deals with in vitro membrane stabilizing activity of these plants against hyposaline induced human red blood corpuscles (HRBC).
RESULTS: Extracts of H. javanica and G. superba gave 80 % and 90 % protection to mice treated with minimum lethal dose of venom (LD(99)). These two plants showed significant neutralization effect against the venoms of Naja nigricollis venom. H. javanica and G. superba (25-100 mg/mL) produced significant changes of membrane stabilization of human red blood cells (HRBC) exposed to hyposaline-induced haemolysis.
CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that probably due to presence of various phytochemicals plays an important role in the anti-venom potential of these Indian medicinal plants against Naja nigricollis venom. The above observations confirmed that A. paniculata, C. magna, G. superba and H. javanica plant extracts possess potent snake venom neutralizing capacity and could potentially be used as an adjuvants for antivenin therapy in case of snakebite envenomation, especially against the local effects of cobra venoms.

Matched MeSH terms: Hemolysin Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors*; Snake Venoms/antagonists & inhibitors*
Fulltext Inhibition of dengue virus entry and multiplication into monocytes using RNA interference

Alhoot MA, Wang SM, Sekaran SD

PLoS Negl Trop Dis, 2011 Nov;5(11):e1410.
PMID: 22140591 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0001410

Dengue infection ranks as one of the most significant viral diseases of the globe. Currently, there is no specific vaccine or antiviral therapy for prevention or treatment. Monocytes/macrophages are the principal target cells for dengue virus and are responsible for disseminating the virus after its transmission. Dengue virus enters target cells via receptor-mediated endocytosis after the viral envelope protein E attaches to the cell surface receptor. This study aimed to investigate the effect of silencing the CD-14 associated molecule and clathrin-mediated endocytosis using siRNA on dengue virus entry into monocytes.

Matched MeSH terms: Clathrin Heavy Chains/antagonists & inhibitors*; Dynamin II/antagonists & inhibitors*
Fulltext In vitro pharmacodynamic profile of Loranthus ferrugineus: evidence for noncompetitive antagonism of norepinephrine-induced vascular contraction

Ameer OZ, Salman IM, Najim HS, Abdullah GZ, Abdulkarim MF, Yam MF, et al.

J Acupunct Meridian Stud, 2010 Dec;3(4):272-82.
PMID: 21185543 DOI: 10.1016/S2005-2901(10)60048-9

The mode by which Loranthus ferrugineus methanol extract antagonizes and/or modulates norepinephrine-induced vasoconstriction was investigated in rat aortic rings. The vascular effects of three different concentrations of this extract were challenged against cumulative additions of norepinephrine. Phentolamine, a nonselective α-adrenoceptor antagonist, verapamil, an L-type calcium channel blocker, and papaverine, a phosphodiesterase inhibitor, were used in three different concentrations as positive controls. Log concentration-response curves and double-reciprocal plots were constructed for the extract and each vasorelaxant. To characterize antagonism reversibility, the norepinephrine maximum contractile effect was examined before extract addition to the aortic ring chamber and after its removal. Phentolamine shifted the norepinephrine log concentration-response curve to the right with no significant depression in the maximum response. Similar to verapamil and papaverine, the extract produced a rightward shift in norepinephrine log concentration-response curve and a significant drop in maximum response. The double-reciprocal plots showed comparable y-intercept values for all phentolamine concentrations, a characteristic of competitive antagonism. In contrast, different y-intercept values on double-reciprocal plots were obtained for each concentration of extract, verapamil, and papaverine, typical of noncompetitive antagonism. The norepinephrine maximum contractile response was approximately similar before the addition of extract and after its removal. The data collectively showed that L. ferrugineus methanol extract exerted its vascular effect by reversible noncompetitive antagonism of norepinephrine-induced vasoconstriction. These findings add to the understanding of the cardiovascular mechanisms by which L. ferrugineus, a plant traditionally used for the management of hypertension, elicits its action.

Matched MeSH terms: Norepinephrine/antagonists & inhibitors*; Vasoconstrictor Agents/antagonists & inhibitors*
The protective effect of Mucuna pruriens seeds against snake venom poisoning

Tan NH, Fung SY, Sim SM, Marinello E, Guerranti R, Aguiyi JC

J Ethnopharmacol, 2009 Jun 22;123(2):356-8.
PMID: 19429384 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2009.03.025

The seed, leaf and root of Mucuna pruriens have been used in traditional medicine for treatments of various diseases. In Nigeria, the seed is used as oral prophylactics for snakebite.

Matched MeSH terms: Cobra Venoms/antagonists & inhibitors; Snake Venoms/antagonists & inhibitors*
Lentinula edodes (Shiitake) mushroom extract protects against hydrogen peroxide induced cytotoxicity in peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Kuppusamy UR, Chong YL, Mahmood AA, Indran M, Abdullah N, Vikineswary S

Indian J. Biochem. Biophys., 2009 Apr;46(2):161-5.
PMID: 19517993

Lentinula edodes (Berk) Pegler, commonly known as Shiitake mushroom has been used as medicinal food in Asian countries, especially in China and Japan and is believed to possess strong immunomodulatory property. In the present study, the methanolic extract of the fruit bodies of L. edodes was investigated for cytoprotective effect against H2O2-induced cytotoxicity in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) by measuring the activities of xanthine oxidase (XO) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) . H2O2 at a concentration of 5 microM caused 50% inhibition of PBMCs viability. The extract improved the PBMC viability and exerted a dose-dependent protection against H2O2-induced cytotoxicity. At 100 microg/ml of extract concentration, the cell viability increased by 60% compared with the PBMCs incubated with H2O2 alone. The extract also inhibited XO activity in PBMC, while showing moderate stimulatory effect on GPx. However, in the presence of H2O2 alone, both the enzyme activities were increased significantly. The GPx activity increased, possibly in response to the increased availability of H2O2 in the cell. When the cells were pretreated with the extract and washed (to remove the extract) prior to the addition of H2O2, the GPx and XO activities as well as the cell viability were comparable to those when incubated with the extract alone. Thus, it is suggested that one of the possible mechanisms via which L. edodes methanolic extract confers protection against H2O2-induced oxidative stress in PBMC is by inhibiting the superoxide-producing XO and increasing GPx activity which could rapidly inactivate H2O2.

Matched MeSH terms: Cytotoxins/antagonists & inhibitors*; Hydrogen Peroxide/antagonists & inhibitors*
Fulltext Adrenoceptor study of guinea-pig superior mesenteric--portal vein

Muir CK, Lim YM

Med J Malaysia, 1980 Jun;34(4):387-90.
PMID: 7219269

The effects of phentolamine and propranolol on contractural responses of guinea-pig superior mesenteric-portal vein to adrenaline and isoprenaline were investigated. Phentolamine was capable of completely abolishing the response to adrenaline and to isoprenaline while propranolol had no effect on responses to either agonist. It is suggested that Alpha receptors are the only type of adrenoceptor involved in adrenergic control of contraction of this vein and that isoprenaline is capable of stimulating these receptors.

Matched MeSH terms: Epinephrine/antagonists & inhibitors; Isoproterenol/antagonists & inhibitors
The absence of antagonism between extracts of Clinacanthus nutans Burm. and Naja naja siamensis venom

Cherdchu C, Poopyruchpong N, Adchariyasucha R, Ratanabanangkoon K

Southeast Asian J. Trop. Med. Public Health, 1977 Jun;8(2):249-54.
PMID: 199949

Clinacanthus nutans Burm, a herb reputed in Thailand and Malaysia to be "snakebite antidote" has been tested in vitro and in vivo for antivenin activity. The aqueous extract of C. nutans leaves has been found to have no effect on the inhibition of neuromuscular transmission produced by purified Naja naja siamensis neurotoxin in isolated rat phrenic-nerve diaphragm preparations. The extract of C. nutans, when given orally or intraperitoneally, are ineffective in prolonging the survival time of experimental mice receiving lethal doses of N.n. siamensis crude venom. Oral administrations of the herb extracts pretreated with alpha-amylase or beta-amylase also fail to protect the animal. It is concluded that the extract of C. nutans can not antagonize the action of cobra venom.

Matched MeSH terms: Cobra Neurotoxin Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors; Cobra Venoms/antagonists & inhibitors*
Immunotherapeutic Interleukin-6 or Interleukin-6 Receptor Blockade in Cancer: Challenges and Opportunities

Kampan NC, Xiang SD, McNally OM, Stephens AN, Quinn MA, Plebanski M

Curr Med Chem, 2018;25(36):4785-4806.
PMID: 28707587 DOI: 10.2174/0929867324666170712160621

Interleukin 6 (IL-6), a well-known pro-inflammatory cytokine with pleiotropic activity is a central player in chronic inflammatory diseases including cancers. Therefore, blockade of the IL-6 signalling pathway has become a target for the therapy of diverse cancers such as multicentric Castleman's disease (CD), multiple myeloma and solid tumours including renal, prostate, lung, colorectal and ovarian cancers. Monoclonal antibodies against IL-6 (Siltuximab) and the IL-6 receptor (IL-6R) (Tocilizumab) have emerged as potential immunotherapies, alone or in combination with conventional chemotherapy. Human trials have demonstrated the ability to block IL-6 activity and in multicentric CD lead to durable clinical response and longer disease stabilisation. However, the efficacy of these treatments is still debatable for other cancers. New generation therapeutics in development such as Clazakizumab, Sarilumab, and soluble gp130-Fc have the additional features of improved binding affinity, better specificity with reduced adverse effects. A deeper understanding of the immunological basis of these agents, as well as of the challenges that are faced by immunotherapy-based products in clinical trials, will help select the most promising anti-IL-6/IL-6R therapies for large scale use. Concurrently, current research efforts to personalize treatments may help in the treatment of patients that would greatly benefit from IL-6 blocking therapies.

Matched MeSH terms: Interleukin-6/antagonists & inhibitors*; Receptors, Interleukin-6/antagonists & inhibitors*
Investigating the binding preferences of small molecule inhibitors of human protein arginine methyltransferase 1 using molecular modelling

Hong W, Li J, Laughton CA, Yap LF, Paterson IC, Wang H

J Mol Graph Model, 2014 Jun;51:193-202.
PMID: 24937176 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2014.05.010

Protein arginine methyltransferases (PRMTs) catalyse the methylation of arginine residues of target proteins. PRMTs utilise S-adenosyl methionine (SAM) as the methyl group donor, leading to S-adenosyl homocysteine (SAH) and monomethylarginine (mMA). A combination of homology modelling, molecular docking, Active Site Pressurisation, molecular dynamic simulations and MM-PBSA free energy calculations is used to investigate the binding poses of three PRMT1 inhibitors (ligands 1-3), which target both SAM and substrate arginine binding sites by containing a guanidine group joined by short linkers with the SAM derivative. It was assumed initially that the adenine moieties of the inhibitors would bind in sub-site 1 (PHE44, GLU137, VAL136 and GLU108), the guanidine side chain would occupy sub-site 2 (GLU 161, TYR160, TYR156 and TRP302), with the amino acid side chain occupying sub-site 3 (GLU152, ARG62, GLY86 and ASP84; pose 1). However, the SAH homocysteine moiety does not fully occupy sub-site 3, suggesting another binding pose may exist (pose 2), whereby the adenine moiety binds in sub-site 1, the guanidine side chain occupies sub-site 3, and the amino acid side chain occupies sub-site 2. Our results indicate that ligand 1 (pose 1 or 2), ligand 2 (pose 2) and ligand 3 (pose 1) are the predominant binding poses and we demonstrate for the first time that sub-site 3 contains a large space that could be exploited in the future to develop novel inhibitors with higher binding affinities.

Matched MeSH terms: Protein-Arginine N-Methyltransferases/antagonists & inhibitors*; Repressor Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors*
Synthesis and biological activity of oxadiazole and triazolothiadiazole derivatives as tyrosinase inhibitors

Lam KW, Syahida A, Ul-Haq Z, Abdul Rahman MB, Lajis NH

Bioorg Med Chem Lett, 2010 Jun 15;20(12):3755-9.
PMID: 20493688 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2010.04.067

A series of 16 oxadiazole and triazolothiadiazole derivatives were designed, synthesized and evaluated as mushroom tyrosinase inhibitors. Five derivatives were found to display high inhibition on the tyrosinase activity ranging from 0.87 to 1.49 microM. Compound 5 exhibited highest tyrosinase inhibitory activity with an IC(50) value of 0.87+/-0.16 microM. The in silico protein-ligand docking using AUTODOCK 4.1 was successfully performed on compound 5 with significant binding energy value of -5.58 kcal/mol. The docking results also showed that the tyrosinase inhibition might be due to the metal chelating effect by the presence of thione functionality in compounds 1-5. Further studies revealed that the presence of hydrophobic group such as cycloamine derivatives played a major role in the inhibition. Piperazine moiety in compound 5 appeared to be involved in an extensive hydrophobic contact and a 2.9A hydrogen bonding with residue Glu 182 in the active site.

Matched MeSH terms: Fungal Proteins/antagonists & inhibitors; Monophenol Monooxygenase/antagonists & inhibitors*
Fulltext Effects of Tamarind (Tamarindus indicus Linn) seed extract on Russell's viper (Daboia russelli siamensis) venom

Maung KM, Lynn Z

Trop Biomed, 2012 Dec;29(4):580-7.
PMID: 23202603

Snake bite has been regarded as an important health problem in Myanmar since early 1960's. In the recent years, there has been growing interest in alternative therapies and therapeutic use of natural products, especially those derive from plants. In Myanmar and Indian traditional medicine, various plants have used as a remedy for treating snake bite. The present study was carried out to evaluate the effects of alcohol extract of Tamarind (Tamarindus indica Linn.) seed on some biologic properties of Russell's viper (Daboia russelli siamensis) venom (RVV). The Phospholipase A2 (PLA2) enzyme, coagulase enzyme and caseinolytic enzyme activities of Russell's viper venom (RVV) were reduced when mixed and incubated with the extract. When the RVV and the different amount of extracts were preincubated and injected intramuscularly into mice, all of them survived, but all the mice in the control group died. On the other hand, when RVV were injected first followed by the extract into mice, all of them died. If the extract was injected near the site where Russell's viper venom was injected, all the mice survived for more than 24 hours and the survival time prolonged but they all died within 96 hours. In conclusion, according to the results obtained, the extract neutralizes some biologic properties of the Russell's viper venom and prolonged the survival time if the extract was injected near the site where the Russell's viper venom was injected.

Matched MeSH terms: Coagulase/antagonists & inhibitors; Metalloendopeptidases/antagonists & inhibitors
IL-23/IL-17 axis in the pathogenesis and treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis

Farah Izati A, Wong KK, Che Maraina CH

Malays J Pathol, 2020 Dec;42(3):333-347.
PMID: 33361714

Interleukin-23 (IL-23) and IL-17 are the gatekeepers of CD4+ T helper 17 (Th17) cells where IL-23 is required for the development and expansion of Th17 cells that subsequently produce IL-17 to promote inflammation. Owing to such pro-inflammatory properties, the IL-23/IL-17 axis has emerged as an important mechanism in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In recent years, therapeutic antibodies targeting IL-23 (e.g. ustekinumab, tildrakizumab, guselkumab) or IL-17 (e.g. brodalumab, secukinumab, ixekizumab) have been approved for the treatment of various autoimmune diseases. In this review, we describe the pathogenic mechanisms of IL-23/IL-17 axis in SLE and RA, as well as summarising the findings from phase II and III clinical trials of anti-IL-23/IL-17 therapeutic antibodies in SLE and RA patients. In particular, phase II study has demonstrated that the anti-IL-23 antibody (ustekinumab) confers enhanced treatment outcomes in SLE patients, while anti-IL-17 antibodies (secukinumab and ixekizumab) have shown improved clinical benefits for RA patients in phase II/III studies. Our review highlights the emerging importance of targeting the IL-23/IL-17 axis in SLE and RA patients.

Matched MeSH terms: Interleukin-17/antagonists & inhibitors; Interleukin-23/antagonists & inhibitors
Notch Signalling Pathways and Their Importance in the Treatment of Cancers

Teoh SL, Das S

Curr Drug Targets, 2018;19(2):128-143.
PMID: 28294046 DOI: 10.2174/1389450118666170309143419

BACKGROUND: The Notch pathway is an evolutionarily conserved, intercellular signalling system which is present in all multicellular organisms and mammals. The Notch pathway plays an important role in the embryonic development as it controls cell proliferation, cell differentiation and binary cell fate decisions.
OBJECTIVE: In the present review, we highlight the Notch signalling pathway components i.e. Notch receptors, ligands, effector, and their regulators. We also discuss the tumor biology of the Notch pathway involved in various cancers.
RESULTS: Interestingly, the Notch signalling pathway is dysregulated in many cancers. Notch may serve as oncogene or tumor suppressor and plays an important role in cancers of the liver, pancreas, endometrium of uterus, ovary, prostate, bladder and colon. The activation of Notch pathway plays a vital role in the progression of some cancer. In addition, Notch pathway activation was also shown to drive chemoresistance in cancer, as well. Chemotherapeutically, combined NOTCH1 inhibitor synergistically attenuated chemotherapy-enriched cancer stem cell population both in vitro and in vivo. This may prove to be beneficial in the treatment of cancer.
CONCLUSION: The Notch inhibitors possess anti-proliferative effects on cancer, thereby serving as a new treatment for cancer.

Matched MeSH terms: Receptors, Notch/antagonists & inhibitors*; Amyloid Precursor Protein Secretases/antagonists & inhibitors
Development of small molecule inhibitors targeting TGF-β ligand and receptor: Structures, mechanism, preclinical studies and clinical usage

Wang H, Chen M, Sang X, You X, Wang Y, Paterson IC, et al.

Eur J Med Chem, 2020 Apr 01;191:112154.
PMID: 32092587 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2020.112154

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is a member of a superfamily of pleiotropic proteins that regulate multiple cellular processes such as growth, development and differentiation. Following binding to type I and II TGF-β serine/threonine kinase receptors, TGF-β activates downstream signaling cascades involving both SMAD-dependent and -independent pathways. Aberrant TGF-β signaling is associated with a variety of diseases, such as fibrosis, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Hence, the TGF-β signaling pathway is recognized as a potential drug target. Various organic molecules have been designed and developed as TGF-β signaling pathway inhibitors and they function by either down-regulating the expression of TGF-β or by inhibiting the kinase activities of the TGF-β receptors. In this review, we discuss the current status of research regarding organic molecules as TGF-β inhibitors, focusing on the biological functions and the binding poses of compounds that are in the market or in the clinical or pre-clinical phases of development.

Matched MeSH terms: Transforming Growth Factor beta/antagonists & inhibitors*; Receptors, Transforming Growth Factor beta/antagonists & inhibitors*
Fulltext Tree bark scrape fungus: A potential source of laccase for application in bioremediation of non-textile dyes

Sayyed RZ, Bhamare HM, Sapna, Marraiki N, Elgorban AM, Syed A, et al.

PLoS One, 2020;15(6):e0229968.
PMID: 32497077 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0229968

Although laccase has been recognized as a wonder molecule and green enzyme, the use of low yielding fungal strains, poor production, purification, and low enzyme kinetics have hampered its large-scale application. Thus,this study aims to select high yielding fungal strains and optimize the production, purification, and kinetics of laccase of Aspergillus sp. HB_RZ4. The results obtained indicated that Aspergillus sp. HB_RZ4 produced a significantly large amount of laccase under meso-acidophilic shaking conditions in a medium containing glucose and yeast extract. A 25 μM CuSO4 was observed to enhance the enzyme yield. The enzyme was best purified on a Sephadex G-100 column. The purified enzyme resembled laccase of A. flavus. The kinetics of the purified enzyme revealed high substrate specificity and good velocity of reaction,using ABTS as a substrate. The enzyme was observed to be stable over various pH values and temperatures. The peptide structure of the purified enzyme was found to resemble laccase of A. kawachii IFO 4308. The fungus was observed to decolorize various dyes independent of the requirement of a laccase mediator system.Aspergillus sp. HB_RZ4 was observed to be a potent natural producer of laccase, and it decolorized the dyes even in the absence of a laccase mediator system. Thus, it can be used for bioremediation of effluent that contains non-textile dyes.

Matched MeSH terms: Enzymes, Immobilized/antagonists & inhibitors; Laccase/antagonists & inhibitors

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