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  1. Hendra and Nipah viruses: pathogenesis and therapeutics
    Eaton BT, Broder CC, Wang LF
    Curr Mol Med, 2005 Dec;5(8):805-16.
    PMID: 16375714
    Within the past decade a number of new zoonotic paramyxoviruses emerged from flying foxes to cause serious disease outbreaks in man and livestock. Hendra virus was the cause of fatal infections of horses and man in Australia in 1994, 1999 and 2004. Nipah virus caused encephalitis in humans both in Malaysia in 1998/99, following silent spread of the virus in the pig population, and in Bangladesh from 2001 to 2004 probably as a result of direct bat to human transmission and spread within the human population. Hendra and Nipah viruses are highly pathogenic in humans with case fatality rates of 40% to 70%. Their genetic constitution, virulence and wide host range make them unique paramyxoviruses and they have been given Biosecurity Level 4 status in a new genus Henipavirus within the family Paramyxoviridae. Recent studies on the virulence, host range and cell tropisms of henipaviruses provide insights into the unique biological properties of these emerging human pathogens and suggest approaches for vaccine development and therapeutic countermeasures.
  2. Genetic Modifiers of Fetal Haemoglobin (HbF) and Phenotypic Severity in β-Thalassemia Patients
    Razak SAA, Murad NAA, Masra F, Chong DLS, Abdullah N, Jalil N, et al.
    Curr Mol Med, 2018;18(5):295-305.
    PMID: 30289070 DOI: 10.2174/1566524018666181004121604
    BACKGROUND: The phenotypic severity of β-thalassemia is highly modulated by three genetic modifiers: β-globin (HBB) mutations, co-inheritance of α-thalassemia and polymorphisms in the genes associated with fetal haemoglobin (HbF) production. This study was aimed to evaluate the effect of HbF related polymorphisms mainly in the HBB cluster, BCL11A (B-cell CLL/lymphoma 11A) and HBS1L-MYB (HBS1-like translational GTPase-MYB protooncogene, transcription factor) with regards to clinical severity.

    METHODS: A total of 149 patients were included in the study. HBA and HBB mutations were characterised using multiplex PCR, Sanger sequencing and multiplex ligationdependent probe amplification. In addition, 35 HbF polymorphisms were genotyped using mass spectrometry and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCRRFLP). The genotype-phenotype association was analysed using SPSS version 22.

    RESULTS: Twenty-one HBB mutations were identified in the study population. Patients with HBB mutations had heterogeneous phenotypic severity due to the presence of other secondary modifiers. Co-inheritance of α-thalassemia (n = 12) alleviated disease severity of β-thalassemia. In addition, three polymorphisms (HBS1LMYB, rs4895441 [P = 0.008, odds ratio (OR) = 0.38 (0.18, 0.78)], rs9376092 [P = 0.030, OR = 0.36 (0.14, 0.90)]; and olfactory receptor [OR51B2] rs6578605 [P = 0.018, OR = 0.52 (0.31, 0.89)]) were associated with phenotypic severity. Secondary analysis of the association between single-nucleotide polymorphisms with HbF levels revealed three nominally significant SNPs: rs6934903, rs9376095 and rs9494149 in HBS1L-MYB.

    CONCLUSION: This study revealed 3 types of HbF polymorphisms that play an important role in ameliorating disease severity of β-thalassemia patients which may be useful as a predictive marker in clinical management.

  3. Molecular Regulatory Roles of Long Non-coding RNA HOTTIP: An Overview in Gastrointestinal Cancer
    Hamid UZ, Sim MS, Guad RM, Subramaniyan V, Sekar M, Fuloria NK, et al.
    Curr Mol Med, 2021 Aug 06.
    PMID: 34365949 DOI: 10.2174/1566524021666210806162848
    Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers presented an alarmingly high number of new cancer cases worldwide and highly characterised with poor prognosis. The poor overall survival is mainly due to late detection and emerging challenges in treatment, particularly chemoresistance. Thus, the identification of novel molecular targets in GI cancer is highly regarded as the main focus. Recently, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been discovered as a potential novel molecular target for combating cancer, as it is highly associated with carcinogenesis and has a great impact on cancer progression. Amongst lncRNAs, HOTIIP has demonstrated a prominent oncogenic regulation in cancer progression, particularly in GI cancers, including oesophageal cancer, gastric cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, pancreatic cancer and colorectal cancer. This review aimed to present a focused update on the regulatory roles of HOTTIP in GI cancer progression and chemoresistance, as well as deciphering the associated molecular mechanisms underlying their impact on cancer phenotypes and chemoresistance and the key molecules involved. It has been reported that it regulates the expression of various genes and proteins in GI cancers that impacts on the cellular functions, including proliferation, adhesion, migration and invasion, apoptosis, chemosensitivity and tumour differentiation. Furthermore, HOTTIP was also discovered to have a higher diagnostic value as compared to existing diagnostic biomarkers. In overall, HOTTIP has presented itself as a novel therapeutic target and potential diagnostic biomarker in the development of GI cancer treatment.
  4. Specific Bioactive Factors and Application of Bioinformatics Tools for the Successful Use of Secretome and Extracellular Vesicles as Cell Free Therapeutics
    Haque N, Abu Kasim NH
    Curr Mol Med, 2021 Sep 09.
    PMID: 34514999 DOI: 10.2174/1566524021666210910113327
  5. Molecular and Epigenetic Basis of Extracellular Vesicles Cell Repair Phenotypes in Targeted Organ-specific Regeneration
    Fareez IM, Seng WY, Zaki RM, Shafiq A, Izwan IM
    Curr Mol Med, 2022;22(2):132-150.
    PMID: 33568034 DOI: 10.2174/1566524021666210210121905
    Extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are released by most of the cells, constitute a new system of cell-cell communication by transporting DNA, RNA, and proteins in various vesicles namely exosomes, apoptotic bodies, protein complexes, high-density lipid (HDL) microvesicles, among others. To ensure accurate regulation of somatic stem cell activity, EVs function as an independent metabolic unit mediating the metabolic homeostasis and pathophysiological of several diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, metabolic diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, immune diseases, and cancer. Whist examining the EV biomolecules cargos and their microenvironments that lead to epigenetic alteration of the cell in tissue regeneration, studies have gained further insights into the biogenesis of EVs and their potential roles in cell biology and pathogenicity. Due to their small size, non-virulence, flexibility, and ability to cross biological barriers, EVs have promising therapeutic potentials in various diseases. In this review, we describe EV's mechanism of action in intercellular communication and transfer of biological information as well as some details about EVinduced epigenetic changes in recipient cells that cause phenotypic alteration during tissue regeneration. We also highlight some of the therapeutic potentials of EVs in organ-specific regeneration.
  6. Extracellular Vesicles from Stem and Progenitor Cells for Cell-Free Regenerative Therapy
    Haque N, Widera D, Govindasamy V, Soesilawati P, Abu Kasim NH
    Curr Mol Med, 2022;22(2):120-131.
    PMID: 33550972 DOI: 10.2174/1566524021666210125114828
    Cell-based regenerative therapies involving stem or progenitor cells are considered as possible therapeutic modalities to treat non-communicable and degenerative diseases. Recently, regenerative outcomes of cell-based therapies have been linked to paracrine factors and extracellular vesicles [EVs] released by the transplanted cells rather than the transplanted cells themselves. EVs contain a cargo that includes microRNAs [miRNAs], mRNAs, as well as proteins. Their role in mediating intercellular communication has been acknowledged in several studies. However, the regenerative potential of the miRNAs, mRNAs, and proteins that are present in EVs is a matter of ongoing scientific debate. In this review, we discuss EVs as an alternative to stem cell-based therapy to treat some of the non-communicable and degenerative diseases. Moreover, we also propose that pre-treatment of the cells could help to produce EVs enriched with particular miRNAs, mRNAs, and/or proteins that could support the successful regeneration of a targeted organ.
  7. Wound Healing Properties of Exosomes - A Review and Modelling of Combinatorial Analysis Strategies
    Liew FF, Chew BC, Ooi J
    Curr Mol Med, 2022;22(2):165-191.
    PMID: 33820518 DOI: 10.2174/1566524021666210405131238
    Wound healing is an elaborated process, well-regulated via cell migration and proliferation. Although the physiological basics of wound healing have been thoroughly investigated and reported, much remains to be studied. Particularly, various studies have demonstrated the immunomodulatory roles of exosomes derived from plant cells, mammalian cells, and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the healing and repairing system. The paracrine and therapeutic effects of exosomes are mainly associated with the broad exosomal cargo content comprising growth factors, cytokines, enzymes, nucleic acids, proteins, and lipid signaling molecules. Nevertheless, the functional or mechanism pathway of exosomes with reference to overall exosomal cargo remains undetermined. To date, combinatorial analysis strategies employing Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID), STRING tools, Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes, Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis, as well as Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) have been applied in elucidating network interaction and functional pathway of exosomes. In this review paper, the application of combinatorial analysis strategies is demonstrated to better understand the therapeutic potentials of exosomes in the wound healing process. In conclusion, functional modulation of exosomal cargo for specific biological treatment is achievable, and modelling of combinatorial analysis strategies will hopefully bridge the research gap and provide a paradigm shift to regenerative processes.
  8. The Pandemic of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
    Rashid NN
    Curr Mol Med, 2021 Nov 17.
    PMID: 34789125 DOI: 10.2174/1566524021666211117145216
    Currently, the world is facing the emergence of a virus that causes pneumonia in humans, which has a higher probability of causing complications that include respiratory distress syndrome and death. The new coronavirus 2019 (2019-nCoV), which is currently known as SARS-CoV-2, is the cause of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) . This virus was first detected in Wuhan, Hubei Province of China, and appears to have been a zoonotic infection that has now adapted to humans. On March 11 2020, COVID-19 was announced as a pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO), causing widespread panic worldwide. SARS-CoV-2 is genetically similar to the 2003 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-related (SARS) and shares many similarities with the disease features of influenza virus infection. Scientists around the world are racing towards the development of vaccines and antiviral for COVID-19. This review will provide an update of COVID-19, a brief review of the symptoms and route of transmission, SARS-CoV-2 virus, and why it is highly infectious as well as the currently available treatments and comorbidities.
  9. Potential Roles of 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonists in Reducing Chemotherapy-induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN)
    Satiamurthy R, Yaakob NS, Shah NM, Azmi N, Omar MS
    Curr Mol Med, 2023;23(4):341-349.
    PMID: 35549869 DOI: 10.2174/1566524022666220512122525
    5-HT3 receptor antagonists corresponding to ondansetron, granisetron, tropisetron, and palonosetron are clinically accustomed to treating nausea and emesis in chemotherapy patients. However, current and previous studies reveal novel potentials of those ligands in other diseases involving the nervous system, such as addiction, pruritus, and neurological disorders, such as anxiety, psychosis, nociception, and cognitive function. This review gathers existing studies to support the role of 5-HT3 receptors in CIPN modulation. It has been reported that chemotherapy drugs increase the 5-HT content that binds with the 5-HT3 receptor, which later induces pain. As also shown in pre-clinical and clinical studies that various neuropathic pains could be blocked by the 5-HT3 receptor antagonists, we proposed that 5-HT3 receptor antagonists via 5- HT3 receptors may also inhibit neuropathic pain induced by chemotherapy. Our review suggests that future studies focus more on the 5-HT3 receptor antagonists and their modulation in CIPN to reduce the gap in the current pharmacotherapy for cancer-related pain.
  10. Thymoquinone-PLGA-PF68 Nanoparticles Induce S Phase Cell Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis, Leading to the Inhibition of Migration and Colony Formation in Tamoxifen-Resistant Breast Cancer Cells
    Noor NS, Hamid SBS
    Curr Mol Med, 2025 Jan 15.
    PMID: 39819413 DOI: 10.2174/0115665240347014241203065055
    BACKGROUND: A biocompatible polymeric nanoparticle, TQ-PLGA-PF68, was developed through the interaction of the phytochemical thymoquinone (TQ) encapsulated in poly(L-lactide-co-glycolide)-b-poly(ethylene glycol) (PLGA-PEG) with Pluronics F68. So far, this combination has not been assessed on breast cancer cells resistant to anti-cancer drugs. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the cell death caused by TQ-PLGA-PF68 nanoparticles, particularly in resistant breast cancer cell lines expressing estrogen receptor (ER) positivity, such as TamR MCF-7.

    METHODS: The antiproliferative activity of TQ-PLGA-PF68 nanoparticles was measured using the MTS assay. The cytotoxic effects were further evaluated through colony formation assay and scratch-wound healing assay. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP Nick End Labeling (TUNEL) assay was performed to determine the characteristics of the apoptosis as well as cell cycle arrest induced by TQ-PLGA-PF68 nanoparticles. The localization of these nanoparticles in the cells was examined using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM).

    RESULTS: With a TQ concentration of 58.5 μM encapsulated within the nanoparticles, cytotoxicity analysis revealed a significant inhibition of cell proliferation (p<0.05). This finding was corroborated by the results of the colony formation assay. Treatment with TQ-PLGA-PF68 nanoparticles significantly decreased the number of surviving TamR MCF-7 cells by 35% (p<0.001) compared to untreated TamR MCF-7 cells. Concurrently, the scratch-wound healing assay indicated a closure rate of 50% versus >80% (p<0.05) in untreated TamR MCF-7 cells at 12 hours post-wounding. The TUNEL assay successfully confirmed the apoptosis characteristics associated with cell cycle arrest. TEM observation confirmed the cellular internalization of these nanoparticles, suggesting the in vitro therapeutic potential of the formulation.

    CONCLUSION: In this study, a significant functional change in TamR MCF-7 cells induced by the TQ nanoparticles was observed. The unique incorporation of TQ into the PLGA-PEG and Pluronics F68 formulation preserved its bioactivity, thereby reducing the migratory and proliferative traits of drug-resistant cells. This discovery may pave the way for exploring the application of biocompatible polymeric TQ nanoparticles as a novel therapeutic approach in future studies pertaining to resistant breast cancer.

  11. Single Cell RNA Sequencing in Colorectal Cancer Immunology: Recent Updates, Application, and Emerging Challenges
    George S, Johdi NA
    Curr Mol Med, 2025 Feb 12.
    PMID: 39945269 DOI: 10.2174/0115665240355043250130110501
    Colorectal cancer poses a major global health issue, profoundly affecting both mortality and morbidity rates across the world. A key obstacle in understanding the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer lies in its high inter-patient and spatial heterogeneity, making standard treatments ineffective. Commonly, the study on colorectal cancer relies on bulk RNA sequencing, offering an average gene expression profile for a heterogenous cell population. However, this approach obscures the heterogeneous characteristics of the cancer cells and hinders a comprehensive understanding of the complex interplay among different cell populations. Recently, the advent of single-cell RNA sequencing has been revolutionary, enabling researchers to analyze individual immune cells and overcome the limitations of bulk RNA sequencing. Through single-cell RNA sequencing, researchers have gained insights into the dynamic nature of the immune response to cancer and potential targets for immunotherapy. In this review, we discuss the technical aspects of single-cell RNA sequencing, the application of single-cell RNA sequencing in cancer immunology, and the potential of single-cell RNA in clinical settings. We believe that harnessing singlecell RNA sequencing in cancer research holds immense potential to drive the development of personalized immunotherapies, aiming to improve patient outcomes in colorectal cancer.
  12. Application of Platelet-Rich Plasma as a Stem Cell Treatment - an Attempt to Clarify a Common Public Misconception
    Fareez IM, Liew FF, Widera D, Mayeen NF, Mawya J, Abu Kasim NH, et al.
    Curr Mol Med, 2024;24(6):689-701.
    PMID: 37171013 DOI: 10.2174/1566524023666230511152646
    In recent years, there has been a significant increase in the practice of regenerative medicine by health practitioners and direct-to-consumer businesses globally. Among different tools of regenerative medicine, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and stem cell-based therapies have received considerable attention. The use of PRP, in particular, has gained popularity due to its easy access, simple processing techniques, and regenerative potential. However, it is important to address a common misconception amongst the general public equating to PRP and stem cells due to the demonstrated efficacy of PRP in treating musculoskeletal and dermatological disorders. Notably, PRP promotes regeneration by providing growth factors or other paracrine factors only. Therefore, it cannot replenish or replace the lost cells in conditions where a large number of cells are required to regenerate tissues and/or organs. In such cases, cellbased therapies are the preferred option. Additionally, other tools of regenerative medicine, such as bioprinting, organoids, and mechanobiology also rely on stem cells for their success. Hence, healthcare and commercial entities offering direct-to-customer regenerative therapies should not mislead the public by claiming that the application of PRP is a stem cell-based therapy. Furthermore, it is important for regulatory bodies to strictly monitor these profit-driven entities to prevent them from providing unregulated regenerative treatments and services that claim a broad variety of benefits with little proof of efficacy, safety concerns, and obscure scientific justification.
  13. Aptamers for Brain Tumors: A Therapeutic Agent for Effectively Crossing the Blood-Brain Barrier
    Lakshmipriya T, Gopinath SCB
    Curr Mol Med, 2025 Feb 19.
    PMID: 39976095 DOI: 10.2174/0115665240364882250217114939
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