Structural and Thermodynamic Insights into Dimerization Interfaces of Drosophila Glutathione Transferases.

This study presents a comprehensive analysis of the dimerization interfaces of fly GSTs through sequence alignment. Our investigation revealed GSTE1 as a particularly intriguing target, providing valuable insights into the variations within Delta and Epsilon GST interfaces. The X-ray structure of GSTE1 was determined, unveiling remarkable thermal stability and a distinctive dimerization interface.

A pivotal role for the IL-1β and the inflammasome in preterm labor.

During labor, monocytes infiltrate massively the myometrium and differentiate into macrophages secreting high levels of reactive oxygen species and of pro-inflammatory cytokines (i.e. IL-1β), leading to myometrial contraction.

Structure-activity analysis suggests an olfactory function for the unique antennal delta glutathione transferase of Apis mellifera.

Glutathione transferases (GST) are detoxification enzymes that conjugate glutathione to a wide array of molecules. In the honey bee Apis mellifera, AmGSTD1 is the sole member of the delta class of GSTs, with expression in antennae. Here, we structurally and biochemically characterized AmGSTD1 to elucidate its function.

Plasma membrane lipid bilayer is druggable: Selective delivery of gemcitabine-squalene nano-medicine to cancer cells.

Up to now the lipid bilayers were rarely considered as targets in cancer therapy despite pronounced differences in lipid composition between plasma membranes of benign and malignant cells. In this study we demonstrate that the lipid bilayer of the plasma membrane is druggable and suitable for facilitating selective delivery of amphiphilic gemcitabine-squalene nanomedicines to cancer cells. Data from radioactive assays, fluorescent membrane probes and molecular dynamics simulations provide evidence of selective accumulation of gemcitabine-squalene in the plasma membranes with disrupted lipid asymmetry and its subsequent preferential uptake by malignant cells.

Novel Fat Taste Receptor Agonists Curtail Progressive Weight Gain in Obese Male Mice.

Background & Aims: The spontaneous preference for dietary lipids is principally regulated by 2 lingual fat taste receptors, CD36 and GPR120. Obese animals and most of human subjects exhibit low orosensory perception of dietary fat because of malfunctioning of these taste receptors. Our aim was to target the 2 fat taste receptors by newly synthesized high affinity fatty acid agonists to decrease fat-rich food intake and obesity.

Wound Healing versus Metastasis: Role of Oxidative Stress.

Many signaling pathways, molecular and cellular actors which are critical for wound healing have been implicated in cancer metastasis. These two conditions are a complex succession of cellular biological events and accurate regulation of these events is essential. Apart from inflammation, macrophages-released ROS arise as major regulators of these processes.

Design, synthesis and antitumor efficacy evaluation of a series of novel β-elemene-based macrocycles.

β-Elemene is the major constituent of the antitumor drugs elemene extract approved in China. By incorporating macrocyclization strategy into the β-elemene skeleton, we designed a series of novel macrocycles retaining three key carbon-carbon double bonds. Four different methods have been successfully developed for these challenging ring systems.

Role of human salivary enzymes in bitter taste perception.

The molecules that elicit taste sensation are perceived by interacting with the taste receptors located in the taste buds. Enzymes involved in the detoxification processes are found in saliva as well as in type II cells, where taste receptors, including bitter taste receptors, are located. These enzymes are known to interact with a large panel of molecules.

Communication vs evidence: What hinders the outreach of science during an infodemic? A narrative review.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is placing significant pressure on national and international health organizations and the measures taken to combat it are having many impacts beyond health. At the same time, misleading communication practices and what has been called an "infodemic" by the World Health Organization have been hampering the uptake of coronavirus-related scientific information. Moreover, public awareness about the dangers of the infodemic remains poor, and misinformation may lead to hazardous behaviours.

Inhibition of the DNA damage response phosphatase PPM1D reprograms neutrophils to enhance anti-tumor immune responses.

PPM1D/Wip1 is a negative regulator of the tumor suppressor p53 and is overexpressed in several human solid tumors. Recent reports associate gain-of-function mutations of PPM1D in immune cells with worse outcomes for several human cancers. Here we show that mice with genetic knockout of Ppm1d or with conditional knockout of Ppm1d in the hematopoietic system, in myeloid cells, or in neutrophils all display significantly reduced growth of syngeneic melanoma or lung carcinoma tumors.

Lactobacillus stress protein GroEL prevents colonic inflammation.

Background: We previously showed that supernatants of Lactobacillus biofilms induced an anti-inflammatory response by affecting the secretion of macrophage-derived cytokines, which was abrogated upon immunodepletion of the stress protein GroEL.

Methods: We purified GroEL from L. reuteri and analysed its anti-inflammatory properties in vitro in human macrophages isolated from buffy coats, ex vivo in explants from human biopsies and in vivo in a mouse model of DSS induced intestinal inflammation.

Small molecule DNA-PK inhibitors as potential cancer therapy: a patent review (2010-present).

: DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) plays a crucial role in the repair of DSBs via non-homologous end joining (NHEJ). Several DNA-PK inhibitors are being investigated for potential anticancer treatment in clinical trials.: This review aims to give an overview of patents published since 2010 by analyzing the patent space and structure features of scaffolds used in those patents.

Lipoproteins LDL versus HDL as nanocarriers to target either cancer cells or macrophages.

In this work, we have explored natural unmodified low- and high-density lipoproteins (LDL and HDL, respectively) as selective delivery vectors in colorectal cancer therapy. We show in vitro in cultured cells and in vivo (NanoSPECT/CT) in the CT-26 mice colorectal cancer model that LDLs are mainly taken up by cancer cells, while HDLs are preferentially taken up by macrophages. We loaded LDLs with cisplatin and HDLs with the heat shock protein-70 inhibitor AC1LINNC, turning them into a pair of "Trojan horses" delivering drugs selectively to their target cells as demonstrated in vitro in human colorectal cancer cells and macrophages, and in vivo.

Dual inhibitors of histone deacetylases and other cancer-related targets: A pharmacological perspective.

Epigenetic enzymes histone deacetylases (HDACs) are clinically validated anticancer drug targets which have been studied intensively in the past few decades. Although several drugs have been approved in this field, they are still limited to a subset of hematological malignancies (in particular T-cell lymphomas), with therapeutic potential not fully realized and the drug-resistance occurred after a certain period of use. To maximize the therapeutic potential of these classes of anticancer drugs, and to extend their application to solid tumors, numerous combination therapies containing an HDACi and an anticancer agent from other mechanisms are currently ongoing in clinical trials.

Interactions Between Odorants and Glutathione Transferases in the Human Olfactory Cleft.

Xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes and other proteins, including odorant-binding proteins located in the nasal epithelium and mucus, participate in a series of processes modulating the concentration of odorants in the environment of olfactory receptors (ORs) and finely impact odor perception. These enzymes and transporters are thought to participate in odorant degradation or transport. Odorant biotransformation results in 1) changes in the odorant quantity up to their clearance and the termination of signaling and 2) the formation of new odorant stimuli (metabolites).

Bile acids for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and/or steatohepatitis.

The review is withdrawn on 09.07.2020, as it has not been updated since its first publication in 2007.

Macrophage-induced reactive oxygen species promote myometrial contraction and labor-associated mechanisms†.

At labor, the myometrium is infiltrated by a massive influx of macrophages that secrete high levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines inducing the expression of specific labor-associated markers. However, the interactions between myocytes and macrophages and the role of macrophages in the myometrium at labor remain to be elucidated. In this work, we studied the role of myometrium-infiltrated macrophages and their interaction with myocytes in lipopolysaccharide-induced preterm labor.

Steroidal glycosides from Ornithogalum dubium Houtt.

The phytochemical study of Ornithogalum dubium Houtt. (Asparagaceae) led to the isolation of five undescribed steroidal glycosides together with two known ones. Their structures were established by using NMR analysis and mass spectrometry as (25R)-3β-hydroxyspirost-5-en-1β-yl O-α-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1 → 2)-α-L-rhamnopyranoside, (25S)-3β-hydroxyspirost-5-en-1β-yl O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 6)-β-D-glucopyranoside, (22S)-16β-[(α-L-rhamnopyranosyl)oxy]-22-hydroxycholest-5-en-3β-yl O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1 → 4)-β-D-glucopyranoside, (22S,23S)-1β,3β,11α,16β,23-pentahydroxy-5α-cholest-24-en-22β-yl β-D-glucopyranoside, (22S,23S)-3β-[(β-D-glucopyranosyl)oxy]-22,23-dihydroxy-5α-cholest-24-en-16β-yl O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl)-(1 → 4)-β-D-glucopyranoside.