P. Ghenev, L. Aloe, A. Kisheva, Manjinder Singh, P. Panayotov, M. Fiore, G. Chaldakov
Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease in which exacerbation leads to myocardial infarction, stroke and/or lower limb ischemia. Phenotypic plasticity of artery smooth muscle cells (SMC) that can adapt to changes in the injured arterial microenvironment is a major determinant of atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability. Plaque instability has been associated with the ulceration or rupture of the fibrous cap composed primarily of SMC and collagen and elastin fibers, that covers the lipid core of the plaque. In this scenario, we, together with SMC, Dance round recent advances that have shed light on the relationship between inflammation, fibrosis and plaque vulnerability and stability. Specifically, we have addressed the question of how the secretory (fibrogenic) activity of SMC occurring within the plaque may become a plaque stabilizer (a friend). We describe a new paradigm shift in the cell biology of atherosclerosis that relates the inhibition of SMC matrix secretion and proliferation (the classical way for reducing plaque size) to the stimulation of these processes (the new way aimed at the plaque stabilization by increasing the thickness of its fibrous cap). Briefly, an increased secretion of matrix molecules, particularly collagen and elastin, by SMC could “shift” them from foe to friend in the fight against the vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque. Biomed Rev 2017; 28:134-138. Keywords: atherosclerotic plaque, fibrous cap, smooth muscle cells, macrophages, phenotypic modulation, matrix proteins, inflammation, fibrosis, colchicine
{"title":"Quo Vadis, Atherogenesis? Part 1. Smooth Muscle Cell Secretion – How Foe Becomes Friend in the Fight Against the Atherosclerotic Plaque","authors":"P. Ghenev, L. Aloe, A. Kisheva, Manjinder Singh, P. Panayotov, M. Fiore, G. Chaldakov","doi":"10.14748/BMR.V28.4460","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.14748/BMR.V28.4460","url":null,"abstract":"Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease in which exacerbation leads to myocardial infarction, stroke and/or lower limb ischemia. Phenotypic plasticity of artery smooth muscle cells (SMC) that can adapt to changes in the injured arterial microenvironment is a major determinant of atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability. Plaque instability has been associated with the ulceration or rupture of the fibrous cap composed primarily of SMC and collagen and elastin fibers, that covers the lipid core of the plaque. In this scenario, we, together with SMC, Dance round recent advances that have shed light on the relationship between inflammation, fibrosis and plaque vulnerability and stability. Specifically, we have addressed the question of how the secretory (fibrogenic) activity of SMC occurring within the plaque may become a plaque stabilizer (a friend). We describe a new paradigm shift in the cell biology of atherosclerosis that relates the inhibition of SMC matrix secretion and proliferation (the classical way for reducing plaque size) to the stimulation of these processes (the new way aimed at the plaque stabilization by increasing the thickness of its fibrous cap). Briefly, an increased secretion of matrix molecules, particularly collagen and elastin, by SMC could “shift” them from foe to friend in the fight against the vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque. Biomed Rev 2017; 28:134-138. Keywords: atherosclerotic plaque, fibrous cap, smooth muscle cells, macrophages, phenotypic modulation, matrix proteins, inflammation, fibrosis, colchicine","PeriodicalId":8906,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Reviews","volume":"27 1","pages":"134-138"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"75865975","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
S. M. Ali, Y. Tan, Jegadeesh Raman, Hariprasath Lakshmanan, T. Ling, C. Phan, V. Sabaratnam
Recently, many culinary mushrooms have become attractive sources of biologically but non-pharmacological activities including immune modulating activities. In this study, the fibrinolytic activities of freeze-dried basidiocarps of ten edible mushrooms were determined using a qualitative fibrin plate assay and a quantitative enzyme assay using spectrophotometric method. Further, the crude extracts of all the ten mushrooms were subjected to an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) to recover the fibrinolytic enzymes. The crude extracts and ATPS extracts of Lentinula edodes showed the highest fibrinolytic activity of 48.06 U/mg and 54.28 U/mg, respectively assessed via the Folin-spectrophotometric method. The recovery of fibrinolytic enzymes from L. edodes was the highest and the fibrinolytic enzymes were further analysed through gel electrophoresis study. A 50 kDa sized fibrinolytic enzyme from L. edodes was revealed by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Biomed Rev 2017; 28:91-99. Keywords: edible mushroom, fibrinolytic enzyme, Lentinula edodes, aqueous two-phase system
{"title":"Do Culinary Mushrooms Have Fibrinolytic Activities","authors":"S. M. Ali, Y. Tan, Jegadeesh Raman, Hariprasath Lakshmanan, T. Ling, C. Phan, V. Sabaratnam","doi":"10.14748/BMR.V28.4454","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.14748/BMR.V28.4454","url":null,"abstract":"Recently, many culinary mushrooms have become attractive sources of biologically but non-pharmacological activities including immune modulating activities. In this study, the fibrinolytic activities of freeze-dried basidiocarps of ten edible mushrooms were determined using a qualitative fibrin plate assay and a quantitative enzyme assay using spectrophotometric method. Further, the crude extracts of all the ten mushrooms were subjected to an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) to recover the fibrinolytic enzymes. The crude extracts and ATPS extracts of Lentinula edodes showed the highest fibrinolytic activity of 48.06 U/mg and 54.28 U/mg, respectively assessed via the Folin-spectrophotometric method. The recovery of fibrinolytic enzymes from L. edodes was the highest and the fibrinolytic enzymes were further analysed through gel electrophoresis study. A 50 kDa sized fibrinolytic enzyme from L. edodes was revealed by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). Biomed Rev 2017; 28:91-99. Keywords: edible mushroom, fibrinolytic enzyme, Lentinula edodes, aqueous two-phase system","PeriodicalId":8906,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Reviews","volume":"38 1","pages":"91-99"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-03-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90530866","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
A. Quartini, F. Pacitti, G. Bersani, A. Iannitelli
Schizophrenia is a maldevelopmental disease with multifactorial etiopathogenesis linked to disturbances in the prenatal/ perinatal environment and to social factors and/or addictive drugs consumption during adolescence/young adulthood. Adolescence has been demonstrated to represent a very sensitive period for brain development. Exposure to adverse life events (chronic social isolation and/or instability) and/or addictive drugs (opioids, cocaine, cannabinoids, alcohol, nicotine) during adolescence has been linked to deviations in the normal neurodevelopment, producing a brain particularly at risk of mental diseases. Several psychopharmacological drugs and environmental factors have been reported to protect against the detrimental effect on neurogenesis caused by the aforementioned genetic and/or epigenetic vulnerabilities. Nerve growth factor (NGF) is one of the strongest stimuli of adult/adolescent neurogenesis and a promising neuromodulator to prevent and/or ameliorate the various behavioral and cognitive schizophrenic symptoms. Biomed Rev 2017; 28: 62-69. Key words: schizophrenia, neurodevelopment, adolescence, stem cells, adult neurogenesis, addictive drugs, life events, NGF
{"title":"From Adolescent Neurogenesis to Schizophrenia: Opportunities, Challenges and Promising Interventions","authors":"A. Quartini, F. Pacitti, G. Bersani, A. Iannitelli","doi":"10.14748/BMR.V28.4452","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.14748/BMR.V28.4452","url":null,"abstract":"Schizophrenia is a maldevelopmental disease with multifactorial etiopathogenesis linked to disturbances in the prenatal/ perinatal environment and to social factors and/or addictive drugs consumption during adolescence/young adulthood. Adolescence has been demonstrated to represent a very sensitive period for brain development. Exposure to adverse life events (chronic social isolation and/or instability) and/or addictive drugs (opioids, cocaine, cannabinoids, alcohol, nicotine) during adolescence has been linked to deviations in the normal neurodevelopment, producing a brain particularly at risk of mental diseases. Several psychopharmacological drugs and environmental factors have been reported to protect against the detrimental effect on neurogenesis caused by the aforementioned genetic and/or epigenetic vulnerabilities. Nerve growth factor (NGF) is one of the strongest stimuli of adult/adolescent neurogenesis and a promising neuromodulator to prevent and/or ameliorate the various behavioral and cognitive schizophrenic symptoms. Biomed Rev 2017; 28: 62-69. Key words: schizophrenia, neurodevelopment, adolescence, stem cells, adult neurogenesis, addictive drugs, life events, NGF","PeriodicalId":8906,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Reviews","volume":"26 1","pages":"62-69"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86522772","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
This review offers some clarifying thoughts about the nature and origin of the fetal and adult Leydig cells, supporting the conception that the pericytes (the periendothelial cells) and the smooth muscle cells of the microvasculature, that represent the main omnipresent adult stem cell population of the mammalian organism, are the Leydig cell ancestors. Our attention is specifically dedicated to the numerous contradictions as well as ambiguities concerning the hypotheses that the mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), the neural crest stem cells (NCSCs) and the peritubular myoid stem cells (PMCs) represent the stem ancestors of the Leydig cells. In effect, it becomes evident that the only pluripotent stem cell-like cells in the vertebrate body, including the testis, are the pericytes. The pericytes are derivate of the embryonal epiblast and retain its pluripotency within the microvascular niches where they are disseminated during the embryo- and fetogenesis and are stored as a resting adult stem cell population for tissue generation, maintenance, repair and regeneration. The pluripotency of the epiblast and the pericytes themselves are responsible and explain the neural features of the Leydig cells. Thus, both NCSCs and PMCs are not the ancestors of the pericytes, respectively of the Leydig cells. Biomed Rev 2017; 28: 1-21. Keywords: Leydig cells, origin, microvascular pericytes, smooth muscle cells, Leydig stem cells
{"title":"The Leydig Cells of the Testis Originate from the Microvascular Pericytes","authors":"M. Davidoff","doi":"10.14748/BMR.V28.4448","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.14748/BMR.V28.4448","url":null,"abstract":"This review offers some clarifying thoughts about the nature and origin of the fetal and adult Leydig cells, supporting the conception that the pericytes (the periendothelial cells) and the smooth muscle cells of the microvasculature, that represent the main omnipresent adult stem cell population of the mammalian organism, are the Leydig cell ancestors. Our attention is specifically dedicated to the numerous contradictions as well as ambiguities concerning the hypotheses that the mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs), the neural crest stem cells (NCSCs) and the peritubular myoid stem cells (PMCs) represent the stem ancestors of the Leydig cells. In effect, it becomes evident that the only pluripotent stem cell-like cells in the vertebrate body, including the testis, are the pericytes. The pericytes are derivate of the embryonal epiblast and retain its pluripotency within the microvascular niches where they are disseminated during the embryo- and fetogenesis and are stored as a resting adult stem cell population for tissue generation, maintenance, repair and regeneration. The pluripotency of the epiblast and the pericytes themselves are responsible and explain the neural features of the Leydig cells. Thus, both NCSCs and PMCs are not the ancestors of the pericytes, respectively of the Leydig cells. Biomed Rev 2017; 28: 1-21. Keywords: Leydig cells, origin, microvascular pericytes, smooth muscle cells, Leydig stem cells","PeriodicalId":8906,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Reviews","volume":"19 1","pages":"1-21"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84019021","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Stefania CiafrÃ, Valentina Carito, P. Tirassa, G. Ferraguti, M. L. Attilia, P. Ciolli, M. Messina, M. Ceccanti, M. Fiore
Emerging researches from human and animal models have shown the role of ethanol in innate immune system modulation, particularly in the central nervous system. The activation of receptors of the innate immunity, Toll-like receptors and nucleotide- binding oligomerization domain-like (NOD-like) receptors, triggers the signaling pathways that bring to the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, which, in turn, provokes neuroinflammation and neural damage. The neuroimmune system response to ethanol intake, in specific brain regions such as amygdala, hippocampus and frontal cortex, is involved in addiction and in behavioural deficits observed in alcoholism. In murine models, the knockout for Toll-like or NODlike receptors abolishes most of the effects of ethanol on the immune system and preserves these mice from neural damage, neuroinflammation and alcohol dependence. Molecular targeting of immune system pathways is a new and promising area of research for the discovery of new biomarkers for neuroinflammation and for the development of novel pharmacotherapies in order to treat neurological and behavioural consequences of ethanol addiction. Biomed Rev 2017; 28: 49-61. Keywords: ethanol addiction, neuroinflammation, neuroimmunity, Toll-like receptors, NOD-like receptors, inflammasomes
{"title":"Ethanol Consumption and Innate Neuroimmunity","authors":"Stefania CiafrÃ, Valentina Carito, P. Tirassa, G. Ferraguti, M. L. Attilia, P. Ciolli, M. Messina, M. Ceccanti, M. Fiore","doi":"10.14748/BMR.V28.4451","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.14748/BMR.V28.4451","url":null,"abstract":"Emerging researches from human and animal models have shown the role of ethanol in innate immune system modulation, particularly in the central nervous system. The activation of receptors of the innate immunity, Toll-like receptors and nucleotide- binding oligomerization domain-like (NOD-like) receptors, triggers the signaling pathways that bring to the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, which, in turn, provokes neuroinflammation and neural damage. The neuroimmune system response to ethanol intake, in specific brain regions such as amygdala, hippocampus and frontal cortex, is involved in addiction and in behavioural deficits observed in alcoholism. In murine models, the knockout for Toll-like or NODlike receptors abolishes most of the effects of ethanol on the immune system and preserves these mice from neural damage, neuroinflammation and alcohol dependence. Molecular targeting of immune system pathways is a new and promising area of research for the discovery of new biomarkers for neuroinflammation and for the development of novel pharmacotherapies in order to treat neurological and behavioural consequences of ethanol addiction. Biomed Rev 2017; 28: 49-61. Keywords: ethanol addiction, neuroinflammation, neuroimmunity, Toll-like receptors, NOD-like receptors, inflammasomes","PeriodicalId":8906,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Reviews","volume":"7 1","pages":"49-61"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85379723","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Over the last decades, nutraceuticals and natural products have been the focus of intense research. Ferulic acid, an active phenolic constituent of many plant species with a wide-spectrum of pharmacological properties (e.g. effects against the oxidative stress, thrombosis, diabetes, aging, and neurotoxicity) has attracted a growing interest in the area of biomedical research and clinical practice. Ferulic acid is able to affect a variety of signaling pathways including those of the brain suggesting the influential role of this phytochemical on the neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative processes as well as the neuronal survival and plasticity. However, poor solubility and physiochemical instability may negatively affect the efficiency of this ubiquitous nutraceutical. In recent years, tremendous research efforts in nanotechnology have provided highly advanced drug delivery systems for improved pharmacological profile of the therapeutic agents, targeted drug delivery, controlled release, and reduced side effects. The present review highlights the therapeutic significance of ferulic acid and the research progress regarding the development of ferulic acid-based nanoformulations. Biomed Rev 2017; 28: 22-30. Keywords: nanotechnology, nutraceuticals, phenolic compound, phytochemical, drug delivery
{"title":"Nanoencapsulation: A Promising Strategy for Biomedical Applications of Ferulic Acid","authors":"P. Hassanzadeh, F. Atyabi, R. Dinarvand","doi":"10.14748/BMR.V28.4449","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.14748/BMR.V28.4449","url":null,"abstract":"Over the last decades, nutraceuticals and natural products have been the focus of intense research. Ferulic acid, an active phenolic constituent of many plant species with a wide-spectrum of pharmacological properties (e.g. effects against the oxidative stress, thrombosis, diabetes, aging, and neurotoxicity) has attracted a growing interest in the area of biomedical research and clinical practice. Ferulic acid is able to affect a variety of signaling pathways including those of the brain suggesting the influential role of this phytochemical on the neuroinflammatory and neurodegenerative processes as well as the neuronal survival and plasticity. However, poor solubility and physiochemical instability may negatively affect the efficiency of this ubiquitous nutraceutical. In recent years, tremendous research efforts in nanotechnology have provided highly advanced drug delivery systems for improved pharmacological profile of the therapeutic agents, targeted drug delivery, controlled release, and reduced side effects. The present review highlights the therapeutic significance of ferulic acid and the research progress regarding the development of ferulic acid-based nanoformulations. Biomed Rev 2017; 28: 22-30. Keywords: nanotechnology, nutraceuticals, phenolic compound, phytochemical, drug delivery","PeriodicalId":8906,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Reviews","volume":"99 1","pages":"22-30"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90819302","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
M. Zhelyazkova-Savova, S. Gancheva, B. Galunska, D. Gerova
There is an exciting research expansion on the novel roles of vitamin K in the last decades. Subclinical deficiency in vitamin K is believed to be widely spread, possibly contributing to age-related diseases. The present review is focused on the effects of vitamin K on the skeleton and blood vessels, where it could be potentially useful in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and vascular calcification, both having a significant health impact in the society. The types (K1 and K2), nature and sources of vitamin K are reviewed as well as the mechanisms of action underlying their effects. Gamma-glutamic carboxylation of several vitamin K dependent proteins (VKDP), including clotting factors, is the primary mode of action of vitamin K, lead-ing to activation of proteins with specific functions. Priority was given to those VKDP that are involved in maintaining bone and vascular health. Other recently identified cellular transduction pathways through which vitamin K acts are also outlined. Experimental in vivo data confirming the expected beneficial effects of vitamin K on bones and blood vessels have paved the way for clinical studies. So far, the evidence from clinical experience with vitamin K supplementation is promising, but still insufficient to recommend routine use of vitamin K as a preventive agent. Several prospective randomized controlled clinical studies currently in progress are expected to give more clear-cut results allowing the routine use of vitamin K as a reliable, cheap and safe medication in the prevention of bone loss and vascular calcification. Biomed Rev 2017; 28: 70-90 Keywords: vitamin K, osteocalcin, matrix Gla-protein, osteoporosis, vascular calcification
{"title":"Vitamin K: The New Faces of an Old Friend - a Role in Bone and Vascular Health","authors":"M. Zhelyazkova-Savova, S. Gancheva, B. Galunska, D. Gerova","doi":"10.14748/BMR.V28.4453","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.14748/BMR.V28.4453","url":null,"abstract":"There is an exciting research expansion on the novel roles of vitamin K in the last decades. Subclinical deficiency in vitamin K is believed to be widely spread, possibly contributing to age-related diseases. The present review is focused on the effects of vitamin K on the skeleton and blood vessels, where it could be potentially useful in the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis and vascular calcification, both having a significant health impact in the society. The types (K1 and K2), nature and sources of vitamin K are reviewed as well as the mechanisms of action underlying their effects. Gamma-glutamic carboxylation of several vitamin K dependent proteins (VKDP), including clotting factors, is the primary mode of action of vitamin K, lead-ing to activation of proteins with specific functions. Priority was given to those VKDP that are involved in maintaining bone and vascular health. Other recently identified cellular transduction pathways through which vitamin K acts are also outlined. Experimental in vivo data confirming the expected beneficial effects of vitamin K on bones and blood vessels have paved the way for clinical studies. So far, the evidence from clinical experience with vitamin K supplementation is promising, but still insufficient to recommend routine use of vitamin K as a preventive agent. Several prospective randomized controlled clinical studies currently in progress are expected to give more clear-cut results allowing the routine use of vitamin K as a reliable, cheap and safe medication in the prevention of bone loss and vascular calcification. Biomed Rev 2017; 28: 70-90 Keywords: vitamin K, osteocalcin, matrix Gla-protein, osteoporosis, vascular calcification","PeriodicalId":8906,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Reviews","volume":"22 1","pages":"70-90"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2018-03-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89764890","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Understanding and defining health is an important yet fuzzy topic. Despite several attempts, health is not a well-defined concept, therefore we seek to understand health from the perspective of the microbiome. Gut microbiota are an essential component in the modern concept of human health. However, the precise patterns of composition and functional characteristics of a healthy gut microbiome remain ill-defined. Microbial colonization patterns associated with disease states have been documented with the advancement of sequencing technologies. Several prebiotics and probiotics have been reported to restore the normal gut flora after being disrupted by various factors. Fecal microbial transplantation from healthy individuals into recipients suffering from diseases related to gut dysbiosis has also been reported to be effective in restoring the normal makeup of gut microbiota, as shown by its efficacy in treating Clostridium difficile infection, colitis, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, and neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson`s disease. In this review we attempt to define the parameters of healthy human gut flora and its disruption in diseased conditions, and restoration through administration of prebiotics, probiotics, and fecal microbial transplantation.
{"title":"Gut Microbiota and Health: A Review With Focus on Metabolic and Immunological Disorders and Microbial Remediation","authors":"Biswaranjan Pradhan, David Datzkiw, P. Aich","doi":"10.14748/BMR.V27.2108","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.14748/BMR.V27.2108","url":null,"abstract":"Understanding and defining health is an important yet fuzzy topic. Despite several attempts, health is not a well-defined concept, therefore we seek to understand health from the perspective of the microbiome. Gut microbiota are an essential component in the modern concept of human health. However, the precise patterns of composition and functional characteristics of a healthy gut microbiome remain ill-defined. Microbial colonization patterns associated with disease states have been documented with the advancement of sequencing technologies. Several prebiotics and probiotics have been reported to restore the normal gut flora after being disrupted by various factors. Fecal microbial transplantation from healthy individuals into recipients suffering from diseases related to gut dysbiosis has also been reported to be effective in restoring the normal makeup of gut microbiota, as shown by its efficacy in treating Clostridium difficile infection, colitis, constipation, irritable bowel syndrome, and neurological conditions such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson`s disease. In this review we attempt to define the parameters of healthy human gut flora and its disruption in diseased conditions, and restoration through administration of prebiotics, probiotics, and fecal microbial transplantation.","PeriodicalId":8906,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Reviews","volume":"20 1","pages":"1-18"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90506320","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Carbon nanotubes, the nanostructures with immense potential in various scientific fields such as the regenerative medicine, have emerged as innovative nanosreservoirs with multimodal functionality and application in theranostic sessions. The superior mechanical properties, high thermoelectrical conductivities, or improved solubility and biocompatibility have made CNTs as suitable candidates for biosensing, high-resolution imaging, tissue-engineering, and delivery of a variety of compounds with poor solubility or short half-life. These advanced nanovectors which promote neuronal growth and functional connectivity, have shown great theranostic potential in the central nervous system disorders. Several pioneering works have shown the ability of CNTs for controlled release of drugs or growth factors into the brain. Over the last decade the neurotropic and metabotrophic effects of nerve-growth factor, brain-derived neurothropic factor and endocannabinoid system and their involvement in the mechanism of action of a wide variety of drugs have been the focus of intense research. In order to overcome the rapid degradation and/or non-specific distribution of nerve-growth factor or endocanabinoids, conjugation with CNTs has led to the prolonged effects of these modulating factors. Based on their unique properties, the appropriate application of functionalized CNTs may indeed revolutionize the current biomedical interventions that has been highlighted in the present review.
{"title":"Application of Carbon Nanotubes for Controlled Release of Growth Factors or Endocannabinoids: A Breakthrough in Biomedicine","authors":"P. Hassanzadeh, F. Atyabi, R. Dinarvand","doi":"10.14748/BMR.V27.2105","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.14748/BMR.V27.2105","url":null,"abstract":"Carbon nanotubes, the nanostructures with immense potential in various scientific fields such as the regenerative medicine, have emerged as innovative nanosreservoirs with multimodal functionality and application in theranostic sessions. The superior mechanical properties, high thermoelectrical conductivities, or improved solubility and biocompatibility have made CNTs as suitable candidates for biosensing, high-resolution imaging, tissue-engineering, and delivery of a variety of compounds with poor solubility or short half-life. These advanced nanovectors which promote neuronal growth and functional connectivity, have shown great theranostic potential in the central nervous system disorders. Several pioneering works have shown the ability of CNTs for controlled release of drugs or growth factors into the brain. Over the last decade the neurotropic and metabotrophic effects of nerve-growth factor, brain-derived neurothropic factor and endocannabinoid system and their involvement in the mechanism of action of a wide variety of drugs have been the focus of intense research. In order to overcome the rapid degradation and/or non-specific distribution of nerve-growth factor or endocanabinoids, conjugation with CNTs has led to the prolonged effects of these modulating factors. Based on their unique properties, the appropriate application of functionalized CNTs may indeed revolutionize the current biomedical interventions that has been highlighted in the present review.","PeriodicalId":8906,"journal":{"name":"Biomedical Reviews","volume":"1 1","pages":"41-50"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2017-03-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"89774366","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
S. Yanev, M. Fiore, A. Hinev, P. Ghenev, M. Hristova, P. Panayotov, A. Tonchev, N. Evtimov, L. Aloe, G. Chaldakov
Microtubules (MT) are dynamically instable, assembling and disassembling structures of the cell. Tubulin, the major building protein of MT, is a heterodimer consisting of α and ẞ subunits. Agents that bind to tubulin and inhibit its assembly lead to the inhibition of MT formation. Such tubulin-binding agents are usually termed MT-disassembling agents or antitubulins. Endocytosis, matrix protein secretion, cell division, cell migration and inflammation are examples of MT-dependent processes. Their dysfunction, in particular in arterial smooth muscle cells (ASMC), is critically involved in atherogenesis. Here we Dance round (i) MT-based secretory pathway in ASMC and, in turn, antitubulins for atherosclerosis therapy, and (ii) the neurotrophins, particularly nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and their receptors Trk (tyrosine receptor kinase; pronounced “track”), introducing the term trackins – Trk-targeting agents (TTA) that influence positively (agonistically) or negatively (antagonistically) the activity of TrkA receptor for NGF and/or TrkB receptor for BDNF. We propose that some trackins and their native ligands may have therapeutic potentials for cardiometabolic, neuropsychiatric, oncologic and other diseases. Finally the interaction of MT-tubulin and neurotrophin Trk receptors is outlined.
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