Your browser doesn't support javascript.
loading
Show: 20 | 50 | 100
Results 1 - 20 de 1.996
Filter
1.
Med Oncol ; 41(6): 138, 2024 May 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38705935

ABSTRACT

Breast cancer (BC) is associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and obesity. Glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 regulates post-prandial insulin secretion, satiety, and gastric emptying. Several GLP-1 analogs have been FDA-approved for the treatment of T2DM and obesity. Moreover, GLP-1 regulates various metabolic activities across different tissues by activating metabolic signaling pathways like adenosine monophosphate (AMP) activated protein kinase (AMPK), and AKT. Rewiring metabolic pathways is a recognized hallmark of cancer, regulated by several cancer-related pathways, including AKT and AMPK. As GLP-1 regulates AKT and AMPK, we hypothesized that it alters BC cells' metabolism, thus inhibiting proliferation. The effect of the GLP-1 analogs exendin-4 (Ex4) and liraglutide on viability, AMPK signaling and metabolism of BC cell lines were assessed. Viability of BC cells was evaluated using colony formation and MTT/XTT assays. Activation of AMPK and related signaling effects were evaluated using western blot. Metabolism effects were measured for glucose, lactate and ATP. Exendin-4 and liraglutide activated AMPK in a cAMP-dependent manner. Blocking Ex4-induced activation of AMPK by inhibition of AMPK restored cell viability. Interestingly, Ex4 and liraglutide reduced the levels of glycolytic metabolites and decreased ATP production, suggesting that GLP-1 analogs impair glycolysis. Notably, inhibiting AMPK reversed the decline in ATP levels, highlighting the role of AMPK in this process. These results establish a novel signaling pathway for GLP-1 in BC cells through cAMP and AMPK modulation affecting proliferation and metabolism. This study suggests that GLP-1 analogs should be considered for diabetic patients with BC.


Subject(s)
Breast Neoplasms , Exenatide , Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 , Liraglutide , Humans , Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy , Breast Neoplasms/metabolism , Breast Neoplasms/pathology , Exenatide/pharmacology , Female , Liraglutide/pharmacology , Glucagon-Like Peptide 1/metabolism , Glucagon-Like Peptide 1/pharmacology , Glucagon-Like Peptide 1/analogs & derivatives , Cell Line, Tumor , AMP-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism , Signal Transduction/drug effects , Cell Survival/drug effects , Warburg Effect, Oncologic/drug effects , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Venoms/pharmacology , Adenylate Kinase/metabolism , Peptides/pharmacology
2.
Neuropharmacology ; 252: 109946, 2024 Jul 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38599494

ABSTRACT

The spontaneous firing activity of nigral dopaminergic neurons is associated with some important roles including modulation of dopamine release, expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), as well as neuronal survival. The decreased neuroactivity of nigral dopaminergic neurons has been revealed in Parkinson's disease. Central glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) functions as a neurotransmitter or neuromodulator to exert multiple brain functions. Although morphological studies revealed the expression of GLP-1 receptors (GLP-1Rs) in the substantia nigra pars compacta, the possible modulation of GLP-1 on spontaneous firing activity of nigral dopaminergic neurons is unknown. The present extracellular in vivo single unit recordings revealed that GLP-1R agonist exendin-4 significantly increased the spontaneous firing rate and decreased the firing regularity of partial nigral dopaminergic neurons of adult male C57BL/6 mice. Blockade of GLP-1Rs by exendin (9-39) decreased the firing rate of nigral dopaminergic neurons suggesting the involvement of endogenous GLP-1 in the modulation of firing activity. Furthermore, the PKA and the transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) 4/5 channels are involved in activation of GLP-1Rs-induced excitatory effects of nigral dopaminergic neurons. Under parkinsonian state, both the exogenous and endogenous GLP-1 could still induce excitatory effects on the surviving nigral dopaminergic neurons. As the mild excitatory stimuli exert neuroprotective effects on nigral dopaminergic neurons, the present GLP-1-induced excitatory effects may partially contribute to its antiparkinsonian effects.


Subject(s)
Action Potentials , Dopaminergic Neurons , Exenatide , Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 , Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Substantia Nigra , Animals , Male , Dopaminergic Neurons/drug effects , Dopaminergic Neurons/metabolism , Glucagon-Like Peptide 1/metabolism , Glucagon-Like Peptide 1/pharmacology , Exenatide/pharmacology , Substantia Nigra/drug effects , Substantia Nigra/metabolism , Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor/metabolism , Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor/agonists , Action Potentials/drug effects , Action Potentials/physiology , Mice , Venoms/pharmacology , Peptides/pharmacology , Parkinsonian Disorders/metabolism , Parkinsonian Disorders/physiopathology , Peptide Fragments/pharmacology , Cyclic AMP-Dependent Protein Kinases/metabolism
3.
J Vet Med Sci ; 86(5): 555-562, 2024 May 25.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38556323

ABSTRACT

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is an incretin released into the gastrointestinal tract after food ingestion, and stimulates insulin secretion from the beta cells of the pancreatic islets. Incretins have recently been reported to have extrapancreatic actions, and they are anticipated to have potential efficacy for conditions such as male infertility as well as diabetes. However, the effects of incretins on male reproductive function remain unclear. In this study, GLP-1 receptor expression and the effects of GLP-1 on spermatogenesis-associated genes were investigated using mouse testes and testis-derived cultured cell lines. Glp1r mRNA and GLP-1 protein were expressed in mouse testes at levels comparable to or greater than those in positive control adipose tissue, and the liver and intestine, and also in a Sertoli cell line (TM4) and a Leydig cell line (MA-10) as well as the GC-1 spg and GC-2 spd (ts) germ cell lines. TM4 cells treated with the GLP-1 receptor agonist exenatide showed transiently and significantly upregulated Kitl, Pdgfa, and Glp1r mRNA expression. Furthermore, at 1 hr post-exenatide administration to male mice, Kitl and Glp1r mRNA expression levels were significantly increased, and Pdgfa mRNA expression level also showed a tendency toward increase. TM4 cells were treated with various cell-activating agents, and bucladesine elicited significantly increased Glp1r mRNA expression. We suggest that GLP-1 provides acute stimulation of Sertoli cells in the mouse testis and has a stimulatory effect on the expression of spermatogenesis-related genes.


Subject(s)
Exenatide , Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 , Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor , Spermatogenesis , Testis , Animals , Male , Spermatogenesis/drug effects , Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor/genetics , Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor/metabolism , Testis/drug effects , Testis/metabolism , Mice , Exenatide/pharmacology , Cell Line , Glucagon-Like Peptide 1/pharmacology , Glucagon-Like Peptide 1/metabolism , Venoms/pharmacology , Peptides/pharmacology , Sertoli Cells/drug effects , Sertoli Cells/metabolism , Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects , Gene Expression/drug effects , Leydig Cells/drug effects , Leydig Cells/metabolism , Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists
4.
Mol Cancer Ther ; 23(2): 139-147, 2024 Feb 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38015557

ABSTRACT

The regulation of cellular processes by ion channels has become central to the study of cancer mechanisms. Designing molecules that can modify ion channels specific to tumor cells is a promising area of targeted drug delivery and therapy. Despite their potential in drug discovery, venom peptides-a group of natural products-have largely remained understudied and under-characterized. In general, venom peptides display high specificity and selectivity for their target ion channels. Therefore, they may represent an effective strategy for selectively targeting the dysregulation of ion channels in tumor cells. This review examines existing venom peptide therapies for different cancer types and focuses on the application of snail venom peptides in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of primary liver cancer worldwide. We provide insights into the mode of action of venom peptides that have been shown to target tumors. We also explore the benefit of using new computational methods like de novo protein structure prediction to screen venom peptides and identify potential druggable candidates. Finally, we summarize the role of cell culture, animal, and organoid models in developing effective therapies against HCC and highlight the need for creating models that represent the most disproportionately affected ethnicities in HCC.


Subject(s)
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular , Liver Neoplasms , Animals , Venoms/pharmacology , Venoms/therapeutic use , Venoms/chemistry , Liver Neoplasms/drug therapy , Carcinoma, Hepatocellular/drug therapy , Peptides/chemistry , Ion Channels/metabolism
5.
Cell Metab ; 36(1): 130-143.e5, 2024 01 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38113888

ABSTRACT

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) exert anti-inflammatory effects relevant to the chronic complications of type 2 diabetes. Although GLP-1RAs attenuate T cell-mediated gut and systemic inflammation directly through the gut intraepithelial lymphocyte GLP-1R, how GLP-1RAs inhibit systemic inflammation in the absence of widespread immune expression of the GLP-1R remains uncertain. Here, we show that GLP-1R activation attenuates the induction of plasma tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) by multiple Toll-like receptor agonists. These actions are not mediated by hematopoietic or endothelial GLP-1Rs but require central neuronal GLP-1Rs. In a cecal slurry model of polymicrobial sepsis, GLP-1RAs similarly require neuronal GLP-1Rs to attenuate detrimental responses associated with sepsis, including sickness, hypothermia, systemic inflammation, and lung injury. Mechanistically, GLP-1R activation leads to reduced TNF-α via α1-adrenergic, δ-opioid, and κ-opioid receptor signaling. These data extend emerging concepts of brain-immune networks and posit a new gut-brain GLP-1R axis for suppression of peripheral inflammation.


Subject(s)
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 , Sepsis , Humans , Exenatide , Glucagon-Like Peptide 1/metabolism , Peptides/pharmacology , Toll-Like Receptor Agonists , Venoms/pharmacology , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha , Inflammation , Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor/metabolism
6.
Diabetes Obes Metab ; 26(1): 329-338, 2024 Jan.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37818589

ABSTRACT

AIM: The aim of the present study was to assess the long-term therapeutic efficacy of a recently discovered 28 amino acid peptide, Δ-theraphotoxin-Ac1 (Δ-TRTX-Ac1), originally isolated from venom of the Aphonopelma chalcodes tarantula. Δ-TRTX-Ac has previously been shown to improve pancreatic beta-cell function and suppress appetite. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Δ-TRTX-Ac1 was administered twice daily in high-fat fed (HFF) mice with streptozotocin (STZ)-induced insulin deficiency, namely HFF/STZ mice, for 28 days both alone and in combination with the venom-derived glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) mimetic, exenatide. RESULTS: Initial pharmacokinetic profiling of ΔTRTX-Ac1 revealed a plasma half-life of 2 h in mice, with ΔTRTX-Ac1 also evidenced in the pancreas 12 h post-injection. Accordingly, HFF-STZ mice received twice-daily injections of Δ-TRTX-Ac1, exenatide or a combination of both peptides for 28 days. As anticipated, HFF/STZ mice presented with hyperglycaemia, impaired glucose tolerance, decreased plasma and pancreatic insulin and disturbed pancreatic islet morphology. Administration of ΔTRTX-Ac1 reduced body weight, improved glucose tolerance and augmented pancreatic insulin content while decreasing glucagon content. Exenatide had similar benefits on body weight and pancreatic hormone content while also reducing circulating glucose. ΔTRTX-Ac1 decreased energy expenditure on day 28 whereas exenatide had no impact. All treatment regimens restored pancreatic islet and beta-cell area towards lean control levels, which was linked to significantly elevated beta-cell proliferation rates. In terms of benefits of combined ΔTRTX-Ac1 and exenatide treatment over individual agents, there was augmentation of glucose tolerance and ambulatory activity with combination therapy, and these mice presented with increased pancreatic glucagon. CONCLUSION: These data highlight the therapeutic promise of ΔTRTX-Ac1 for diabetes, with suggestion that benefits could be enhanced through combined administration with exenatide.


Subject(s)
Glucagon , Hypoglycemic Agents , Mice , Animals , Exenatide , Glucagon/metabolism , Hypoglycemic Agents/pharmacology , Hypoglycemic Agents/therapeutic use , Blood Glucose/metabolism , Peptides/pharmacology , Peptides/therapeutic use , Insulin/metabolism , Venoms/pharmacology , Venoms/therapeutic use , Glucose , Body Weight
7.
Toxins (Basel) ; 15(7)2023 06 27.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37505687

ABSTRACT

Effective control of diseases transmitted by Aedes aegypti is primarily achieved through vector control by chemical insecticides. However, the emergence of insecticide resistance in A. aegypti undermines current control efforts. Arachnid venoms are rich in toxins with activity against dipteran insects and we therefore employed a panel of 41 spider and 9 scorpion venoms to screen for mosquitocidal toxins. Using an assay-guided fractionation approach, we isolated two peptides from the venom of the tarantula Lasiodora klugi with activity against adult A. aegypti. The isolated peptides were named U-TRTX-Lk1a and U-TRTX-Lk2a and comprised 41 and 49 residues with monoisotopic masses of 4687.02 Da and 5718.88 Da, respectively. U-TRTX-Lk1a exhibited an LD50 of 38.3 pmol/g when injected into A. aegypti and its modeled structure conformed to the inhibitor cystine knot motif. U-TRTX-Lk2a has an LD50 of 45.4 pmol/g against adult A. aegypti and its predicted structure conforms to the disulfide-directed ß-hairpin motif. These spider-venom peptides represent potential leads for the development of novel control agents for A. aegypti.


Subject(s)
Spider Venoms , Venoms , Animals , Venoms/pharmacology , Brazil , Mosquito Vectors , Peptides/pharmacology , Insecta , Spider Venoms/toxicity , Spider Venoms/chemistry
8.
Exp Clin Endocrinol Diabetes ; 131(11): 583-588, 2023 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37524110

ABSTRACT

AIM: This study investigated the effects of insulin glargine and exenatide on the muscle mass of patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). METHODS: We performed a post-hoc analysis of our previously study, a 24-week randomized controlled multicenter clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02303730). Seventy-six patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive insulin glargine or exenatide treatment. The changes in psoas muscle area (PMA) (mm2) were obtained with the cross-sectional Dixonfat magnetic resonance images at the fourth lumber vertebra. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in age, BMI, gender, and PMA in insulin glargine and exenatide groups at baseline. After treatment, PMA tended to increase by 13.13 (-215.52, 280.80) mm2 in the insulin glargine group and decrease by 149.09 (322.90-56.39) mm2 in the exenatide group (both p>0.05). Subgroup analysis showed a 560.64 (77.88, 1043.40) (mm2) increase of PMA in the insulin group relative to the Exenatide group in patients with BMI<28 kg/m2 (p0.031) after adjusting for gender, age, and research center. Interaction analysis showed an interaction between BMI and treatment (p0.009). However, no interaction was observed among subgroups with a BMI≥28 kg/m2 or with different genders and ages. CONCLUSION: Compared to exenatide, insulin glargine can relativity increase PMA in patients with T2DM having BMI<28 kg/m2 and NAFLD.


Subject(s)
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 , Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease , Humans , Female , Male , Insulin Glargine/pharmacology , Exenatide/pharmacology , Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease/drug therapy , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/drug therapy , Cross-Sectional Studies , Muscles , Hypoglycemic Agents/pharmacology , Venoms/pharmacology
9.
Toxins (Basel) ; 15(6)2023 06 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37368676

ABSTRACT

Malaria is an infectious disease caused by Plasmodium spp. and it is mainly transmitted to humans by female mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles. Malaria is an important global public health problem due to its high rates of morbidity and mortality. At present, drug therapies and vector control with insecticides are respectively the most commonly used methods for the treatment and control of malaria. However, several studies have shown the resistance of Plasmodium to drugs that are recommended for the treatment of malaria. In view of this, it is necessary to carry out studies to discover new antimalarial molecules as lead compounds for the development of new medicines. In this sense, in the last few decades, animal venoms have attracted attention as a potential source for new antimalarial molecules. Therefore, the aim of this review was to summarize animal venom toxins with antimalarial activity found in the literature. From this research, 50 isolated substances, 4 venom fractions and 7 venom extracts from animals such as anurans, spiders, scorpions, snakes, and bees were identified. These toxins act as inhibitors at different key points in the biological cycle of Plasmodium and may be important in the context of the resistance of Plasmodium to currently available antimalarial drugs.


Subject(s)
Anopheles , Antimalarials , Malaria , Plasmodium , Toxins, Biological , Female , Humans , Animals , Antimalarials/pharmacology , Antimalarials/therapeutic use , Venoms/pharmacology , Venoms/therapeutic use , Mosquito Vectors , Malaria/drug therapy , Toxins, Biological/therapeutic use , Plasmodium falciparum
10.
Neuropharmacology ; 238: 109637, 2023 11 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37391028

ABSTRACT

Peptide-based drug development for CNS disorders is challenged by poor blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetrability of peptides. While acylation protractions (lipidation) have been successfully applied to increase circulating half-life of therapeutic peptides, little is known about the CNS accessibility of lipidated peptide drugs. Light-sheet fluorescence microscopy (LSFM) has emerged as a powerful method to visualize whole-brain 3D distribution of fluorescently labelled therapeutic peptides at single-cell resolution. Here, we applied LSFM to map CNS distribution of the clinically relevant GLP-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) exendin-4 (Ex4) and lipidated analogues following peripheral administration. Mice received an intravenous dose (100 nmol/kg) of IR800 fluorophore-labelled Ex4 (Ex4), Ex4 acylated with a C16-monoacid (Ex4_C16MA) or C18-diacid (Ex4_C18DA). Other mice were administered C16MA-acylated exendin 9-39 (Ex9-39_C16MA), a selective GLP-1R antagonist, serving as negative control for GLP-1R mediated agonist internalization. Two hours post-dosing, brain distribution of Ex4 and analogues was predominantly restricted to the circumventricular organs, notably area postrema and nucleus of the solitary tract. However, Ex4_C16MA and Ex9-39_C16MA also distributed to the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus and medial habenula. Notably, Ex4_C18DA was detected in deeper-lying brain structures such as dorsomedial/ventromedial hypothalamic nuclei and the dentate gyrus. Similar CNS distribution maps of Ex4_C16MA and Ex9-39_C16MA suggest that brain access of lipidated Ex4 analogues is independent on GLP-1 receptor internalization. The cerebrovasculature was devoid of specific labelling, hence not supporting a direct role of GLP-1 RAs in BBB function. In conclusion, peptide lipidation increases CNS accessibility of Ex4. Our fully automated LSFM pipeline is suitable for mapping whole-brain distribution of fluorescently labelled drugs.


Subject(s)
Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor , Venoms , Mice , Animals , Exenatide , Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor/agonists , Venoms/pharmacology , Venoms/chemistry , Peptides/chemistry , Brain/diagnostic imaging , Brain/metabolism
11.
Cells ; 12(6)2023 03 20.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36980281

ABSTRACT

Improvement of insulin secretion by pancreatic ß-cells and preservation of their mass are the current challenges that future antidiabetic drugs should meet for achieving efficient and long-term glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D). The successful development of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) analogues, derived from the saliva of a lizard from the Helodermatidae family, has provided the proof of concept that antidiabetic drugs directly targeting pancreatic ß-cells can emerge from venomous animals. The literature reporting on the antidiabetic effects of medicinal plants suggests that they contain some promising active substances such as polyphenols and alkaloids, which could be active as insulin secretagogues and ß-cell protectors. In this review, we discuss the potential of several polyphenols, alkaloids and venom peptides from snake, frogs, scorpions and cone snails. These molecules could contribute to the development of new efficient antidiabetic medicines targeting ß-cells, which would tackle the progression of the disease.


Subject(s)
Alkaloids , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 , Animals , Hypoglycemic Agents/pharmacology , Hypoglycemic Agents/therapeutic use , Hypoglycemic Agents/chemistry , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/drug therapy , Polyphenols/pharmacology , Polyphenols/therapeutic use , Venoms/pharmacology , Venoms/therapeutic use , Peptides/pharmacology , Alkaloids/pharmacology , Alkaloids/therapeutic use
12.
Toxins (Basel) ; 15(3)2023 03 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36977102

ABSTRACT

Evolution endowed snakes with the ultimate weapon: venom [...].


Subject(s)
Snake Venoms , Snakes , Animals , Snake Venoms/pharmacology , Venoms/pharmacology
13.
Toxins (Basel) ; 15(2)2023 02 14.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36828473

ABSTRACT

Animal-derived venoms are complex mixtures of toxins triggering important biological effects during envenomings. Although venom-derived toxins are known for their potential of causing harm to victims, toxins can also act as pharmacological agents. During the COVID-19 pandemic, there was observed an increase in in-depth studies on antiviral agents, and since, to date, there has been no completely effective drug against the global disease. This review explores the crosstalk of animal toxins and COVID-19, aiming to map potential therapeutic agents derived from venoms (e.g., bees, snakes, scorpions, etc.) targeting COVID-19.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Venoms , Animals , Humans , Venoms/pharmacology , Pandemics , Snakes , Scorpions
14.
Eur J Nucl Med Mol Imaging ; 50(4): 996-1004, 2023 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36446951

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Exendin, an analogue of the glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP1), is an excellent tracer for molecular imaging of pancreatic beta cells and beta cell-derived tumours. The commonly used form, exendin-4, activates the GLP1 receptor and causes internalisation of the peptide-receptor complex. As a consequence, injection of exendin-4 can lead to adverse effects such as nausea, vomiting and hypoglycaemia and thus requires close monitoring during application. By comparison, the antagonist exendin(9-39) does not activate the receptor, but its lack of internalisation has precluded its use as a tracer. Improving the cellular uptake of exendin(9-39) could turn it into a useful alternative tracer with less side-effects than exendin-4. METHODS: We conjugated exendin-4 and exendin(9-39) to the well-known cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) penetratin. We evaluated cell binding and internalisation of the radiolabelled peptides in vitro and their biodistribution in vivo. RESULTS: Exendin-4 showed internalisation irrespective of the presence of the CPP, whereas for exendin(9-39) only the penetratin conjugate internalised. Conjugation to the CPP also enhanced the in vivo tumour uptake and retention of exendin(9-39). CONCLUSION: We demonstrate that penetratin robustly improves internalisation and tumour retention of exendin(9-39), opening new avenues for antagonist-based in vivo imaging of GLP1R.


Subject(s)
Cell-Penetrating Peptides , Insulinoma , Pancreatic Neoplasms , Humans , Exenatide/metabolism , Cell-Penetrating Peptides/pharmacology , Cell-Penetrating Peptides/metabolism , Tissue Distribution , Insulinoma/metabolism , Pancreatic Neoplasms/diagnostic imaging , Pancreatic Neoplasms/metabolism , Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor/metabolism , Venoms/pharmacology , Venoms/chemistry , Venoms/metabolism
15.
Int J Mol Sci ; 23(23)2022 Dec 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36499761

ABSTRACT

Peptides are potential therapeutic alternatives against global diseases, such as antimicrobial-resistant infections and cancer. Venoms are a rich source of bioactive peptides that have evolved over time to act on specific targets of the prey. Peptides are one of the main components responsible for the biological activity and toxicity of venoms. South American organisms such as scorpions, snakes, and spiders are important producers of a myriad of peptides with different biological activities. In this review, we report the main venom-derived peptide families produced from South American organisms and their corresponding activities and biological targets.


Subject(s)
Neoplasms , Venoms , Animals , Venoms/pharmacology , Venoms/therapeutic use , Scorpions/chemistry , Peptides/pharmacology , Peptides/chemistry , Neoplasms/drug therapy , Drug Resistance, Microbial
16.
Am J Trop Med Hyg ; 107(4): 925-929, 2022 10 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36067984

ABSTRACT

Snakebite is a common occurrence in Hangzhou, and identifying bacteria in wounds is very important for snakebite treatment. To define the pattern of wound bacterial flora of venomous snakebites and their susceptibility to common antibiotics, we reviewed the medical charts of patients admitted with snakebite at Hangzhou TCM Hospital from January 2019 to December 2020. A total of 311 patients were enrolled in this study. Among them, bacteria culture was positive in 40 patients, and 80 organisms were isolated. The most frequent pathogens were Morganella morganii and Staphylococcus aureus. According to the results of susceptibility testing, a majority of the isolates were resistant to some common first-line antibiotics, such as ampicillin, ampicillin/sulbactam, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, cefoxitin, and cephazolin. Quinolones, however, have shown a better antibacterial effect. In conclusion, snakebite wounds involve a wide range of bacteria. Fluoroquinolones, such as levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin, could be an alternative for empirical treatment in patients with snakebite when the effect of other antibiotics is poor.


Subject(s)
Snake Bites , Amoxicillin/pharmacology , Ampicillin/pharmacology , Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Bacteria , Cefazolin/pharmacology , Cefoxitin/pharmacology , Ciprofloxacin/pharmacology , Clavulanic Acid , Fluoroquinolones/pharmacology , Humans , Levofloxacin/pharmacology , Microbial Sensitivity Tests , Snake Bites/drug therapy , Snake Bites/epidemiology , Snake Bites/microbiology , Sulbactam/pharmacology , Venoms/pharmacology
17.
Arch Virol ; 167(9): 1763-1772, 2022 Sep.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35723756

ABSTRACT

Arthropod-borne viruses (arboviruses), such as Zika virus (ZIKV), chikungunya virus (CHIKV), dengue virus (DENV), yellow fever virus (YFV), and West Nile virus (WNV), are pathogens of global importance. Therefore, there has been an increasing need for new drugs for the treatment of these viral infections. In this context, antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) obtained from animal venoms stand out as promising compounds because they exhibit strong antiviral activity against emerging arboviral pathogens. Thus, we systematically searched and critically analyzed in vitro and in vivo studies that evaluated the anti-arbovirus effect of peptide derivatives from toxins produced by vertebrates and invertebrates. Thirteen studies that evaluated the antiviral action of 10 peptides against arboviruses were included in this review. The peptides were derived from the venom of scorpions, spiders, wasps, snakes, sea snails, and frogs and were tested against DENV, ZIKV, YFV, WNV, and CHIKV. Despite the high structural variety of the peptides included in this study, their antiviral activity appears to be associated with the presence of positive charges, an excess of basic amino acids (mainly lysine), and a high isoelectric point (above 8). These peptides use different antiviral mechanisms, the most common of which is the inhibition of viral replication, release, entry, or fusion. Moreover, peptides with virucidal and cytoprotective (pre-treatment) effects were also identified. In conclusion, animal-venom-derived peptides stand out as a promising alternative in the search and development of prototype antivirals against arboviruses.


Subject(s)
Arboviruses , Chikungunya Fever , Chikungunya virus , Dengue , West Nile virus , Zika Virus Infection , Zika Virus , Animals , Antiviral Agents/pharmacology , Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use , Dengue/drug therapy , Peptides/pharmacology , Venoms/pharmacology , Venoms/therapeutic use , Yellow fever virus
18.
J Investig Med ; 70(7): 1529-1535, 2022 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35725020

ABSTRACT

This is a secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) on the effects of the glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists exenatide and insulin aspartate 30 injection on carotid intima-media thickness. Here, we report the renal outcomes of the intervention in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Data from the RCT study was used to evaluate the effect of exenatide or insulin given for 52 weeks on estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) in patients with T2DM. The primary end point was the change in the eGFR from baseline between the exenatide and insulin groups in normal versus overweight patients and patients with obesity. The secondary end point was the correlation between change in eGFR and oxidative stress, glycemic control, and dyslipidemia. There was a significant difference in eGFR between the insulin and exenatide groups at 52 weeks (p=0.0135). Within the insulin group, the eGFR remained below baseline at 52 weeks in all patients, and there was an increase in body weight in the normal group compared with the overweight patients and patients with obesity. The opposite was observed in the exenatide group. A decrease in body weight was prominent in the exenatide group at 52 weeks (p<0.05), the eGFR was below baseline in overweight patients and patients with obesity and significantly above baseline in the normal group (p<0.05). The eGFR was positively correlated to 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanosine in the insulin group (p<0.05) but not the exenatide group. It can be concluded that compared with insulin, exenatide may improve renal function in overweight patients and patients with obesity more than in normal-weight patients with T2DM, but a further RCT is needed to confirm this effect.


Subject(s)
Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 , Insulin , Aspartic Acid/pharmacology , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/complications , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/drug therapy , Exenatide/pharmacology , Exenatide/therapeutic use , Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor , Glycated Hemoglobin , Humans , Hypoglycemic Agents/pharmacology , Hypoglycemic Agents/therapeutic use , Insulin/pharmacology , Insulin/therapeutic use , Kidney/physiology , Obesity/complications , Obesity/drug therapy , Overweight/chemically induced , Overweight/complications , Peptides/pharmacology , Peptides/therapeutic use , Venoms/pharmacology , Venoms/therapeutic use
19.
Int J Mol Sci ; 23(10)2022 May 21.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35628583

ABSTRACT

The transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) ion channel plays an important role in the peripheral nociceptive pathway. TRPV1 is a polymodal receptor that can be activated by multiple types of ligands and painful stimuli, such as noxious heat and protons, and contributes to various acute and chronic pain conditions. Therefore, TRPV1 is emerging as a novel therapeutic target for the treatment of various pain conditions. Notably, various peptides isolated from venomous animals potently and selectively control the activation and inhibition of TRPV1 by binding to its outer pore region. This review will focus on the mechanisms by which venom-derived peptides interact with this portion of TRPV1 to control receptor functions and how these mechanisms can drive the development of new types of analgesics.


Subject(s)
Toxins, Biological , Venoms , Analgesics/pharmacology , Analgesics/therapeutic use , Animals , Drug Development , Pain/drug therapy , Peptides/metabolism , Peptides/pharmacology , Peptides/therapeutic use , TRPV Cation Channels/metabolism , Venoms/pharmacology , Venoms/therapeutic use
20.
Asian Pac J Cancer Prev ; 23(2): 511-517, 2022 Feb 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35225463

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Compounds isolated from marine animals have different pharmacological effects. In this study, we investigated the effects of sea nettle (Chrysaora quinquecirrha) crude venom on human colon cancer mitochondria. METHODS: First, mitochondria were isolated from healthy colon tissue and cancerous colon tissue, and then mitochondrial function (SDH activity), reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) collapse, mitochondrial swelling, and cytochrome c release were measured. RESULTS: The results showed that crude venom of Chrysaora quinquecirrha (180, 360 and 720 µg/ml) can significantly impair mitochondrial function (**P<0.01 and ***P<0.001) and consequently increase the level of ROS (*P<0.05 and ****P<0.0001), collapse in MMP (*P<0.05 and ****P<0.0001), mitochondrial swelling (**** P<0.0001) and release of cytochrome c (* P<0.05 and *** P<0.001) only in mitochondria isolated from human colon cancer tissue. CONCLUSION: The results concluded that crude venom of Chrysaora quinquecirrha (180, 360 and 720 µg/ml) has no side effects on normal mitochondria and only selectively affects cancerous mitochondria. It seems that after further research, Chrysaora quinquecirrha can be considered as a drug candidate for the treatment of patients with colon cancer.


Subject(s)
Antineoplastic Agents/pharmacology , Colorectal Neoplasms/drug therapy , Mitochondria/drug effects , Sea Nettle, East Coast/chemistry , Venoms/pharmacology , Animals , Colon/metabolism , Cytochromes c/metabolism , Humans , Membrane Potential, Mitochondrial/drug effects , Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism , Rectum/metabolism
SELECTION OF CITATIONS
SEARCH DETAIL
...