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Full-Text Articles in Medical Pharmacology

Cd133-Dependent Activation Of Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase /Akt/Mammalian Target Of Rapamycin Signaling In Melanoma Progression And Drug Resistance, Naji Kharouf, Thomas W. Flanagan, Abdulhadi A. Alamodi, Youssef Al Hmada, Sofie Yasmin Hassan, Hosam Shalaby, Simeon Santourlidis, Sarah Lilly Hassan, Youssef Haikel, Mossad Megahed, Robert T. Brodell, Mohamed Hassan Jan 2024

Cd133-Dependent Activation Of Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase /Akt/Mammalian Target Of Rapamycin Signaling In Melanoma Progression And Drug Resistance, Naji Kharouf, Thomas W. Flanagan, Abdulhadi A. Alamodi, Youssef Al Hmada, Sofie Yasmin Hassan, Hosam Shalaby, Simeon Santourlidis, Sarah Lilly Hassan, Youssef Haikel, Mossad Megahed, Robert T. Brodell, Mohamed Hassan

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Melanoma frequently harbors genetic alterations in key molecules leading to the aberrant activation of PI3K and its downstream pathways. Although the role of PI3K/AKT/mTOR in melanoma progression and drug resistance is well documented, targeting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway showed less efficiency in clinical trials than might have been expected, since the suppression of the PI3K/mTOR signaling pathway-induced feedback loops is mostly associated with the activation of compensatory pathways such as MAPK/MEK/ERK. Consequently, the development of intrinsic and acquired resistance can occur. As a solid tumor, melanoma is notorious for its heterogeneity. This can be expressed in the form of genetically divergent …


Sex-Specific Negative Affect-Like Behaviour And Parabrachial Nucleus Activation Induced By Bnst Stimulation In Adult Mice With Adolescent Alcohol History, Lucas Albrechet-Souza, Chelsea R. Kasten, Natalia B. Bertagna, Tiffany A. Wills Jan 2024

Sex-Specific Negative Affect-Like Behaviour And Parabrachial Nucleus Activation Induced By Bnst Stimulation In Adult Mice With Adolescent Alcohol History, Lucas Albrechet-Souza, Chelsea R. Kasten, Natalia B. Bertagna, Tiffany A. Wills

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Adolescent alcohol use is a strong predictor for the subsequent development of alcohol use disorders later in life. Additionally, adolescence is a critical period for the onset of affective disorders, which can contribute to problematic drinking behaviours and relapse, particularly in females. Previous studies from our laboratory have shown that exposure to adolescent intermittent ethanol (AIE) vapour alters glutamatergic transmission in the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (BNST) and, when combined with adult stress, elicits sex-specific changes in glutamatergic plasticity and negative affect-like behaviours in mice. Building on these findings, the current work investigated whether BNST stimulation could substitute …


Mechanisms Of Melanoma Progression And Treatment Resistance: Role Of Cancer Stem-Like Cells, Youssef Al Hmada, Robert T. Brodell, Naji Kharouf, Thomas W. Flanagan, Abdulhadi A. Alamodi, Sofie Yasmin Hassan, Hosam Shalaby, Sarah Lilly Hassan, Youssef Haikel, Mosaad Megahed, Simeon Santourlidis, Mohamed Hassan Jan 2024

Mechanisms Of Melanoma Progression And Treatment Resistance: Role Of Cancer Stem-Like Cells, Youssef Al Hmada, Robert T. Brodell, Naji Kharouf, Thomas W. Flanagan, Abdulhadi A. Alamodi, Sofie Yasmin Hassan, Hosam Shalaby, Sarah Lilly Hassan, Youssef Haikel, Mosaad Megahed, Simeon Santourlidis, Mohamed Hassan

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Melanoma is the third most common type of skin cancer, characterized by its heterogeneity and propensity to metastasize to distant organs. Melanoma is a heterogeneous tumor, composed of genetically divergent subpopulations, including a small fraction of melanoma-initiating cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) and many non-cancer stem cells (non-CSCs). CSCs are characterized by their unique surface proteins associated with aberrant signaling pathways with a causal or consequential relationship with tumor progression, drug resistance, and recurrence. Melanomas also harbor significant alterations in functional genes (BRAF, CDKN2A, NRAS, TP53, and NF1). Of these, the most common are the BRAF and NRAS oncogenes, with 50% …


Interplay Between Acetylation And Ubiquitination Of Imitation Switch Chromatin Remodeler Isw1 Confers Multidrug Resistance In Cryptococcus Neoformans, Yang Meng, Yue Ni, Zhuoran Li, Tianhang Jiang, Tianshu Sun, Yanjian Li, Xindi Gao, Hailong Li, Chenhao Suo, Chao Li, Sheng Yang, Tian Lan, Guojian Liao, Tongbao Liu, Ping Wang, Chen Ding Jan 2024

Interplay Between Acetylation And Ubiquitination Of Imitation Switch Chromatin Remodeler Isw1 Confers Multidrug Resistance In Cryptococcus Neoformans, Yang Meng, Yue Ni, Zhuoran Li, Tianhang Jiang, Tianshu Sun, Yanjian Li, Xindi Gao, Hailong Li, Chenhao Suo, Chao Li, Sheng Yang, Tian Lan, Guojian Liao, Tongbao Liu, Ping Wang, Chen Ding

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Cryptococcus neoformans poses a threat to human health, but anticryptococcal therapy is hampered by the emergence of drug resistance, whose underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Herein, we discovered that Isw1, an imitation switch chromatin remodeling ATPase, functions as a master modulator of genes responsible for in vivo and in vitro multidrug resistance in C. neoformans. Cells with the disrupted ISW1 gene exhibited profound resistance to multiple antifungal drugs. Mass spectrometry analysis revealed that Isw1 is both acetylated and ubiquitinated, suggesting that an interplay between these two modification events exists to govern Isw1 function. Mutagenesis studies of acetylation and ubiquitination sites …


Stable, Neuron-Specific Gene Expression In The Mouse Brain, Osama Ahmed, Kingsley M. Ekumi, Francesco V. Nardi, Gulimiheranmu Maisumu, Khaled Moussawi, Eric D. Lazartigues, Bo Liang, Abraam M. Yakoub Jan 2024

Stable, Neuron-Specific Gene Expression In The Mouse Brain, Osama Ahmed, Kingsley M. Ekumi, Francesco V. Nardi, Gulimiheranmu Maisumu, Khaled Moussawi, Eric D. Lazartigues, Bo Liang, Abraam M. Yakoub

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Gene delivery to, and expression in, the mouse brain is important for understanding gene functions in brain development and disease, or testing gene therapies. Here, we describe an approach to express a transgene in the mouse brain in a cell-type-specific manner. We use stereotaxic injection of a transgene-expressing adeno-associated virus into the mouse brain via the intracerebroventricular route. We demonstrate stable and sustained expression of the transgene in neurons of adult mouse brain, using a reporter gene driven by a neuron-specific promoter. This approach represents a rapid, simple, and cost-effective method for global gene expression in the mouse brain, in …


The Effects Of Physical Activity On Experimental Models Of Vascular Dementia; A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Ifechukwude J. Biose, Wesley H. Chastain, Rebecca J. Solch-Ottaiano, Viktoriya S. Grayson, Hanyun Wang, Somdeb Banerjee, Gregory J. Bix Jan 2024

The Effects Of Physical Activity On Experimental Models Of Vascular Dementia; A Systematic Review And Meta-Analysis, Ifechukwude J. Biose, Wesley H. Chastain, Rebecca J. Solch-Ottaiano, Viktoriya S. Grayson, Hanyun Wang, Somdeb Banerjee, Gregory J. Bix

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background; Physical activity is associated with improved brain health and cognition in humans. However, the validity, range, and quality of evidence for the beneficial outcomes linked to exercise in experimental models of vascular dementia (VaD) have not been evaluated. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies that assessed the effect of exercise intervention on models of VaD to provide an unbiased and comprehensive determination of the cognitive function and brain morphology benefits of exercise. Summary; A systematic search in three databases as well as study design characteristics and experimental data extraction were completed in December 2021. We investigated …


Maternal Western Diet Programs Cardiometabolic Dysfunction And Hypothalamic Inflammation Via Epigenetic Mechanisms Predominantly In The Male Offspring, Mona Elgazzaz, Clara Berdasco, Jone Garai, Melody Baddoo, Shiping Lu, Hisham Daoud, Jovanny Zabaleta, Franck Mauvais-Jarvis, Eric Lazartigues Dec 2023

Maternal Western Diet Programs Cardiometabolic Dysfunction And Hypothalamic Inflammation Via Epigenetic Mechanisms Predominantly In The Male Offspring, Mona Elgazzaz, Clara Berdasco, Jone Garai, Melody Baddoo, Shiping Lu, Hisham Daoud, Jovanny Zabaleta, Franck Mauvais-Jarvis, Eric Lazartigues

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Objective; Maternal exposure during pregnancy is a strong determinant of offspring health outcomes. Such exposure induces changes in the offspring epigenome resulting in gene expression and functional changes. In this study, we investigated the effect of maternal Western hypercaloric diet (HCD) programming during the perinatal period on neuronal plasticity and cardiometabolic health in adult offspring. Methods; C57BL/6J dams were fed HCD for 1 month prior to mating with regular diet (RD) sires and kept on the same diet throughout pregnancy and lactation. At weaning, offspring were maintained on either HCD or RD for 3 months resulting in 4 treatment groups …


Topiramate (Topamax): Evolving Role In Weight Reduction Management: A Narrative Review, Irza Wajid, Alexis Vega, Katherine Thornhill, Jack Jenkins, Chandler Merriman, Debbie Chandler, Sahar Shekoohi, Elyse M. Cornett, Alan D. Kaye Aug 2023

Topiramate (Topamax): Evolving Role In Weight Reduction Management: A Narrative Review, Irza Wajid, Alexis Vega, Katherine Thornhill, Jack Jenkins, Chandler Merriman, Debbie Chandler, Sahar Shekoohi, Elyse M. Cornett, Alan D. Kaye

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Obesity has emerged as a widespread disease with epidemic proportions, necessitating effective management to enhance the overall health outcomes of patients. Medical intervention for weight loss becomes necessary when diet and exercise prove ineffective, and topiramate emerges as a potential treatment option for this global problem. Currently approved as an anti-epileptic and migraine prophylaxis medication, topiramate is frequently utilized as adjunctive therapy for patients with mood and eating disorders, as well as for alcohol use disorders. Its multifaceted mechanisms of action contribute to reducing neuronal excitation and enhancing neuronal inhibition. Given its variety of mechanisms, topiramate shows several off-label outcomes, …


Her3-Targeted Therapeutic Antibodies And Antibody–Drug Conjugates In Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Refractory To Egfr-Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors, Margaret E. Larsen, Hui Lyu, Bolin Liu Jun 2023

Her3-Targeted Therapeutic Antibodies And Antibody–Drug Conjugates In Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Refractory To Egfr-Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors, Margaret E. Larsen, Hui Lyu, Bolin Liu

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 3 (HER3) is a unique member of the human epidermal growth factor receptor (HER/EGFR) family, since it has negligible kinase activity. Therefore, HER3 must interact with a kinase-proficient receptor to form a heterodimer, leading to the activation of signaling cascades. Overexpression of HER3 is observed in various human cancers, including non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and correlates with poor clinical outcomes in patients. Studies on the underlying mechanism demonstrate that HER3-initiated signaling promotes tumor metastasis and causes treatment failure in human cancers. Upregulation of HER3 is frequently observed in EGFR-mutant NSCLC treated with EGFR-tyrosine kinase …


Preclinical Perspectives On The Mechanisms Underlying The Therapeutic Actions Of Psilocybin In Psychiatric Disorders, Andreas B. Wulff, Charles D. Nichols, Scott M. Thompson Mar 2023

Preclinical Perspectives On The Mechanisms Underlying The Therapeutic Actions Of Psilocybin In Psychiatric Disorders, Andreas B. Wulff, Charles D. Nichols, Scott M. Thompson

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Psychedelic compounds have shown extraordinary potential in treating a wide range of neuropsychiatric disorders. Psilocybin, for example, has now been shown in several clinical trials to induce a rapid (within days) and persistent (3–12 months) improvement in human treatment-resistant depression and other neuropsychiatric conditions. Here we review the preclinical models and experimental approaches that have been used to study the neurobiological actions of psychedelic drugs. We further summarize the insights these studies have provided into the possible mechanisms underlying the induction of their therapeutic actions, including the receptors to which psychedelics bind and the second messenger signaling cascades that they …


Induction Of Antimicrobial Protein S100a15 Expression By Oral Microbial Pathogens Is Toll-Like Receptors-Dependent Activation Of C-Jun-N-Terminal Kinase (Jnk), P38, And Nf-Κb Pathways, Denis Selimovic, Naji Kharouf, Florence Carrouel, Sofie Yasmin Hassan, Thomas W. Flanagan, Sarah Lilly Hassan, Mosaad Megahed, Youssef Haikel, Simeon Santourlidis, Mohamed Hassan Mar 2023

Induction Of Antimicrobial Protein S100a15 Expression By Oral Microbial Pathogens Is Toll-Like Receptors-Dependent Activation Of C-Jun-N-Terminal Kinase (Jnk), P38, And Nf-Κb Pathways, Denis Selimovic, Naji Kharouf, Florence Carrouel, Sofie Yasmin Hassan, Thomas W. Flanagan, Sarah Lilly Hassan, Mosaad Megahed, Youssef Haikel, Simeon Santourlidis, Mohamed Hassan

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

The antimicrobial protein S100A15 belongs to the S100 family, which is differentially expressed in a variety of normal and pathological tissues. Although the function of S100A15 protein has been discussed in several studies, its induction and regulation in oral mucosa, so far, are largely unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that S100A15 is induced by the stimulation of oral mucosa with gram− or gram+ bacterial pathogens, as well as with the purified membrane components, namely lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and lipoteichoic acid (LTA). The stimulation of the human gingival fibroblast (GF) and the human mouth epidermal carcinoma (KB) cell lines with either …


New Synthetic Opioids: Clinical Considerations And Dangers, Amber Edinoff, David Martinez Garza, Stephen Vining, Megan Vasterling, Eric Jackson, Kevin Murnane, Adam Kaye, Richard Fair, Yair Jose Lopez Torres, Ahmed Badr, Elyse Cornett, Alan Kaye Feb 2023

New Synthetic Opioids: Clinical Considerations And Dangers, Amber Edinoff, David Martinez Garza, Stephen Vining, Megan Vasterling, Eric Jackson, Kevin Murnane, Adam Kaye, Richard Fair, Yair Jose Lopez Torres, Ahmed Badr, Elyse Cornett, Alan Kaye

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Since the early 2010s, synthetic opioids have significantly contributed to overall opioid-related overdose mortalities. For point of reference, of the 68,630 opioid-related deaths recorded in 2020, 56,516 involved synthetic opioids. During much of this period, fentanyl has been the most commonly used synthetic opioid. This time when fentanyl was the most popular opioid has been called the “third wave” of the opioid crisis, partly because it led to a sharp rise in deaths from overdoses. Other synthetic opioids, such as carfentanil, protonitazene, and isotonitazene, have also become more widely diverted for nonmedical used. Carfentanil is an even more potent fentanyl …


H2s, Sg-1002, Protects Against Myocardial Oxidative Damage And Hypertrophy In Vitro Via Induction Of Cystathionine Β-Synthase And Antioxidant Proteins, Rahib K. Islam, Erinn Donnelly, Erminia Donnarumma, Fokhrul Hossain, Jason D. Gardner, Kazi N. Islam Feb 2023

H2s, Sg-1002, Protects Against Myocardial Oxidative Damage And Hypertrophy In Vitro Via Induction Of Cystathionine Β-Synthase And Antioxidant Proteins, Rahib K. Islam, Erinn Donnelly, Erminia Donnarumma, Fokhrul Hossain, Jason D. Gardner, Kazi N. Islam

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Endogenously produced hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is critical for cardiovascular homeostasis. Therapeutic strategies aimed at increasing H2S levels have proven cardioprotective in models of acute myocardial infarction (MI) and heart failure (HF). The present study was undertaken to investigate the effects of a novel H2S prodrug, SG-1002, on stress induced hypertrophic signaling in murine HL-1 cardiac muscle cells. Treatment of HL-1 cells with SG-1002 under serum starvation without or with H2O2 increased the levels of H2S, H2S producing enzyme, and cystathionine β-synthase (CBS), as well as antioxidant protein levels, such as super oxide dismutase1 (SOD1) and catalase, and additionally decreased oxidative …


Conditioned Place Avoidance Is Associated With A Distinct Hippocampal Phenotype, Partly Preserved Pattern Separation, And Reduced Reactive Oxygen Species Production After Stress, D. Parker Kelley, Lucas Albrechet-Souza, Shealan Cruise, Rajani Maiya, Aspasia Destouni, Siva S.V.P. Sakamuri, Alexander Duplooy, Meghan Hibicke, Charles Nichols, Prasad V.G. Katakam, Nicholas W. Gilpin, Joseph Francis Feb 2023

Conditioned Place Avoidance Is Associated With A Distinct Hippocampal Phenotype, Partly Preserved Pattern Separation, And Reduced Reactive Oxygen Species Production After Stress, D. Parker Kelley, Lucas Albrechet-Souza, Shealan Cruise, Rajani Maiya, Aspasia Destouni, Siva S.V.P. Sakamuri, Alexander Duplooy, Meghan Hibicke, Charles Nichols, Prasad V.G. Katakam, Nicholas W. Gilpin, Joseph Francis

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Stress is associated with contextual memory deficits, which may mediate avoidance of trauma-associated contexts in posttraumatic stress disorder. These deficits may emerge from impaired pattern separation, the independent representation of similar experiences by the dentate gyrus-Cornu Ammonis 3 (DG-CA3) circuit of the dorsal hippocampus, which allows for appropriate behavioral responses to specific environmental stimuli. Neurogenesis in the DG is controlled by mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and may contribute to pattern separation. In Experiment 1, we performed RNA sequencing of the dorsal hippocampus 16 days after stress in rats that either develop conditioned place avoidance to a predator urine-associated …


Combination Sodium Nitrite And Hydralazine Therapy Attenuates Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction Severity In A “2-Hit” Murine Model, Kyle B. Lapenna, Zhen Li, Jake E. Doiron, Thomas E. Sharp, Huijing Xia, Karl Moles, Kashyap Koul, John S. Wang, David J. Polhemus, Traci T. Goodchild, Ravi B. Patel, Sanjiv J. Shah, David J. Lefer Feb 2023

Combination Sodium Nitrite And Hydralazine Therapy Attenuates Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction Severity In A “2-Hit” Murine Model, Kyle B. Lapenna, Zhen Li, Jake E. Doiron, Thomas E. Sharp, Huijing Xia, Karl Moles, Kashyap Koul, John S. Wang, David J. Polhemus, Traci T. Goodchild, Ravi B. Patel, Sanjiv J. Shah, David J. Lefer

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have suggested that cardiac nitrosative stress mediated by pathological overproduction of nitric oxide (NO) via inducible NO synthase (iNOS) contributes to the pathogenesis of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Other studies have suggested that endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) dysfunction and attenuated NO bioavailability contribute to HFpEF morbidity and mortality. We sought to further investigate dysregulated NO signaling and to examine the effects of a NO-based dual therapy (sodium nitrite+hydralazine) following the onset of HFpEF using a “2-hit” murine model. METHODS AND RESULTS: Nine-week-old male C57BL/6 N mice (n=15 per group) were treated concurrently with high-fat …


Active And Passive Immunization With An Anti-Methamphetamine Vaccine Attenuates The Behavioral And Cardiovascular Effects Of Methamphetamine, Colin N. Haile, Kurt J. Varner, Xia Huijing, Reetakshi Arora, Frank M. Orson, Thomas R. Kosten, Therese A. Kosten Sep 2022

Active And Passive Immunization With An Anti-Methamphetamine Vaccine Attenuates The Behavioral And Cardiovascular Effects Of Methamphetamine, Colin N. Haile, Kurt J. Varner, Xia Huijing, Reetakshi Arora, Frank M. Orson, Thomas R. Kosten, Therese A. Kosten

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Background: Methamphetamine use disorder (MUD) is a growing health concern with no FDA-approved treatment. The present series of studies build upon our previous work developing an anti-methamphetamine (MA) vaccine for MUD. We determined the effects of a formulation that included tetanus-toxoid (TT) conjugated to succinyl-methamphetamine (TT-SMA) adsorbed onto aluminum hydroxide (alum) in combination with the novel Toll-Like Receptor-5 agonist, entolimod. Methods: Mice were vaccinated (0, 3, 6 weeks) with TT-SMA+alum and various doses of entolimod to determine an optimal dose for enhancing immunogenicity against MA. Functional effects were then assessed using MA-induced locomotor activation in mice. Experiments using passive immunization …


Novel Designer Benzodiazepines: Comprehensive Review Of Evolving Clinical And Adverse Effects, Amber N. Edinoff, Catherine A. Nix, Amira S. Odisho, Caroline P. Babin, Alyssa G. Derouen, Salim C. Lutfallah, Elyse M. Cornett, Kevin S. Murnane, Adam M. Kaye, Alan D. Kaye Aug 2022

Novel Designer Benzodiazepines: Comprehensive Review Of Evolving Clinical And Adverse Effects, Amber N. Edinoff, Catherine A. Nix, Amira S. Odisho, Caroline P. Babin, Alyssa G. Derouen, Salim C. Lutfallah, Elyse M. Cornett, Kevin S. Murnane, Adam M. Kaye, Alan D. Kaye

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

As tranquilizers, benzodiazepines have a wide range of clinical uses. Recently, there has been a significant rise in the number of novel psychoactive substances, including designer benzodiazepines. Flubromazolam(8-bromo-6-(2-fluorophenyl)-1-methyl-4H-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a][1,4]benzodiazeZpine) is a triazolo-analogue of flubromazepam. The most common effects noted by recreational users include heavy hypnosis and sedation, long-lasting amnesia, and rapid development of tolerance. Other effects included anxiolysis, muscle-relaxing effects, euphoria, loss of control, and severe withdrawals. Clonazolam, or 6-(2-chlorophenyl)-1-methyl-8-nitro-4H-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-α]-[1,4]-benzodiazepine, is a triazolo-analog of clonazepam. It is reported to be over twice as potent as alprazolam. Deschloroetizolam (2-Ethyl-9-methyl-4-phenyl-6H-thieno[3,2-f][1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a][1,4]diazepine) is part of the thienodiazepine drug class, which, like benzodiazepines, stimulates GABA-A receptors. …


Serum Metabolomics Reveals Distinct Profiles During Ischemia And Reperfusion In A Porcine Model Of Myocardial Ischemia–Reperfusion, Eric Goetzman, Zhenwei Gong, Dhivyaa Rajasundaram, Ishan Muzumdar, Traci Goodchild, David Lefer, Radhika Muzumdar Jun 2022

Serum Metabolomics Reveals Distinct Profiles During Ischemia And Reperfusion In A Porcine Model Of Myocardial Ischemia–Reperfusion, Eric Goetzman, Zhenwei Gong, Dhivyaa Rajasundaram, Ishan Muzumdar, Traci Goodchild, David Lefer, Radhika Muzumdar

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Acute myocardial infarction (MI) is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Early identification of ischemia and establishing reperfusion remain cornerstones in the treatment of MI, as mortality and morbidity can be significantly reduced by establishing reperfusion to the affected areas. The aim of the current study was to investigate the metabolomic changes in the serum in a swine model of MI induced by ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) injury, and to identify circulating metabolomic biomarkers for myocardial injury at different phases. Female Yucatan minipigs were subjected to 60 min of ischemia followed by reperfusion, and serum samples were collected …


Genetically Encoded Atp Biosensors For Direct Monitoring Of Cellular Atp Dynamics, Donnell White, Qinglin Yang Jun 2022

Genetically Encoded Atp Biosensors For Direct Monitoring Of Cellular Atp Dynamics, Donnell White, Qinglin Yang

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Adenosine 5′-triphosphate, or ATP, is the primary molecule for storing and transferring energy in cells. ATP is mainly produced via oxidative phosphorylation in mitochondria, and to a lesser extent, via glycolysis in the cytosol. In general, cytosolic glycolysis is the primary ATP producer in proliferative cells or cells subjected to hypoxia. On the other hand, mitochondria produce over 90% of cellular ATP in differentiated cells under normoxic conditions. Under pathological conditions, ATP demand rises to meet the needs of biosynthesis for cellular repair, signaling transduction for stress responses, and biochemical processes. These changes affect how mitochondria and cytosolic glycolysis function …


Lysergic Acid Diethylamide Induces Increased Signalling Entropy In Rats’ Prefrontal Cortex, Aurora Savino, Charles D. Nichols Nov 2021

Lysergic Acid Diethylamide Induces Increased Signalling Entropy In Rats’ Prefrontal Cortex, Aurora Savino, Charles D. Nichols

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Psychedelic drugs are gaining attention from the scientific community as potential new compounds for the treatment of psychiatric diseases such as mood and substance use disorders. The 5-HT2A receptor has been identified as the main molecular target, and early studies pointed to an effect on the expression of neuroplasticity genes. Analysing RNA-seq data from the prefrontal cortex of rats chronically treated with lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), we describe the psychedelic-induced rewiring of gene co-expression networks, which become less centralised but more complex, with an overall increase in signalling entropy typical of highly plastic systems. Intriguingly, signalling entropy mirrors, at the …


Serotonin 5-Ht2a Receptor Activity Mediates Adipocyte Differentiation Through Control Of Adipogenic Gene Expression, Bangning Yu, Diana M. Battaglia, Timothy P. Foster, Charles D. Nichols Oct 2021

Serotonin 5-Ht2a Receptor Activity Mediates Adipocyte Differentiation Through Control Of Adipogenic Gene Expression, Bangning Yu, Diana M. Battaglia, Timothy P. Foster, Charles D. Nichols

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Serotonin 5-HT2 receptors are expressed in many tissues and play important roles in biological processes. Although the 5-HT2A receptor is primarily known for its role in central nervous system, it is also expressed in peripheral tissues. We have found that 5-HT2A receptor antagonists inhibit human subcutaneous primary adipocyte differentiation. We also show that siRNA knockdown of the 5-HT2A receptor blocks differentiation. Using gene expression analysis in combination with receptor antagonists we found that activity of 5-HT2A receptors is necessary very early in the differentiation process to mediate expression of adipogenic genes, including peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (ppar-γ), adipocyte protein 2 …


Heme Oxygenase-1 Affects Cytochrome P450 Function Through The Formation Of Heteromeric Complexes: Interactions Between Cyp1a2 And Heme Oxygenase-1, J. Patrick Connick, James R. Reed, George F. Cawley, Wayne L. Backes Jan 2021

Heme Oxygenase-1 Affects Cytochrome P450 Function Through The Formation Of Heteromeric Complexes: Interactions Between Cyp1a2 And Heme Oxygenase-1, J. Patrick Connick, James R. Reed, George F. Cawley, Wayne L. Backes

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and the cytochromes P450 (P450s) are endoplasmic reticulum–bound enzymes that rely on the same protein, NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase (POR), to provide the electrons necessary for substrate metabolism. Although the HO-1 and P450 systems are interconnected owing to their common electron donor, they generally have been studied separately. As the expressions of both HO-1 and P450s are affected by xenobiotic exposure, changes in HO-1 expression can potentially affect P450 function and, conversely, changes in P450 expression can influence HO-1. The goal of this study was to examine interactions between the P450 and HO-1 systems. Using bioluminescence resonance …


Characterization Of The 5′-Flanking Region Of The Human And Mouse Chac1 Genes, Yuki Nomura, Charity F. Sylvester, Lisa O. Nguyen, Mahmoud Kandeel, Yoko Hirata, Imran N. Mungrue, Kentaro Oh-Hashi Oct 2020

Characterization Of The 5′-Flanking Region Of The Human And Mouse Chac1 Genes, Yuki Nomura, Charity F. Sylvester, Lisa O. Nguyen, Mahmoud Kandeel, Yoko Hirata, Imran N. Mungrue, Kentaro Oh-Hashi

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

The Unfolded Protein Response pathway is a conserved signaling mechanism having important roles in cellular physiology and is perturbed accompanying disease. We previously identified the novel UPR target gene CHAC1, a direct target of ATF4, downstream of PERK-EIF2A and activated by the UPR pathway. CHAC1 enzyme directs catalysis of γ-linked glutamate bonds within specific molecular targets. CHAC1 is the first enzyme characterized that can catalyze intracellular glutathione degradation in eukaryotes, having implications for regulation of oxidative stress. DDIT3 (CHOP) is a terminal UPR transcription factor, regulated by ATF4 and an output promoting cell death signaling. Herein we examine the relationship …


Ace2 Mouse Models: A Toolbox For Cardiovascular And Pulmonary Research, Hongpeng Jia, Xinping Yue, Eric Lazartigues Oct 2020

Ace2 Mouse Models: A Toolbox For Cardiovascular And Pulmonary Research, Hongpeng Jia, Xinping Yue, Eric Lazartigues

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) has been identified as the host entry receptor for the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic. ACE2 is a regulatory enzyme of the renin-angiotensin system and has protective functions in many cardiovascular, pulmonary and metabolic diseases. This review summarizes available murine models with systemic or organ-specific deletion of ACE2, or with overexpression of murine or human ACE2. The purpose of this review is to provide researchers with the genetic tools available for further understanding of ACE2 biology and for the investigation of ACE2 in the pathogenesis and treatment of COVID-19.


Folic Acid Supplementation In Patients With Elevated Homocysteine Levels, Alan D. Kaye, George M. Jeha, Alex D. Pham, Mitchell C. Fuller, Zachary I. Lerner, Gerald T. Sibley, Elyse M. Cornett, Ivan Urits, Omar Viswanath, Christopher G. Kevil Aug 2020

Folic Acid Supplementation In Patients With Elevated Homocysteine Levels, Alan D. Kaye, George M. Jeha, Alex D. Pham, Mitchell C. Fuller, Zachary I. Lerner, Gerald T. Sibley, Elyse M. Cornett, Ivan Urits, Omar Viswanath, Christopher G. Kevil

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Introduction: Folic acid is the most important dietary determinant of homocysteine (Hcy). Hcy serves as a critical intermediate in methylation reactions. It is created from methionine and either converted back to methionine or transformed into cysteine. This process is aided through several enzymes and three vitamins, folic acid, B12, and B6. Daily supplementation with 0.5–5.0 mg of folic acid typically lowers plasma Hcy levels by approximately 25%. Hyperhomocysteinemia is a known risk factor for coronary artery disease. In this regard, elevated levels of Hcy have been found in a majority of patients with vascular disease. Methods: A literature review of …


Endocrine Significance Of Sars-Cov-2'S Reliance On Ace2, Eric Lazartigues, Mirza Muhammad Fahd Qadir, Franck Mauvais-Jarvis Jul 2020

Endocrine Significance Of Sars-Cov-2'S Reliance On Ace2, Eric Lazartigues, Mirza Muhammad Fahd Qadir, Franck Mauvais-Jarvis

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

The current COVID-19 pandemic is the most disruptive event in the past 50 years, with a global impact on health care and world economies. It is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), a coronavirus that uses angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as an entry point to the cells. ACE2 is a transmembrane carboxypeptidase and member of the renin-angiotensin system. This mini-review summarizes the main findings regarding ACE2 expression and function in endocrine tissues. We discuss rapidly evolving knowledge on the potential role of ACE2 and SARS coronaviruses in endocrinology and the development of diabetes mellitus, hypogonadism, and pituitary and …


Efficacy Of A Novel Mitochondrial-Derived Peptide In A Porcine Model Of Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury, Thomas E. Sharp, Zhenwei Gong, Amy Scarborough, Eric S. Goetzman, Murtuza J. Ali, Pablo Spaletra, David J. Lefer, Radhika H. Muzumdar, Traci T. Goodchild Jul 2020

Efficacy Of A Novel Mitochondrial-Derived Peptide In A Porcine Model Of Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury, Thomas E. Sharp, Zhenwei Gong, Amy Scarborough, Eric S. Goetzman, Murtuza J. Ali, Pablo Spaletra, David J. Lefer, Radhika H. Muzumdar, Traci T. Goodchild

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

With the complexities that surround myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R) injury, therapies adjunctive to reperfusion that elicit beneficial pleiotropic effects and do not overlap with standard of care are necessary. This study found that the mitochondrial-derived peptide S14G-humanin (HNG) (2 mg/kg), an analogue of humanin, reduced infarct size in a large animal model of MI/R. However, when ischemic time was increased, the infarct-sparing effects were abolished with the same dose of HNG. Thus, although the 60-min MI/R study showed that HNG cardioprotection translates beyond small animal models, further studies are needed to optimize HNG therapy for longer, more patient-relevant periods of cardiac …


Photoactivatable Cre Recombinase 3.0 For In Vivo Mouse Applications, Kumi Morikawa, Kazuhiro Furuhashi, Carmen De Sena-Tomas, Alvaro L. Garcia-Garcia, Ramsey Bekdash, Alison D. Klein, Nicholas Gallerani, Hannah E. Yamamoto, Seon Hye E. Park, Grant S. Collins, Fuun Kawano, Moritoshi Sato, Chyuan Sheng Lin, Kimara L. Targoff, Edmund Au, Michael C. Salling, Masayuki Yazawa May 2020

Photoactivatable Cre Recombinase 3.0 For In Vivo Mouse Applications, Kumi Morikawa, Kazuhiro Furuhashi, Carmen De Sena-Tomas, Alvaro L. Garcia-Garcia, Ramsey Bekdash, Alison D. Klein, Nicholas Gallerani, Hannah E. Yamamoto, Seon Hye E. Park, Grant S. Collins, Fuun Kawano, Moritoshi Sato, Chyuan Sheng Lin, Kimara L. Targoff, Edmund Au, Michael C. Salling, Masayuki Yazawa

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Optogenetic genome engineering tools enable spatiotemporal control of gene expression and provide new insight into biological function. Here, we report the new version of genetically encoded photoactivatable (PA) Cre recombinase, PA-Cre 3.0. To improve PA-Cre technology, we compare light-dimerization tools and optimize for mammalian expression using a CAG promoter, Magnets, and 2A self-cleaving peptide. To prevent background recombination caused by the high sequence similarity in the dimerization domains, we modify the codons for mouse gene targeting and viral production. Overall, these modifications significantly reduce dark leak activity and improve blue-light induction developing our new version, PA-Cre 3.0. As a resource, …


Notch Signaling Regulates Mitochondrial Metabolism And Nf-Κb Activity In Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells Via Ikkα-Dependent Non-Canonical Pathways, Fokhrul Hossain, Claudia Sorrentino, Deniz A. Ucar, Yin Peng, Margarite Matossian, Dorota Wyczechowska, Judy Crabtree, Jovanny Zabaleta, Silvana Morello, Luis Del Valle, Matthew Burow, Bridgette Collins-Burow, Antonio Pannuti, Lisa M. Minter, Todd E. Golde, Barbara A. Osborne, Lucio Miele Dec 2018

Notch Signaling Regulates Mitochondrial Metabolism And Nf-Κb Activity In Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells Via Ikkα-Dependent Non-Canonical Pathways, Fokhrul Hossain, Claudia Sorrentino, Deniz A. Ucar, Yin Peng, Margarite Matossian, Dorota Wyczechowska, Judy Crabtree, Jovanny Zabaleta, Silvana Morello, Luis Del Valle, Matthew Burow, Bridgette Collins-Burow, Antonio Pannuti, Lisa M. Minter, Todd E. Golde, Barbara A. Osborne, Lucio Miele

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients have high risk of recurrence and metastasis, and current treatment options remain limited. Cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) have been linked to cancer initiation, progression and chemotherapy resistance. Notch signaling is a key pathway regulating TNBC CSC survival. Treatment of TNBC with PI3K or mTORC1/2 inhibitors results in drug-resistant, Notch-dependent CSC. However, downstream mechanisms and potentially druggable Notch effectors in TNBC CSCs are largely unknown. We studied the role of the AKT pathway and mitochondrial metabolism downstream of Notch signaling in TNBC CSC from cell lines representative of different TNBC molecular subtypes as well as …


Deregulation Of Micrornas By Hiv-1 Vpr Protein Leads To The Development Of Neurocognitive Disorders, Ruma Mukerjee, J Robert Chang, Luis Del Valle, Asen Bagashev, Monika M. Gayed, Randolph B. Lyde, Brian J. Hawkins, Eugen Brailoiu, Eric Cohen, Chris Power, S Ausim Azizi, Benjamin B. Gelman, Bassel E. Sawaya Oct 2011

Deregulation Of Micrornas By Hiv-1 Vpr Protein Leads To The Development Of Neurocognitive Disorders, Ruma Mukerjee, J Robert Chang, Luis Del Valle, Asen Bagashev, Monika M. Gayed, Randolph B. Lyde, Brian J. Hawkins, Eugen Brailoiu, Eric Cohen, Chris Power, S Ausim Azizi, Benjamin B. Gelman, Bassel E. Sawaya

School of Medicine Faculty Publications

Studies have shown that HIV-infected patients develop neurocognitive disorders characterized by neuronal dysfunction. The lack of productive infection of neurons by HIV suggests that viral and cellular proteins, with neurotoxic activities, released from HIV-1-infected target cells can cause this neuronal deregulation. The viral protein R (Vpr), a protein encoded by HIV-1, has been shown to alter the expression of various important cytokines and inflammatory proteins in infected and uninfected cells; however the mechanisms involved remain unclear. Using a human neuronal cell line, we found that Vpr can be taken up by neurons causing: (i) deregulation of calcium homeostasis, (ii) endoplasmic …