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Today, 12 Ιουλίου 2016, 3:55:19 μμ
Prospects of Developing Medicinal Therapeutic Strategies and Pharmaceutical Design for Effective Gluten Intolerance Treatment
Today, 12 Ιουλίου 2016, 3:55:20 μμ
Gluten intolerance is an umbrella term for gluten-related disorders manifested in health decline as a result of the gluten ingestion. The spectrum of gluten-related disorders includes three major groups: autoimmune (mainly, Celiac Disease, CD, also known as Celiac Sprue, dermatitis herpetiformis, or gluten-sensitive ataxia), allergic (wheat allergy, WA), and non-autoimmune non-allergic (non-celiac gluten sensitivity, NCGS, or gluten sensitivity, GS). Pathogenesis and diagnostics of CD and WA are well established in contrast to NCGS, pathogenicity of which is still poorly understood and its symptoms are frequently misdiagnosed since most of the NCGS cases are currently identified via the process of CD and WA exclusion. By now, the only one proven effective way for CD treatment is gluten-free diet (GFD). However, such an increasingly gaining popularity diet is apparently unsuitable for NCGS treatment because in this case gluten does not always arise as the major or exclusive culprit of gastrointestinal disorder. Furthermore, it is some physicians’ opinion that GFD can be deficient in fiber and in other vitamins and minerals. In many cases, GFD is commercially inaccessible for the most needy, whereas strict adherence to the diet is complicated by the presence of small amounts of the gluten components in some foods and even medicines. In this regard, a number of research groups and pharmaceutical companies are extensively developing alternative medicinal approaches to GFD for effective gluten intolerance treatment. This review summarizes our understanding of gluten-related disorders, possible mechanisms of gluten intolerance activation and advantages of gluten intolerance medicinal treatment using novel drug candidates obtained with a proper pharmaceutical design.
Oncotarget Strategies For Herpes Simplex Virus-1
Today, 12 Ιουλίου 2016, 3:55:20 μμ
The high level of manipulability of viral genome has set up HSV-1 to be an ideal viral vector for oncolytic virotherapy. In the past two decades, several oncolytic HSV-1 viruses have been successfully developed and assessed in animal studies. Accumulated evidences show that oncolytic HSV- 1 can efficiently infect many tumor cells and augment anti-tumor effect by induction of systemic innate and adaptive immune responses. Inspiring results have been accomplished in several phase I clinical trials for glioma, head and neck squeous cells carcinoma and Melanoma using oncolytic HSV- 1 viruses. More recently, oncovey, one of oncolytic HSV-1 viruses has been approved by FDA for the comprehensive evolution of its anti-tumor effects in phase III clinical trials. These promising studies encourage more efforts to be devoted to craft the new generation of oncolytic HSV-1. Herein, we will review and summarize the basic strategies to construct oncolytic HSV-1 viruses and their applications in cancer therapy.
Tumor Stroma Manipulation By MSC
Today, 12 Ιουλίου 2016, 3:55:20 μμ
Tumor stroma (TS) plays relevant roles in all steps of cancer development. We here address several fundamental aspects related with the interaction between cancer cells and their stromal counterparts. Dissecting these players is of pivotal importance to understand oncogenesis, immunoescape and drug resistance. In addition, this better comprehension will allow the introduction of novel and more effective therapeutic approaches where manipulated stromal elements may become detrimental for tumor growth. Our group and others rely on the use of multipotent mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSC) as anti-cancer tools, since these putative TS cell precursors can deliver potent apoptosis-inducing agents. Multimodal-armed MSC can target a variety of cancers in vitro and, when injected in vivo, they localize into tumors mediating cell death without evident toxicities to normal tissues. While several aspects of these strategies shall require further investigations, these approaches collectively indicate how TS manipulation by MSC represents a tool to influence the fate of cancer cells, creating a new generation of anti-cancer strategies.
Emerging Immunotargets and Immunotherapies in Prostate Cancer
Today, 12 Ιουλίου 2016, 3:55:20 μμ
Innate and adaptive immunity are both involved in prostate cancer (PCa) carcinogenesis and progression. On this scenario, several immunotherapeutic approaches have been proposed and are presently under extensive investigation in PCa patients. Among emerging immune targets, immune checkpoint inhibitors such as anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyteassociated protein 4 (CTLA-4), anti-Programmed death-1 (PD-1) and anti-Programmed death-ligand-1 (PD-L1) agents seem to represent the most promising candidate for these patients, together with oncolytic viruses and vaccines, used alone or in combined strategies. In this review, we focused on emerging immunotherapeutic approaches in patients with PCa, showing the rational for their association with current standard therapies including anti-androgen agents, chemo- or radiation therapy.
HIV Vaccination, is Breakthrough Underway?
Today, 12 Ιουλίου 2016, 3:55:20 μμ
After long defeats-almost no marked breakthrough in HIV vaccination campaign has been observed during the past two decades, and we still have not lost our faiths for the development of highly effective and low risk HIV vaccines. Many effective vaccines have been discovered and will certainly enter into the markets within the next 5 to 10 years. In order to promote HIV vaccine developments and clinical HIV therapeutic improvements, this perspective addresses the good and bad sides of currently available HIV vaccines, discusses many subjects of medical significance and finally provides up-to-date information in the field of HIV studies, in particular regarding vaccine developments and HIV pathogenesis.
Inhaled Biologics: From Preclinical to Product Approval
Today, 12 Ιουλίου 2016, 3:55:20 μμ
Background: Delivery of pharmacologically active compounds to the lung for systemic effects is well known and recently has entered a new era with several products achieving regulatory approval. This review focuses on the barriers to pulmonary delivery of biologics. Methods: Lessons learned from the development of recently approved products will be reviewed to shed light on the current challenges that are faced when developing biological products for inhaled delivery. Results: The text and tables presented herein consolidate the current data and ongoing research regarding biological, inhaled products. Conclusion: With this basis, we also review the future prospects for pulmonary delivery of biologics for systemic delivery and how the biological and physical barriers may be overcome.
Interrelationship Between Periapical Lesion and Systemic Metabolic Disorders
Today, 12 Ιουλίου 2016, 3:55:20 μμ
Background: Periapical periodontitis, also known as periapical lesion, is a common dental disease, along with periodontitis (gum disease). Periapical periodontitis is a chronic inflammatory disease, caused by endodontic infection, and its development is regulated by the host immune/inflammatory response. Metabolic disorders, which are largely dependent on life style such as eating habits, have been interpreted as a “metabolically-triggered” low-grade systemic inflammation and may interact with periapical periodontitis by triggering immune modulation. The host immune system is therefore considered the common fundamental mechanism of both disease conditions. Method: We have reviewed >200 articles to discuss the interrelationship between periapical lesions and metabolic disorders including type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and non-alcoholic fatty liver diseases (NAFLD), and their common pathological background in immunology/osteoimmunology and cytokine biology. Results: An elevated inflammatory state caused by metabolic disorders can impact the clinical outcome of periapical lesions and interfere with wound healing after endodontic treatment. Although additional well-designed clinical studies are needed, periapical lesions appear to affect insulin sensitivity and exacerbate non-alcoholic steatohepatitis. Conclusion: Immune regulatory cytokines produced by various cell types, including immune cells and adipose tissue, play an important role in this interrelationship.
Formulation and Application of Biodegradable Nanoparticles Based Biopharmaceutical Delivery - An Efficient Delivery System
Today, 12 Ιουλίου 2016, 3:55:20 μμ
Biodegradable polymer based drug delivery has emerged as a promising and successful clinical tool for specific targeting and controlled drug release delivery system. Various other unique advantages associated with this delivery system include prolonged circulation, biocompatibility, degradation in nontoxic by-products etc. Till date, various biopharmaceutical agents have been successfully encapsulated within biodegradable polymers and used in clinics. However, before the clinical implementation of such nanocarriers different parameters have to be considered which influence the success of these nanocarriers such as drug release profile, size of nanocarrier, degradation mechanism, toxicity profile, type of polymer used, appropriate synthesis method, selection of mode of delivery etc. The following review focuses on such considerations to explore the area of designing and development of biodegradable polymeric nanosystems which when encapsulated with biopharmaceutical agents can be efficient for clinical application.
Polymer Particulates in Drug Delivery
Today, 12 Ιουλίου 2016, 3:55:20 μμ
Development of effective drug delivery systems is important for medicine and healthcare. Polymer particulates (micro- and nanoparticles) have opened new opportunities in the field of drug delivery by overcoming various limitations of conventional delivery methods. The properties of polymeric particles can be readily tuned by precisely engineering the constituent blocks of polymers for improving drug loading, release rate, pharmacokinetics, targeting, etc. The end-groups of various polymers can be readily modified with ligands making them suitable for recognizing by cell-specific receptors, providing cellular specificity, and superior intracellular delivery. This review will mainly cover delivery of many potential drugs and biomolecules by means of polymeric microparticles, nanoparticles and copolymer micelles or assemblies. An overview about formulation methods of polymer particulates has also been addressed. Attempt has been made to cover all the potential polymers that are well known in pharmaceutical history.
Immunoproteasome-Selective Inhibitors: A Promising Strategy to Treat Hematologic Malignancies, Autoimmune and Inflammatory Diseases
Today, 12 Ιουλίου 2016, 3:55:20 μμ
The immunoproteasome is predominantly expressed in monocytes and lymphocytes and is responsible for the generation of antigenic peptides for cell-mediated immunity. Upon the exposure of inflammatory cytokines IFN-γ and TNF-α, constitutive subunits can be replaced by the synthesis of the immuno-core particles β1i, β2i and β5i. Recent studies demonstrated that the immunoproteasome function is not only limited to MHC class I presentation, but it is also implicated in a number of pathological disorders including hematological malignancies, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. At present the commercially available proteasome inhibitors Bortezomib and Carfilzomib, which have been validated in multiple myeloma and other diseases, appear to target both the constitutive and immunoproteasomes indiscriminately. This lack of specificity may, in part, explain some of the side effects of these agents. In contrast, by selectively targeting the immunoproteasome, it may be possible to keep the antimyeloma and antilymphoma efficacy unchanged and, at the same time, to increase the therapeutic index. The aim of this review article is to discuss the most promising immunoproteasome core particle-selective inhibitors which have been developed in the recent years, with a particular attention to their structural features, mechanism of action and therapeutic application.
An Overview of Emerging Immunotargets of Genitourinary Tumors
Today, 12 Ιουλίου 2016, 3:55:20 μμ
Emerging immunotherapies targeting immune checkpoints and tumor associated antigens are leading to important clinical advances and providing a new weapon in patients with prostate (PCa) and bladder cancer (BC) and, in particular, with renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The possibility to integrate these agents in the current therapeutic scenario or genitourinary tumors, both in sequential or combined approaches, relies on a more profound comprehension of the protumorigenic activity of the immune system and of the mechanisms of cancer-related immunosuppression. In this regards, neutrophils, T and B lymphocytes and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are implicated in the pathogenesis, progression and development of drug resistance in genitourinary tumors. This review is an overview on the recent insights concerning the role of immune cells in this context.
Opportunities and Challenges for Host-Directed Therapies in Tuberculosis
Today, 12 Ιουλίου 2016, 3:55:20 μμ
Background: Tuberculosis (TB) ranks alongside the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as cause of death due to an infectious disease. Recently, host-targeted therapies (HDT) have gained attention as a means to shorten the course of treatment of drug-sensitive TB, improve treatment outcomes of drug-resistant TB and generally improve the efficacy and preserve or restore lung architecture of TB patients. It has been suggested that supplementing anti-TB therapy with host response modulators will augment standard TB treatment by overcoming antibiotic resistance in pathogenic strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and related species, thus aiding in killing non-replicating bacilli. Methods: The aim of this review is to examine pulmonary delivery strategies that can enhance the safety as well as efficacy of HDT against pulmonary TB. We reviewed literature in the public domain and revisited our own results on inhaled HDT to arrive at broad conclusions. Results: HDT can be viewed as a strategy to evoke one or more of the following macrophage responses: (i) soluble, intracellular factors such as free radicals and antimicrobial peptides; (ii) soluble extracellular signals like cytokines, chemokines, prostaglandins, lipids, etc.; (iii) organelles and assemblies such as phagolysosomes or the inflammasome; (iv) Autophagy, via mTOR/S6 Kinase; and (v) apoptosis via caspases, bcr/abl products, etc. All of these may be optimally addressed using drugs approved for other uses. Conclusion: Deployment of HDT in TB may be optimally achieved through macrophage-targeted inhaled delivery systems.
Dendritic Cells in Colorectal Cancer and a Potential for their Use in Therapeutic Approaches
Today, 12 Ιουλίου 2016, 3:55:20 μμ
Multiple pathogenic mechanisms contribute to the development of colorectal cancer. This tumor is characterized by high chemoresistance and low immunogenicity due to the effective mechanisms of immunosuppression. Dendritic cells (DCs) play a key role in recognition of tumor antigens and induction of T-cell-primed anticancer response. However, in cancer microenvironment, the function of tumor-infiltrating DCs becomes impaired and switched from the immunostimulation to the immunosuppression. Colorectal cancer cells express anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-10 and TGF-β that could affect DC phenotype and support tumor escape from the immune surveillance. As a result, tumor-associated DCs display numerous defects in antigen-presenting capacity and have an altered pattern of expression of immune costimulatory molecules towards the immunoregulatory phenotype. Indeed, understanding of mechanisms, such as how tumor could impair activity of DCs, would help in the development of new DC-based vaccines against colorectal cancer.
Alterations within the Osteo-Hematopoietic Niche in MDS and their Therapeutic Implications
Today, 12 Ιουλίου 2016, 3:55:20 μμ
Hematopoietic and mesenchymal stem and progenitor cells are organized in the osteo-hematopoietic niche, a complex microenvironment ensuring self-renewal and differentiation. Perturbations of the niche architecture, the mutual cellular interactions and signaling pathways disrupt tissue homeostasis resulting in cytopenia and malignant diseases such as myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), supporting the concept of niche-induced oncogenesis. </p><p> Analyzing the available treatment options for patients harboring MDS, it becomes evident that many of them specifically modify components of the stem cell niche. Hereby especially compounds inhibiting the TGF- β superfamily seem to represent a promising novel approach for patients with anemia as a result of ineffective erythropoiesis. Moreover, apart from affecting tumorigenesis, these drugs appear to influence bone structure and function as well as hematopoiesis in elderly MDS patients with a disturbed microarchitecture of the bone marrow. </p><p> In the present review we will dissect the contribution of components of the stem cell niche for the pathogenesis of MDS and discuss current therapeutic strategies targeting components of the niche, focusing on the modulation of TGF- β signaling. </p><p>
Survivin Modulators: An Updated Patent Review (2011 - 2015)
Today, 12 Ιουλίου 2016, 3:55:20 μμ
Background: Survivin is widely overexpressed in many forms of cancer and studies have related high survivin expression with poor survival rates. Although, there have been several attempts to target survivin, most therapeutics haven’t shown substantial success in clinical trials therefore, authors wish to attract the focus towards many recent therapeutic innovations to target survivin. </p><p> Objective: Survivin plays an essential role in the cell cycle progression, apoptosis, cell stress response, drug resistance and angiogenesis therefore the prognostic and targeting benefits of survivin have been underestimated. An update on the current and existing therapeutic strategies implemented to target survivin is provided. Therefore, the reader will gain an insight into the recent patents targeting survivin. The review has emphasised on patents for quantification of survivin, survivin peptides as immunotherapeutics, application of survivin promoters, RNA interference of survivin, small molecules inhibitors of survivin and nanoparticles targeting survivin. The review also encompasses the survivin targeted therapeutics being implemented at clinical stages which include survivin targeted immunotherapeutics, peptide-based vaccines, antisense oligonucleotides and chemical inhibitors. </p><p> Conclusion: We reviewed recent patents based on preclinical anti-survivin therapies reported to date and it was concluded that gataparsen has been most widely used for anti-survivin therapy in clinical trials. It was also concluded that most therapeutic patents were focussed on development of natural anti-survivin therapeutics such as anti-survivin peptides or survivin anti-sense oligonucleotides in the recent years therefore, proving that natural proteins and nucleic acids has an upper hand over chemicals and synthetic drugs. </p><p>
EBV-Related Malignancies, Outcomes and Novel Prevention Strategies
Today, 12 Ιουλίου 2016, 3:55:20 μμ
Background: Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) is a common gamma herpes virus with a high prevalence in adults worldwide. Infection is mostly latent in affected individuals. EBV has been linked mostly with lymphoid malignancies but its association with epithelial and other non-lymphoid malignancies has also been described. </p><p> Methods: Using MEDLINE, the terms “Epstein Barr Virus AND Malignancy”; “EBV mechanisms”; EBV treatment AND outcomes”; and “EBV prevention” were combined to find articles pertinent to this review. The search was limited to more recent publications between January 1, 2000 and August 1, 2015. </p><p> Results: In this review, we describe current knowledge about the pathogenesis of EBV-related malignancies and evaluate their therapeutic options and outcomes. Current and prospective novel preventive options are also critically reviewed. </p><p> Conclusions: EBV infection is a very common viral infection worldwide and has been implicated in various malignancies including lymphomas, gastric cancer, and nasopharangeal cancer. Patients with EBV positive PTLD and NK/T-cell lymphoma tend to have a better prognosis than EBV negative patients. On the other hand, patients with EBV positive HL or DLBCL tend to have a poorer prognosis especially in elderly patients. Further research is needed to better understand if EBV status is a true prognostic indicator in most malignancies. Treatment approaches remain similar for EBV positive and EBV negative malignancies while the use of novel agents remain under investigation. EBV vaccination trials are underway and these remain a potentially effective strategy to prevent EBV-related malignancies and the associated sequela. </p><p>
Lentiviral Delivery of Proteins for Genome Engineering
Today, 12 Ιουλίου 2016, 3:55:20 μμ
Viruses have evolved to traverse cellular barriers and travel to the nucleus by mechanisms that involve active transport through the cytoplasm and viral quirks to resist cellular restriction factors and innate immune responses. Virus-derived vector systems exploit the capacity of viruses to ferry genetic information into cells, and now - more than three decades after the discovery of HIV - lentiviral vectors based on HIV-1 have become instrumental in biomedical research and gene therapies that require genomic insertion of transgenes. By now, the efficacy of lentiviral gene delivery to stem cells, cells of the immune system including T cells, hepatic cells, and many other therapeutically relevant cell types is well established. Along with nucleic acids, HIV-1 virions carry the enzymatic tools that are essential for early steps of infection. Such capacity to package enzymes, even proteins of nonviral origin, has unveiled new ways of exploiting cellular intrusion of HIV-1. Based on early findings demonstrating the packaging of heterologous proteins into virus particles as part of the Gag and GagPol polypeptides, we have established lentiviral protein transduction for delivery of DNA transposases and designer nucleases. This strategy for delivering genome-engineering proteins facilitates high enzymatic activity within a short time frame and may potentially improve the safety of genome editing. Exploiting the full potential of lentiviral vectors, incorporation of foreign protein can be combined with the delivery of DNA transposons or a donor sequence for homology-directed repair in so-called ‘all-in-one’ lentiviral vectors. Here, we briefly describe intracellular restrictions that may affect lentiviral gene and protein delivery and review the current status of lentiviral particles as carriers of tool kits for genome engineering.
Delivery of Therapeutic Proteins: Challenges and Strategies
Today, 12 Ιουλίου 2016, 3:55:20 μμ
Recent advances in genetic engineering and pharmaceutical biotechnology have made possible to combat life-threatening diseases with efficient delivery of therapeutic proteins. These advancements have increased the significance of therapeutic proteins in pharmaceutical market, but their therapeutic delivery to the targeted site is still a major obstacle to achieve desired therapeutic outcomes. In most cases, majority of the therapeutic proteins are usually administered via oral routes which encounter many problems notably enzymatic degradation, poor solubility and nonlinear pharmacokinetics. Besides this route, many other routes like mucosal, intra-nasal, intra-vaginal, pulmonary and transdermal have also been used for the delivery of therapeutic proteins. In order to keep these therapeutic proteins safe from enzymatic degradation and improve their therapeutic efficacy, several strategies have been designed and investigated various therapeutic delivery routes for efficient delivery of therapeutic proteins to the targeted site with minimal side effects. In this article, we have comprehensively summarized the recent advances and developments that have been adopted for delivery systems of these therapeutic proteins via invasive and/or non-invasive routes.
Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase Expression in Liver Injury: Liver Protective Effects on Primary Rat Hepatocytes
Today, 12 Ιουλίου 2016, 3:55:20 μμ
Background/Aims: Following injury to the liver, liver cells, including Kupffer cells and hepatocytes express inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), followed by the production of excess levels of nitric oxide (NO). NO produced by iNOS has been found to contribute to liver injury. Treatment of primary cultures of rat hepatocytes with the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-1β stimulated iNOS expression and NO production. Experiments with this in vitro hepatocyte model of liver injury and with in vivo animal models of liver injury have demonstrated that drugs showing a liver-protective effect in vivo also inhibited the induction of iNOS expression and NO production both in vivo and in vitro. Thus, in this in vitro hepatocyte model, the prevention of iNOS expression and NO production are considered indicators of liver protection. </p><p> Results/Conclusion: This review describes a simple in vitro liver injury model, consisting of IL-1β-stimulated cultured hepatocytes, and methods used to analyze the mechanisms of action of drugs that inhibit iNOS expression. This in vitro hepatocyte model may be used to assess the liver-protective effects of pharmaceutical agents, herbal medicines, and certain types of foods. </p><p>
Endoplasmic Stress Inhibitors for Homocysteine Induced Cardiovascular Disease
Today, 12 Ιουλίου 2016, 3:55:20 μμ
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) remains a major cause of death and disability worldwide, thus preventing and inhibiting CVD remains a health priority. Several lines of pharmacological interventions have not met with great success, thus inhibition of novel cellular stress pathways could be a novel therapeutic avenue to treat CVD. This review will focus on homocysteine and endoplasmic reticulum stress linked to mitochondria function, and possible therapeutic avenues for treatment.
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