Search results for "Complement"

Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Citrus bergamia Derivatives: Where Do We Stand?

2016

Inflammatory diseases affect a large portion of the worldwide population, and chronic inflammation is a major risk factor for several dangerous pathologies. To limit the side effects of both synthetic and biological anti-inflammatory drugs, the use of herbal medicines, nutraceuticals and food supplements has increased tremendously as alternative and/or complementary medicine to treat several pathologies, including inflammation. During the last decades, the biological properties of Citrus bergamia (bergamot) derivatives have obtained important scientific achievements, and it has been suggested their use in a context of a multitarget pharmacological strategy. Here, we present an overview of t…

Introduction: Novel hybrid combinations containing synthetic or antibiotic drugs with plant-derived phenolic or terpenoid compounds

2017

Abstract Background There is a paradigm shift in chemotherapy from mono-drug therapy towards multidrug combination regimens. Natural products from medicinal plants may play an important role for the design of novel combination therapy protocols. Hypothesis We introduce the novel term “hybrid combination” for the therapeutic combination of chemically defined plant-derived constituents (e.g. phenolic or terpenoid compounds with synthetic or antibiotic drugs to increase pharmacological activity and simultaneously toxic side effects. Study design Several literature databases were screened on the combination of phenolic/terpenoid compounds with synthetic/antibiotic drugs. Results Phenolic compou…

Cancer combination therapy of the sesquiterpenoid artesunate and the selective EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor erlotinib.

2017

Abstract Background The shift from cytotoxic to targeted chemotherapy led to improved treatment outcomes in oncology. Nevertheless, many cancer patients cannot be cured from their disease because of the development of drug resistance and side effects. Purpose There is an ongoing quest for novel compounds, which raised not only the interest in natural products but also in novel combination therapy regimens. Study design In this review, we report on the inhibition epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) by targeted small molecules and their combination with natural products from medicinal plants. Results The combination of erlotinib with artesunate leads to synergistic inhibition of cell grow…

Distinct contributions of complement factors to platelet activation and fibrin formation in venous thrombus development

2017

Expanding evidence indicates multiple interactions between the hemostatic system and innate immunity, and the coagulation and complement cascades. Here we show in a tissue factor (TF)-dependent model of flow restriction-induced venous thrombosis that complement factors make distinct contributions to platelet activation and fibrin deposition. Complement factor 3 (C3) deficiency causes prolonged bleeding, reduced thrombus incidence, thrombus size, fibrin and platelet deposition in the ligated inferior vena cava, and diminished platelet activation in vitro. Initial fibrin deposition at the vessel wall over 6 hours in this model was dependent on protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) and TF expressi…

Prevention from radiation damage by natural products

2018

Abstract Background Radiotherapy is a mainstay of cancer treatment since decades. Ionizing radiation (IR) is used for destruction of cancer cells and shrinkage of tumors. However, the increase of radioresistance in cancer cells and radiation toxicity to normal tissues are severe concerns. The exposure to radiation generates intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), which leads to DNA damage by lipid peroxidation, removal of thiol groups from cellular and membrane proteins, strand breaks and base alterations. Hypothesis Plants have to deal with radiation-induced damage (UV-light of sun, other natural radiation sources). Therefore, it is worth speculating that radioprotective mechanisms ha…

Curcumin downregulates expression of opioid-related nociceptin receptor gene (OPRL1) in isolated neuroglia cells.

2018

Abstract Background: Curcumin (CC) exerts polyvalent pharmacological actions and multi-target effects, including pain relief and anti-nociceptive activity. In combination with Boswellia serrata extract (BS), curcumin shows greater efficacy in knee osteoarthritis management, presumably due to synergistic interaction of the ingredients. Aim: To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the analgesic activity of curcumin and its synergistic interaction with BS. Methods: We performed gene expression profiling by transcriptome-wide mRNA sequencing in human T98G neuroglia cells treated with CC (Curamed), BS, and the combination of CC and BS (CC-BS; Curamin), followed by interactive pathways a…

Directional high-throughput sequencing of RNAs without gene-specific primers.

2018

Ribosomal RNA analysis is a useful tool for characterization of microbial communities. However, the lack of broad-range primers has hampered the simultaneous analysis of eukaryotic and prokaryotic members by amplicon sequencing. We present a complete workflow for directional, primer-independent sequencing of size-selected small subunit ribosomal RNA fragments. The library preparation protocol includes gel extraction of the target RNA, ligation of an RNA oligo to the 5′-end of the target, and cDNA synthesis with a tailed random-hexamer primer and further barcoding. The sequencing results of a phytoplankton mock community showed a highly similar profile to the biomass indicators. This method…

2017

Better identification of severe acute graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) may improve the outcome of this life-threatening complication of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. GvHD induces tissue damage and the release of damage-associated molecular pattern (DAMP) molecules. Here, we analyzed GvHD patients (n = 39) to show that serum heat shock protein glycoprotein 96 (Gp96) could be such a DAMP molecule. We demonstrate that serum Gp96 increases in gastrointestinal GvHD patients and its level correlates with disease severity. An increase in Gp96 serum level was also observed in a mouse model of acute GvHD. This model was used to identify complement C3 as a main partner of Gp96 i…

A Pharmacological Update of Ellagic Acid.

2018

Este artículo se encuentra disponible en la página web de la revista en la siguiente URL: https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/pdf/10.1055/a-0633-9492.pdf This is a pre-print of an article published in Ríos, JL., Giner, RM., Marín, M. and Recio, MC. (2018). A pharmacological update of ellagic acid. Planta Medica, vol. 84, n. 15, pp. 1068-1093. The final authenticated version is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1055/a-0633-9492 Este es el pre-print del siguiente artículo Ríos, JL., Giner, RM., Marín, M. and Recio, MC. (2018). A pharmacological update of ellagic acid. Planta Medica, vol. 84, n. 15, pp. 1068-1093 que se ha publicado de forma definitiva en https://doi.org/10…

Sema3a plays a role in the pathogenesis of CHARGE syndrome

2018

CHARGE syndrome is an autosomal dominant malformation disorder caused by heterozygous loss of function mutations in the chromatin remodeler CHD7. Chd7 regulates the expression of Sema3a, which also contributes to the pathogenesis of Kallmann syndrome, a heterogeneous condition with the typical features hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and an impaired sense of smell. Both features are common in CHARGE syndrome suggesting that SEMA3A may provide a genetic link between these syndromes. Indeed, we find evidence that SEMA3A plays a role in the pathogenesis of CHARGE syndrome. First, Chd7 is enriched at the Sema3a promotor in neural crest cells and loss of function of Chd7 inhibits Sema3a expression…