The role of leptin in the central nervous system remyelination

Leptin is identified as a mouse obesity gene, which is also preserved in humans. Leptin receptor is highly expressed in the hypothalamus relative to other tissues; therefore, the function of leptin is mainly attributed to hypothalamic control of food intake and body weight. Although the expression of leptin receptors is not limited to the hypothalamus but is also present in other regions of the central nervous system (CNS), such as the spinal cord, the functions of leptin and leptin receptor in the CNS have not been fully clarified. In this research highlight, we focus on the novel function of leptin in CNS remyelination in pathologic conditions, such as the demyelination mouse model. Because remyelination is a crucial process for repair of neuronal networks after injury and wound healing, knowledge of the underlying molecular mechanism of remyelination is useful to establish a therapeutic strategy against demyelinating diseases. We only revealed the role of leptin in remyelination at a histological level; however, a behavioral analysis and evidence of the beneficial effect of leptin for humans may add to knowledge of the effect of leptin on remyelination function

Prostate Cancer Metastatic to Bone has Higher Expression of the Calcium-Sensing Receptor (CaSR) than Primary Prostate Cancer

The calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) is the principal regulator of the secretion of parathyroid hormone and plays key roles in extracellular calcium (Ca2+o) homeostasis. It is also thought to participate in the development of cancer, especially bony metastases of breast and prostate cancer. However, the expression of CaSR has not been systematically analyzed in prostate cancer from patients with or without bony metastases. By comparing human prostate cancer tissue sections in microarrays, we found that the CaSR was expressed in both normal prostate and primary prostate cancer as assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC). We used two methods to analyze the expression level of CaSR. One was the pathological score read by a pathologist, the other was the positivity% obtained from the Aperio positive pixel count algorithm. Both of the methods gave consistent results. Metastatic prostate cancer tissue obtained from bone had higher CaSR expression than primary prostate cancer (P <0.05). The expression of CaSR in primary prostate cancers of patients with metastases to tissues other than bone was not different from that in primary prostate cancer of patients with or without bony metastases (P >0.05). The expression of CaSR in cancer tissue was not associated with the stage or status of differentiation of the cancer. These results suggest that CaSR may have a role in promoting bony metastasis of prostate cancer, hence raising the possibility of reducing the risk of such metastases with CaSR-based therapeutics

Melatonin Receptor 1A (MTNR1A) gene sequence characterization and SNP identification in Tropical sheep breeds of India

Sheep is considered to be short day seasonal breeder. Sheep does show varying behavior in terms of seasonal reproduction between temperate and tropical latitudinal regions. MTNR1A gene has been studied widely for being linked to seasonality in sheep. Recently, through our studies we have characterized the MTNR1A gene in Tropical arid sheep breeds and could find out that the GG and CC genotypes are having higher prevalence in the tropical arid breed populationwith reference to two SNP markers ‘ ‘G612A’ and C606T’ respectively

20 Years Anniversary for SORLA/SORL1

SORLA is a sorting receptor known to control the intracellular trafficking of the amyloid precursor protein, which impaired pathway has a central role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Recently, genetic analyses confirmed the casual role for SORLA in AD, as coding variants and single nucleotide polymorphisms of SORL1 (gene encoding SORLA) were identified in individuals affected by early-onset AD and late-onset AD, respectively. However, many other different types of ligands were found to target the receptor, thus strongly indicating that SORLA can exert multifunctional activities. In the current review, we provide an overview of the multi-ligand properties of SORLA, showing how this complex receptor is involved in a variety of biological functions

CD28 family of receptors inter-connect in the regulation of T-cells

T-cell activation is mediated by a combination of signals from the antigen receptor (TCR) and co-receptors such as CD28, cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4 (CTLA-4), programmed cell death antigen 1 (PD-1), CD28H and others. Each is a member of the CD28 receptor gene family. CD28 sends positive signals that promote T-cell responses, while CTLA-4 and PD-1 limit responses. It is the balance between these positive and negative signals that determines the amplitude and level of T-cell responses. The regulatory role of other family members is also becoming the focus of increasing interest. The function of certain CD28 family members such as CTLA-4 and PD-1 is dependent the expression of CD28. Together, these findings have important implications in generation of immune responses and the application of anti-receptor blocking reagents in immunotherapy

Targeting sympathetic glia for treating cardiovascular diseases

Gq G protein-coupled receptor (Gq-GPCR) signaling in glial fibrillary acidic protein-expressing (GFAP+) glia is essential for neuron-glia interaction in the Central Nervous System (CNS). However, the exploration of the roles of Gq-GPCR signaling in peripheral GFAP+ glia has just begun. Our recent study showed that GFAP+ glia in the sympathetic ganglia, namely satellite glial cells (SGCs), positively modulate sympathetic-regulated cardiac functions following their Gq-GPCR activation. In this research highlight, we discuss the significance of satellite glial modulation of sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) in both physiology and in diseases. We also present a new experimental strategy for manipulating satellite glial signaling in the sympathetic ganglia using adeno-associated virus (AAV). The success of targeted viral transduction in ganglionic SGCs suggest a strong therapeutic potential of targeting sympathetic glia for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs)

Computational analysis in Influenza virus

Influenza viruses are major human pathogens accountable for respiratory diseases affecting millions of people worldwide and characterized by high morbidity and significant mortality. Influenza infections can be controlled by vaccination and antiviral drugs. However, vaccines need yearly updating and give limited protection. In addition, the currently available drugs suffer from the rapid and extensive emergence of drug resistance. All this highlights the urgent need for developing new antiviral strategies with novel mechanisms of action and with reduced drug resistance potential. Recent advances in the understanding of Influenza virus replication have discovered a number of cellular drug targets that counteract viral drug resistance. With expanded bioinformatics’ knowledge on computational modeling and molecular dynamic stimulations, novel small molecule inhibitors of herbal/ayurvedic origin are being explored due to their non-toxicity and affordability. Using in-silico techniques the structural details and information of influenza protein have been studied to identify the potential drugs for inhibition. Further, we have discussed the various computational studies carried out on major protein/targets of Influenza which could provide new clues for a newer class of antiviral (ayurvedic) drugs. In the years to come ahead, the influenza treatment will go through major changes, with advancing our knowledge of pathogenesis as new methods becoming clinically validated

An entry-competent intermediate state of the HIV-1 envelope glycoproteins

The human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) envelope glycoproteins (Env) mediate viral entry and are the sole target of neutralizing antibodies. Recent studies show that the metastable HIV-1 Env trimer can transit among three conformational states: State 1, State 3, and State 2, corresponding to the “closed”, “open” and intermediate conformations, respectively. During virus entry, binding to the CD4 receptor drives Env from state 1 to state 3. In the unliganded Env, transitions from the closed (State 1) conformation are restrained by intramolecular interactions among different Env residues, which regulate HIV-1 Env conformation. Releasing the specific restraints on State 1 Env leads to increased occupancy of State 2, which is a functional conformation on the entry pathway and an obligate intermediate between State 1 and State 3. Frequent sampling of intermediate State 2 allows HIV-1 to infect cells expressing low levels of CD4, and leads to resistance to several broadly neutralizing antibodies as well as small-molecule inhibitors. Recent findings provide new mechanistic insights into the function and inhibition of HIV-1 Env and will contribute to the development of new therapeutic and prophylactic interventions to combat HIV-1

Bacterial superantigen toxins induce a lethal cytokine storm by enhancing B7-2/CD28 costimulatory receptor engagement, a critical immune checkpoint

Formation of the costimulatory axis between the B7-2 and CD28 coreceptors is critical for T-cell activation. Superantigens, Gram-positive bacterial virulence factors, cause toxic shock and sepsis by hyperinducing inflammatory cytokines. We report a novel role for costimulatory receptors CD28 and B7-2 as obligatory receptors for superantigens, rendering them therapeutic targets. We show that by engaging not only CD28 but also its coligand B7-2 directly, superantigens potently enhance the interaction between B7-2 and CD28, inducing thereby T-cell hyperactivation. Using a conserved twelve amino-acid domain, superantigens engage both B7-2 and CD28 at their homodimer interfaces, sites far removed from where these receptors interact, implying that inflammatory signaling can be controlled through the receptor homodimer interfaces. Short B7-2 and CD28 dimer interface mimetic peptides bind diverse superantigens, prevent superantigen binding to cell-surface B7-2 or CD28, attenuate inflammatory cytokine overexpression, and protect mice from lethal superantigen challenge. Thus, superantigens induce a cytokine storm by mediating not only the interaction between MHC-II molecule and T-cell receptor but critically, by promoting B7-2/CD28 coreceptor engagement, forcing the principal costimulatory axis to signal excessively. Our findings highlight the B7/CD28 interaction as a bottleneck in signaling for expression of inflammatory cytokines. B7-2 and CD28 homodimer interface mimetic peptides prevent superantigen lethality by blocking the superantigen-host costimulatory receptor interaction

G protein-coupled receptors mediate neural regulation of innate immune responses in caenorhabditis elegans

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are a large family of transmembrane proteins that perceive many extracellular signals and transduce them into cellular physiological responses. GPCRs regulate immunity in both vertebrates and invertebrates. However, the mechanisms responsible for such regulation are not fully understood. Recent research using the genetically tractable model organism Caenorhabditis elegans has led to the identification of specific GPCRs, neurotransmitters, neurons and non-neural cells in the regulation of innate immunity. Several neural circuits have been demonstrated to function in GPCR-dependent immuno-regulatory pathways. Besides being essential in neural-immune interactions, GPCRs also regulate innate immune response in non-neural tissues cell-autonomously through mechanisms independent of neural circuits. Here we review GPCR-mediated neural control of innate immunity in C. elegans and briefly discuss GPCR-dependent immune regulation via non-neural mechanisms