250 research outputs found
Heat Shock Protein Expression and Implications in Spontaneous Animal Tumors: Veterinary and Comparative Aspects
No full textHeat shock proteins (HSP) play a fundamental role in the maintenance of
cellular homeostasis, under both physiological and stress conditions, by acting as
molecular chaperones in protein folding, intracellular transport and degradation.
HSP are also implicated in the hallmarks of cancer from proliferation, impaired
apoptosis and sustained angiogenesis to invasion and metastasis. Altered HSP levels
have been observed in a variety of human neoplasms and such abnormal expression
may contribute to poor prognosis and drug resistance. Therefore, these molecular
chaperones represent attractive targets for anti-cancer therapy. A growing number of
studies in veterinary medicine have also demonstrated the presence of altered HSP
expression in spontaneous animal tumors, especially canine cancer, and the study of
carcinogenesis and the role of HSP in animal models represent an additional source
of information for clinical cancer research. This chapter briefly reviews the current
knowledge on HSP expression and implications in spontaneous animal neoplasms,
and the advances in understanding of the therapeutic opportunities offered by HSP-based
anti-cancer therapies in veterinary and comparative oncology
Neuroplasticity-Based Technologies and Interventions for Restoring Motor Functions in Multiple Sclerosis
No full textMotor impairments are very common in multiple sclerosis (MS), leading to a reduced Quality of Life and active participation. In the past decades, new insights into the functional reorganization processes that occur after a brain injury have been introduced. Specifically, the motor practice seems to be determinant to induce neuroplastic changes and motor recovery. More recently, these findings have been extended to multiple sclerosis, in particular, it has been hypothesized that disease progression, functional reorganization and disability are mutually related. For this reason, neuroplasticity-based technologies and interventions have been rapidly introduced in MS rehabilitation. Constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT), robotics and virtual reality training are new rehabilitative interventions that deliver an intensive e task-specific practice, which are two critical factors associated with functional improvements and cortical reorganization. Another promising strategy for enhancing neuroplastic changes is non-invasive brain stimulation that can be used with a priming effect on motor training. The aims of this chapter are to review the evidence of neuroplastic changes in multiple sclerosis and to present technologies and interventions that have been tested in clinical trials
Hsp60 involvement during carcinogenesis
No full textThe implication of Hsp60 in cancer development is due to its participation
in many metabolic and biomolecular mechanisms in cancer cells. Hsp60 interacts
with various molecules that are responsible of apoptosis, cell proliferation and
other mechanisms involved when a normal cell becomes malignant. Hsp60 expression
was found to be increased in many types of cancer but in same tumors of different
anatomical district was found decreased. The mechanism of action of Hsp60
is different depending on the type of tumor. Its involvement in the carcinogenetic
process of some tumors, such as large bowel carcinoma or cervical carcinoma,
seems to occur in the very early stages of disease. Hsp60 participates in the mechanism
of modulation of the immune response the cancer cells use to invade surrounding
tissues, and expand the tumor mass
Hsp60 Friend and Foe of the Nervous System
No full textHsp60 belongs to the subgroup of molecular chaperones named chaperonins and, typically, resides and functions in the mitochondria but it is also present in
extramitochondrial sites. It chaperones client peptides as they fold to achieve the
native conformation and also displays anti-stress roles by helping stress-damaged
proteins regain a functional shape. Thus, Hsp60 is central to the integrity and functionality of mitochondria and energy production. All cells in the nervous system
depend on Hsp60 so when the chaperonin malfunctions the consequences on nervous tissues are usually devastating, causing diverse diseases. These are the Hsp60
chaperonopathies, which can be genetic or acquired with the former caused by gene
variants and the latter by various post-transcriptional mechanisms. All forms of
chaperonopathies, i.e., by defect, by excess, and by mistake, associated with Hsp60
have been described, and some illustrative examples are discussed here. It is clear
that this chaperonin is key to neuromuscular physiology but, when qualitatively
and/or quantitatively abnormal causes diseases, often very serious
Molecular Chaperones and Protein Quality Control System in the Canine Model of Brain Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases
No full textAged dogs naturally develop cognitive dysfunction and represent a valuable
spontaneous animal model for studying normal aging and neurodegeneration.
Elderly canines also share neuropathological hallmarks similar to those observed
in humans, especially Alzheimer’s disease-like pathology or amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis. In addition, pet dogs share similar living conditions and
diets to humans. Increasing oxidative damage, as well as alterations of the
intracellular protein quality control system, including ubiquitin-proteasome
system (UPS) and Heat shock proteins (Hsp), have been observed in the brain
of aged dogs. Thus, future researches carried out on the canine spontaneous
model may be useful to define the involvement of age-related alterations in
Hsp expression and UPS activity in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative
diseases, as well as to perform translational antioxidant treatment/prevention
studies. The possibility to design novel therapeutic approaches, including Hspbased
therapies, may help to increase chaperone protection against proteotoxic
stress occurring in human and canine brain during aging
The Molecular Virology of Coronaviruses with Special Reference to SARS-CoV-2
No full textIntroduction: Coronaviruses (CoVs) are large, enveloped and positive-sense RNA viruses which are responsible for a range of upper respiratory and digestive tract infections. Interest in coronaviruses has recently escalated due to the identification of a newly emerged coronavirus named severe acute respiratory syndrome 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which is the causative agent of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this chapter, we summarise molecular virological features of coronaviruses and understand their molecular mechanisms of replication in guiding the control of the global COVID-19 pandemic.Methods: We applied a holistic and comparative approach to assess the current understanding of coronavirus molecular virology and identify research gaps among different human coronaviruses.Results: Coronaviruses can utilise unique strategies that aid in their pathogenicity, replication and survival in multiple hosts. Replication of coronaviruses involves novel mechanisms such as ribosomal frameshifting and the synthesis of both genomic and sub-genomic RNAs. We summarised the key components in coronavirus molecular biology and molecular determinants of pathogenesis. Focusing largely on SARS-CoV-2 due to its current importance, this review explores the virology of recently emerged coronaviruses to gain an in-depth understanding of these infectious diseases.Conclusions: The presented information provides fundamental bottlenecks to devise future disease control and management strategies to curtail the impact of coronaviruses in human populations
Topology of Disordered Networks and their Applications
No full textThis eBook is a collection of articles from a Frontiers Research Topic. Frontiers Research Topics are very popular trademarks of the Frontiers Journals Series: they are collections of at least ten articles, all centered on a particular subject. With their unique mix of varied contributions from Original Research to Review Articles, Frontiers Research Topics unify the most influential researchers, the latest key findings and historical advances in a hot research area! Find out more on how to host your own Frontiers Research Topic or contribute to one as an author by contacting the Frontiers Editorial Office: frontiersin.org/about/contac
Topology of Disordered Networks and their Applications
No full textThis eBook is a collection of articles from a Frontiers Research Topic. Frontiers Research Topics are very popular trademarks of the Frontiers Journals Series: they are collections of at least ten articles, all centered on a particular subject. With their unique mix of varied contributions from Original Research to Review Articles, Frontiers Research Topics unify the most influential researchers, the latest key findings and historical advances in a hot research area! Find out more on how to host your own Frontiers Research Topic or contribute to one as an author by contacting the Frontiers Editorial Office: frontiersin.org/about/contac
Hsp90 Chaperone in Disease
No full textThe molecular chaperone Hsp90 is at the heart of protein homeostasis control. A wide range of pathologies disturbs protein homeostasis, thus placing Hsp90 at the crossroads of many diseases. Here, we evaluate the impact of recent progress in understanding the molecular mechanism of Hsp90-client interactions and their role in disease. We discuss the role of Hsp90 for hormonal imbalances, cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. For each disease class we discuss implications of complexes in which Hsp90 binds to a paradigmatic client: the transcription factor Glucocorticoid Receptor, the kinase Cdk4 and the microtubule stabilizer Tau. The mechanistic insights allow us to elaborate on possible therapeutic intervention routes. Hsp90 is a druggable chaperone. Thus, understanding Hsp90 biology at molecular resolution offers an interesting approach to tackle protein-related diseases
Heat Shock Proteins and Diarrhea Causing Microorganisms: Emergence of Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli
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