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Advances in Protein Chemistry and... 2020During the 19th century, for the first time, the linkage between inflammation and cancer was established. Inflammatory microenvironment is an essential component of the... (Review)
Review
During the 19th century, for the first time, the linkage between inflammation and cancer was established. Inflammatory microenvironment is an essential component of the tumor microenvironment. Chronic inflammation due to persistent infection due to the microbes, viruses, helminths or constant exposure to non-infectious factors like smoke, silica or asbestos eventually might result in carcinogenesis. In tumor microenvironment, various inflammatory cells such as T lymphocytes (occasionally B cells), dendritic cells, macrophages, monocytes, neutrophils and natural killer (NK) cells are present. As a mediator of immune surveillance and host defense TRAIL cytokines are produced which upon binding with death receptors (DRs) initiate a cascade of apoptotic pathways. Anti-inflammatory drugs such as aspirin, celecoxib, diclofenac, diflunisal and ibuprofen etc. are being used against cancer, indicating the interplay between both the mechanisms. A deeper understanding of common pathways implicated between both the inflammation and cancer may pave the way to fight against both of these deleterious ailments.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Antineoplastic Agents; Humans; Inflammation; Neoplasms; Tumor Microenvironment
PubMed: 31997769
DOI: 10.1016/bs.apcsb.2019.09.004 -
Annual Review of Medicine Jan 2020Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is an infiltrative and restrictive cardiomyopathy that leads to heart failure, reduced quality of life, and death. The disease has two main... (Review)
Review
Cardiac amyloidosis (CA) is an infiltrative and restrictive cardiomyopathy that leads to heart failure, reduced quality of life, and death. The disease has two main subtypes, transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CA) and immunoglobulin light chain cardiac amyloidosis (AL-CA), characterized by the nature of the infiltrating protein. ATTR-CA is further subdivided into wild-type (ATTRwt-CA) and variant (ATTRv-CA) based on the presence or absence of a mutation in the transthyretin gene. CA is significantly underdiagnosed and increasingly recognized as a cause of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Advances in diagnosis that employ nuclear scintigraphy to diagnose ATTR-CA without a biopsy and the emergence of effective treatments, including transthyretin stabilizers and silencers, have changed the landscape of this field and render early and accurate diagnosis critical. This review summarizes the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, prognosis, and management of CA with an emphasis on the significance of recent developments and suggested future directions.
Topics: Amyloid Neuropathies, Familial; Amyloidosis; Arrhythmias, Cardiac; Benzoates; Benzoxazoles; Biopsy; Cardiac Pacing, Artificial; Cardiomyopathies; Diflunisal; Disease Progression; Early Diagnosis; Early Medical Intervention; Echocardiography; Electrocardiography; Heart Failure; Humans; Immunoglobulin Light-chain Amyloidosis; Immunologic Factors; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Oligonucleotides; Prealbumin; Prognosis; Proteasome Inhibitors; Pyrazoles; RNA, Small Interfering; Radionuclide Imaging
PubMed: 31986086
DOI: 10.1146/annurev-med-052918-020140 -
Cell May 2021Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the largest non-genetic, non-aging related risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). We report here that TBI induces tau acetylation...
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is the largest non-genetic, non-aging related risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD). We report here that TBI induces tau acetylation (ac-tau) at sites acetylated also in human AD brain. This is mediated by S-nitrosylated-GAPDH, which simultaneously inactivates Sirtuin1 deacetylase and activates p300/CBP acetyltransferase, increasing neuronal ac-tau. Subsequent tau mislocalization causes neurodegeneration and neurobehavioral impairment, and ac-tau accumulates in the blood. Blocking GAPDH S-nitrosylation, inhibiting p300/CBP, or stimulating Sirtuin1 all protect mice from neurodegeneration, neurobehavioral impairment, and blood and brain accumulation of ac-tau after TBI. Ac-tau is thus a therapeutic target and potential blood biomarker of TBI that may represent pathologic convergence between TBI and AD. Increased ac-tau in human AD brain is further augmented in AD patients with history of TBI, and patients receiving the p300/CBP inhibitors salsalate or diflunisal exhibit decreased incidence of AD and clinically diagnosed TBI.
Topics: Acetylation; Alzheimer Disease; Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; Biomarkers; Brain Injuries, Traumatic; Cell Line; Diflunisal; Female; Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenase (Phosphorylating); Humans; Male; Mice; Mice, Inbred C57BL; Neurons; Neuroprotection; Salicylates; Sirtuin 1; p300-CBP Transcription Factors; tau Proteins
PubMed: 33852912
DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.03.032 -
Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and... Jun 2022Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRv) is a severe, adult-onset autosomal dominant inherited systemic disease predominantly affecting the peripheral and autonomic... (Review)
Review
Hereditary transthyretin amyloidosis (ATTRv) is a severe, adult-onset autosomal dominant inherited systemic disease predominantly affecting the peripheral and autonomic nervous system, heart, kidney and the eyes. ATTRv is caused by mutations of the transthyretin (TTR) gene, leading to extracellular deposition of amyloid fibrils in multiple organs including the peripheral nervous system. Typically, the neuropathy associated with ATTRv is characterised by a rapidly progressive and disabling sensorimotor axonal neuropathy with early small-fibre involvement. Carpal tunnel syndrome and cardiac dysfunction frequently coexist as part of the ATTRv phenotype. Although awareness of ATTRv polyneuropathy among neurologists has increased, the rate of misdiagnosis remains high, resulting in significant diagnostic delays and accrued disability. A timely and definitive diagnosis is important, given the emergence of effective therapies which have revolutionised the management of transthyretin amyloidosis. TTR protein stabilisers diflunisal and tafamidis can delay the progression of the disease, if treated early in the course. Additionally, TTR gene silencing medications, patisiran and inotersen, have resulted in up to 80% reduction in TTR production, leading to stabilisation or slight improvement of peripheral neuropathy and cardiac dysfunction, as well as improvement in quality of life and functional outcomes. The considerable therapeutic advances have raised additional challenges, including optimisation of diagnostic techniques and management approaches in ATTRv neuropathy. This review highlights the key advances in the diagnostic techniques, current and emerging management strategies, and biomarker development for disease progression in ATTRv.
Topics: Amyloid Neuropathies, Familial; Heart Diseases; Humans; Polyneuropathies; Prealbumin; Quality of Life
PubMed: 35256455
DOI: 10.1136/jnnp-2021-327909 -
Neurology and Therapy Feb 2023Hereditary transthyretin (ATTRv) amyloidosis is a rare, severe, progressive, debilitating, and ultimately fatal disease caused by systemic deposition of transthyretin...
INTRODUCTION
Hereditary transthyretin (ATTRv) amyloidosis is a rare, severe, progressive, debilitating, and ultimately fatal disease caused by systemic deposition of transthyretin (TTR) amyloid fibrils. ATTRv amyloidosis occurs in both males and females. Eplontersen (ION-682884), a ligand-conjugated antisense oligonucleotide designed to degrade hepatic TTR mRNA, is being evaluated for the treatment of ATTRv amyloidosis with polyneuropathy (ATTRv-PN) in the phase 3, international, multicenter, open-label NEURO-TTRansform study (NCT04136184). To describe the study population of this pivotal trial, here we report the baseline characteristics of patients enrolled in the NEURO-TTRansform study.
METHODS
Patients eligible for NEURO-TTRansform were 18-82 years old with a diagnosis of ATTRv-PN and Coutinho stage 1 (ambulatory without assistance) or stage 2 (ambulatory with assistance) disease; documented TTR gene variant; signs and symptoms consistent with neuropathy associated with ATTRv; no prior liver transplant; and New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class I or II.
RESULTS
The NEURO-TTRansform study enrolled 168 patients across 15 countries/territories (North America, 15.5%; Europe, 38.1%; South America/Australia/Asia, 46.4%). At baseline, the study cohort had a mean age of 52.8 years, 69.0% of patients were male, and 78.0% of patients were White. The V30M variant was most prevalent (60.1% of patients), and prevalence varied by region. Overall, 56.5% and 17.3% of patients had received previous treatment with tafamidis or diflunisal, respectively. A majority of patients (79.2%) had Coutinho stage 1 disease (unimpaired ambulation) and early (before age 50) disease onset (53.0%). Time from diagnosis to enrollment was 46.6 (57.4) months (mean [standard deviation]). Most patients had a baseline polyneuropathy disability (PND) score of I (40.5%) or II (41.1%), and the mean modified Neuropathy Impairment Score + 7 (mNIS + 7) was 79.0.
CONCLUSION
The recruited population in the ongoing NEURO-TTRansform study has global representation characteristic of contemporary clinical practice.
TRIAL REGISTRATION
ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT04136184.
PubMed: 36525140
DOI: 10.1007/s40120-022-00414-z -
American Journal of TherapeuticsDeposition of wild-type or mutant transthyretin (TTR) amyloid fibrils in the myocardium causes TTR amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM). Targeted therapeutics for ATTR-CM...
BACKGROUND
Deposition of wild-type or mutant transthyretin (TTR) amyloid fibrils in the myocardium causes TTR amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM). Targeted therapeutics for ATTR-CM include TTR stabilizers (tafamidis and diflunisal) and oligonucleotide drugs (revusiran, patisiran, and inotersen). TTR stabilizers prevent dissociation of transthyretin tetramers. Transthyretin monomers can misfold and form amyloid fibrils. TTR stabilizers thereby limit amyloid fibrils development and deposition. Oligonucleotide drugs inhibit hepatic synthesis of transthyretin, which decreases transthyretin protein levels and thus the amyloid fibril substrate.
AREAS OF UNCERTAINTY
To study the safety and efficacy of targeted therapeutics in patients with ATTR-CM, we performed a pooled analysis. A random-effects model with the Mantel-Haenszel method was used to pool the data.
DATA SOURCES
A literature search was performed using PubMed, Cochrane CENTRAL, and Embase databases using the search terms "cardiac amyloidosis" AND "tafamidis" OR "patisiran" OR "inotersen" OR "revusiran" OR "diflunisal."
THERAPEUTIC ADVANCES
We identified 6 studies that compared targeted therapeutics with placebo. One study was stopped prematurely because of increased mortality in the targeted therapeutics arm. Pooled analysis included 1238 patients, of which 738 patients received targeted therapeutics and 500 patients received placebo. When compared with placebo, targeted therapeutics significantly reduced all-cause mortality [OR 0.39, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.16-0.97, P = 0.04]. Only 2 studies reported the effect on cardiovascular-related hospitalizations. There was a trend toward an improvement in global longitudinal strain (mean difference -0.69, 95% CI: -1.44 to 0.05, P = 0.07). When compared with placebo, there was no increase in serious adverse events with targeted therapeutics (OR 1.06, 95% CI: 0.78-1.44, P = 0.72).
CONCLUSION
Evidence from the pooled analysis revealed targeted therapeutics improve survival and are well-tolerated. These findings suggest a potential role for targeted therapeutics in the treatment of patients with ATTR-CM.
Topics: Humans; Amyloid Neuropathies, Familial; Prealbumin; Diflunisal; Oligonucleotides; Cardiomyopathies
PubMed: 37713689
DOI: 10.1097/MJT.0000000000001296 -
Materials (Basel, Switzerland) Nov 2021Diflunisal is a well-known drug for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, primary dysmenorrhea, and colon cancer. This molecule belongs to the group of... (Review)
Review
Diflunisal is a well-known drug for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, primary dysmenorrhea, and colon cancer. This molecule belongs to the group of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) and thus possesses serious side effects such as cardiovascular diseases risk development, renal injury, and hepatic reactions. The last clinical data demonstrated that diflunisal is one of the recognized drugs for the treatment of cardiac amyloidosis and possesses a survival benefit similar to that of clinically approved tafamidis. Diflunisal stabilizes the transthyretin (TTR) tetramer and prevents the misfolding of monomers and dimers from forming amyloid deposits in the heart. To avoid serious side effects of diflunisal, the various delivery systems have been developed. In the present review, attention is given to the recent development of diflunisal-loaded delivery systems, its technology, release profiles, and effectiveness.
PubMed: 34772213
DOI: 10.3390/ma14216687 -
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) Sep 2020Biomedicine represents one of the main study areas for dendrimers, which have proven to be valuable both in diagnostics and therapy, due to their capacity for improving... (Review)
Review
Biomedicine represents one of the main study areas for dendrimers, which have proven to be valuable both in diagnostics and therapy, due to their capacity for improving solubility, absorption, bioavailability and targeted distribution. Molecular cytotoxicity constitutes a limiting characteristic, especially for cationic and higher-generation dendrimers. Antineoplastic research of dendrimers has been widely developed, and several types of poly(amidoamine) and poly(propylene imine) dendrimer complexes with doxorubicin, paclitaxel, imatinib, sunitinib, cisplatin, melphalan and methotrexate have shown an improvement in comparison with the drug molecule alone. The anti-inflammatory therapy focused on dendrimer complexes of ibuprofen, indomethacin, piroxicam, ketoprofen and diflunisal. In the context of the development of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains, dendrimer complexes of fluoroquinolones, macrolides, beta-lactamines and aminoglycosides have shown promising effects. Regarding antiviral therapy, studies have been performed to develop dendrimer conjugates with tenofovir, maraviroc, zidovudine, oseltamivir and acyclovir, among others. Furthermore, cardiovascular therapy has strongly addressed dendrimers. Employed in imaging diagnostics, dendrimers reduce the dosage required to obtain images, thus improving the efficiency of radioisotopes. Dendrimers are macromolecular structures with multiple advantages that can suffer modifications depending on the chemical nature of the drug that has to be transported. The results obtained so far encourage the pursuit of new studies.
Topics: Animals; Anti-Inflammatory Agents; Biomedical Technology; Cell Death; Dendrimers; Diagnostic Imaging; Humans; Toxicity Tests
PubMed: 32882920
DOI: 10.3390/molecules25173982 -
Heart Failure Reviews Mar 2022Transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CM) is caused by the accumulation of misfolded transthyretin (TTR) protein in the myocardium. Diflunisal, an agent that... (Review)
Review
Transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis (ATTR-CM) is caused by the accumulation of misfolded transthyretin (TTR) protein in the myocardium. Diflunisal, an agent that stabilizes TTR, has been used as an off-label therapeutic for ATTR-CM. Given limited data surrounding the use of diflunisal, a systematic review of the literature is warranted. We searched the PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase databases for studies that reported on the use of diflunisal therapy for patients with ATTR-CM. We included English language studies which assessed the effect of diflunisal in adult patients with ATTR-CM who received diflunisal as primary treatment and reported clinical outcomes with emphasis on studies that noted the safety and efficacy of diflunisal in cardiac manifestations of ATTR amyloidosis. We excluded studies which did not use diflunisal therapy or used diflunisal therapy for non-cardiac manifestations of TTR amyloidosis. We also excluded case reports, abstracts, oral presentations, and studies with fewer than 10 subjects. Our search yielded 316 records, and we included 6 studies reporting on 400 patients. Non-comparative single-arm small non-randomized trials for diflunisal comprised 4 of the included studies. The 2 studies that compared diflunisal versus no treatment found improvements in TTR concentration, left atrial volume index, cardiac troponin I, and global longitudinal strain. Overall, diflunisal use was associated with decreased mortality and number of orthotopic heart transplant in ATTR-CM patients. Although a smaller number of patients had to stop treatment due to gastrointestinal side effects and transient renal dysfunction, there were no severe reactions reported in the studies included in our review. This systematic review supports the use of diflunisal for ATTR-CM. Additional long-term analyses and randomized clinical trials are needed to confirm these results.
Topics: Adult; Amyloid Neuropathies, Familial; Diflunisal; Humans; Myocardium; Prealbumin
PubMed: 34272629
DOI: 10.1007/s10741-021-10143-4