A peptide with a dual mechanism of action – it dissolves the bacterial membrane and activates the immune system – could be an effective weapon against microorganisms that have evolved ways to evade antibiotics, as superbugs do. Scientists at the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) have designed stable synthetic peptides that activate mast cell receptors, which are cells involved in the innate and adaptive immune response. This dual approach eliminates bacteria and recruits neutrophils to finish the job.
Individuals with both sickle cell disease (SCD) and sickle cell trait are at higher risk than others of developing renal medullary cancer (RMC), the rarest and deadliest subtype of kidney cancer. Researchers at MD Anderson Cancer Center have identified the molecular mechanisms behind the increased risk, gaining new insights into antitumor immunity more generally and, potentially, new ways to treat RMC, and possibly other tumors as well.SCD “has been studied for 30 years, but 95% of the effort [has been] working on the red blood cells … how red blood cells contribute to hypoxia and then reduce oxygen supply,” Chunru Lin told BioWorld.
Cellarity Inc. has divulged DCN1-like protein 1 (DCUN1D1; RP42) and/or DCN2 inhibitors reported to be useful for treatment of sickle cell and thalassemia disorder.
Scientists at the Center for Genomic Regulation (CRG) have developed an AI-based tool to design thousands of sequences that regulate DNA. They have also synthesized these molecules, called enhancers, to control gene activation in mouse hematopoietic stem cells, which they have tested in vitro.
Anticoagulant drugs, whether classical ones such as warfarin and heparin or newer ones such as dabigatran and apixaban, can be effective for treating and preventing deep vein thrombosis, myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke and pulmonary embolisms. Targeting factor XIa, a serine protease in the coagulation pathway, may inhibit thrombosis without increasing bleeding risk. Numerous inhibitors of factor XIa have been developed and several have entered clinical trials, but most have shown problems of poor efficacy, inadequate selectivity or drug-drug interactions.
A recent study by researchers from Texas A&M University presented a new vaccine designed to target the ligand-binding domain of the serotonin 2A receptor (5-HT2AR), which resides in the second extracellular loop (EL2) and was previously identified as the key region for receptor activation. The new candidate, called EL2-5HTVac, was shown to provide a long-lasting and selective therapeutic approach to avoid increased bleeding risk complications.
The University of Michigan has divulged lysine-specific histone demethylase 1A (KDM1A; LSD1) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer, autism, myocardial fibrosis and more.
Sepsis-induced coagulopathy (SIC) is a complication of sepsis tied to high mortality in patients. Anticoagulation using a coagulation factor IIa and Xa dual inhibitor might have the potential to improve the treatment of this severe condition.
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