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Drugs Drug Candidates, Volume 2, Issue 1 (March 2023) – 12 articles

Cover Story (view full-size image): ESI MS experiments were performed to investigate possible correlations between MS stability and biological activity/stability of β-lactone amides and carbamates NAAA inhibitors. Collisional-induced fragmentation pathways of molecular species related to amides are different in comparison to those of carbamates, with the former species being more stable than the latter, due to β-lactone reactivity. Correlations were found between the characteristic collision energy (CE50) obtained by the breakdown curves and in vitro NAAA inhibitory potency of the compounds analyzed. In the case of carbamates, a relationship between CE50 values and BSA stability data was also found. β-Lactone NAAA inhibitors' activity can be qualitatively associated with their lability, as measured by CE50 values. View this paper
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21 pages, 4600 KiB  
Article
Optimizing Protein Production in Therapeutic Phages against a Bacterial Pathogen, Mycobacterium abscessus
by Xuhua Xia
Drugs Drug Candidates 2023, 2(1), 189-209; https://doi.org/10.3390/ddc2010012 - 21 Mar 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3850
Abstract
Therapeutic phages against pathogenic bacteria should kill the bacteria efficiently before the latter evolve resistance against the phages. While many factors contribute to phage efficiency in killing bacteria, such as phage attachment to host, delivery of phage genome into the host, phage mechanisms [...] Read more.
Therapeutic phages against pathogenic bacteria should kill the bacteria efficiently before the latter evolve resistance against the phages. While many factors contribute to phage efficiency in killing bacteria, such as phage attachment to host, delivery of phage genome into the host, phage mechanisms against host defense, phage biosynthesis rate, and phage life cycle, this paper focuses only on the optimization of phage mRNA for efficient translation. Phage mRNA may not be adapted to its host translation machinery for three reasons: (1) mutation disrupting adaptation, (2) a recent host switch leaving no time for adaptation, and (3) multiple hosts with different translation machineries so that adaptation to one host implies suboptimal adaptation to another host. It is therefore important to optimize phage mRNAs in therapeutic phages. Theoretical and practical principles based on many experiments were developed and applied to phages engineered against a drug-resistant Mycobacterium abscessus that infected a young cystic fibrosis patient. I provide a detailed genomic evaluation of the three therapeutic phages with respect to translation initiation, elongation, and termination, by making use of both experimental results and highly expressed genes in the host. For optimizing phage genes against M. abscessus, the start codon should be AUG. The DtoStart distance from base-pairing between the Shine-Dalgarno (SD) sequence and the anti-SD sequence should be 14–16. The stop codon should be UAA. If UAG or UGA is used as a stop codon, they should be followed by nucleotide U. Start codon, SD, or stop codon should not be embedded in a secondary structure that may obscure the signals and interfere with their decoding. The optimization framework should be generally applicable to developing therapeutic phages against bacterial pathogens. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section In Silico Approaches in Drug Discovery)
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17 pages, 3011 KiB  
Review
A Review of the Patentability of Rosemary-Derived Drugs and Bioactive Compounds
by Reda El Boukhari and Ahmed Fatimi
Drugs Drug Candidates 2023, 2(1), 172-188; https://doi.org/10.3390/ddc2010011 - 16 Mar 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3333
Abstract
We reviewed the patentability of rosemary-derived drugs and bioactive compounds over the last 20 years and analyzed patent documents related to the rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis Linné) plant using patent analysis techniques. A total of 12,320 patent documents (patent applications and granted patents) [...] Read more.
We reviewed the patentability of rosemary-derived drugs and bioactive compounds over the last 20 years and analyzed patent documents related to the rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis Linné) plant using patent analysis techniques. A total of 12,320 patent documents (patent applications and granted patents) were identified, with China having the highest number of patent documents at 4384. The year 2017 had the most patent documents (1122). Patent classification codes indicate that most inventions are for medicinal preparations and cosmetics characterized by their composition. Further, expert driving forces and knowledge clusters showed that research and development has focused on methods to bring pharmaceutical products into specific physical or administering forms, which are described in the majority of patents. To demonstrate the innovation trends in rosemary-derived drugs and bioactive compounds, a selection of relevant patent documents, with publication dates between 2002 and 2022, is described at the end of the study. This selection contains a total of 13 patent documents, including six patent applications and seven granted patents, and deals with pharmaceutical and biomedical applications, processes for extracting rosemary-derived biomolecules (e.g., rosmarinic acid, carnosic acid, and carnosol), and cosmetic and food applications. Full article
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24 pages, 2627 KiB  
Review
Recent Developments in Electrospun Nanofibers as Delivery of Phytoconstituents for Wound Healing
by Govindaraj Ajith, Ganesan Padmini Tamilarasi, Govindaraj Sabarees, Siddan Gouthaman, Krishnan Manikandan, Vadivel Velmurugan, Veerachamy Alagarsamy and Viswas Raja Solomon
Drugs Drug Candidates 2023, 2(1), 148-171; https://doi.org/10.3390/ddc2010010 - 15 Mar 2023
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3399
Abstract
Wound healing is an unresolved therapeutic challenge for the medical community, as wound assessment and management is a complex procedure involving numerous factors that play a significant role in the healing process. Several factors, including bacterial infections, underlying conditions, malnutrition, obesity, aging, and [...] Read more.
Wound healing is an unresolved therapeutic challenge for the medical community, as wound assessment and management is a complex procedure involving numerous factors that play a significant role in the healing process. Several factors, including bacterial infections, underlying conditions, malnutrition, obesity, aging, and smoking are the most frequent causes of a delayed wound-healing process. The shortcomings related to the currently used wound dressings include poor antimicrobial properties, weak mechanical features, poor biodegradability, biocompatibility, etc. Modern medicine has expanded the use of phytoconstituents based on nanotechnology to regenerate and repair soft and hard tissues. Electrospun nanofiber platforms are the most recent and promising among many types of conventional wound dressings due to their distinct characteristics. Many plant extracts and their phytoconstituents are well-known as adequate substitutes for wound healing agents because of their wide range of active ingredients, accessibility, and limited side effects. Incorporating these phytoconstituents into electrospun nanofibers combines the structural properties of the nanofibers with the antibacterial and therapeutic properties of the plants, making the nanofibers ideal for use as wound dressings. This review focuses on the antibacterial and therapeutic applications of nanofiber wound dressings containing phytoconstituents and their potential to revolutionize wound healing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Preclinical Research)
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11 pages, 5965 KiB  
Article
Pharmacological Blockade of TGF-Beta Reduces Renal Interstitial Fibrosis in a Chronic Ischemia–Reperfusion Animal Model
by Zesergio Melo, Julio Palomino, Adriana Franco-Acevedo, David García, Ricardo González-González, Maritza G. Verdugo-Molinares, Eliseo Portilla-de Buen, Bibiana Moreno-Carranza, Clotilde Fuentes-Orozco, Francisco J. Barbosa-Camacho, Emilio A. Reyes-Elizalde, Laura Cortés-Sanabria and Alejandro González-Ojeda
Drugs Drug Candidates 2023, 2(1), 137-147; https://doi.org/10.3390/ddc2010009 - 13 Mar 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2199
Abstract
The targeting of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) has been shown to reduce complications related to ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) post-surgically. Pirfenidone (PFD) specifically inhibits TGF-β expression and has been demonstrated to provide protection from IRI in short-term allograft models, though not yet in [...] Read more.
The targeting of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) has been shown to reduce complications related to ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) post-surgically. Pirfenidone (PFD) specifically inhibits TGF-β expression and has been demonstrated to provide protection from IRI in short-term allograft models, though not yet in long-term models. A chronic unilateral IRI model was established using male Wistar rats. The animals were divided into two groups: one with IRI and a pre-treatment of PFD (0.5 mg/kg) followed by 0.5 mg/kg/day of orally administered PFD for 30 days, and a control group without PFD treatment. A sham group was also included. Kidneys and blood samples were collected after 30 days, and the renal function was evaluated by measuring the serum creatinine and KIM-1 levels. RT-PCR was used to analyze fibrosis-related genes, and Luminex to quantify the pro-inflammatory serum IL-18 cytokine. Renal section staining and histological analysis were used to detect collagen deposits. Comparison within the groups showed an increase in serum creatinine and KIM-1 expression after IRI in the control group, while PFD reduced COLL1A1 and TGF-β expression and demonstrated a reduction in fibrosis through histological stains. The treatment group also showed a reduction in IL-18. Our results suggest that PFD exerts protective effects on chronic renal IRI, reducing fibrosis development and inflammation. This study provides new insights into the treatment and management of chronic renal function loss after IRI. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Preclinical Research)
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16 pages, 551 KiB  
Review
Do Certain Anaesthetic Drugs Affect Postoperative Cancer Recurrence Rates? Implications for Drug Discovery
by Ben A. Wilson and Jaideep J. Pandit
Drugs Drug Candidates 2023, 2(1), 121-136; https://doi.org/10.3390/ddc2010008 - 7 Mar 2023
Viewed by 2495
Abstract
Recurrence of cancer after primary tumour resection is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Preclinical research indicates that surgery induces a stress response that inhibits cell-mediated immunity as a possible basis for risk of recurrence. Other preclinical evidence suggests that, conversely, propofol and [...] Read more.
Recurrence of cancer after primary tumour resection is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Preclinical research indicates that surgery induces a stress response that inhibits cell-mediated immunity as a possible basis for risk of recurrence. Other preclinical evidence suggests that, conversely, propofol and local anaesthetics diminish the effects of the surgical stress response and so could directly inhibit cancer progression, and this is supported by several retrospective cohort studies and meta-analyses. However, the first large-scale randomised clinical trial (RCT), comparing recurrence after mastectomy in patients anaesthetised with either propofol/local anaesthetic or sevoflurane/opioids, concluded that recurrence was not significantly improved in the propofol/local anaesthetic group (p = 0.84). Other cancers may prove more responsive and results from a number of ongoing RCTs, encompassing several cancer types, are currently awaited. These trials should establish whether choice of anaesthetic technique is an important determinant of cancer recurrence risk. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Marketed Drugs)
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12 pages, 3629 KiB  
Article
An Investigation on the Relationships between Mass Spectrometric Collisional Data and Biological Activity/Stability of Some N-Acylethanolamine Acid Amidase (NAAA) β-Lactone Inhibitors
by Ilena Isak, Andrea Duranti and Pietro Traldi
Drugs Drug Candidates 2023, 2(1), 109-120; https://doi.org/10.3390/ddc2010007 - 2 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1436
Abstract
The rationale of the present study is that relationships between in vitro biological activity and mass spectrometric (MS) collisional data of molecular species have been already reported in the literature. Herein, the same approach has been employed to investigate possible correlations between MS [...] Read more.
The rationale of the present study is that relationships between in vitro biological activity and mass spectrometric (MS) collisional data of molecular species have been already reported in the literature. Herein, the same approach has been employed to investigate possible correlations between MS stability and biological activity/stability data of a series of β-lactone amides and carbamates N-acylethanolamine acid amidase (NAAA) inhibitors. Electrospray ionization MS experiments were performed using an LCQ Deca ion trap and samples were introduced by direct infusion. Mass spectra of positive and negative ions have been obtained, and collisional experiments were performed on selected ionic species. Collisional-induced fragmentation pathways of molecular species related to β-lactone amide inhibitors are different in comparison to those of carbamates, being the former species more stable than the latter, due to β-lactone reactivity. Correlations were found between the characteristic collision energy (CE50) obtained by the breakdown curves and in vitro NAAA inhibitory potency of the β-lactone amides and carbamates analyzed. In the case of carbamates, a relationship between CE50 values and bovine serum albumin (BSA) stability data was also found, while any correlation was not found for amides due to their instability to BSA. β-Lactone NAAA inhibitors’ activity can be qualitatively associated with their lability, as measured by CE50 values. The results obtained could suggest that MS may be used as a preliminary experimental tool to identify carbamate NAAA inhibitors endowed with good biological stability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Medicinal Chemistry and Preliminary Screening)
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14 pages, 766 KiB  
Review
Stearylamine Liposome as an Anti-Parasitic Agent
by Janani Vassoudevane, Monika Mariebernard and Vinoth Rajendran
Drugs Drug Candidates 2023, 2(1), 95-108; https://doi.org/10.3390/ddc2010006 - 27 Feb 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3704
Abstract
The uncontrolled increasing clinical resistance to the current anti-parasitic drugs towards important protozoan parasites (Plasmodium, Leishmania, Trypanosoma and Toxoplasma) has stimulated the search for novel and safe therapeutic agents at affordable prices for countries in which these parasites are [...] Read more.
The uncontrolled increasing clinical resistance to the current anti-parasitic drugs towards important protozoan parasites (Plasmodium, Leishmania, Trypanosoma and Toxoplasma) has stimulated the search for novel and safe therapeutic agents at affordable prices for countries in which these parasites are endemic. For the past few decades, the criticality of the cationic lipid stearylamine (SA) in liposomes has been explored in these human parasites. Previously, SA was incorporated in the liposomal formulation to impart a net positive charge for enhanced cellular uptake. However, the discovery of SA in liposomes alone elicits a strong anti-parasitic activity with immunomodulatory potential. Additionally, the SA liposome possesses a significant inhibitory potential on multiple life stages of the parasite cycle and delivers an equal effect on both drug-sensitive and resistant parasites. Moreover, the delivery of standard anti-parasitic drugs using SA liposome vesicles has enhanced the efficacy of drugs due to the synergistic impacts without causing any apparent toxicity on the host cells. In addition, the delivery of antigens as vaccine candidates using SA liposomes elicits a pronounced immune response in clearing the infection compared to other cationic lipids and SA-free liposomes. Nonetheless, SA liposome mediates its anti-parasitic activity by targeting the negatively charged phosphatidylserine-exposed infected host cell surface or by interaction with negatively charged sialic acid of free-living parasites. Overall, SA liposome confers its protection by acting as a chemotherapeutic agent with immunomodulatory activity. Therefore, a broadly acting anti-parasitic agent (SA liposome) is promising in tackling the deadly parasitic infections in endemic regions and warrants further clinical investigations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Preclinical Research)
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26 pages, 4172 KiB  
Review
Testolactone: The Rise and Fall of a Drug
by Marina P. Savic, Ivana Z. Kuzminac and Andrea R. Nikolic
Drugs Drug Candidates 2023, 2(1), 69-94; https://doi.org/10.3390/ddc2010005 - 4 Feb 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4880
Abstract
Testolactone is structurally related to testosterone and belongs to the first generation of aromatase inhibitors. It is a non-selective irreversible aromatase enzyme inhibitor that was one of the first steroids used in the clinical treatment of breast cancer. The use of testolactone in [...] Read more.
Testolactone is structurally related to testosterone and belongs to the first generation of aromatase inhibitors. It is a non-selective irreversible aromatase enzyme inhibitor that was one of the first steroids used in the clinical treatment of breast cancer. The use of testolactone in the treatment of breast cancer started in 1970, although its ability to inhibit aromatase was not discovered until 1975. Its use was primarily based on the inhibition of estrogen synthesis, which was applied in the treatment of estrogen-dependent breast cancers, in the treatment of disorders of sex steroid excess, familial male-limited precocious puberty, or in the treatment of patients with McCune–Albright syndrome, etc. The weak inhibitory activity of testolactone, and the moderate clinical response, prevented its widespread use, which ultimately resulted in withdrawal from the drug market in 2008. This review paper is dedicated to testolactone, its rise in the second half of the 20th century, and its fall in the first decade of the 21st century. Regardless of withdrawal from the market, for many years testolactone was a drug that improved the quality of life of patients facing one of the most serious diseases today, and for this reason, this paper describes medicinal application, synthesis, and modifications of testolactone. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Marketed Drugs)
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17 pages, 2219 KiB  
Article
Betulinic Acid: Triterpenoid Derivative Induced NADPH-d Expression in the Urinary System with a Possible Renal Protective Role of Nitric Oxide
by Soo Yue Yin, Siddiqua Ayesha, Chellasamy Panneerselvam, Adel Ibrahim Alalawy, Fahad Mohamed Almutairi and Mohamed Ali Seyed
Drugs Drug Candidates 2023, 2(1), 52-68; https://doi.org/10.3390/ddc2010004 - 2 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2591
Abstract
The birch tree-derived pentacyclic lupine type-triterpenoid Betulinic acid has demonstrated a variety of biological activities BetA is known for its harmlessness on normal healthy cells. However, recent investigations have indicated that BetA can cause cellular changes in mouse normal embryonic fibroblasts even with [...] Read more.
The birch tree-derived pentacyclic lupine type-triterpenoid Betulinic acid has demonstrated a variety of biological activities BetA is known for its harmlessness on normal healthy cells. However, recent investigations have indicated that BetA can cause cellular changes in mouse normal embryonic fibroblasts even with a minimal concentration. This report cautioned the use of BetA at the clinical level, which encouraged us to examine whether BetA could produce any key effect on normal healthy cells of any organs in mice. The present study extended its investigation to evaluate whether BetA could induce any changes in the renal system and the expression pattern of NADPH-diaphorase an indirect marker of the enzyme nitric oxide synthase in mice. Our results indicated that BetA exposure induced NADPH-d expression in both organs without causing any significant morphological changes. Moreover, NADPH-d activity patterns in the organs of BetA-treated animals tremendously increased (from day 4 until day 12) when compared to controls. The expression of NADPH-d in both the kidney and bladder implies that NADPH-d-mediated nitric oxide signaling could be a mechanism involved in BetA-induced nephroprotection. These outcomes are of direct clinical importance and could pay the way for the improvement of BetA as an important pharmaceutical product. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Preclinical Research)
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15 pages, 2653 KiB  
Article
Isolation and Characterization of Prophylactic Antimalarial Agents from Ochna kibbiensis Leaves
by Amina J. Yusuf, Musa I. Abdullahi, Ibrahim Nasir, Abdulmajeed Yunusa, Celestina O. Alebiosu and Abubakar A. Muhammad
Drugs Drug Candidates 2023, 2(1), 37-51; https://doi.org/10.3390/ddc2010003 - 24 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2284
Abstract
Ochna kibbiensis (Family: Ochnaceae) has been employed in ethnomedicine for the treatment of malaria and inflammation, among others. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize prophylactic antimalarial agents from the leaves of O. kibbiensis against Plasmodium berghei, in vivo [...] Read more.
Ochna kibbiensis (Family: Ochnaceae) has been employed in ethnomedicine for the treatment of malaria and inflammation, among others. The aim of this study was to isolate and characterize prophylactic antimalarial agents from the leaves of O. kibbiensis against Plasmodium berghei, in vivo and in silico. The median lethal dose (LD50) of the methanol extract and its fractions (hexane, dichloromethane, ethylacetate and butanol) was determined according to Lorke’s method while the antimalarial effect of the extract and its fractions was investigated according to the method described by Peters prophylactic test using Chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei (NK65). All the extract/fractions exhibited LD50 values ≥ 5000 mg/kg with the exception of the n-butanol fraction (1702.94 mg/kg), which indicate that the plant is non-toxic. Dichloromethane fraction exhibited a significant (p < 0.05) and dose-dependent prophylactic effect with 47.62, 85.12, and 100.0% prophylaxis (at 500, 250, and 125 mg/kg), while the least effect was observed by the butanol fraction with a percentage prophylaxis of 64.29 and 76.19, respectively; the standard drug, pyrimethamine, had 95.24% prophylaxis. Based on the results obtained, dichloromethane fraction of O. kibbiensis was subjected to chromatographic purification, which led to the isolation of a mixture of two compounds identified as stigmasterol and β-sitosterol by analysis of the NMR spectral data and comparison with existing literature; the compounds exhibited good binding affinities (−5.129 and −4.889 kcal/mol) against pfLDH and a favorable ADMET profile. In conclusion, the leaves of O. kibbiensis have demonstrated a significant prophylactic antimalarial activity and the two known steroids (stigmasterol and β-sitosterol) were isolated from the dichloromethane fraction for the first time. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Drug Candidates from Natural Sources)
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23 pages, 4738 KiB  
Article
Indonesian Vegetables: Searching for Antioxidant and Antidiabetic Therapeutic Agents
by Dinar Mutia Rani, Nur Hanafi, Sudarko, Dessy Rachmawati, Tri Agus Siswoyo, Fransiska Maria Christianty, Ika Puspita Dewi and Ari Satia Nugraha
Drugs Drug Candidates 2023, 2(1), 14-36; https://doi.org/10.3390/ddc2010002 - 20 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3308
Abstract
Diabetes mellitus prevalence in Indonesia reached 19.5 million cases, which has affected the productive age population. The indigenous people of Indonesia are blessed with the second largest biodiversity in the world, including vegetables, which are also prepared as medicaments. Vegetables are well-known as [...] Read more.
Diabetes mellitus prevalence in Indonesia reached 19.5 million cases, which has affected the productive age population. The indigenous people of Indonesia are blessed with the second largest biodiversity in the world, including vegetables, which are also prepared as medicaments. Vegetables are well-known as natural antioxidants which evolved in metabolic disease prevention, including diabetes mellitus. One of the Government of Indonesia’s strategic plans in health is to develop new antidiabetic from nature. In this study, nineteen vegetable species were collected and evaluated for their antioxidant activity followed by computational-based bioprospecting. The study indicated Ipomoea aquatica, Paederia foetida, Plumbago zeylanica, Nauclea pallida, Sauropus androgynus, Wrightia pubescens, and Psophocarpus tetragonolobus to contain high antioxidant components. Computational experiments on chemical constituents previously reported from the same species showed potent compounds with high affinity against α-glucosidase (3a4a). 7-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-dihydroquercetin-3-O-α-D-glucopyranoside 1, stigmasterol 7, and chitanone 12 are the most potent compounds from Ipomoea aquatica, Paederia foetida, and Plumbago zeylanica, respectively, which are superior to a standard drug, acarbose. The four vegetable species are feasible for conventional drug sources or developed as botanical dosage according to the Indonesian government’s strategic plan. Further studies are necessary to ensure adequate preclinical and clinical data to meet the requirement of safe and potent medicine. Nevertheless, Nauclea pallida and Psophocarpus tetragonolobus are valuable species with potent yet understudied antioxidant sources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Drug Candidates from Natural Sources)
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13 pages, 8717 KiB  
Review
Angiogenesis under Opioids Preconditioning in Renal Ischemia Reperfusion
by Maritza G. Verdugo-Molinares, Adriana Franco-Acevedo, Cesar I. Ortiz, José L. Cerino-Recinos, Bibiana Moreno-Carranza and Zesergio Melo
Drugs Drug Candidates 2023, 2(1), 1-13; https://doi.org/10.3390/ddc2010001 - 7 Jan 2023
Viewed by 2308
Abstract
Renal ischemia reperfusion (IR) presents a common challenge for organ graft and function after transplantation. In the kidney, although there are several mechanisms involved in the IR injury, some studies have pointed to angiogenesis as an important process in the pathophysiology of IR [...] Read more.
Renal ischemia reperfusion (IR) presents a common challenge for organ graft and function after transplantation. In the kidney, although there are several mechanisms involved in the IR injury, some studies have pointed to angiogenesis as an important process in the pathophysiology of IR and, therefore, as a possible target mechanism to reduce IR damage. Angiogenesis can be modulated by different molecules and recent evidence has shown that opioids are among these molecules. Angiogenesis preconditioning with opioids is a useful and non-invasive strategy to increase the transplant success rate. Although some results have suggested an interaction between the opioid system and VEGF-mediated angiogenesis, more studies are required to fully elucidate the specific mechanisms involved in these actions. The present review summarizes the recent findings on kidney IR-related mechanisms, with as special emphasis on vascular changes. Finally, the evidence about the modulation of angiogenesis by opioids in a preconditioning scheme will be addressed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Clinical Research)
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