MyMedR

Displaying all 7 publications

Abstract:

Sort:

Antioxidant, Anti-inflammatory, and Genomic Stability Enhancement Effects of Zinc l-carnosine: A Potential Cancer Chemopreventive Agent?

Ooi TC, Chan KM, Sharif R

Nutr Cancer, 2017 Feb-Mar;69(2):201-210.
PMID: 28094570 DOI: 10.1080/01635581.2017.1265132

Cancer is one of the major causes of death worldwide, and the incidence and mortality rates of cancer are expected to rise tremendously in the near future. Despite a better understanding of cancer biology and advancement in cancer management, current strategies in cancer treatment remain costly and ineffective. Hence, instead of putting more efforts to search for new cancer cures, attention has now been shifted to the development of cancer chemopreventive agents as a preventive measure for cancer formation. It is well known that neoplastic transformation of cells is multifactorial, and the occurrence of oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, and genomic instability events has been implicated in the carcinogenesis of cells. Zinc l-carnosine (ZnC), which is clinically used as gastric ulcer treatment in Japan, has been suggested to have the potential in preventing cancer development. Multiple studies have revealed that ZnC possesses potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and genomic stability enhancement effects. Thus, this review provides some mechanistic insight into the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and genomic stability enhancement effects of ZnC in relevance to its chemopreventive potential.

Matched MeSH terms: Carnosine/pharmacology
Zinc Carnosine Inhibits Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammatory Mediators by Suppressing NF-κb Activation in Raw 264.7 Macrophages, Independent of the MAPKs Signaling Pathway

Ooi TC, Chan KM, Sharif R

Biol Trace Elem Res, 2016 Aug;172(2):458-464.
PMID: 26749414 DOI: 10.1007/s12011-015-0615-x

This study aimed to investigate the role of the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) signaling pathway in the anti-inflammatory effects of zinc carnosine (ZnC) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Cells were pretreated with ZnC (0-100 μM) for 2 h prior to the addition of LPS (1 μg/ml). Following 24 h of treatment, ZnC was found not to be cytotoxic to RAW 264.7 cells up to the concentration of 100 μM. Our current findings showed that ZnC did not protect RAW 264.7 cells from LPS-induced "respiratory burst". Significant increment in intracellular glutathione (GSH) level and reduction in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) concentration can only be observed in cell pretreated with high doses of ZnC only (50 and 100 μM for GSH and 100 μM only for TBARS). On the other hand, pretreatment of cells with ZnC was able to inhibit LPS-induced inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 expression significantly. Furthermore, results from immunoblotting showed that ZnC was able to suppress nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) activation, and highest suppression can be observed at 100 μM of ZnC pretreatment. However, pretreatment of ZnC did not inhibit the early activation of MAPKs. In conclusion, pretreatment with ZnC was able to inhibit the expression of inflammatory mediators in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells, mainly via suppression of NF-κB activation, and is independent of the MAPKs signaling pathway.

Matched MeSH terms: Carnosine/pharmacology
Fulltext Carnosine to Combat Novel Coronavirus (nCoV): Molecular Docking and Modeling to Cocrystallized Host Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) and Viral Spike Protein

Saadah LM, Deiab GIA, Al-Balas Q, Basheti IA

Molecules, 2020 Nov 28;25(23).
PMID: 33260592 DOI: 10.3390/molecules25235605

AIMS: Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) plays an important role in the entry of coronaviruses into host cells. The current paper described how carnosine, a naturally occurring supplement, can be an effective drug candidate for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) on the basis of molecular docking and modeling to host ACE2 cocrystallized with nCoV spike protein.
METHODS: First, the starting point was ACE2 inhibitors and their structure-activity relationship (SAR). Next, chemical similarity (or diversity) and PubMed searches made it possible to repurpose and assess approved or experimental drugs for COVID-19. Parallel, at all stages, the authors performed bioactivity scoring to assess potential repurposed inhibitors at ACE2. Finally, investigators performed molecular docking and modeling of the identified drug candidate to host ACE2 with nCoV spike protein.
RESULTS: Carnosine emerged as the best-known drug candidate to match ACE2 inhibitor structure. Preliminary docking was more optimal to ACE2 than the known typical angiotensin-converting enzyme 1 (ACE1) inhibitor (enalapril) and quite comparable to known or presumed ACE2 inhibitors. Viral spike protein elements binding to ACE2 were retained in the best carnosine pose in SwissDock at 1.75 Angstroms. Out of the three main areas of attachment expected to the protein-protein structure, carnosine bound with higher affinity to two compared to the known ACE2 active site. LibDock score was 92.40 for site 3, 90.88 for site 1, and inside the active site 85.49.
CONCLUSION: Carnosine has promising inhibitory interactions with host ACE2 and nCoV spike protein and hence could offer a potential mitigating effect against the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Matched MeSH terms: Carnosine/pharmacology
Carnosine exhibits significant antiviral activity against Dengue and Zika virus

Rothan HA, Abdulrahman AY, Khazali AS, Nor Rashid N, Chong TT, Yusof R

J. Pept. Sci., 2019 Aug;25(8):e3196.
PMID: 31290226 DOI: 10.1002/psc.3196

Dengue virus (DENV) and Zika virus (ZIKV) are flaviviruses transmitted to humans by their common vector, Aedes mosquitoes. DENV infection represents one of the most widely spread mosquito-borne diseases whereas ZIKV infection occasionally re-emerged in the past causing outbreaks. Although there have been considerable advances in understanding the pathophysiology of these viruses, no effective vaccines or antiviral drugs are currently available. In this study, we evaluated the antiviral activity of carnosine, an endogenous dipeptide (β-alanyl-l-histidine), against DENV serotype 2 (DENV2) and ZIKV infection in human liver cells (Huh7). Computational studies were performed to predict the potential interactions between carnosine and viral proteins. Biochemical and cell-based assays were performed to validate the computational results. Mode-of-inhibition, plaque reduction, and immunostaining assays were performed to determine the antiviral activity of carnosine. Exogenous carnosine showed minimal cytotoxicity in Huh7 cells and rescued the viability of infected cells with EC50 values of 52.3 and 59.5 μM for DENV2 and ZIKV infection, respectively. Based on the mode-of-inhibition assays, carnosine inhibited DENV2 mainly by inhibiting viral genome replication and interfering with virus entry. Carnosine antiviral activity was verified with immunostaining assay where carnosine treatment diminished viral fluorescence signal. In conclusion, carnosine exhibited significant inhibitory effects against DENV2 and ZIKV replication in human liver cells and could be utilized as a lead peptide for the development of effective and safe antiviral agents against DENV and ZIKV.

Matched MeSH terms: Carnosine/pharmacology
Protective effects of zinc L-carnosine against hydrogen peroxide-induced DNA damage and micronucleus formation in CCD-18co human colon fibroblast cells

Ooi TC, Chan KM, Sharif R

Free Radic Res, 2020 May;54(5):330-340.
PMID: 32366187 DOI: 10.1080/10715762.2020.1763333

Zinc L-carnosine (ZnC) is a chelated compound of zinc and L-carnosine. The present study aims to determine the protective effects of ZnC against hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced oxidative stress and genomic damage in CCD-18co human normal colon fibroblast cells. Generally, cells were pretreated with ZnC (0-100 µM) for 24 h before challenged with 20 µM of H2O2 for 1 h to induce oxidative damage. Results showed that pretreatment with ZnC was able to reduce the intracellular ROS level in CCD-18co cells after being challenged with H2O2. Moreover, pretreatment with ZnC demonstrated protection from H2O2-induced DNA strand breaks and micronucleus formation. Our current findings revealed that pretreatment with ZnC could induce the activation of MTF-1 signaling pathway and expression of metallothionein (MT) in a dose-dependent manner. However, ZnC did not have any effects on Nrf2 signaling pathway and the expression of glutathione, superoxide dismutase 1, and glutamate-cysteine ligase catalytic subunit (GCLC). Furthermore, pretreatment with ZnC did not induce the expression of OGG1 and PARP-1 in CCD-18co cells, suggesting that these two DNA repairing enzymes are not related to the genoprotective effects of ZnC. Since the expression of MT has been demonstrated to protect cells from oxidative DNA damage induced by various genotoxic agents, the genoprotective effects of ZnC might be due to the ability of ZnC to induce the expression of MT. In conclusion, ZnC pretreatment was able to protect CCD-18co cells from H2O2-induced genomic damage via the activation of the MTF-1 signalling pathway and the induction of MT expression.

Matched MeSH terms: Carnosine/pharmacology*
Dual l-Carnosine/Aloe vera Nanophytosomes with Synergistically Enhanced Protective Effects against Methylglyoxal-Induced Angiogenesis Impairment

Darvishi B, Dinarvand R, Mohammadpour H, Kamarul T, Sharifi AM

Mol Pharm, 2021 09 06;18(9):3302-3325.
PMID: 34297586 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.1c00248

Microvascular complications are among the major outcomes of patients with type II diabetes mellitus, which are the consequences of impaired physiological functioning of small blood vessels and angiogenic responses in these patients. Overproduction and accumulation of methylglyoxal (MGO), a highly reactive dicarbonyl byproduct of glycolysis pathway, has been acclaimed as the main inducer of impaired angiogenic responses and microvascular dysfunction in diabetic patients with uncontrolled hyperglycemia. Hence, an effective approach to overcome diabetes-associated microvascular complications is to neutralize the deleterious activity of enhanced the concentration of MGO in the body. Owing to the glycation inhibitory activity of Aloe vera whole extract, and capability of l-carnosine, an endogenous dipeptide, in attenuating MGO's destructive activity, we examined whether application of a combination of l-carnosine and A. vera could be an effective way of synergistically weakening this reactive dicarbonyl's impaired angiogenic effects. Additionally, overcoming the poor cellular uptake and internalization of l-carnosine and A. vera, a nanophytosomal formulation of the physical mixture of two compounds was also established. Although l-carnosine and A. vera at whole studied combination ratios could synergistically enhance viability of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) treated with MGO, the 25:1 w/w ratio was the most effective one among the others (27 ± 0.5% compared to 12 ± 0.3 to 18 ± 0.4%; F (4, 15) = 183.9, P < 0.0001). Developing dual nanophytosomes of l-carnosine/A. vera (25:1) combination ratio, we demonstrated superiority of the nanophytosomal formulation in protecting HUVECs against MGO-induced toxicity following a 24-72 h incubation period (17.3, 15.8, and 12.4% respectively). Moreover, 500 μg/mL concentration of dual l-carnosine/A. vera nanophytosomes exhibited a superior free radical scavenging potency (63 ± 4 RFU vs 83 ± 5 RFU; F (5, 12) = 54.81, P < 0.0001) and nitric oxide synthesizing capacity (26.11 ± 0.19 vs 5.1 ± 0.33; F (5, 12) = 2537, P < 0.0001) compared to their physical combination counterpart. Similarly, 500 μg/mL dual l-carnosine/A. vera nanophytosome-treated HUVECs demonstrated a superior tube formation capacity (15 ± 3 vs 2 ± 0.3; F (5, 12) = 30.87, P < 0.001), wound scratch healing capability (4.92 ± 0.3 vs 3.07 ± 0.3 mm/h; F (5, 12) = 39.21, P < 0.0001), and transwell migration (586 ± 32 vs 394 ± 18; F (5, 12) = 231.8, P < 0.001) and invasion (172 ± 9 vs 115 ± 5; F (5, 12) = 581.1, P < 0.0001) activities compared to the physical combination treated ones. Further confirming the proangiogenic activity of the dual l-carnosine/A. vera nanophytosomes, a significant shift toward expression of proangiogenic genes including HIF-1α, VEGFA, bFGF, KDR, and Ang II was reported in treated HUVECs. Overall, dual l-carnosine/A. vera nanophytosomes could be a potential candidate for attenuating type II DM-associated microvascular complications with an impaired angiogenesis background.

Matched MeSH terms: Carnosine/pharmacology*
Zinc L-carnosine suppresses inflammatory responses in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 murine macrophages cell line via activation of Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway

Ooi TC, Chan KM, Sharif R

Immunopharmacol Immunotoxicol, 2017 Oct;39(5):259-267.
PMID: 28697633 DOI: 10.1080/08923973.2017.1344987

CONTEXT: Zinc L-carnosine (ZnC) is a chelate of Zn and L-carnosine and is used clinically in the treatment of peptic ulcer.
OBJECTIVE: In this study, we aim to investigate the involvement of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in the anti-inflammatory effects of ZnC in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 murine macrophages.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used immunoblotting analysis to evaluate the involvement of HO-1 in the anti-inflammatory effects of ZnC and the signaling pathway involved was measured using Dual luciferase reporter assay.
RESULTS: Results from immunoblotting analysis demonstrated that pretreatment of cells with ZnC enhanced the expression of HO-1 in RAW 264.7 cells. Pretreatment of cells with HO-1 inhibitor (tin protoporphyrin IX dichloride) significantly attenuated the inhibitory effects of ZnC on nitric oxide (NO) production, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression and NF-κB activation in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells, suggesting that HO-1 play an important role in the suppression of inflammatory responses induced by ZnC. Furthermore, results from co-immunoprecipitation of Nrf2 and Keap1 and dual luciferase reporter assay showed that pretreatment of ZnC was able to activate the Nrf2 signaling pathway. Treatment of cells with p38 inhibitor (SB203580), c-Jun N-terminal kinase inhibitor (SP600125), and MEK 1/2 inhibitor (U0126) did not significantly suppress the induction of HO-1 by ZnC. Moreover, our present findings suggest that the effects of ZnC on NO production, HO-1 expression, and Nrf2 activation were attributed to its Zn subcomponent, but not l-carnosine.
CONCLUSION: Pretreatment with ZnC was able to activate Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway, thus suppressing the expression of inflammatory mediators, such as NO and iNOS in LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells.

Matched MeSH terms: Carnosine/pharmacology