How natural medicines, Abscisic acid, fight against inflammation (science daily)

PharmaLive.com (9 December 2010) - Virginia Tech Virginia bioinformatics Institute researchers have discovered how Abscisic acid, a natural plant hormone with beneficial properties for the treatment of the disease, help fight inflammation. The results, published in November 2010 Journal of Biological Chemistry, reveal the new important for the development of treatments for inflammatory and immune disease drug targets.

Scientists reported some of the major molecular events in the immune system of mice that contribute to disease associated with inflammation, including the participation of a specific molecule found on the surface of immune cells involved in fight against infection. They now have to go a little further and revealed the mechanism by which acid Abscisic natural drug interacts with this protein called receiver activated by peroxisome-gamma, block inflammation and the subsequent emergence of disease.

"In previous work, our research group demonstrates that beneficial on several conditions and diseases, including obesity, diabetes, atherosclerosis and inflammatory bowel disease-related inflammation Abscisic acid, said Josep Bassaganya-Riera, Professor of Immunology at the Institute of bioinformatics in Virginia, leader of the group medical researcher and Molecular Immunology nutrition and CyberInfrastructure Institute Division principal study." An idea of how Abscisic acid reduces inflammation in these cases, it is that it binds to a particular region of activated by peroxisome proliferator gamma receptor binding site called where the drug should lock to exert its effect ligand binding domain. Our results show that this is not the case and, for the first time, we have demonstrated that Abscisic acid works independently of this receptor ligand binding domain. »

"This information is important because it suggests the existence of new therapeutic targets or other modes of action that take into account the effects of Abscisic acid in the immune system," added Bassaganya-Riera. "Drugs that bind to the domain binding of the ligand peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma as Avandia are associated with serious cardiovascular side effects". However, the newly discovered alternative peroxisome mechanism activated by activation of the receptor gamma by Abscisic acid does not appear to be linked to any undesirable side effects known as representing a promising new therapy. »

"This search results illustrate the synergy which may result from combining experimental and computational approaches to characterizing the therapeutic targets," said David Bevan, Professor of Biochemistry at Virginia Tech "by using molecular modeling approaches we could identify a potential site of Abscisic acid on 2 protein binding C resembling lanthionine synthetase, a protein required for the beneficial effects of the health of Abscisic acid." We also have, studies, mooring to reveal the reasons for the absence of a direct association of Abscisic acid with peroxisome activated receptor gamma has been experimentally validated by the ligand binding assays. »

"Lanthionine synthetase 2 C-like represents the first step in a path leading to activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma in immune cells by Abscisic acid," said Raquel Hontecillas, Professor of Immunology at the Virginia bioinformatics Institute and one of the researchers of the study lead. "We have shown as Abscisic acid affects the expression of several genes involved in inflammation, metabolism and cell signaling, which provides clues to possible points of intervention for the treatment of inflammatory and immune diseases."

Researchers hope more closely to locate some of the new drug targets in molecular immune response network continue to dissect the way that the drug naturally Abscisic acid reduces damage due to inflammation. In addition, the memorandum of understanding on novel how Abscisic acid works used to develop new classes of drugs that target the same way alternative activation of gamma receptors activated by peroxisome proliferator, potentially safer than the use of drugs that directly target receptor binding approach.

The research was funded by 5R01AT004308 number award by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine at the National Institutes of Health, European Commission grant number 224836, the program of Ramon y Cajal, National Institute of Allergy and infectious diseases Contract No.. HHSN272200900040C, National Institute of Allergy and infectious diseases HHSN272201000056C contract and nutritional immunology Fund and the laboratory of molecular medicine.

Warning: this article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those PharmaLive.com or its staff.

Source of the story:

The story above is reproduced (with drafting adaptations by staff at PharmaLive.com) materials provided by Virginia Tech, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

Reference of the review:

Bassaganya Riera J, Guri AJ, Lu P, M Climent, Carbo, Sobral BW, Horne WT, Lewis SN, DR Bevan, r. Hontecillas of Abscisic acid regulates inflammation through the activation of the independent from the PPAR {gamma} field ligand binding. J Biol Chem. 2010, 18 November 2010 [link]

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited for this.

Use of vaccination against cholera in Haiti is now displayed as viable (International Herald Tribune)

So far, cholera vaccine has been little used in Haiti, where the disease has killed more than 2,000 people and spreads yet. However, major obstacles remain, including shortages, problems of transportation and the need to administer the vaccine several times so that it can be effective.

But the Pan American Health Organization, which represents the W.H.O. in the Western Hemisphere, learned recently that there may be one to two million doses of vaccine in the world, not only the 200,000 initially thought, Dr. Jon k. Andrus, the Pan American Deputy Director of the Organization, said Friday. "We recognize that it is time to rethink our position," he said. "We want miss an opportunity."

His organization held an expert meeting in Washington Friday next to consider buying these doses and move them to Haiti.

Even if the group is committed to move forward, no there is no quick fix. Most doses are in bulk, and it may take up to two months for loans, said Mr. Andrus. In addition, vaccines have not been tested by the W.H.O.

Also Friday, Dr. Paul Farmer, who is well known for the fight against AIDS in Haiti, has approved the widest use of vaccine he called for the establishment of stocks of emergency million doses keep cholera spread to other countries.

It has approved measures such as the central mountains of Haiti people too ill to achieve the use of antibiotics clinical, even research where moderate and rebuild networks in water and sanitation ruined by the earthquake of January.

Other experts of cholera, including a different team from Harvard Medical School, where Dr. Farmer teaches, also called for the millions of doses of stop outbreaks, as is now done with measles and influenza drug Tamiflu vaccine storage.

There are only two brands of cholera vaccine in the world: Dukoral, Sweden, which is approved by W.H.O. and costs $ 40 by dose and Shanchol, presented last year by Shantha Biotechnics India 6 $ one dose.

Well that are not approved by the World Health Organization, Shanchol was created at the international Institute for vaccines in Seoul, South Korea pursuant to a grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and designed to meet W.H.O..

Cholera is widespread in India Nepal, Bangladesh and Pakistan, and is estimated at more than 100 000 people per year in the region to kill. Genetic tests have shown that the outbreak of Haiti is a strain of the region.

Until very recently, cholera vaccines have been little used. Injectable old protected less than half of those who gave them and protection decreased after a few months. New vaccines are oral, making it easier to give, but they need two doses at least a week apart in adults and three children and start protecting a week later.

A spokesman for doctors without borders, fighting cholera in Haiti, said that he had no position on vaccines yet because they were not available and necessary too long to work.

Creation of a world reserve against future outbreaks is "a separate issue" response to Haiti, where doctors will complete just to die rehydrated people, Mr. Andrus said.

A building would be very expensive, but it pointed out that donors such as United States and Canada, foundations and philanthropic groups raised billions of dollars for vaccines against polio and other diseases. They could contribute to build a pool of cholera now that better vaccines are deployed, he said.