Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder marked by synaptic dysfunction and neuronal loss, with glutamate excitotoxicity playing a central role in its pathology. The astroc Show more
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder marked by synaptic dysfunction and neuronal loss, with glutamate excitotoxicity playing a central role in its pathology. The astrocytic glutamate transporter EAAT2, responsible for maintaining synaptic glutamate homeostasis, is significantly downregulated in AD. Restoration of EAAT2 expression presents a promising therapeutic strategy. This study explores the potential of modulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway to enhance EAAT2 levels by targeting the Axin-1/β-catenin interaction. Through virtual screening of 120,993 compounds from the Asinex-CNS database, five lead candidates were identified based on molecular docking, MMGBSA scores, and drug-likeness parameters. Advanced in-silico analyses-including Principal Component Analysis, Dynamic Cross-Correlation Mapping, molecular dynamics simulations, and MM/PBSA binding free energy calculations-highlighted BAS 04937103 as the most promising compound for disrupting β-catenin degradation. In vitro validation using C6 glioma cells and primary astrocytic cultures demonstrated that BAS 04937103 enhanced β-catenin stabilization and nuclear translocation, reduced Axin-1 expression, and significantly upregulated EAAT2 levels. These molecular effects corresponded with decreased extracellular glutamate concentrations, improved glutamate uptake, and reduced oxidative stress. Collectively, these findings establish BAS 04937103 as a novel modulator of the Axin/β-catenin interaction with therapeutic potential in mitigating glutamate-mediated neurotoxicity in Alzheimer's disease. Show less
Detailed understanding of host pathogen interaction in tuberculosis is an important avenue for identifying novel therapeutic targets. Small extracellular vesicles (EVs) like exosomes that are rich in Show more
Detailed understanding of host pathogen interaction in tuberculosis is an important avenue for identifying novel therapeutic targets. Small extracellular vesicles (EVs) like exosomes that are rich in proteins, nucleic acids and lipids, act as messengers and may show altered composition in disease conditions. In this case control study, small EVs are isolated from serum of 58 subjects (all male, 33 (15-70) in years) including drug naïve active tuberculosis (ATB: n = 22), non-tuberculosis (NTB: n = 18), and healthy subjects (n = 18). Serum small EVs proteome analysis is carried out using isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) experiments and an independent sample (n = 36) is used for validation. A set of 132 and 68 proteins are identified in iTRAQ-I (ATB/Healthy) and iTRAQ-II (ATB/NTB) experiments, respectively. Four proteins (KYAT3, SERPINA1, HP, and APOC3) show deregulation (log These important proteins, involved in neutrophil degranulation, plasma heme scavenging, kynurenine, and lipid metabolism, show deregulation in ATB patients. Identification of such a protein panel in circulating small EVs besides providing novel insights into their role in tuberculosis may prove to be useful targets to develop host-directed therapeutic intervention. Show less