Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies

About: Torrey Pines Institute for Molecular Studies is a nonprofit organization based out in San Diego, California, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: T cell & Antigen. The organization has 2323 authors who have published 2217 publications receiving 112618 citations.

Inhibition of the proteolytic activity of anthrax lethal factor by aminoglycosides.

Abstract: The anthrax lethal factor (LF), a Zn-dependent endopeptidase, is considered the dominant virulence factor of anthrax. Because pharmacological inhibition of the catalytic activity of LF is considered a plausible mechanism for preventing the lethality of anthrax, a high-throughput screening experiment based on LF-catalyzed cleavage of a fluorescent substrate was performed to identify novel inhibitors of LF. The RNA-targeting antibiotics, neomycin B and some synthetic dimeric aminoglycosides, were found to be nanomolar active-site inhibitors of LF.

Mononuclear Cell-Infiltrate Inhibition by Blocking Macrophage-Derived Chemokine Results in Attenuation of Developing Crescentic Glomerulonephritis

Abstract: Glomerular monocyte/macrophage (Mo/Mϕ) infiltrates play a role in many forms of glomerulonephritis (GN), and the intensity of Mo/Mϕ trafficking correlates with the loss of renal function and histological damage. We analyzed the functional role of macrophage-derived chemokine (MDC), a potent mononuclear cell chemoattractant, during the progression of anti-glomerular basement membrane (GBM) antibody (Ab) GN, a model of crescentic GN in the WKY rat, and whether the effects of MDC were dependent on its receptor CCR4. MDC mRNA and protein expression were markedly induced in nephritic glomeruli throughout the disease. Blocking the function of MDC did not affect the developing of the disease from days 2 to 7, but it dramatically blocked Mo/Mϕ infiltration in the glomeruli, prevented crescent formation, and reversed renal function impairment during days 7 to 14 of the anti-GBM GN. In this study, we also found that MDC activity on Mo/Mϕ in this GN was at least partly dependent on a new variant of CCR4. These results suggest that MDC is critically involved in the development of anti-GBM GN from acute glomerular injury to irreversible tissue damage. In addition, an antagonist to MDC may represent a prime drug target for therapeutic application to intervene in the progression of anti-GBM GN and in other Mo/Mϕ-dominant GN.

Ayurveda for chemo-radiotherapy induced side effects in cancer patients

Abstract: Chemotherapy drugs and radiotherapy are highly toxic and both damage adjacent healthy cells. Side effects may be acute (occurring within few weeks after therapy), intermediate or late (occurring months or years after the therapy). Some important side effects of chemotherapy are: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, mucositis, alopecia, constipation etc; whereas radiation therapy though administered locally, can produce systemic side effects such as fatigue, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, alteration in the taste, sleep disturbance, headache, anemia, dry skin, constipation etc. Late complications of these therapies also include pharyngitis, esophagitis, laryngitis, persistent dysphagia, fatigue, hepatotoxicity, infertility and cognitive deficits. These arrays of side effects have a devastating effect on the quality of life of cancer survivors. Due to the inadequacy of most of the radio-protectors and chemo-protectors in controlling the side effects of conventional cancer therapy the complementary and alternative medicines have attracted the view of researchers and medical practitioners more recently. This review aims at providing a comprehensive management protocol of above mentioned chemo-radiotherapy induced side effects based on Ayurveda, which is an ancient system of traditional medicine practiced in Indian peninsula since 5000 BC. When the major side effects of chemo-radiotherapy are looked through an ayurvedic perspective, it appears that they are the manifestations of aggravated pitta dosha, especially under the group of disorders called Raktapitta (haemorrhage) or Raktadushti (vascular inflammation). Based on comprehensive review of ancient vedic literature and modern scientific evidences, ayurveda based interventions are put forth. This manuscript should help clinicians and people suffering from cancer to combat serious chemo-radiotherapy related side effects through simple but effective home-based ayurveda remedies. The remedies described are commonly available and safe. These simple ayurveda based solutions may act as an important adjuvant to chemo-radiotherapy and enhance the quality of life of cancer patients.