Browsing by Author "Tichauer, Juan E."

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    Characterization of the Modulatory Effect of Hydroxychloroquine on ACE2 Activity: New Insights in relation to COVID-19
    (2021) Tichauer, Juan E.; Soto, Dagoberto; Andresen, Max
    Chloroquine (CQ) and hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) have shown the ability to inhibit in vitro viral replications of coronaviridae viruses such as SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2. However, clinical trial outcomes have been disparate, suggesting that CQ and HCQ antiviral mechanisms are not fully understood. Based on three-dimensional structural similarities between HCQ and the known ACE2 specific inhibitor MLN-4760, we compared their modulation on ACE2 activity. Here we describe, for the first time, in a cell-free in vitro system that HCQ directly and dose-dependently inhibits the activity of recombinant human ACE2, with a potency similar to the MLN-4760. Further analysis suggests that HCQ binds to a noncompetitive site other than the one occupied by MLN-4760. We also determined that the viral spike glycoprotein segment that comprises the RBD segment has no effect on ACE2 activity but unexpectedly was able to partially reverse the inhibition induced by HCQ but not that by MLN-4760. In summary, here we demonstrate the direct inhibitory action of HCQ over the activity of the enzyme ACE2. Then, by determining the activity of ACE2, we reveal that the interaction with the spike protein of SARS-CoV-2 leads to structural changes that at least partially displace the interaction of the said enzyme with HCQ. These results may help to explain why the effectiveness of HCQ in clinical trials has been so variable. Additionally, this knowledge could be used for to develop techniques for the detection of SARS-CoV-2.
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    Identification of novel 11β-HSD1 inhibitors by combined ligand- and structure-based virtual screening
    (2014) Lagos Arévalo, Carlos Fernando; Vecchiola Cárdenas, Andrea Paola; Allende, Fidel; Fuentes Zúñiga, Cristóbal Andrés; Tichauer, Juan E.; Valdivia, Carolina; Solari Gajardo, Sandra; Campino Johnson, María del Carmen; Tapia-Castillo, Alejandra; Baudrand Biggs, René; Villarroel, Pia; Cifuentes, Mariana; Owen, Gareth Ivor; Carvajal, Cristian A.; Fardella B., Carlos
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    Interferon-gamma ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis by inducing homeostatic adaptation of microglia
    (2023) Tichauer, Juan E.; Arellano, Gabriel; Acuna, Eric; Gonzalez, Luis F.; Kannaiyan, Nirmal R.; Murgas, Paola; Panadero-Medianero, Concepcion; Ibanez-Vega, Jorge; Burgos, Paula I.; Loda, Eileah; Miller, Stephen D.; Rossner, Moritz J.; Gebicke-Haerter, Peter J.; Naves, Rodrigo
    Compelling evidence has shown that interferon (IFN)-gamma has dual effects in multiple sclerosis and in its animal model of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), with results supporting both a pathogenic and beneficial function. However, the mechanisms whereby IFN-gamma may promote neuroprotection in EAE and its effects on central nervous system (CNS)-resident cells have remained an enigma for more than 30 years. In this study, the impact of IFN-gamma at the peak of EAE, its effects on CNS infiltrating myeloid cells (MC) and microglia (MG), and the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms were investigated. IFN-gamma administration resulted in disease amelioration and attenuation of neuroinflammation associated with significantly lower frequencies of CNS CD11b(+) myeloid cells and less infiltration of inflammatory cells and demyelination. A significant reduction in activated MG and enhanced resting MG was determined by flow cytometry and immunohistrochemistry. Primary MC/MG cultures obtained from the spinal cord of IFN-gamma-treated EAE mice that were ex vivo re-stimulated with a low dose (1 ng/ml) of IFN-gamma and neuroantigen, promoted a significantly higher induction of CD4(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells associated with increased transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta secretion. Additionally, IFN-gamma-treated primary MC/MG cultures produced significantly lower nitrite in response to LPS challenge than control MC/MG. IFN-gamma-treated EAE mice had a significantly higher frequency of CX3CR1(high) MC/MG and expressed lower levels of program death ligand 1 (PD-L1) than PBS-treated mice. Most CX3CR1(high)PD-L1(low)CD11b(+)Ly6G(-) cells expressed MG markers (Tmem119, Sall2, and P2ry12), indicating that they represented an enriched MG subset (CX3CR1(high)PD-L1(low) MG). Amelioration of clinical symptoms and induction of CX3CR1(high)PD-L1(low) MG by IFN-gamma were dependent on STAT-1. RNA-seq analyses revealed that in vivo treatment with IFN-gamma promoted the induction of homeostatic CX3CR1(high)PD-L1(low) MG, upregulating the expression of genes associated with tolerogenic and anti-inflammatory roles and down-regulating pro-inflammatory genes. These analyses highlight the master role that IFN-gamma plays in regulating microglial activity and provide new insights into the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the therapeutic activity of IFN-gamma in EAE.
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    P450CYP2C epoxygenase and CYP4A omega-hydroxylase mediate ciprofibrate-induced PPAR alpha-dependent peroxisomal proliferation
    (AMER SOC BIOCHEMISTRY MOLECULAR BIOLOGY INC, 2007) Gatica, Arnaldo; Aguilera, Mauricio C.; Contador, David; Loyola, Gloria; Pinto, Claudio O.; Amigo, Ludwig; Tichauer, Juan E.; Zanlungo, Silvana; Bronfman, Miguel
    Peroxisomal proliferators, such as ciprofibrate, are used extensively as effective hypolipidemic drugs. The effects of these compounds on lipid metabolism require ligand binding activation of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR) alpha subtype of nuclear receptors and involve transcriptional activation of the metabolic pathways involved in lipid oxidative metabolism, transport, and disposition. omega-Hydroxylated-eicosatrienoic acids (HEETs), products of the sequential metabolism of arachidonic acid (AA) by the cytochrome P450 CYP2C epoxygenase and CYP4A omega-hydroxylase gene subfamilies, have been identified as potent and high-affinity ligands of PPAR alpha in vitro and as PPAR alpha activators in transient transfection assays. Using isolated rat hepatocytes in culture, we demonstrate that specific inhibition of either the CYP2C epoxygenase or the CYP4A omega-hydroxylase abrogates ciprofibrate-induced peroxisomal proliferation, whereas inhibition of other eicosanoid-synthesizing pathways had no effect. Conversely, overexpression of the rat liver CYP2C11 epoxygenase leads to spontaneous peroxisomal proliferation, an effect that is reversed by a CYP inhibitor. Based on these results, we propose that HEETs may serve as endogenous PPAR alpha ligands and that the P450 AA monooxygenases participate in ciprofibrate-induced peroxisomal proliferation and the activation of PPAR alpha downstream targets.
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    Transforming growth factor-β stimulates β amyloid uptake by microglia through Smad3-dependent mechanisms
    (2012) Tichauer, Juan E.; von Bernhardi, Rommy
    Inflammatory cytokines and beta amyloid (A beta) induce activation of glial cells, leading to both protective and deleterious changes that are relevant for the pathogenesis of Alzheimer disease (AD). We have shown that astrocytes downregulate microglial cell cytotoxic activation through secretion of transforming growth factor-beta (TGF beta 1), and there is evidence that TGF beta 1 modifies A beta removal through the modulation of microglia. However, inflammatory activation of microglia is increased and A beta clearance is reduced in AD patients, regardless of the fact that TGF beta 1 is increased in their nervous system. We propose that changes in TGF beta Smad3 signal transduction could modify the regulation mediated by TGF beta 1. Here we evaluated the participation of the TGF beta Smad3 pathway in regulation of the expression pattern of scavenger receptors (SR) and activation of microglia through nitric oxide (NO.) secretion and phagocytosis of A beta. We found that TGF beta 1 increased SR-A by 2.4-fold and decreased SR-BI expression by 79% at 48 hr, whereas it did not change SR-MARCO or CD36 expression. In addition, we observed a 51% increase of A beta uptake and an 83% decrease of NO. production induced by lipopolysaccharide in microglial cell cultures. Increased expression of SR-A, phagocytosis, and downregulation of NO. by TGF beta 1 were prevented by the inhibition of the TGF beta Smad3 pathway. Our results indicate that the modulation of microglial cell activation by TGF beta 1, leading to increased clearance of A beta and reduced cytotoxicity, is at least partially mediated by the Smad pathway. (c) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.