Protein identified as possible universal therapeutic target for many infections

[Ema]

Date:
December 29, 2014

Source:
Virginia Commonwealth University

A protein called GRP78 could be a universal therapeutic target for treating human diseases like brain cancer, Ebola, Influenza, Hepatitis and superbug bacteria such as MRSE and MRSA, according to a Virginia Commonwealth University-led pre-clinical study published this month in the Journal of Cellular Physiology.

By using a drug combination of the clinically tested OSU-03012 (AR-12) and FDA approved Phosphodiesterase 5 Inhibitors (Viagra, Cialis) to target GRP78 and related proteins, researchers prevented the replication of a variety of major viruses in infected cells, made antibiotic-resistant bacteria vulnerable to common antibiotics and found evidence that brain cancer stem cells were killed. Data were obtained in multiple brain cancer stem cell types, and using Influenza, Mumps, Measles, Rubella, RSV, CMV, Adenovirus, Coxsakie virus, Chikungunya, Ebola, Hepatitis, E. coli, MRSA, MRSE and N. gonorrhoeae, among others.

"Basically, we've got a concept that by attacking GRP78 and related proteins: (a) we hurt cancer cells; (b) we inhibit the ability of viruses to infect and to reproduce; and (c) we are able to kill superbug antibiotic-resistant bacteria," said the study's lead investigator, Paul Dent, Ph.D., Professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at VCU School of Medicine, and Universal Chair for Signal Transduction.

GRP78 is part of a family of proteins called chaperones. The job of a chaperone is to help shape chains of amino acids into proteins and then to keep those proteins active in the correct 3D shape. The OSU/Viagra drug combination attacks GRP78 and other chaperones, thereby killing cancer cells. After learning of the drug combination's effect on GRP78 in cancer cells, Dent and his team began to target GRP78 for infectious diseases such as viruses and bacteria.

The chaperone proteins are very important in cancer cells or virus infected cells because these cells make extra protein compared to normal / uninfected cells. The team found that the OSU/Viagra drug combination reduced infectivity via reduced viral receptor expression on the surface of target cells and the prevention of virus replication in infected cells. The drug combination was able to reduce expression of viral receptors for Ebola, Marburg, Hepatitis A, B and C, and Lassa fever viruses. In cancer cells the drug combination reduced the expression of oncogene receptors, too.

In bacteria, the drug combination reduced expression of the equivalent GRP78 protein, in bacteria called Dna K, and induced cell death in pan-antibiotic resistant forms of E. coli, MRSE, MRSA and N. gonorrhoeae.

"The findings open an avenue of being able to treat viral infections, infections that certainly most people would say we'll never be able to treat; they prove that GRP78 is a "drugable" target to stop viruses from reproducing and spreading," Dent said. "And in the case of bacteria, we have a new antibiotic target, Dna K, that if we're careful and only use the OSU drug in hospitals, we've got something that can help to treat the superbugs."

http://www.sciencedaily.com/release...cedaily+(Latest+Science+News+--+ScienceDaily)

 

[barbc56]

I think this is yet another press release that over hypes the implications of a study.

While there may be some plausability to think this hypotheses is worth testing this study was done on cells which means further studies need to be done before such generalized statements that this will cure such diverse diseases as cancer, ebola, mersa, etc.

Drano will kill cancer cells but that doesn't mean it can be used as a treatment for cancer.

This was discussed in the following thread.

http://forums.phoenixrising.me/inde...nd-academic-press-releases.34459/#post-536502

When the media picks this up, it's highly likely we will see headlines that state a cancer, ebola, mersa, insert a disease here, cure has been found.

Barb

 

[Simon]

A protein called GRP78 could be a universal therapeutic target for treating human diseases like brain cancer, Ebola, Influenza, Hepatitis and superbug bacteria such as MRSE and MRSA, according to a Virginia Commonwealth University-led pre-clinical study published this month in the Journal of Cellular Physiology...

"Basically, we've got a concept that by attacking GRP78 and related proteins: (a) we hurt cancer cells; (b) we inhibit the ability of viruses to infect and to reproduce; and (c) we are able to kill superbug antibiotic-resistant bacteria," said the study's lead investigator, Paul Dent, Ph.D...

GRP78 is part of a family of proteins called chaperones. The job of a chaperone is to help shape chains of amino acids into proteins and then to keep those proteins active in the correct 3D shape

It turns out that GRP78 is conserved not only in all mammals but all bacteria too, which, together with its role in helping amino acid chains form correctly-functioning proteins, suggests that you interfere with this at your peril. It block viruses and cancers and superbugs but it might kill lots of healthy cells too.

While there may be some plausability to think this hypotheses is worth testing this study was done on cells which means further studies need to be done before such generalized statements that this will cure such diverse diseases as cancer, ebola, mersa, etc.

Precisely.