Trends in Peptide and Protein Sciences

The snake venom is a potent source of a variety of drugs and therapeutic components. This study aimed to isolate and characterize some of proteins in Montivipera raddei venom. The protein bands and spots obtained by SDS-PAGE and two-dimensional electrophoresis were analyzed. The separated protein spots based on isoelectric point and molecular weight were scattered in the 15 to 66 kDa ranges and pI from 5 to 8. Six proteins was more extensively characterized by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/TOF) analysis. These characterized proteins included Zinc metalloproteinase-disintegrin-like ecarin, L-amino-acid oxidase, metalloproteinase kistomin, Thiamine-monophosphate kinase, Ancrod, Acidic phospholipase A2.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Identification of several proteins from Montivipera raddei venom.


• Characterization of the six high concentrated proteins by MALDI-TOF/TOF spectroscopy in venom.


• Zinc metalloproteinase-disintegrin-like ecarin, L-amino-acid oxidase, metalloproteinase kistomin, Thiamine-monophosphate kinase, Ancrod, Acidic phospholipase A2 were identified in venom of Montivipera raddei.

The Programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1), an immune checkpoint molecule, is the ligand of Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1). They are crucial molecules in maintaining immune homeostasis. PD-L1/PD-1 axis regulates the initiation and maintenance of tolerance and protects tissues from autoimmune responses; however, cancer cells can use the PD-1/PD-1 axis to evade the anti-tumor response of immune cells. Increased PD-L1 expression is directly associated with poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Although immunotherapy with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) are leading therapy in cancer treatment, using biomarkers to regulate immune checkpoints at the RNA level is considered a promising tool in novel therapeutic approaches. Increasing evidence has reported that miRNAs are critical regulators of tumor development. Hence, we performed a current systematic review to explore PD-L1 inhibiting miRNAs involved in hepatocellular carcinoma. Five databases were systemically searched to obtain the relevant original articles. Consequently, seventeen studies were included in the current systematic review. According to obtained literatures, some microRNAs, namely miR-194-5p, -675-5p, 194-5p, -1, -455-5p, -223-3p, -513, -195, -506, -329-3p, -424, -411-5p, -182-5p, -200, -378a-3p, -570, -200c, and -513a-5p can inhibit PD-L1 expression in HCC cells. These can ultimately reduce tumor proliferation, inhibit tumor migration, stimulate the chemosensitivity of cancer cells, and induce apoptosis in tumor cells. Moreover, the investigated miRNAs were further analyzed using miRNA target prediction online tools to highlight the future direction of their functions in HCC.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Cancer cells can use the PD-1/PD-1 axis to evade the anti-tumor response of immune cells.


• Increased PD-L1 expression is directly associated with poor prognosis in hepatocellular carcinoma.


• Several microRNAscan inhibit PD-L1 expression in HCC cells.