Molekulyarnaya Meditsina (Molecular medicine)
Peer-review medical journal.
Editor-in-Chief
- Mikhail A. Paltsev, PhD, MD, Acad. RAS, Moscow, Russia
ORCID iD: 0000-0002-5737-5706
Publisher
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Publishing House «Russkiy Vrach»
Founder
- Publishing House «Russkiy Vrach»
About
The journal «Molecular medicine » highlights research results in such areas as the investigation of the molecular and genetic bases of the etiology and pathogenesis of socially significant diseases with the aim to develop new diagnostic methods and Benches-to-bedside to the effective therapy of human diseases, including technology-based nuclear medicine.
Particular attention is given to the formation of principles of personalized medicine based on a fundamentally new approach both to the disease and the patient, in the context of an active introduction into the practice achievements of genomics, proteomics, metabolomics and bioinformatics, using modern knowledge and computer technologies, relying upon a wealth of international experience in this area.
The main efforts are focused as well on the creation of complex genetic cellular bioengineering medical technologies and highly effective drugs of new generation, including directional medicinal agents, drugs based on nanotechnology.
According to the Decision of the Presidium of the Higher Attestation Commission (HAC) the journal "Molecular Medicine" is included into the list of leading peer-reviewed scientific journals, in which the main results of the thesis for the degree of doctor and candidate of sciences should be published.
Journal "Molecular Medicine" is included in the Russian Science Citation Index.
Sections
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Original research
- Reviews
Current Issue
Open Access
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Vol 23, No 4 (2025)
- Year: 2025
- Articles: 10
- URL: https://journals.eco-vector.com/1728-2918/issue/view/13793
- DOI: https://doi.org/10.29296/24999490-2025-04
Original research
Interaction in the PAMPs – mucosal barrier – cytokines system in children with obesity
Abstract
Introduction. The significant increase in obesity among children and adolescents necessitates the search for ways to prevent and treat it. Inflammation in obesity is the main mechanism leading to comorbid changes.
Aim of the study. To establish correlations between PAMPs and cytokines in obese children.
Methods. The study included 198 children and adolescents aged 10 to 18 years with various degrees of alimentary-constitutional obesity and children without obesity. The concentrations of cytokines, trephoyl factors and PAMPs were determined by enzyme immunoassay method.
Results. A statistically significant increase in the concentration of IL-17A (p=0.022) was revealed in obese children. When divided by gender, TNFαwas significantly increased in obese boys (p=0.049) and fractalkine in girls (p=0.040).
Conclusion. The interaction in the PAMPs-mucosal barrier-cytokine system in a group of obese children showed the strongest activation of the immune system in obese boys and the escape of inflammation beyond the intestinal barrier, which is enhanced in obesity due to the association, which has pro-inflammatory activity of flagellin with TFF3.
3-9
Single nucleotide variant of the epithelial sodium channel gene SCNN1A (RS11064153) as a predictor of the development of arterial hypertension
Abstract
Relevance. Poor blood pressure control remains a leading cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite the fact that today information is actively accumulating about various genetic markers as predictors of many diseases, information about them in arterial hypertension is limited. Conducted genetic studies convincingly prove that genes affecting the function of sodium ion channels are involved in the pathogenesis of the development of arterial hypertension. In recent years, data have accumulated on the connection between the genetic marker rs11064153 of the SCN1A gene and hypertension.
Rational. Over the past decades, great progress has been made in understanding the molecular and biophysical mechanisms of hypertension. In recent years, data have accumulated on the connection between the genetic marker rs11064153 of the SCNN1A gene and hypertension.
The aim of the study. To identify the frequency of occurrence of the single-nucleotide variant rs11064153 in the SCNN1A gene and determine its effect on changes in the intracellular content of Na ions among patients with hypertension and healthy people in the Trans-Baikal Territory.
Material and methods. The presented study included 135 patients with arterial hypertension and 106 practically healthy people who served as controls. The groups were comparable by gender and age. Determination of SNVs of sodium channel genes was carried out by PCR. The intracellular sodium content was assessed by spectrofluorimetry. We assessed the subordination of the distribution of sample genotypes to the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium,χ2, and also assessed the “odds ratio (OR)” indicator.
Results. In patients with hypertension who were carriers of the T/T genotype of the SCNN1A gene (rs11064153), higher values of the intracellular content of Na+ions were revealed than in the control group.
Conclusion. Thus, the study allows us to conclude that there is an association of the rs11064153 variant of the SCNN1A gene with changes in the intracellular content of Na+ions and, as a consequence, with the likelihood of developing hypertension.
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Assessment of C-reactive protein, presepsin and lipopolysaccharide-binding protein levels in cardiac surgery patients with postoperative infectious-inflammatory complications
Abstract
Introduction Postoperative infectious and inflammatory complications worsen the prognosis of patients, increase the duration of hospitalization and increase the cost of treatment, therefore, the search for markers to determine the degree of risk of their development is an urgent problem. The prognostic differentiating biomarkers presumably include presepsin and lipolysaccharide-binding protein, the dynamics of which in serum correlates with the severity of the infectious and inflammatory reaction.
The aim: to conduct a pilot study to assess the dynamics of C-reactive protein, presepsin and lipolysaccharide-binding protein before surgery and on days 1 and 3 after cardiac surgery.
Material and methods: the study was conducted on blood serum samples of male patients of the cardiac surgery department (n=27) with and without developed infectious inflammatory complications.
Results: a significant increase in C-reactive protein was revealed on day 3 in all patients after cardiac surgery, while the further dynamics of C-reactive protein in patients with infectious complications differed from that in patients with a successful course of the postoperative period. In patients who did not have infectious and inflammatory complications, presepsin levels significantly increased compared to the baseline level on the first day after surgery, unlike patients who had complications. The value of the lipopolysaccharide-binding protein did not significantly differ between the groups.
Conclusion: C-reactive protein and presepsin can be regarded as significant diagnostic markers of inflammation, their dynamics may indicate the development of a postoperative infectious and inflammatory complication. The lipolysaccharide-binding protein does not exhibit biomarker properties in this aspect due to a significant individual variation.
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Using claudin-2 to mark mossy fibers in the mouse hippocampus
Abstract
The purpose of the present study was to test the possibility of identifying hippocampal mossy fiber projections by staining mouse brain sections with antibodies to the claudin-2 protein.
Material and methods: the subjects of the study were 9 male wild mice. Serial frontal sections of the brain were prepared using a cryostat. In order to identify hippocampal mossy fiber projections, sections were immunohistochemically stained with polyclonal antibodies to the claudin-2 protein and analyzed under a fluorescence microscope. The resulting images were processed in ZEN and ImageJ software, then the morphometric parameters were compared with literature data on staining of mossy fibers with antibodies to the zinc transporter ZNT3.
Results: Our results suggest that claudin-2 can be used as a marker of hippocampal mossy fibers in mice. The staining pattern obtained with antibodies to claudin-2 replicates that obtained with Timm staining of mossy fibers or with antibodies to the zinc transporter ZNT3: intense staining of the hilus of the dentate gyrus, with a clear pattern of infra- and suprapyramidal mossy fibers, including in the area of the stratum lucidum. The total area of dorsal hippocampal mossy fibers identified by claudin-2 antibodies was not statistically significantly different from the area measured by ZNT3 staining.
Conclusion: Immunohistochemical staining of mouse brain sections for claudin-2 can be used to identify hippocampal mossy fibers.
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Serotonin, 5-HIAA, and membrane serotonin transporter in blood as biomarkers of familial hypercholesterolemia in immature low-density lipoprotein receptor-deficient mice
Abstract
Introduction. Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of death and disability in the world population. Serotonin plays a significant role in the development and progression of atherosclerotic processes due to its two classical functions – platelet aggregation and smooth muscle cell proliferation.
The aim of the study was to evaluate changes in the level of serotonin, its metabolite and membrane transporter of serotonin in blood plasma and platelets as a biomarker of atherosclerotic vascular lesions.
Material and methods. The study was conducted on 48 C57BL/6JGpt-Ldlrem1Cd82/Gpt (Ldlr+/–) mice aged 5–7 weeks (main group) and 36 C57BL/6 mice of the corresponding age and sex (control group). Laboratory research methods included: complete blood count, determination of total cholesterol level in blood serum, determination of serotonin concentration, its metabolite in blood plasma and platelets, membrane transporter in platelets.
Results. In mice with low-density lipoprotein receptor deficiency, a significant increase in the level of total cholesterol in the blood serum was determined. The concentration of serotonin and its metabolite in blood plasma and platelets, membrane transporter was statistically significantly higher in animals of the main group. Positive correlations were found between the concentration of serotonin and its metabolite, transporter, total cholesterol and a negative correlation with the level of platelets.
Conclusion. Serotonin, its metabolite and transporter may become new biomarkers for the diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases and therapeutic targets for the treatment and prevention of progression of atherosclerotic vascular lesions in children and adults.
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Рroliferotropic effect of peptides in liver organotypic tissue culture of different age rats
Abstract
Introduction. One of the actual task of modern biology and medicine is the creation of bioregulator preparation, which have the proliferotropic effect on the internal organs of organism.
Purpose of study. Study of proliferotropic effect of short peptides and polypeptide complex (PPC) in organotypic culture of liver from young and old rats.
Methods. The adequate method of organotypic cultivation of liver tissue from rats of different age was used for rapid screening the biological activity of peptides.
Results. It has been established that by the action of short peptides and PPC square index of liver explants was increased statistically significant both in young and old rats.
Conclusion. The data obtained by the method of organotypic cultivation creates the basis for the development of new preparations, including gerontological, for treatment of liver pathology.
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Prognostic significance of CD68+macrophages in autoimmune inflammation in experimental study
Abstract
Introduction. Autoimmune oophoritis is one of the causes of premature ovarian insufficiency in 3–40% of cases. Representative diagnosis is possible only through histological examination of ovarian biopsy material, which complicates the identification of early stages of the pathological process when changes may be reversible.
Objective: to study the number and localization of antigen-presenting cells (macrophages) expressing CD68 and determine their role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune inflammation during the formation of experimental autoimmune oophoritis and experimental bacterial chronic inflammation of uterine appendages.
Material and methods. The study was conducted on 45 mature outbred female rats divided into 3 groups: main group with autoimmune oophoritis model (n=25), comparison group with bacterial chronic inflammation of uterine appendages model (n=10), and control group (n=10). Histological examination of ovaries, immunohistochemical staining with CD68 antibodies, and determination of anti-ovarian antibodies in blood serum were performed.
Results. In autoimmune oophoritis, high CD68 expression was revealed on the surface of M1 phenotype tissue macrophages. Maximum numerical density of CD68+macrophages was reached by day 15 of the experiment (714.62 cells/mm2), while in bacterial inflammation by day 60 (492.84 cells/mm2). CD68+macrophages migrate from medulla to cortex, surrounding growing follicles. By day 30, a decrease in the number of growing follicles and an increase in atretic bodies were noted with elevated anti-ovarian antibody concentrations to 10.3–14.1 ng/ml.
Conclusion. Macrophages with increased CD68+expression may serve as promising early markers of premature ovarian insufficiency of autoimmune etiology, which is of interest for clinical practice.
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Reviews
Oral fluid leptin is normal and pathological
Abstract
Introduction. Leptin is a representative of biologically active compounds produced by adipose tissue – adipokines. The traditional material for his research is blood. Saliva is a local secret of the glands of the initial part of the digestive tract, which has a high diagnostic potential.
The aim: to analyze the literature data on the content of leptin and the clinical and diagnostic value of its study in oral fluid.
Material and methods: the analysis of literary sources in the PubMed biomedical research search engine for 10 years by the combination of the words «salivary leptin» was performed.
Results. 5 reviews and 29 original papers were found, providing data on age, sex and circadian characteristics of leptin content in mixed oral fluid. The independent clinical and diagnostic significance of the study of leptin in saliva in patients with systemic diseases such as metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus, as well as oral diseases (stomatitis, chronic periodontitis, tumor lesions of the oral cavity and others) has been revealed.
Conclusion. The study of saliva leptin has an independent diagnostic potential both for diseases of the whole body and for diseases affecting mainly the organs of the oral cavity. The simplicity and non-invasiveness of oral fluid collection determines the prospects for further studies of leptin for clinical diagnostic diagnosis.
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Neurotoxic complications of cancer chemotherapy
Abstract
Introduction. Neurotoxicity is a common complication of chemotherapy that negatively affects the quality of life of cancer patients. Damage to the nervous system affects both the peripheral nerves (peripheral neuropathy) and the central nervous system (chemo brain), manifesting itself as cognitive impairment.
The main of the review. Аnalysis and generalization of key aspects of chemotherapy neurotoxicity, including pathogenetic mechanisms of damage to the nervous system, characteristics of the most significant neurotoxic drugs and risk factors for these complications.
Material and methods. The review includes studies published between 2005 and 2024. The search for publications was conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, eLibrary, Cochrane Library, Springer, CyberLeninka, Wiley Online Library, Nature, ScienceDirect, Science, Cell, Frontiers databases using the main keywords. A total of 1240 articles were found, 63 sources were used for citation.
Results. The article reviews current data on the incidence of peripheral neuropathy in cancer patients (68%) and its long-term persistence in one third of patients. The main mechanisms of neurotoxicity (mitochondrial damage, impaired axonal transport, cytoskeletal dysfunction, activation of inflammatory and autoimmune reactions) are discussed. The causes of central neurotoxicity (impaired neurogenesis, neuronal DNA damage, glial activation, chronic neuroinflammation, and white matter demyelination) are highlighted. The key groups of neurotoxic drugs (platinum compounds, taxanes, vinca alkaloids, proteasome inhibitors, immunomodulators) and significant risk factors for neurotoxicity (old age, underlying neuropathy, diabetes mellitus, nutritional deficiency, chronic diseases, and genetic predisposition) are highlighted.
Conclusion. Despite progress in understanding the pathogenesis, effective methods for preventing and treating neurotoxic complications are limited, and reliable prognostic biomarkers have not been identified. Further interdisciplinary research into the mechanisms of nervous system damage and the development of personalized patient management strategies that optimize the effectiveness of antitumor therapy while minimizing neurological complications are needed.
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The Role of P2X7 Receptors in the Pathogenesis of Depression and Autism Spectrum Disorders
Abstract
Introduction. Purinergic signaling pathways in brain cells can play an important role both in physiological conditions and in depression and autism spectrum disorders.
The purpose of this literature review was a systematic analysis of information in the modern scientific literature devoted to the role of the P2X7 subtype of purinergic receptors in the pathogenesis of depression and autism spectrum disorders.
Material and methods. The literature review includes data from foreign and domestic articles published in PubMed and eLibrary over the past 23 years, which are devoted to purinergic signals associated with P2X7 receptors, in health and in depression, autism spectrum disorders.
Results. P2X7 receptors are unique representatives of the P2X receptor family, normally involved in the regulation of immune processes, maintenance of cellular homeostasis and neuronal plasticity, promoting the balance between inflammatory reactions and recovery mechanisms. Hyperactivation of this type of receptors under stress or inflammation leads to a cascade of pathological processes, including neuroinflammation, disruption of synaptic plasticity and cotransmitter properties, development of oxidative stress, which play a key role in the development of the considered mental disorders, which is associated with the activation of the P2X7-NLRP3-cytokines IL-1βand IL-18 pathway. The established patterns confirm the pathogenetic role of P2X7 receptors in the development of depression and autism spectrum disorders.
Conclusion. The presented analysis demonstrates a significant pathogenetic role of P2X7 receptors in the development of depression and autism spectrum disorders. An interesting perspective is the potential therapeutic modulation of P2X7 activity and the study of models for translational research. Future studies should focus on the long-term safety and efficacy of P2X7 inhibitors, as well as their interaction with other approaches, which may significantly improve the quality of life of patients with autism.
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