Berkeley Pharma Tech Journal of Medicine

Investigating Stem Cell Therapy for Alzheimer's Disease: A Promising Approach

Jasmine Segal — 2024-06-28

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder, a form of dementia commonly affecting people 40-65. Growing more prevalent in society, approximately 6.2 million Americans aged 65 and older live with AD. AD is a progressive, long-term neurological disorder that worsens cognitive skills, memory, and communication abilities leading to a performative decline in daily tasks. Characterized by the accumulation of extracellular amyloid beta (Aβ) plaque and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) of tau in the central nervous system, these account for synapse loss and neuronal death in the brain. Unfortunately, even with its detrimental impacts, clinical trials of therapeutic drugs are still to be tested and not available to the public. Current research on stem cell transplantation has been shown to alleviate neuropathologies and is explored as a prospective treatment for AD. This literature review assesses the important uses of stem cell therapy for AD patients to provide a new clinical approach for future treatment. Further clinical research should be conducted on the long-term outcomes of stem cell therapy for deeper analysis of its therapeutic effects for AD.

Neurogenetics: Precision Medicine-Based Approaches to Neurological Disorders with an Emphasis on Addressing Alzheimer’s Disease and Schizophrenia

Nethra Srinivasan — 2024-06-28

There exist over 600 neurological conditions, each characterized by unique pathologies tailored to individual patients. Over the past two decades, advances in biotechnology have propelled the field of neurogenetics forward. This progress has illuminated therapeutic targets and methodologies tailored to the specific needs of each patient. Current treatment options primarily encompass therapies and conventional medications like cholinesterase inhibitors for Alzheimer’s disease and antipsychotics for schizophrenia. However, these treatments often address symptoms or general targets rather than the precise underlying causes. Precision medicine has emerged as a promising approach in both animal and human clinical trials. Examples include the identification of specific genetic variations linked to Alzheimer's risk and progression, as well as the application of multigenic pharmacogenomics-guided therapies for schizophrenia patients. This review paper delves into the role of precision medicine in neurogenetics, focusing on neural stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), genetic profiling, and pharmacogenetics within the contexts of Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia. By evaluating current achievements alongside existing challenges, this paper underscores precision medicine as a pivotal strategy for effectively targeting neurological disorders.

Exploring the Gut Microbiome - Autism Spectrum Disorder Connection: Implications for Therapeutic Interventions and Future Directions

Mayumi Schaepers-Cheu — 2024-06-28

The gut microbiome, a diverse community of microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract, is vital for human health and has a symbiotic relationship with the host. Autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a complex condition affecting social interaction, speech, and behavior, manifests early in life and affects 1 in 36 children globally. Research shows a significant link between the gut microbiome and ASD symptoms, with dysbiosis observed in individuals with ASD compared to neurotypical populations. Pathogenic gut microbiota can produce toxins that increase gut permeability, impair the intestinal barrier, and activate the immune system. The vagal nerve, influencing central nervous system (CNS) activity, can release peripheral cytokines inducing depression-like behaviors. Thus, dietary changes and treatments targeting the gut microbiota, such as Microbiota Transfer Therapy (MTT), offer promising methods for treating ASD symptoms. Current research focuses on dietary therapies like gluten-free and casein-free diets, ketogenic diets, and probiotics/prebiotics supplementation to modify the gut microbiota and enhance ASD treatment outcomes. However, more research is needed to fully understand the gut microbiota-ASD connection and establish evidence-based interventions. Individualized approaches are crucial for the safety and effectiveness of therapeutic strategies for ASD. Exploring the gut microbiome's role in ASD offers promising avenues for novel treatments and improved understanding of the disorder.

Anti-Inflammatory Interventions for Autism Spectrum Disorder

Haily Holston — 2024-06-28

One of the defining factors of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is neuroinflammation, which may be targeted to find effective therapies in managing ASD symptoms. Some promising treatments include mesenchymal STEM cell (MSCs) therapy, cxytocin (OT), sulforaphane (SFN), and resveratrol (RSV). MSCs are located in many parts of the body that can reduce secondary neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation while promoting neurogenesis and angiogenesis. OT is a hormone that moderates social and emotional communication, bonding, and social learning, while also having profound antiinflammatory effects. SFN is a naturally occurring compound in cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli and sprouts, and activates a transcription factor which regulates anti-inflammatory and antioxidant genes. RSV is found in plants, such as grapes and berries, and helps stabilize the central and peripheral immune response and oxidative stress markers, subsequently reducing neuroinflammation. All of these treatments have shown promising potential, but it is abundantly clear that further research is needed in addition to combined therapies. Since ASD is a spectrum, not every case can be treated the exact same way. By targeting neuroinflammation, we can address the root cause of ASD rather than the symptoms.

Tumor Heterogeneity and Therapeutic Challenges: Exploring Approaches and Future Directions

Patricia Gonzaga — 2024-06-28

Tumor heterogeneity refers to the phenomenon when tumors possess a medley of cell types, and it is one of the central challenges facing cancer treatment as it is associated with drug resistance and worse prognosis. Each cell type responds to treatment in a unique way, thus tumors with high levels of heterogeneity are not often fully treated by typical cancer therapies. There are a variety of novel treatments being developed that aim to eliminate the obstacle that heterogeneity poses by utilizing more personalized approaches. This review assesses immunotherapy, combination therapy, dual- or multi-ex vivo armed T cells, and a nano-Cas9 ribonucleoprotein system as treatment strategies. Although further research is required to ensure their clinical safety, these treatments show their potential to overcome the challenges posed by tumor heterogeneity in cancer development. This paper also discusses circulating tumor cells as a way to test therapeutic drugs and determine treatment progress.

Decoding the Interplay: Exploring Immunotherapy Resistance in the Tumor Microenvironment

Sanchitha Kannabran — 2024-06-28

The tumor microenvironment (TME) surrounds the tumor and includes blood vessels, immune cells, fibroblasts, signaling molecules, and the extracellular matrix. This review examines the cellular components and pathways within the TME, highlighting their potential as targets for immunotherapy. It also covers recent advances from the past several years in TME, immunotherapy, and combination therapy. The review emphasizes the role of CD8+ T cells in the TME and their relevance to immunotherapy. It discusses various T cell-targeted treatments, including PD-1/PDL1, CTLA-4, VEGF, Interferon-ɣ, LAG-3, and ER stress-XBP1. Recognizing the complexity and uniqueness of each tumor's immunotherapy network, the review aims to understand and compare the TMEs of different cancers and the respective immunotherapies. Cancers covered include non-small cell lung Cancer (NSCLC), pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), cervical cancer, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and gastric cancers. The review also addresses future research directions and applications of immunotherapies, aspiring to advance TME understanding and research.