SGLT-2 Inhibitors: The Next-generation Treatment for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Nikola Lukic, Mirjana T. Macvanin, Zoran Gluvic, Manfredi Rizzo, Djordje Radak, et al. Current Medicinal Chemistry, 2024 : Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) has become a worldwide concern in recent years, primarily in highly developed Western societies. T2DM causes systemic complications, such as atherosclerotic heart disease, ischemic stroke, peripheral artery disease, kidney failure, and diabetes-related maculopathy and retinopathy. The growing number of T2DM patients and the treatment of long-term T2DM-related complications pressurize and exhaust public healthcare systems. As a result, strategies for combating T2DM and developing novel drugs are critical global public health requirements. Aside from preventive measures, which are still the most effective way to prevent T2DM, novel and highly effective therapies are emerging. In the spotlight of next-generation T2DM treatment, sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors are promoted as the most efficient perspective therapy. SGLT-2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) include phlorizin derivatives, such as canagliflozin, dapagliflozin, empagliflozin, and ertugliflozin. SGLT-2, along with SGLT-1, is a member of the SGLT family of proteins that play a role in glucose absorption via active transport mediated by Na+/K+ ATPase. SGLT-2 is only found in the kidney, specifically the proximal tubule, and is responsible for more than 90% glucose absorption. Inhibition of SGLT-2 reduces glucose absorption, and consequently increases urinary glucose excretion, decreasing blood glucose levels. Thus, the inhibition of SGLT-2 activity ultimately alleviates T2DM-related symptoms and prevents or delays systemic T2DM-associated chronic complications. This review aimed to provide a more detailed understanding of the effects of SGLT2i responsible for the acute improvement in blood glucose regulation, a prerequisite for T2DM-associated cardiovascular complications control. Keywords: Type 2 diabetes mellitus, T2DM,
The Link between miRNAs and PCKS9 in Atherosclerosis Mirjana T. Macvanin, Zoran M. Gluvic, Aleksandra N. Klisic, Mia S. Manojlovic, Jasjit S. Suri, et al. Current Medicinal Chemistry, 2024 Cardiovascular disease (CDV) represents the major cause of death globally. Atherosclerosis, as the primary cause of CVD, is a chronic immune-inflammatory disorder with complex multifactorial pathophysiology encompassing oxidative stress, enhanced immune-inflammatory cascade, endothelial dysfunction, and thrombosis. An initiating event in atherosclerosis is the subendothelial accumulation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), followed by the localization of macrophages to fatty deposits on blood vessel walls, forming lipid-laden macrophages (foam cells) that secrete compounds involved in plaque formation. Given the fact that foam cells are one of the key culprits that underlie the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis, special attention has been paid to the investigation of the efficient therapeutic approach to overcome the dysregulation of metabolism of cholesterol in macrophages, decrease the foam cell formation and/or to force its degradation. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) is a secretory serine proteinase that has emerged as a significant regulator of the lipid metabolism pathway. PCSK9 activation leads to the degradation of LDL receptors (LDLRs), increasing LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) levels in the circulation. PCSK9 pathway dysregulation has been identified as one of the mechanisms involved in atherosclerosis. In addition, microRNAs (miRNAs) are investigated as important epigenetic factors in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis and dysregulation of lipid metabolism. This review article summarizes the recent findings connecting the role of PCSK9 in atherosclerosis and the involvement of various miRNAs in regulating the expression of PCSK9-related genes. We also discuss PCSK9 pathway-targeting therapeutic interventions based on PCSK9 inhibition, and miRNA levels manipulation by therapeutic agents.
Subacute thyroiditis following COVID-19 vaccination: Case presentation Aleksandra Z Tomic, Sonja S Zafirovic, Zoran M Gluvic, Vladimir S Samardzic, Mirjana T Macvanin, et al. Antiviral Therapy, 2023 Background: Subacute thyroiditis (SAT) is an organ-specific disease that various drugs, including COVID-19 vaccines, can trigger. COVID-19 infection has been associated with thyroid gland damage and disease SARS-CoV-2 direct action, euthyroid sick syndrome, and immune-mediated mechanisms are all potential mechanisms of thyroid damage. It denotes thyroid gland inflammation, most commonly of viral origin, and belongs to the transitory, self-limiting thyroid gland diseases group, causing complications in approximately 15% of patients in the form of permanent hypothyroidism. Some authors say SAT is the most common thyroid disease associated with COVID-19. Purpose: The occurrence of SAT many weeks after administering the second COVID-19 vaccine is rare and has limited documentation in academic literature. This study aims to present the occurrence of SAT after administering the COVID-19 vaccine. We present the case of a 37-year-old man who developed SAT 23 days after receiving the second dose of Pfizer BioNTech's COVID-19 mRNA vaccine. Research design and study sample: Due to neck pain and an elevated body temperature (up to 38.2°C), a 37-year-old male subject presented for examination 23 days after receiving the second Pfizer BioNTech mRNA vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 viral infection. The patient denied ever having an autoimmune disease or any other disease. Painful neck palpation and a firm, slightly enlarged thyroid gland with no surrounding lymphadenopathy were identified during the exam. The heart rate was 104 beats per minute. All of the remaining physical findings were normal. Data collection and/or Analysis: Data collected during the disease are integral to the medical record. Results: Hematology and biochemistry analyses at the initial and follow-up visits revealed minor leukocytosis, normocytic anaemia, and thrombocytosis, followed by a mild increase in lactate dehydrogenase and decreased iron levels. The patient's thyroid function and morphology had recovered entirely from post-vaccine SAT. Conclusions: Results from this study emphasise the need for healthcare professionals to promptly report any case of SAT related to COVID-19 vaccination. Further investigation is warranted to understand the immunopathogenesis of COVID-19-associated thyroiditis and the impact of COVID-19 immunization on this condition.
Diabetes and associated cardiovascular complications: The role of microRNAs Mirjana T. Macvanin, Esma R. Isenovic Cardiology Plus, 2023 Diabetes mellitus (DM) refers to a complex cluster of metabolic disorders characterized by hyperglycemia caused by inadequate insulin secretion, insulin resistance, or excessive glucagon secretion. If not correctly treated, the prolonged effects of DM-associated metabolic perturbations lead to systemic vascular complications and cardiovascular disease (CVD), the principal cause of mortality among patients with DM. Given the increase in the global prevalence of diabetes, novel diagnostic and therapeutic procedures are necessary for its effective identification and treatment. Recent findings point to an important role of microRNA (miRNAs) in DM initiation and progression, as well as the occurrence of associated cardiovascular complications. miRNAs are short, highly conserved, single-stranded, non-coding RNAs that contribute to the maintenance of physiological homeostasis through the regulation of crucial processes such as metabolism, cell proliferation, and apoptosis. The increased availability of high-throughput methodologies for identifying and characterizing non-coding RNAs has led to considerable interest in miRNAs as potential biomarkers and therapeutic agents for DM. In this review, we first comprehensively detail the regulatory miRNAs involved in the pathophysiology of DM and diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCMP). Subsequently, we summarize findings regarding the utility of several of these miRNAs as potential prognostic and diagnostic biomarkers for DM and DM-associated CVD. Finally, we evaluate the potential of miRNA-based therapeutic approaches for treating DM and DCMP in the clinical setting.
Impact of treatment modalities on quality of life and depression in type 2 diabetes M. Lačković, Mirjana Macvanin, M. Obradović, Z. Gluvić, E. Sudar-Milovanovic, et al. European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences, 2023 OBJECTIVE Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic disease with numerous complications that increase mortality and reduce the quality of life (QoL). The current study compares QoL in T2DM patients treated with insulin to those treated with oral antihyperglycemics (OAHs), as well as the frequency and severity of depression in patients. SUBJECTS AND METHODS This prospective cross-sectional study included 200 patients with insulin or OAHs. Triglycerides, total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels were measured. The Beck Depression Inventory and the SF-36 Quality of Life Questionnaire were used to assess depression symptoms and QoL in response to different treatment modalities. RESULTS Insulin-treated patients have a longer duration of illness, higher preprandial glycemic levels, lower scores in three of four dimensions of the SF-36 physical component, and a lower score in the SF-36 psychological component's emotional role dimension. Patients on insulin have milder depression symptoms than those with OAHs. Depression symptoms, according to the findings, worsen QoL and glycemic control in insulin-treated patients. CONCLUSIONS According to these findings, any treatment modality's success in T2DM patients primarily depends on psychological support and preventive measures that promote and maintain mental health.
New insights on the cardiovascular effects of IGF-1 Mirjana Macvanin, Zoran Gluvic, Jelena Radovanovic, Magbubah Essack, Xin Gao, et al. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 2023 IntroductionCardiovascular (CV) disorders are steadily increasing, making them the world’s most prevalent health issue. New research highlights the importance of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) for maintaining CV healthMethodsWe searched PubMed and MEDLINE for English and non-English articles with English abstracts published between 1957 (when the first report on IGF-1 identification was published) and 2022. The top search terms were: IGF-1, cardiovascular disease, IGF-1 receptors, IGF-1 and microRNAs, therapeutic interventions with IGF-1, IGF-1 and diabetes, IGF-1 and cardiovascular disease. The search retrieved original peer-reviewed articles, which were further analyzed, focusing on the role of IGF-1 in pathophysiological conditions. We specifically focused on including the most recent findings published in the past five years.ResultsIGF-1, an anabolic growth factor, regulates cell division, proliferation, and survival. In addition to its well-known growth-promoting and metabolic effects, there is mounting evidence that IGF-1 plays a specialized role in the complex activities that underpin CV function. IGF-1 promotes cardiac development and improves cardiac output, stroke volume, contractility, and ejection fraction. Furthermore, IGF-1 mediates many growth hormones (GH) actions. IGF-1 stimulates contractility and tissue remodeling in humans to improve heart function after myocardial infarction. IGF-1 also improves the lipid profile, lowers insulin levels, increases insulin sensitivity, and promotes glucose metabolism. These findings point to the intriguing medicinal potential of IGF-1. Human studies associate low serum levels of free or total IGF-1 with an increased risk of CV and cerebrovascular illness. Extensive human trials are being conducted to investigate the therapeutic efficacy and outcomes of IGF-1-related therapy.DiscussionWe anticipate the development of novel IGF-1-related therapy with minimal side effects. This review discusses recent findings on the role of IGF-1 in the cardiovascular (CVD) system, including both normal and pathological conditions. We also discuss progress in therapeutic interventions aimed at targeting the IGF axis and provide insights into the epigenetic regulation of IGF-1 mediated by microRNAs.
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and its comorbidity, Alzheimer’s disease: Identifying critical microRNA using machine learning Hind Alamro, Vladan Bajic, Mirjana T. Macvanin, Esma R. Isenovic, Takashi Gojobori, et al. Frontiers in Endocrinology, 2023 MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are critical regulators of gene expression in healthy and diseased states, and numerous studies have established their tremendous potential as a tool for improving the diagnosis of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2D) and its comorbidities. In this regard, we computationally identify novel top-ranked hub miRNAs that might be involved in T2D. We accomplish this via two strategies: 1) by ranking miRNAs based on the number of T2D differentially expressed genes (DEGs) they target, and 2) using only the common DEGs between T2D and its comorbidity, Alzheimer’s disease (AD) to predict and rank miRNA. Then classifier models are built using the DEGs targeted by each miRNA as features. Here, we show the T2D DEGs targeted by hsa-mir-1-3p, hsa-mir-16-5p, hsa-mir-124-3p, hsa-mir-34a-5p, hsa-let-7b-5p, hsa-mir-155-5p, hsa-mir-107, hsa-mir-27a-3p, hsa-mir-129-2-3p, and hsa-mir-146a-5p are capable of distinguishing T2D samples from the controls, which serves as a measure of confidence in the miRNAs’ potential role in T2D progression. Moreover, for the second strategy, we show other critical miRNAs can be made apparent through the disease’s comorbidities, and in this case, overall, the hsa-mir-103a-3p models work well for all the datasets, especially in T2D, while the hsa-mir-124-3p models achieved the best scores for the AD datasets. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that used predicted miRNAs to determine the features that can separate the diseased samples (T2D or AD) from the normal ones, instead of using conventional non-biology-based feature selection methods.
The Role of miRNAs in Metabolic Diseases Mirjana Macvanin, Milan Obradovic, Sonja Zafirovic, Julijana Stanimirovic, Esma R. Isenovic Current Medicinal Chemistry, 2023
Molecular biomarkers of cardiometabolic disease-volume II M Macvanin, A Klisic Frontiers in Endocrinology 17, 1792935 , 2026 2026 Citations: 2
The Link between miRNAs and PCKS9 in Atherosclerosis MT Macvanin, ZM Gluvic, AN Klisic, MS Manojlovic, JS Suri, M Rizzo, ... Current Medicinal Chemistry 31 (42), 6926-6956 , 2024 2024 Citations: 13
SGLT-2 inhibitors: the next-generation treatment for type 2 diabetes mellitus N Lukic, MT Macvanin, Z Gluvic, M Rizzo, D Radak, JS Suri, ER Isenovic Current Medicinal Chemistry 31 (30), 4781-4806 , 2024 2024 Citations: 16
Yifei Qi 1, 2t, Yan Zhang 1, 2t, Shuang Guan³, Li Liu1, 2, Hongqin Wang, Yao Chen 1, 2, Qingbing Zhou², Fengqin Xu1, 2 M Macvanin, P Roy, MA Sazonova Molecular biomarkers of cardiometabolic disease , 2024 2024
Molecular biomarkers of cardiometabolic disease M Macvanin, A Klisic, ER Isenovic Frontiers in Endocrinology 15, 1471571 , 2024 2024
Subacute thyroiditis following COVID-19 vaccination: Case presentation AZ Tomic, SS Zafirovic, ZM Gluvic, VS Samardzic, MT Macvanin, ... Antiviral Therapy 28 (5), 13596535231208831 , 2023 2023 Citations: 8
Nitric oxide, thyroglobulin, and calcitonin: unraveling the nature of thyroid nodules VS Samardzic, MT Macvanin, SS Zafirovic, MM Obradovic, ZM Gluvic, ... Frontiers in Endocrinology 14, 1241223 , 2023 2023 Citations: 5
New biomarkers: prospect for diagnosis and monitoring of thyroid disease MT Macvanin, ZM Gluvic, BL Zaric, M Essack, X Gao, ER Isenovic Frontiers in Endocrinology 14, 1218320 , 2023 2023 Citations: 40
Novel insights regarding the role of noncoding RNAs in diabetes MT Macvanin, Z Gluvic, V Bajic, ER Isenovic World Journal of Diabetes 14 (7), 958 , 2023 2023 Citations: 15
Diabetes and associated cardiovascular complications: the role of microRNAs MT Macvanin, ER Isenovic Cardiology Plus 8 (3), 167-183 , 2023 2023 Citations: 8
Impact of treatment modalities on quality of life and depression in type 2 diabetes. M Lackovic, M Macvanin, M Obradovic, Z Gluvic, E Sudar-Milovanovic, ... European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences 27 (11), 4980-4989 , 2023 2023 Citations: 4
The role of miRNAs in metabolic diseases M Macvanin, M Obradovic, S Zafirovic, J Stanimirovic, ER Isenovic Current Medicinal Chemistry 30 (17), 1922-1944 , 2023 2023 Citations: 43
Diabetic cardiomyopathy: The role of microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs MT Macvanin, Z Gluvic, J Radovanovic, M Essack, X Gao, ER Isenovic Frontiers in Endocrinology 14, 1124613 , 2023 2023 Citations: 36
New insights on the cardiovascular effects of IGF-1 M Macvanin, Z Gluvic, J Radovanovic, M Essack, X Gao, ER Isenovic Frontiers in endocrinology 14, 1142644 , 2023 2023 Citations: 100
Non-coding RNA in diabetes and cardiovascular diseases MT Macvanin, S Zafirovic, M Obradovic, ER Isenovic Frontiers in Endocrinology 14, 1149857 , 2023 2023 Citations: 2
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and its comorbidity, Alzheimer’s disease: Identifying critical microRNA using machine learning H Alamro, V Bajic, M Macvanin, E Isenovic, T Gojobori, M Essack, X Gao Frontiers in Endocrinology 13 , 2023 2023 Citations: 38
The Protective Role of Nutritional Antioxidants Against Oxidative Stress in Thyroid Disorders M Macvanin, Z Gluvic, SS Zafirovic, X Gao, M Essack, ER Isenovic Frontiers in Endocrinology 13, 3446 , 2023 2023 Citations: 113
Free radicals: relationship to human diseases and potential therapeutic applications BL Zaric, MT Macvanin, ER Isenovic The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology 154, 106346 , 2023 2023 Citations: 104
Role of Chemerin in Cardiovascular Diseases M Macvanin, M Rizzo, J Radovanovic, AL Sonmez, F Paneni, E Isenovic Biomedicines 10 (11), 2970 , 2022 2022 Citations: 51
Methods for Measurements of Oxidized LDL, Homocysteine and Nitric Oxide as Clinical Parameters of Oxidative Stress and Endothelial Dysfunction M Macvanin, J Stanimirovic, ER Isenovic Current Analytical Chemistry , 2022 2022 Citations: 7
MOST CITED SCHOLAR PUBLICATIONS
The Protective Role of Nutritional Antioxidants Against Oxidative Stress in Thyroid Disorders M Macvanin, Z Gluvic, SS Zafirovic, X Gao, M Essack, ER Isenovic Frontiers in Endocrinology 13, 3446 , 2023 2023 Citations: 113
Free radicals: relationship to human diseases and potential therapeutic applications BL Zaric, MT Macvanin, ER Isenovic The International Journal of Biochemistry & Cell Biology 154, 106346 , 2023 2023 Citations: 104
Architectural organization in E. coli nucleoid M Macvanin, S Adhya Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA)-Gene Regulatory Mechanisms 1819 (7), 830-835 , 2012 2012 Citations: 102
New insights on the cardiovascular effects of IGF-1 M Macvanin, Z Gluvic, J Radovanovic, M Essack, X Gao, ER Isenovic Frontiers in endocrinology 14, 1142644 , 2023 2023 Citations: 100
L-Asparaginase and the effect of age on coagulation and fibrinolysis in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia IM Appel, WCJ Hop, C van Kessel-Bakvis, R Stigter, R Pieters Thrombosis and haemostasis 100 (08), 330-337 , 2008 2008 Citations: 98
Fusidic acid‐resistant EF‐G perturbs the accumulation of ppGpp M Macvanin, U Johanson, M Ehrenberg, D Hughes Molecular Microbiology 37 (1), 98-107 , 2000 2000 Citations: 66
Noncoding RNAs binding to the nucleoid protein HU in Escherichia coli M Macvanin, R Edgar, F Cui, A Trostel, V Zhurkin, S Adhya Journal of bacteriology 194 (22), 6046-6055 , 2012 2012 Citations: 64
Fusidic Acid-Resistant Mutants of Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium with Low Fitness In Vivo Are Defective in RpoS Induction M Macvanin, J Björkman, S Eriksson, M Rhen, DI Andersson, D Hughes Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy 47 (12), 3743-3749 , 2003 2003 Citations: 56
Pigments from microalgae handbook E Jacob-Lopes, MI Queiroz, LQ Zepka Springer , 2020 2020 Citations: 55
Role of Chemerin in Cardiovascular Diseases M Macvanin, M Rizzo, J Radovanovic, AL Sonmez, F Paneni, E Isenovic Biomedicines 10 (11), 2970 , 2022 2022 Citations: 51
The role of miRNAs in metabolic diseases M Macvanin, M Obradovic, S Zafirovic, J Stanimirovic, ER Isenovic Current Medicinal Chemistry 30 (17), 1922-1944 , 2023 2023 Citations: 43
Hyper-susceptibility of a fusidic acid-resistant mutant of Salmonella to different classes of antibiotics M Macvanin, D Hughes FEMS microbiology letters 247 (2), 215-220 , 2005 2005 Citations: 41
New biomarkers: prospect for diagnosis and monitoring of thyroid disease MT Macvanin, ZM Gluvic, BL Zaric, M Essack, X Gao, ER Isenovic Frontiers in Endocrinology 14, 1218320 , 2023 2023 Citations: 40
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and its comorbidity, Alzheimer’s disease: Identifying critical microRNA using machine learning H Alamro, V Bajic, M Macvanin, E Isenovic, T Gojobori, M Essack, X Gao Frontiers in Endocrinology 13 , 2023 2023 Citations: 38
Diabetic cardiomyopathy: The role of microRNAs and long non-coding RNAs MT Macvanin, Z Gluvic, J Radovanovic, M Essack, X Gao, ER Isenovic Frontiers in Endocrinology 14, 1124613 , 2023 2023 Citations: 36
A new noncoding RNA arranges bacterial chromosome organization Z Qian, M Macvanin, EK Dimitriadis, X He, V Zhurkin, S Adhya MBio 6 (4), 10.1128/mbio. 00998-15 , 2015 2015 Citations: 30
Fusidic Acid-Resistant Mutants of Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium Have Low Levels of Heme and a Reduced Rate of Respiration and Are Sensitive to … M Macvanin, A Ballagi, D Hughes Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy 48 (10), 3877-3883 , 2004 2004 Citations: 28
Assays of sensitivity of antibiotic-resistant bacteria to hydrogen peroxide and measurement of catalase activity M Macvanin, D Hughes Antibiotic Resistance Protocols: Second Edition, 95-103 , 2010 2010 Citations: 20
Antibiotic resistance protocols SH Gillespie, TD McHugh Humana Press , 2010 2010 Citations: 19
Analytical protocols in phycobiliproteins analysis MR Nikolic, S Minic, M Macvanin, D Stanic-Vucinic, T Cirkovic Velickovic Pigments from microalgae handbook, 179-201 , 2020 2020 Citations: 17