Protein and Peptide Letters - Current Issue

Immunoproteomics is the branch of proteomics with an emphasis on the study of functional peptides and proteins related to the immune system. Combining proteomics techniques with immunological research aims to uncover the complex interactions of proteins involved in immune responses. This review discusses the methods, applications, and recent advancements in immunoproteomics, highlighting its critical role in understanding immune responses, discovering biomarkers, and developing vaccines and therapeutics. This study offers a comprehensive exploration of the methodologies, applications, and advancements within immunoproteomics. Techniques such as mass spectrometry, antibody-based assays, and computational analysis are pivotal in unraveling the complexities of the immune system at the protein level. Immunoproteomics finds diverse applications in biomarker discovery, vaccine development, autoimmune disease research, infectious disease diagnostics, and cancer immunotherapy. Challenges, including data integration, sample heterogeneity, and biomarker validation, persist, necessitating innovative approaches and interdisciplinary collaborations. In the future, immunoproteomics will likely play a major role in expanding our knowledge of immune-related diseases and accelerating the creation of targeted and precise immunotherapies.

14-3-3s constitute a group of proteins belonging to the phosphoserine/phosphothreonine family that are involved in the regulation of several physiological pathways by interacting with several client proteins. All the eukaryotic cells are known to possess 14-3-3 isoforms. In addition, 14-3-3s isolated from different eukaryotic cells share high sequence homology with each other. Seven isoforms (β, γ, ε, η, ζ, σ, and τ/θ) have been yet identified in mammals. These proteins participate in several physiological processes by either stimulating or interfering with the enzymatic activities of binding partners. These proteins take part in several human diseases upon dysregulation which include cancer and neurodegenerative disorders. Recently, a number of evidences suggest that the interaction of 14-3-3s with either oncogenic or pro-apoptotic proteins can lead to cancer development in animals. In the case of neurodegenerative disorders, 14-3-3s interact with Lewy bodies and neurofibrillary tangles in Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases, respectively. The current review focuses on strategies to regulate 14-3-3s’ proteins in diseases. Potential strategies to regulate 14-3-3 interactions in disease conditions include the use of small interfering RNAs (siRNA), microRNA (miRNA), and modifications of 14-3-3s or their client proteins. In addition, some peptides or chemicals can also serve as potential inhibitors of 14-3-3. However, optimization of these therapeutic strategies is required for their practical implementations.

Despite significant research efforts, Alzheimer's disease (AD), the primary cause of dementia in older adults worldwide, remains a neurological challenge for which there are currently no effective therapies. There are substantial financial, medical, and personal costs associated with this condition. Important pathological features of AD include hyperphosphorylated microtubule-associated protein Tau, the formation of amyloid β (Aβ) peptides from amyloid precursor protein (APP), and continuous inflammation that ultimately results in neuronal death. Important histological markers of AD, amyloid plaques, and neurofibrillary tangles are created when Aβ and hyperphosphorylated Tau build-up. Nevertheless, a thorough knowledge of the molecular players in AD pathophysiology is still elusive. Recent studies have shown how noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs), long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), and circular RNAs (circRNAs), regulate gene expression at the transcriptional and posttranscriptional levels in a variety of diseases, including AD. There is increasing evidence to support the involvement of these ncRNAs in the genesis and progression of AD, making them promising as biomarkers and therapeutic targets. As a result, therapeutic approaches that target regulatory ncRNAs are becoming more popular as potential means of preventing the progression of AD. This review explores the posttranscriptional relationships between ncRNAs and the main AD pathways, highlighting the potential of ncRNAs to advance AD treatment. In AD, ncRNAs, especially miRNAs, change expression and present potential targets for therapy. MiR-346 raises Aβ through APP messenger Ribonucleic Acid (mRNA), whereas miR-107 may decrease Aβ by targeting beta-site amyloid precursor protein cleaving enzyme 1 (BACE1). They are promising early AD biomarkers due to their stability in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood. Furthermore, additional research is necessary to determine the role that RNA fragments present in AD-related protein deposits play in AD pathogenesis.