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Dengue, caused by dengue virus (DENV), is now endemic in nearly 100 countries and infection incidence is reported in another 30 countries. Yearly an estimated 400 million cases and 2200 deaths are reported. Effective vaccines against DENV are limited and there has been significant focus on the development of effective antiviral against the disease. The World Health Organization has initiated research programs to prioritize the development and optimization of antiviral agents against several viruses including Flaviviridae. A significant effort has been taken by the researchers to develop effective antivirals against DENV. Several potential small-molecule inhibitors like efavirenz, tipranavir and dasabuvir have been tested against envelope and non-structural proteins of DENV, and are in clinical trials around the world. We recently developed one small molecule, namely 7D, targeting the host PF4-CXCR3 axis. 7D inhibited all 4 serotypes of DENV in vitro and specifically DENV2 infection in two different mice models. Although the development of dengue vaccines remains a high priority, antibody cross reactivity among the serotypes and resulting antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of infection are major concerns that have limited the development of effective vaccine against DENV. Therefore, there has been a significant emphasis on the development of antiviral drugs against dengue. This review article describes the rescue effects of some of the small molecule inhibitors to viral/host factors associated with DENV pathogenesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diabetes, a chronic metabolic disorder disrupting blood sugar regulation, has emerged as a prominent silent pandemic. Uncontrolled diabetes predisposes an individual to develop fatal complications like cardiovascular disorders, kidney damage, and neuropathies and aggravates the severity of treatable infections. Escalating cases of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes correlate with a global upswing in diabetes‐linked mortality. As a growing global concern with limited preventive interventions, diabetes necessitates extensive research to mitigate its healthcare burden and assist ailing patients. An altered immune system exacerbated by chronic hyperinflammation heightens the susceptibility of diabetic individuals to microbial infections, including notable viruses like SARS‐CoV‐2, dengue, and influenza. Given such a scenario, we scrutinized the literature and compiled molecular pathways and signaling cascades related to immune compartments in diabetics that escalate the severity associated with the above‐mentioned viral infections in them as compared to healthy individuals. The pathogenesis of these viral infections that trigger diabetes compromises both innate and adaptive immune functions and pre‐existing diabetes also leads to heightened disease severity. Lastly, this review succinctly outlines available treatments for diabetics, which may hold promise as preventive or supportive measures to effectively combat these viral infections in the former. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Platelet activation and related cardiovascular complications are the hallmarks of type 2 diabetes (T2D). We investigated the mechanism of platelet activation in T2D using MS‐based identification of differentially expressed platelet proteins with a focus on glycosylated forms. Glycosylation is considered one of the common post‐translational modifications in T2D, and N/O‐linked glycosylation of glycoproteins (GPs)/integrins is known to play crucial roles in platelet activation. Our platelet proteome data revealed elevated levels of GPs GPIbα, GPIIbIIIa, GPIV (CD36), GPV and integrins in T2D patients. T2D platelets had elevated N‐linked glycosylation of CD36 at asparagine (Asn)408,417. Enrichment analysis revealed a close association of glycosylated CD36 with thrombospondin‐1, fibrinogen and SERPINA1 in T2D platelets. The glycosylation of CD36 has previously been reported to increase cellular uptake of long‐chain fatty acids. Our in silico molecular docking data also showed a favorable binding of cholesterol with glycosylated Asn417 CD36 compared to the non‐glycosylated form. We further investigated the CD36:LDL cholesterol axis in T2D. Elevated levels of oxidized‐low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) were found to cause significant platelet activation via CD36‐mediated stimulation of Lyn‐JNK signaling. Sulfo‐N‐succinimidyl oleate, an inhibitor of CD36, effectively inhibited oxLDL‐mediated platelet activation and adhesion in vitro. Our study suggests increased glycosylation of CD36 in T2D platelets as a potential route for oxLDL‐mediated platelet activation. The oxLDL:CD36 axis may thus be exploited as a prospective target to develop therapeutics against thrombosis in T2D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interplay between platelets and leukocytes contributes to the pathogenesis of inflammation, thrombosis, and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in type 2 diabetes (T2D). Our recent studies described alpha-ketoglutarate (αKG), a Krebs cycle intermediate metabolite as an inhibitor to platelets and leukocytes activation by suppressing phosphorylated-Akt (pAkt) through augmentation of prolyl hydroxylase-2 (PHD2). Dietary supplementation with a pharmacological concentration of αKG significantly inhibited lung inflammation in mice with either SARS-CoV-2 infection or exposed to hypoxia treatment. We therefore investigated if αKG supplementation could suppress hyperactivation of these blood cells and reduce thromboinflammatory complications in T2D. Our study describes that dietary supplementation with αKG (8 mg/100 g body wt. daily) for 7 days significantly reduced the activation of platelets and leukocytes (neutrophils and monocytes), and accumulation of IL1β, TNFα, and IL6 in peripheral blood of T2D mice. αKG also reduced the infiltration of platelets and leukocytes, and accumulation of inflammatory cytokines in lungs by suppressing pAkt and pP65 signaling. In a cross-sectional investigation, our study also described the elevated platelet–leukocyte aggregates and pro-inflammatory cytokines in circulation of T2D patients. T2D platelets and leukocytes showed an increased aggregation and thrombus formation in vitro. Interestingly, a pre-incubation of T2D blood samples with octyl αKG significantly suppressed the activation of these blood cells and ameliorated aggregate/thrombus formation in vitro. Thus, suggesting a potential therapeutic role of αKG against inflammation, thrombosis, and CVDs in T2D. Heightened inflammation and thrombosis exist in blood of T2D mice and patients. Lung inflammation is predominant in T2D mice. Dietary supplementation with a pharmacological concentration of α-ketoglutarate (αKG) significantly inhibited systemic and lung inflammation in T2D mice by downmodulating Akt and P65 activation in platelets and leukocytes, suggesting a therapeutic uses of this metabolite against thromboinflammation in diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]