Sigma-1 Receptor is a Pharmacological Target to Promote Neuroprotection in the SOD1G93A ALS Mice
By Núria Gaja-Capdevila, Neus Hernández, Xavier Navarro, and Mireia Herrando-Grabulosa Excerpt from the article published in Frontiers in Pharmacology, 10 December 2021 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2021.780588 Editor’s Highlights Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive loss of upper and lower motoneurons (MNs), causing muscle paralysis and early death. The etiology underlying the […]
Continue ReadingSuperoxide dismutase and the sigma1 receptor as key elements of the antioxidant system in human gastrointestinal tract cancers
By Michał Skrzycki Excerpt from the article published in Open Life Sciences, vol. 16, no. 1, 2021, pp. 1225-1239. https://doi.org/10.1515/biol-2021-0124 Editor’s Highlights The Sigma-1 receptor (Sig1R) is a membrane and cytosol protein with a sequence similar to fungal C-8.7 sterol isomerase but without any other known homology with other mammalian proteins. The Sig1R is most often […]
Continue ReadingThe Sigma-1 receptor is an ER-localized type II membrane protein
By Neeraj Sharma, Chaitanya Patel, Marina Shenkman, Amit Kessel, Nir Ben-Tal, Gerardo Z. Lederkremer Excerpt from the article published in Journal of Biological Chemistry, 297, 5, 101299, November 2021 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbc.2021.101299 Editor’s Highlights The Sigma-1 receptor (S1R) is a small transmembrane protein (25 KDa), which is localized predominantly in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), preferentially at the […]
Continue ReadingRevisiting the sigma-1 receptor as a biological target to treat affective and cognitive disorders
by Kinga Sałaciak, Karolina Pytka Excerpt from the article published in Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews Volume 132, January 2022, ISSN 0149-7634, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2021.10.037. Editor’s Highlights Sigma-1 receptors are unique therapeutic targets modulating the activity of various proteins and systems in the organism. Preclinical studies reported that sigma-1 receptor expression correlates with the clinical manifestation of disease. […]
Continue ReadingCal‘MAM’ity at the Endoplasmic Reticulum-Mitochondrial Interface: A Potential Therapeutic Target for Neurodegeneration and Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders
By Jessica Proulx, In-Woo Park, and Kathleen Borgmann Excerpt from the article published in Frontiers in neuroscience, 15, 715945. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnins.2021.715945 Editor’s Highlights Cooperation and communication between the ER and mitochondria are essential to ensure maintenance of neuronal and organelle homeostasis. Neurons are not directly infected by HIV-1; thus, indirect HIV-induced toxicity via infected glia is a key mechanism […]
Continue ReadingHighly Specific Sigma Receptor Ligands Exhibit Anti-Viral Properties in SARS-CoV-2 Infected Cells
by Ostrov, D.A.; Bluhm, A.P.;Li, D.; Khan, J.Q.; Rohamare, M.;Rajamanickam, K.; K. Bhanumathy,K.; Lew, J.; Falzarano, D.;Vizeacoumar, F.J.; et al. Excerpt from the article published in Pathogens 2021,10, 1514. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10111514 Editor’s Highlights Background There is a strong need for prevention and treatment strategies for COVID-19 that are not impacted by SARS-CoV-2 mutations emerging in variants […]
Continue ReadingSigma-1 Receptor: A Potential Therapeutic Target for Traumatic Brain Injury
By Shi Mingming, Chen Fanglian, Chen Zhijuan, Yang Weidong, Yue Shuyuan, Zhang Jianning, and Chen Xin Excerpt from the article published in Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, 2021. DOI:10.3389/fncel.2021.685201 Editor’s Highlights Abstract The sigma-1 receptor (Sig-1R) is a chaperone receptor that primarily resides at the mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane (MAM) and acts as a dynamic […]
Continue ReadingSigma-1 receptor regulates mitophagy in dopaminergic neurons and contributes to dopaminergic protection
by Mingmei Wang, Chunlei Wan, Tao He, Chaojun Han, Kailian Zhu, John L.Waddington, Xuechu Zhen Excerpt from the article published in Neuropharmacology, 15 September 2021 | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108360 Editor’s Highlights Abstract Mitochondria are essential for neuronal survival and function, and mitochondrial dysfunction plays a critical role in the pathological development of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Mitochondrial quality control […]
Continue ReadingSigma-1R Protects Retinal Ganglion Cells in Optic Nerve Crush Model for Glaucoma
By Linya Li, Shaoqing He, Yang Liu, Thomas Yorio, Dorette Z. Ellis Excerpt from the article published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science August 2021, Vol.62, 17. doi: https://doi.org/10.1167/iovs.62.10.17 Editor’s Highlights Degeneration of the retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), their axons, and optic nerves (ONs) are hallmarks in glaucoma. The Sigma-1R (σ-1r) is localized at the endoplasmic […]
Continue ReadingSigma 1 Receptor, Cholesterol and Endoplasmic Reticulum Contact Sites
By Vladimir Zhemkov, Jen Liou, and Ilya Bezprozvanny Excerpt from the article published in Contact. January 2021. doi:10.1177/25152564211026505 Editor’s Highlights The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the largest cellular organelle and its function is to produce proteins for the rest of the cell to function. The ER membrane is organized into sub-compartments where specific signaling and […]
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