Department of Biochemistry

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Author: search.filters.author.Afolabi, Israel Sunmola

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    Age-specific patterns of breast cancer in Nigerian women unraveled through histological analysis
    (Scientific Reports, 2025) Effiong, Magdalene Eno; Chinedu, Shalom Nwodo; Afolabi, Israel Sunmola; Ezike, Kevin Nwabueze; Oguntebi, Emmanuel Eyitayo; Abdul, Oluwasesan Adelowo; Achusi, Izuchukwu Benerdin; Benye, Tolulope Aanuoluwapo; Omunagbe, Mercy Bella; Ogbodo, Peace Nzubechukwu
    Sub-Saharan African women face a high burden of breast cancer, influenced by genetic and lifestyle factors. However, the lack of comprehensive, age-stratified data hinders the identification of risk factors and the development of effective, population-specific interventions. This study aimed to assess age-related variations in breast cancer prevalence among Nigerian women, providing insight into associated risk factors and disease trends. A retrospective review of 3,263 breast histopathology records (9.46% of total from 2015 to 2023) was conducted. Lesions—benign and malignant—were analyzed across five age groups: children and adolescents (0–19), young adults (20–39), middle-aged (40–59), higher-aged (60–79), and elderly (≥ 80), using MS Excel and GraphPad Prism 8.0. Statistical comparisons were performed by age and lesion type. Most cases were in young adults (45.97%) and middle-aged women (33.83%). The left breast was more commonly affected (46.86%) and had higher malignancy rates than the right (44.41%) or bilateral lesions (7.20%). Benign lesions were predominant (56.76%), especially among young adults (57.34%). Malignancy incidence increased with age, peaking in middle-aged women (53.30%). Fibroadenoma was the most frequent benign lesion in children and adolescents and young adults, while fibrosis predominated in middle age. Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) was the leading malignant subtype, with a sharp rise by 2023—particularly among middle-aged (172 cases) and young adult women (71 cases). Among 339 immunohistochemically profiled cases, triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC; 42.77%) and ER+/PR+ tumors (36.87%) were most common. TNBC was the only subtype detected in children and adolescents. Middle-aged women bore the highest burden of all subtypes, with a marked increase in TNBC and ER+/PR+ cases in 2023. The rising incidence of aggressive subtypes, particularly TNBC, highlights the need for enhanced molecular diagnostics and personalized therapies. Age-specific trends reinforce the urgency for targeted screening, especially for young and middle-aged Nigerian women.
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    Molecular Docking Appraisal of Pleurotus ostreatus Phytochemicals as Potential Inhibitors of PI3K/Akt Pathway for Breast Cancer Treatment
    (Bioinformatics and Biology Insights Volume 19:, 2025) Effiong, Magdalene Eno; Bella-Omunagbe, Mercy; Afolabi, Israel Sunmola; Chinedu, Shalom Nwodo
    InTRoDuCTIon: Breast cancer (BC) is a heterogeneous disease involving a network of numerous extracellular signal transduction path ways. The phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/serine/threonine kinase (Akt)/mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is crucial for understanding the BC development. Phosphoinositide 3-kinase, phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN), mTOR, Akt, 3-phosphoinositide dependent kinase 1 (PDK1), FoxO1, glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK-3), mouse double minute 2 (MDM2), H-Ras, and proapoptotic B-cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) family protein (BAD) proteins are key drivers of this pathway and potential therapeutic targets. Pleurotus ostreatus is an edible mushroom that is rich in flavonoids and phenols that can serve as potential inhibitors of proteins in the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway. AIM: This study evaluated the anticancer properties of P ostreatus through a structure-based virtual screening of 22 biologically active com pounds present in the mushroom. MeThoD: Model optimization was carried out on PI3K, PTEN, mTOR, Akt, PDK1, FoxO1, GSK-3, MDM2, H-Ras, and BAD proteins in the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway and molecular docking of compounds/control inhibitors in the binding pocket were simulated AutoDock Vina in PyRx. The drug likeness, pharmacokinetic, and pharmacodynamic features of prospective docking leads were all anticipated. ReSulT: Several potent inhibitors of the selected key driver proteins in PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway were identified from P ostreatus. Ellagic acid with binding affinities of −8.0, −8.0, −8.1, −8.2, −6.2, and −7.1 kcal/mol on PI3K, Akt, PDK1, GSK-3, MDM2, and BAD, respectively, had better binding affinity compared with their reference drugs. Likewise, apigenin (−7.8 kcal/mol), chrysin (−7.8 kcal/mol), quercetin (−6.4 kcal/ mol), and chlorogenic acid (−6.2 kcal/mol) had better binding affinities to PTEN, mTOR, FoxO1, and H-Ras proteins, respectively. ConCluSIon: Ellagic acid, apigenin, luteolin, quercetin, chlorogenic acid, chrysin, and naringenin phytochemicals are seen as the better lead molecules due to their ability to strongly bind to the proteins under study in this pathway. Analogs of these compounds can also be designed as potential drugs.
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    Calcium-Base Nutraceutical Strategy to Reverse Aging-Associated Ogun Injury
    (2025-09-10) Eludire, Abidemi T.; Essien, Aniebiet U.; Odungide, Emmanuel O.; Peters Damilola O.; Afolabi, Israel Sunmola
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    Critical Understanding of the Influence of Cellular Aging Biomarkers on Host–Parasite Relationships Serving as a Key Platform for Malaria Eradication
    (2025) Anzaku, Dorathy Olo; Afolabi, Israel Sunmola
    Plasmodium parasites are the causative agents of malaria and can infect humans and other vertebrates, impacting socioeconomic development and causing significant health issues globally. Plasmodium falciparum causes the most severe type of infection, which can lead to chronic morbidity and other severe complications like anemia and cerebral malaria. The onset of infection is marked by the injection of sporozoites into the skin through the bite of a female Anopheles mosquito. This triggers a cascade of reactions elicited both by the host immune system in response to infection and by the parasite in a bid to evade the host immune system, survive, and replicate. The dynamics of this host–parasite relationship have prompted extensive research in an attempt to understand and exploit it in the fight against malaria. Thus, understanding the temporal and spatial dimensions of adaptation in host–parasite relationships is critical for forecasting parasite evolution and spread within and between host populations. One such relationship is the complex interplay between malaria and cellular aging processes. Understanding this dynamic will provide novel insights into the pathophysiology of the disease. This comprehensive review takes us on that journey by providing an overview of the interaction between the Plasmodium parasite and its host and the interplay between infection mechanisms, host immune response, and parasite evasion strategies, narrowing it down to how it affects cellular aging biomarkers and howthis can be explored as a platform in the fight against the disease
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    AGE-DEPENDENTPI3K/AKT/MTOR SIGNALING DYNAMICS REVEAL IMMUNE MICROENVIRONMENT HETEROGENEITY IN NIGERIAN BREAST CANCER SUBTYPES
    (Journal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer: first published a, 2026) Udobi, Magdalene ENO; Chinedu, Shalom Nwodo; Afolabi, Israel Sunmola; Ezike, Kevin Nwabueze; Ikeji, Nwamaka Cynthia; Farombi, benezer Olatunde
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    Interleukin-6-Mediated Inflammation on Telomere Length Dynamics in Malaria Infection
    (NIPES-Journal of Science and Technology, Research Vol. 7, 2025) Afolabi, Israel Sunmola; Fiamitia, Carrin
    —Malaria, an infectious disease caused by Plasmodium species, remains a significant global health concern, contributing to millions of deaths annually, particularly in endemic regions. In 2023, approximately 263 million malaria cases were reported, according to the World Malaria Report. Malaria infection triggers an inflammatory response critical to its pathogenesis, with cytokines as potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Among these, interleukin-6 (IL-6) plays a crucial role in disease progression, immune regulation, and severity. Emerging evidence suggests that chronic inflammation induced by malaria infection may accelerate telomere attrition. Telomere length, a key biomarker of cellular aging, naturally declines with age; however, malaria-associated inflammation appears to expedite this process. Telomere shortening can be counteracted by Telomerase, an enzyme whose activity is tightly regulated by human Telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT). Telomerase and hTERT contribute to genomic stability and cellular longevity, with hTERT expression modulated by IL-6 through activation of the Janus kinase signal transducer and activator of transcription (JAK-STAT) pathway. Despite this understanding, the relationship between telomerase activity, telomere length, IL-6 levels, hTERT expression, and malaria infection remains poorly understood. This review synthesizes current findings on IL-6-mediated inflammation and its potential impact on telomere length, telomerase activity, and hTERT expression. We examine studies exploring how persistent inflammation in malaria may drive cellular senescence, telomere dysfunction, and disease severity. Gaining knowledge of how IL-6 regulates Telomerase may help identify new biomarkers, therapeutic targets, and immune based interventions for malaria-induced immune dysregulation. Future research should focus on elucidating the precise molecular mechanisms linking inflammation to telomere dynamics and exploring strategies to mitigate immune cell senescence in malaria patients.