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Topic Review
Biography
Peer Reviewed Entry
Video Entry
Topic Review
Phosphodiesterases in Cirrhotic Portal Hypertension
Here, we review the role of phosphodiesterases in regulation of portal pressure in healthy liver and in liver cirrhosis and we present data, that inhibitors of phosphodiesterase-5 (PDE-5) might be a promising novel therapeutic approach in cirrhotic portal hypertension.
1.0K
13 Sep 2020
Topic Review
γ-Hydroxybutyric Acid
γ-Hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) is an endogenous short chain fatty acid that acts as a neurotransmitter and neuromodulator in the mammalian brain. It has often been illegally abused or misused due to its strong anesthetic effect, particularly in drug-facilitated crimes worldwide. However, proving its ingestion is not straightforward because of the difficulty in distinguishing between endogenous and exogenous GHB, as well as its rapid metabolism. Metabolomics and metabolism studies have recently been used to identify potential biomarkers of GHB exposure.
1.0K
04 Mar 2021
Topic Review
JNKs in Development of Disease
c-Jun N-terminal kinases (JNKs) have emerged as suitable therapeutic strategies. In fact, it has been demonstrated that some unspecific JNK inhibitors exert antidiabetic and neuroprotective effects, albeit they usually show high toxicity or lack therapeutic value. In this sense, natural specific JNK inhibitors, such as Licochalcone A, are promising candidates. Nonetheless, research on the understanding of the role of each of the JNKs remains mandatory in order to progress on the identification of new selective JNK isoform inhibitors. In the present review, a summary on the current gathered data on the role of JNKs in pathology is presented, as well as a discussion on their potential role in pathologies like epilepsy and metabolic-cognitive injury. Moreover, data on the effects of synthetic small molecule inhibitors that modulate JNK-dependent pathways in the brain and peripheral tissues is reviewed.
1.0K
23 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Sialic Acids
This article gives a very short overview on sialic acids and is an excerpt of the introduction from the publication ‘Control of Innate Immunity by Sialic Acids in the Nervous Tissue’ by Liao H, Klaus C, Neumann H. in the Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Jul 31;21(15):E5494. doi: 10.3390/ijms21155494
1.0K
13 Aug 2020
Topic Review
Lipoprotein Lipase Regulation in Atherosclerosis
Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) plays a major role in the lipid homeostasis mainly by mediating the intravascular lipolysis of triglyceride rich lipoproteins. Impaired LPL activity leads to the accumulation of chylomicrons and very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) in plasma, resulting in hypertriglyceridemia. While low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) is recognized as a primary risk factor for atherosclerosis, hypertriglyceridemia has been shown to be an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and a residual risk factor in atherosclerosis development.
1.0K
01 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Hematogenous Tumor Metastasis
Hematogenous tumor metastasis begins with the invasion and spread of primary tumor cells in the local tissue leading to intravasation. Directional migration of primary cancer cells toward intratumor blood/lymphatic vessels should elevate the probability for intravasation and ultimate hematogenous metastasis. Many presume, on the analogy of chemotaxis by specific chemoattractants, that concentration gradients of energy substrates/metabolites in tumor tissue would be a guiding cue for directional cell migration, whereas strong experimental evidence is scarce at present. Here, using a novel microfluidic device, we clearly demonstrated that the gradient of extracellular pH is a cue for directional migration of MDA-MB-231 cells in vitro.
1.0K
29 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Natural Products from Madagascar
Natural products with biological activity represent a primary source of commodities ranging from human nutrition to therapy. Also they may represent cosmetic principles and/or recreational tools. These natural means have been used by mankind for centuries, if not millennia. They are commonly used all over the world in socio-economical contexts, but are particularly attractive in disadvantaged areas or economically emerging situations all over the world because of their accessibility and low cost/use ratio.
1.0K
08 Oct 2021
Topic Review
GLUT-5 in Chicken Duodenal Epithelium
Although patterns of glucose transporter expression and notes about diseases leading to adaptive changes in intestinal fructose transport have been well-characterized, the connection between infection and fructose transportation has been lightly investigated. Up to now only few studies on GLUT-5 expression and function under pathological conditions in bird intestines have been carried out. In the current study we immunolocalized GLUT-5 in one-week-old chicken (Gallus gallus domesticus) duodenal epithelium in norm and during T-2 mycotoxicosis using polyclonal primary antibody Rabbit anti-GLUT-5 (Abcam, UK). The study revealed strong expression of GLUT-5 in the apical parts of the duodenal epithelial cells in the control group chickens and weak staining for GLUT-5 in the intestinal epithelium in the T-2 mycotoxicosis group indicating to the decreased expression of GLUT-5 in the duodenal epithelium during T-2 mycotoxicosis.
1.0K
05 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Strategies for AAV-Based Therapy of Ducheen Muscular Dystrophin
Gene therapy using the adeno-associated virus (rAAV) to deliver mini/micro- dystrophin is the current promising strategy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD). However, the further transformation of this strategy still faces many “bottlenecks”. Most gene therapies are only suitable for infants with strong muscle cell regeneration and immature immune system, and the treatment depends heavily on the high dose of rAAV. However, high-dose rAAV inevitably causes side effects such as immune response and acute liver toxicity. Therefore, how to reduce the degree of fibrosis and excessive immune response in older patients and uncouple the dependence association between therapeutic effect and high dose rAAV are crucial steps for the transformation of rAAV-based gene therapy.
1.0K
18 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Pistachio as a Regular Food
The pistachio is regarded as a relevant source of biologically active components that, compared to other nuts, possess a healthier nutritional profile with low-fat content composed mainly of monounsaturated fatty acids, a high source of vegetable protein and dietary fibre, remarkable content of minerals, especially potassium, and an excellent source of vitamins, such as vitamins C and E. A rich composition in terms of phytochemicals, such as tocopherols, carotenoids, and, importantly, phenolic compounds, makes pistachio a powerful food to explore its involvement in the prevention of prevalent pathologies.
1.0K
29 Sep 2022
Topic Review
C/EBPs
CCAAT-enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBPs) is a family of six structurally homologous transcription factors that promote the expression of genes involved in different cellular responses, such as proliferation, growth, and differentiation. These transcription factors control the differentiation of several cell types, and have key roles in regulating cellular proliferation, through interaction with cell cycle proteins. The molecular structure of C/EBPs and their ability to interact with a multitude of factors determine their complex functions in different cells. In fact, C/EBPs can be activated or inhibited by a variety of intracellular or extracellular signals. In addition, post-translational modifications and interaction with other proteins can regulate their expression and activity in a complex manner. C/EBPs can activate or repress several classes of genes implicated in cell differentiation, metabolism, inflammation, and immune response. Moreover, C/EBPs play an important role in cancer progression and metastasis, showing both pro-oncogenic and onco-suppressor functions. Interestingly, the same isotype of C/EBP can exhibit both of these opposite functions. This “Janus” role of C/EBPs in cancer could depend on their particular position at the crossroads between proliferation and differentiation. Specific conditions such as cell type, microenvironment, type of heterodimerization, or interaction with different regulatory proteins can tip the balance towards pro- or anti-oncogenic action.
1.0K
13 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Vascularization and Cancer Biology
Vascularization is another hallmark of cancer, whereby cancer cells promote the formation of blood vessels to deliver nutrients for fast-growing solid tumors. The most well-known process of vascularization is angiogenesis. In normal cells and tissues, the angiogenesis is a controlled process that is turned on or off depending on the needs of the cells; however, in cancerous cells and tumors, the angiogenesis process is continuous and there is a dysregulation of pro- and antiangiogenesis factors . This continuous activation of angiogenesis allows the cancer cells to form blood vessels to obtain sufficient nutrients for continuous growth and proliferation. There are other ways tumors can achieve vascularization, such as vascular co-option, intussusceptive microvascular growth and vasculogenic mimicry.
1.0K
22 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Structure, Expression Regulation, and Subcellular Localization of USP16
Ubiquitin-specific peptidase 16 (USP16) is a deubiquitinase that plays a role in the regulation of gene expression, cell cycle progression, and various other functions. It was originally identified as the major deubiquitinase for histone H2A and has since been found to deubiquitinate a range of other substrates, including proteins from both the cytoplasm and nucleus. USP16 is phosphorylated when cells enter mitosis and dephosphorylated during the metaphase/anaphase transition. While much of USP16 is localized in the cytoplasm, separating the enzyme from its substrates is considered an important regulatory mechanism. Some of the functions that USP16 has been linked to include DNA damage repair, immune disease, tumorigenesis, protein synthesis, coronary artery health, and male infertility. The strong connection to immune response and the fact that multiple oncogene products are substrates of USP16 suggests that USP16 may be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of certain human diseases.
1.0K
06 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Antibacterial Secondary Metabolites from Basidiomycetes
Fungi are a rich source of secondary metabolites with several pharmacological activities such as antifungal, antioxidant, antibacterial and anticancer to name a few. Due to the large number of diverse structured chemical compounds they produce, fungi from the phyla Ascomycota, Basidiomycota and Muccoromycota have been intensively studied for isolation of bioactive compounds. Basidiomycetes-derived secondary metabolites are known as a promising source of antibacterial compounds with activity against Gram-positive bacteria. The continued emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a major challenge to patient health as it leads to higher morbidity and mortality, higher hospital-stay duration and substantial economic burden in global healthcare sector. One of the key culprits for AMR crisis is Staphylococcus aureus causing community-acquired infections as the pathogen develops resistance towards multiple antibiotics. The recent emergence of community strains of S. aureus harbouring methicillin-resistant (MRSA), vancomycin-intermediate (VISA) and vancomycin-resistant (VRSA) genes associated with increased virulence is challenging. Despite the few significant developments in antibiotic research, successful MRSA therapeutic options are still needed to reduce the use of scanty and expensive second-line treatments. This paper provides an overview of findings from various studies on antibacterial secondary metabolites from basidiomycetes, with a special focus on antistaphylococcal activity.
1.0K
20 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Genetically Encoded Fluorescent Redox Biosensors
In the most general sense of this term, a genetically encoded fluorescent redox biosensor is a kind of genetic system that changes a fluorescence in response to a redox event. Most often, such a tool is a chimeric protein consisting of a sensory domain that responds to a redox stimulus, and a domain whose fluorescence changes depending on alterations occurring with the sensory domain. It can also be a single-domain fluorescent protein, the structure of which changes when exposed to a redox stimulus, and the change in the structure leads to a change in fluorescence. In addition, there are transcriptional reporters, the principle of which is based on the alteration of the transcription of the fluorescent protein gene upon exposure to a redox stimulus. This article will focus on protein genetically encoded fluorescent redox biosensors that are currently used in in vivo research.
1.0K
11 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Mass Spectrometry-Based Single Cell Analysis
Cell-to-cell variation exists within a population of the same cell type due to stochastic gene and protein expression and environmental factors. Studying such cellular heterogeneity is the key to understanding the underlying mechanisms of fundamental biology and complex diseases, highly demanding developments in advanced technologies for molecular profiling at the single-cell level.
1.0K
14 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Porphyrins/Chlorins for Viruses Inactivation
The problem of treating viral infections is extremely important both in connection with the emergence of new viral diseases and in connection with the low efficiency of existing approaches to the treatment of known viral infections. This entry is devoted to the use of porphyrins, chlorins, and phthalocyanines for the fight against viral infections using chemical and photochemical inactivation methods. The purpose of this work is to summarize the main approaches developed to date to chemical and photodynamic inactivation of human and animal viruses using porphyrins and their analogs, as well as to analyze and discuss information on viral targets and antiviral activity of porphyrins, chlorins and their derivatives obtained in the last 10-15 years, in order to identify the most promising areas.
1.0K
23 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Static Osteogenesis versus Dynamic Osteogenesis
Static (SO) and dynamic (DO) osteogenesis are two very different types of osteogenesis, which are thus named because the former is characterized by pluristratified cords of unexpectedly stationary osteoblasts which differentiate at a fairly constant distance from the blood capillaries and transform into osteocytes without moving from the onset site, while the latter is distinguished by the well-known typical monostratified laminae of movable osteoblasts, which secrete bone moving towards the vessels.
999
25 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Resveratrol in Aging COVID-19 Patients
COVID-19 symptoms are highly heterogeneous, and the patient may be asymptomatic or may present with mild to severe or fatal symptoms. Factors, such as age, sex, and comorbidities, are key determinants of illness severity and progression. Aging is accompanied by multiple deficiencies in interferon production by dendritic cells or macrophages in response to viral infections, resulting in dysregulation of inflammatory immune responses and excess oxidative stress. Age-related dysregulation of immune function may cause a more obvious pathophysiological response to SARS-CoV-2 infection in elderly patients and may accelerate the risk of biological aging, even after recovery. Resveratrol is a potent antioxidant with antiviral activity.
999
14 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Amperometric Biosensors and Biofuel Cells
Amperometric biosensors and biofuel cells are mostly based on immobilized enzymes or living cells. Among the many oxidoreductases, glucose oxidase (GOx) is used mostly in biosensor design. The same GOx can be well applied for the development of biofuel cells and self-charging capacitors based on the operation of biofuel cells.
999
24 Aug 2021
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