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Topic Review
Lipid Metabolism
  Bone is a dynamic tissue and is constantly being remodeled by bone cells. Metabolic reprogramming plays a critical role in the activation of these bone cells and skeletal metabolism, which fulfills the energy demand for bone remodeling. Among various metabolic pathways, the importance of lipid metabolism in bone cells has long been appreciated. More recent studies also establish the link between bone loss and lipid-altering conditions—such as atherosclerotic vascular disease, hyperlipidemia, and obesity—and uncover the detrimental effect of fat accumulation on skeletal homeostasis and increased risk of fracture. Targeting lipid metabolism with statin, a lipid-lowering drug, has been shown to improve bone density and quality in metabolic bone diseases. However, the molecular mechanisms of lipid-mediated regulation in osteoclasts are not completely understood. Thus, a better understanding of lipid metabolism in osteoclasts can be used to harness bone cell activity to treat pathological bone disorders.
  • 1.2K
  • 14 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Cell Immortalization
Somatic human cells can divide a finite number of times, a phenomenon known as the Hayflick limit. It is based on the progressive erosion of the telomeric ends each time the cell completes a replicative cycle. Given this problem, researchers need cell lines that do not enter the senescence phase after a certain number of divisions. In this way, more lasting studies can be carried out over time and avoid the tedious work involved in performing cell passes to fresh media. However, some cells have a high replicative potential, such as embryonic stem cells and cancer cells. To accomplish this, these cells express the enzyme telomerase or activate the mechanisms of alternative telomere elongation, which favors the maintenance of the length of their stable telomeres. Researchers have been able to develop cell immortalization technology by studying the cellular and molecular bases of both mechanisms and the genes involved in the control of the cell cycle. Through it, cells with infinite replicative capacity are obtained. To obtain them, viral oncogenes/oncoproteins, myc genes, ectopic expression of telomerase, and the manipulation of genes that regulate the cell cycle, such as p53 and Rb, have been used.
  • 1.2K
  • 05 May 2023
Topic Review
3D Modeling of Epithelial Tumors
The current statistics on cancer show that 90% of all human cancers originate from epithelial cells. Breast and prostate cancer are examples of common tumors of epithelial origin that would benefit from improved drug treatment strategies. About 90% of preclinically approved drugs fail in clinical trials, partially due to the use of too simplified in vitro models and a lack of mimicking the tumor microenvironment in drug efficacy testing. This entry focuses on the epithelial cancers, followed by experimental models designed to recapitulate the epithelial tumor structure and microenvironment. A specific focus is to put on novel technologies for cell culture of spheroids, organoids, and 3D-printed tissue-like models, utilizing biomaterials of natural or synthetic origins, and how the models could be utilized for nanotechnology-based drug delivery in the future.
  • 1.2K
  • 24 Jun 2021
Topic Review
TRPC Channels
Transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) channels are ubiquitously expressed in excitable and non-excitable cardiac cells where they sense and respond to a wide variety of physical and chemical stimuli. As other TRP channels, TRPC channels may form homo or heterotetrameric ion channels, and they can associate with other membrane receptors and ion channels to regulate intracellular calcium concentration. Dysfunctions of TRPC channels are involved in many types of cardiovascular diseases. Significant increase in the expression of different TRPC isoforms was observed in different animal models of heart infarcts and in vitro experimental models of ischemia and reperfusion. TRPC channel-mediated increase of the intracellular Ca2+ concentration seems to be required for the activation of the signaling pathway that plays minor roles in the healthy heart, but they are more relevant for cardiac responses to ischemia, such as the activation of different factors of transcription and cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, and angiogenesis.
  • 1.2K
  • 26 May 2021
Topic Review
Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Receptor Gamma
Protein tyrosine phosphatase gamma (PTPRG) is an enzyme that remove phosphate groups from phosphotyrosine residues of specific intracellular targets. It belongs to the tyrosine phosphatase (PTP) family of proteins and it is widely expressed in human tissues. 
  • 1.2K
  • 23 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Role of MSCs-Sourced Secretome in Liver Regeneration
Liver fibrosis is a wound healing response that degenerates, and is characterized by excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) components that form scar tissue. Liver transplantation is often needed as a course of treatment for patients in critical conditions, but limitations associated with transplantation prompted the continuous search for alternative therapeutic strategies. Cell therapy with stem cells has emerged as an attractive option in order to stimulate tissue regeneration and liver repair. Transplanted mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) could trans-differentiate into hepatocyte-like cells and, moreover, show anti-fibrotic and immunomodulatory effects.
  • 1.2K
  • 14 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Alveolar Epithelial Cells in Pulmonary Fibrosis
An important contributor to the development of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the alteration of the intracellular homeostasis of alveolar epithelial cells, which are mainly composed of alveolar type I epithelial cells (AT1), alveolar type II epithelial cells (AT2), as well as abnormal basaloid cells, resulting in aberrant epithelial repair, myofibroblast activation, and increased extracellular matrix deposition to form lung fibrosis
  • 1.2K
  • 27 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Male Fertility and Sperm Lipid
Sperm plasma membrane lipids are essential for the function and integrity of mammalian spermatozoa. Various lipid types are involved in each key step within the fertilization process in their own yet coordinated way. For instance, loss of asymmetric transbilayer distribution and the substantial loss of cholesterol and phospholipid occur during capacitation and acrosome reaction (AR). The balance between lipid metabolism is tightly regulated to ensure physiological cellular processes, especially referring to crucial steps such as sperm motility, capacitation, acrosome reaction or fusion. At the same time, it has been shown that male reproductive function depends on the homeostasis of sperm lipids.
  • 1.2K
  • 27 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Mitochondrial Ca2+ Signaling and Bioenergetics in Alzheimer’s Disease
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a hereditary and sporadic neurodegenerative illness defined by the gradual and cumulative loss of neurons in specific brain areas. The processes that cause AD are still under investigation and there are no available therapies to halt it. Progress puts at the forefront the “calcium (Ca2+) hypothesis” as a key AD pathogenic pathway, impacting neuronal, astrocyte and microglial function. An increasing body of evidence points out the early and crucial role of cellular Ca2+ handling dysregulation in AD pathogenesis. Interestingly, Ca2+ is a key regulator of several mitochondrial functions, such as ATP production, and brain cells rely mostly on OXPHOS to match their energy demands.
  • 1.2K
  • 09 Dec 2022
Topic Review
TGFβ Signaling
Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) is a secreted growth and differentiation factor that influences vital cellular processes like proliferation, adhesion, motility, and apoptosis.
  • 1.2K
  • 25 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Histopathology of Interstitial Lung Disease
Interstitial lung diseases (ILD) are relatively rare and sometimes become life threatening. In particular, rapidly progressive ILD, which frequently presents as acute lung injury (ALI) on lung histopathology, shows poor prognosis if proper and immediate treatments are not initiated. These devastating conditions include acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (AE-IPF), clinically amyopathic dermatomyositis (CADM), epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (EGFR-TKI)-induced lung injury, and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV2) infection named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
  • 1.2K
  • 06 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Skin Aging and Cellular Senescence
Skin aging is a result of two cumulative and overlaying mechanisms denominated as intrinsic and extrinsic aging. The process of intrinsic or chronological aging affects all tissues and organs of the body, is due to the passage of time, and is influenced by genetic background. However, the skin is continuously exposed to environmental and lifestyle factors such as sunlight, pollution, cigarette smoke, and dietary habits. These factors, collectively denominated the skin exposome, are the major causes of the process of extrinsic skin aging. In addition, cellular senescence and the accumulation of senescent cells in the skin is considered as a hallmark of aging. Senescent cells contribute to the decline of tissue function and lead to age-related changes and pathologies.
  • 1.2K
  • 19 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Delta133p53 Isoforms of Human TP53
The TP53 gene is a critical tumor suppressor and key determinant of cell fate which regulates numerous cellular functions including DNA repair, cell cycle arrest, cellular senescence, apoptosis, autophagy and metabolism. The delta133p53 isoforms are critical regulators of these biological processes in human physiology and diseases such as cancer.  
  • 1.2K
  • 28 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Caffeine in Neurodegenerative Diseases
There has been considerable research showing that coffee consumption seems to be beneficial to human health, as it contains a mixture of different bioactive compounds such as chlorogenic acids, caffeic acid, alkaloids, diterpenes and polyphenols. Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are debilitating, and non-curable diseases associated with impaired central, peripheral and muscle nervous systems. Several studies demonstrate that neuroinflammation mediated by glial cells—such as microglia and astrocytes—is a critical factor contributing to neurodegeneration that causes the dysfunction of brain homeostasis, resulting in a progressive loss of structure, function, and number of neuronal cells. This happens over time and leads to brain damage and physical impairment. The most known chronic NDs are represented by Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and Huntington’s disease (HD). According to epidemiological studies, regular coffee consumption is associated with a lower risk of neurodegenerative diseases. 
  • 1.2K
  • 04 Nov 2022
Topic Review
DAXX
The Death-domain associated protein 6 (DAXX) is an evolutionarily conserved and ubiquitously expressed protein that is implicated in many cellular processes, including transcription, cellular proliferation, cell cycle regulation, Fas-induced apoptosis, and many other events.
  • 1.2K
  • 08 Mar 2021
Topic Review
Signaling and Transcriptional Regulation of Muscle Catabolic Genes
Cancer cachexia (CC) is a multifactorial syndrome characterized by a significant reduction in body weight that is predominantly caused by the loss of skeletal muscle and adipose tissue. Although the ill effects of cachexia are well known, the condition has been largely overlooked, in part due to its complex etiology, heterogeneity in mediators, and the involvement of diverse signaling pathways. For a long time, inflammatory factors have been the focus when developing therapeutics for the treatment of CC. Despite promising pre-clinical results, they have not yet advanced to the clinic. Developing new therapies requires a comprehensive understanding of how deregulated signaling leads to catabolic gene expression that underlies muscle wasting.
  • 1.2K
  • 19 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Cholesterol Redistribution Regulates β-cell Insulin Biosynthesis and Secretion
Cholesterol, an essential component of the cellular membranes, exhibits multiple structural and functional roles, orchestrating a wide range of signalling pathways and cellular functions. The pancreatic β-cells rely on cholesterol for their survival, proliferation, and functional maturation. Intracellular cholesterol imbalance is a tremendous burden to β-cells as this condition disables the cells from adequately delivering the sterol to its final destinations, resulting in altered plasma membrane organization, impaired mitochondrial activity, reduced insulin granule maturation, and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. To maintain cholesterol homeostasis, β-cells have evolved a sophisticated machinery that not only controls the lipid biosynthesis or influx/efflux but also its redistribution among the different organelles. The mechanisms by which β-cells sense and shuttle the lipids across different membrane compartments are still largely unexplored.
  • 1.2K
  • 02 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Dendritic Cells and Dentinogenesis
Using several in vivo designs, antigen-presenting cells, including macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs), are identified in the pulpal tissue before tertiary dentin deposition under the afflicted area. However, the precise nature of this phenomenon and its relationship to inherent pulp cells are not yet clarified. This literature review aims to discuss the role of pulpal DCs and their relationship to progenitor/stem cells, odontoblasts or odontoblast-like cells, and other immunocompetent cells during physiological and pathological dentinogenesis.
  • 1.2K
  • 13 Aug 2021
Topic Review
MafA Regulation in β-Cells
β-cells are insulin-producing cells in the pancreas that maintain euglycemic conditions. Pancreatic β-cell maturity and function are regulated by a variety of transcription factors that enable the adequate expression of the cellular machinery involved in nutrient sensing and commensurate insulin secretion. One of the key factors in this regulation is MAF bZIP transcription factor A (MafA). MafA expression is decreased in type 2 diabetes, contributing to β-cell dysfunction and disease progression. The molecular biology underlying MafA is complex, with numerous transcriptional and post-translational regulatory nodes. 
  • 1.2K
  • 21 Apr 2022
Topic Review
PI3Ks, Targets of Cancer Therapeutics
Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinases (PI3Ks) are a family of enzymes responsible for phosphorylating the 3-hydroxyl group of the inositol ring of phosphatidylinositol.  PI3Ks are subdivided into three classes, class I, II, and III based on their structures, functions, and tissue distribution. PI3Ks are engaged in a range of cellular functions such as cell growth, proliferation differentiation, migration, survival, cell death, and intracellular trafficking. Many of these functions are related to the activity of class I PI3Ks family. Class I PI3Ks family generates phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-triphosphate (PI(3,4,5,)P3), which activates an assorted number of downstream molecules in the PI3K signaling pathway that are necessary for normal cellular growth and development. Elevated PI3K activity is considered as the hallmark of cancer, which is promoted by diverse oncogenes and growth factor receptors causing enhanced PI3K signaling. Several PI3K pathway inhibitors have been developed including pan-PI3K inhibitors and isoform-specific PI3K inhibitors. Some of the PI3K inhibitors have been approved for the treatment of various cancer types. Furthermore, to overcome drug resistance, improve efficacy, enhance synergy, and reduce toxicity, several different therapeutic approaches are being developed and some are in clinical trials. 
  • 1.2K
  • 25 Nov 2020
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