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Topic Review
FAHFAs
Fatty Acid esters of Hydroxy Fatty Acids (FAHFAs) are ester derivatives of fatty acids (FAs) with hydroxy fatty acids (HFAs) carrying the hydroxyl group at different positions. This novel class of endogenously generated lipids, discovered in 2014, has attracted the interest, because such lipids have been found to exhibit anti-diabetic and anti-inflammatory effects. The great number of possible combinations of FAs with HFAs together with the great number of possible positional isomers makes the analysis of FAHFAs very challenging. FAHFAs have been detected and quantified in a variety of human and animal tissues, as well as in plant tissues and foods. Analytical methodologies, either targeted or untargeted, may highly contribute in studying FAHFA levels under various biomedical conditions, and in understanding their role in physiological and pathological conditions.
  • 2.0K
  • 04 Aug 2020
Topic Review
Skeletal Muscle
Skeletal muscle is composed of multinucleated, mature muscle cells (myofibers) responsible for contraction, and a resident pool of mononucleated muscle cell precursors (MCPs), that are maintained in a quiescent state in homeostatic conditions. Skeletal muscle is remarkable in its ability to adapt to mechanical constraints, a property referred as muscle plasticity and mediated by both MCPs and myofibers. This review summarizes recent insights into the mechanisms underlying nuclear force transmission in MCPs and myofibers. 
  • 2.0K
  • 11 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Autophagy in Glioma
Abstract: Glioblastoma multiforme is the most malignant and aggressive type of brain neoplasm, with a mean life expectancy of less 15 months after diagnosis, despite a diversity of treatments, including surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy. The resistance of GBM to various therapies is due to a highly mutated genome; these genetic changes induce a de-regulation of several signaling pathways and result in higher cell proliferation rates, angiogenesis, invasion, and a marked resistance to apoptosis; this latter trait is a hallmark of highly invasive tumor cells, such as glioma cells. Due to a defective apoptosis in gliomas, induced autophagic death can be an alternative to remove tumor cells. Paradoxically, however, autophagy in cancer can promote either a cell death or survival. Modulating the autophagic pathway as a death mechanism for cancer cells has prompted the use of both inhibitors and autophagy inducers. The autophagic process, either as a cancer suppressing or inducing mechanism in high-grade gliomas is discussed in this section.  
  • 2.0K
  • 02 Nov 2020
Topic Review
Thymic Epithelial Cells
The thymus is a primary lymphoid organ derived from the endoderm of the 3rd pharyngeal pouch implicated in the maturation of thymocytes and, therefore, key for establishing the immune surveillance. This organ does not contain self-renewing lymphoid precursor cells and therefore, is colonized by lymphoid precursors coming either from the fetal liver through mesenchyme or from the adult bone marrow via the blood vessels [1]. Within the thymus, the developing thymocytes move throughout a 3D thymic epithelial (TE) network, interacting with the thymic epithelial cells (TECs) of two histologically different compartments: the cortex and the medulla [2].
  • 2.0K
  • 26 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Hallmarks of Senescence
Aging is a complex process characterized by an ongoing decline in physiological functions, leading to degenerative diseases and an increased probability of death. Cellular senescence has been typically considered as an anti-proliferative process; the chronic accumulation of senescent cells contributes to tissue dysfunction and aging. Recognizing the hallmarks of senescence is crucial for the research and development of therapies against aging.
  • 2.0K
  • 20 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Neutral CB1 Receptor Antagonists
Cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R) has been one of the major targets in medication development for treating substance use disorders (SUDs). Early studies indicated that rimonabant, a selective CB1R antagonist with an inverse agonist profile, was highly promising as a therapeutic for SUDs.
  • 2.0K
  • 20 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Islets of Langerhans
Islets of Langerhan are a crucial group of cells that enable the metabolization, physiologic control, and utilization of glucose, the primary energy source for cells. In situ physiologic intraportal hormone delivery from the pancreatic islets of Langerhans maintains basal normoglycemia with insulin and counterbalances hypoglycemia with glucagon. Insulin output can increase up ten-fold after a meal, and return rapidly to basal levels with no hysteresis. Type 1 diabetes represents an increasing and growingly financially unsustainable disease occurring due to the destruction of pancreatic islets of Langerhans. Current injectable insulin technologies fail to recreate physiologic glycemic control that is managed by islet cells resulting in a tight 1–2 mmol/L glycemic variance. In our opinion, exogenous subcutaneous insulin delivery, even when provided by the most ideal closed loop systems, cannot recreate this degree of dynamic control. Current therapies fail to adequately achieve euglycemia, leading to significant diabetes complications and a risk of mortality. Thus, developing a cell-based cure for type 1 diabetes through islet cell generation and transplantation remains an ideal to strive for. Achieving this goal, especially with stem cell therapies, as demonstrated by the Edmonton protocol (Shapiro 2000), demands complete understanding of embryological differentiation and physiology of the islets of Langerhans.
  • 2.0K
  • 22 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Post-Translational Modifications in Regulation of NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation
Pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and danger-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) induce NLRP3 inflammasome activation, and subsequent formation of active caspase-1 as well as the maturation of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and gasdermin D (GSDMD), mediating the occurrence of pyroptosis and inflammation. Aberrant NLRP3 inflammasome activation causes a variety of diseases. Therefore, the NLRP3 inflammasome pathway is a target for prevention and treatment of relative diseases. 
  • 2.0K
  • 26 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Brain Microvascular Pericytes in Breast Cancer Brain Metastasis
Brain tissue contains the highest number of perivascular pericytes compared to other organs. Pericytes are known to regulate brain perfusion and to play an important role within the neurovascular unit (NVU). The high phenotypic and functional plasticity of pericytes make this cell type a prime candidate to aid physiological adaptations but also propose pericytes as important modulators in diverse pathologies in the brain. This research highlights known phenotypes of pericytes in the brain, discusses the diverse markers for brain pericytes, and reviews current in-vitro and in-vivo experimental models to study pericyte function.
  • 1.9K
  • 05 May 2022
Topic Review
Neutrophil Extracellular Traps
"Neutrophil extracellular traps" (NETs) are released by neutrophils. Neutrophils act as the first line of defense during infection and inflammation. Once activated, they are able to fulfil numerous tasks to fight inflammatory insults while keeping a balanced immune response. Besides well-known functions, such as phagocytosis and degranulation, neutrophils are also able to release “neutrophil extracellular traps” (NETs).. In response to most stimuli, the neutrophils release decondensed chromatin in a NADPH oxidase-dependent manner decorated with histones and granule proteins, such as neutrophil elastase, myeloperoxidase, and cathelicidins. Although primarily supposed to prevent microbial dissemination and fight infections, there is increasing evidence that an overwhelming NET response correlates with poor outcome in many diseases. Lung-related diseases especially, such as bacterial pneumonia, cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, aspergillosis, influenza, and COVID-19, are often affected by massive NET formation. Highly vascularized areas as in the lung are susceptible to immunothrombotic events promoted by chromatin fibers. Keeping this fragile equilibrium seems to be the key for an appropriate immune response. Therapies targeting dysregulated NET formation might positively influence many disease progressions.
  • 1.9K
  • 13 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Sequences Involved in Glycosyltransferase ER-Golgi Trafficking
Glycosyltransferases (GTs) catalyze the glycosylation reaction between activated sugar and acceptor substrate to synthesize a wide variety of glycans. GTs are involved in metabolic processes, signal pathways, cell wall polysaccharide biosynthesis, cell development, and growth. Glycosylation mainly takes place in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi, where GTs and glycosidases involved in this process are distributed to different locations of these compartments and sequentially add or cleave various sugars to synthesize the final products of glycosylation. Therefore, delivery of these enzymes to the proper locations in the cell is essential and involves numerous secretory pathway components.
  • 1.9K
  • 28 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Adenosine in inflammation and neoplasia
Adenosine is a purine nucleoside, resulting from the degradation of adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Under adverse conditions, including hypoxia, ischemia, inflammation, or cancer, the extracellular levels of adenosine increase significantly. Once released, adenosine activates cellular signaling pathways through the engagement of the four known G-protein-coupled receptors, adenosine A1 receptor subtype (A1), A2A, A2B, and A3. These receptors, expressed virtually on all immune cells, mitigate all aspects of immune/inflammatory responses. These immunosuppressive effects contribute to blunt the exuberant inflammatory responses, shielding cells, and tissues from an excessive immune response and immune-mediated damage.
  • 1.9K
  • 27 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Hereditary Nonpolyposis Colorectal Cancer
Hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) or Lynch syndrome is an autosomal dominant genetic condition that is associated with a high risk of colon cancer as well as other cancers including endometrial cancer (second most common), ovary, stomach, small intestine, hepatobiliary tract, upper urinary tract, brain, and skin. The increased risk for these cancers is due to inherited mutations that impair DNA mismatch repair. It is a type of cancer syndrome. Because patients with Lynch syndrome can have polyps, the term HNPCC has fallen out of favor.
  • 1.9K
  • 05 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Entosis and Cell Adhesion
Entosis is a phenomenon, in which one cell enters a second one. New clinico-histopathological studies of entosis prompted us to summarize its significance in cancer. It appears that entosis might be a novel, independent prognostic predictor factor in cancer histopathology. We briefly discuss the biological basis of entosis, followed by a summary of published clinico-histopathological studies on entosis significance in cancer prognosis. The correlation of entosis with cancer prognosis in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, anal carcinoma, lung adenocarcinoma, pancreatic ductal carcinoma and breast ductal carcinoma, is shown. Numerous entotic figures are associated with a more malignant cancer phenotype and poor prognosis in many cancers. We also showed that some anticancer drugs could induce entosis in cell culture, even as an escape mechanism. Thus, entosis is likely beneficial for survival of malignant cells, i.e., an entotic cell can hide from unfavourable factors in another cell and subsequently leave the host cell remaining intact, leading to failure in therapy or cancer recurrence. Finally, we highlight the potential relationship of cell adhesion with entosis in vitro, based on the model of the BxPc3 cells cultured in full adhesive conditions, comparing them to a commonly used MCF7 semiadhesive model of entosis.
  • 1.9K
  • 08 Sep 2020
Topic Review
Role of TCA Cycle-Related Enzymes in Human Diseases
The tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, also known as the citrate acid cycle, is a series of chemical reactions to form energy required for cellular function through the oxidation of acetyl-CoA derived from carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. There are eight enzymes in the TCA cycle that oxidize acetyl-coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA), and genetic or non-genetic alterations in these enzymes are closely associated with human diseases, especially cancer and neurodegeneration, but the role of these eight enzymes remains unclear.
  • 1.9K
  • 09 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Hydrogel-Forming Microneedles
Controlled drug delivery in the oral cavity poses challenges such as bacterial contamination, saliva dilution, and inactivation by salivary enzymes upon ingestion. Microneedles offer a location-specific, minimally invasive, and retentive approach. Hydrogel-forming microneedles (HFMs) have emerged for dental diagnostics and therapeutics. HFMs penetrate the stratum corneum, undergo swelling upon contact, secure attachment, and enable sustained transdermal or transmucosal drug delivery. Commonly employed polymers such as polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyvinyl pyrrolidone are crosslinked with tartaric acid or its derivatives while incorporating therapeutic agents. Microneedle patches provide suture-free and painless drug delivery to keratinized or non-keratinized mucosa, facilitating site-specific treatment and patient compliance. 
  • 1.9K
  • 24 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Molecular Mechanisms of Parthanatos
Differential evolution of apoptosis, programmed necrosis, and autophagy, parthanatos is a form of cell death mediated by poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1), which is caused by DNA damage. PARP1 hyper-activation stimulates apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) nucleus translocation, and accelerates nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) depletion, leading to DNA fragmentation. The mechanisms of parthanatos mainly include DNA damage, PARP1 hyper-activation, PAR accumulation, NAD+ and ATP depletion, and AIF nucleus translocation. Parthanatos, a kind of new programmed death mode, has been put forward by Professors Ted and Valina Dawson to indicate a caspase-independent cell death subroutine that critically relies on the hyper-activation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1).
  • 1.9K
  • 18 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Pharmacological Activation of AMPK
The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is the central component of a signaling pathway that is conserved in essentially all eukaryotes, the exceptions being a few parasites (e.g., Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent of malaria) that spend most of their life cycle living inside other eukaryotic cells, in which case the host cell provides AMPK and the parasite may therefore have been able to dispense with it. AMPK is activated by various stresses that act via both classical (canonical) and non-classical (non-canonical) pathways. Pharmacological activation of AMPK can also be achieved via a range of mechanisms. Here, we enumerate the different classes of AMPK activators and describe their mechanisms of action.
  • 1.9K
  • 27 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Mitophagy
Mitophagy is a selective autophagic process that eliminates unnecessary and/or damaged mitochondria. Therefore, it is a central hormetic mechanism of mitochondrial quality and quantity control, essential for cellular homeostasis. Its dysregulation has been shown to be a key event in metabolic related diseases and it is the target of emerging therapeutical approaches in this field.
  • 1.9K
  • 28 May 2021
Topic Review
C. albicans
Candida albicans is a major fungal pathogen of humans, accounting for 15% of nosocomial infections with an estimated attributable mortality of 47%. C. albicans is usually a benign member of the human microbiome in healthy people.
  • 1.9K
  • 12 Aug 2021
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