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Topic Review
Rheumatoid Arthritis(RA)
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic systemic autoimmune disease, which affects approximately 1% of the global population and occurs preferably in females, with a female-to-male ratio of 3:1. The disease can begin slowly and gradually with mainly non-specific symptoms such as fatigue, low-grade fever, general malaise, and joint pain; later, more defined symptoms such as intense pain, morning stiffness, and swelling of the joints have been described. In general, the joints most frequently affected are those of the hands and wrists, followed by those of the feet, knees, elbows, ankles, up to involving the wider joints of the shoulders, hips, jaws, and cervical spine. With overt disease, joint swelling occurs, caused by synovial effusion being associated to joint deformities and ankylosis. For this reason, RA is associated with a lower quality of life, a partial and/or total incapacity to work, a form of progressive disability and a higher probability of developing other co-morbidities.   
  • 874
  • 10 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Zinc and Health
Zinc is a redox-inert trace element that is second only to iron in abundance in biological systems. In cells, zinc is typically buffered and bound to metalloproteins, but it may also exist in a labile or chelatable (free ion) form. Zinc plays a critical role in prokaryotes and eukaryotes, ranging from structural to catalytic to replication to demise. 
  • 874
  • 17 Mar 2021
Topic Review
STIM1 in Regulation of Cardiac Energy Substrate Preference
The heart requires a variety of energy substrates to maintain proper contractile function. Glucose and long-chain fatty acids (FA) are the major cardiac metabolic substrates under physiological conditions. Upon stress, a shift of cardiac substrate preference toward either glucose or FA is associated with cardiac diseases. For example, in pressure-overloaded hypertrophic hearts, there is a long-lasting substrate shift toward glucose, while in hearts with diabetic cardiomyopathy, the fuel is switched toward FA. Stromal interaction molecule 1 (STIM1), a well-established calcium (Ca2+) sensor of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+ store, is increasingly recognized as a critical player in mediating both cardiac hypertrophy and diabetic cardiomyopathy. However, the cause–effect relationship between STIM1 and glucose/FA metabolism and the possible mechanisms by which STIM1 is involved in these cardiac metabolic diseases are poorly understood.
  • 874
  • 31 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Oxidative Stress and Aging in Neurodegeneration Disorders
Healthy aging is characterized by a gradual breakdown of physiological systems leading to a reduction in cognitive functions and brain health, but the timing and duration of this decline vary in individule. Oxidative stress (OS) is a crucial factor in the aging process that can cause direct damage to the brain’s cellular organization, causing neurodegenerative disease.
  • 873
  • 08 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Direct Targeting of Myofibroblast Pathways with Peptides
Myofibroblasts are the principal effector cells driving fibrosis, and their accumulation in tissues is a fundamental feature of fibrosis. Essential pathways have been identified as being central to promoting myofibroblast differentiation, revealing multiple targets for intervention. Compared with large proteins and antibodies, peptide-based therapies have transpired to serve as biocompatible and cost-effective solutions to exert biomimicry, agonistic, and antagonistic activities with a high degree of targeting specificity and selectivity. 
  • 873
  • 11 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Phytochrome-Interacting Proteins
Phytochromes are photoreceptors of plants, fungi, slime molds bacteria and heterokonts. These biliproteins sense red and far-red light and undergo light-induced changes between the two spectral forms, Pr and Pfr. Photoconversion triggered by light induces conformational changes in the bilin chromophore around the ring C-D-connecting methine bridge and is followed by conformational changes in the protein. For plant phytochromes, multiple phytochrome interacting proteins that mediate signal transduction, nuclear translocation or protein degradation have been identified. Few interacting proteins are known as bacterial or fungal phytochromes.
  • 872
  • 10 Jan 2024
Topic Review
Linusorb B3 in Flaxseed Oil
Linusorbs (LOs) are natural peptides found in flaxseed oil that exert various biological activities. Of LOs, LOB3 ([1–9-NαC]-linusorb B3) was reported to have antioxidative and anti-inflammatory activities; however, its anti-cancer activity has been poorly understood. Therefore, this study investigated the anti-cancer effect of LOB3 and its underlying mechanism in glioblastoma cells.
  • 871
  • 06 May 2021
Topic Review
Structural/Functional Partners of MAMs
The alteration of the physical association between the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria, also referred as mitochondria-associated membranes (MAMs), impacts various cellular housekeeping functions such as phospholipids-, glucose-, cholesterol-, and fatty-acid-metabolism, as well as calcium signaling, which are all altered in Alzheimer's disease (AD).
  • 870
  • 06 Feb 2021
Topic Review
ACE2 and SARS-CoV-2
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2) is an essential enzyme in the renin-angiotensin system (RAS), effectively maintaining RAS equilibrium. Recently, scientists have also found that through the mediation of the S protein, SARS-CoV-2 can invade host cells using ACE2 as the target.
  • 870
  • 23 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Muscle Glycogen Phosphorylase
Glycogen phosphorylase (PG) is a key enzyme taking part in the first step of glycogenolysis. Muscle glycogen phosphorylase (PYGM) differs from other PG isoforms in expression pattern and biochemical properties. The main role of PYGM is providing sufficient energy for muscle contraction. 
  • 870
  • 19 May 2021
Topic Review
Homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2)
Homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2) is a serine-threonine kinase that phosphorylates various transcriptional and chromatin regulators, thus modulating numerous important cellular processes, such as proliferation, apoptosis, DNA damage response, and oxidative stress. The role of HIPK2 in the pathogenesis of cancer and fibrosis is well established, and evidence of its involvement in the physiological homeostasis of multiple organs has been recently emerging. 
  • 870
  • 23 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Molecular Techniques for Infectious Diseases
Infectious diseases significantly impact the health status of developing countries. Historically, infectious diseases of the tropics especially have received insufficient attention in worldwide public health initiatives, resulting in poor preventive and treatment options. Many molecular tests for human infections have been established since the 1980s, when polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing was introduced. In spite of the substantial innovative advancements in PCR technology, which currently has found wide application in most viral pathogens of global concern, the development and application of molecular diagnostics, particularly in resource-limited settings, poses potential constraints.
  • 870
  • 14 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Diverse Downstream Effectors of RRAD
Ras-related associated with diabetes (RRAD), a member of the Ras-related GTPase superfamily, is primarily a cytosolic protein that actives in the plasma membrane. RRAD is highly expressed in type 2 diabetes patients and as a biomarker of congestive heart failure. Mounting evidence showed that RRAD is important for the progression and metastasis of tumor cells, which play opposite roles as an oncogene or tumor suppressor gene depending on cancer and cell type. 
  • 870
  • 11 Apr 2023
Topic Review
HDLs and Adiponectin in Promoting Endothelial Dysfunction
Obesity is an epidemic public health problem that has progressively worsened in recent decades and is associated with low-grade chronic inflammation (LGCI) in metabolic tissues and an increased risk of several diseases. In particular, LGCI alters metabolism and increases cardiovascular risk by impairing endothelial function and altering the functions of adiponectin and high-density lipoproteins (HDLs). Adiponectin is an adipokine involved in regulating energy metabolism and body composition. Serum adiponectin levels are reduced in obese individuals and negatively correlate with chronic sub-clinical inflammatory markers. HDLs are a heterogeneous and complex class of lipoproteins that can be dysfunctional in obesity. Adiponectin and HDLs are strictly interdependent, and the maintenance of their interplay is essential for vascular function.
  • 869
  • 16 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Chaperone-Like Activity of HSPB5
Small heat-shock proteins (sHSPs) are ATP-independent molecular chaperones that interact with partially unfolded proteins, preventing their aberrant aggregation, thereby exhibiting a chaperone-like activity. Dynamics of the quaternary structure plays an important role in the chaperone-like activity of sHSPs. However, relationship between the dynamic structure of sHSPs and their chaperone-like activity remains insufficiently characterized. Many factors (temperature, ions, a target protein, crowding etc.) affect the structure and activity of sHSPs. The least studied is an effect of crowding on sHSPs activity. In this work the chaperone-like activity of HSPB5 was quantitatively characterized by dynamic light scattering using two test systems, namely test systems based on heat-induced aggregation of muscle glycogen phosphorylase b (Phb) at 48 °C and dithiothreitol-induced aggregation of α-lactalbumin at 37 °C. Analytical ultracentrifugation was used to control the oligomeric state of HSPB5 and target proteins. The possible anti-aggregation functioning of suboligomeric forms of HSPB5 is discussed. The effect of crowding on HSPB5 anti-aggregation activity was characterized using Phb as a target protein. The duration of the nucleation stage was shown to decrease with simultaneous increase in the relative rate of aggregation of Phb in the presence of HSPB5 under crowded conditions. Crowding may subtly modulate sHSPs activity.
  • 868
  • 20 Jul 2020
Topic Review
Xmrk and Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor
Xmrk is a gene product closely related to the human epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), which is associated with a wide variety of pathological conditions, including cancer. Comparative analyses of Xmrk and EGFR signal transduction in melanoma have shown that both utilize signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5) signaling to regulate apoptosis and cell proliferation, phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) to modulate apoptosis, focal adhesion kinase (FAK) to control migration, and the Ras/Raf/MEK/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway to regulate cell survival, proliferation, and differentiation. Further, Xmrk and EGFR may also modulate similar chemokine, extracellular matrix, oxidative stress, and microRNA signaling pathways in melanoma. In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), Xmrk and EGFR signaling utilize STAT5 to regulate cell proliferation, and Xmrk may signal through PI3K and FasR to modulate apoptosis. At the same time, both activate the Ras/Raf/MEK/MAPK pathway to regulate cell proliferation and E-cadherin signaling.
  • 868
  • 28 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Kv1 Complex
The clustering of Kv1.1/Kv1.2 channels at the axon initial segment and juxtaparanodes is based on interactions with cell adhesion molecules and cytoskeletal linkers. 
  • 867
  • 16 Feb 2021
Topic Review
EVs–PEG–cECMH Product
The combination of cardiosphere-derived extracellular vesciles (EVs), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and cardiac extracellular matrix hydrogel (cECMH), EVs–PEG–cECMH, is a potential multipronged product with improved gelation time and mechanical properties, increased on-site retention, and maintained bioactivity that, all together, may translate into boosted therapeutic efficacy.
  • 867
  • 14 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Plant TPK Ion Channel Evolution
Potassium (K) is a crucial element of plant nutrition, involved in many physiological and molecular processes. K+ membrane transporters are playing a pivotal role in K+ transport and tissue distribution as well as in various plant stress responses and developmental processes. Two-pore K+-channels (TPKs) are essential to maintain plant K+ homeostasis and are mainly involved in potassium transport from the vacuoles to the cytosol. Besides vacuolar specialization, some TPK members display different membrane localization including plasma membrane, protein storage vacuole membrane, and probably the organelles. In this manuscript, we elucidate the evolution of the voltage-independent TPK (two-pore K+-channels) family, which could be represented in some species by one pore, K+-inward rectifier (Kir)-like channels. A comprehensive investigation of existing databases and application of modern bioinformatic tools allowed us to make a detailed phylogenetic inventory of TPK/KCO3 (KCO: potassium channel, outward rectifying) channels through many taxa and gain insight into the evolutionary origin of TPK family proteins. Our results reveal the fundamental evolutional difference between the first and second pores, traced throughout multiple taxa variations in the ion selection filter motif, presence of thansposon, and methylation site in the proximity of some KCO members and suggest virus-mediated horizontal transfer of a KCO3-like ancestor by viruses. Additionally, we suggest several interconnected hypotheses to explain the obtained results and provide a theoretical background for future experimental validation. 
  • 867
  • 04 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Tepotinib
Tepotinib (trade name Tepmetko) is a novel c-MET tyrosine kinase inhibitor that was recently approved in Japan for the treatment of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) harboring a MET exon 14 skipping mutation.
  • 867
  • 23 Nov 2021
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