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Topic Review
Macrophages in Diabetic Wounds Healing
Macrophages play a prominent role in wound healing. In the early stages, they promote inflammation and remove pathogens, wound debris, and cells that have apoptosed. Later in the repair process, they dampen inflammation and secrete factors that regulate the proliferation, differentiation, and migration of keratinocytes, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells, leading to neovascularisation and wound closure. The macrophages that coordinate this repair process are complex: they originate from different sources and have distinct phenotypes with diverse functions that act at various times in the repair process. Macrophages in individuals with diabetes are altered, displaying hyperresponsiveness to inflammatory stimulants and increased secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. They also have a reduced ability to phagocytose pathogens and efferocytose cells that have undergone apoptosis. This leads to a reduced capacity to remove pathogens and, as efferocytosis is a trigger for their phenotypic switch, it reduces the number of M2 reparative macrophages in the wound. This can lead to diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) forming and contributes to their increased risk of not healing and becoming infected, and potentially, amputation. 
  • 891
  • 20 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Adult Fragile X-Associated Syndromes
Expansions of the CGG-repeats stretch at the 5'-UTR of the Fragile X Mental Retardation 1 (FMR1) gene have pleiotropic effects that lead to a variety of Fragile X-associated syndromes: the neurodevelopmental Fragile X syndrome (FXS) in children, the late-onset neurodegenerative disorder Fragile X-associated tremor-ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) that mainly affects adult men, the Fragile X-associated primary ovarian insufficiency (FXPOI) in adult women, and a variety of psychiatric and affective disorders that are under the term of Fragile X-associated neuropsychiatric disorders (FXAND). In the adult syndromes, the pathological mechanisms are primarily caused by a gain-of-function due to the toxic actions of CGG RNA and FMRpolyG peptide. 
  • 891
  • 26 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Therapeutic Implications for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a type of cancer that arises in the exocrine glands of the pancreas and comprises over 90% of pancreatic malignancies. Currently the 11th most common cancer worldwide, PDAC is the seventh leading cause of cancer-related deaths and is on track to move to second place by 2030. Despite the high prevalence, therapeutic options remain limited, with only modest improvements in overall survival (OS) occurring over the past 50 years.
  • 891
  • 12 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Effect of Stilbenes on Various Types of Inflammation
Stilbenes are polyphenolic allelochemicals synthesized by plants, especially grapes, peanuts, rhubarb, berries, etc., to defend themselves under stressful conditions. They are exploited in medicine for their antioxidant, anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory properties. Inflammation is the immune system’s response to invading bacteria, toxic chemicals or even nutrient-deprived conditions. It is characterized by the release of cytokines which can wreak havoc on healthy tissues, worsening the disease condition.
  • 891
  • 15 May 2023
Topic Review
GNL3 and PA2G4 as Prostate Cancer Prognostic Biomarkers
Guanine nucleotide-binding protein-like 3 (GNL3) and proliferation-associated protein 2G4 (PA2G4) are molecules involved during metaphase-to-anaphase transition and growth regulation. GNL3 and PA2G4 have been found to be overexpressed in several human cancers, including prostate cancer. Clinical data suggest that GNL3 and PA2G4 could be developed as prognostic biomarkers of clinical significance in prostate cancer.
  • 891
  • 03 Jul 2023
Topic Review
Superoxide Dismutases
Several enzymes exist that can convert or degrade reactive oxygen species (ROS); among them are the superoxide dismutases (SODs). SODs are responsible for converting superoxide anions to hydrogen peroxide by dismutation, therefore participating in the ROS detoxification. Here a short overview on the role of SODs in development and pathogenicity of fungi like Podospora anserina and Aspergillus spp. is given. 
  • 890
  • 06 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Bacterial-Artificial-Chromosome-Based Genome Editing in Herpesvirus
Herpesviruses are major pathogens that infect humans and animals. Manipulating the large genome is critical for exploring the function of specific genes and studying the pathogenesis of herpesviruses and developing novel anti-viral vaccines and therapeutics. Bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) technology significantly advanced the capacity of herpesviruses researchers to manipulate the virus genomes.
  • 890
  • 20 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Salivary Metabolomics for Oral Cancer Detection
The development of low- or non-invasive screening tests for cancer is crucial for early detection. Saliva is an ideal biofluid containing informative components for monitoring oral and systemic diseases. Metabolomics has frequently been used to identify and quantify numerous metabolites in saliva samples, serving as novel biomarkers associated with various conditions, including cancers. 
  • 890
  • 27 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Inorganic Nanoparticle-Loaded Exosomes
Exosomes are intrinsic cell-derived membrane vesicles in the size range of 40–100 nm, serving as great biomimetic nanocarriers for biomedical applications. These nanocarriers are known to bypass biological barriers, such as the blood–brain barrier, with great potential in treating brain diseases. Exosomes are also shown to be closely associated with cancer metastasis, making them great candidates for tumor targeting. However, the clinical translation of exosomes are facing certain critical challenges, such as reproducible production and in vivo tracking of their localization, distribution, and ultimate fate. Recently, inorganic nanoparticle-loaded exosomes have been shown great benefits in addressing these issues.
  • 889
  • 10 Mar 2021
Topic Review
The V-ATPase a3 Subunit
This entry focuses on one of the 16 proteins composing the V-ATPase complex responsible for resorbing bone: the a3 subunit. The rationale for focusing on this biomolecule is that mutations in this one protein account for over 50% of osteopetrosis cases, highlighting its critical role in bone physiology. Despite its essential role in bone remodeling and its involvement in bone diseases, little is known about the way in which this subunit is targeted and regulated within osteoclasts. To this end, this review is broadened to include the three other mammalian paralogues (a1, a2 and a4) and the two yeast orthologs (Vph1p and Stv1p). By examining the literature on all of the paralogues/orthologs of the V-ATPase a subunit, we hope to provide insight into the molecular mechanisms and future research directions specific to a3. This review starts with an overview on bone, highlighting the role of V-ATPases in osteoclastic bone resorption. We then cover V-ATPases in other location/functions, highlighting the roles which the four mammalian a subunit paralogues might play in differential targeting and/or regulation. Author review the ways in which the energy of ATP hydrolysis is converted into proton translocation, and go in depth into the diverse role of the a subunit, not only in proton translocation but also in lipid binding, cell signaling and human diseases. Finally, the therapeutic implication of targeting a3 specifically for bone diseases and cancer is discussed, with concluding remarks on future directions.
  • 888
  • 21 Jul 2021
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. 
  • 888
  • 11 Aug 2023
Topic Review
Angiogenesis, Coagulopathy and Endothelial Dysfunction in ANFH
Avascular necrosis of the femoral head (ANFH) is a painful disorder characterized by the cessation of blood supply to the femoral head, leading to its death and subsequent joint collapse. Influenced by several risk factors, including corticosteroid use, excessive alcohol intake, hypercholesterolemia, smoking and some inflammatory disorders, along with cancer, its clinical consequences are thrombus formation due to underlying inflammation and endothelial dysfunction, which collaborates with coagulopathy and impaired angiogenesis. Nonetheless, angiogenesis resolves the obstructed free flow of the blood by providing alternative routes. Clinical manifestations of early stage of ANFH mimic cysts or lesions in subchondral bone, vasculitis and transient osteoporosis of the hip, rendering it difficult to diagnose, complex to understand and complicated to cure. 
  • 888
  • 10 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Healthy Effects of Plant Polyphenols
Natural biophenols are a wide group of molecules (over 8000 described so far) found only in the plant kingdom; their molecules display one or more aromatic rings carrying one or more hydroxyl groups; these molecules display remarkable antioxidant power and are produced as secondary metabolites by the plant for protection against the attack by bacteria, fungi, and insects (phytoalexins). Plant polyphenols include non-flavonoids or flavonoids; the latter are further divided into flavonols, flavononols, flavones, anthocyanins, procyanidins, phenolic acids, stilbenes, and tannins depending on the number of hydroxyls in the molecule and on the nature and the position of other substituents.
  • 887
  • 12 Apr 2021
Topic Review
Dietary Supplement and Food Contaminations
The identification of a doping agent (or its metabolite) in sports drug testing samples constitutes a violation of the anti-doping rules defined by the World Anti-Doping Agency. Reasons for such Adverse Analytical Findings (AAFs) include the intentional misuse of performance-enhancing/banned drugs; however, also the scenario of inadvertent administrations of doping agents was proven in the past, caused by, amongst others, the ingestion of contaminated dietary supplements, drugs, or food. Even though controversial positions concerning the effectiveness of dietary supplements in healthy subjects exist, they are frequently used by athletes, anticipating positive effects on health, recovery, and performance. However, most supplement users are unaware of the fact that the administration of such products can be associated with unforeseeable health risks and AAFs in sports. In particular anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) and stimulants have been frequently found as undeclared ingredients of dietary supplements, either as a result of cross-contaminations due to substandard manufacturing practices and missing quality controls or an intentional admixture to increase the effectiveness of the preparations. In addition, food was found to be a potential source of unintentional doping, the most prominent example being meat tainted with the anabolic agent clenbuterol.
  • 887
  • 26 Sep 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. 
  • 886
  • 16 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Microtubule Regulation in Plant Cell Division
Microtubules (MTs) are essential elements of the eukaryotic cytoskeleton and are critical for various cell functions. During cell division, plant MTs form highly ordered structures, and cortical MTs guide the cell wall cellulose patterns and thus control cell size and shape. Both are important for morphological development and for adjusting plant growth and plasticity under environmental challenges for stress adaptation. Various MT regulators control the dynamics and organization of MTs in diverse cellular processes and response to developmental and environmental cues. 
  • 886
  • 17 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Microbe-Associated Bone Cell Differentiation
Gut microbiota has emerged as an important regulator of bone homeostasis. In particular, the modulation of innate immunity and bone homeostasis is mediated through the interaction between microbe-associated molecular patterns (MAMPs) and the host pattern recognition receptors including Toll-like receptors and nucleotide-binding oligomerization domains. Pathogenic bacteria such as Porphyromonas gingivalis and Staphylococcus aureus tend to induce bone destruction and cause various inflammatory bone diseases including periodontal diseases, osteomyelitis, and septic arthritis. On the other hand, probiotic bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium species can prevent bone loss. In addition, bacterial metabolites and various secretory molecules such as short chain fatty acids and cyclic nucleotides can also affect bone homeostasis.
  • 885
  • 16 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Dietary Lipids on Bone Health
Age-related bone disorders such as osteoporosis or osteoarthritis are a major public health problem due to the functional disability for millions of people worldwide. Furthermore, fractures are associated with a higher degree of morbidity and mortality in the long term, which generates greater financial and health costs. As the world population becomes older, the incidence of this type of disease increases and this effect seems notably greater in those countries that present a more westernized lifestyle. Thus, increased efforts are directed toward reducing risks that need to focus not only on the prevention of bone diseases, but also on the treatment of persons already afflicted. Evidence is accumulating that dietary lipids play an important role in bone health which results relevant to develop effective interventions for prevent bone diseases or alterations, especially in the elderly segment of the population.
  • 885
  • 28 Jun 2021
Topic Review
The Polyvalent Role of NF90 in RNA Biology
Double-stranded RNA-binding proteins (dsRBPs) are major players in the regulation of gene expression patterns. Among them, Nuclear Factor 90 (NF90) has a plethora of well-known functions in viral infection, transcription, and translation as well as RNA stability and degradation. In addition, NF90 has been identified as a regulator of microRNA (miRNA) maturation by competing with Microprocessor for the binding of pri-miRNAs in the nucleus. NF90 was recently shown to control the biogenesis of a subset of human miRNAs, which ultimately influences, not only the abundance, but also the expression of the host gene and the fate of the mRNA target repertoire.
  • 885
  • 08 Nov 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.
  • 884
  • 20 Jul 2020
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