Topic Review
AhR Participates in COVID-19’s Immune-Inflammatory Imbalance
The comprehension of AhR’s role in the COVID-19 framework must consider its participation in human physiology and, in particular, in inflammatory and immune processes, where AhR is involved in the regulation of both innate and adaptive immunity, as it influences both DCs and T lymphocytes. In DCs, it decreases the expression of the Major Histocompatibility Complex II (MHC II). It also regulates the production of inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6, IL12, IL15, and IL18, which are usually produced during DC differentiation. DCs differentiation takes place upon their exposure to T cells, viral/bacterial components or pro-inflammatory molecules, such as granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), IFNα, and inflammatory cytokines such as IL-6 and TNFα. This point is of pivotal importance, due to the crosstalk between several inflammatory molecules such as IL-6, TNFα and the AhR pathway. This interplay also reverberates on the differentiation of Th17 and Treg, in particular in type 1 regulatory T cell (TR1) stabilization. AhR can deeply affect T cells metabolism, which can be modulated depending on the AhR ligand. It has been demonstrated that the differentiation of TR1 cells is the result of the sequential collaboration of Hypoxia Inducible Factor-1α (HIF-1α) and AhR. In physiologic settings, AhR endows the degradation of HIF-1α, while in inflammation, which is frequently associated with hypoxia, HIF-1α inactivates AHR, thus interfering with TR1 cell differentiation. AhR is also abundantly expressed in DCs. 
  • 480
  • 23 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Airway Epithelium in Asthma Pathobiology
The features of allergic asthma are believed to be mediated mostly through the Th2 immune response. In this Th2-dominant concept, the airway epithelium is presented as the helpless victim of Th2 cytokines. Asthma researchers started believing in that the airway epithelium played a crucial role, as alarmins, which are the inducers of type 2 innate lymphoid cell (ILC2), are almost exclusively secreted by the airway epithelium. This underscores the eminence of airway epithelium in asthma pathogenesis. However, the airway epithelium has a bipartite functionality in sustaining healthy lung homeostasis and asthmatic lungs. On the one hand, the airway epithelium maintains lung homeostasis against environmental irritants/pollutants with the aid of its various armamentaria, including its chemosensory apparatus and detoxification system. Alternatively, it induces an ILC2-mediated type 2 immune response through alarmins to amplify the inflammatory response. However, the available evidence indicates that restoring epithelial health may attenuate asthmatic features.
  • 251
  • 16 Mar 2023
Topic Review
Allelopathy of Knotweeds as Invasive Plants
Perennial herbaceous Fallopia is native to East Asia, and was introduced to Europe and North America in the 19th century as an ornamental plant. Fallopia has been spreading quickly and has naturalized in many countries. It is listed in the world’s 100 worst alien species. Fallopia often forms dense monospecies stands through the interruption of the regeneration process of indigenous plant species. Allelopathy of Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica), giant knotweed (Fallopia sachalinensis), and Bohemian knotweed (Fallopia x bohemica) has been reported to play an essential role in its invasion. The exudate from their roots and/or rhizomes, and their plant residues inhibited the germination and growth of some other plant species. These knotweeds, which are non-mycorrhizal plants, also suppressed the abundance and species richness of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) in the rhizosphere soil. Such suppression was critical for most territorial plants to form the mutualism with AMF, which enhances the nutrient and water uptake, and the tolerance against pathogens and stress conditions.
  • 490
  • 31 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Allograft Inflammatory Factor-1 in Metazoans
Allograft inflammatory factor-1 (AIF-1) is a calcium-binding scaffold/adaptor protein often associated with inflammatory diseases. Originally cloned from active macrophages in humans and rats, this gene has also been identified in other vertebrates and in several invertebrate species. Among metazoans, AIF-1 protein sequences remain relatively highly conserved. Generally, the highest expression levels of AIF-1 are observed in immunocytes, suggesting that it plays a key role in immunity. In mammals, the expression of AIF-1 has been reported in different cell types such as activated macrophages, microglial cells, and dendritic cells. Its main immunomodulatory role during the inflammatory response has been highlighted. Among invertebrates, AIF-1 is involved in innate immunity, being in many cases upregulated in response to biotic and physical challenges. AIF-1 transcripts result ubiquitously expressed in all examined tissues from invertebrates, suggesting its participation in a variety of biological processes, but its role remains largely unknown. 
  • 350
  • 17 May 2021
Topic Review
Alopecia
Hair loss (HL), also known as alopecia or baldness, is a common clinical disorder that affects millions of people worldwide and often causes a significant source of patient distress.
  • 1.1K
  • 07 May 2021
Topic Review
Altered Immune Response in Diabetes
Patients with diabetes often have more invasive infections, which may lead to an increase in morbidity. The human body has incredible defences against millions of bacteria, viruses, fungi, poisons, and parasites. The immune system normally protects against infections, but numerous disorders and deficiencies may impair it. Bacteria may infiltrate through open wounds and cause infections. Natural barriers, including intact skin and mucosal surfaces and the reactive oxygen species, cytokines, and chemokines within their mechanistic organization, help our defence system to fight against pathogens. Due to the immune system’s inability to combat microorganisms, infections are a significant concern for people with diabetes. Numerous research have investigated diabetes-related pathways that decrease pathogen resistance. These processes include the inhibition of cytokine production, abnormalities in phagocytosis, immune cell malfunction, and an inability to destroy microbials.
  • 453
  • 13 Apr 2023
Topic Review
Alternative Splicing Landscape in Rice
Alternative splicing (AS) is a vital post-transcriptional modulator of gene expression that amplifies the proteome diversity and regulates many physiological processes essential for mounting responses to stresses in plants.
  • 469
  • 24 May 2021
Topic Review
Alveolar Regeneration in COVID-19 Patients: Network Perspective
Lung alveolar regeneration to repair the damaged tissue and restoration of normal tissue function could be achieved by transplantation of progenitor or stem cells and exosome-mediated delivery of therapeutic agents, including miRNAs. Not only as a biomarker of COVID-19but also as therapeutic agents, miRNAs have proven to play a crucial role in lung damage and repair. miRNAs can either be regulated locally in the lungsor transported to the damaged site by extracellular vehicles (EVs) secreted by stem cells to induce tissue regeneration by decreasing inflammation and apoptosis, stimulating surfactant production, regulating gene expression of junction proteins to repair microvascular permeability, and reducing fibrosis.
  • 596
  • 03 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Amygdala
The amygdala is one of the areas in the brain involved in the development of PTSD as the starting point for the process of activation of the hypothalamo–pituitary axis and the cascade of physiological responses to acute stress. An appropriate response to acute stress is a vital adaptive mechanism, but its prolongation causes various biopsychosocial (previously, psychosomatic) disorders. Chronic stress leads to higher expression of CRH/CRF in the CE and BLA, which has an anxiogenic effect.
  • 3.5K
  • 13 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Amygdala Neuroinflammation and Psychiatric Disorders
Depression and anxiety disorder are the most common mental diseases affecting hundreds of millions of people worldwide. The comorbidity rate of anxiety disorder and depression is very high, with 74% of depressed patients having anxiety symptoms, while 61% of anxious patients have depression symptoms. Stress exposure is widely accepted as a critical contributing factor to psychological and neuropathological disorders. Especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, the high pressure of increasingly demanding work and life has led to a sharp rise in the incidence of mental diseases. Inflammation induces psychological and neuropathological disorders by influencing neuronal excitability, neurotransmitter release, receptor, and transporter expression through peripheral hormones and autonomic responses. A number of animal and human studies have revealed that the amygdala, ventral hippocampus, and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) are extensively involved in the occurrence of anxiety, depression, and related behavioral regulation. Among them, the amygdala, one of the kernel brain regions mediating stress-coping located in the deep temporal lobe, is considered the hub center for processing emotionally salient stimuli and implementing appropriate behavioral responses.
  • 720
  • 23 Feb 2023
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