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Topic Review
Biography
Topic Review
The Neurokinin-1 Receptor
Substance P (SP), through the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R), behaves as a universal mitogen in cancer cells. The NK-1R is overexpressed in tumor cells and, in addition, affects the viability of cancer cells. NK-1R antagonists counteract all the previous actions mediated by SP through NK-1R. In a concentration-dependent manner, these antagonists promote tumor cell death by apoptosis. Therefore, NK-1R is a potential and promising therapeutic target for cancer treatment by using NK-1R antagonists (e.g., aprepitant) alone or in combination therapy with chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
438
16 Nov 2022
Topic Review
The Nero Lucano Pig Breed
The Nero Lucano (NL) pig is a black coat colored breed characterized by a remarkable ability to adapt to the difficult territory and climatic conditions of Basilicata region in Southern Italy.
392
13 May 2021
Topic Review
The Neonatal Immune System
The immune system is a complex network of cells and signals which regulate the host’s response to self and foreign antigens. This delicate system requires substantial regulation to prevent severe damage to the host but is also balanced against the potential damage that could be inflicted if a response is not generated. Thus, responses are primarily dependent on the needs of the hosts and the nature of the signal. In the case of immune stimulation by pathogens, the primary goal of the immune system is to mediate clearance of the pathogen while minimizing damage inflicted to the host by the immune response itself. The adult immune system, which is better studied and understood than is the neonatal one, efficiently generates pro-inflammatory responses which mediate the efficient control of most pathogens. The neonatal immune system, however, is evolved to respond to the unique challenges of the rapid transition from the near-sterile womb to the microbe-rich world beyond. This suddenly introduces millions of new antigens for potential immune recognition and response, a seemingly impossible feat. Therefore, during this transition from near-sterile-fetal to microbe-rich neonatal environment, the immune system is evolved to respond to novel antigens primarily with anti-inflammatory TH2 responses to prevent unnecessary inflammation which can severely harm the infant.
315
29 Jun 2023
Topic Review
The Necrobiome of Deadwood
Sustainable forest management has been increasingly recognized, promoting the diffusion of silvicultural practices aimed at considering all components of the forest system. Deadwood is an important component of the forest ecosystem. It plays a fundamental role in providing nutrients and habitats for a wide variety of saprotrophic and heterotrophic organisms and significantly contributes to soil formation and carbon storage. Deadwood is inhabited by a plethora of organisms from various kingdoms that have evolved the ability to utilize decaying organic matter. This community, consisting of both eukaryotic and prokaryotic species, can be defined as “necrobiome”. Through the interactions between its various members, the necrobiome influences the decay rates of deadwood and plays a crucial role in the balance between organic matter decomposition, carbon sequestration, and gas exchanges (e.g., CO2) with the atmosphere.
565
04 Jan 2023
Topic Review
The Natterin Proteins Diversity
The Natterin proteins were first revealed in the venom of the medically significant Brazilian toadfish Thalassophryne nattereri (VTn) in five orthologs named Natterin (1–4, and -P). They were identified as being responsible for the main toxic non-lethal effects of the VTn, such as local edema and excruciating pain, that evolved to necrosis. Following the first identification, the group of Natterin-like proteins has been expanded over time. Several sequences homologous to Natterin have been identified in different teleostean genomes, such as the venomous catfish Plotosus lineatus and non-venomous fish, including lampreys-Lampetra japonica or Lethenteron camtschaticum and Lampetra morii, arctic charr Salvelinus alpinus, zebrafish Danio rerio, atlantic cod Gadus morhua, and ovate pompano Trachinotus ovatus.
720
09 Aug 2021
Topic Review
The Naked and Damaraland Mole-Rats
The naked mole-rat (Heterocephalus glaber) and the Damaraland mole-rat (Fukomys damarensis) possess extreme reproductive skew with a single reproductive female responsible for reproduction.
322
29 Nov 2022
Topic Review
The Na+/H+ Exchangers in Cardiac Physiology Regulation
The Na+/H+ exchangers (NHEs) are membrane transporters that exchange one intracellular pro-ton for one extracellular Na+. The first discovered NHE isoform, NHE1, is expressed almost ubiquitously in all tissues, especially in the myocardium. During myocardial ische-mia-reperfusion, NHE1 catalyzes increased uptake of intracellular Na+, which in turn leads to Ca2+ overload and subsequently myocardial injury. Numerous preclinical research has shown that NHE1 is involved in cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure, but the exact molecular mecha-nisms remain elusive.
399
27 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Peer Reviewed
The Mysteries of the White Truffle: Its Biology, Ecology and Cultivation
Tuber magnatum Picco is the most expensive of the truffles and a great deal of research has been carried out in an attempt to solve the mysteries of its ecology and biology. However, considerable work remains to be done particularly on those secrets of its life cycle that remain a mystery. It is known that T. magnatum is heterothallic, but it has yet to be determined how fertilization occurs between the two strains of different mating types. It is also known that the white truffle is an ectomycorrhizal fungus, and its mycorrhizas can be produced in greenhouses, but then they seem to disappear in the field. The role of other soil microorganisms, fungi and bacteria, on its soil mycelial development and fructification is intriguing but is far from being completely understood. All these uncertainties have made the cultivation of T. magnatum extremely difficult and only recently have we had the scientific proofs that it is possible. Even so, many questions remain unanswered and the management practices of T. magnatum plantations are still to be better defined to also enable the taming of this truffle.
850
11 Jan 2023
Topic Review
The Mutant p53 Secretome
p53 suppresses tumorigenesis by activating a plethora of effector pathways. While most of these operate primarily inside of cells to limit proliferation and survival of incipient cancer cells, many extend to the extracellular space. In particular, p53 controls expression and secretion of numerous extracellular factors that are either soluble or contained within extracellular vesicles such as exosomes. As part of the cellular secretome, they execute key roles in cell-cell communication and extracellular matrix remodeling. Mutations in the p53-encoding TP53 gene are the most frequent genetic alterations in cancer cells, and therefore, have profound impact on the composition of the tumor cell secretome.
512
10 Jun 2021
Topic Review
The Multifaceted Mechanisms of Bud Outgrowth
Shoot branching is a complex and tightly regulated developmental process that is essential for determining plant architecture and crop yields. The outgrowth of tiller buds is a crucial step in shoot branching, and it is influenced by a variety of internal and external cues.
223
24 Oct 2023
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