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Topic Review
Biography
Topic Review
Cell–Cell Fusion and Cancer
In addition to physiological processes, such as fertilization, placentation, myogenesis, osteoclastogenesis and wound healing/tissue regeneration the biological phenomenon of cell-cell fusion also plays a role in cancer, which was already postulated by the German physician Otto Aichel in 1911. Indeed, cancer cells could either fuse with other cancer cells or could hybridize with macrophages, fibroblasts and stem cells, thereby giving rise to tumor hybrid cells that could exhibit novel properties, such as an increased drug resistance and/or an enhanced metastasis formation capacity.
582
28 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Primary Cilium and Stem Cell
Signaling networks guide stem cells during their lineage specification and terminal differentiation. Primary cilium, an antenna-like protrusion, directly or indirectly plays a significant role in this guidance. All stem cells characterized so far have primary cilia. They serve as entry- or check-points for various signaling events by controlling the signal transduction and stability. Thus, defects in the primary cilia formation or dynamics cause developmental and health problems, including but not limited to obesity, cardiovascular and renal anomalies, hearing and vision loss, and even cancers.
820
28 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Hippo Pathway in Cancer
The Hippo pathway regulatory network is complex and diverse, and its regulatory mechanism is still poorly understood. A key challenge for the future will be to explore the mechanisms by which the Hippo signaling pathway plays regulatory roles in different environments, and to develop targeted cancer treatments. We believe that targeting the Hippo pathway will lead to fruitful therapies in the near future.
738
28 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Biomembranes and Lateral Nanoscale Inhomogeneities
The nanoscale lateral inhomogeneities (nanodomains, NDs) in the lipid bilayer of cellular and model membranes can be divided into two large groups: (i) arising spontaneously and (ii) arising as a result of the influence of external factors (in relation to the components of the lipid bilayer) like other molecules (for example, peptides and proteins), changes in environmental parameters (temperature, degree of hydration, presence of ions, etc. ), curvature of the membranes, etc. Undoubtedly, these processes are interrelated, since in order for a certain type of ND-based DMP to arise in the membrane under the influence of external factors, it is necessary that the undisturbed lipid bilayer itself (including water molecules and ions) is able in principle to spontaneously form such nanoscale structures.
402
25 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Th17 Response in COVID-19
COVID-19 is an acute infectious disease of the respiratory system caused by infection with the SARS-CoV-2 virus (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2). Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infections occurs through droplets and contaminated objects. A rapid and well-coordinated immune system response is the first line of defense in a viral infection. However, a disturbed and over-activated immune response may be counterproductive, causing damage to the body. Severely ill patients hospitalised with COVID-19 exhibit increased levels of many cytokines, including Interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17, granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF), monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) and tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Increasing evidence suggests that Th17 cells play an important role in the pathogenesis of COVID-19, not only by activating cytokine cascade but also by inducing Th2 responses, inhibiting Th1 differentiation and suppressing Treg cells.
617
25 Jun 2021
Topic Review
MSCs - Gene Delivery Tool
To clearly define MSCs, and develop universal criteria for such cell population, the Mesenchymal and Tissue Stem Cell Committee of the International Society for Cellular Therapy (ISCT) proposed a set of standards for pre-clinical research studies. The minimal criteria of MSCs as determined by the ISCT are the following ones: The MSCs population must be plastic-adherent when maintained in tissue culture vessels under standard culture conditions.
455
25 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Gene Conversion amongst Alu SINE
The process of non-allelic gene conversion acts on homologous sequences during recombination, replacing parts of one with the other to make them uniform. Such concerted evolution is best described as paralogous ribosomal RNA gene unification that serves to preserve the essential house-keeping functions of the converted genes. Transposed elements (TE), especially Alu short interspersed elements (SINE) that have more than a million copies in primate genomes, are a significant source of homologous units and a verified target of gene conversion. The consequences of such a recombination-based process are diverse, including multiplications of functional TE internal binding domains and, for evolutionists, confusing divergent annotations of orthologous transposable elements in related species.
451
24 Jun 2021
Topic Review
3D Modeling of Epithelial Tumors
The current statistics on cancer show that 90% of all human cancers originate from epithelial cells. Breast and prostate cancer are examples of common tumors of epithelial origin that would benefit from improved drug treatment strategies. About 90% of preclinically approved drugs fail in clinical trials, partially due to the use of too simplified in vitro models and a lack of mimicking the tumor microenvironment in drug efficacy testing. This entry focuses on the epithelial cancers, followed by experimental models designed to recapitulate the epithelial tumor structure and microenvironment. A specific focus is to put on novel technologies for cell culture of spheroids, organoids, and 3D-printed tissue-like models, utilizing biomaterials of natural or synthetic origins, and how the models could be utilized for nanotechnology-based drug delivery in the future.
705
24 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Protein Structure Prediction
The new advances in deep learning methods have influenced many aspects of scientific research, including the study of the protein system. The prediction of proteins’ 3D structural components is now heavily dependent on machine learning techniques that interpret how protein sequences and their homology govern the inter-residue contacts and structural organization. Especially, methods employing deep neural networks have had a significant impact on recent CASP13 and CASP14 competition. Here, we explore the recent applications of deep learning methods in the protein structure prediction area. We also look at the potential opportunities for deep learning methods to identify unknown protein structures and functions to be discovered and help guide drug–target interactions. Although significant problems still need to be addressed, we expect these techniques in the near future to play crucial roles in protein structural bioinformatics as well as in drug discovery.
655
24 Jun 2021
Topic Review
AKR1B10 in Physiology and Pathophysiology
AKR1B10 is a human nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH)-dependent reductase belonging to the aldo-keto reductase (AKR) 1B subfamily. It catalyzes the reduction of aldehydes, some ketones and quinones, and interacts with acetyl-CoA carboxylase and heat shock protein 90α. The enzyme is highly expressed in epithelial cells of the stomach and intestine, but down-regulated in gastrointestinal cancers and inflammatory bowel diseases. In contrast, AKR1B10 expression is low in other tissues, where the enzyme is upregulated in cancers, as well as in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and several skin diseases. In addition, the enzyme’s expression is elevated in cancer cells resistant to clinical anti-cancer drugs. Thus, growing evidence supports AKR1B10 as a potential target for diagnosing and treating these diseases. Herein, we reviewed the literature on the roles of AKR1B10 in a healthy gastrointestinal tract, the development and progression of cancers and acquired chemoresistance, in addition to its gene regulation, functions, and inhibitors.
499
24 Jun 2021
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