Topic Review
Mitochondrial Transplantation in Mitochondrial Medicine
Mitochondria are cytoplasmic double-membrane organelles defined as eukaryotic cells’ powerhouses due to their involvement in the cellular bioenergetics. In particular, mitochondrial synthesis of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is associated with the functionality of aerobic oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). In addition to energy production, mitochondria play many critical roles in cellular function and signalling, including fatty acid biosynthesis, calcium homeostasis, reactive oxygen species production, cell survival, proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy, stem cell differentiation, and regulation of the immune response. 
  • 674
  • 07 Feb 2023
Topic Review
RNF168 in Tumor Progression
RING finger protein 168 (RNF168) is an E3 ubiquitin ligase with the RING finger domain. It is an important protein contributing to the DNA double-strand damage repair pathway. 
  • 421
  • 06 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Fluoride as an Environmental Toxin
Fluorine in its elemental form is practically not found on Earth, but it is present in the ecosphere in the form of fluorine compounds. A growing body of literature suggests that labelling fluorides as an environmental toxin appears to be correct.
  • 1.0K
  • 03 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Cholesterol Redistribution Regulates β-cell Insulin Biosynthesis and Secretion
Cholesterol, an essential component of the cellular membranes, exhibits multiple structural and functional roles, orchestrating a wide range of signalling pathways and cellular functions. The pancreatic β-cells rely on cholesterol for their survival, proliferation, and functional maturation. Intracellular cholesterol imbalance is a tremendous burden to β-cells as this condition disables the cells from adequately delivering the sterol to its final destinations, resulting in altered plasma membrane organization, impaired mitochondrial activity, reduced insulin granule maturation, and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. To maintain cholesterol homeostasis, β-cells have evolved a sophisticated machinery that not only controls the lipid biosynthesis or influx/efflux but also its redistribution among the different organelles. The mechanisms by which β-cells sense and shuttle the lipids across different membrane compartments are still largely unexplored.
  • 491
  • 02 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Hsp90α and Hsp90β
Hsp90α and Hsp90β are both ubiquitously expressed in all cell types, but assigned for distinct and irreplaceable functions. Hsp90β is essential during mouse development and Hsp90α only maintains male reproductivity in adult mice. Neither Hsp90β nor Hsp90α could substitute each other under these biological processes. Hsp90β alone maintains cell survival in culture and Hsp90α cannot substitute it. Hsp90α also has extracellular functions under stress and Hsp90β does not.
  • 407
  • 02 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Nrf2 and Oxidative Stress
Organisms are continually exposed to exogenous and endogenous sources of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and other oxidants that have both beneficial and deleterious effects on the cell. ROS have important roles in a wide range of physiological processes; however, high ROS levels are associated with oxidative stress and disease progression. Oxidative stress has been implicated in nearly all major human diseases, from neurogenerative diseases and neuropsychiatric disorders to cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer. Antioxidant defence systems have evolved as a means of protection against oxidative stress, with the transcription factor Nrf2 as the key regulator.
  • 850
  • 01 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Flavonoids as Modulators of Potassium Channels
Potassium channels are widely distributed integral proteins responsible for the effective and selective transport of K+ ions through the biological membranes. According to the existing structural and mechanistic differences, they are divided into several groups. All of them are considered important molecular drug targets due to their physiological roles, including the regulation of membrane potential or cell signaling. Among the pharmaceuticals of plant origin, which are potassium channel modulators, flavonoids appear as a powerful group of biologically active substances. It is caused by their well-documented anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, anti-mutagenic, anti-carcinogenic, and antidiabetic effects on human health.
  • 651
  • 30 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Applications for Colon Organoid Models in Cancer
Organoids are 3D organ-like structures grown from stem cells in vitro that mimic the organ or disease from which they are derived. Due to their stem cell origin, organoids contain a heterogeneous population of cells reflecting the diversity of cell types seen in vivo. Similarly, tumour organoids reflect intratumoural heterogeneity in a way that traditional 2D cell culture and cell lines do not, and, therefore, they show greater promise as a more relevant model for effective disease modelling and drug testing. Tumour organoids arise from cancer stem cells, which contribute to many of the greatest challenges to cancer treatment, including therapy resistance, tumour recurrence, and metastasis. Organoids show promise as relevant in vitro models with a range of applications from drug testing to modelling disease progression.
  • 451
  • 30 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Chromatin and Cancer
A hallmark of cancers is uncontrolled cell proliferation, frequently associated with an underlying imbalance in gene expression. This transcriptional dysregulation observed in cancers is multifaceted and involves chromosomal rearrangements, chimeric transcription factors, or altered epigenetic marks. Traditionally, chromatin dysregulation in cancers has been considered a downstream effect of driver mutations. Disruption of this large-scale chromatin in proliferating cancerous cells in conventional chemotherapies induces DNA damage and provides a positive feedback loop for chromatin rearrangements and tumor diversification. Consequently, the surviving cells from these chemotherapies become tolerant to higher doses of the therapeutic reagents, which are significantly toxic to normal cells. Furthermore, the disorganization of chromatin induced by these therapies accentuates nuclear fragility, thereby increasing the invasive potential of these tumors.
  • 448
  • 29 Jan 2023
Topic Review
Cardiac Neural Crest and Cardiac Regeneration
Neural crest cells (NCCs) are a vertebrate-specific, multipotent stem cell population that have the ability to migrate and differentiate into various cell populations throughout the embryo during embryogenesis. Based on the initial axial position and site of contribution, NCCs are divided into specific subpopulations, such as the cardiac neural crest (NC), which mainly contributes to the cardiac valves, interventricular septum, and both the aorta and pulmonary vessel. The heart is a muscular and complex organ whose primary function is to pump blood and nutrients throughout the body. Mammalian hearts, such as those of humans, lose their regenerative ability shortly after birth. However, a few vertebrate species, such as zebrafish, have the ability to self-repair/regenerate after cardiac damage. Recent research has discovered the potential functional ability and contribution of cardiac NCCs to cardiac regeneration through the use of various vertebrate species and pluripotent stem cell-derived NCCs. This potential regenerative capacity to cardiac tissue poses interesting avenues to advance the treatment of various cardiac diseases. Heart disease, a leading cause of death in the United States, results in death or severe damage to the function and/or structural integrity of the heart. Determining the contribution and regenerative capacity of the cardiac NC in mammalian systems is of high clinical significance. Here, the focus is on the NC’s regenerative capacity in various tissues and systems, and in particular, the characteristics of cardiac NCCs between species and their roles in cardiac regeneration are summarized. Emerging and future work to determine the potential contributions of NCCs for disease treatment will be further discussed.
  • 317
  • 29 Jan 2023
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