Topic Review
Aquaporins in Mesenchymal Stem Cells
Aquaporins (AQPs) are a family of membrane water channel proteins that control osmotically-driven water transport across cell membranes. Recent studies have focused on the assessment of fluid flux regulation in relation to the biological processes that maintain mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) physiology. In particular, AQPs seem to regulate MSC proliferation through rapid regulation of the cell volume. Furthermore, several reports have shown that AQPs play a crucial role in modulating MSC attachment to the extracellular matrix, their spread, and migration. This review aims to describe the recent findings on AQPs role in MSCs physiology taking into account their reflex for potential applicatio in regenerative medicine.
  • 629
  • 24 Dec 2020
Topic Review
Lymphocytes in Brief
Lymphocytes are a vital class of white blood cells that serve as the backbone of the immune system. These small yet powerful cells play a pivotal role in defending the body against infections, viruses, and other foreign invaders. Lymphocytes come in two main types: B lymphocytes (B cells) and T lymphocytes (T cells), each with distinct functions. B cells are the architects of humoral immunity, producing antibodies that can recognize and neutralize specific pathogens. They originate in the bone marrow and mature there, eventually differentiating into plasma cells that churn out antibodies. T cells, on the other hand, are central to cell-mediated immunity, a critical defense mechanism against intracellular threats like viruses. They mature in the thymus gland and include helper T cells, cytotoxic T cells, regulatory T cells, and memory T cells, each with specialized roles. Lymphocytes undergo complex developmental processes, ensuring they can identify invaders while avoiding attacks on the body's own cells. Their functions span innate and adaptive immunity, making them essential for maintaining health and responding to diseases. From protecting against infections to enabling vaccination and driving cutting-edge cancer treatments, lymphocytes are indispensable to our well-being, and ongoing research promises to unlock even more of their potential.
  • 629
  • 07 Oct 2023
Topic Review
Dysregulation of miRNA in Leukemia
Micro RNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs that have a crucial role in cellular processes such as differentiation, proliferation, migration, and apoptosis. miRNAs may act as oncogenes or tumor suppressors; therefore, they prevent or promote tumorigenesis, and abnormal expression has been reported in many malignancies. The role of miRNA in leukemia pathogenesis is still emerging, but several studies have suggested using miRNA expression profiles as biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and response to therapy in leukemia.
  • 629
  • 29 Oct 2021
Topic Review
Neutrophils during Arboviral Infections
Arboviruses are known to cause large-scale epidemics in many parts of the world. These arthropod-borne viruses are a large group consisting of viruses from a wide range of families. The ability of their vector to enhance viral pathogenesis and transmission makes the development of treatments against these viruses challenging. Neutrophils are generally the first leukocytes to be recruited to a site of infection, playing a major role in regulating inflammation and, as a result, viral replication and dissemination. However, the underlying mechanisms through which neutrophils control the progression of inflammation and disease remain to be fully understood. In this review, we highlight the major findings from recent years regarding the role of neutrophils during arboviral infections. We discuss the complex nature of neutrophils in mediating not only protection, but also augmenting disease pathology. Better understanding of neutrophil pathways involved in effective protection against arboviral infections can help identify potential targets for therapeutics. 
  • 629
  • 05 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Senescence-Associated Cell Transition and Interaction
Aging is a broad process that occurs as a time-dependent functional decline and tissue degeneration in living organisms. On a smaller scale, aging also exists within organs, tissues, and cells. As the smallest functional unit in living organisms, cells “age” by reaching senescence where proliferation stops. Such cellular senescence is achieved through replicative stress, telomere erosion and stem cell exhaustion. It has been shown that cellular senescence is key to tissue degradation and cell death in aging-related diseases (ARD). However, senescent cells constitute only a small percentage of total cells in the body, and they are resistant to death during aging. This suggests that ARD may involve interaction of senescent cells with non-senescent cells, resulting in senescence-triggered death of non-senescent somatic cells and tissue degeneration in aging organs.
  • 628
  • 06 Apr 2022
Topic Review
Three-Dimensional Cell Cultures
Cell cultures are very important for testing materials and drugs, and in the examination of cell biology and special cell mechanisms. The most popular models of cell culture are two-dimensional (2D) as monolayers, but this does not mimic the natural cell environment. Cells are mostly deprived of cell–cell and cell–extracellular matrix interactions. A much better in vitro model is three-dimensional (3D) culture. Because many cell lines have the ability to self-assemble, one 3D culturing method is to produce spheroids. There are several systems for culturing cells in spheroids, e.g., hanging drop, scaffolds and hydrogels, and these cultures have their applications in drug and nanoparticles testing, and disease modeling.
  • 628
  • 27 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Amyloidosis
Amyloidosis is a term referring to a group of various protein-misfolding diseases wherein normally soluble proteins form aggregates as insoluble amyloid fibrils. How, or whether, amyloid fibrils contribute to tissue damage in amyloidosis has been the topic of debate. In vitro studies have demonstrated the appearance of small globular oligomeric species during the incubation of amyloid beta peptide (Aβ).
  • 626
  • 30 Aug 2021
Topic Review
INOS in Ovarian Cancer
Inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), the enzyme responsible for nitric oxide (NO) production, is not present in most cells under normal conditions. The expression of its mRNA, as well as its protein synthesis and full enzymatic activity, undergoes multilevel regulation including transcriptional and posttranscriptional mechanisms, the availability of iNOS substrate and cofactors and oxygen tension.
  • 626
  • 22 Dec 2021
Topic Review
Structural Glial–Neuronal Mechanisms of Mitochondrial Transfer
Glial–neuronal mitochondrial transfer is mediated via a number of active processes including the release of extracellular vesicles, the formation of tunnelling nanotubes, and potentially other mechanisms.
  • 626
  • 07 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Glial Cells in Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
Ischemic stroke is the second cause of mortality and the first cause of long-term disability constituting a serious socioeconomic burden worldwide. Approved treatments include thrombectomy and rtPA intravenous administration, which, despite their efficacy in some cases, are not suitable for a great proportion of patients. Glial cell-related therapies are progressively overcoming inefficient neuron-centered approaches in the preclinical phase. Exploiting the ability of microglia to naturally switch between detrimental and protective phenotypes represents a promising therapeutic treatment, in a similar way to what happens with astrocytes. However, the duality present in many of the roles of these cells upon ischemia poses a notorious difficulty in disentangling the precise pathways to target. Still, promoting M2/A2 microglia/astrocyte protective phenotypes and inhibiting M1/A1 neurotoxic profiles is globally rendering promising results in different in vivo models of stroke.
  • 626
  • 08 Sep 2021
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