Topic Review
Cell–Cell Mating Interactions
It is an understatement that mating and DNA transfer are key events for living organisms. Among the traits needed to facilitate mating, cell adhesion between gametes is a universal requirement. Thus, there should be specific properties for the adhesion proteins involved in mating. Biochemical and biophysical studies have revealed structural information about mating adhesins, as well as their specificities and affinities, leading to some ideas about these specialized adhesion proteins. Single-cell force spectroscopy (SCFS) has added important findings. In SCFS, mating cells are brought into contact in an atomic force microscope (AFM), and the adhesive forces are monitored through the course of mating. The results have shown some remarkable characteristics of mating adhesins and add knowledge about the design and evolution of mating adhesins. 
  • 571
  • 18 Feb 2022
Topic Review
Cell Therapies in Acute Kidney Injury
The incidence of renal disease is gradually increasing worldwide, and this condition has become a major public health problem because it is a trigger for many other chronic diseases. Cell therapies using multipotent mesenchymal stromal cells, hematopoietic stem cells, macrophages, and other cell types have been used to induce regeneration and provide a cure for acute and chronic kidney disease in experimental models. 
  • 571
  • 18 Jan 2023
Topic Review
microRNA and Adipose Tissue Function in Obesity
Obesity-induced adipose tissue dysfunction is bolstered by chronic, low-grade inflammation and impairs systemic metabolic health. Adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs) perpetuate local inflammation but are crucial to adipose tissue homeostasis, exerting heterogeneous, niche-specific functions. Diversified macrophage actions are shaped through finely regulated factors, including microRNAs, which post-transcriptionally alter macrophage activation.
  • 570
  • 05 May 2022
Topic Review
Tumor Microenvironment in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
The interaction of the cellular environment surrounding the tumor plays a relevant role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) pathogenesis. The tumor microenvironment is directly implicated in the modulation of liver fibrosis, the process of hepatocarcinogenesis, the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), invasion, and metastasis. Besides liver cancer cells, several cell types participate in the tumor progression in the liver. 
  • 570
  • 25 Feb 2022
Topic Review
PTEN Dual Lipid- and Protein-Phosphatase Function in Tumor
Phosphatase and tensin homolog deleted on chromosome ten (PTEN) is a multifunctional tumor suppressor with protein- and lipid-phosphatase activities. The inactivation of PTEN is commonly found in all human cancers and is correlated with tumor progression. PTEN-lipid-phosphatase activity has been well documented to dephosphorylate phosphatidylinositol-3, 4, 5-phosphate (PIP3), which hinders cell growth and survival by dampening the PI3K and AKT signaling activity. PTEN-protein-phosphatase activity dephosphorylates the different proteins and acts in various cell functions. 
  • 569
  • 28 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Dietary Antioxidants in Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Glaucoma
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and glaucoma are ophthalmic neurodegenerative diseases responsible for irreversible vision loss in the world population. Only a few therapies can be used to slow down the progression of these diseases and there are no available treatment strategies for reversing the degeneration of the neural retina. In AMD, the pathological process causes the malfunction and damage of the retinal pigmented epithelium and photoreceptors in the macula. In glaucoma, damage of the retinal ganglion cells and their axons is observed and treatment strategies are limited to intraocular pressure lowering. Therefore, other prophylactic and/or therapeutic methods are needed. Oxidative stress is involved in the neurodegenerative process accompanying both AMD and glaucoma; therefore, the use of antioxidant agents would clearly be beneficial, which is supported by the decreased prevalence and progression of AMD in patients adherent to a diet naturally rich in antioxidants.
  • 569
  • 11 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Aptamer-Based Probes for Cancer Diagnostics and Treatment
Aptamers are single-stranded DNA or RNA oligomers that have the ability to generate unique and diverse tertiary structures that bind to cognate molecules with high specificity. In recent years, aptamer researches have witnessed a huge surge, owing to its unique properties, such as high specificity and binding affinity, low immunogenicity and toxicity, and simplicity of synthesis with negligible batch-to-batch variation. Aptamers may bind to targets, such as various cancer biomarkers, making them applicable for a wide range of cancer diagnosis and treatment. In cancer diagnostic applications, aptamers are used as molecular probes instead of antibodies.
  • 569
  • 08 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Role of SLC7A11 in Cancer Metabolism
Solute carrier family 7 member 11 (SLC7A11) is a cell transmembrane protein composing the light chain of system xc−, transporting extracellular cystine into cells for cysteine production and glutathione (GSH) biosynthesis. SLC7A11 is a critical gateway for redox homeostasis by maintaining the cellular levels of GSH that counter cellular oxidative stress and suppress ferroptosis. SLC7A11 is overexpressed in various human cancers and regulates tumor development, proliferation, metastasis, microenvironment, and treatment resistance.
  • 567
  • 08 Jan 2023
Topic Review
FGF Signaling in Vertebrate Embryos
Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) comprise a large family of growth factors, regulating diverse biological processes including cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation. Each FGF binds to a set of FGF receptors to initiate certain intracellular signaling molecules. Accumulated evidence suggests that in early development and adult state of vertebrates, FGFs also play exclusive and context dependent roles.
  • 566
  • 08 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Methods to Establish a 3D Cell Culture
The clear potential of three-dimensional (3D) systems to provide new models suitable for studying cell interactions in both basic and more specialized research, revolutionizing cell culture technology, and offering alternative methods for animal experimentation, has prompted the scientific community to develop different efficient methods to establish 3D cell cultures, all of which, in turn, affect 3D model characteristics. These techniques can be divided into two major categories: scaffold-free systems and scaffold-based systems. Scaffold-free systems are based on the self-aggregation capability of some cell types, which can be encouraged using specific cell plates and/or physical parameters that avoid cell attachment. On the other hand, in scaffold-based systems, cells are seeded in natural or synthetic materials, allowing cell proliferation, aggregation, and 3D organization.
  • 564
  • 02 Aug 2023
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