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Topic Review
Biography
Topic Review
Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells in Cancer
The emergence of immunotherapy has been an astounding breakthrough in cancer treatments. In particular, immune checkpoint inhibitors, targeting PD-1 and CTLA-4, have shown remarkable therapeutic outcomes. However, response rates from immunotherapy have been reported to be varied, with some having pronounced success and others with minimal to no clinical benefit. An important aspect associated with this discrepancy in patient response is the immune-suppressive effects elicited by the tumour microenvironment (TME). Immune suppression plays a pivotal role in regulating cancer progression, metastasis, and reducing immunotherapy success. Most notably, myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC), a heterogeneous population of immature myeloid cells, have potent mechanisms to inhibit T-cell and NK-cell activity to promote tumour growth, development of the pre-metastatic niche, and contribute to resistance to immunotherapy. Accumulating research indicates that MDSC can be a therapeutic target to alleviate their pro-tumourigenic functions and immunosuppressive activities to bolster the efficacy of checkpoint inhibitors.
2.3K
25 May 2021
Topic Review
Pannexin-1 Channels and Neuroinflammation
Neuroinflammation is a major component of central nervous system (CNS) injuries and neurological diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, neuropathic pain, and brain trauma. The activation of innate immune cells at the damage site causes the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, which alter the functionality of nearby tissues and might mediate the recruitment of leukocytes to the injury site. If this process persists or is exacerbated, it prevents the adequate resolution of the inflammation, and ultimately enhances secondary damage. Adenosine 5′ triphosphate (ATP) is among the molecules released that trigger an inflammatory response, and it serves as a chemotactic and endogenous danger signal. Extracellular ATP activates multiple purinergic receptors (P2X and P2Y) that have been shown to promote neuroinflammation in a variety of CNS diseases. Recent studies have shown that Pannexin-1 (Panx1) channels are the principal conduits of ATP release from dying cells and innate immune cells in the brain.
737
25 May 2021
Topic Review
Cell Migration
Directional migration of cells is essential for multicellular organisms development and survival. In this review we outline the importance of calcium signaling, and in particular store-operated calcium entry, in regulating cell migration in nomral and metastatic cells. Interestingly, calcium signaling is polarized and differentially regulates focal adhesion and the cytoskeleton at the front and rear ends of the cell.
836
25 May 2021
Topic Review
CRISPR-Cas and Its Wide-Ranging Applications
The CRISPR-Cas system is a powerful tool for in vivo editing the genome of most organisms, including man.
522
24 May 2021
Topic Review
AMPK in Viral Infections
Viral pathogens often exploit host cell regulatory and signaling pathways to ensure an optimal environment for growth and survival. Several studies have suggested that 5′-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK), an intracellular serine/threonine kinase, plays a significant role in the modulation of infection.
588
24 May 2021
Topic Review
Viroids and Plants
Viroids are plant pathogenic, circular, non-coding, single-stranded RNAs (ssRNAs). Members of the Pospiviroidae family replicate in the nucleus of plant cells through double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) intermediates, thus triggering the host’s RNA interference (RNAi) machinery. In plants, the two RNAi pillars are Post-Transcriptional Gene Silencing (PTGS) and RNA-directed DNA Methylation (RdDM), and the latter has the potential to trigger Transcriptional Gene Silencing (TGS). Over the last three decades, the employment of viroid-based systems has immensely contributed to our understanding of both of these RNAi facets.
994
20 May 2021
Topic Review
NADPH Oxidases
NADPH oxidases (NOXs), mostly known as respiratory burst oxidase homologs (RBOHs), are the key producers of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in plants. A lot of literature has addressed ROS signaling in plant development regulation and stress responses as well as on the enzyme’s structure, evolution, function, regulation and associated mechanisms, manifesting the role of NOXs/RBOHs as the vital performers and center hubs during plant growth and signaling.
551
20 May 2021
Topic Review
Cytokinesis in Eukaryotic Cells
The duplication cycle is the fascinating process that, starting from a cell, results in the formation of two daughter cells and it is essential for life. Cytokinesis is the final step of the cell cycle, it is a very complex phase, and is a concert of forces, remodeling, trafficking, and cell signaling. All of the steps of cell division must be properly coordinated with each other to faithfully segregate the genetic material and this task is fundamental for generating viable cells. Given the importance of this process, molecular pathways and proteins that are involved in cytokinesis are conserved from yeast to humans.
643
20 May 2021
Topic Review
The MAL Protein
The MAL gene encodes a 17-kDa protein containing four putative transmembrane segments whose expression is restricted to human T cells, polarized epithelial cells and myelin-forming cells. It organizes condensed membranes to make them functional in specialized pathways of membrane trafficking and cell signaling.
496
20 May 2021
Topic Review
Secreted Frizzled-Related Protein 1
Secreted frizzled-related protein 1 (SFRP1) encodes one of the eight known SFRP family members. This 3873 base pair coding gene is localized on chromosome 8p11, from nucleotide 41,261,957 to 41,309,473.
387
20 May 2021
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