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Topic Review
Transposon
Transposons are sequences of DNA that can move around to different positions within the genome of a single cell, a process called transposition. In the process, they can cause mutations and change the amount of DNA in the genome. Transposons are also called "jumping genes" or "mobile genetic elements". Discovered by Barbara McClintock early in her career, the topic went on to be a Nobel winning work in 1983. There are a variety of mobile genetic elements, and they can be grouped based on their mechanism of transposition. Class I mobile genetic elements, or retrotransposons, move in the genome by being transcribed to RNA and then back to DNA by reverse transcriptase, while class II mobile genetic elements move directly from one position to another within the genome using a transposase to "cut and paste" them within the genome. Transposons are very useful to researchers as a means to alter DNA inside of a living organism. Transposons make up a large fraction of genome sizes which is evident through the C-values of eukaryotic species. As an example about 45% of the human genome is composed of transposons and their defunct remnants.
  • 1.0K
  • 23 Nov 2022
Topic Review
Human iPSCs into Cardiomyocytes
Reprogramming of adult somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) has revolutionized the complex scientific field of disease modeling and personalized therapy. Cardiac differentiation of human iPSCs into cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) has been used in a wide range of healthy and disease models by deriving CMs from different somatic cells. Unfortunately, hiPSC-CMs have to be improved because existing protocols are not completely able to obtain mature CMs recapitulating physiological properties of human adult cardiac cells. Therefore, improvements and advances able to standardize differentiation conditions are needed. Lately, evidences of an epigenetic memory retained by the somatic cells used for deriving hiPSC-CMs has led to evaluation of different somatic sources in order to obtain more mature hiPSC-derived CMs.
  • 1.0K
  • 23 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Bronchopulmonary dysplasia-associated pulmonary hypertension
       Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a chronic lung disease affecting preterm infants. More than 50 years after the first description of BPD by Northway, this chronic lung disease affecting many preterm infants is still less understood. Additonally, approximately 40% of preterm infants suffering from severe BPD also suffer from Bronchopulmonary dysplasia-associated pulmonary hypertension (BPD-PH), leading to a significant increase in total morbidity and mortality. Until today, there is no curative therapy for both BPD and BPD-PH available. It has become increasingly evident that growth factors are playing a central role in normal and pathologic development of the pulmonary vasculature. Thus, this review aims to summarize the recent evidence in our understanding of BPD-PH from a basic scientific point of view, focusing on the potential role of Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF)/FGF10 signaling pathway contributing to disease development, progression and resolution.
  • 1.0K
  • 26 Aug 2020
Topic Review
Convection Enhanced Delivery
Convection enhanced delivery (CED), first described by Bobo et al. in 1994, remains a promising technique for circumventing the Blood Brain Barrier (BBB) and delivering therapy in a non-diffusion dependent manner, thereby facilitating high local concentrations of infusate.
  • 1.0K
  • 12 Jan 2021
Topic Review
Hyaluronan
Hyaluronan (HA) is a major component of the ECM that consists of repeated disaccharide units of N-acetylglucosamine and glucuronic acid. HA is synthesized as a high molecular weight molecule but is degraded into heterogeneous fragments by hyaluronidases and reactive oxygen or nitrogen species. The biological activity of HA depends on its molecular weight. HA fragments stimulate tissue inflammation and fibrosis. In contrast, high molecular weight HA suppresses these processes and maintains tissue homeostasis. This functional duality is particularly important during wound repair where HA sequentially promotes then suppresses inflammation and fibrosis. In contrast, in tumors, HA effects are often co-opted to increase growth and invasion.  
  • 1.0K
  • 29 Nov 2021
Topic Review
Neutrophil Extracellular Traps
"Neutrophil extracellular traps" (NETs) are released by neutrophils. Neutrophils act as the first line of defense during infection and inflammation. Once activated, they are able to fulfil numerous tasks to fight inflammatory insults while keeping a balanced immune response. Besides well-known functions, such as phagocytosis and degranulation, neutrophils are also able to release “neutrophil extracellular traps” (NETs).. In response to most stimuli, the neutrophils release decondensed chromatin in a NADPH oxidase-dependent manner decorated with histones and granule proteins, such as neutrophil elastase, myeloperoxidase, and cathelicidins. Although primarily supposed to prevent microbial dissemination and fight infections, there is increasing evidence that an overwhelming NET response correlates with poor outcome in many diseases. Lung-related diseases especially, such as bacterial pneumonia, cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, aspergillosis, influenza, and COVID-19, are often affected by massive NET formation. Highly vascularized areas as in the lung are susceptible to immunothrombotic events promoted by chromatin fibers. Keeping this fragile equilibrium seems to be the key for an appropriate immune response. Therapies targeting dysregulated NET formation might positively influence many disease progressions.
  • 1.0K
  • 13 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Piezo Channels in Bone
Mechanotransduction is an important process for living cells and tissues by which they experience and respond to mechanical stimuli. Cellular mechanotransduction is crucial for bone development and physiology, and abnormal cellular mechanotransduction leads to various bone diseases, including osteoporosis (OP) and osteoarthritis (OA). Piezo channels are mechanosensitive ion channels located in the cell membrane and function as key cellular mechanotransducers for converting mechanical stimuli into electrochemical signals. The Piezo channels play crucial roles in numerous physiological and pathological process by functioning as cellular mechanotransducers. Under mechanical stimuli, Piezo channels are opened to make cationic ions cross membrane, which promotes cellular mechanotransduction to adapt to the microenvironment.
  • 1.0K
  • 01 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Ginseng against Respiratory Tract Infections
Ginseng has been reported to inhibit bacterial pathways, thereby killing bacteria indirectly. It has also been shown to protect the host from bacterial invasion.
  • 1.0K
  • 30 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Redox Homeostasis in Muscular Dystrophies
Reactive oxygen species are (ROS) are signaling molecules moderately and continuously produced by skeletal muscles as a consequence of their contractile activity and high mitochondrial oxygen consumption. The main source of ROS production is located in the cytosol through the activity of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidases (NOX enzymes), xanthine oxidase (XO), and nitric oxide synthase (NOS), and by the mitochondrial electron transport chain. When ROS exceed the antioxidant buffering capacity of tissues, oxidative stress occurs.
  • 1.0K
  • 15 Jun 2021
Topic Review
α2-Antiplasmin
Systemic sclerosis is a connective tissue disease of unknown origin that is characterized by immune system abnormalities, vascular damage, and extensive fibrosis of the skin and visceral organs. α2-antiplasmin is known to be the main plasmin inhibitor and has various functions such as cell differentiation and cytokine production, as well as the regulation of the maintenance of the immune system, endothelial homeostasis, and extracellular matrix metabolism.
  • 1.0K
  • 14 Mar 2022
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