Topic Review
Thrombospondin-1 in the Tumor Microenvironment
The identification of thrombospondin-1 as an angiogenesis inhibitor in 1990 prompted interest in its role in cancer biology and potential as a therapeutic target. Decreased thrombospondin-1 mRNA and protein expression are associated with progression in several cancers, while expression by nonmalignant cells in the tumor microenvironment and circulating levels in cancer patients can be elevated. THBS1 is not a tumor suppressor gene, but the regulation of its expression in malignant cells by oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes mediates some of their effects on carcinogenesis, tumor progression, and metastasis. In addition to regulating angiogenesis and perfusion of the tumor vasculature, thrombospondin-1 limits antitumor immunity by CD47-dependent regulation of innate and adaptive immune cells. Conversely, thrombospondin-1 is a component of particles released by immune cells that mediate tumor cell killing. Thrombospondin-1 differentially regulates the sensitivity of malignant and nonmalignant cells to genotoxic stress caused by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. 
  • 846
  • 23 Jun 2021
Topic Review
Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells in HGG
The immune microenvironment of high-grade gliomas (HGG) is a complex and heterogeneous system, consisting of diverse cell types such as microglia, bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs), myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), dendritic cells, natural killer (NK) cells, and T-cells. Of these, MDSCs are one of the major tumor-infiltrating immune cells and are correlated not only with overall worse prognosis but also poor clinical outcomes. Upon entry from the bone marrow into the peripheral blood, spleen, as well as in tumor microenvironment (TME) in HGG patients, MDSCs deploy an array of mechanisms to perform their immune and non-immune suppressive functions. 
  • 843
  • 15 Jun 2021
Topic Review Video
Blood-Spinal Cord Barrier
The blood-spinal cord barrier (BSCB) has been long thought of as a functional equivalent to the blood-brain barrier (BBB), restricting blood flow into the spinal cord. The spinal cord is supported by various disc tissues that provide agility and has different local immune responses compared to the brain. Though physiologically, structural components of the BSCB and BBB share many similarities, the clinical landscape significantly differs. 
  • 842
  • 14 Jan 2022
Topic Review
RNA-Binding Proteins Regulating
The majority of the genome is transcribed into pieces of non-(protein) coding RNA, among which long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) constitute a large group of particularly versatile molecules that govern basic cellular processes including transcription, splicing, RNA stability, and translation. The frequent deregulation of numerous lncRNAs in cancer is known to contribute to virtually all hallmarks of cancer. The post-transcriptional regulation of lncRNAs is mediated by RNA-binding proteins (RBPs). Interestingly, RBPs themselves are commonly deregulated in cancer and could thus constitute a major contribution to the deregulation of cancer-associated lncRNAs. Discussed here are four examples of well-known RBPs that regulate the transport or localization of cancer-associated lncRNAs and thereby impact the functionality of these lncRNAs. So far, out of the vast number of RBPs that exist, only a relatively small number has been found to specifically guide the transport or localization of cancer-related lncRNAs. In general, there is still a lack of knowledge about how lncRNAs are shuttled between or retained within different cellular compartments and future research will have to shed more light on these regulatory mechanisms.
  • 842
  • 29 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Traditional Japanese Distilled Liquor, shochu
The traditional Japanese single distilled liquor, which uses koji and yeast with designated ingredients, is called “honkaku shochu.” It is made using local agricultural products and has several types, including barley shochu, sweet potato shochu, rice shochu, and buckwheat shochu. In the case of honkaku shochu, black koji fungus (Aspergillus luchuensis) or white koji fungus (Aspergillus luchuensis mut. kawachii) is used to (1) saccharify the starch contained in the ingredients, (2) produce citric acid to prevent microbial spoilage, and (3) give the liquor its unique flavor.
  • 840
  • 09 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Periodontitis Treatment
Fabrication of biomaterial that mimics a suitable biological microenvironment is still a major challenge in the field of periodontitis treatment. Hence, in this report, we presented for the first time the fabrication of a novel biomaterial 3D matrix using collagen combined with sodium alginate and titanium oxide (TiO2) to recreate the in-vivo microenvironment and to act as a platform for the culture of human periodontal ligament fibroblasts (HPLF) towards osteogenic differentiation.
  • 838
  • 29 Oct 2020
Topic Review
BH3-Only Proteins Noxa and Puma in Apoptosis Regulation
Apoptosis is an evolutionarily conserved and tightly regulated cell death pathway. Physiological cell death is important for maintaining homeostasis and optimal biological conditions by continuous elimination of undesired or superfluous cells. The BH3-only pro-apoptotic members are strong inducers of apoptosis. The pro-apoptotic BH3-only protein Noxa activates multiple death pathways by inhibiting the anti-apoptotic B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) family protein, Mcl-1, and other protein members leading to Bax and Bak activation and mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization (MOMP). On the other hand, Puma is induced by p53-dependent and p53-independent apoptotic stimuli in several cancer cell lines. Moreover, this protein is involved in several physiological and pathological processes, such as immunity, cancer, and neurodegenerative diseases. Future heat shock research could disclose the effect of hyperthermia on both Noxa and BH3-only proteins. This suggests post-transcriptional mechanisms controlling the translation of both Puma and Noxa mRNA in heat-shocked cells. 
  • 835
  • 10 Mar 2022
Topic Review
Ferroptosis and Its Role in Chronic Diseases
Ferroptosis, which has been widely associated with many diseases, is an iron-dependent regulated cell death characterized by intracellular lipid peroxide accumulation. It exhibits morphological, biochemical, and genetic characteristics that are unique in comparison to other types of cell death. The course of ferroptosis can be accurately regulated by the metabolism of iron, lipids, amino acids, and various signal pathways. 
  • 833
  • 12 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Bone Morphogenetic Proteins
Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) were originally identified as the active components in bone extracts that can induce ectopic bone formation. In recent decades, their key role has broadly expanded beyond bone physiology and pathology. Nowadays, the BMP pathway is considered an important player in vascular signaling. Indeed, mutations in genes encoding different components of the BMP pathway cause various severe vascular diseases. Their signaling contributes to the morphological, functional and molecular heterogeneity among endothelial cells in different vessel types such as arteries, veins, lymphatic vessels and capillaries within different organs. The BMP pathway is a remarkably fine-tuned pathway. As a result, its signaling output in the vessel wall critically depends on the cellular context, which includes flow hemodynamics, interplay with other vascular signaling cascades and the interaction of endothelial cells with peri-endothelial cells and the surrounding matrix.
  • 832
  • 27 Jul 2021
Topic Review
Hippo in Gastric Cancer
The Hippo signalling pathway is one of the most crucial and complex ones in physiology, and there is no doubt that the regulatory mechanisms it possesses are various. The role of this signalisation process in tissue homeostasis makes it keen to lead to cancerous processes when dysregulated. 
  • 831
  • 16 May 2022
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