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Topic Review
Lactadherin in Cancer Development and Progression
Lactadherin is a secreted glycoprotein associated with the milk fat globule membrane, which is highly present in the blood and in the mammary tissue of lactating women. Several biological functions have been associated with this protein, mainly attributable to its immunomodulatory role promoting phagocyte-mediated clearance of apoptotic cells. It has been shown that lactadherin also plays important roles in cell adhesion, promotion of angiogenesis, and tissue regeneration. On the other hand, this protein has been used as a marker of breast cancer and tumor progression. Recently, high levels of lactadherin has been associated with poor prognosis and decreased survival, not only in breast cancer, but also in melanoma, ovarian, colorectal, and other types of cancer. Although the mechanisms responsible for the tumor-promoting effects attributed to lactadherin have not been fully elucidated, a growing body of literature indicates that lactadherin could be a promising therapeutic target and/or biomarker for breast and other tumors. Moreover, recent studies have shown its presence in extracellular vesicles derived from cancer cell lines and cancer patients, which was associated with cancer aggressiveness and worse prognosis. 
  • 504
  • 31 May 2022
Topic Review
Role of Neurotrophin Signaling in CNS Homeostasis
Neurotrophins (NTs), also known as neurotrophic factors, are proteins involved in many important functions in the central nervous system (CNS), such as survival, synaptic plasticity, apoptosis, differentiation, and growth. The current knowledge of NTs includes the nerve growth factor (NGF), neurotrophin 3 (NT-3), NT-4, NT-5, and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). These NTs are commonly known to be synthesized by CNS cells. However, other cell types, including immune system cells, can produce NTs and express their receptors on the cell surface. These proteins also play a vital role in regulating immune functions, promoting the survival of different immune cells such as monocytes and lymphocytes and influencing cytokine expression. NTs significantly contribute to healthy CNS development and maintenance. Furthermore, most mechanisms mediated by NTs signaling have essential physiological effects which perdure through most animal lifecycles. In consequence, alterations in neurotrophic signaling can have substantial ramifications, especially during embryonic development.
  • 401
  • 31 May 2022
Topic Review
Targeting Akt in Treating Head and Neck Cancer
When Akt, a signalling protein, is activated by different growth factors such as epidermal growth factor, transforming growth factor α/β, vascular endothelial growth factor and nerve growth factor, head and neck cancer cell spreading is stimulated. Tumour microenvironment plays an important role in cancer spreading by synthesising and secreting growth factors and suggests that targeting growth-factor-activated Akt in combination therapy could be a valuable therapeutic approach in treating head and neck cancer patients. 
  • 363
  • 31 May 2022
Topic Review
Respiratory Epithelial Cells against Fungal Infections
The respiratory epithelium is highly complex, and its composition varies along the conducting airways and alveoli. In addition to their primary function in maintaining the respiratory barrier and lung homeostasis for gas exchange, epithelial cells interact with inhaled pathogens, which can manipulate cell signaling pathways, promoting adhesion to these cells or hosting tissue invasion. Moreover, pathogens (or their products) can induce the secretion of chemokines and cytokines by epithelial cells, and in this way, these host cells communicate with the immune system, modulating host defenses and inflammatory outcomes.
  • 504
  • 31 May 2022
Topic Review
MAPK Pathways in Cancer Metastasis
Metastasis is perhaps the most common reason for treatment failure in cancer patients, as well as the leading cause of cancer-related death. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) are serine/threonine-protein kinases that can be activated by a variety of extracellular stimuli including growth factors, cytokines, insulin, environmental factors, and oxidative and genotoxic stress. It is becoming increasingly clear that MAPKs are involved in all the steps required for hyperproliferating cells to develop into metastatic tumors. However, scholars are currently lacking in vivo data to fully understand how MAPK signaling pathways can affect the progression of metastatic disease. 
  • 1.8K
  • 26 May 2022
Topic Review
Hypoxia-Associated Long Non-Coding RNAs in Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in women worldwide. Long non-coding RNAs are newly described molecules that have extensive roles in breast cancer. Emerging reports have shown that there is a strong link between these RNAs and the hypoxic response of breast cancer cells, which may be an important factor for enhanced tumoral progression.
  • 314
  • 26 May 2022
Topic Review
Microglial Endocannabinoid Signalling in Alzheimer’s Disease
Chronic inflammation in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has been recently identified as a major contributor to disease pathogenesis. Once activated, microglial cells, which are brain-resident immune cells, exert several key actions, including phagocytosis, chemotaxis, and the release of pro- or anti-inflammatory mediators, which could have opposite effects on brain homeostasis, depending on the stage of disease and the particular phenotype of microglial cells. The endocannabinoids (eCBs) are pleiotropic bioactive lipids increasingly recognized for their essential roles in regulating microglial activity both under normal and AD-driven pathological conditions. 
  • 491
  • 25 May 2022
Topic Review
Steatohepatitis, Mitochondria, and Inflammasome
Alcoholic (ASH) and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are advanced stages of fatty liver disease and two of the most prevalent forms of chronic liver disease. ASH and NASH are associated with significant risk of further progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common type of liver cancer, and a major cause of cancer-related mortality. Mitochondrial damage and activation of inflammasome complexes have a role in inducing and sustaining liver damage.
  • 291
  • 25 May 2022
Topic Review
Pluripotent Organ-Specific Pericytes in Growth and Maturation
Cells fitting the description of Mesenchymal Stem/Signaling Cells (MSC) have been isolated from a large number of adult tissues. The original characteristics of MSC as defined by Caplan’s group were adherence to plastic, expression of a subset of cell surface antigens, and the cells could be induced in vitro to differentiate towards different cell lineages, including chondrocytes, bone cells, and adipocytes. It has been noted that MSC from most tissues or fluids are very heterogeneous, and some sources appear to have unique features, including unique lectin-binding phenotypes. Interestingly, MSC from bone marrow appear to preferentially respond to osteogenic stimuli, while MSC from synovium respond well to chondrogenic stimuli. Thus, different locations may reflect the needs of different environments.
  • 326
  • 25 May 2022
Topic Review
Wnt Signaling Triggers Macropinocytosis
Membrane trafficking, including endocytosis and exocytosis, is very important in the interaction between cells and their environment. Endocytosis mediates the degradation of receptors, hence downregulating signaling pathways. The Wnt pathway is essential for cellular functions, such as cell fate determination, cell migration, cell polarity, neural patterning and organogenesis during embryonic development, including axis formation. Macropinocytosis is the large nonselective uptake of molecules such as nutrients and other macromolecules in the cellular environment.
  • 542
  • 24 May 2022
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