Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Chao Sun, Yinhua Dong, Jun Wei, Meng Cai, Dongfang Liang, Yongqing Fu, You Zhou, Yi Sui, Fangda Wu, Roman Mikhaylov, Hanlin Wang, Feifei Fan, Zhihua Xie, Mercedes Stringer, Zhiyong Yang, Zhenlin Wu, Liangfei Tian, Xin Yang
Summary: This study develops a highly effective acoustic stimulator working at -20 MHz to investigate the roles of acousto-mechanical stimuli in the differentiation of hESCs. Our results show that acoustic dose alters the expression of extracellular matrix and physiological activity-related genes, indicating that acoustic stimulation is an important tool in regulating the stem cells' differentiation processes in cell therapy.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
Harini Sooryanarain, S. Ansar Ahmed, Xiang-Jin Meng
Summary: The study found that progesterone significantly increases HEV replication in human liver cells, but does not modulate HEV-induced interferon response. PGRMC1/2 receptors affect the levels of HEV-induced IFN-lambda 1 expression via the ERK pathway, resulting in reduced HEV replication.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Edward J. Calabrese
Summary: This paper provides a thorough assessment of hormetic dose responses in embryonic stem cells, suggesting that this response may serve as a fundamental and highly conserved evolutionary strategy.
CHEMICO-BIOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS
(2022)
Article
Developmental Biology
Anna Yoney, Lu Bai, Ali H. Brivanlou, Eric D. Siggia
Summary: Embryogenesis is guided by a limited set of signaling pathways that control the differentiation of embryonic cells to specific cell types. Recent research has found that WNT signaling primes cells for subsequent signaling responses by inducing the expression of the SMAD2 co-factor EOMES, which is sufficient to replace WNT signaling in the differentiation process.
Article
Developmental Biology
Anna Yoney, Lu Bai, Ali H. Brivanlou, Eric D. Siggla
Summary: Embryogenesis is guided by a limited set of signaling pathways dynamically expressed in different places, and in vitro models of human embryos derived from hESCs allow for addressing developmental questions. WNT priming induces the expression of the SMAD2 co-factor EOMES, enabling activin-mediated ME differentiation, revealing the mechanistic basis for priming and cellular memory in early development.
Article
Cell Biology
Erika Cosset, Youssef Hibaoui, Sten Ilmjarv, Pierre-Yves Dietrich, Caroline Tapparel, Karl-Heinz Krause
Summary: This study presents a standardized protocol for differentiating human embryonic stem cells into engineered neural tissue enriched with motor neurons, and highlights the role of motor neurons in poliovirus infection within these tissues. The research also reveals the molecular events occurring during PV-3 infection in the motor neurons and emphasizes the modulation of a set of genes involved in the EGR-EP300 complex.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Jiekai Yin, Tianyu F. Qi, Yen-Yu Yang, Madeline Vera-Colon, Nicole I. zur Nieden, Yinsheng Wang
Summary: RNA modifications and their associated proteins play a regulatory role in osteogenesis, and this study provides comprehensive quantitative assessment of these proteins during osteogenic differentiation. The down-regulation of certain RNA modification proteins, mainly involved in methylation and pseudouridylation, was found. Protein-protein interaction analysis revealed their significant associations with osteogenesis-related proteins, and gene set enrichment analysis suggested a potential role of METTL1 in osteogenesis through the cytokine network.
JOURNAL OF PROTEOME RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Roni Sarel-Gallily, Tamar Golan-Lev, Atilgan Yilmaz, Ido Sagi, Nissim Benvenisty
Summary: This study identified haploinsufficiency-related genes and identified important dosage-dependent pathways involved in hESC growth and survival.
Article
Cell Biology
Bowen Zhang, Xumin Wu, Guicheng Zi, Lijuan He, Sihan Wang, Lin Chen, Zeng Fan, Xue Nan, Jiafei Xi, Wen Yue, Lei Wang, Liu Wang, Jie Hao, Xuetao Pei, Yanhua Li
Summary: By optimizing the culture protocol, a large number of megakaryocytes were successfully generated from human embryonic stem cells, confirming their biosafety and demonstrating their ability to form platelets. This study further enhances the clinical applications of megakaryocytes or platelets derived from pluripotent stem cells.
CELL PROLIFERATION
(2021)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Ioannis J. Limnios, Yu-Qian Chau, Stuart J. Skabo, Denver C. Surrao, Helen C. O'Neill
Summary: This study developed a rapid and efficient method for producing retinal RPE cells from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) using small molecules. The RPE cells exhibited key morphological, molecular, and functional characteristics of endogenous RPE, showing potential for clinical-grade cell production to treat AMD.
STEM CELL RESEARCH & THERAPY
(2021)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Xiuya Li, Fei Gao, Xiaochen Wang, Qianqian Liang, Aobing Bai, Zhuo Liu, Xinyun Chen, Ermin Li, Sifeng Chen, Chao Lu, Ruizhe Qian, Ning Sun, Ping Liang, Chen Xu
Summary: Knockout of the transcription factor E2A increased the proportion of nodal-like cells in hESC-derived CMs, indicating a potential role of E2A in enhancing the efficiency of generating sinoatrial node-like cardiomyocytes from human pluripotent stem cells in the future.
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Yikai Huang, Ting Su, Congcong Wang, Lixia Dong, Shuang Liu, Yaru Zhu, Kunying Hao, Yin Xia, Qing Jiang, Jinzhong Qin
Summary: The deficiency of retinoblastoma binding protein 4 (RBBP4) in embryonic stem cells (ESCs) leads to spontaneous differentiation into mesendodermal lineages, and shares common genomic targets with the core Polycomb complex. RBBP4 is crucial for targeting PRC2 to a subset of developmental genes, and its presence is closely related to the maintenance of the pluripotency regulatory network and repression of mesendoderm lineages.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chenge Xin, Chaonan Zhu, Ying Jin, Hui Li
Summary: This study highlights the critical role of the VEGF signaling pathway in the mesendodermal induction of hESCs, along with the important involvement of the MEK-ERK cascade in this process. Furthermore, it suggests potential crosstalk between the VEGF signaling pathway and other known pathways in mesendodermal differentiation. These findings offer new insights and approaches for the study of hESCs.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Elodie Beaumont, Vincent Larochette, Laurence Preisser, Charline Miot, Pascale Pignon, Simon Blanchard, Bjorn-Thore Hansen, Jonathan Dauve, Caroline Poli, Minna M. Poranen, Patricia Lamourette, Marc Plaisance, Alain Morel, Helmut Fickenscher, Pascale Jeannin, Philippe Roingeard, Yves Delneste
Summary: IL-26 plays a crucial role in protecting against HCV infection in the liver of patients with chronic hepatitis C, exerting direct antiviral activity by inhibiting viral replication and interfering with RNA polymerase activity.
JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Seung-Cheol Choi, Ha-Rim Seo, Long-Hui Cui, Myeong-Hwa Song, Ji-Min Noh, Kyung-Seob Kim, Ji-Hyun Choi, Jong-Ho Kim, Chi-Yeon Park, Hyung Joon Joo, Soon Jun Hong, Tae Hee Ko, Jong-Il Choi, Hyo Jin Kim, Jong-Hoon Kim, Se-Hwan Paek, Ji-Na Park, Dong-Hyung Kim, Yongjun Jang, Yongdoo Park, Do-Sun Lim
Summary: The study demonstrates that FGF4 and ascorbic acid can induce differentiation of human embryonic stem cell-cardiogenic mesoderm cells into mature cardiomyocytes, providing a model for adult-onset cardiac disease and drug discovery. These mature cardiomyocytes release acute myocardial infarction biomarkers in response to hypoxic injury, with potential for diagnosis and prognosis in coronary artery diseases based on transcriptome analyses.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Laura P. M. H. de Rooij, Lisa M. Becker, Laure Anne Teuwen, Bram Boeckx, Sander Jansen, Simon Feys, Stijn Verleden, Laurens Liesenborghs, Anna K. Stalder, Sasha Libbrecht, Tina Van Buyten, Gino Philips, Abhishek Subramanian, Sebastien J. Dumas, Elda Meta, Mila Borri, Liliana Sokol, Amelie Dendooven, Anh Co K. Truong, Jan Gunst, Pierre Van Mol, Jasmin D. Haslbauer, Katerina Rohlenova, Thomas Menter, Robbert Boudewijns, Vincent Geldhof, Stefan Vinckier, Jacob Amersfoort, Wim Wuyts, Dirk Van Raemdonck, Werner Jacobs, Laurens J. Ceulemans, Birgit Weynand, Bernard Thienpont, Martin Lammens, Mark Kuehnel, Guy Eelen, Mieke Dewerchin, Luc Schoonjans, Danny Jonigk, Jo van Dorpe, Alexandar Tzankov, Els Wauters, Massimiliano Mazzone, Johan Neyts, Joost Wauters, Diether Lambrechts, Peter Carmeliet
Summary: This study provides new insights into the abundance, expression patterns, and interactomes of endothelial cell (EC) subtypes in COVID-19 and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). The findings suggest the importance of ECs in the pathophysiology of both conditions and may contribute to future investigations into the progression and treatment of COVID-19 and IPF.
CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Saida Lachhab, Az-eddine El Mansouri, Ahmad Mehdi, Indira Dennemont, Johan Neyts, Dirk Jochmans, Graciela Andrei, Robert Snoeck, Yogesh S. Sanghvi, Mustapha Ait Ali, Philippe M. Loiseau, Hassan B. Lazrek
Summary: A new series of 3-acetyl-1,3,4-oxadiazoline hybrid molecules were designed and synthesized, and their activities against pathogens were screened. One of the intermediates exhibited significant antileishmanial activity.
MOLECULAR DIVERSITY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Az-Eddine El Mansouri, Saida Lachhab, Ali Oubella, Mehdi Ahmad, Johan Neyts, Dirk Jochmans, Winston Chiu, Laura Vangeel, Steven De Jonghe, Hamid Morjani, Mustapha Ait Ali, Mohamed Zahouily, Yogesh S. Sanghvi, Hassan B. Lazrek
Summary: Analogous to pyrimidine and 1,3,4-oxadiazole, the newly synthesized pyrimidine-1,3,4-oxadiazole conjugated hybrid molecules exhibited potential anticancer activity. Specifically, compound 5e demonstrated significant growth inhibition against various cancer cell lines and induced apoptosis through caspase activation and cell-cycle arrest.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR STRUCTURE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shenghua Gao, Letian Song, Hongtao Xu, Antonios Fikatas, Merel Oeyen, Steven De Jonghe, Fabao Zhao, Lanlan Jing, Dirk Jochmans, Laura Vangeel, Yusen Cheng, Dongwei Kang, Johan Neyts, Piet Herdewijn, Dominique Schols, Peng Zhan, Xinyong Liu
Summary: DF-47 and DF-51 were identified as effective inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2/DENV polymerase through RdRp inhibition screening and in vitro antiviral study. In silico simulation revealed stable binding modes between DF-47/DF-51 and SARS-CoV-2/DENV RdRp, including chelating with Mg2+ near the polymerase active site. These polyphenols have the potential to be developed into broad-spectrum, non-nucleoside RdRp inhibitors with a new scaffold.
Editorial Material
Microbiology
Dirk Jochmans, Manon Laporte, Johan Neyts
Summary: Broad-spectrum antiviral drugs should be developed and stockpiled during epidemic/pandemic periods for immediate response to new virus outbreaks, and they will continue to be important tools even after the introduction of vaccines and monoclonal antibodies.
CELL HOST & MICROBE
(2023)
Correction
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Emiel Michiels, Kenny Roose, Rodrigo Gallardo, Ladan Khodaparast, Laleh Khodaparast, Rob van der Kant, Maxime Siemons, Bert Houben, Meine Ramakers, Hannah Wilkinson, Patricia Guerreiro, Nikolaos Louros, Suzanne J. F. Kaptein, Lorena Itati Ibanez, Anouk Smet, Pieter Baatsen, Shu Liu, Ina Vorberg, Guy Bormans, Johan Neyts, Xavier Saelens, Frederic Rousseau, Joost Schymkowitz
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rana Abdelnabi, Dirk Jochmans, Kim Donckers, Bettina Trueeb, Nadine Ebert, Birgit Weynand, Volker Thiel, Johan Neyts
Summary: The SARS-CoV-2 main protease (3CLpro) is an important target for COVID-19 treatment. A drug-resistant virus (3CLpro(res)) that is cross-resistant with nirmatrelvir has been identified. The 3CLpro(res) virus can replicate efficiently and be transmitted in Syrian hamsters, but nirmatrelvir still exhibits some antiviral activity against this virus.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sheli R. Radoshitzky, Patrick Iversen, Xianghan Lu, Jing Zou, Suzanne J. F. Kaptein, Kelly S. Stuthman, Sean A. Van Tongeren, Jesse Steffens, Ruoyu Gong, Hoa Truong, Annapurna A. Sapre, Huiling Yang, Xiaodong Xie, Jia Jun Chia, Zhijuan J. Song, Stacey M. Leventhal, Josolyn Chan, Alex Shornikov, Xin Zhang, David Cowfer, Helen Yu, Travis Warren, Tomas Cihlar, Danielle P. Porter, Johan Neyts, Pei-Yong Shi, Jay Wells, John P. Bilello, Joy Y. Feng
Summary: Remdesivir is an antiviral drug that can inhibit the infection of multiple RNA viruses, including dengue, yellow fever, Zika viruses, and Ebola virus. However, it is not effective against influenza viruses and hepatitis B, C, and E viruses.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Elise Wouters, Caro Verbrugghe, Rana Abdelnabi, Rosalie Devloo, Dorien De Clippel, Dirk Jochmans, Dominique De Bleser, Birgit Weynand, Veerle Compernolle, Johan Neyts, Hendrik B. Feys
Summary: Convalescent plasma (CP) transfusion is an effective prophylactic for COVID-19, especially when administered within 5 days after symptom onset. Testing on hamsters showed that high-titer CP provided significant protection against viral infection. Therefore, including CP transfusion in future pandemic preparedness plans is crucial.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Xin Zhang, Niels Cremers, Stijn Hendrickx, Yannick Debing, Tania Roskams, Lotte Coelmont, Johan Neyts, Suzanne J. F. Kaptein
Summary: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a major cause of hepatitis, with an estimated 3.3 million symptomatic cases annually. Currently, there is no specific treatment for HEV, and a vaccine is only available in China and Pakistan. To aid in the development of therapeutic and preventive strategies, convenient HEV infection models in small laboratory animals are needed.
ANTIVIRAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Robert Konkel, Aleksandra Milewska, Nguyen Dan Thuc Do, Emilia Barreto Duran, Artur Szczepanski, Jacek Plewka, Ewa Wieczerzak, Sofia Iliakopoulou, Triantafyllos Kaloudis, Dirk Jochmans, Johan Neyts, Krzysztof Pyrc, Hanna Mazur-Marzec
Summary: In this study, fifteen cyanopeptolins (CPs) were isolated from the Baltic cyanobacterium Nostoc edaphicum and tested for their activity against SARS-CoV-2. The results showed that the Arg-containing CP978 exhibited the strongest inhibition of Delta SARS-CoV-2 infection, possibly through direct interaction with the virus. CP978 also showed significant reduction in virus replication in human airway epithelial cells. Among the tested SARS-CoV-2 variants, CP978 had no effect on the Wuhan variant. These findings suggest that CP978 has potential as an antiviral drug candidate.
ANTIVIRAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Rana Abdelnabi, Patricia Perez, David Astorgano, Guillermo Albericio, Winnie Kerstens, Hendrik Jan Thibaut, Lotte Coelmont, Birgit Weynand, Nuria Labiod, Rafael Delgado, Dolores Montenegro, Eugenia Puentes, Esteban Rodriguez, Johan Neyts, Kai Dallmeier, Mariano Esteban, Juan Garcia-Arriaza
Summary: This study describes the enhanced immunogenicity and efficacy of the MVA-S(3P) vaccine in hamsters. Vaccinated hamsters developed high titers of antibodies that could neutralize different variants of the virus and showed reduced disease symptoms after infection. Additionally, the vaccine reduced lung pathology and proinflammatory cytokine levels.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Fanos Woldemariyam, Jan Paeshuyse
Summary: This study compared the genetic differences of SAT-2 VP1 sequences of foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) in Ethiopia from 1990 to 2015. The analysis revealed the presence of four different topotypes of SAT-2 FMDV circulating in Ethiopia over the past 25 years. This study has significant implications for controlling the genetic diversity of FMDV in Ethiopia.
VETERINARY MEDICINE-RESEARCH AND REPORTS
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Zhenzhen Shi, Xin Zhang, Niels Cremers, Johan Neyts, Harel Dahari, Suzanne Kaptein
JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Kalliopi Pervolaraki, Jean-Christophe Vanherck, Charlene Marcadet, Lieven Verhoye, Amse De Meyer, Madina Rasulova, Heyrhyoung Lyoo, Jasmine Paulissen, Hendrik Jan Thibaut, Kristof De Vos, Patrick Chaltin, Johan Neyts, Pieter Annaert, Philip Meuleman, Arnaud Marchand, Matthias Versele, Stan van de Graaf
JOURNAL OF HEPATOLOGY
(2023)