Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Tianhao Weng, Dong Yan, Danrong Shi, Miaojin Zhu, Yizhi Liu, Zhigang Wu, Taoming Tang, Linwei Zhu, Hong Zhang, Hangping Yao, Lanjuan Li
Summary: The study reveals that MSP is an important biomarker in the progression of liver cirrhosis and can be utilized for patient prognostication. The MSP-RON pathway promotes hepatocytes EMT and fibrosis progression via the TGF-beta related pathway. Potential therapeutic strategies for liver cirrhosis targetting the MSP/RON pathway have been identified.
LIVER INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hwi Gon Kim, Ye Seon Lim, Seonyeong Hwang, Hye-Yoon Kim, Yuseok Moon, Yong Jung Song, Yong-Jin Na, Sik Yoon
Summary: DEHP, a commonly used plasticizer, may be linked to the development of endometriosis by inducing cell proliferation, migration, inflammation, and stemness through the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway, providing novel insights into the pathogenesis of endometriosis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rohan Reddy Nagavally, Siddharth Sunilkumar, Mumtaz Akhtar, Louis D. Trombetta, Sue M. Ford
Summary: Chrysin demonstrates nephroprotective effects against CsA-induced renal dysfunction and fibrosis by inhibiting TGF-beta(1)-dependent EMT in proximal tubule cells through modulation of Smad-dependent and independent signaling pathways.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nitish Rana, Giuseppe Privitera, Hannah C. Kondolf, Katarzyna Bulek, Susana Lechuga, Carlo De Salvo, Daniele Corridoni, Agne Antanaviciute, Rebecca L. Maywald, Alexander M. Hurtado, Junjie Zhao, Emina H. Huang, Xiaoxia Li, E. Ricky Chan, Alison Simmons, Giorgos Bamias, Derek W. Abbott, Jason D. Heaney, Andrei I. Ivanov, Theresa T. Pizarro
Summary: Increased GSDMB in inflammatory bowel disease affects the restoration of epithelial barrier function and resolution of inflammation. Mechanistic experiments reveal that GSDMB deficiency impairs the increased proliferation and migration of epithelial cells during in vitro wound closure.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wen-Kuang Yu, Wei-Chih Chen, Vincent Yi-Fong Su, Hsiao-Chin Shen, Huai-Hsuan Wu, Hao Chen, Kuang-Yao Yang
Summary: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive lung disease, and pulmonary endothelial cells may generate pulmonary fibroblasts through endothelial mesenchymal transition (EndoMT), leading to pulmonary fibrosis. The tyrosine kinase receptor inhibitor, nintedanib, has been found to ameliorate bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis and suppress EndoMT in vivo and in vitro models. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the mechanism and signaling pathway of EndoMT, and provide new insights for developing more effective drugs for IPF treatment.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Aftab Taiyab, Judith West-Mays
Summary: Injury to the ocular lens disrupts cell-cell and cell-capsule/basement membrane interactions, leading to a series of interconnected signaling events. These events include cell-adhesion and growth factor-mediated signaling pathways that play a crucial role in the induction and progression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and fibrosis of lens epithelial cells. The lens provides a simple and ideal system to study injury-induced signaling pathways associated with EMT and fibrosis.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Tzu-Hsiu Tsai, Chien-Hung Gow, Yi-Nan Liu, Meng-Feng Tsai, Tzu-Hua Chang, Shang-Gin Wu, Min-Shu Hsieh, Kang-Yi Su, Jin-Yuan Shih
Summary: This study reveals that miR-503 regulates the invasion and metastasis of lung cancer cells by modulating the PTK7/FAK signaling pathway and inversely regulating EMT. These findings provide important insights into the role of miR-503 in cancer metastasis mechanism.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Youqiang Liu, Guiying Wang, Yong Li, Qun Zhao, Liqiao Fan, Bibo Tan, Baokun Li, Bin Yu, Jinchuan Xi
Summary: miR-424-5p suppresses epithelial-mesenchymal transition by inhibiting the Src/focal adhesion kinase signaling pathway to reduce 5-fluorouracil resistance in colon cancer cells.
JOURNAL OF PHARMACY AND PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Ha Young Jang, Soo-Jin Kim, Kyu-Sang Park, Jeong Hun Kim
Summary: Degenerative changes of RPE triggered by TGF-beta 2 and oxidative stress play a critical role in AMD progression. The expression of antiaging protein alpha-klotho declines with age, increasing the risk of age-related diseases. Alpha-klotho protects against TGF-beta 2-induced RPE degeneration and EMT both in vitro and in vivo. It inhibits TGF-beta 2 signaling, EMT, oxidative stress, and senescence-associated signaling.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Kalliopi Tzavlaki, Yae Ohata, Anita Moren, Yukihide Watanabe, Jens Eriksson, Maiko Tsuchiya, Yuki Kubo, Kouhei Yamamoto, Mikael E. Sellin, Mitsuyasu Kato, Laia Caja, Carl-Henrik Heldin, Aristidis Moustakas
Summary: LKB1 pathway limits TGF beta-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition, maintaining mammary epithelial morphogenesis. Downregulation of LKB1 expression in breast cancer is predicted to lead to increased epithelial-mesenchymal transition induced by SNAI1 and TGF beta family members.
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Yi-Chun Tsai, Wei-Wen Hung, Wei-An Chang, Ping-Hsun Wu, Ling-Yu Wu, Su-Chu Lee, Mei-Chuan Kuo, Ya-Ling Hsu
Summary: This study investigated the communication within PTECs through exosome transmission in DN, revealing that the miR-1269b-FBLN1 epigenetic regulatory network could be a potential therapeutic strategy to prevent the progression of DN.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ruimei Zhou, Jiashun Liao, Dunpeng Cai, Qin Tian, Enping Huang, Tianming Lu, Shi-You Chen, Wei-Bing Xie
Summary: The study identified Nupr1 as a novel regulator promoting renal fibrosis, essential for fibroblast activation and/or epithelial-mesenchymal transition during renal fibrogenesis. Nupr1 mediated TGF-beta-induced myofibroblast activation and collagen synthesis by initiating Smad3 signaling pathway, and the Nupr1 inhibitor alleviated UUO-induced renal fibrosis.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hua Fu, Yong-Hong Gu, Juan Tan, Ye-Ning Yang, Guo-Hui Wang
Summary: The crosstalk between macrophages and tubular epithelial cells is important in the progression of renal fibrosis. In this study, the significance of circular RNA ACTR2 (circACTR2) in regulating macrophage inflammation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of tubular epithelial cells, and the development of renal fibrosis was revealed. circACTR2 promoted the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome, inflammation in macrophages, and stimulated EMT and fibrosis of tubular epithelial cells by sponging miR-561. Knocking down circACTR2 and overexpressing miR-561 may benefit the treatment of renal fibrosis.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ching-Chung Ko, Yao-Yu Hsieh, Pei-Ming Yang
Summary: Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a biological process that promotes cancer cell dissemination and drug resistance. This study revealed that overexpression of MIR31HG in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) patients is associated with poorer disease-free survival, as well as upregulation of genes related to TGF beta signaling and EMT. In vitro experiments further demonstrated that TGF beta induces MIR31HG expression and knockdown of MIR31HG reverses TGF beta-induced EMT phenotypes and cancer cell migration.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Yan Sun, Lang Xiong, Xiaoran Wang, Liping Wang, Baoxin Chen, Jingqi Huang, Mi Huang, Jieping Chen, Jing Wu, Shan Huang, Yizhi Liu
Summary: This study demonstrated that TGF-beta 2 induces autophagy flux during EMT progression of LECs, with autophagy activation enhancing fibrogenic responses and cell migration, while autophagy inhibition alleviates EMT markers and cell migration. Additionally, modulation of Smad signaling by autophagy was observed, and ATG7-silenced LECs showed antifibrosis effect induced by TGF-beta 2. Overall, intervention/inhibition of autophagy could attenuate TGF-beta 2-induced EMT in LECs, providing insights for preventing and treating fibrotic cataracts and other fibrotic diseases.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Meng-Ran Li, Chun-Tao Lei, Hui Tang, Xing-Jie Yin, Zhe Hao, Yang Qiu, Ya-Ru Xie, Jie-Yu Zeng, Hua Su, Chun Zhang
Summary: Recent studies have shown that upregulated MAD2B expression contributes to Numb depletion, activation of the Notch 1 signaling pathway, and ultimately leads to podocyte injury in diabetic nephropathy.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yi-Ling Cao, Ji-Hong Lin, Hans-Peter Hammes, Chun Zhang
Summary: This review summarizes the function and beneficial properties of common flavonoids for the treatment of CKD and renal fibrosis, including preventing renal dysfunction and improving renal function by blocking or suppressing deleterious pathways such as oxidative stress and inflammation.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yu-Ting Zhu, Cheng Wan, Ji-Hong Lin, Hans-Peter Hammes, Chun Zhang
Summary: Podocytopathies are kidney diseases driven by podocyte injury. This review highlights the crucial role of mitochondrial oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of podocytopathies and its relationship with cell death in podocytes. Exogenous antioxidants can protect podocytes from damage. The review aims to identify new targets for improving the treatment of podocytopathies.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Xingjie Yin, Jingli Ren, Wei Lan, Yu Chen, Mengping Ouyang, Hua Su, Lianbin Zhang, Jintao Zhu, Chun Zhang
Summary: By studying gelatin-tannic acid composite hydrogels with different compositions, it was found that needles used for arterial puncture should have specific underwater adhesion and mechanical strength. Needles coated with gelatin-tannic acid composite hydrogel can completely prevent bleeding after both vein and arterial puncture, which is of great significance for the preparation of haemo-static needles.
BIOACTIVE MATERIALS
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Jing Huang, Ling Xie, Anni Song, Chun Zhang
Summary: Selenium, in the form of selenoproteins, is an essential micronutrient that plays a vital role in human health and disease. Studies have shown that low selenium levels are associated with increased risk, poor outcomes, and mortality of metabolic disorders. Selenium supplementation has been widely studied as a therapeutic strategy, but supranutritional levels may have adverse effects.
OXIDATIVE MEDICINE AND CELLULAR LONGEVITY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zhiwen Wang, Chun Zhang
Summary: There is a close relationship between acute kidney injury (AKI) and chronic kidney disease (CKD). The recovery of AKI may result in the occurrence of CKD due to maladaptation and other potential mechanisms.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wei Huang, Yi-Yuan Chen, Zi-Qi Li, Fang-Fang He, Chun Zhang
Summary: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is one of the most common causes of end-stage renal disease worldwide and is strongly associated with clinical outcomes in patients with diabetes mellitus. Traditional therapeutic strategies focus on controlling major risk factors such as blood glucose, blood lipids, and blood pressure. Advances in research have led to the emergence of new therapies and targets for DKD management.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Fang-Fang He, Yu-Mei Wang, Yi-Yuan Chen, Wei Huang, Zi-Qi Li, Chun Zhang
Summary: Sepsis is a complex clinical syndrome caused by infectious or noninfectious factors. Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common and severe complication of sepsis, and recent evidence suggests that autophagy and natural products may have therapeutic effects on sepsis-associated AKI.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Pan Gao, Xingjian Zou, Xin Sun, Chun Zhang
Summary: Cellular senescence is a state where the cell cycle is irreversibly arrested, potentially leading to age-related diseases. In the pathophysiological process of metabolic-related kidney diseases, cellular senescence may play a significant role.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bowen Deng, Anni Song, Chun Zhang
Summary: Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the major cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) globally, and recent findings have highlighted the role of cell-cycle dysregulation in renal fibrosis and ESRD. Mild injuries activate renal cell proliferation to compensate for cell loss, while severe or repeated injuries lead to DNA damage and maladaptive repair, ultimately promoting renal fibrosis and ESRD.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anni Jiang, Jing Liu, Yumei Wang, Chun Zhang
Summary: This study reveals that the cGAS-STING-IRF3-PFKFB3 signaling pathway plays a role in promoting renal fibrosis under hypoxia conditions, with a close relationship to glycolysis.
FREE RADICAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Yang Qiu, Chuntao Lei, Jieyu Zeng, Yaru Xie, Yiling Cao, Qian Yuan, Hua Su, Zhentao Zhang, Chun Zhang
Summary: Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is the most common glomerular disorder causing end-stage renal diseases worldwide. Our study found that increased expression of lysosomal protease AEP protected podocytes from injury by regulating the homeostasis of the cytoskeleton.
Editorial Material
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Cheng Wan, Chun Zhang
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Zezhou Liu, Cheng Wan, Yiling Cao, Saiji Liu, Ziyu Xu, Chun Zhang, Hua Su
Summary: This study retrospectively analyzed a cohort of patients with biopsy-proven membranous nephropathy. The study investigated the expression of PLA2R and EXT1 in glomeruli as well as the presence of circulating anti-PLA2R antibodies. The results showed a subgroup of patients who were positive for both PLA2R and EXT1, and these patients had more signs of autoimmunity and a higher rate of clinical remission.
JOURNAL OF NEPHROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Polymer Science
Yue Xie, Pan Gao, Fangfang He, Chun Zhang
Summary: Alginate is an excellent hemostatic biomaterial with excellent biocompatibility and biodegradability, and it has been widely used in hemostatic applications. This review discusses the structure, properties, and history of alginate, as well as its research progress and future development prospects in clinical applications.