Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Hong-He Xiao, Ming-Bo Zhang, Jun-Ting Xu, Yan Deng, Ning Li, Peng Gao, Yan Li, Liang Kong, Wan-yi Li, Ji-Cong Chen, Hong-Yan Li, Guo-Shun Shan, He Tai, Jing-Xian Yang
Summary: Adult neurogenesis is crucial for cognitive function maintenance in mammals and humans, and it is seen as a potential therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease. Icarisid II (ICS II), derived from Epimedii Folium, has been shown to have neuroprotective effects, including promoting proliferation and differentiation of neural stem cells (NSCs). The study demonstrates that ICS II promotes NSCs proliferation and neuronal differentiation by activating the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway.
PHYTOTHERAPY RESEARCH
(2021)
Editorial Material
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ian H. Guldner, Tony Wyss-Coray
Summary: An analysis of mice with tau protein, a key feature of Alzheimer's disease, demonstrates that immune cells work together to cause tau-mediated neurodegeneration, and that existing clinic drugs can combat this decline.
Article
Biology
Felicia Reinitz, Elizabeth Y. Chen, Benedetta Nicolis di Robilant, Bayarsaikhan Chuluun, Jane Antony, Robert C. Jones, Neha Gubbi, Karen Lee, William Hai Dang Ho, Sai Saroja Kolluru, Dalong Qian, Maddalena Adorno, Katja Piltti, Aileen Anderson, Michelle Monje, H. Craig Heller, Stephen R. Quake, Michael F. Clarke
Summary: This study identifies cell intrinsic neural precursor cell (NPC) dysfunction as the earliest defect in the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and demonstrates that targeting the histone modifier USP16 can ameliorate this defect and improve memory and learning through regulation of Cdkn2a and BMP signaling.
Review
Neurosciences
Carla Belmonte-Mateos, Cristina Pujades
Summary: The central nervous system exhibits a wide diversity of neurons with specific cell types and proportions in the appropriate locations. The coordination of proliferation and differentiation is crucial for generating brains with specific size and cell composition. Understanding how cell diversity arises from pluripotent progenitor cells and how progenitor potential changes over time is an important focus in developmental neurobiology.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Michal Arad, Robert A. Brown, Raju Khatri, Rodney J. Taylor, Michal Zalzman
Summary: This study successfully differentiated tonsillar biopsy-derived MSCs into neuron-like cells, providing a potential source for in vitro modeling of neurodegenerative diseases and cell replacement therapies.
CELLULAR & MOLECULAR BIOLOGY LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Liang Wang, Wenjuan Zhou, Hongru Yang, Feng Liu, Ying Kong, Wenhan Wang, Hang Zhao, Wenjun Ma, Yuanhua Sang, Fan Yi, Hong Liu, Chao Liu, Aijun Hao, Jichuan Qiu
Summary: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by the loss of cholinergic neurons in the mesopontine area, and there is currently no effective method to repair these damaged neurons. Neural stem cell (NSC)-based therapy is a promising approach for AD treatment, but directing NSCs to differentiate into cholinergic neurons is challenging. This study synthesized calcium folate (CaFO) nanoparticles to promote the differentiation of NSCs into functional cholinergic neurons. The experiments demonstrated that under the stimulation of CaFO nanoparticles, NSCs differentiated into cholinergic neurons within 5 days. Animal experiments also showed that CaFO nanoparticles improved the cognitive memory ability of AD mice by promoting neuronal differentiation of NSCs. This study provides a new strategy for the treatment of AD by inducing the quick differentiation of NSCs into functional cholinergic neurons.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Yifan Wang, Tengfei Zhao, Yiren Jiao, Hanxu Huang, Yongxiang Zhang, Ao Fang, Xuhua Wang, Yanling Zhou, Haochen Gu, Qionghua Wu, Jiang Chang, Fangcai Li, Kan Xu
Summary: This study investigates the effect of Laponite nanoplatelets on stem cell therapy. The results show that Laponite nanoplatelets can induce the neuronal differentiation of neural stem cells within five days in vitro, and the NF-kappa B pathway is involved in this process. Moreover, Laponite nanoplatelets can increase the survival rate of transplanted neural stem cells and promote their differentiation into mature neurons. The formation of connections between transplanted cells and host cells is confirmed by axon tracing. Therefore, Laponite nanoplatelets can be considered a convenient and practical biomaterial to enhance the efficacy of neural stem cell transplantation and promote repair of the injured spinal cord.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Thomas S. Webberley, Ryan J. Bevan, Joshua Kerry-Smith, Jordanna Dally, Daryn R. Michael, Sophie Thomas, Meg Rees, James E. Morgan, Julian R. Marchesi, Mark A. Good, Sue F. Plummer, Duolao Wang, Timothy R. Hughes
Summary: This study assessed the neuroprotective potential of the Lab4P probiotic consortium in aging and metabolic syndrome-associated neurodegenerative pathologies. The results showed that supplementation with probiotics prevented cognitive decline, hippocampal neuron deterioration, and inflammation in mice. In human cell culture models, probiotic metabolites demonstrated a neuroprotective capability against beta-amyloid challenge. Overall, these findings suggest that Lab4P has the potential to be a neuroprotective agent and support further research in other neurodegenerative conditions in animal models and human studies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gerard Griffioen
Summary: This review suggests that age-related neurodegeneration is caused by the inappropriate activation of intrinsic pathways, resulting in deregulated calcium signaling and impaired neuronal plasticity. Age-related neurodegenerative diseases share a common factor of impairing the specificity of calcium signaling, leading to intraneuronal pathophysiology. This pathophysiology comprises a self-enforcing feedforward cycle of elevated cytosolic calcium levels, ultimately leading to neuronal demise. Restoring calcium homeostasis may offer promising neuroprotective potential for age-related neurodegenerative diseases.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Gabrielle Zuniga, Bess Frost
Summary: Emerging evidence suggests that errors in RNA processing contribute to neurodegeneration. Neurons are particularly vulnerable to these errors, which can lead to accumulation of misprocessed RNA transcripts. Furthermore, the protein tau, implicated in Alzheimer's disease and related disorders, is also involved in deficits in RNA processing and clearance.
PROGRESS IN NEUROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mehdi Farokhi, Fatemeh Mottaghitalab, Mohammad Reza Saeb, Shahrokh Shojaei, Negin Khaneh Zarrin, Sabu Thomas, Seeram Ramakrishna
Summary: Currently, there are no clinically available methods to enhance neural structural regeneration and functional recovery of nerve injuries. Conductive materials, such as polypyrrole and graphene, have been considered as one of the best choices for nerve regeneration due to their capacity to control the growth and differentiation of neural stem cells.
MACROMOLECULAR BIOSCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Cui Wang, Ji-Cong Chen, Hong-He Xiao, Liang Kong, Yu-Meng Zhao, Yu Tian, He Li, Jin-Ming Tian, Lin Cui, Cai-Ming Wen, Yi-Jun Shi, Jing-Xian Yang, De-Jing Shang
Summary: This study demonstrates that Jujuboside A (JuA) has neuroprotective effects, promotes proliferation and neuronal differentiation of APP-overexpressing neural stem cells (APP-NSCs), and activates the Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway.
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Weiwei Xue, Caixia Fan, Bing Chen, Yannan Zhao, Zhifeng Xiao, Jianwu Dai
Summary: Transplantation of neural stem cells shows promise for restoring communication in spinal cord injury, but the inhibitory microenvironment often leads to glial differentiation rather than neuronal differentiation. Functional biomaterials can mitigate the adverse effects of the SCI microenvironment and promote neuronal differentiation of NSCs.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nidaa A. Ababneh, Ban Al-Kurdi, Fatima Jamali, Abdalla Awidi
Summary: This study compared the differentiation abilities of MSCs isolated from different human tissue sources, and found that WJ-MSCs had a higher potential to differentiate into NSC and dopaminergic-like cells. This could provide an additional or alternative source of cells for neurological cell-based therapies.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sujin Kim, Yunkwon Nam, Hyeon Soo Kim, Haram Jung, Seong Gak Jeon, Sang Bum Hong, Minho Moon
Summary: Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease with cognitive and behavioral symptoms. Understanding and treating the alterations in neural circuits associated with these symptoms is crucial for AD treatment.
Correction
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Francesco Rugolo, Nicolas G. Bazan, Jorgelina Calandria, Bokkyoo Jun, Giuseppe Raschella, Gerry Melino, Massimiliano Agostini
Editorial Material
Oncology
Paola Tucci
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jeremy Guillot, Chloe Dominici, Adrien Lucchesi, Huyen Thi Trang Nguyen, Angelique Puget, Melanie Hocine, Martha M. Rangel-Sosa, Milesa Simic, Jeremy Nigri, Fabienne Guillaumond, Martin Bigonnet, Nelson Dusetti, Jimmy Perrot, Jonathan Lopez, Anders Etzerodt, Toby Lawrence, Pierre Pudlo, Florence Hubert, Jean-Yves Scoazec, Serge A. van de Pavert, Richard Tomasini, Sophie Chauvet, Fanny Mann
Summary: This study utilized 3D imaging to analyze the sympathetic innervation in a mouse model of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and found that sympathectomy aggravates cancer progression.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Editorial Material
Oncology
Massimiliano Agostini, Gerry Melino, Bola Habeb, Jorgelina M. Calandria, Nicolas G. Bazan
CANCER AND METASTASIS REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jeremy Nigri, Julie Leca, Sarah-Simha Tubiana, Pascal Finetti, Fabienne Guillaumond, Sebastien Martinez, Sophie Lac, Juan L. Iovanna, Stephane Audebert, Luc Camoin, Sophie Vasseur, Francois Bertucci, Richard Tomasini
Summary: In pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), signaling from stromal cells through extracellular vesicles (EVs) is involved in metastatic progression. This study identified CD9 as a key component of EVs derived from cancer-associated stromal fibroblasts (CAFs), which mediate the cross-talk between tumor cells and the stroma. Blocking CD9 impaired the uptake of EVs into PDAC cells, and CD9(+) EVs induced MAPK pathway activation, cell migration, and EMT. Inhibiting CD9 or p38 MAPK signaling impaired EV-induced cell migration and EMT. Bioinformatic analysis showed that CD9 abundance is an independent prognostic marker for poor prognosis in PDAC patients.
Article
Oncology
Stefania Cannone, Maria Raffaella Greco, Tiago M. A. Carvalho, Helene Guizouarn, Olivier Soriani, Daria Di Molfetta, Richard Tomasini, Katrine Zeeberg, Stephan Joel Reshkin, Rosa Angela Cardone
Summary: This study demonstrates that ECM composition cooperates with CAFs to regulate the interaction between different cell lines in PDAC tumors, establishing a continuum between tumor initiation and progression. The findings highlight the importance of ECM and CAFs in tumor growth and morphology.
Article
Cell Biology
Charles W. Beckett, Maria Victoria Niklison-Chirou
Summary: Depression is a common mental disorder affecting over 264 million people worldwide. Some depressed patients have excessive immune system activation, which suggests a sub-categorisation into inflammatory and non-inflammatory subtypes. Inflammatory depression, associated with raised inflammatory markers, is more likely to be treatment-resistant. Anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ketamine and Celecoxib, show promise in treating treatment-resistant depression.
CELL DEATH DISCOVERY
(2022)
Review
Biology
Massimiliano Agostini, Mara Mancini, Eleonora Candi
Summary: Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of cancers and long non-coding RNAs play a role in regulating cancer-specific metabolic alterations. This overview focuses on breast cancer metabolic reprogramming and the involvement of long non-coding RNAs in driving these alterations.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Raphael Rapetti-Mauss, Jeremy Nigri, Camille Berenguier, Pascal Finetti, Sarah Simha Tubiana, Bonnie Labrum, Benoit Allegrini, Bernard Pellissier, Georgios Efthymiou, Zainab Hussain, Corinne Bousquet, Nelson Dusetti, Francois Bertucci, Helene Guizouarn, Patricia Melnyk, Franck Borgese, Richard Tomasini, Olivier Soriani
Summary: This study reveals that ion channel SK2 plays a role in intercellular communication in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Stimulation of SK2 by cues from cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) leads to the activation of the integrin-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-AKT signaling pathway, promoting cancer cell invasiveness and metastasis formation. The formation of the signaling hub involving SK2 and AKT requires the sigma-1 receptor chaperone. Targeting the sigma-1 receptor with pharmacological approaches inhibits tumor progression and prolongs overall survival in mice.
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Emilia Bevacqua, Maria Antonietta Occhiuzzi, Fedora Grande, Paola Tucci
Summary: Nanotechnology has had a significant impact on daily life, particularly with the production and application of titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs). These nanoparticles, present in various consumer products, have the ability to penetrate cellular barriers and accumulate in the body, potentially leading to chronic diseases. Recent studies have shown their toxicity and possible carcinogenic effects, warranting further research to determine the risk and benefits of using TiO2-NPs.
MINI-REVIEWS IN MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Nunzia Novizio, Raffaella Belvedere, Elva Morretta, Richard Tomasini, Maria Chiara Monti, Silvana Morello, Antonello Petrella
Summary: This study highlights the importance of using in vitro three-dimensional models for studying pancreatic cancer and the role of Annexin A1 (ANXA1) in these models. The results suggest that ANXA1 can influence the formation, stability, and drug resistance of pancreatic cancer models, and the extracellular ANXA1 action is strengthened through extracellular vesicles. Therefore, ANXA1 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for pancreatic cancer.
Article
Oncology
Emilia Bevacqua, Salvatore Ammirato, Erika Cione, Rosita Curcio, Vincenza Dolce, Paola Tucci
Summary: Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men, with PSA testing leading to high false-positive rates. MicroRNAs (miRs) show promise as non-invasive biomarkers for diagnosis, prognosis, and recurrence of prostate cancer.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Manuela Montanaro, Massimiliano Agostini, Lucia Anemona, Elena Bonanno, Francesca Servadei, Enrico Finazzi Agro, Anastasios D. D. Asimakopoulos, Carlo Ganini, Chiara Cipriani, Marta Signoretti, Pierluigi Bove, Francesco Rugolo, Benedetta Imperiali, Gerry Melino, Alessandro Mauriello, Manuel Scimeca
Summary: Prostate cancer is a common and deadly cancer in men, and the current clinical tools for prognosis are insufficient. This study found that ZNF750 protein levels are reduced in prostate cancer samples, especially in metastatic samples. It also showed that nuclear expression of ZNF750 is significantly reduced in patients with metastatic cancer. The bioinformatics analysis suggests that ZNF750 expression is positively correlated with better prognosis, indicating its potential as a reliable biomarker for metastatic prostate cancer.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alessio Butera, Massimiliano Agostini, Matteo Cassandri, Francesca De Nicola, Maurizio Fanciulli, Lorenzo D'Ambrosio, Laura Falasca, Roberta Nardacci, Lu Wang, Mauro Piacentini, Richard A. Knight, Wei Jia, Qiang Sun, Yufang Shi, Ying Wang, Eleonora Candi, Gerry Melino
Summary: An essential function of the epidermis is to provide a physical barrier that prevents water loss. Alteration of ceramides, cholesterol, and very long chain fatty acids, mediators of this barrier function, causes human pathologies. A study shows that genetic deletion of ZFP750 in mice leads to the loss of epidermal barrier function due to a reduction in ceramides. ZFP750 directly and/or indirectly regulates the expression of enzymes involved in ceramide biosynthesis, contributing to our understanding of skin disease pathogenesis.
Article
Oncology
Ellis Michiels, Hediel Madhloum, Silke Van Lint, Nouredin Messaoudi, Rastislav Kunda, Sandrina Martens, Philippe Giron, Catharina Olsen, Pierre Lefesvre, Nelson Dusetti, Leila EL Mohajer, Richard Tomasini, Lukas J. A. C. Hawinkels, Farah Ahsayni, Remy Nicolle, Tatjana Arsenijevic, Christelle Bouchart, Jean-Luc Van Laethem, Ilse Rooman
Summary: This study identifies two subtypes of pancreatic cancer and reveals spatial phenotypes within tumors through analysis of mRNA panels. These findings are important for understanding tumor heterogeneity and guiding therapeutic approaches.
JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY
(2023)