Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yingjie Hang, Xiaoliang Ma, Chunxiao Liu, Siyuan Li, Sixuan Zhang, Ruyan Feng, Qianwen Shang, Qi Liu, Zhaozhao Ding, Xiaoyi Zhang, Liyin Yu, Qiang Lu, Changshun Shao, Hong Chen, Yufang Shi, Jiuyang He, David L. Kaplan
Summary: The development of anisotropic silk protein nanofiber-based hydrogels enables mouse embryonic stem cells to maintain stemness in vitro without the need for leukemia inhibitory factor and mouse embryonic fibroblasts, resulting in superior pluripotency and genetic stability. The hydrogels establish an improved dynamic niche that stimulates autocrine factor secretion and maintains pluripotency and propagation of ESCs, offering a simple and cost-effective option for expansion and utility of ESCs in research and therapy, while providing insights into early mammalian embryogenesis.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xue Wang, Changyun Ping, Puwen Tan, Chenguang Sun, Guang Liu, Tao Liu, Shuchun Yang, Yanmin Si, Lijun Zhao, Yongfei Hu, Yuyan Jia, Xiaoshuang Wang, Meili Zhang, Fang Wang, Dong Wang, Jia Yu, Yanni Ma, Yue Huang
Summary: The study reveals the critical role of RNA-binding proteins in pluripotency exit of embryonic stem cells, with hnRNPLL being identified as a key regulator of alternative splicing in ES cells. Its depletion leads to sustained expression of ES cell-preferred isoforms, resulting in differentiation deficiency and developmental defects. This highlights the potential application of targeting RBPs in controlling ES cell fate.
Article
Cell Biology
Anderson Tan, Renuka Prasad, Eek-hoon Jho
Summary: TFEB plays a crucial role in mESCs by regulating PTN to maintain pluripotency, with interactions involving Nanog and Sox2. While high levels of TFEB are expected to enhance autophagy-lysosomal activity, undifferentiated mESCs surprisingly display low basal levels.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Biology
Yaguang Zhang, Xiaowen Wan, Lei Qiu, Lian Zhou, Qing Huang, Mingtian Wei, Xueqin Liu, Sicheng Liu, Bo Zhang, Junhong Han
Summary: This study investigates the citrullination of Trim28 in embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and its role in pluripotency regulation. The results demonstrate that citrullination of Trim28 enhances its interaction with Smarcad1, preventing chromatin condensation. Additionally, citrullinated Trim28 promotes the transcription of pluripotency genes Nanog and Klf4, thus maintaining the pluripotency of ESCs.
SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shang Liang, Joana C. Silva, Olga Suska, Radoslaw Lukoszek, Rajaei Almohammed, Victoria H. Cowling
Summary: CMTR1 plays a critical role in RNA expression and differentiation, particularly in histone and ribosomal protein gene regulation. Repression of CMTR1 leads to decreased RNA expression, translation inhibition, and induction of DNA replication stress and damage. CMTR1 is upregulated during neural differentiation and is essential for gene expression and proliferation during this process.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Oliver Brookes, Stephen D. Thorpe, Olga Rigby Evans, Michael C. Keeling, David A. Lee
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between biomechanical properties and pluripotency gene expression in murine embryonic stem cells, revealing considerable variation among cells, with high pluripotency gene expression correlating to lower cell stiffness.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kazuko Okamoto, Hideaki Fujita, Yasushi Okada, Soya Shinkai, Shuichi Onami, Kuniya Abe, Kenta Fujimoto, Kensuke Sasaki, Go Shioi, Tomonobu M. Watanabe
Summary: Nanog and Oct4 are core transcription factors that regulate pluripotency maintenance in mouse ESCs. The interaction time between Nanog and its target loci increases upon reduced expression or differentiation onset, suggesting a feedback mechanism for pluripotency maintenance. The expression level and interaction frequency of Nanog and Oct4 are correlated with their fluctuation and depend on ESC differentiation status. The DNA viscoelasticity near Oct4 target locus remains flexible during differentiation, supporting its role in chromatin opening or binding to uncondensed regions. These findings propose a new negative feedback mechanism for pluripotency maintenance via the DNA condensation state-dependent interplay of Nanog and Oct4.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Andrea Lauria, Guohua Meng, Valentina Proserpio, Stefania Rapelli, Mara Maldotti, Isabelle Laurence Polignano, Francesca Anselmi, Danny Incarnato, Anna Krepelova, Daniela Donna, Chiara Levra Levron, Giacomo Donati, Ivan Molineris, Francesco Neri, Salvatore Oliviero
Summary: The establishment of DNA methylation patterns during mouse early development is crucial for cell fate determination. However, the specific molecular targets and mechanisms of de novo methylation machinery during differentiation are not fully understood. In this study, the researchers identified DNMT3B-dependent regulatory elements that play a critical role in cell fate determination. They found that DNMT3B-dependent DNA methylation is essential for proper differentiation and lineage determination, and ectopic expression of DNMT3B can restore normal gene expression and cell fate. This study provides important insights into the role of DNA methylation in early development and cell fate determination.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Xinpeng Wen, Zesong Lin, Hao Wu, Lanrui Cao, Xudong Fu
Summary: In this study, the researchers identified a novel regulator, Zfp281, for the pluripotent-to-totipotent transition in mouse embryonic stem cells. They found that Zfp281 inhibits the transition by repressing transcripts upregulated during the 2C-like transition, and this inhibitory effect leads to impaired 2C-like transition ability in primed-state cells.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Mandi Mu, Xinze Li, Li Dong, Jin Wang, Qingqing Cai, Yajun Hu, Duanduan Wang, Peng Zhao, Lei Zhang, Daixuan Zhang, Siyi Cheng, Li Tan, Feizhen Wu, Yujiang Geno Shi, Wenqi Xu, Yang Shi, Hongjie Shen
Summary: METTL14 is an RNA-binding protein that partners with METTL3 to mediate N6-methyladenosine (m6A) methylation. Recent studies show that METTL14 specifically binds and regulates bivalent domains in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) through interactions with histone modifiers. METTL14 enhances H3K27me3 and reduces H3K4me3 by recruiting the H3K27 methyltransferase PRC2 and H3K4 demethylase KDM5B to chromatin. This study identifies a METTL3-independent role of METTL14 in maintaining the integrity of bivalent domains in mESCs, providing new insights into the mechanism of bivalent domain regulation in mammals.
Article
Cell Biology
Jingsheng Li, Chunhong Dai, Wenyan Xie, Heyao Zhang, Xin Huang, Constantinos Chronis, Ying Ye, Wensheng Zhang
Summary: This study developed a one-step strategy to efficiently target and suppress endogenous pluripotent genes in mouse ESCs and replace their expression with AID-fused transgenes.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zeba Sultana, Mathurin Dorel, Bertram Klinger, Anja Sieber, Ilona Dunkel, Nils Bluethgen, Edda G. Schulz
Summary: By combining systematic perturbation experiments with mathematical modeling, it was found that the number of active X chromosomes in mouse embryonic stem cells affects cell signaling and differentiation propensity. The presence of a single active X chromosome makes cells more sensitive to differentiation-promoting pathways and leads to a stronger negative feedback in the MAPK pathway. This may explain the delayed differentiation observed in female mouse embryonic stem cells.
MOLECULAR SYSTEMS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lin Wang, Jingzheng Li, Hu Zhou, Weidao Zhang, Jing Gao, Ping Zheng
Summary: The novel lncRNA Discn acts as a guardian of RPA availability in stem cells by regulating NCL activity to maintain a sufficient RPA pool. Loss of Discn leads to genome instability, newborn death, and brain dysfunctions in mice, highlighting its critical role in DNA metabolism and chemoresistance in cancer treatment.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Masaki Kinoshita, Meng Amy Li, Michael Barber, William Mansfield, Sabine Dietmann, Austin Smith
Summary: Genome remethylation is crucial for mammalian development, with a study showing that deficiencies in Dnmt3a and Dnmt3b lead to ES cells developing into trophoblast cells due to failed suppression of Ascl2. Regulating the expression of Ascl2 can impact the transdifferentiation and contribution of ES cells.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jana Pereckova, Michaela Pekarova, Nikoletta Szamecova, Zuzana Hoferova, Kristyna Kamarytova, Martin Falk, Tomas Perecko
Summary: NO2-OA modulates the pluripotency of mESC by reducing STAT3 phosphorylation, attenuating cardiac differentiation, and directing mESC into neural fate.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Mohd Wahid, Raju K. Mandal, Arshad Jawed, Ahmad Alsulimani, Anwar M. Hashem, Steve Harakeh, Arif Hussain, Sharmila Fagoonee, Rinaldo Pellicano, Shafiul Haque
Summary: Metastatic melanoma is a less frequent but highly feared cancer. The combination of nivolumab and ipilimumab has shown its effectiveness in treating this condition. Compared to monotherapy with nivolumab or ipilimumab, the combination treatment improves median progression free survival, objective response rate, and overall survival rate. By targeting different checkpoints (CTLA-4 and PD-L1), the combination treatment reduces tumor size and suggests the non-cross resistant nature of nivolumab. The median progression free survival is significantly increased in the nivolumab plus ipilimumab group, with improvements in objective response rate compared to monotherapy.
BIOTECHNOLOGY AND GENETIC ENGINEERING REVIEWS
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Sophie Cnudde, Michele Russo, Lorenzo Prever, Susana Fuentes, Alessandra Murabito, Federica Logrand, Sharmila Fagoonee, Federico Gulluni, Emilio Hirsch, Alessandra Ghigo
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR CARDIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Elisabetta Scali, Stefano Dastoli, Anna C. Procopio, Daniele Ricca, Valerio Mazzei, Pietro Cinaglia, Elio Gulletta, Steven P. Nistico, Rinaldo Pellicano, Natalia Alshuk, Sharmila Fagoonee, Francesco Luzza, Ludovico Abenavoli
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the serum levels of calprotectin in psoriatic patients and found that the levels were significantly higher in the patient group than in the control group. This finding is important for the diagnosis and research of psoriasis.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Stefano Kayali, Andrea Pasta, Rinaldo Pellicano, Sharmila Fagoonee, Elisabetta Giuliana, Chiara Facchini, Simona Pili, Silvia Buccilli, Sara Labanca, Paolo Borro
Summary: This study evaluated the effect of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) on liver stiffness measurements obtained by transient elastography (TE) and shear wave elastography (SWE). While TE measurements were not significantly affected by CEUS, SWE measurements decreased after administration of the contrast agent. The study also found that fibrosis stage deviated in a subset of patients after CEUS, with some showing a deviation in fibrosis severity.
Article
Ophthalmology
Roberta Verta, Gabriele Saccu, Adele Tanzi, Cristina Grange, Lola Buono, Sharmila Fagoonee, Maria Chiara Deregibus, Giovanni Camussi, Simona Scalabrin, Raffaele Nuzzi, Benedetta Bussolati
Summary: This study characterized the extracellular vesicles (EVs) in human aqueous humor and found that they have a mean size of approximately 100 nm, express specific markers, and promote corneal cell proliferation and repair.
EXPERIMENTAL EYE RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Farida Tripodi, Zoraide Motta, Giulia Murtas, Valentina Rabattoni, Simona Nonnis, Francesca Grassi Scalvini, Anna Maria Rinaldi, Roberto Rizzi, Claudia Bearzi, Beatrice Badone, Silvia Sacchi, Gabriella Tedeschi, Elisa Maffioli, Paola Coccetti, Loredano Pollegioni
Summary: Astrocytes play important roles in brain development and functions, including regulation of brain energy metabolism, ionic homeostasis, and synaptic transmission. Dysfunctions in metabolism of l-serine and d-serine are associated with neurological and psychiatric disorders. In this study, the differentiation process of human mature astrocytes from neural stem cells was investigated, revealing changes in proteomic and metabolomic profiles. The results show that differentiated astrocytes resemble mature rather than reactive ones, and reveal increased axogenesis and pyrimidine metabolism, as well as changes in the folate cycle and sphingolipid metabolism. These findings provide insights into astrocyte differentiation and offer a valuable model for studying serine metabolism alterations in brain diseases.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Faraz Ahmad, Priyanka Saha, Vineeta Singh, Mohd Wahid, Raju K. Mandal, Bhartendu Nath Mishra, Sharmila Fagoonee, Shafiul Haque
Summary: The resident microbiome in the gut plays a key role in host physiology and pathophysiology, including the resistance to cancers. Microbiota-derived lipid metabolites, such as bile acids and short-chain fatty acids, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of various cancer types. This review provides an overview of the molecular mechanisms of these metabolites in tumor development and discusses the potential of diet as a therapeutic route for altering the microbiota and preventing cancer.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Giovanni C. Actis, Rinaldo Pellicano, Sharmila Fagoonee, Davide G. Ribaldone
Summary: This passage mainly discusses the threat of the newly described SARS-CoV-2 respiratory virus and the importance of addressing it.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Rinaldo Pellicano, Arianna Ferro, Francesca Cicerchia, Simone Mattivi, Sharmila Fagoonee, Marilena Durazzo
Summary: Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic immune-inflammatory disease of the liver that is generally considered rare. It has a wide range of clinical manifestations from mild symptoms to severe hepatitis. Chronic liver damage leads to inflammation and oxidative stress, resulting in fibrosis and even cirrhosis. Liver biopsy is the gold standard for diagnosing fibrosis, but there are also serum biomarkers, scoring systems, and radiological methods available for diagnosis and staging. The goal of AIH treatment is to suppress fibrotic and inflammatory activities in the liver to prevent disease progression and achieve complete remission. Classic steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and immunosuppressants are commonly used, but there are also new alternative drugs being researched.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Dario Di Silvestre, Francesca Brambilla, Francesca Lavatelli, Maila Chirivi, Diana Canetti, Claudia Bearzi, Roberto Rizzi, Johan Bijzet, Bouke P. C. Hazenberg, Vittorio Bellotti, Julian D. Gillmore, Pierluigi Mauri
Summary: AL amyloidosis is caused by the misfolding of immunoglobulin light chains, leading to tissue and organ dysfunction. Proteome changes in the abdominal subcutaneous adipose tissue of AL amyloidosis patients revealed that ECM/cytoskeleton, oxidative stress, and proteostasis are the leading processes. Proteins such as GPX1, tubulins, and the TRiC complex were identified as biologically and topologically relevant.
Article
Oncology
Luisa Racca, Giada Rosso, Marco Carofiglio, Sharmila Fagoonee, Giulia Mesiano, Fiorella Altruda, Valentina Cauda
Summary: In this study, the synergistic effect of zinc oxide nanocrystals and high-energy shock waves in the treatment of colorectal cancer cells was demonstrated. The combination of nanocrystals with external stimulation resulted in increased antitumor activity, particularly in a specific type of colorectal cancer cells.
CANCER NANOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Tomislav Preveden, Benjamin Veres, Maja Ruzic, Maria Pete, Sanja Bogic, Nadica Kovacevic, Anna C. Procopio, Sharmila Fagoonee, Francesco Luzza, Ludovico Abenavoli
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the accuracy of the non-invasive surrogate scores HSI and TyG index in detecting liver steatosis in patients with chronic hepatitis C. The results showed that both scores have good performance in detecting liver steatosis and could be valuable assets in assessing liver steatosis outside of liver biopsy.
MINERVA GASTROENTEROLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Gourav Chandan, Chetan Kumar, Naresh K. Satti, Hardeep S. Tuli, Sharmila Fagoonee, Shafiul Haque, Adesh K. Saini, Reena V. Saini
Summary: This study evaluated the immunomodulatory potential of Datura stramonium lactones on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and found that they significantly enhanced cell proliferation and induced cancer cell death. The lactones also activated cytotoxic T lymphocytes and natural killer cells.
MINERVA BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOMOLECULAR RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Tetiana Marynenko, Tetiana Halenova, Nataliia Raksha, Tetiana Vovk, Yuliya Tyravska, Olexii Savchuk, Tetyana Falalyeyeva, Sharmila Fagoonee, Ludovico Abenavoli, Liudmyla Ostapchenko
Summary: This study investigated the association between inflammatory processes, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) production, and cardiovascular disease in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD). The results showed that plasma levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 significantly increased in patients with myocardial infarction, and were strongly correlated with proinflammatory cytokines.
MINERVA BIOTECHNOLOGY AND BIOMOLECULAR RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Nazarii Kobyliak, Tetyana Falalyeyeva, Yevheniia Kyriachenko, Yuliya Tseyslyer, Oleksandr Kovalchuk, Olena Hadiliia, Majid Eslami, Bahman Yousefi, Ludovico Abenavoli, Sharmila Fagoonee, Rinaldo Pellicano
Summary: Akkermansia muciniphila abundance is decreased in obesity and metabolic-associated diseases, showing an inverse relationship with body weight and insulin sensitivity. Supplementation of A. muciniphila can improve metabolic disorders, including weight reduction and alleviation of adipose tissue inflammation.
MINERVA ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)