Review
Cell Biology
Pengfei Lu, Yunzhe Lu
Summary: Epithelium is traditionally considered an immotile tissue, but recent research has shown that it is actually more motile than previously thought. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a crucial process for embryonic development, organ formation, and cancer metastasis.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Claudia Capparelli, Timothy J. Purwin, McKenna Glasheen, Signe Caksa, Manoela Tiago, Nicole Wilski, Danielle Pomante, Sheera Rosenbaum, Mai Q. Nguyen, Weijia Cai, Janusz Franco-Barraza, Richard Zheng, Gaurav Kumar, Inna Chervoneva, Ayako Shimada, Vito W. Rebecca, Adam E. Snook, Kim Hookim, Xiaowei Xu, Edna Cukierman, Meenhard Herlyn, Andrew E. Aplin
Summary: Cellular plasticity plays a crucial role in tumor heterogeneity and phenotype switching. SOX10 is involved in the phenotypic switching of cutaneous melanoma, and cIAP1/2 inhibitors can selectively induce cell death in SOX10-deficient cells.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Gokhan Bahcecioglu, Xiaoshan Yue, Erin Howe, Ian Guldner, M. Sharon Stack, Harikrishna Nakshatri, Siyuan Zhang, Pinar Zorlutuna
Summary: The study reveals that aging ECM can drive normal mammary epithelial cells to a more invasive and cancer-like phenotype, and enhance motility and invasiveness in breast cancer cells. Different responses of cells to young and aged ECMs may lead to the identification of new targets for cancer treatment and prevention.
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Eun Young Jeon, Leila Sorrells, Hasan Erbil Abaci
Summary: Organoids are self-organized and miniature models of organs that can mimic organ architecture and function, aiding in the understanding of tissue development and diseases. However, current organoid culture systems lack accurate control over biochemical and physical cues, leading to the generation of immature organoids. Recent advances in biomaterials and microengineering technologies offer the potential for better recapitulation of organ morphogenesis and the development of anatomically-relevant organoids.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
FuiBoon Kai, Guanqing Ou, Richard W. Tourdot, Connor Stashko, Guido Gaietta, Mark F. Swift, Niels Volkmann, Alexandra F. Long, Yulong Han, Hector H. Huang, Jason J. Northey, Andrew M. Leidal, Virgile Viasnoff, David M. Bryant, Wei Guo, Arun P. Wiita, Ming Guo, Sophie Dumont, Dorit Hanein, Ravi Radhakrishnan, Valerie M. Weaver
Summary: Cells interacting with a reconstituted basement membrane in a three-dimensional environment have lower levels of actin-associated filamin and decreased cortical actin tension, leading to increased negative plasma membrane curvature and protein secretion. In contrast, cells engaging a reconstituted basement membrane in a two-dimensional environment have higher cortical actin tension, resulting in filamin unfolding and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) associations. These findings highlight the role of cortical actin tension in ER function and cell viability.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
FuiBoon Kai, Guanqing Ou, Richard W. Tourdot, Connor Stashko, Guido Gaietta, Mark F. Swift, Niels Volkmann, Alexandra F. Long, Yulong Han, Hector H. Huang, Jason J. Northey, Andrew M. Leidal, Virgile Viasnoff, David M. Bryant, Wei Guo, Arun P. Wiita, Ming Guo, Sophie Dumont, Dorit Hanein, Ravi Radhakrishnan, Valerie M. Weaver
Summary: Patient-derived organoids and cellular spheroids, when interacting with a reconstituted basement membrane, exhibit different cellular behaviors in 3D and 2D environments. Lower cortical actin tension in 3D promotes cell survival and secretion, while higher cortical actin tension in 2D leads to ER stress and compromised cell viability. This study highlights the role of tissue mechanics in organoid homeostasis.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Anna Ruiz-Mitjana, Raul Navaridas, Maria Vidal-Sabanes, Aida Perramon-Gueell, Andree Yeramian, Isidre Felip, Nuria Eritja, Joaquim Egea, Mario Encinas, Xavier Matias-Guiu, Xavier Dolcet
Summary: The extracellular matrix and cell polarity are crucial for maintaining cellular homeostasis and preventing carcinogenesis. This study investigates the role of extracellular matrix in the cellular response to TGF-beta. It shows that the absence of extracellular matrix inhibits apoptosis and promotes epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in response to TGF-beta. The molecular mechanisms underlying these cellular responses involve AKT, ERK, and SMAD pathways.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Esther Marhuenda, Alvaro Villarino, Maria Leonor Narciso, Marta Camprubi-Rimblas, Ramon Farre, Nuria Gavara, Antonio Artigas, Isaac Almendros, Jorge Otero
Summary: One of the main limitations in in vitro studies on lung diseases is maintaining the specific phenotype of alveolar epithelial cells. This study successfully maintained the phenotype of cells using lung-derived extracellular matrix hydrogels, and found that the hydrogels can promote long-term culture of alveolar epithelial cells.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sarah Y. T. Robertson, JoAnn S. Roberts, Sophie X. Deng
Summary: Limbal epithelial stem/progenitor cells (LSCs) reside in a niche with finely tuned balances of various signaling pathways, and respond to molecular signals as well as physical structure. Damage to LSCs or their niche leads to limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD), and understanding the molecular regulation of LSCs is crucial for treating LSCD effectively.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Allergy
Xinran O. Zhao, Christian P. Sommerhoff, Aida Paivandy, Gunnar Pejler
Summary: Mast cell proteases, specifically chymase, have extensive effects on airway epithelial cells, particularly in processes related to extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. Chymase suppresses ECM-related genes, degrades fibronectin, suppresses the migratory capacity of airway epithelial cells, and degrades the cell-cell contact protein E-cadherin. These findings suggest the involvement of chymase in the regulation of ECM remodeling events mediated by airway epithelial cells.
JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Jia Wang, Yao Li, Longji Pan, Jun Li, Yanfei Yu, Beibei Liu, Muhammad Zubair, Yanna Wei, Bala Pillay, Ademola Olufolahan Olaniran, Thamsanqa E. Chiliza, Guoqing Shao, Zhixin Feng, Qiyan Xiong
Summary: Mycoplasma hyorhinis infects pigs and humans, with its surface GAPDH acting as an important adhesion factor and a receptor for binding plasminogen, facilitating the degradation of extracellular matrix and systemic invasion.
VETERINARY RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Toxicology
Shaoqi Yang, Yuheng Sun, Min Long, Xinbei Zhou, Mengqin Yuan, Liliang Yang, Wei Luo, Yusi Cheng, Xinxin Zhang, Wei Jiang, Jie Chao
Summary: Chronic silica exposure can cause silicosis, a severe occupational lung disease with limited therapeutic options. This study used single-cell transcriptome sequencing and a mouse model to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in silicosis. The researchers found that glycoprotein non-metastatic melanoma protein B (GPNMB) played a significant role in promoting EMT and persistent lung pathological changes in silicosis. GPNMB released extracellular vesicles that contributed to abnormal changes in the extracellular matrix and collagen structure. The findings suggest that GPNMB could be a potential target for preventing fibrosis in silicosis.
PARTICLE AND FIBRE TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zhigang Sui, Xiaoyao Song, Yujie Wu, Rui Hou, Jianhui Liu, Baofeng Zhao, Zhen Liang, Jiping Chen, Lihua Zhang, Yukui Zhang
Summary: This study evaluated the cytotoxicity of PM2.5 on BEAS-2B cells and investigated the changes of extracellular proteome after PM2.5 exposure. PM2.5 was found to promote the release of pro-apoptotic factors and induce dysregulated secretion of extracellular matrix.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Sabine Ziesemer, Susann Meyer, Julia Edelmann, Janita Vennmann, Celine Gudra, Denise Arndt, Marcus Effenberg, Olla Hayas, Aref Hayas, Johanna Sophia Thomassen, Barbara Kubickova, Dierk-Christoph Poether, Jan-Peter Hildebrandt
Summary: Cylindrospermopsin (CYN) is a cyanobacterial toxin that has delayed effects on animals and humans. This study investigated the effects of CYN on protein expression in human bronchial epithelial cells using a proteomic approach. The results showed that CYN affected the expression levels of proteins involved in various cellular functions, including protein stability regulation, cell adhesion and integration, cell proliferation, cell cycle regulation, and cytokinesis. In addition, CYN reduced cell adhesion, attenuated cell proliferation, delayed mitosis completion, and induced genomic instability.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Maoqing Tian, Lu Zhang, Meng Zhang, Liwen Qiao, Bingqing Xu, Chen Li, Shan Liu, Yuan Song, Zhongping Wei, Yujuan Wang, Huiming Wang
Summary: Renal tubular epithelial cells undergoing partial epithelial-mesenchymal transition (pEMT) during renal fibrosis show a unique expression profile of N-cadherin, regulated by the transcription factor Foxk1 and JLP protein. The loss of JLP leads to downregulation of N-cadherin and compromised cell viability. These findings propose a novel axis of JLP/Foxk1/N-cadherin in shaping the EMT program.