Article
Oncology
Yaxin Guo, Hsiang-i Tsai, Lirong Zhang, Haitao Zhu
Summary: As the most abundant cell in the tumor microenvironment (TME), tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play a crucial role in tumor development and treatment sensitivity. The phenotypes and functions of TAMs vary depending on their sources and tumor progression. Dysfunctional and oxidatively stressed mitochondrial-derived mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) also significantly influences TAM phenotypes and functions. This review examines the interactions between mtDNA and TAMs in the TME and discusses their impact on tumor genesis and development.
Article
Cell Biology
Mario A. Lauterbach, Victor Saavedra, Matthew S. J. Mangan, Anke Penno, Christoph Thiele, Eicke Latz, Lars Kuerschner
Summary: The study reveals that deoxysphingolipids have an impact on autophagy, potentially leading to inflammation and abnormalities in the innate immune system.
Article
Immunology
Arturo Gonzalez de la Aleja, Cristina Herrero, Monica Torres-Torresano, Juan Vladimir de la Rosa, Barbara Alonso, Enrique Capa-Sardon, Ittai B. Muller, Gerrit Jansen, Amaya Puig-Kroeger, Miguel A. Vega, Antonio Castrillo, Angel L. Corbi
Summary: LXR activation limits the anti-inflammatory polarization of human macrophages and promotes the acquisition of an inflammatory profile, which is associated with the expression of specific genes and the release of activin A.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Fisheries
Bin Shen, Siyu Zhang, Fengxin Li, Jing Xu, Yuqin Zhang, Jianshe Zhang
Summary: This study conducted functional analyses for two ISG15 homologues in Larimichthys crocea and found that they play important roles in immune regulation and host immune defense against viral and bacterial infection.
FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Karel F. A. Van Damme, Levi Hoste, Jozefien Declercq, Elisabeth De Leeuw, Bastiaan Maes, Liesbet Martens, Roos Colman, Robin Browaeys, Cedric Bosteels, Stijn Verwaerde, Nicky Vermeulen, Sahine Lameire, Nincy Debeuf, Julie Deckers, Patrick Stordeur, Pieter Depuydt, Eva Van Braeckel, Linos Vandekerckhove, Martin Guilliams, Sjoerd T. T. Schetters, Filomeen Haerynck, Simon J. Tavernier, Bart N. Lambrecht
Summary: Improvements in COVID-19 treatments require a deeper understanding of disease pathology, particularly for critically ill patients. This study shows that complement activation in COVID-19 is primarily mediated by the alternative pathway and provides a comprehensive atlas of complement alterations during respiratory deterioration. The upstream driver of complement responses is identified as IL-6 and STAT1/3 signaling, which has implications for approved COVID-19 therapies.
SCIENCE TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Dongwei Xu, Xiaoye Qu, Yizhu Tian, Zhao Jie, Zhifeng Xi, Feng Xue, Xueyun Ma, Jianjun Zhu, Qiang Xia
Summary: This study demonstrated that macrophage Notch1 controls TAK1-mediated innate immune responses and RIPK3-mediated hepatocyte necroptosis through activation of beta-catenin. Beta-catenin is essential for macrophage Notch1-mediated immune regulation in liver ischemia and reperfusion injury (IRI), indicating its potential as a therapeutic target. The macrophage Notch1-beta-catenin axis is a crucial regulatory mechanism in IR-triggered liver inflammation, offering novel therapeutic possibilities in organ IRI and transplant recipients.
CELL COMMUNICATION AND SIGNALING
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Yao Song, Xinying Li, Dingming Huang, Hongjie Song
Summary: Periapical lesions are infectious diseases that occur in the apical region of teeth, leading to alveolar bone destruction and possible systemic impacts. Macrophages play a crucial role in the development of these lesions, but their differential polarization complicates the understanding of the regulatory mechanism. This review provides new insights into the potential role of macrophages in determining the turnover of periapical lesions and discusses alternative treatment strategies for apical periodontitis.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Locke Davenport Huyer, Serena Mandla, Yufeng Wang, Scott B. Campbell, Bess Yee, Christian Euler, Benjamin F. Lai, A. Dawn Bannerman, Dawn S. Y. Lin, Miles Montgomery, Kayla Nemr, Timothy Bender, Slava Epelman, Radkrishnan Mahadevan, Milica Radisic
Summary: ITA polymers, by leveraging hydrolytic degradation to release ITA, exhibit specific immunoregulatory properties on macrophage polarization in vitro and inhibit bacterial growth on acetate. In an in vivo model of biomaterial associated inflammation, intraperitoneal injection of ITA polymers leads to rapid resolution of inflammation compared to a control polymer silicone, highlighting the significance of sustained biomimetic presentation of ITA.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yosep Mo, Sung-Yoon Kang, Ji-Young Bang, Yujin Kim, Jiung Jeong, Eui-Man Jeong, Hye Young Kim, Sang-Heon Cho, Hye-Ryun Kang
Summary: This study demonstrates that human umbilical cord-derived MSCs (hUC-MSCs) can alleviate airway resistance, mucus production, and inflammation in a murine asthma model by modulating innate immune cells and effector T cells. The administration of hUC-MSCs reduces Th2 and Th17 cells, increases regulatory T cells (Tregs), and suppresses innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) and M2 macrophages.
MOLECULES AND CELLS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Kishu Ranjan, Matija Hedl, Clara Abraham
Summary: The study found that macrophages from IBD-risk carriers in the RNF186 region showed reduced cytokines upon stimulation through multiple pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). RNF186 was found to be crucial for PRR-initiated signaling complex assembly, downstream signaling, and antimicrobial pathways. Cells transfected with the rare RNF186-A64T IBD-risk variant demonstrated a reduction in RNF186-dependent outcomes, indicating a loss of function in PRR-initiated outcomes.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Le Kang, Angelika Schmalzl, Tamara Leupold, Miguel Gonzalez-Acera, Raja Atreya, Markus F. Neurath, Christoph Becker, Stefan Wirtz
Summary: The complex immune cell network in intestinal inflammation involves the chemokine receptor CCR8, which plays a protective role in the gut through its interaction with the chemotactic ligand CCL1. This pathway is linked to the function of intestinal innate lymphoid cells producing IFN-gamma. Modulating this regulatory circuit may present a new strategy for treating inflammatory bowel disease.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Shanshan Wang, France Moreau, Kris Chadee
Summary: Gasdermins (GSDMs) are a group of proteins that can induce cell death or pyroptosis by forming pores in the plasma membrane. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the expression, activation, biological functions, and regulation of GSDMs, with a focus on their role in host defense against Eh and other protozoan parasitic infections.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Surgery
Olivier Desy, Patrice Vallin, Stephanie Beland, Francois Bouchard-Boivin, Alcino P. Gama, Sacha A. De Serres
Summary: The toxicity of immunosuppression increases with age due to a decrease in pro-inflammatory immune cell function posttransplant in older recipients. However, older recipients also show a stable, low alloimmune response over time, particularly in response to HLA peptides, with no evidence of a decrease in APCs costimulation capacity. The impact of reduced immunosuppressant doses on preventing this phenomenon requires further clarification.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF TRANSPLANTATION
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Arturo Gonzalez de la Aleja, Cristina Herrero, Monica Torres-Torresano, Maria Teresa Schiaffino, Alejandro del Castillo, Barbara Alonso, Miguel A. A. Vega, Amaya Puig-Kroger, Antonio Castrillo, Angel L. Corbi
Summary: Monocyte-derived macrophages play a role in inflammatory diseases and their functions are influenced by the extracellular environment. Liver X Receptors (LXRs) control cholesterol metabolism and macrophage differentiation. Inhibition of LXRs can promote the anti-inflammatory gene and functional profile of human macrophages in a MAFB-dependent manner.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Allergy
Anastasia Georgountzou, Dimitra Kokkinou, Stella Taka, Paraskevi Maggina, John Lakoumentas, Vassiliki Papaevangelou, Maria Tsolia, Paraskevi Xepapadaki, Evangelos Andreakos, Nikolaos G. Papadopoulos
Summary: The study evaluated the developmental trajectories of the TLR3 and TLR7/8 pathways in healthy and atopic individuals, finding that normal innate immune maturation involves age-related changes in cytokine production. Atopic individuals showed significant differences in certain cytokine synthesis trajectories compared to healthy individuals.
PEDIATRIC ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Sara E. Howden, Sean B. Wilson, Ella Groenewegen, Lakshi Starks, Thomas A. Forbes, Ker Sin Tan, Jessica M. Vanslambrouck, Emily M. Holloway, Yi-Hsien Chen, Sanjay Jain, Jason R. Spence, Melissa H. Little
Summary: Distinct progenitors contribute to the nephrons versus the ureteric epithelium during kidney development. The distal nephron segment alone displays significant in vitro plasticity and can adopt a ureteric epithelial tip identity when isolated and cultured in defined conditions. Cultures harboring loss-of-function mutations in PKHD1 recapitulate the cystic phenotype associated with autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease.
Article
Developmental Biology
Melissa H. Little
Summary: Progress has been made in generating kidney tissue from stem cells, but the limited scale, incomplete cellular complexity, and functional immaturity suggest we are still far from the goal of transplantable synthetic kidneys.
DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Kynan T. Lawlor, Jessica M. Vanslambrouck, J. William Higgins, Alison Chambon, Kristina Bishard, Derek Arndt, Pei Xuan Er, Sean B. Wilson, Sara E. Howden, Ker Sin Tan, Fanyi Li, Lorna J. Hale, Benjamin Shepherd, Stephen Pentoney, Sharon C. Presnell, Alice E. Chen, Melissa H. Little
Summary: The study demonstrates the use of extrusion-based three-dimensional cellular bioprinting to rapidly and efficiently generate kidney organoids with highly reproducible cell number and viability. This technology not only improves throughput and quality control in organoid production, but also facilitates precise control of structure, enhancing the in vitro and in vivo applications of stem cell-derived human kidney tissue.
Article
Biology
Blake Cook, Alex Combes, Melissa Little, James M. Osborne
Summary: Kidney diseases and disorders are common in mid-late adulthood worldwide, often caused by improper formation of the kidneys before birth. Researchers have used mathematical modeling to study kidney development and investigated the behavior of cap mesenchyme cells and their impact on kidney growth. The study found that spatial regulation of cell differentiation and increased cell adhesion can ensure healthy kidney development.
BULLETIN OF MATHEMATICAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Melissa H. Little, Sara E. Howden
Summary: In this study published in Cell Stem Cell, Ungricht et al. performed a temporally controlled CRISPR/Cas9-based genome-wide screen in kidney organoids to identify the key gene networks involved in the specification of kidney cell types from human pluripotent stem cells. This research contributes to our understanding of human kidney development and disease.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Bo Wang, Chenguang Ding, Xiaoming Ding, Greg Tesch, Jin Zheng, PuYun Tian, Yang Li, Sharon Ricardo, Hsin-Hui Shen, Wujun Xue
Summary: This study investigated the regulatory function of WISP1 in kidney inflammation. The results showed that WISP1 can induce kidney inflammation and it can be prevented by inhibiting NF-KB. In addition, inhibition of WISP1 can suppress the production of inflammatory cytokines in macrophages and the proliferation of kidney fibroblasts. The increased expression of WISP1 in kidney inflammation models was also confirmed. Therefore, pharmacological blockade of WISP1 shows potential as a novel therapy for kidney inflammation.
Review
Urology & Nephrology
Melissa H. Little, Benjamin D. Humphreys
Summary: This article reviews the changes in our understanding of kidney development, disease, repair, and regeneration over the past fifteen years, and envisions the future of kidney regeneration and repair for the next fifteen years.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF NEPHROLOGY
(2022)
Review
Urology & Nephrology
Melissa H. Little, Sara E. Howden, Kynan T. Lawlor, Jessica M. Vanslambrouck
Summary: Studying lineage relationships in cells can offer valuable insights into their origins, differentiation, and development. With the use of genetic methods, Cre systems, single-cell transcriptional profiling, and CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, researchers are now able to make predictions about cellular relationships across different developmental stages, leading to a better understanding of development and disease.
NATURE REVIEWS NEPHROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Sean B. Wilson, Sara E. Howden, Jessica M. Vanslambrouck, Aude Dorison, Jose Alquicira-Hernandez, Joseph E. Powell, Melissa H. Little
Summary: This study developed an unbiased tool (DevKidCC) for accurately classifying cell identities in kidney organoids and comparing different single-cell datasets. By applying this tool, differences in the relative proportions of cell types between kidney organoids generated using different protocols can be identified, leading to improvements in kidney organoid generation methods.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Francine S. Ke, Steven Holloway, Rachel T. Uren, Agnes W. Wong, Melissa H. Little, Ruth M. Kluck, Anne K. Voss, Andreas Strasser
Summary: BID functions as an effector of the intrinsic apoptosis pathway, playing a role both upstream and parallel to BAX, BAK, and BOK, and it may exert its function by releasing cytochrome c.
Editorial Material
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Melissa Little
Summary: As the ISSCR celebrates its 20th anniversary, the significant contributions of the Society in advancing stem cell research and regenerative medicine are humbling. The curiosity, ingenuity, and persistence of its members have led to breakthroughs such as the development of induced pluripotent stem cells and the application of stem cell therapies for diseases like epidermolysis bullosa and type 1 diabetes.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jessica M. Vanslambrouck, Sean B. Wilson, Ker Sin Tan, Ella Groenewegen, Rajeev Rudraraju, Jessica Neil, Kynan T. Lawlor, Sophia Mah, Michelle Scurr, Sara E. Howden, Kanta Subbarao, Melissa H. Little
Summary: Enhanced specification of metanephric nephron progenitors results in improved development of proximal nephrons with better functionality and distinct cell types. This improvement enhances the study of proximal tubular diseases, drug responses, and viral interactions.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Meg L. McFetridge, Ketav Kulkarni, Volker Hilsenstein, Mark P. Del Borgo, Marie-Isabel Aguilar, Sharon D. Ricardo
Summary: Determining the porosity of hydrogels is crucial but SEM sample preparation methods can alter the structure. This study compared three methods of hydrogel preparation for SEM and found that each method preserved different nanoarchitecture and porosity. A hybrid preparation method, including high pressure freezing, freeze substitution without fixative and critical point drying, showed similarity at the nanometre scale but divergence at the micron scale compared to conventional SEM preparation. This study quantified the impact of sample preparation on self-assembling beta(3)-peptide hydrogels and presented a novel hybrid method where chemical fixation can be avoided in conventional SEM.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Menno ter Huurne, Benjamin L. Parker, Ning Qing Liu, Elizabeth Ling Qian, Celine Vivien, Kathy Karavendzas, Richard J. Mills, Jennifer T. Saville, Dad Abu-Bonsrah, Andrea F. Wise, James E. Hudson, Andrew S. Talbot, Patrick F. Finn, Paolo G. V. Martini, Maria Fuller, Sharon D. Ricardo, Kevin I. Watt, Kathy M. Nicholls, Enzo R. Porrello, David A. Elliott
Summary: This study evaluated the efficacy of nucleoside-modified messenger RNA (modRNA) treatment for Fabry disease and validated it using a human cardiac model generated from induced pluripotent stem cells. The results showed that modRNA treatment restored α-Galactosidase A enzyme activity and reduced glycosphingolipid accumulation, demonstrating its therapeutic potential.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF HUMAN GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Chenguang Ding, Bo Wang, Xiang Feng Lai, Yingcong Guo, Greg Tesch, Xiaoming Ding, Jin Zheng, PuXun Tian, Sharon Ricardo, Hsin-Hui Shen, Wujun Xue
Summary: Renal fibrosis, a common manifestation of chronic kidney disease, can be suppressed by inducing local production of relaxin-2 mRNA in kidney cells. In both in vitro and in vivo experiments, delivery of relaxin-2 mRNA reduced fibrotic gene expression and cell proliferation, inhibiting the development of renal fibrosis. The use of cubosomes as delivery vehicles for relaxin-2 mRNA also alleviated fibrosis and inflammation in a mouse model of renal injury. Therefore, relaxin-2 mRNA shows potential as a novel therapy for inhibiting fibrosis and inflammation in chronic kidney disease.
MATERIALS TODAY BIO
(2023)
