Article
Immunology
Cameron L. Gardner, Mara Pavel-Dinu, Kerry Dobbs, Marita Bosticardo, Paul K. Reardon, Justin Lack, Suk See DeRavin, Kent Le, Ezekiel Bello, Francesca Pala, Ottavia M. Delmonte, Harry Malech, Amelie Montel-Hagan, Gay Crooks, Oreste Acuto, Matthew H. Porteus, Luigi D. Notarangelo
Summary: SCID caused by RAG1 or RAG2 deficiency is a genetically determined immune deficiency characterized by the virtual absence of T and B lymphocytes. Gene editing has shown promise in restoring normal function in patient cells, offering a novel therapeutic option for this immunodeficiency.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Julia J. Reichwald, Frederic Risch, Anna-Lena Neumann, Stefan J. Frohberger, Johanna F. Scheunemann, Benjamin Lenz, Alexandra Ehrens, Wiebke Strutz, Beatrix Schumak, Achim Hoerauf, Marc P. Huebner
Summary: This study investigated the role of ILC2s during filarial infection using a rodent model of Litomosoides sigmodontis. The results showed that ILC2s were increased in C57BL/6 mice, accompanied by a stronger type 2 immune response. Furthermore, ILC2s were found to be essential in controlling microfilaremia in Rag2(-/-) C57BL/6 mice.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Heng Zhao, Weijian Ye, Jianxiong Guo, Jiaoxiang Wang, Deling Jiao, Kaixiang Xu, Chang Yang, Shuhan Chen, Muhammad Ameen Jamal, Zhongbin Bai, Taiyun Wei, Jie Cai, Tien Dat Nguyen, Yubo Qing, Wenmin Cheng, Baoyu Jia, Honghui Li, Hong-Ye Zhao, Qingfeng Chen, Hong-Jiang Wei
Summary: We generated RGFKO pigs via CRISPR/Cas9 system and somatic cell nuclear transfer, which are both immune deficient and constantly suffer liver injury. These pigs have the potential to be engrafted with human hepatocytes without immune rejection, allowing for large scale expansion.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Liping Luo, Lu Wang, Yan Luo, Estevan Romero, Xin Yang, Meilian Liu
Summary: The study reveals that glucocorticoids play a key role in regulating thermogenesis in response to cold stress by modulating adiponectin levels. The interaction between glucocorticoids and adiponectin in adipose tissue is crucial for regulating adaptive thermogenesis and energy balance.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Kai Chen, Rong Mou, Pengwei Zhu, Xiaodong Xu, Han Wang, Liujun Jiang, Yanhua Hu, Xiaosheng Hu, Liang Ma, Qingzhong Xiao, Qingbo Xu
Summary: Transplant arteriosclerosis is a major complication in long-term survivors of heart transplantation. Increased lymph flow from donor heart to host lymph nodes has been reported to play a role in transplant arteriosclerosis, but how lymphangiogenesis affects this process is unknown.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Da Hea Seo, Eugene Shin, Yong-ho Lee, Se-Eun Park, Ki Taek Nam, Jae-woo Kim, Bong-Soo Cha
Summary: Cilostazol treatment promotes browning of visceral adipose tissue by activating the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway and improves overall metabolism in HFD-fed mice.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Bin Guo, Hui Shu, Ling Luo, Xiangpeng Liu, Yue Ma, Jie Zhang, Zhiwei Liu, Yong Zhang, Lei Fu, Tongxing Song, Yixue Qiao, Chi Zhang
Summary: LDHB plays an important role in adipocyte differentiation and thermogenesis, with its levels changing under cold stimulation, and increasing LDHB levels can enhance the mitochondrial function of adipocytes under cold conditions.
Article
Cell Biology
Jiayan Lin, Shaowei Zhu, Yunjun Liao, Zhuokai Liang, Yuping Quan, Yufei He, Junrong Cai, Feng Lu
Summary: The browning of white adipose tissue after transplantation can promote angiogenesis, reduce inflammation, and ultimately improve the survival of fat grafts.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Xiaoyi Ma, Huanhuan Yan, Shubin Hong, Shuang Yu, Yingying Gong, Dide Wu, Yanbing Li, Haipeng Xiao
Summary: This study found that gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) promotes the beiging process of inguinal white adipose tissue (iWAT) by improving the gut microbiota composition, thereby reducing obesity. Specifically, GABA reduced body weight and adipose inflammation and promoted the expression of thermogenic genes in the iWAT. Moreover, GABA altered the gut microbiota composition and metabolite levels in obese mice. The findings suggest that GABA may promote iWAT beiging through the gut microbiota, protecting obese individuals against metabolic abnormalities caused by obesity and gut dysbiosis.
Article
Cell Biology
Mengle Shao, Qianbin Zhang, Ashley Truong, Bo Shan, Lavanya Vishvanath, Lin Li, Patrick Seale, Rana K. Gupta
Summary: The protein-protein interaction between ZFP423 and EBF2 plays a crucial role in maintaining the identity of white adipocytes and preventing browning. Disruption of this interaction leads to widespread browning of WAT. ZFP423 controls the thermogenic plasticity of adipocytes by regulating EBF2 coactivator recruitment and PPAR gamma occupancy.
GENES & DEVELOPMENT
(2021)
Editorial Material
Cell Biology
Nabil Rabhi, Stephen R. Farmer
Summary: Adipose tissue shows remarkable adaptability to environmental and dietary cues by changing its morphology and metabolic capacity. Researchers have made progress in understanding the cellular interactions and molecular mechanisms within adipose tissue, which may lead to potential therapeutic strategies for obesity-associated diseases.
GENES & DEVELOPMENT
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shih-Yi Lin, Ya-Yu Wang, Pin-Ho Pan, Jiaan-Der Wang, Ching-Ping Yang, Wen-Ying Chen, Yu-Hsiang Kuan, Su-Lan Liao, Yu-Li Lo, Yih-Hsin Chang, Chun-Jung Chen
Summary: This study investigated the effects of DHA on obesity-related inflammation and adipose tissue browning in obese mice. The results showed that DHA improved obesity phenotypes, including insulin resistance, inflammation, and macrophage polarization in the liver and adipose tissues. Furthermore, DHA alleviated dysregulated adipokines and impaired thermogenic and browning molecules, along with ER stress and mitochondrial dysfunction.
JOURNAL OF NUTRITIONAL BIOCHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Yujuan Hou, Hans Peter Gratz, Guillermo Urena-Bailen, Paul G. Gratz, Karin Schilbach-Stueckle, Tina Renno, Derya Guengoer, Daniel A. Mader, Elke Malenke, Justin S. Antony, Rupert Handgretinger, Markus Mezger
Summary: This study reports three brothers with low-normal lymphocyte counts and susceptibility to respiratory infections and cutaneous warts. Genetic analysis revealed a novel mutation in the IL2RG gene. Functional characterization showed impaired T-cell function and somatic reversion in certain cell populations. The atypical SCID phenotype in these brothers is due to a combination of hypomorphic IL2RG function and somatic reversion.
Review
Transplantation
Manuel Alfredo Podesta, David Cucchiari, Paola Ciceri, Piergiorgio Messa, Jose-Vicente Torregrosa, Mario Cozzolino
Summary: Vascular and valvular calcifications are common in kidney transplant recipients and associated with increased risk of cardiovascular events. Despite resolution of uremia-related metabolic derangements, recipients are still exposed to pro-calcifying stimuli, highlighting the need for strategies to correct or minimize their effects.
NEPHROLOGY DIALYSIS TRANSPLANTATION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yue Sun, Jingxin Yao, Chang Lu, Nan Yang, Xiao Han, Haiyan Lin, Ye Yin
Summary: Promoting the thermogenic capacity of brown/beige adipocytes through the expression of PPA1 may be a promising strategy for combating obesity and related metabolic diseases. Our study showed that PPA1 is essential for mitochondrial function and adipocyte browning, and its deficiency leads to decreased thermogenic capacity and cold intolerance.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Gloria Faerber, Sabine Bleiziffer, Torsten Doenst, Dimitra Bon, Andreas Boening, Helge Weiler, Eva Herrmann, Christian Frerker, Andreas Beckmann, Helge Moellmann, Stephan Ensminger, Raffi Bekeredjian, Thomas Walther, Wolfgang Harringer, Hugo A. Katus, Christian W. Hamm, Friedhelm Beyersdorf, Timm Bauer, Stephan Fichtlscherer
Summary: Chronic dialysis patients with AS undergoing TAVI or SAVR had similar 1-year mortality rates, with better survival at 30 days for TAVI patients. TAVI may improve peri-procedural outcomes, although TAVI patients required more pacemaker implantation and showed more aortic regurgitation, while SAVR patients required more blood transfusions and had longer hospital stays.
CLINICAL RESEARCH IN CARDIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Silvia Mas-Peiro, Gloria Faerber, Dimitra Bon, Eva Herrmann, Timm Bauer, Sabine Bleiziffer, Raffi Bekeredjian, Andreas Boning, Christian Frerker, Andreas Beckmann, Helge Mollmann, Mariuca Vasa-Nicotera, Stephan Ensminger, Christian W. Hamm, Friedhelm Beyersdorf, Stephan Fichtlscherer, Thomas Walther
Summary: Higher CKD stages were associated with lower survival rates for patients undergoing both TAVI and SAVR. CKD >= 3b and CKD >= 3a were identified as the major independent risk factors for mortality in TAVI and SAVR patients, respectively. Stratification based on CKD substage may help in selecting appropriate patients for these therapies.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CARDIO-THORACIC SURGERY
(2021)
Article
Pediatrics
Burkhard Toenshoff, Barbara Mueller, Roland Elling, Hanna Renk, Peter Meissner, Hartmut Hengel, Sven F. Garbade, Meinhard Kieser, Kathrin Jeltsch, Jurgen Grulich-Henn, Julia Euler, Maximilian Stich, Kristine Chobanyan-Juergens, Maria Zernickel, Ales Janda, Lena Woelfle, Thomas Stamminger, Thomas Iftner, Tina Ganzenmueller, Christian Schmitt, Tessa Goerne, Vibor Laketa, Sylvia Olberg, Anna Plaszczyca, Mirko Cortese, Ralf Bartenschlager, Constantin Pape, Roman Remme, Daniela Huzly, Marcus Panning, Sebastian Weigang, Sebastian Giese, Kevin Ciminski, Jakob Ankerhold, Georg Kochs, Martin Schwemmle, Rupert Handgretinger, Charlotte M. Niemeyer, Corinna Engel, Winfried V. Kern, Georg Friedrich Hoffmann, Axel R. Franz, Philipp Henneke, Klaus-Michael Debatin, Hans-Georg Kraeusslich
Summary: A study conducted in southwest Germany showed that the rate of SARS-CoV-2 infections was low among children aged 1 to 10, suggesting that they are unlikely to have significantly contributed to the pandemic. Large-scale testing provides a basis for informed political decision-making during a pandemic.
Article
Immunology
Niklas M. Fritz, Thomas Stamminger, Martina Ramsperger-Gleixner, Annika Kuckhahn, Regina Mueller, Michael Weyand, Christian Heim
Summary: The study investigates the role of MCMV GPCR M33 in the development of CAV using a murine aortic transplant model. The results suggest that M33 plays an important role as a viral effector mechanism contributing to the development of CAV.
TRANSPLANT IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Eva-Maria Schilling, Myriam Scherer, Franziska Rothemund, Thomas Stamminger
Summary: FEN1 plays a critical role in viral infections, especially in HCMV infection where IE1 can manipulate FEN1 to facilitate viral DNA replication. This discovery may lead to new antiviral therapeutic options to combat HCMV infections.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Hiroyuki Saisho, Carina Kuhlmann, Michael Scharfschwerdt, Reuben Jeganathan, Najla Sadat, Tim Schaller, Anas Aboud, Stephan Ensminger, Buntaro Fujita
Summary: The F8 technique with the PME21 achieved a similar EOA as the 1 size larger PME23 using NE after AE. SI and CS did not result in a larger EOA compared with the NE technique. PME21 using SI had a significantly larger leakage volume than using NE and there was no significant difference between other techniques.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CARDIO-THORACIC SURGERY
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Evaldas Girdauskas, Johannes Petersen, Uemniye Balaban, Eva Herrmann, Timm Bauer, Andreas Beckmann, Raffi Bekeredjian, Stephan Ensminger, Christian Frerker, Helge Moellmann, Thomas Walther, Sabine Bleiziffer
Summary: AV repair/AV-sparing root surgery is an effective strategy for treating young patients with aortic regurgitation and/or aortic root aneurysm. This study analyzed real-world data from the German Aortic Valve Registry and found that the surgical procedure resulted in satisfactory clinical outcomes, including high survival rates and freedom from cardiac adverse events at one year. Additionally, the specific surgical technique used did not significantly impact the outcomes.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CARDIO-THORACIC SURGERY
(2022)
Article
Virology
Franziska Rothemund, Myriam Scherer, Eva-Maria Schilling, Johannes Schweininger, Yves A. Muller, Thomas Stamminger
Summary: The study analyzed the functions of human cytomegalovirus (CMV) immediate early 1 (IE1) protein and rat CMV IE1 (rIE1) protein, and found that their interactions with cellular proteins PML and FEN1 were species-specific. It was also discovered that both IE1 proteins can antagonize human STAT2, but different regions of the viral proteins were involved in the interaction. Additionally, the study revealed that the binding of PML, FEN1, and STAT2 was conserved between primate and rodent proteins, but rIE1 lacked chromatin tethering function.
Article
Virology
Maja C. Mezger, Carina Conzelmann, Tatjana Weil, Pascal von Maltitz, Dan P. J. Albers, Jan Munch, Thomas Stamminger, Eva-Maria Schilling
Summary: Screening of a protein kinase inhibitor library identified SB431542 as a compound that interferes with SARS-CoV-2 replication by targeting activin receptor-like kinase 5 (ALK5). ALK5 inhibition downregulates furin expression induced by TGF-beta and reduces spike-mediated cell-cell fusion, thereby attenuating SARS-CoV-2 infectivity and cell-cell spread. This suggests that ALK5 inhibitors may be a potential therapy option for COVID-19, especially in cases with TGF-beta dominated cytokine storm.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Hiroyuki Saisho, Michael Scharfschwerdt, Tim Schaller, Najla Sadat, Anas Aboud, Stephan Ensminger, Buntaro Fujita
Summary: In this ex vivo study, the hydrodynamic performance and cusp kinematics of the Ozaki neocuspidized aortic valve were compared with native aortic and prosthetic valves. The results showed that the Ozaki valve had excellent hydrodynamic performance and similar cusp motion characteristics to the native aortic valve, suggesting potential beneficial clinical outcomes.
INTERACTIVE CARDIOVASCULAR AND THORACIC SURGERY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Una Ebong, Susanne Martina Buettner, Stefan A. Schmidt, Franziska Flack, Patrick Korf, Lynn Peters, Beate Gruener, Steffen Stenger, Thomas Stamminger, Hans Kestler, Meinrad Beer, Christopher Kloth
Summary: This study implemented an AI-based software prototype for the detection of COVID-19 pneumonia and differentiation between other types of pneumonia in lung CT datasets. The software achieved a sensitivity of 80.8% and a specificity of 50% for detecting COVID-19, but the human radiologist achieved a higher specificity of 97.2%.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Najla Sadat, John Habakuk Lojenburg, Michael Scharfschwerdt, Buntaro Fujta, Stephan Ensminger
Summary: This in vitro study compares different in vitro models for functional testing of transcatheter heart valves (THVs). The results show that the full expansion and functional performance of THVs depend on the configuration of the testing compartment in an in vitro setting.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CARDIO-THORACIC SURGERY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Martin Schuetz, Regina Mueller, Eileen Socher, Christina Wangen, Florian Full, Emanuel Wyler, Diana Wong, Myriam Scherer, Thomas Stamminger, Sunwen Chou, William D. Rawlinson, Stuart T. Hamilton, Heinrich Sticht, Manfred Marschall
Summary: The complex host interaction network of human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) involves the regulatory protein kinase pUL97 and human cyclins. The study found that cyclin H is a crucial determinant of pUL97 kinase activity and viral replication efficiency.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sven Seitz, Anna Theresa Heusel, Thomas Stamminger, Myriam Scherer
Summary: PML nuclear bodies (PML-NBs) play a cell type-specific antiviral role against HCMV infection, with PML and Daxx having contrasting effects at different stages.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Najla Sadat, Michael Scharfschwerdt, Tim Schaller, Anas Aboud, Hiroyuki Saisho, Stephan Ensminger, Buntaro Fujita
Summary: The study aims to characterize the functional performance of 8 surgical aortic valve models in vitro and found significant differences in their hydrodynamic performance despite the same label size.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CARDIO-THORACIC SURGERY
(2022)
