Article
Oncology
Md Rashedunnabi Akanda, Eun-Jung Ahn, Yeong Jin Kim, S. M. Abdus Salam, Myung-Giun Noh, Tae-Kyu Lee, Sung Sun Kim, Kyung-Hwa Lee, Kyung-Sub Moon
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between the expression of stromal cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) markers, platelet-derived growth factor receptor-beta (PDGFR-beta) and alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), and clinical and prognostic variables in breast cancer brain metastasis (BCBM) patients. The expression of PDGFR-beta and alpha-SMA was lower in the triple-negative (TN) subtype compared to other molecular subtypes. High PDGFR-beta expression was associated with longer recurrence-free survival (RFS). TN molecular subtype and PDGFR-beta expression were independent prognostic factors for both recurrence-free survival and overall survival.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Daniel A. Osorio, Silvio R. Consonni, Aline M. dos Santos, Hernandes F. Carvalho
Summary: Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) exhibit a phenotypical transition from a contractile to a synthetic phenotype under different circumstances, influenced by factors such as the fibrin matrix and TGFs. When cultured on a fibrin gel, SMCs show active degradation behavior and increased migration in response to TGF alpha.
MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS
(2021)
Review
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Hesham Soliman, Marine Theret, Wilder Scott, Lesley Hill, Tully Michael Underhill, Boris Hinz, Fabio M. Rossi
Summary: MSCs are essential for the development, maintenance, function, and regeneration of most tissues. They play a crucial role in responding to injury, promoting regeneration through secretion of trophic factors and ECM molecules, and contributing to fibrotic reparative processes. Through fate mapping and single cell omics, tissue-specific MSC identities and functions are being elucidated, providing unprecedented insights into the secret lives of tissue-resident MSCs.
Article
Ophthalmology
Thomas Michael Shiju, Lycia Pedral Sampaio, Valeria Villabona Martinez, Guilherme S. L. Hilgert, Steven E. Wilson
Summary: The localization of TGF beta-3 in unwounded and injured rabbit corneas was evaluated, as well as its effects on corneal fibroblasts in vitro. TGF beta-3 was found to have a different distribution pattern compared to TGF beta-1 and TGF beta-2, but had similar effects to TGF beta-1 on corneal fibroblast development.
EXPERIMENTAL EYE RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Shimrit Avraham, Ben Korin, Jun-Jae Chung, Leif Oxburgh, Andrey S. Shaw
Summary: Mesangial cells are essential stromal cells in maintaining kidney glomerular homeostasis and responding to injury. Other mesenchymal stromal cells play roles in tissue architecture, developmental processes, vascularization, and cell fate determination. These stromal cells can also regulate a variety of processes through crosstalk with neighboring cells and matrix remodeling, potentially impacting immunity, inflammation, regeneration, and fibrosis. Insights into the molecular phenotype of kidney mesangial cells provide a better understanding of kidney disease pathogenesis and the development of new therapies for chronic kidney disease.
NATURE REVIEWS NEPHROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Kaveeta Kaw, Abhijnan Chattopadhyay, Pujun Guan, Jiyuan Chen, Suravi Majumder, Xue-yan Duan, Shuangtao Ma, Chen Zhang, Callie S. Kwartler, Dianna M. Milewicz
Summary: This study investigates how the variant p.Arg149Cys in ACTA2 gene predisposes to atherosclerosis in individuals without cardiovascular risk factors. The variant increases intracellular cholesterol levels in smooth muscle cells, leading to atherosclerotic plaque formation. Treatment with the HMG-CoAR inhibitor pravastatin successfully reverses the increased plaque burden.
EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Md Rashedunnabi Akanda, Eun-Jung Ahn, Yeong Jin Kim, S. M. Abdus Salam, Myung-Giun Noh, Sung Sun Kim, Tae-Young Jung, In-Young Kim, Chang-Hyun Kim, Kyung-Hwa Lee, Kyung-Sub Moon
Summary: This study evaluated the expression and clinical relevance of cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF)-related biomarkers in brain metastasis and characterized patient-derived primary CAFs and normal fibroblasts. Various CAF-related biomarkers were expressed in brain metastasis of different primary cancers. PDGFR-13 and alpha-SMA were associated with tumor size and recurrence after resection. High expression of PDGFR-13 and alpha-SMA was found in patients with previous chemotherapy or radiotherapy. In primary cell culture, PDGFR-13 and alpha-SMA were expressed at higher levels in patient-derived CAFs than in normal fibroblasts or cancer cells. The origins of CAF in brain metastasis were presumed to be pericytes of blood vessels, circulating endothelial progenitor cells, or transformed astrocytes of the peritumoral glial stroma. Overall, high expression of CAF-related biomarkers, particularly PDGFR-13 and alpha-SMA, is associated with poor prognosis and recurrence in patients with brain metastasis.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Emma L. Woods, Irina Grigorieva, Adam C. Midgley, Charlotte V. M. Brown, Yueh-An Lu, Aled O. Phillips, Timothy Bowen, Soma Meran, Robert Steadman
Summary: The study reveals that CD44s plays a crucial role in TGF-beta 1-induced fibroblast/myofibroblast differentiation and IL-1 beta-induced monocyte binding. CD147 is associated with CD44s and is essential for myofibroblast function and collagen gel contraction.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Hiroki Kobayashi, Krystyna A. Gieniec, Tamsin R. M. Lannagan, Tongtong Wang, Naoya Asai, Yasuyuki Mizutani, Tadashi Iida, Ryota Ando, Elaine M. Thomas, Akihiro Sakai, Nobumi Suzuki, Mari Ichinose, Josephine A. Wright, Laura Vrbanac, Jia Q. Ng, Jarrad Goyne, Georgette Radford, Matthew J. Lawrence, Tarik Sammour, Yoku Hayakawa, Sonja Klebe, Alice E. Shin, Samuel Asfaha, Mark L. Bettington, Florian Rieder, Nicholas Arpaia, Tal Danino, Lisa M. Butler, Alastair D. Burt, Simon J. Leedham, Anil K. Rustgi, Siddhartha Mukherjee, Masahide Takahashi, Timothy C. Wang, Atsushi Enomoto, Susan L. Woods, Daniel L. Worthley
Summary: In colorectal cancer, ACTA2(+) cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) emerge through proliferation from intestinal pericryptal leptin receptor (Lepr)(+) cells. These Lepr-lineage CAFs express melanoma cell adhesion molecule (MCAM), which is inversely associated with patient survival. Knockout of stromal Mcam attenuates orthotopically injected colorectal tumoroid growth and improves survival through decreased tumor-associated macrophage recruitment. The fibroblast MCAM interacts with interleukin-1 receptor 1 to promote macrophage chemotaxis.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Simon Braumann, Wibke Schumacher, Nam Gyu Im, Felix Sebastian Nettersheim, Dennis Mehrkens, Senai Bokredenghel, Alexander Hof, Richard Julius Nies, Christoph Adler, Holger Winkels, Ralph Knoell, Bruce A. Freeman, Volker Rudolph, Anna Klinke, Matti Adam, Stephan Baldus, Martin Mollenhauer, Simon Geissen
Summary: The study demonstrates a substantial therapeutic benefit of NO2-OA in a murine model of dilated cardiomyopathy, mediated by interfering with endogenously activated TGF beta signaling, that can attenuate myocardial fibrosis and substantially improve systolic function in the left ventricle.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Asma Ahrari, Hossein Najafzadehvarzi, Ali Taravati, Fatemeh Tohidi
Summary: The study demonstrated the protective effect of BBR-PLGA nanoparticles in attenuating liver injury induced by CCl4, leading to a decrease in liver enzyme levels. Compared to free BBR, BBR-PLGA-NPs significantly reduced alpha-SMA expression level and further improved hepatic histology.
Article
Oncology
Haytham Bayadsi, George Barghout, Moa Gustafsson, Malin Sund, Joakim Hennings
Summary: This study evaluated the expression of different proteins in the tumor stroma of small papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) and found distinct expression patterns compared to normal thyroid tissue. Col1 and Col4 proteins were expressed at higher levels in normal thyroid tissue and non-metastatic tumors, potentially indicating a protective role in tumor progression. On the other hand, a-SMA and MMP9 were expressed at higher levels in PTC tissue, suggesting a role in promoting PTC progression and aggressiveness.
WORLD JOURNAL OF SURGICAL ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alexandar Evangelatov, Diana Naidenova, Georgi Georgiev, Albena Momchilova, Roumen Pankov
Summary: High glucose delays wound healing process by decreasing trans-differentiation of fibroblasts into myofibroblasts. Furthermore, it attenuates TGF-beta signal transduction pathway, which is crucial for fibroblast activation during wound healing in diabetic patients.
COMPTES RENDUS DE L ACADEMIE BULGARE DES SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Ophthalmology
Anika Adulla, Urvi Patel, Ajay Ashok, Priya Katiyar, Mare Kaulakis, Alexander E. Kritikos, Sachin Pillai, HyunPin Lee, Ewald Lindner, Douglas J. Rhee, Neena Singh
Summary: This study investigates the function of alpha-Syn in the anterior eye and its association with eye diseases such as glaucoma. It suggests that alpha-Syn may regulate intraocular pressure by altering the interaction between extracellular matrix and trabecular meshwork cells. These findings provide new insights for the development of novel therapeutic approaches.
EXPERIMENTAL EYE RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Brittany Balint, Ines Garcia Lascurain Bernstorff, Tanja Schwab, Hans-Joachim Schaefers
Summary: This study investigated individuals with normal tricuspid aortic valves and non-dilated ascending aortic wall. It found that with age, smooth muscle cells in the aortic wall switch from a contractile phenotype to synthetic or senescent states, and the replicative capacity of the cells decreases. The findings suggest that modifying smooth muscle cell phenotype should be considered as a therapeutic approach against aneurysms in the future, regardless of etiology.
FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2023)
