Review
Immunology
Michal Stosik, Beata Tokarz-Deptula, Wieslaw Deptula
Summary: This review presents Danio rerio as a model organism for studying hematopoiesis in vertebrates and discusses the development of this process in fish and mammals, as well as the impact of microenvironmental factors.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Samuel F. H. Barnett, Benjamin T. Goult
Summary: This study provides a new perspective on the understanding of biological digital information by analyzing the structure of MeshCODE in cells and proposing a possible gearbox mechanism for controlling synaptic transmission.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Francesco Dalla Barba, Michela Soardi, Leila Mouhib, Giovanni Risato, Eylem Emek Akyurek, Tyrone Lucon-Xiccato, Martina Scano, Alberto Benetollo, Roberta Sacchetto, Isabelle Richard, Francesco Argenton, Cristiano Bertolucci, Marcello Carotti, Dorianna Sandona
Summary: Sarcoglycanopathies, or limb girdle muscular dystrophy 3-6, are rare muscular dystrophies that cause high disability, respiratory and cardiac problems. This study generated and characterized zebrafish models of these diseases using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, which showed progressive disease phenotypes. These zebrafish models will enhance our understanding of the disease and assist in drug screening and development.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Mark Colasurdo, Elisa B. Nieves, Marc A. Fernandez-Yague, Christian Franck, Andres J. Garcia
Summary: Cell-extracellular matrix forces play a crucial role in regulating various physiological and pathological processes. However, the study of mechanobiology in three-dimensional systems is still limited. In this study, a platform integrating a synthetic hydrogel system with 3D traction force microscopy was developed to evaluate deformation and force responses within synthetic microenvironments. The findings shed light on the contributions of adhesive peptide density and polymer density, as well as matrix stiffness, to 3D force generation by fibroblasts. Rho-kinase-dependent contractility and vinculin expression were also found to be essential for significant 3D force generation. This research provides valuable insights into mechanobiology and how cells sense and transmit forces in three dimensions.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Danielle Henn, Annette Venter, Gezina C. H. Ferreira, Christo J. Botha
Summary: Carboxylic ionophores are widely used in production animals for various purposes, but they can also cause toxic effects on the cardiac and skeletal muscles. In this study, the cytotoxicity of three ionophores on mouse skeletal myoblasts was evaluated, and it was found that monensin was the most toxic, followed by salinomycin and lasalocid. Exposure to these ionophores disrupted the cellular filament networks and could contribute to myofibrillar degeneration and necrosis in affected animals.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xin Chen, Wenhua Li
Summary: The study found that exposure to isoflucypram may cause developmental abnormalities, hatching delay, and decreased heart rates in zebrafish embryos, affecting the expression levels of cardiac-specific genes and erythropoiesis-related genes. Furthermore, most of the differentially expressed genes were enriched in heart development or hemopoiesis processes.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Coralie Hakibilen, Florence Delort, Marie-Therese Daher, Pierre Joanne, Eva Cabet, Olivier Cardoso, Fany Bourgois-Rocha, Cuixia Tian, Eloy Rivas, Marcos Madruga, Ana Ferreiro, Alain Lilienbaum, Patrick Vicart, Onnik Agbulut, Sylvie Henon, Sabrina Batonnet-Pichon
Summary: This study reveals a novel role for desmin in cell-matrix adhesion, affecting focal adhesion area and adhesion-signaling gene expression. Knock-out and knock-in-p.R405W mice showed reduced adhesive abilities and increased migration speed of satellite cells. Mislocalization and aggregation of vinculin were observed in DesKO and DesKI-R405W muscles, and increased vinculin expression was found in desmin-related myopathy patient muscles.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
A. C. N. Moraes, S. Shah, V. F. Magalhaes, H. R. Habibi
Summary: This study characterized the developmental effects of CYN using zebrafish larvae as a model organism. Exposure to CYN resulted in decreased growth, increased developmental abnormalities, and changes in gene expression related to thyroid function and oxidative stress. These results highlight the multiple effects of environmentally relevant CYN concentrations on zebrafish embryos.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xueying Ma, Wenhua Li
Summary: This study evaluated the potential effects of the fungicide Amisulbrom (AML) on fish using a zebrafish model. Results showed that AML-treated zebrafish embryos exhibited severe developmental defects, including pericardial edema and decreased heart rates. Key marker genes associated with cardiovascular development were abnormally expressed in response to AML treatment, suggesting a specific impact on cardiovascular development by AML.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Giuseppe De Marco, Gea Oliveri Conti, Alessia Giannetto, Tiziana Cappello, Mariachiara Galati, Carmelo Iaria, Eloise Pulvirenti, Fabiano Capparucci, Angela Mauceri, Margherita Ferrante, Maria Maisano
Summary: In recent years, there has been increasing concern regarding the presence and accumulation of plastic debris in the environment, as well as the impact of microplastics (MPs) on biota. This study conducted a fish embryo toxicity test on zebrafish exposed to polystyrene MPs, revealing that the MPs had a moderate delay on hatching and caused deformities and compromised visual structure in larvae development. Additionally, increased gene transcription involved in oxidative stress and cellular detoxification were observed in the MPs-exposed zebrafish larvae.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Menglan Su, Rongkai Bao, Yaqing Wu, Bo Gao, Peng Xiao, Wenhua Li
Summary: The developmental toxicity and hepatotoxicity of diafenthiuron in zebrafish were investigated in this study. Results showed that diafenthiuron exposure significantly shortened the body lengths of zebrafish larvae and decreased superoxide dismutase activity. It also downregulated the spatiotemporal expression of pituitary development marker genes and liver-specific marker genes. These findings provide evidence of the detrimental effects of diafenthiuron on aquatic organisms and are important for environmental risk assessment.
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Xin Chen, Tiantong Qiu, Peng Xiao, Wenhua Li
Summary: Isoflucypram has been found to have teratogenic effects on retinogenesis in zebrafish, causing abnormalities in retinal development and increased retinal cell apoptosis. This SDHI fungicide also demonstrates toxic effects on non-target aquatic organisms, highlighting the need for further investigation.
AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mingrui Yuan, Wenhua Li, Peng Xiao
Summary: In this study, exposure to BIX was found to induce cardiac toxicity in zebrafish embryos, leading to cardiac dysplasia and dysfunction. This toxicity was associated with decreased expression of erythropoiesis-related and cardiac development-related genes in response to BIX treatment. These findings highlight the potential environmental risks of BIX exposure.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xin Chen, Tiantong Qiu, Mengjun Pan, Peng Xiao, Wenhua Li
Summary: In this study, the influence of fluxapyroxad on hematopoietic development was evaluated using zebrafish embryos. The results showed that fluxapyroxad treatment led to abnormal distribution and decreased levels of hemoglobin, as well as reduced transcription levels of genes involved in erythropoiesis.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shanshan Guo, Yaqing Wu, Wenhua Li, Peng Xiao
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the toxicity of tralomethrin in zebrafish. Results showed that tralomethrin exposure caused cardiovascular dysplasia and dysfunction, as well as developmental abnormalities and oxidative stress in embryos. The dysregulation of crucial genes responsible for cardiovascular development was also observed. These findings highlight the cardiovascular and developmental toxicity of tralomethrin in zebrafish, and their significance for assessing the environmental risk of tralomethrin in aquatic ecosystems.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Geyse Gomes, Kayo Moreira Bagri, Ivone de Andrade Rosa, Arnon Dias Jurberg, Claudia Mermelstein, Manoel Luis Costa
Summary: The Hippo pathway plays a role in regulating the growth of skeletal muscle fibers through a PKC-dependent mechanism. YAP is highly concentrated in the nuclei of myoblasts and shifts to the cytoplasm as cells differentiate into myotubes. Treatment with XMU promotes myogenin expression and myoblast fusion, resulting in the formation of large multinucleated myotubes.
JOURNAL OF MUSCLE RESEARCH AND CELL MOTILITY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mariana Juliani do Amaral, Ivone de Andrade Rosa, Sarah Azevedo Andrade, Xi Fang, Leonardo Rodrigues Andrade, Manoel Luis Costa, Claudia Mermelstein
Summary: Membraneless organelles in eukaryotic cells, such as the perinuclear space, are highly organized networks of cytoskeletal filaments that facilitate biomolecular condensates assembly. The perinuclear proteome is enriched in intrinsic disorder with proteins predicted to undergo liquid-liquid phase separation, and alterations in the expression of perinuclear proteins can lead to various pathological conditions including neurological disorders and cancer.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Geyse Gomes, Marianna R. Seixas, Sarah Azevedo, Karina Audi, Arnon D. Jurberg, Claudia Mermelstein, Manoel Luis Costa
Summary: This study uses bibliometric tools to evaluate research articles on desmin and explore its potential functions. By analyzing keywords and author relationships, the core research focus is identified, and an interactive spreadsheet database is created for searching and quantifying desmin-related terms. The findings are of great significance for assessing desmin's functions and proposing alternative explanations.
EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Laise M. Campos, Livia Guapyassu, Cyro Gomes, Victor Midlej, Marlene Benchimol, Claudia Mermelstein, Manoel Luis Costa
Summary: This article investigates the effects of simvastatin on zebrafish embryos and chicken muscle culture, and discusses its potential therapeutic application in muscle diseases.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Gisele Barbosa, Luis Gabriel Valdivieso Gelves, Caroline Marques Xavier Costa, Lucas Silva Franco, Joao Alberto Lins de Lima, Cristiane Aparecida-Silva, John Douglas Teixeira, Claudia dos Santos Mermelstein, Eliezer J. Barreiro, Lidia Moreira Lima
Summary: This study designed and synthesized a series of compounds with anti-tubulin activity. These compounds showed weaker cytotoxicity compared to the anti-microtubule agent CA-4. Among them, one compound (LASSBio-2070) exhibited microtubule stabilizing activity, while two other compounds (LASSBio-1586 and LASSBio-1735) showed microtubule destabilizing behavior. Molecular docking studies were also conducted to investigate the binding modes of these compounds with tubulin and EGFR.
Article
Cell Biology
Kayo Moreira Bagri, Luiz Fernando Oliveira, Miria Gomes Pereira, Jose Garcia Abreu, Claudia Mermelstein
Summary: During chick myogenesis, lysosomes exhibit differences in size and distribution in muscle and non-muscle cells, which are modulated by the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway, impacting the positioning, size, and function of lysosomes.
Article
Cell Biology
Marnie Hillary Carvalho Leao, Manoel Luis Costa, Claudia Mermelstein
Summary: Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a complex biological process that can be used to motivate medical students to learn and understand cell biology by exploring the involvement of different cellular components and processes in the transition.
CELL BIOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Computer Science, Interdisciplinary Applications
Arnon Dias Jurberg, Geyse Gomes, Marianna Reis Seixas, Claudia Mermelstein, Manoel Luis Costa
Summary: In this study, two semi-automated ImageJ macros are introduced for measuring the width of myotubes and the nuclear/cytoplasmic localization of molecules in fluorescence images. The macros provide more consistent measurements compared to manual measurements. By using these macros, measurement accuracy can be improved and the laborious task of counting and measuring muscle cell features can be alleviated.
COMPUTER METHODS AND PROGRAMS IN BIOMEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Entomology
Valdir Braz, Lukas Selim, Geyse Gomes, Manoel Luis Costa, Claudia Mermelstein, Katia C. Gondim
Summary: Rhodnius prolixus is a blood-feeding insect that undergoes molting and develops into a winged adult form after five nymphal stages. After molting, the protein content in the midgut decreases and digestion is completed fifteen days later. Meanwhile, proteins and triacylglycerols in the fat body decrease while increasing in the ovary and flight muscle. Lipogenesis is most efficient in the fat body, while the flight muscle and ovary have low rates of lipid synthesis. The flight muscle develops gradually after molting, with an increase in lipid droplets and muscle fiber size. The fat body shows a different pattern, with a decrease in droplet size followed by an increase. Mobilization of substrates from the midgut and fat body to the ovary and flight muscle prepares R. prolixus adults for feeding and reproduction.
JOURNAL OF INSECT PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)