Article
Cell Biology
Daisuke Tateiwa, Takashi Kaito, Kunihiko Hashimoto, Rintaro Okada, Joe Kodama, Junichi Kushioka, Zeynep Bal, Hiroyuki Tsukazaki, Shinichi Nakagawa, Yuichiro Ukon, Hiromasa Hirai, Hongying Tian, Ivan Alferiev, Michael Chorny, Satoru Otsuru, Seiji Okada, Masahiro Iwamoto
Summary: BMPs have been used clinically for bone formation in musculoskeletal disorders, but high doses can lead to adverse events. A potent antagonist of RAR gamma was found to enhance BMP-induced bone formation, leading to increased bone volume and thickness, as well as promoting chondrogenic gene expression. This suggests potential for improving BMP-2 based bone regeneration procedures in the future.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Mengmeng Liu, Graham Goldman, Mary MacDougall, Shuo Chen
Summary: BMP signaling plays a crucial role in dentin development, regulating the differentiation and gene expression of odontoblasts through canonical and non-canonical Smad signaling pathways. Dysregulation of BMP signaling leads to tooth disorders, and studies in mice with BMP signaling-associated gene mutations or knockouts have provided insights into the underlying networks. This review summarizes recent advances in understanding BMP signaling in odontoblast differentiation and dentin formation, including the expression of BMPs, receptors, and downstream genes, as well as the structures of BMPs, receptors, antagonists, and their association with dentin defects.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yuan Xue, Sihan Hu, Chichi Chen, Jiachen He, Jie Sun, Yesheng Jin, Yuanshu Zhang, Guoqing Zhu, Qin Shi, Yongjun Rui
Summary: Irisin plays a regulatory role in bone homeostasis and promotes MSC-derived osteogenesis. Lack of Irisin leads to bone loss and enhanced bone resorption, while the presence of Irisin can promote osteogenesis by activating signaling pathways.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Cai-Ping Yan, Xing-Kuan Wang, Ke Jiang, Chong Yin, Chao Xiang, Yong Wang, Chaoyu Pu, Lu Chen, Yu-Ling Li
Summary: Bone defects are a global public health problem, and the available methods for inducing bone regeneration are limited. β-ecdysterone, a plant sterol similar to estrogen, has been found to promote bone regeneration by enhancing osteoblast differentiation and activating the BMP-2/Smad/Runx2/Osterix pathway. This study provides a new direction for osteogenic differentiation and offers novel therapeutic strategies for treating bone defects.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Vijaya Narasimha Gudivada, Chen-Ji Huang, Yueh-Hsia Luo, Guo-Chung Dong
Summary: In this study, novel cyclic peptide analogues were designed to investigate interactions involved in osteogenesis, demonstrating higher binding affinity of peptides with active regions inside the ring. In vitro experiments further confirmed the potential role of these cyclic peptide analogues in osteogenesis.
Article
Biology
Rubens Sautchuk, Brianna H. Kalicharan, Katherine Escalera-Rivera, Jennifer H. Jonason, George A. Porter, Hani A. Awad, Roman A. Eliseev
Summary: This study identifies BMP/Smad signaling as a transcriptional regulator of CypD expression and reveals the transcriptional repression of CypD during cell differentiation. The downregulation of CypD has a negative effect on osteogenesis.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Weipeng Sun, Minying Li, Yan Zhang, Yingjie Huang, Qunzhang Zhan, Yueyi Ren, Hang Dong, Jiena Chen, Zige Li, Chun Fan, Feng Huang, Zhen Shen, Ziwei Jiang
Summary: The study confirmed the positive effects of total flavonoids of rhizoma drynariae (TFRD) on promoting bone formation and angiogenesis in repairing large tibial defects (LTDs), which was achieved through activation of the BMP-Smad signaling pathway to facilitate fracture healing in distraction osteogenesis surgeries.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shinnosuke Ono, Atsushi Yamada, Junichi Tanaka, Akane Yukimori, Kiyohito Sasa, Kenji Mishima, Takahiro Funatsu, Ryutaro Kamijo
Summary: Research on salivary gland development and related mechanisms is crucial for the treatment of salivary diseases. This study investigated the role of BMP-2 in salivary gland formation using an organ culture system. The results suggest that BMP-2 suppresses salivary gland formation, particularly acinar differentiation, through the Smad pathway.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Xinna Wang, Bo Gao, Barbara P. Chan
Summary: The study presents a mask-free, non-contact and biocompatible multiphoton microfabrication and micropatterning technology for engineering soluble cell niches. Immobilizing biotinylated BMP-2 on micro-printed neutravidin micropatterns resulted in a more sustained and higher level of downstream signaling in C2C12 cells. This work establishes a universal platform for engineering cell niches and contributes to modeling signal transduction and drug screening using native soluble cell niches.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nikola Stokovic, Natalia Ivanjko, Igor Erjavec, Anita Breski, Mihaela Peric, Slobodan Vukicevic
Summary: The study found that adding Zoledronate (ZOL) to autologous bone graft substitute (ABGS) enhances the quality and quantity of newly formed bone, and also prolongs its longevity to a certain extent.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Faezeh Malakoti, Farshad Zare, Reza Zarezadeh, Aydin Raei Sadigh, Alireza Sadeghpour, Maryam Majidinia, Bahman Youse, Forough Alemi
Summary: Increasing bone resorption and decreasing bone mineralization are common features of bone degeneration, especially in the elderly and post-menopausal women. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have shown great potential in bone regeneration due to their ability to differentiate into osteoblasts and easy availability. Recent studies have suggested that melatonin, a signaling molecule, may play a regulatory role in bone metabolism and formation. It can affect multiple signaling pathways involved in MSCs' osteoblastic differentiation, and when combined with other components such as strontium, vitamin D3, and vitamin K2, it has a synergistic effect on bone microstructure and density.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Benjamin Tajer, James A. Dutko, Shawn C. Little, Mary C. Mullins
Summary: The study explores the BMP2/7 heterodimer signaling mechanism in zebrafish embryos, revealing that BMP2 homodimers require nonredundant type I receptors Acvr1 and Bmpr1 for signaling, despite not being able to bind Acvr1 in vitro. The kinase activity of Acvr1 is essential for the signaling complex, suggesting that the potency of the heterodimer arises from recruiting both Acvr1 and Bmpr1.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jay C. Groppe, Guorong Lu, Mary R. Tandang-Silvas, Anupama Pathi, Shruti Konda, Jingfeng Wu, Viet Q. Le, Andria L. Culbert, Eileen M. Shore, Kristi A. Wharton, Frederick S. Kaplan
Summary: Although structurally similar to type II counterparts, type I or activin receptor-like kinases (ALKs) have a unique helix-loop-helix (HLH) element that plays an active role in inhibiting the kinase activity. A single mutation in the codon of the penultimate residue causes milder activation of ACVR1/ALK2 and leads to abnormal bone deposition. The HLH subdomain of the mutant protein suppresses the enzyme's activity and affects the ATP-binding and polypeptide-interacting active site, resulting in the gain of function responsible for sporadic heterotopic ossification.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ming-Li Zou, Zhong-Hua Chen, Ying-Ying Teng, Si-Yu Liu, Yuan Jia, Kai-Wen Zhang, Zi-Li Sun, Jun-Jie Wu, Zheng-Dong Yuan, Yi Feng, Xia Li, Rui-Sheng Xu, Feng-Lai Yuan
Summary: Bone remodeling is a continuous process crucial for maintaining skeletal homeostasis, with Smad signaling pathway playing a key role in regulating osteoblast and osteoclast functions during this process. Targeting Smad signaling pathway could be a promising therapeutic strategy for treating osteoporosis.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Daoquan Liu, Jianmin Liu, Yan Li, Huan Liu, Hassan M. Hassan, Weixiang He, Mingzhou Li, Yongying Zhou, Xun Fu, Junfeng Zhan, Zhen Wang, Shu Yang, Ping Chen, Deqiang Xu, Xinhuan Wang, Michael E. DiSanto, Guang Zeng, Xinhua Zhang
Summary: The study found that BMP5 is upregulated in hyperplastic tissues in humans and rats, localized in both the epithelial and stromal compartments of the prostate tissues. Overexpression of BMP5 enhances cell proliferation and the EMT process through phosphorylation of Smad1/5/8, while knockdown of BMP5 induces cell cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase and blocks the EMT process. BMP5 expression is positively correlated with prostate volume and total prostate-specific antigen levels. The BMP/Smad signaling pathway may be a promising therapeutic target for BPH.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Felix Jenne, Sergey Biniaminov, Nathalie Biniaminov, Philipp Marquardt, Clemens Von Bojnicic-Kninski, Roman Popov, Anja Seckinger, Dirk Hose, Alexander Nesterov-Mueller
Summary: A novel resemblance-ranking peptide library was designed to search for selective binders to antibodies. The library was synthesized with ultra-high-density peptide arrays, and screens for selective binders were performed for the therapeutic anti-CD20 antibody rituximab. The amino acid composition of antibody-binding peptides was analyzed, and the affinity of rituximab was found to increase with an increase in hydrophobic amino acids. Substitutional analysis revealed a specific hydrophobic epitope for rituximab. Conformational binders similar to the target of rituximab were also investigated. The library has the potential to screen for potential linear epitopes and provide information about antibody cross-reactivity.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Economics
Mimi Choon-Quinones, Dirk Hose, Zoltan Kalo, Tamas Zelei, Jean-Luc Harousseau, Brian Durie, Paul Keown, Mike Barnett, Ivett Jakab
Summary: Decision-aids (DAs) can assist in shared decision-making by providing evidence-based information for healthcare professionals, patients, and caregivers. However, current DAs lack a comprehensive framework of decision factors.
Article
Cell Biology
Philip Vlummens, Stefaan Verhulst, Kim De Veirman, Anke Maes, Eline Menu, Jerome Moreaux, Hugues De Boussac, Nicolas Robert, Elke De Bruyne, Dirk Hose, Fritz Offner, Karin Vanderkerken, Ken Maes
Summary: In this study, bio-informatic tools were used to identify novel targets associated with high-risk myeloma. Protein arginine methyltransferase 5 (PRMT5) was identified as a promising target. The PRMT5 inhibitor EPZ015938 effectively reduced the growth of myeloma cells and induced apoptosis. PRMT5 was found to be involved in regulating alternative splicing, DNA repair, and PI3K/mTOR signaling, and was associated with important genes in MM disease. These findings suggest that PRMT5 could be a potential therapeutic target for myeloma.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Elias K. Mai, Stefanie Huhn, Kaya Miah, Alexandra M. Poos, Christof Scheid, Katja C. Weisel, Uta Bertsch, Markus Munder, Oscar Berlanga, Dirk Hose, Anja Seckinger, Anna Jauch, Igor W. Blau, Mathias Haenel, Hans J. Salwender, Axel Benner, Marc S. Raab, Hartmut Goldschmidt, Niels Weinhold
Summary: Mass spectrometry (MS) is a promising tool for monitoring monoclonal protein in plasma cell dyscrasias. Our study found that MS negativity was significantly associated with improved progression-free survival (PFS) in multiple myeloma patients, even in those patients with complete response (CR). Combining MS and baseline cytogenetics improved the prediction of outcome, and sequential MS combined with baseline disease features and minimal residual disease (MRD) can further improve its clinical value.
BLOOD CANCER JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Andreas Fink, Charlotte R. Doll, Ana Yague Relimpio, Yannik Dreher, Joachim P. Spatz, Kerstin Goepfrich, Elisabetta Ada Cavalcanti-Adam
Summary: Spontaneous and induced front-rear polarization of cells is crucial for cell migration in various physiological and pathological conditions. The balance between adhesion and cytoskeleton-driven protrusion and retraction is important for adherent cell migration. A minimal model system using synthetic cells resembling giant unilamellar lipid vesicles (GUVs) was created to study the relationship between cytoskeleton organization and cell front-rear polarization. Micropatterned surfaces induced asymmetric deformation and alignment of actin filaments in adherent GUVs depending on their shape and size. This bottom-up approach lays the foundation for further understanding the mechanisms of cell migration.
ACS SYNTHETIC BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Economics
Mimi Choon-Quinones, Tamas Zelei, Bertalan Nemeth, Manna Toth, Xiao Yang Jia, Mike Barnett, Paul Keown, Brian Durie, Jean-Luc Harousseau, Dirk Hose, Zoltan Kalo
Summary: The aim of this study was to review economic evaluations of health technologies in multiple myeloma (MM) and provide recommendations for future analyses. A systemic literature review was conducted and it was found that most economic analyses were from high-income countries, while evaluations from middle-income countries were rare. Diagnostic technologies and integrated care were rarely modelled, and there was a lack of evaluations regarding minimal residual disease (MRD).
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ECONOMICS
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Rong Fan, Hatice Satilmis, Niels Vandewalle, Emma Verheye, Philip Vlummens, Anke Maes, Catharina Muylaert, Elke De Bruyne, Eline Menu, Holly Evans, Andrew Chantry, Nathan De Beule, Dirk Hose, Marie Toerngren, Helena Eriksson, Karin Vanderkerken, Ken Maes, Karine Breckpot, Kim De Veirman
Summary: This study reveals the dual therapeutic effects of the immunomodulator tasquinimod in multiple myeloma patients, including inhibition of tumor cell proliferation and promotion of immune activity. The results suggest that tasquinimod can inhibit immunosuppressive myeloid cells in the bone marrow by targeting S100A9, and enhance T cell activity and functionality.
JOURNAL FOR IMMUNOTHERAPY OF CANCER
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Urszula Hohmann, Julian Cardinal von Widdern, Chalid Ghadban, Maria Cristina Lo Giudice, Gregoire Lemahieu, Elisabetta Ada Cavalcanti-Adam, Faramarz Dehghani, Tim Hohmann
Summary: Collective behavior of cells is crucial for wound healing, embryonic and tumor development, and can undergo a transition from a migratory unjammed state to a static jammed state depending on cell density and interactions. This study investigated the collective migration dynamics of astrocytes and glioblastoma cells and explored cell adhesion, traction, and mechanics using various techniques. Results showed that astrocytes remained in a non-migratory jammed state, while glioblastoma cells exhibited migratory unjammed behavior. Switching between jammed and unjammed states could be induced by altering the balance between cell-cell adhesion and tension via inhibition of ROCK or myosin II. These findings are important for understanding glioblastoma cell infiltration and developing novel anti-migratory drugs and treatment strategies.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Manuela Dicarlo, Patrizia Pignataro, Roberta Zerlotin, Clelia Suriano, Chiara Zecca, Maria Teresa Dell'Abate, Giuseppina Storlino, Angela Oranger, Lorenzo Sanesi, Giorgio Mori, Maria Grano, Graziana Colaianni, Silvia Colucci
Summary: As a result of physical exercise, muscle releases exerkines such as irisin, which has pro-cognitive and antidepressant effects. In a study on mice, we found increased levels of neurotrophins such as NGF and FGF-2 in the hippocampus, and BDNF in the PFC, after irisin administration. These findings suggest that irisin can modulate neurotrophins in specific brain regions, providing potential new targets for short-term antidepressant treatments.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Patrizia Pignataro, Manuela Dicarlo, Clelia Suriano, Lorenzo Sanesi, Roberta Zerlotin, Giuseppina Storlino, Angela Oranger, Chiara Zecca, Maria Teresa Dell'Abate, Giorgio Mori, Maria Grano, Silvia Colucci, Graziana Colaianni
Summary: In a study, it was found that short-term subcutaneous administration of irisin can alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety, but without significant improvement in memory. This may be achieved by activating the Pgc-1a/FNDC5 system in the brain. Further research could lead to the identification of irisin as a new agent for the treatment of psychiatric disorders.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Francesca Posa, Roberta Zerlotin, Anastasia Ariano, Michele Di Cosola, Graziana Colaianni, Aldo Di Fazio, Silvia Colucci, Maria Grano, Giorgio Mori
Summary: Irisin is a myokine produced in skeletal muscle tissue in response to exercise, and recent studies have revealed its potential effects on cartilage tissue. The researchers in this study investigated the paracrine action of Irisin secreted during exercise on chondrogenic differentiation. They treated human articular chondrocytes with Irisin and discovered new mechanisms of communication between muscle and cartilage tissue. These findings could lead to the development of exercise-mimetic drugs for patients unable to engage in physical activity.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Waseem Kitana, Victoria Levario-Diaz, Elisabetta Ada Cavalcanti-Adam, Leonid Ionov
Summary: This paper presents a novel approach for fabricating composite multilayered bioink-nanofiber constructs using a hands-free 3D (bio)printing integrated touch-spinning approach. The interaction between fibroblasts and highly aligned touch-spun nanofibers in different bioinks is also investigated. The rheological properties of the inks are comprehensively characterized and correlated with the flow behavior of the inks. The results show that the bioinks have a significant effect on cell behavior, with higher viscosity bioinks leading to the formation of cell aggregates.
ADVANCED HEALTHCARE MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Natalia Ivanjko, Nikola Stokovic, Marina Milesevic, Viktorija Rumenovic, Reinhard Windhager, Kuber T. Sampath, Natasa Kovacic, Danka Grcevic, Slobodan Vukicevic
Summary: Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) require a suitable delivery system for treating spinal and bone defects. INFUSE, the only commercially available BMP-based device, has major disadvantages. A novel device called OSTEOGROW, containing BMP6 dispersed within autologous blood coagulum, shows promising results for bone regeneration. This study compares the release dynamics and cellular response of OSTEOGROW and INFUSE implants and demonstrates that OSTEOGROW is superior in inducing bone formation.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Cell & Tissue Engineering
N. Stokovic, N. Ivanjko, M. Pecin, A. Smajlovic, N. Ivkic, H. Capak, Z. Vrbanac, D. Vnuk, D. Maticic, S. Vukicevic
TISSUE ENGINEERING PART A
(2022)