Review
Cell Biology
Jonathan Kuhn, Yiyan Lin, Peter N. Devreotes
Summary: Dictyostelium discoideum has been a valuable tool for dissecting eukaryotic cell biology due to its short growth cycle and genetic tractability. Recent advances in imaging, synthetic biology, and computational analysis allow researchers to tune the activity of individual molecules in living cells and measure the effects on cellular motility and signaling. This enables a better understanding and control of cell migration.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Robin N. N. Poston, Jenna Chughtai, Desara Ujkaj, Huguette Louis, David S. S. Leake, Dianne Cooper
Summary: Atherosclerosis, the main cause of vascular disease, is an inflammatory process driven by monocyte entry into the arterial wall. This study demonstrates the role of CD14 and TLR4 in monocyte adhesion and highlights the involvement of oxidised phospholipids and malondialdehyde in adhesion to oxidised LDL. Additionally, the study suggests that monocytes may bind to MDA in endothelial cells, contributing to atherosclerosis. The interactions between monocytes and platelets in binding to oxLDL could potentially lead to thrombosis at the arterial surface, highlighting the importance of targeted therapeutic interventions.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yutang Wang, Dinh Tam Nguyen, Jack Anesi, Ahmed Alramahi, Paul K. Witting, Zhonglin Chai, Abdul Waheed Khan, Jason Kelly, Kate M. Denton, Jonathan Golledge
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the effect of the sympatholytic drug moxonidine on atherosclerosis. The results showed that moxonidine increased the uptake of oxidised LDL by vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), as well as the expression of LDL receptors and the lipid efflux transporter ABCG1. Moxonidine also inhibited inflammatory gene expression and increased VSMC migration. In vivo experiments on ApoE(-/-) mice showed that moxonidine administration reduced atherosclerosis formation and increased plasma lipid hydroperoxide levels.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Pan Guo, Di Wang, Shumin Zhang, Dan Cheng, Siyu Wu, Xiaobing Zuo, Yun-Bao Jiang, Tao Jiang
Summary: Nature regulates cellular interactions through cell-surface molecules and plasma membranes. Researchers have successfully assembled peptide nanofibrils on live cell surfaces to enhance cellular interactions. Surprisingly, reducing the thermal stability of the nanofibrils promoted cellular interactions, and the study highlights the potential of thermally less stable nanoassemblies in designing functional materials.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Le He, Marie-Pierre Valignat, Lichen Zhang, Lena Gelard, Fanghui Zhang, Valentin Le Guen, Stephane Audebert, Luc Camoin, Even Fossum, Bjarne Bogen, Hui Wang, Sandrine Henri, Romain Roncagalli, Olivier Theodoly, Yinming Liang, Marie Malissen, Bernard Malissen
Summary: The study reveals that ARHGAP45 GAP plays a key role in the lifecycle of T and B cells, controlling cell deformability and motility which affect the entry of cells into lymph nodes and engraftment in the bone marrow.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lan-Lan Bu, Huan-Huan Yuan, Ling-Li Xie, Min-Hua Guo, Duan-Fang Liao, Xi-Long Zheng
Summary: This review examines the molecular mechanisms and functional alterations associated with endothelial cell senescence and death in different stages of atherosclerosis, highlighting the various factors and forms of cell death involved.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Biomedical
Wenxuan Du, Praful Nair, Adrian Johnston, Pei-Hsun Wu, Denis Wirtz
Summary: Cell migration is a crucial process that regulates human organ development, disease progression and cancer metastasis. The migration of immune and tumor cells is closely associated with immune cell infiltration, immune escape, and tumor cell spread in cancer. Understanding the reciprocal regulation of immune and cancer cell migration mediated by soluble factors can provide valuable insights for the development of biomarkers and treatments for cancer.
ANNUAL REVIEW OF BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Kind-Leng Tong, Ke-En Tan, Yat-Yuen Lim, Xin-Yi Tien, Pooi-Fong Wong
Summary: This review discusses the role of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, focusing on their interactions with microRNAs (miRNAs) and messenger RNAs (mRNAs). The mechanisms and clinical relevance of circRNAs in atherogenesis are systematically analyzed, providing a comprehensive overview of the knowledge gap in this field.
MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Eftaxia-Konstantina Valanti, Katerina Dalakoura-Karagkouni, Panagiotis Fotakis, Elizabeth Vafiadaki, Christos S. Mantzoros, Angeliki Chroni, Vassilis Zannis, Dimitris Kardassis, Despina Sanoudou
Summary: rHDL-apoE3 demonstrates the potential to enhance endothelial cell migration, mainly through the activation of ID1, MEK1/2, and P13K pathways. This therapeutic approach has the potential to promote endothelial regeneration and halt the progression of atherosclerosis.
METABOLISM-CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
William Y. Wang, Evan H. Jarman, Daphne Lin, Brendon M. Baker
Summary: The study investigates how various signals regulating endothelial sprouting affect sprout morphology, revealing that sprout stalk cells utilize cytoskeletal forces and proteolysis to promote new vessel formation. The research suggests that sprout cells physically compact and degrade the matrix before expanding laterally, highlighting the role of dynamic interactions in generating functional neovessels.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Daniel Schindler, Ted Moldenhawer, Maike Stange, Valentino Lepro, Carsten Beta, Matthias Holschneider, Wilhelm Huisinga
Summary: The article introduces a method based on curve flow for extracting cell morphology features from microscopy image sequences, and provides an open-source software package called AmoePy for analyzing amoeboid cell motility. This method allows for the automated extraction of properties of cell shape changes, including expansion area and growth time.
PLOS COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
William Y. Wang, Robert N. Kent, Stephanie A. Huang, Evan H. Jarman, Eve H. Shikanov, Christopher D. Davidson, Harrison L. Hiraki, Daphne Lin, Monica A. Wall, Daniel L. Matera, Jae-Won Shin, William J. Polacheck, Ariella Shikanov, Brendon M. Baker
Summary: This research compares the angiogenic potential of commonly used natural and synthetic hydrogels, finding that matrix permeability significantly correlates with endothelial cell invasion depth and sprout diameter. Microporous hydrogels produced lumenized sprouts in vitro and enhanced cell invasion in vivo.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Yan Zhang, Kai Li, Guangwen Li, Yazheng Wang, Yide He, Wen Song, Yumei Zhang
Summary: This study investigates the influence of nanotopography on intracellular Ca2+ dynamics and explores its crucial role in cell migration regulation.
JOURNAL OF NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xiaoqing Guo, Bowei Li, Cheng Wen, Feng Zhang, Xuying Xiang, Lei Nie, Jiaojiao Chen, Ling Mao
Summary: Disordered lipid accumulation in the arterial wall is a hallmark of atherosclerosis. This study investigated the role of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) in atherosclerosis using animal models and cell cultures. The results showed that TREM2 promotes the development of atherosclerosis by promoting foam cell formation in vascular smooth muscle cells and macrophages through regulating the expression of the scavenger receptor CD36. These findings suggest that TREM2 may be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of atherosclerosis.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Anita Akbarzadeh Solbu, David Caballero, Spyridon Damigos, Subhas C. Kundu, Rui L. Reis, Oyvind Halaas, Aman S. Chahal, Berit L. Strand
Summary: Cell migration plays a crucial role in various biological processes, and recent advancements in materials science have allowed for the development of biomimetic in vitro assays to study cell migration. Three-dimensional hydrogels have been particularly useful in mimicking the extracellular environment and studying cell migration in a more physiologically relevant manner. This article provides an overview of the different types of hydrogels and their characteristics, as well as established methods for cell migration assays and tracking in three-dimensional environments.
MATERIALS TODAY BIO
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Bernhard Friedrich, Stefan Lyer, Christina Janko, Harald Unterweger, Regine Brox, Sarah Cunningham, Silvio Dutz, Nicola Taccardi, Floris J. Bikker, Katrin Hurle, Heidi Sebald, Malte Lenz, Erdmann Spiecker, Lars Fester, Holger Hackstein, Richard Strauss, Aldo R. Boccaccini, Christian Bogdan, Christoph Alexiou, Rainer Tietze
Summary: This study demonstrates an efficient strategy for the clearance of bacterial pathogens in bloodstream infections using magnetic particles conjugated with specific peptides, resulting in reduced cytokine release. The approach shows good compatibility with cells and blood, without interfering with host structures. It also has the potential to shorten diagnostic times for bloodstream infections and accelerate targeted antibiotic therapy.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2022)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Dominik Gill, Stefan Lyer, Christoph Alexiou, Frederik Fried, Thomas Buder, Winfried Neuhuber, Matthijs Jacxsens, Raymund E. Horch, Andreas Arkudas
Summary: This study examined the mobility of the individual carpal bones, ulna, and metacarpals in cadaveric hands using CT scans. The results showed that the main motion occurred between the radius and the proximal carpal row, supporting the row theory. The scaphoid and the first ray played a specific role between the rows.
ANNALS OF ANATOMY-ANATOMISCHER ANZEIGER
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lisa Zschiesche, Christina Janko, Bernhard Friedrich, Benjamin Frey, Julia Band, Stefan Lyer, Christoph Alexiou, Harald Unterweger
Summary: Dextran-coated superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONDex) of different sizes can be used as contrast agents in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) without interfering with immune response.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Bernhard Friedrich, Patrick Vogel, Martin A. Rueckert, Stefan Lyer, Johanna Guenther, Ulrich Wernery, Sunitha Joseph, Judith Mueller, Volker C. Behr, Christoph Alexiou, Rainer Tietze
Summary: This study utilizes a sensitive and adaptable method to detect viral antibodies in camels, using low-cost equipment. It confirms that magnetic nanoparticles can be functionalized with viral proteins, and a fast and reliable measurement can be achieved using COMPASS. This method offers a cost-effective and quickly adaptable approach for detecting viral infections.
APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hatice Genc, Alessandro Cianciosi, Raphael Lohse, Philipp Stahlhut, Jurgen Groll, Christoph Alexiou, Iwona Cicha, Tomasz Juengst
Summary: This study aimed to develop a suitable hydrogel-based 3D platform for long-term culture of primary endothelial cells (ECs) and fibroblasts. Two hydrogel systems, G1MM and G2LH, were cross-linked using thiol-ene click reaction. The G2LH hydrogel showed better cell- cell interactions, F-actin organization, and collagen and fibronectin production, supporting long-term culture and matrix remodeling.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Harald Unterweger, Christina Janko, Tamara Folk, Iwona Cicha, Noemi Kovacs, Gyula Gyebnar, Ildiko Horvath, Domokos Mathe, Kang H. Zheng, Bram F. Coolen, Erik Stroes, Janos Szebeni, Christoph Alexiou, Laszlo Dezsi, Stefan Lyer
Summary: This study compared a new iron oxide-based contrast agent, SPIONDex, with conventional contrast agents ferucarbotran and ferumoxytol. The results demonstrate that SPIONDex has better biocompatibility and immunocompatibility, and does not trigger allergic reactions. In a rat model, SPIONDex showed liver imaging properties comparable to the other two agents but with faster clearance. These findings suggest that SPIONDex is a promising candidate for further clinical translation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF NANOMEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jonas Dinter, Ralf. P. P. Friedrich, Hai Yang, Christian Pilarsky, Harald Mangge, Marina Poettler, Christina Janko, Christoph Alexiou, Stefan Lyer
Summary: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is a difficult-to-treat cancer with poor long-term survival rates. In this study, a 3D cell culture model of human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma was used to investigate the potential use of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs) as a drug delivery system for the chemotherapeutic agent mitoxantrone (MTO). The results showed that MTO-loaded SPIONs induced cell death in tumor spheroids, with increased uptake in spheroids with a SMAD4 mutation. This suggests that MTO-loaded SPIONs could be a promising approach for treating pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Sebastian Lotter, Lukas Brand, Vahid Jamali, Maximilian Schaefer, Helene M. M. Loos, Harald Unterweger, Sandra Greiner, Jens Kirchner, Christoph Alexiou, Dietmar Drummer, Georg Fischer, Andrea Buettner, Robert Schober
Summary: Synthetic Molecular Communication (SMC) has experienced continuous growth and is considered a novel and revolutionary communication paradigm. The feedback from theoretical and experimental studies has shaped its vision, with experimental research being crucial for its practical applications. This comprehensive survey focuses on experimental research, categorizing existing works and identifying research gaps.
IEEE NANOTECHNOLOGY MAGAZINE
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Sebastian Lotter, Lukas Brand, Vahid Jamali, Maximilian Schafer, Helene M. Loos, Harald Unterweger, Sandra Greiner, Jens Kirchner, Christoph Alexiou, Dietmar Drummer, Georg Fischer, Andrea Buettner, Robert Schober
Summary: In this article, the authors review experimental research on long-range Synthetic Molecular Communication (SMC) systems. Despite the importance of experimental research for the evolution of SMC, the existing literature in this field is still relatively limited. The authors provide a comprehensive review of long-range SMC systems in both liquid and air media, and reveal the major drivers of these works in terms of target applications. The physical designs proposed in the literature are also comprehensively reviewed, contributing to accessibility of experimental research in this field and identifying novel directions for future research.
IEEE NANOTECHNOLOGY MAGAZINE
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Jerome Grenier, Bertrand David, Clement Journe, Iwona Cicha, Didier Letourneur, Herve Duval
Summary: In this study, researchers combined porous polysaccharide-based hydrogel scaffolds with a bioreactor-type perfusion device to provide biological and mechanical stimuli for in vitro cell culture. They found that cells organized into spheroids with a diameter of 30-100 μm and were not affected by hypoxia under the perfusion rate of 10 mL/min. These findings are important for future applications in organoid research.
BIOENGINEERING-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Amani Remmo, Frank Wiekhorst, Olaf Kosch, Stefan Lyer, Harald Unterweger, Harald Kratz, Norbert Loewa
Summary: Magnetic particle imaging (MPI) is an imaging technique that quantitatively determines the three-dimensional distribution of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) used as tracers in biological systems. Magnetic particle spectroscopy (MPS) is a zero-dimensional counterpart of MPI without spatial coding but with higher sensitivity. MPS is typically used to qualitatively evaluate the MPI capability of tracer systems based on measured harmonic spectra. In this study, we investigated the correlation between three characteristic MPS parameters and the achievable MPI resolution using a two-voxel analysis of data from the system function acquisition in Lissajous scanning MPI. We evaluated nine different tracer systems, determined their MPI capability and resolution based on MPS measurements, and compared the results with MPI phantom measurements.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Hatice Genc, Bernhard Friedrich, Christoph Alexiou, Krzysztof Pietryga, Iwona Cicha, Timothy E. L. Douglas
Summary: This study evaluates the ability of whey protein isolate (WPI) hydrogels to support the growth of endothelial cells. The results demonstrate the good compatibility of WPI hydrogels with endothelial cells, which is expected to promote vascularization and improve implant outcomes.
