Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Iona J. MacDonald, Chien-Chung Huang, Shan-Chi Liu, Yen-You Lin, Chih-Hsin Tang
Summary: The CCN family of matricellular proteins play essential roles in processes like angiogenesis, wound healing, and inflammation, particularly in the inflammatory pathologies of rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. Several proteins within the CCN family are thought to be potential therapeutic targets for these diseases.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Genetics & Heredity
Qingan Jia, Binghui Xu, Yaoyao Zhang, Arshad Ali, Xia Liao
Summary: The communication between tumor cells and TME activates signaling pathways that contribute to cancer progression. Targeting multiple components rather than single molecules could be more effective in cancer therapy, with CCN family proteins showing promise. The diverse functions of CCN proteins in different cancers are influenced by the TME and its truncated isoforms, suggesting a potential anti-cancer strategy by targeting CCN proteins to rebalance the TME.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Kazi Ahsan Ahmed, Tasnin Al Hasib, Shamrat Kumar Paul, Md. Saddam, Afsana Mimi, Abu Saim Mohammad Saikat, Hasan Al Faruque, Md. Ataur Rahman, Md. Jamal Uddin, Bonglee Kim
Summary: CCNs are a specific type of matricellular protein that play essential roles in various biological processes such as cell adhesion, angiogenesis, and tumorigenesis in vertebrates. Different members of the CCN family may have either favorable or unfavorable associations with breast cancer. Recent studies have revealed the dual nature of tumor inhibition and promotion for certain CCNs in breast cancer.
Review
Cell Biology
Herman Yeger
Summary: The diverse members of the CCN family have various functional properties throughout the body and can interact with cell membrane receptors to trigger intracellular signaling pathways. They can be secreted into the circulation, serving as disease biomarkers and potential regulators of homeostasis.
JOURNAL OF CELL COMMUNICATION AND SIGNALING
(2023)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
T. P. DeFelice
Summary: Low atmospheric cloud condensation nuclei concentrations were observed during 10% of the daytime sampling periods at Palmer Station in February 1994, highlighting the need for a comprehensive study to assess their frequency and climatic relevance in the region. A more viable aerosol measurement system could be developed through simultaneous measurements of CCN activity spectra, morphology, chemical composition, meteorology, atmospheric chemistry, and radiation.
ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Xianhuang Xu, Jinfang Yin, Xiaotuo Zhang, Haile Xue, Haodong Gu, Huiyi Fan
Summary: This study investigates the vertical structures of cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) over southern China and finds that CCN concentration peaks near 1.3 km above the ground and then sharply decreases above 2.5 km. A segmentation fitting approach is used to describe the CCN structure, and the CCN particle size distribution changes with increasing water vapor supersaturation. The results provide insight for cloud microphysical parameterization in numerical models and weather modification.
ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Shubo Li, Shufang Li
Summary: CCN proteins play important regulatory roles in the development and function of adult organs. This study aimed to investigate the expression of CCN1, CCN3, CCN4, CCN5, and CCN6 during postnatal tooth development and the formation of periodontium.
JOURNAL OF CELL COMMUNICATION AND SIGNALING
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Olga Pivovarova-Ramich, Jennifer Loske, Silke Hornemann, Mariya Markova, Nicole Seebeck, Anke Rosenthal, Frederick Klauschen, Jose Pedro Castro, Rene Buschow, Tilman Grune, Volker Lange, Natalia Rudovich, D. Margriet Ouwens
Summary: The study revealed the significant role of CCN4 in liver fibrosis in severely obese individuals, showing a positive correlation with BMI and various fibrosis markers, indicating a potential early pathogenic contribution to obesity-associated liver fibrosis.
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Yuan Wang, Shengjie Niu, Chunsong Lu, Shuxian Fan, Jingjing Lv, Xiaoqi Xu, Yuchen Jin, Wei Sun
Summary: Unactivated particles mixed in cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) measurements can lead to inaccuracies in parameterization, especially in Eastern China where factors like lower temperature, lower aerosol hygroscopicity, and closer resemblance to coastal aerosol particle size distribution contribute to a higher proportion of unactivated particles in CCN measurements. A new, better-fitting, two-parameter activation parameterization is proposed to better predict CCN concentration at low supersaturation conditions, reducing overestimation of aerosol indirect effects in models.
ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Herman Yeger, Bernard Perbal
Summary: Significant progress has been made in understanding the role of CCN family proteins in various cancers, but new questions and intriguing results have also been generated, prompting further investigation.
JOURNAL OF CELL COMMUNICATION AND SIGNALING
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Chih-Hsu Lin, Olivier Lichtarge
Summary: BioVNN, utilizing pathway knowledge, outperforms traditional neural networks in predicting cancer dependencies with faster convergence, and offers explainable dependency predictions by correlating with neuron output states.
Editorial Material
Cell Biology
Bernard Perbal
Summary: We wish our authors, editorial board members, and readership a happy new year and predict that 2023, the Year of Water Rabbit, will be a quiet year for assessing and planning the future of our Journal. We present here a summary of necessary CCN research directions that require collaborative approaches.
JOURNAL OF CELL COMMUNICATION AND SIGNALING
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sylwia Machcinska, Katarzyna Walendzik, Marta Kopcewicz, Joanna Wisniewska, Anne Rokka, Mirva Paakkonen, Mariola Slowinska, Barbara Gawronska-Kozak
Summary: This study reveals that Foxn1 in keratinocytes plays a role in activating antioxidant defense and controlling functional properties, especially in response to hypoxic environment. It regulates elements of the electron transport chain and participates in the induction of the thioredoxin system, affecting keratinocyte migration and angiogenesis.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ombretta Repetto, Roberto Vettori, Agostino Steffan, Renato Cannizzaro, Valli De Re
Summary: Gastric cancer is a highly malignant disease with poor prognosis. Early detection and personalized treatment are important for improving patient survival. Recent advances in proteomics technologies have enabled the identification of novel biomarkers for gastric cancer, supporting the development of precision medicine.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Yawei Feng, Yunshan Yang, Yating Xiao, Ting Fu, Lei He, Lubin Qi, Qiuxia Yang, Ruizi Peng, Weihong Tan
Summary: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) have been recognized as potential biomarkers in liquid biopsy. However, the heterogeneity of cancer poses challenges in precise molecular diagnosis based on single-parameter input. Therefore, strategies employing molecular computing to analyze multiple inputs have been developed to improve diagnostic accuracy in liquid biopsy. In this study, DNA aptamers were used as specific inputs to perform AND-logic-gating on aptamer-encoded EVs, enabling the distinction between healthy and cancerous EVs. This method has shown promising results in the analysis of circulating EVs in clinical samples from colorectal cancer patients and healthy donors, and has potential in the analysis of multiplex EV membrane proteins and early cancer identification.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Pathology
Lekhika Pathak, Sukanya Gayan, Bidisha Pal, Joyeeta Talukdar, Seema Bhuyan, Sorra Sandhya, Herman Yeger, Debabrat Baishya, Bikul Das
Summary: Adult stem cells may exhibit an altruistic defense mechanism to protect their niche, similar to bacteria, and demonstrate altruistic behavior against coronavirus infection in vivo. Reprogrammed stem cells in a mouse model showed direct antiviral activity, reducing viral load and promoting survival/proliferation of alveolar epithelial cells. In a Mycobacterium tuberculosis dormancy model, increased altruistic stem cells led to lower viral loads and potential reactivation of tuberculosis.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Herman Yeger, Bernard Perbal
Summary: Significant progress has been made in understanding the role of CCN family proteins in various cancers, but new questions and intriguing results have also been generated, prompting further investigation.
JOURNAL OF CELL COMMUNICATION AND SIGNALING
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Herman Yeger
Summary: The diverse members of the CCN family have various functional properties throughout the body and can interact with cell membrane receptors to trigger intracellular signaling pathways. They can be secreted into the circulation, serving as disease biomarkers and potential regulators of homeostasis.
JOURNAL OF CELL COMMUNICATION AND SIGNALING
(2023)