Article
Infectious Diseases
Alessandra D'Abramo, Serena Vita, Francesca Colavita, Eleonora Cimini, Shalom Haggiag, Gaetano Maffongelli, Maria Beatrice Valli, Nazario Bevilacqua, Angela Corpolongo, Maria Letizia Giancola, Fabrizio Maggi, Chiara Agrati, Emanuele Nicastri
Summary: Severe neurological disorders and vascular events have been observed during COVID-19. We report the first case of a female patient infected with the SARS-CoV-2 BA.2 Omicron variant who developed meningitis and newly diagnosed central demyelinating disease.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Hai Xie, Chaoyang Zhang, Dandan Liu, Qian Yang, Lei Tang, Tianqin Wang, Haibin Tian, Lixia Lu, Jing-Ying Xu, Furong Gao, Juan Wang, Caixia Jin, Weiye Li, Guoxu Xu, Guo-Tong Xu, Jingfa Zhang
Summary: In experimental diabetic retinopathy, activated microglia penetrate the basement membrane of the iBRB and engulf endothelial cells, leading to iBRB breakdown. EPO exerts a protective effect that preserves iBRB integrity via activation of Src/Akt/cofilin signaling in microglia, as demonstrated in vitro.
Review
Cell Biology
Ilenia Martinelli, Seyed Khosrow Tayebati, Daniele Tomassoni, Giulio Nittari, Proshanta Roy, Francesco Amenta
Summary: This article reviews the development and technical analysis of brain and retinal organoids, and discusses their potential in modeling neurological and retinal diseases, as well as their use as screening tools. Furthermore, potential future directions, such as dedicated biobanks, are proposed.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Eimear M. Byrne, Maria Llorian-Salvador, Timothy J. Lyons, Mei Chen, Heping Xu
Summary: The study demonstrated that JAK1 inhibition can ameliorate blood-retinal barrier dysfunction in type 2 diabetes, prevent tight junction disruption induced by high glucose, and reduce the expression of phosphorylated JAK1. This suggests that JAK1 inhibitors like tofacitinib citrate may be repurposed for the management of diabetic macular oedema.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yuzhou Gu, Shengjie Hao, Kaiyuan Liu, Mengqin Gao, Bing Lu, Feiyin Sheng, Li Zhang, Yili Xu, Di Wu, Yu Han, Shuying Chen, Wei Zhao, Xiaoming Lou, Xiaofeng Wang, Peng Li, Zhijian Chen, Ke Yao, Qiuli Fu
Summary: This study explored the effects of PM2.5 on the inner blood-retinal barrier, finding that exposure to PM2.5 resulted in retinal inflammation, vascular dilation, and damage to the iBRB.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Yijun Hu, Hong Zhou, Huanxin Zhang, Yunlong Sui, Zhen Zhang, Yuntao Zou, Kunquan Li, Yunyi Zhao, Jiangbo Xie, Lunzhong Zhang
Summary: This article summarizes the neuroprotective effects of Dexmedetomidine in various models of neurological damage and examines its mechanisms including inhibition of inflammatory reactions, reduction of apoptosis and autophagy, and protection of the blood-brain barrier and enhancement of stable cell structures.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Wonjin Park, Joohwan Kim, Seunghwan Choi, Taesam Kim, Minsik Park, Suji Kim, Ji-Chang You, Jeong Hun Kim, Kwon-Soo Ha, Jeong-Hyung Lee, Young-Guen Kwon, Young-Myeong Kim
Summary: The newly developed Ac-RLYE has shown potential therapeutic effects for diabetic retinopathy by antagonizing VEGFR-2, thereby preventing blood-retinal barrier breakdown and vascular leakage while maintaining retinal capillary pericyte coverage.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Joo Youn Shin, Eun Young Choi, Min Kim, Hyung Keun Lee, Suk Ho Byeon
Summary: Biomarker tests for Alzheimer's disease are typically invasive and costly. However, recent advancements in OCT and OCT angiography have allowed for noninvasive and cost-effective characterization of retinal microvascular changes in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) associated with AD. The study found reduced retinal microvasculature in MCI patients but no change in retinal thickness, with potential influence from the APOE genotype. OCTA of retinal microvasculature may be a useful tool for detecting vascular changes in AD.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Andreas Zietzer, Alina Lisann Jahnel, Marko Bulic, Katharina Gutbrod, Philip Duesing, Mohammed Rabiul Hosen, Peter Doermann, Nikos Werner, Georg Nickenig, Felix Jansen
Summary: C16 ceramide was found to be the most abundant ceramide in lEVs and significantly increased after hyperglycemic injury to HCAECs. lEVs from hyperglycemic HCAECs induced apoptosis in recipient cells, while native lEVs did not. Intercellular transfer of ceramide through lEVs was confirmed, and inhibition of nSMases abrogated the glucose-mediated effect on apoptosis in lEV-recipient cells.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
May Majimbi, Samuel McLenachan, Michael Nesbit, Fred K. Chen, Virginie Lam, John Mamo, Ryu Takechi
Summary: This study found that retinal thinning in a type 2 diabetes mouse model is associated with cognitive decline, indicating that changes in retinal thickness may serve as an indicator of diabetic cognitive dysfunction and neuroinflammation.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Mengcong Li, Shuhui Liu, Lei Tan, Yan Luo, Zhangshan Gao, Jiwen Liu, Yuting Wu, Wentao Fan, Sarah DeSaeger, Suquan Song
Summary: This study found that FB1 contamination has a toxic effect on the intestine and disrupts its barrier function. FB1 also leads to excessive production of cytokines, further damaging the intestinal immune barrier. By inhibiting the expression of CerS2, FB1 induces endoplasmic reticulum stress, resulting in the destruction of the intestinal barrier. However, this damage can be restored by overexpression of CerS2 or the use of an ER stress inhibitor.
FOOD AND CHEMICAL TOXICOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Xinye Qian, Tanmay Srinivasan, Jessica He, Jiaxiong Lu, Yan Jin, Haiwei Gu, Rui Chen
Summary: Increasing evidence demonstrates the role of ceramide in photoreceptor dysfunction or cell death. TLCD3B, a non-canonical ceramide synthase, was found to contribute to retinal dysfunction and degeneration along with six canonical ceramide synthases. However, the interaction between TLCD3B and the canonical ceramide synthases and the importance of different ceramide species in photoreceptor degeneration remain unclear. In this study, subretinally injecting recombinant adeno-associated virus 8 vectors revealed that TLCD3B interacts with CerS5 and the overall ceramide profile is critical for retinal function.
DISEASE MODELS & MECHANISMS
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Felix Yemanyi, Kiran Bora, Alexandra K. Blomfield, Zhongxiao Wang, Jing Chen
Summary: The retina is a light-sensing tissue that relays information to the brain for vision. The blood-retinal barrier (BRB) contributes to maintaining homeostasis and protecting the retina from toxins. Disruption of the inner BRB (iBRB) can lead to conditions like retinal edema and vision loss. Understanding the mechanisms of iBRB formation, maintenance, and breakdown is crucial for potential therapeutic targets and drug delivery strategies.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Yonglong Zhang, Hui Wang, Tao Chen, Haolu Wang, Xiaowen Liang, Yuchen Zhang, Jinlin Duan, Shenjiao Qian, Ke Qiao, Lei Zhang, Yanfeng Liu, Jian Wang
Summary: This study revealed aberrant ceramide biosynthesis in GBC tissues and identified C24-Ceramide as a potential diagnostic biomarker for GBC patients. Additionally, it proposed a potential therapeutic intervention for GBC through competition with C24-Ceramide via PIP4K2C.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Deepa Sharma, Gregory J. Czarnota
Summary: Sphingolipids play critical roles in determining cell fate, with ceramides promoting cell death and sphingosine promoting cell survival and angiogenesis. Vascular-targeted therapies can increase ceramide levels in endothelial cells, leading to apoptosis and tumor cure. On the other hand, blocking ceramide generation can reverse this process.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)