Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tatyana Samoilenko, Viktoriya Shishkina, Lyubov Antakova, Yelena Goryushkina, Andrey Kostin, Igor Buchwalow, Markus Tiemann, Dmitrii Atiakshin
Summary: Smooth muscle tissue (SMT) plays a key role in visceral organ activity, but its mechanisms of gravisensitivity in the gastrointestinal tract are not well understood. This study found that space flight and antiorthostatic suspension can weaken the functional activity of SMT and lead to remodeling of the SMT contractile apparatus during orbital flights.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Hiroki Kobayashi, Krystyna A. Gieniec, Tamsin R. M. Lannagan, Tongtong Wang, Naoya Asai, Yasuyuki Mizutani, Tadashi Iida, Ryota Ando, Elaine M. Thomas, Akihiro Sakai, Nobumi Suzuki, Mari Ichinose, Josephine A. Wright, Laura Vrbanac, Jia Q. Ng, Jarrad Goyne, Georgette Radford, Matthew J. Lawrence, Tarik Sammour, Yoku Hayakawa, Sonja Klebe, Alice E. Shin, Samuel Asfaha, Mark L. Bettington, Florian Rieder, Nicholas Arpaia, Tal Danino, Lisa M. Butler, Alastair D. Burt, Simon J. Leedham, Anil K. Rustgi, Siddhartha Mukherjee, Masahide Takahashi, Timothy C. Wang, Atsushi Enomoto, Susan L. Woods, Daniel L. Worthley
Summary: In colorectal cancer, ACTA2(+) cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) emerge through proliferation from intestinal pericryptal leptin receptor (Lepr)(+) cells. These Lepr-lineage CAFs express melanoma cell adhesion molecule (MCAM), which is inversely associated with patient survival. Knockout of stromal Mcam attenuates orthotopically injected colorectal tumoroid growth and improves survival through decreased tumor-associated macrophage recruitment. The fibroblast MCAM interacts with interleukin-1 receptor 1 to promote macrophage chemotaxis.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Lucie Pothen, Roxane Verdoy, Delphine De Mulder, Hrag Esfahani, Charlotte Farah, Lauriane Y. M. Michel, Flavia Dei Zotti, Bertrand Bearzatto, Jerome Ambroise, Caroline Bouzin, Chantal Dessy, Jean-Luc Balligand
Summary: This study evaluated the long-term effects of transient exposure to Ang II on the mouse heart and arterial tissue. It was found that transient exposure to Ang II leads to prolonged vascular remodeling and downregulation of ACTA2, which is independent of blood pressure normalization and associated with systemic oxidative stress.
FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Ophthalmology
Dong An, Jonathan Chung-Wah-Cheong, Dao-Yi Yu, Chandrakumar Balaratnasingam
Summary: This study investigated the differences in alpha SMA expression and parafoveal blood flow pathways in diabetic retinopathy. The results showed that perfusion abnormalities occur early in preclinical DR and there are changes in blood flow direction in the parafoveal region.
INVESTIGATIVE OPHTHALMOLOGY & VISUAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Brittany Balint, Ines Garcia Lascurain Bernstorff, Tanja Schwab, Hans-Joachim Schaefers
Summary: This study investigated individuals with normal tricuspid aortic valves and non-dilated ascending aortic wall. It found that with age, smooth muscle cells in the aortic wall switch from a contractile phenotype to synthetic or senescent states, and the replicative capacity of the cells decreases. The findings suggest that modifying smooth muscle cell phenotype should be considered as a therapeutic approach against aneurysms in the future, regardless of etiology.
FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Physiology
Julie M. M. Lade, Manuella R. R. Andrade, Clark Undem, Jasmine Walker, Haiyang Jiang, Xin Yun, Larissa A. A. Shimoda
Summary: Exposure to hypoxia leads to structural changes in pulmonary vascular wall, including hyperplasia and migration of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). In this study, the interaction between ezrin and NHE1 was found to increase under hypoxic conditions, promoting SMA binding and enhancing PASMC migration and proliferation.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Kaveeta Kaw, Abhijnan Chattopadhyay, Pujun Guan, Jiyuan Chen, Suravi Majumder, Xue-yan Duan, Shuangtao Ma, Chen Zhang, Callie S. Kwartler, Dianna M. Milewicz
Summary: This study investigates how the variant p.Arg149Cys in ACTA2 gene predisposes to atherosclerosis in individuals without cardiovascular risk factors. The variant increases intracellular cholesterol levels in smooth muscle cells, leading to atherosclerotic plaque formation. Treatment with the HMG-CoAR inhibitor pravastatin successfully reverses the increased plaque burden.
EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL
(2023)
Review
Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence
Raidel Herrera-Pereda, Alberto Taboada Crispi, Danilo Babin, Wilfried Philips, Marcio Holsbach Costa
Summary: This review examines digital image processing for in vivo confocal microscopy images of the cornea, highlighting the lack of quantitative studies and standardization in the preprocessing stage. Most studies do not estimate the computational cost of image processing, indicating that reliable, automatic computer-assisted image analysis of the cornea remains an open issue.
MEDICAL IMAGE ANALYSIS
(2021)
Article
Biology
Bo Wang, Lanting Yang, Jiaxuan Cheng, Junjie Wang, Yue Mei
Summary: In-vivo corneal biomechanical characterization is important for the diagnosis of eye disorders. The study used an air-puff tonometer to analyze the dynamic deformation of the cornea and found differences in the biomechanical properties between normal and keratoconus groups. The study also reconstructed the high-speed displacement, strain, velocity, and strain rate fields of the cornea at a tissue level.
COMPUTERS IN BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yinna Wang, Guoning Liao, Ruping Wang, Dale D. Tang
Summary: Actin cytoskeletal reorganization is crucial for regulating smooth muscle contraction, with Abi1 playing a key role in this process through acetylation at K416. The interaction between Abi1 and N-WASP enhances actin polymerization, ultimately promoting smooth muscle contraction. Additionally, the localization of p300 in the cytoplasm of smooth muscle cells suggests a novel mechanism for the acetylation-dependent regulation of the actin cytoskeleton.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Vincent Yeung, Sriniwas Sriram, Jennifer A. Tran, Xiaoqing Guo, Audrey E. K. Hutcheon, James D. Zieske, Dimitrios Karamichos, Joseph B. Ciolino
Summary: Corneal fibrosis, which can lead to visual impairment and blindness, is influenced by TGF-β1 and TGF-β3. While TGF-β1 enhances the expression of α-SMA and FAK proteins in corneal fibroblasts, TGF-β3 does not have the same effect. The study concludes that FAK signaling is crucial for TGF-β1-mediated myofibroblast differentiation, and FAK inhibition may offer a new therapeutic approach for reducing corneal scarring.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kayo Horie, Hayato Maeda, Naoki Nanashima, Indrawati Oey
Summary: The study indicates that anthocyanin-rich blackcurrant extract has protective effects on blood vessels in diabetic patients, reducing the risk of atherosclerosis.
Review
Cell Biology
Yi-Bo Yao, Chang-Fang Xiao, Jin-Gen Lu, Chen Wang
Summary: Caldesmon, an actin-binding protein, plays a crucial role in muscle contraction and cancer development. Studies have shown that caldesmon may be a potential therapeutic target for cancer treatment.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Xiaotong Li, Wenbo Zhang, Chuansen Zhang, Yan Wo, Airong Ma, Yan Li, Xi Zhang
Summary: This study aimed to treat atrioventricular conduction block using engineered conduction tissues (ECTs) made from cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs). It was found that supplementation with bFGF could effectively prevent the shrinkage of engineered tissue by downregulating alpha-SMA expression, and also positively influence cardiac tissue formation. These findings provide guidance for shape control and quality improvement of CPC-engineered cardiac tissues.
Article
Cell Biology
Pramudi Wijayasiri, Stuart Astbury, Philip Kaye, Fiona Oakley, Graeme J. Alexander, Timothy J. Kendall, Aloysious D. Aravinthan
Summary: This study reveals a direct relationship between hepatocyte senescence and hepatic stellate cell activation in liver fibrosis. The activation of human HSCs by media derived from senescent HepG2 cells indicates the involvement of factors secreted by senescent hepatocytes in driving liver fibrosis.
