Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Laura Soldovieri, Gianfranco Di Giuseppe, Gea Ciccarelli, Giuseppe Quero, Francesca Cinti, Michela Brunetti, Enrico C. Nista, Antonio Gasbarrini, Sergio Alfieri, Alfredo Pontecorvi, Andrea Giaccari, Teresa Mezza
Summary: In the past few decades, various approaches have been explored to restore sufficient β-cell mass in diabetic patients. Stem cells are an attractive source of new β-cells, while inducing endogenous regeneration is also an alternative option. This review summarizes the latest evidence on physiological and pathological conditions associated with pancreatic regeneration and proliferation, as well as the signaling cascade mediating cell growth.
MOLECULAR METABOLISM
(2023)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Danielle L. Overton, Teresa L. Mastracci
Summary: Diabetes mellitus, affecting nearly 536.6 million people worldwide, is primarily caused by the death or dysfunction of beta cells in the pancreas. Studies suggest that interactions between neighboring cells in the pancreas play a crucial role in supporting beta cell function.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Anne Sofie Bruun-Sorensen, Sarannya Edamana, Frederic H. Login, Signe Borgquist, Lene N. Nejsum
Summary: Aquaporins, proteins that facilitate passive water transport across cellular membranes, are often overexpressed in various cancers, including pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. This overexpression of aquaporins, such as aquaporin-1, aquaporin-3, and aquaporin-5, has been linked to metastasis and poor survival in pancreatic cancer, suggesting their potential as diagnostic markers and therapeutic targets.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Katsutoshi Kuriyama, Yuzo Kodama, Masahiro Shiokawa, Yoshihiro Nishikawa, Saiko Marui, Takeshi Kuwada, Yuko Sogabe, Nobuyuki Kakiuchi, Teruko Tomono, Tomoaki Matsumori, Atsushi Mima, Toshihiro Morita, Tatsuki Ueda, Motoyuki Tsuda, Yuki Yamauchi, Yojiro Sakuma, Yuji Ota, Takahisa Maruno, Norimitsu Uza, Ryoichiro Kageyama, Tsutomu Chiba, Hiroshi Seno
Summary: Notch/Hes1 signaling is essential for the postnatal maturation of exocrine tissue in pancreatic progenitor cells, partially through the formation of centroacinar cells.
JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Patrick C. Barko, Stanley I. Rubin, Kelly S. Swanson, Maureen A. McMichael, Marcella D. Ridgway, David A. Williams
Summary: Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) is a digestive disorder in dogs caused by insufficient secretion of digestive enzymes. In this study, untargeted metabolomics analysis was used to identify metabolic disturbances associated with EPI. 114 serum metabolites were found to differ significantly between dogs with EPI and healthy controls, suggesting malnourishment, micronutrient deficiencies, altered gut microbiome composition, and intestinal inflammation in dogs with EPI.
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Nicoletta Dozio, Rita Indirli, Gian Maria Giamporcaro, Laura Frosio, Alessandra Mandelli, Andrea Laurenzi, Andrea Mario Bolla, Angela Stabilini, Andrea Valle, Massimo Locatelli, Giulia Martina Cavestro, Marina Scavini, Manuela Battaglia, Emanuele Bosi
Summary: The study aimed to investigate pancreatic exocrine function in patients with type 1 diabetes (T1D) using non-invasive tests. Results showed that impaired exocrine pancreatic function, marked by low fecal elastase-1, serum pancreatic amylase, and lipase levels, is associated with reduced nutritional indexes in T1D patients.
BMJ OPEN DIABETES RESEARCH & CARE
(2021)
Review
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Elyne Backx, Katarina Coolens, Jan-Lars van den Bossche, Isabelle Houbracken, Elisa Espinet, Ilse Rooman
Summary: This review focuses on the pathobiology of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and highlights studies using human cells. The review reveals the remarkable exocrine cell plasticity in adult pancreatic tissue and explores the relationships between these cell states and PDAC molecular subtypes. These findings provide valuable insights into the origins and biology of PDAC.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Pathology
A. Handra-Luca
Summary: The study focused on the expression patterns of AKT and mTOR proteins in PDAC, revealing their correlations with tumor features and other pathway proteins. The results suggest an intricate role of mTOR in cell proliferation and tumor development in PDAC. Interactions between AKT and mTOR with MAPK and SMAD pathway proteins may impact cell proliferation and tumor behavior at various levels within the protein framework.
PATHOLOGY RESEARCH AND PRACTICE
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Licen Li, Jiaolin Bao, Haitao Wang, Josh Haipeng Lei, Cheng Peng, Jianming Zeng, Wenhui Hao, Xu Zhang, Xiaoling Xu, Chundong Yu, Chu-Xia Deng, Qiang Chen
Summary: The study reveals that AIB1 plays a crucial role in the progression of PDAC through Hh and ECM signaling pathways, suggesting potential therapeutic targets for PDAC treatment.
Review
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Long Guo, Junhu Yao, Yangchun Cao
Summary: The unique structure of the stomach in ruminant animals leads to differences in nutrient digestion compared to monogastric animals. Improving small intestine digestion, particularly starch digestion, is crucial for high-yield ruminants. Research on pancreatic exocrine regulation in ruminants is hindered by factors such as the complex structure of the pancreas and internal and external influences.
Review
Pediatrics
Isabelle Scheers, Silvia Berardis
Summary: Congenital exocrine pancreatic insufficiency is a rare condition often associated with cystic fibrosis and Shwachman-Bodian-Diamond syndrome. Treatment mainly involves pancreatic enzyme replacement and liposoluble vitamins supplementation.
FRONTIERS IN PEDIATRICS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Frederik Oger, Maeva Moreno, Mehdi Derhourhi, Bryan Thiroux, Lionel Berberian, Cyril Bourouh, Emmanuelle Durand, Souhila Amanzougarene, Alaa Badreddine, Etienne Blanc, Olivier Molendi-Coste, Laurent Pineau, Gianni Pasquetti, Laure Rolland, Charlene Carney, Florine Bornaque, Emilie Courty, Celine Gheeraert, Jerome Eeckhoute, David Dombrowicz, Julie Kerr-Conte, Francois Pattou, Bart Staels, Philippe Froguel, Amelie Bonneford, Jean-Sebastien Annicotte
Summary: Histone deacetylase enzymes (HDACs) regulate gene expression by deacetylating specific histone and non-histone proteins. In this study, the researchers investigated the role of HDACs in maintaining the identity and function of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. They found that HDAC inhibition altered the transcriptional program of beta cells and could lead to loss of their identity.
Review
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Daniel Vasile Balaban, Iulia Enache, Marina Ciochina, Alina Popp, Mariana Jinga
Summary: Celiac disease is a chronic autoimmune disease that primarily affects the intestines but can also impact the pancreas. While the endocrine changes in the pancreas, such as type 1 diabetes, have been extensively studied in relation to celiac disease, there has been less focus on the exocrine alterations. This review examines the available evidence on the risk of pancreatitis, autoimmune pancreatitis, prevalence and outcomes of exocrine insufficiency, and the link with cystic fibrosis in celiac disease patients. The mechanisms behind the associated exocrine impairment in celiac disease are also discussed, along with recommendations for clinical practice.
WORLD JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY
(2022)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Delphine Quatannens, Yannick Verhoeven, Peter Van Dam, Filip Lardon, Hans Prenen, Geert Roeyen, Marc Peeters, Evelien L. J. Smits, Jonas Van Audenaerde
Summary: PDAC is a leading cause of cancer related death, with urgent need for effective therapies. Aberrant activation of the Hh signaling pathway in PDAC prompts it as a possible target for treatment, despite ongoing debate on its clinical benefits.
PHARMACOLOGY & THERAPEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Liangliang Wu, Yi Ge, Yudong Yuan, Hui Li, Huizhi Sun, Chao Xu, Yifei Wang, Tiansuo Zhao, Xiuchao Wang, Jing Liu, Song Gao, Antao Chang, Jihui Hao, Chongbiao Huang
Summary: MTA3 is found to be a key player in gemcitabine resistance in pancreatic cancer and may serve as a promising therapeutic target for reversing chemoresistance to gemcitabine.
Article
Oncology
Tengjiao Ma, Chengchen Hu, Bachchu Lal, Weiqiang Zhou, Yongxin Ma, Mingyao Ying, Panagiotis Prinos, Alfredo Quinones-Hinojosa, Michael Lim, John Laterra, Yunqing Li
Summary: This study reveals that Oct4 and Sox2 coexpression contributes to the immunosuppressive phenotype of glioblastoma stem-like cells (GSCs) through the induction of an immunosuppressive transcriptome and the dysregulation of cytokines and chemokines associated with an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Targeting mechanisms involving BRD/H3K27Ac-dependent immunosuppressive genes could provide new avenues for therapy in GSCs.
Article
Cell Biology
Elizabeth A. Thompson, Katherine Cascino, Alvaro A. Ordonez, Weiqiang Zhou, Ajay Vaghasia, Anne Hamacher-Brady, Nathan R. Brady, Im-Hong Sun, Rulin Wang, Avi Z. Rosenberg, Michael Delannoy, Richard Rothman, Katherine Fenstermacher, Lauren Sauer, Kathyrn Shaw-Saliba, Evan M. Bloch, Andrew D. Redd, Aaron A. R. Tobian, Maureen Horton, Kellie Smith, Andrew Pekosz, Franco R. D'Alessio, Srinivasan Yegnasubramanian, Hongkai Ji, Andrea L. Cox, Jonathan D. Powell
Summary: The study identifies a unique population of T cells expressing increased VDAC1 in severe and recovered COVID-19 patients, associated with mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis. Additionally, specific metabolic phenotypes of myeloid-derived suppressor cells in COVID-19 patients can distinguish between severe and mild disease. These findings offer insight into dysfunctional immune response in COVID-19 patients and potential for developing personalized therapeutic approaches.
Review
Genetics & Heredity
Sarthak Sinha, Ansuman T. Satpathy, Weiqiang Zhou, Hongkai Ji, Jo A. Stratton, Arzina Jaffer, Nizar Bahlis, Sorana Morrissy, Jeff A. Biernaskie
Summary: The review outlines the molecular methods and bioinformatic tools for capturing cell-to-cell chromatin variation using scATAC-seq in a scalable fashion. It also covers joint profiling of chromatin with transcriptome/proteome measurements, computational strategies for multi-omic integration, and predictive bioinformatic tools for inferring chromatin accessibility from single-cell transcriptomic datasets. Methodological refinements that increase power for cell discovery and integrate measurements from multiple modalities will further expand understanding of gene regulation during homeostasis and disease.
GENOMICS PROTEOMICS & BIOINFORMATICS
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Minling Gao, Yi Fu, Weiqiang Zhou, Gege Gui, Bachuchu Lal, Yunqing Li, Shuli Xia, Hongkai Ji, Charles G. Eberhart, John Laterra, Mingyao Ying
Summary: This study focuses on uncovering the key signaling pathways of EGFR/TAF, and identifies osimertinib as an effective inhibitor that can treat cancers like GBM effectively.
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Michael A. Koldobskiy, Garrett Jenkinson, Jordi Abante, Varenka A. Rodriguez DiBlasi, Weiqiang Zhou, Elisabet Pujadas, Adrian Idrizi, Rakel Tryggvadottir, Colin Callahan, Challice L. Bonifant, Karen R. Rabin, Patrick A. Brown, Hongkai Ji, John Goutsias, Andrew P. Feinberg
Summary: An information-theoretic analysis reveals methylation stochasticity differences in samples from pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients, indicating stochastic epigenomes marked by increased methylation entropy in specific regions and genes. Epigenetic changes in ALL converge on a shared set of genes overlapping with genetic drivers involved in chromosomal translocations across the disease spectrum.
NATURE BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Andrew H. Karaba, Weiqiang Zhou, Leon L. Hsieh, Alexis Figueroa, Guido Massaccesi, Richard E. Rothman, Katherine Z. J. Fenstermacher, Lauren Sauer, Kathryn Shaw-Saliba, Paul W. Blair, Matthew L. Robinson, Sherry Leung, Russell Wesson, Nada Alachkar, Ramy El-Diwany, Hongkai Ji, Andrea L. Cox
Summary: Severe COVID-19 is characterized by dysregulated inflammation and its association with elevated BMI. This study compared cytokines in COVID-19 and influenza patients, identifying different inflammatory pathways and a cytokine mediator of the effect of BMI.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Nadine Peart Akindele, Theodore Kouo, Andrew H. Karaba, Oren Gordon, Katherine Z. J. Fenstermacher, Jeanette Beaudry, Jessica H. Rubens, Christine C. Atik, Weiqiang Zhou, Hongkai Ji, Xueting Tao, Dhananjay Vaidya, Heba Mostafa, Patrizio Caturegli, Paul W. Blair, Lauren Sauer, Andrea L. Cox, Deborah Persaud
Summary: The study revealed a distinct pattern of heightened cytokine/chemokine dysregulation in MIS-C patients compared to children with acute COVID-19, occurring across the pediatric age spectrum and with similar levels of nasopharyngeal SARS-CoV-2 RNA.
JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Qian Li, Yi Feng, Yingchao Xue, Xiping Zhan, Yi Fu, Gege Gui, Weiqiang Zhou, Jean-Philippe Richard, Arens Taga, Pan Li, Xiaobo Mao, Nicholas J. Maragakis, Mingyao Ying
Summary: This study presents a method to facilitate iPSC differentiation and disease modeling. It shows that the FDA-approved drug edaravone has a neuroprotective effect and can enhance its clinical efficacy by activating the GDNF/RET neurotrophic signaling pathway. Furthermore, the combination treatment of edaravone and GDNF demonstrates better protection against neurotoxicity, suggesting a potential combination strategy for ALS treatment.
MOLECULAR NEURODEGENERATION
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rachel K. Lex, Weiqiang Zhou, Zhicheng Ji, Kristin N. Falkenstein, Kaleigh E. Schuler, Kathryn E. Windsor, Joseph D. Kim, Hongkai Ji, Steven A. Vokes
Summary: The study challenges the current understanding that GLI3 repression is established before Hedgehog (HH) signaling and demonstrates that GLI3 is inert in the limb bud before HH onset. The loss of Gli3 does not increase target gene expression or accessibility, contrasting with post-HH signaling. GLI repression is established independently of HH signaling, but after its onset.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Andrew H. Karaba, Weiqiang Zhou, Shuai Li, Tihitina Y. Aytenfisu, Trevor S. Johnston, Olivia Akinde, Yolanda Eby, Aura T. Abedon, Jennifer L. Alejo, Caroline X. Qin, Elizabeth A. Thompson, Jacqueline M. Garonzik-Wang, Joel N. Blankson, Andrea L. Cox, Justin R. Bailey, Sabra L. Klein, Andrew Pekosz, Dorry L. Segev, Aaron A. R. Tobian, William A. Werbel
Summary: Antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination is reduced in solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs), possibly due to increased levels of preexisting antibodies to seasonal coronaviruses, suggesting the influence of antigenic imprinting on vaccine responses in SOTRs.
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2023)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Xianyao Meng, Yunli Yang, Yuehang Wu, Ying Zhang, Hongyan Zhang, Weiqiang Zhou, Miaomiao Guo, Li Li
Summary: In this study, the anti-inflammatory and anti-melanogenesis effects of a co-culture fermentation broth of Ganoderma lucidum and Panax ginseng were evaluated. The results showed that the co-culture fermentation broth inhibited the secretion and expression of inflammatory and melanogenesis-related molecules in cells. Furthermore, the co-culture fermentation broth had higher levels of active components. Therefore, it has the potential to be used in the skincare industry.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF FOOD PROPERTIES
(2022)
Article
Biology
Janani Ramachandran, Weiqiang Zhou, Anna E. Bardenhagen, Talia Nasr, Ellen R. Yates, Aaron M. Zorn, Hongkai Ji, Steven A. Vokes, Marianne E. Bronner
Summary: This study investigates the role of sonic hedgehog (SHH) in the development of the larynx and anterior foregut in mice. The results show that SHH is crucial for maintaining epithelial integrity and regulating epithelial remodeling. Mutations in SHH lead to abnormal epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, cell movement, and cell death.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yuqi Fang, Zhicheng Ji, Weiqiang Zhou, Jordi Abante, Michael A. Koldobskiy, Hongkai Ji, Andrew P. Feinberg
Summary: Epigenetic information, inherited through DNA methylation, plays a crucial role in defining tissue identity. This study reveals that methylation entropy, which represents stochastic changes in DNA methylation, is associated with specific DNA binding motifs, regulatory DNA, and CpG density. Additionally, the contribution of methylation entropy to developmental patterns is comparable to that of methylation mean, and it is associated with conserved sequence and chromatin features. Furthermore, methylation entropy is directly related to gene expression variability in development, suggesting its involvement in developmental plasticity.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Yuyang Huang, Adit Dhummakupt, Priya Khetan, Tricia Nilles, Weiqiang Zhou, Prakriti Mudvari, Joseph Szewczyk, Ya Hui Chen, Eli Boritz, Hongkai Ji, Allison Agwu, Deborah Persaud
Summary: HIV-1 infection forms a latent reservoir in memory CD4+ T cells, hindering cure. PD-1 expression on central memory CD4+ T cells correlates with HIV-1 reservoir size in non-perinatal HIV-1 infected adults. In adolescents and young adults with perinatal HIV-1, immune correlates of HIV-1 are less defined. This study examined immune activation and exhaustion markers on CD4+ T cell subsets and identified HLA-DR and TIGIT as key correlates of HIV-1 infected cell frequencies by total HIV-1 DNA, while PD-1 expression on Tcm showed an inverse correlation.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Clinical Neurology
Kimberly Stephens, Cedric Moore, David Vinson, Bryan E. White, Zachary Renfro, Weiqiang Zhou, Hongkai Ji, Heng Zhu, Yun Guan, Sean Taverna
