Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Spencer R. Marsh, Zachary J. Williams, Kevin J. Pridham, Robert G. Gourdie
Summary: Channels formed by Connexin (Cx43) are associated with various heart diseases, with some Cx43 mimetic peptides showing therapeutic potential and advancing to clinical testing. However, challenges in drug delivery, stability, and tissue penetration have caused reluctance in the pharmaceutical industry to translate peptidic therapeutics to the clinic. Novel drug delivery technologies like nanoparticles may provide solutions to these issues.
JOURNAL OF CARDIOVASCULAR DEVELOPMENT AND DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Mathematics, Applied
J. Bragard, A. Witt, D. Laroze, C. Hawks, J. Elorza, I. Rodriguez Cantalapiedra, A. Penaranda, B. Echebarria
Summary: This paper investigates the propagation of the cardiac action potential in a one-dimensional fiber with cells electrically coupled through gap junctions. Evidence of dynamic multistability is presented by setting specific parameters of the gap junction dynamics. A simplified model is derived to reduce computational cost and provide a valuable tool for exploring cardiac dynamics over very long time scales.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xiu-Yi Kwek, Andrew R. Hall, Wei-Wen Lim, Khairunnisa Katwadi, Poh Loong Soong, Elina Grishina, Kun-Han Lin, Gustavo Crespo-Avilan, En Ping Yap, Nur Izzah Ismail, Kroekkiat Chinda, Ying Ying Chung, Heming Wei, Winston Shim, David Montaigne, Andrew Tinker, Sang-Bing Ong, Derek J. Hausenloy
Summary: Mitochondrial dysfunction induced by acute cardiac ischemia-reperfusion may increase susceptibility to arrhythmias. Mfn-DKO mice exhibit increased action potential duration and reduced conduction velocity, with impaired alterations in CV following cardiac ischemia-reperfusion.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Editorial Material
Oncology
Katia E. Nino, Eric M. Pietras
Summary: This study reveals that TNFα receptor signaling plays distinct roles in promoting self-renewal and lymphoid differentiation in Dnmt3a-mutant hematopoietic stem cells, contributing to clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential.
Article
Rheumatology
Simon Girmai Berger, Birgit Nomeland Witczak, Silje Reiseter, Thomas Schwartz, Helena Andersson, Siri Opsahl Hetlevik, Kristin Schjander Berntsen, Helga Sanner, Vibke Lilleby, Ragnar Gunnarsson, Oyvind Molberg, Ivar Sjaastad, Mathis Korseberg Stokke
Summary: Cardiac dysfunction is observed in patients with established mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD), and is associated with disease activity. This study indicates that cardiac dysfunction is part of the multi-organ affliction seen in MCTD.
RHEUMATOLOGY INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Keira Robinson, Judith M. Katzenellenbogen, Timothy J. Kleinig, Joosup Kim, Charley A. Budgeon, Amanda G. Thrift, Lee Nedkoff
Summary: People with cardiac disease have a significantly higher risk of stroke, especially older females and younger patients with multiple cardiac conditions. This study highlights the importance of targeted management for these patients to reduce the burden of stroke.
CLINICAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tania Martins-Marques, Katja Witschas, Ilda Ribeiro, Monica Zuzarte, Steve Catarino, Teresa Ribeiro-Rodrigues, Francisco Caramelo, Trond Aasen, Isabel Marques Carreira, Lino Goncalves, Luc Leybaert, Henrique Girao
Summary: This study provides new evidence for the localization and functional role of connexin43 (Cx43) in the nucleus, particularly in transcription modulation. The findings show that Cx43 localizes to the nuclear envelope and impacts the cellular transcriptome by interacting with transcriptional regulators. The study also demonstrates that Cx43 forms active channels at the nuclear envelope, suggesting its involvement in nucleocytoplasmic shuttling. These findings have important implications for understanding the role of Cx43 in cardiac pathophysiology.
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Anirban Goutam Mukherjee, Kaviyarasi Renu, Abilash Valsala Gopalakrishnan, Rama Jayaraj, Abhijit Dey, Balachandar Vellingiri, Raja Ganesan
Summary: Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) is a visceral fat deposit that is morphologically and physiologically connected to the myocardium and coronary arteries. It has cardioprotective characteristics, but under clinical processes, it can impact the heart and coronary arteries by secreting proinflammatory cytokines. The factors affecting this equilibrium are still not fully understood. This review focuses on the physiological and pathophysiological dimensions of EAT and its various clinical utilities.
Article
Immunology
Kathryn M. Jones, Elise N. Mangin, Corey L. Reynolds, Liliana E. Villanueva, Julio Vladimir Cruz, Leroy Versteeg, Brian Keegan, April Kendricks, Jeroen Pollet, Fabian Gusovsky, Maria Elena Bottazzi, Peter J. Hotez
Summary: Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi infection, affects millions of people worldwide. The major clinical manifestation is chronic Chagasic cardiomyopathy (CCC) with various symptoms. Current treatments have limited efficacy. Researchers developed a vaccine-linked chemotherapy strategy using a recombinant protein vaccine and low dose benznidazole treatment, which improved cardiac function in a mouse model of chronic T. cruzi infection.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR AND INFECTION MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Pei Jin Lim, Severin Marfurt, Uschi Lindert, Lennart Opitz, Timothee Ndarugendamwo, Pakeerathan Srikanthan, Martin Poms, Martin Hersberger, Claus-Dieter Langhans, Dorothea Haas, Marianne Rohrbach, Cecilia Giunta
Summary: Osteogenesis imperfecta is an inherited disorder characterized by low bone density, bone fragility, and recurrent fractures. Mutations in the MBTPS2 gene may affect fatty acid metabolism or cartilage development, potentially impacting bone development and mineralization.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2021)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Tatyana Isayeva Waldrop, Caleb Graham, William Gard, Kevin Ingle, Travis Ptacek, Nguyen Nguyen, Bailey Lose, Palaniappan Sethu, Timmy Lee
Summary: Cardiovascular events are the leading cause of death in dialysis patients. Researchers have developed a three-dimensional cardiac tissue chip that can mimic the hemodynamic changes associated with arteriovenous fistula (AVF) creation. By subjecting the tissue constructs to volume overload conditions, they observed fibrosis and gene expression changes similar to those seen in AVF mice.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Sandeep Kumar Parvathareddy, Abdul K. Siraj, Rong Bu, Kaleem Iqbal, Maha Al-Rasheed, Wael Al-Haqawi, Padmanaban Annaiyappanaidu, Nabil Siraj, Saeeda O. Ahmed, Saif S. Al-Sobhi, Fouad Al-Dayel, Khawla S. Al-Kuraya
Summary: This study investigated the expression of X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) and the BRAFV600E mutation in Middle Eastern patients with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC), and explored their predictive value for prognosis. The results showed that XIAP over-expression was associated with aggressive clinico-pathological features and served as an independent prognostic marker for disease-free survival (DFS). Furthermore, combining XIAP expression and the BRAFV600E mutation improved the prediction of DFS in PTC patients, which could aid in establishing appropriate treatment and surveillance strategies.
FRONTIERS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Valeria Vincenza Alvino, Anita C. Thomas, Mohamed T. Ghorbel, Filippo Rapetto, Srinivas A. Narayan, Michael Kilcooley, Dominga Iacobazzi, Michele Carrabba, Marco Fagnano, William Cathery, Elisa Avolio, Massimo Caputo, Paolo Madeddu
Summary: The study evaluated the safety and effectiveness of a matrix graft cellularized with cardiac pericytes in a piglet model of pulmonary artery reconstruction. While the primary goal of supporting the graft's growth was not achieved, the secondary outcomes showed improvements in luminal cellularization, intraparietal vascularization, and elastic remodeling of the recipient artery. The beneficial properties of neonatal cardiac pericytes may have potential applications in bioengineering to reproduce the cellular composition of native arteries.
FRONTIERS IN BIOENGINEERING AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zsuzsanna E. Magyar, Judit Hevesi, Linda Groom, Robert T. Dirksen, Janos Almassy
Summary: The T4706M mutation in the RyR1 protein is associated with muscle weakness and alters channel function, leading to a complex mechanism of disease pathogenesis.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Farideh Amirrad, Rajasekharreddy Pala, Kiumars Shamloo, Brian S. Muntean, Surya M. Nauli
Summary: The study revealed higher levels of M1 and M2 infiltration, transforming growth factor (TGF-b(1)) and TGF-b(1) receptor expressions in Pkd2-KO hearts compared to wild-type hearts. The increase in extracellular matrix in Pkd2-KO myocardium led to cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, and dysfunction, predisposing to arrhythmias. Sysotlic and diastolic dysfunction were observed in Pkd2-KO hearts.
FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2021)
Meeting Abstract
Biophysics
Nicholas K. Kim, Artur Santos-Miranda, Honghong Chen, Hiroshi Aoyama, Donglin Bai
BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2019)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Jessica L. Esseltine, Courtney R. Brooks, Nicole A. Edwards, Mathushan Subasri, Jacinda Sampson, Cheryle Seguin, Dean H. Betts, Dale W. Laird
Article
Cell Biology
Amandine Chepied, Zeinaba Daoud-Omar, Annie-Claire Meunier-Balandre, Dale W. Laird, Marc Mesnil, Norah Defamie
Article
Cell Biology
Julia Abitbol, Rianne Beach, Kevin Barr, Jessica Esseltine, Brian Allman, Dale Laird
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2020)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Artur Santos-Miranda, Honghong Chen, Robert C. Chen, Mamiko Odoko-Ishimoto, Hiroshi Aoyama, Donglin Bai
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR CARDIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Akina Au, Qing Shao, Kyra K. White, Sergiu A. Lucaciu, Jessica L. Esseltine, Kevin Barr, Dale W. Laird
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Ruo-Gu Li, Ying-Jia Xu, Willy G. Ye, Yan-Jie Li, Honghong Chen, Xing-Biao Qiu, Yi-Qing Yang, Donglin Bai
Summary: This study identified a novel genetic locus for AF on chromosome 17q21.3 and revealed a loss-of-function mutation in GJC1 (Cx45) contributing to AF and other cardiac arrhythmias. The findings highlight the importance of genetic factors in the pathogenesis of AF.
Article
Toxicology
Rita-Josiane Gouesse, Elham Dianati, Alec McDermott, Michael G. Wade, Barbara Hales, Bernard Robaire, Isabelle Plante
Summary: Exposure to environmentally relevant mixture of BFRs induces precocious development of the mammary gland in young animals, accelerating epithelial development, increasing cell proliferation and apoptosis, as well as the number of thyroid hormone receptor alpha 1 positive cells.
TOXICOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Rheumatology
P. M. Moon, Z. Y. Shao, G. Wambiekele, C. T. G. Appleton, D. W. Laird, S. Penuela, F. Beier
Summary: Panx3 has a protective role against primary aging-associated OA in aging mice. Deletion of Panx3 accelerates cartilage degeneration and subchondral bone thickening with aging, while promoting synovitis in younger mice. Panx3 appears to have context-specific roles in joint health following traumatic injury versus that associated with aging.
ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Benny Yue, Bassam G. Haddad, Umair Khan, Honghong Chen, Mena Atalla, Ze Zhang, Daniel M. Zuckerman, Steve L. Reichow, Donglin Bai
Summary: This study investigates the structural characteristics of connexins Cx46 and Cx50 and their roles in the GJ channel mechanisms and cataract-linked connexin variants. The results suggest that interactions between hydrophobic and charged residues within the amino-terminal (NT) domain play a crucial role in defining GJ open state stability and single channel conductance.
JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LONDON
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Donglin Bai, Jiayi Wang, Tianhe Li, Ryan Chan, Mena Atalla, Robert C. Chen, Mohammad T. Khazaneh, Raphael J. An, Peter B. Stathopulos
Summary: The study revealed that disease-linked missense variants of connexins tend to be enriched in structurally stable domains, particularly in the pore-lining domains, while gnomAD-linked missense variants are enriched in structurally unstable domains, especially in the carboxyl terminus. This information is valuable for classifying the pathogenicity of newly identified connexin variants.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Toxicology
Rita-Josiane Gouesse, Isabelle Plante
Summary: Brominated flame retardants (BFR) are commonly used chemicals in consumer products to reduce fire hazards. Despite being banned in North America and Europe, they are still released into the environment due to continued use of pre-restriction products and waste/recycling processes. BFRs are well-studied endocrine disruptors, but their effects on mammary gland development and breast cancer risk are poorly understood. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the effects of BFR exposure on female endocrine and reproductive systems, with a focus on mammary gland development and potential increased breast cancer risk.
TOXICOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Isabelle Plante, Louise M. Winn, Cathy Vaillancourt, Petya Grigorova, Lise Parent
Summary: Pregnancy involves significant physiological and psychological changes in the mother to meet the needs of the growing fetus, with potential long-term impacts on health for both mother and baby. Dysregulation of placental function may lead to increased risk of chronic diseases for the fetus later in life.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Roa'a Jaradat, Xiaole Li, Honghong Chen, Peter B. Stathopulos, Donglin Bai
Summary: Functional studies and structural models of Cx46 and Cx50 GJs reveal the importance of hydrophobic interactions between the NT and TM2 domains in V-j-gating, gamma(j), and channel open stability.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Biophysics
Benny Yue, Bassam G. Haddad, Umair Khan, Mena Atalla, Steve L. Reichow, Donglin Bai
BIOPHYSICAL JOURNAL
(2020)