Article
Behavioral Sciences
Emma M. Woodward, Laurence Coutellier
Summary: Stress is a major risk factor for neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders, impacting susceptibility to disease as well as long-term outcomes. The unique response of PV + interneurons to stress in a sex-specific manner contributes to individual vulnerability across the lifespan, with implications for understanding sex differences in diagnostic rates of clinical populations. Studying sex as a biological variable is crucial for comprehending mechanistic and behavioral differences in neuropsychiatric disease models.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Isabelle Coales, Stergios Tsartsalis, Nurun Fancy, Maria Weinert, Daniel Clode, David Owen, Paul M. Matthews
Summary: Sex differences in the transcriptome of human myeloid cells may contribute to the sex difference observed in AD prevalence. AD risk genes, gene signatures associated with AD inflammatory response, and genes related to proinflammatory immune response are enriched in microglial cells and peripheral monocytes from female donors. These findings suggest that a myeloid cell phenotype biased towards expression of biological processes relevant to AD may partly explain the increased prevalence of AD in women.
JOURNAL OF NEUROINFLAMMATION
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Soraya L. Valles, Sandeep Kumar Singh, Juan Campos-Campos, Carlos Colmena, Ignacio Campo-Palacio, Kenia Alvarez-Gamez, Oscar Caballero, Adrian Jorda
Summary: In the central nervous system, glial cells outnumber neurons and possess a variety of functions. Astrocytes, radial glia, oligodendroglia, and microglia are different types of glial cells found in the CNS. Astrocytes play a crucial role, developing later than neurons and being involved in important functions such as memory and learning processes. They also contribute to CNS protection, communication between neurons, and maintenance of brain homeostasis. However, dysregulation of astrocyte function can lead to various neurological diseases.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Teresa Urbano, Tommaso Filippini, Lauren A. Wise, Sabrina Sucato, Elisa Polledri, Marcella Malavolti, Silvia Fustinoni, Bernhard Michalke, Marco Vinceti
Summary: This study assessed the association between selenium status and urinary 8-oxodG concentrations in a Northern Italian population and found that this association varied by sex, with background exposure to selenium species positively associated with oxidative stress.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Jazmin A. Cole, Mackenzie N. Kehmeier, Bradley R. Bedell, Sahana Krishna Kumaran, Grant D. Henson, Ashley E. Walker
Summary: Vascular endothelial function declines with age, but there is variability in this decline across individuals. Frailty index can be used as a surrogate for biological age, and this study found that frailty is related to age-related decline in vascular function, but the relationship is dependent on sex and the artery examined. Arterial oxidative stress and proinflammatory signaling may mediate the relationship between frailty and endothelial function.
JOURNALS OF GERONTOLOGY SERIES A-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND MEDICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marika Cordaro, Angela Trovato Salinaro, Rosalba Siracusa, Ramona D'Amico, Daniela Impellizzeri, Maria Scuto, Maria Laura Ontario, Roberto Crea, Salvatore Cuzzocrea, Rosanna Di Paola, Roberta Fusco, Vittorio Calabrese
Summary: Traumatic brain injuries are a significant public health issue with long-term consequences such as cerebral atrophy and increased risk of dementia and Alzheimer's Disease. Hidrox (R) treatment has shown benefits in reducing TBI-induced neurodegeneration and improving cognitive function and memory impairment.
Article
Physiology
Martin Salaj, Filip Barinka, Hana Kubova, Rastislav Druga
Summary: The study aimed to describe the interneuronal population expressing calcium binding proteins calretinin (CR) and parvalbumin (PV) in the perirhinal (PRC) and retrosplenial (RSC) cortex of rats. The results showed that PRC has higher absolute and relative densities of CR+ and PV+ neurons compared to RSC, with a higher CR:PV ratio in RSC similar to the neocortex.
PHYSIOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Minjie Shen, Yu Guo, Qiping Dong, Yu Gao, Michael E. Stockton, Meng Li, Sudharsan Kannan, Tomer Korabelnikov, Keegan A. Schoeller, Carissa L. Sirois, Chen Zhou, Jonathan Le, Daifeng Wang, Qiang Chang, Qian-Quan Sun, Xinyu Zhao
Summary: Parvalbumin interneurons (PVIs) are influenced by the regulation of the FXR1 gene, impacting behaviors and oscillations related to schizophrenia. This reveals a potential mechanism of action for FXR1 in schizophrenia.
MOLECULAR PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Dariusz Koziorowski, Monika Figura, Lukasz M. Milanowski, Stanislaw Szlufik, Piotr Alster, Natalia Madetko, Andrzej Friedman
Summary: Parkinsonian syndromes, such as Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy body, progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration, and multiple system atrophy, share common features like neuronal loss and accumulation of misfolded proteins. These diseases are influenced by genetic factors and environmental toxins, inflammatory factors, and oxidative stress.
Article
Dermatology
Isabelle D. Brown, Carly Dillen, Bao Chau Ly, Nikhil Shyam, Sewon Kang, Anna L. Chien
Summary: This study found that perioral wrinkling is more severe in females compared to males, and females express more CYR61 and collagen III in the perioral skin, which may contribute to the greater perioral skin wrinkling clinically observed in females.
EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Annalise N. Binette, Jianfeng Liu, Hugo Bayer, Kennedi L. Crayton, Laila Melissari, Samantha O. Sweck, Stephen Maren
Summary: Stress has a significant impact on fear extinction and affects the activity of PV interneurons in the mPFC. PV interneurons regulate extinction learning under stress in a sex-dependent manner, and this effect is mediated by amygdaloprefrontal projections.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sophida Phuthong, Cynthia Guadalupe Reyes-Hernandez, Pilar Rodriguez-Rodriguez, David Ramiro-Cortijo, Marta Gil-Ortega, Raquel Gonzalez-Blazquez, M. Carmen Gonzalez, Angel Luis Lopez de Pablo, Silvia M. Arribas
Summary: Fetal undernutrition has a significant impact on cardiometabolic diseases, with males showing higher susceptibility. The study revealed that male fetuses demonstrate poorer adaptation to undernutrition, associated with oxidative imbalance, reduced vascularization, and glucocorticoid barrier.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Zhongyu Li, Shounan Lu, Baolin Qian, Zhanzhi Meng, Yongzhi Zhou, Dong Chen, Bangliang Chen, Guangchao Yang, Yong Ma
Summary: Several studies have shown that males are more severely affected than females in the process of ischemia and reperfusion of different organs. This study aims to investigate the correlation between the severity of hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI) and sex, and analyze the potential underlying mechanism. 75 patients with benign liver tumors who underwent partial hepatectomy were enrolled. Comparative analysis revealed that HIRI was more severe in males, especially in younger patients. Estrogen level differences may play a significant role in the sex differences observed in HIRI, along with other gonadal hormones.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xin Shi, Panpan Li, Hanhan Liu, Verena Prokosch
Summary: This article reviews the impact of oxidative stress (OS) on endothelial dysfunction (ED) in the retina and explores the mechanistic links between the two and their role in different retinal neurodegenerative diseases. Understanding the role of endothelial function may lead to new therapeutic approaches.
Article
Neurosciences
Dionnet L. Bhatti, Lucian Medrihan, Michelle X. Chen, Junghee Jin, Kathryn A. McCabe, Wei Wang, Estefania P. Azevedo, Jose H. Ledo, Yong Kim
Summary: This study reveals the roles of PV neurons in stress susceptibility or resilience, and suggests that modulating the activity of PV neurons or a regulator of L-type calcium signaling in PV neurons can control the behavioral effects of chronic stress.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ting Gong, Ann C. Hashimoto, Alexandru R. Sasuclark, Vedbar S. Khadka, Alexandra Gurary, Matthew W. Pitts
Summary: SELENOM is a positive regulator of leptin signaling and thioredoxin antioxidant activity in the hypothalamus. Deficiency of SELENOM impairs downstream STAT3 phosphorylation and cytosolic calcium responses evoked by leptin treatment.
ANTIOXIDANTS & REDOX SIGNALING
(2021)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Yash A. Choksi, Jasmine Chaparro, Michael Blanco, Rohit Sharda, Shabnam Sarker, Sarah Ferguson, Tina Higginbotham, Girish Hiremath, Frank Revetta, M. Kay Washington, Christopher S. Williams, Michael F. Vaezi
CLINICAL GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Janani Saikumar, China N. Byrns, Matthew Hemphill, David F. Meaney, Nancy M. Bonini
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2020)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Sarah P. Short, Jennifer M. Pilat, Caitlyn W. Barrett, Vishruth K. Reddy, Yael Haberman, Jared R. Hendren, Benjamin J. Marsh, Cody E. Keating, Amy K. Motley, Kristina E. Hill, Anne E. Zemper, M. Kay Washington, Chanjuan Shi, Xi Chen, Keith T. Wilson, Jeffrey S. Hyams, Lee A. Denson, Raymond F. Burk, Michael J. Rosen, Christopher S. Williams
Summary: Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) often have nutritional selenium deficiencies and are at higher risk of developing colon cancer. Research has shown that reduction of the antioxidant protein SELENOP can increase tumor development in colitis-associated cancer models, with epithelial-specific deletion of SELENOP leading to elevated oxidative stress and tumor initiation. This suggests that colonic SELENOP levels may serve as a biomarker for disease severity and cancer predisposition in IBD patients.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Brent A. Fujimoto, Madison Young, Nicole Nakamura, Herena Ha, Lamar Carter, Matthew W. Pitts, Daniel Torres, Hye-Lim Noh, Sujin Suk, Jason K. Kim, Noemi Polgar
Summary: This study demonstrates the importance of EXOC5 and the exocyst in insulin-stimulated glucose uptake in skeletal muscle cells. Deficiency of EXOC5 in skeletal muscle cells led to elevated fasting glucose levels, impaired glucose tolerance, and lower energy expenditure in mice. Overall, these findings suggest that EXOC5 and the exocyst play a crucial role in regulating glucose homeostasis in vivo.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bradley Reinfeld, Matthew Z. Madden, Melissa M. Wolf, Anna Chytil, Jackie E. Bader, Andrew R. Patterson, Ayaka Sugiura, Allison S. Cohen, Ahmed Ali, Brian T. Do, Alexander Muir, Caroline A. Lewis, Rachel A. Hongo, Kirsten L. Young, Rachel E. Brown, Vera M. Todd, Tessa Huffstater, Abin Abraham, Richard T. O'Neil, Matthew H. Wilson, Fuxue Xin, M. Noor Tantawy, W. David Merryman, Rachelle W. Johnson, Christopher S. Williams, Emily F. Mason, Frank M. Mason, Katherine E. Beckermann, Matthew G. Vander Heiden, H. Charles Manning, Jeffrey C. Rathmell, W. Kimryn Rathmell
Summary: The study found that in the tumor microenvironment, different cell types have varying abilities to access and consume glucose and glutamine, with nutrient partitioning being programmed in a cell-intrinsic manner through mTORC1 signaling and the expression of genes related to glucose and glutamine metabolism.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Victor W. Kilonzo, Alexandru R. Sasuclark, Daniel J. Torres, Celine Coyle, Jennifer M. Pilat, Christopher S. Williams, Matthew W. Pitts
Summary: Selenium is a crucial micronutrient for mammalian life, affecting redox signaling. The intake of selenium has a significant impact on the activity of antioxidant enzymes, with deficiency leading to various diseases and excess potentially harmful. Research has shown that selenium deficiency can affect cognition, alter sensorimotor regulation, and increase adiposity, while excess selenium surprisingly brings benefits.
FRONTIERS IN NUTRITION
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Kamen P. Simeonov, China N. Byrns, Megan L. Clark, Robert J. Norgard, Beth Martin, Ben Z. Stanger, Jay Shendure, Aaron McKenna, Christopher J. Lengner
Summary: This study introduces a new inducible CRISPR-Cas9-based lineage recorder, macsGESTALT, and reveals that the metastatic potential of cells peaks in rare, late-hybrid EMT states, which are relevant to clinical disease progression.
Editorial Material
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Daniel J. Torres, Matthew W. Pitts
Summary: A new study suggests that pericytes within the blood-brain barrier may play a crucial role in facilitating the passage of leptin from the bloodstream into deeper regions of the brain.
TRENDS IN ENDOCRINOLOGY AND METABOLISM
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Daniel J. Torres, Matthew W. Pitts, Lucia A. Seale, Ann C. Hashimoto, Katlyn J. An, Ashley N. Hanato, Katherine W. Hui, Stella Maris A. Remigio, Bradley A. Carlson, Dolph L. Hatfield, Marla J. Berry
Summary: Selenium plays a crucial role in hypothalamic physiology by supporting leptin signaling and maintaining proper redox balance. Knockout mice of the selenocysteine tRNA gene showed less weight gain on a high-fat diet, with female mice retaining hypothalamic sensitivity to leptin while males were unaffected, indicating a sexually dimorphic influence of selenium on neurobiology and energy homeostasis. These findings provide new insights into the impact of selenoproteins on a specific population of hypothalamic neurons.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Editorial Material
Neurosciences
Matthew W. Pitts, Peter R. Hoffmann, Lutz Schomburg
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lance G. A. Nunes, Matthew W. Pitts, Peter R. Hoffmann
Summary: Selenoprotein I is a unique protein containing selenocysteine, with distinct functions in lipid metabolism and a crucial role in the central nervous system. Its catalytic reaction within the endoplasmic reticulum membrane plays a significant role in human neurological health.
ARCHIVES OF BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOPHYSICS
(2022)
Review
Biology
Christopher S. Williams, W. Kimryn Rathmell, John M. Carethers, Diane M. Harper, Ym Dennis Lo, Peter J. Ratcliffe, Mone Zaidi
Summary: Physician-scientists represent a model of combining curiosity and attention to human health, playing a crucial role in society, economy, and overall well-being. This career not only serves as a bridge to advance research, but also works closely with basic and translational scientists as well as clinicians to drive progress in the health field.
Review
Biology
Christopher S. Williams, Emily J. Gallagher, Don C. Rockey, Olujimi A. Ajijola, Patrick J. Hu, Barbara Kazmierczak, Christopher D. Kontos, Jatin M. Vyas, Mone Zaidi, Kyu Y. Rhee
Summary: This article discusses an opaque career stage transition for physician-scientists and presents key features and interview questions of research-focused residency programs to help trainees choose the program that best supports their career development.
Article
Cell Biology
China N. N. Byrns, Janani Saikumar, Nancy M. M. Bonini
Summary: The authors demonstrate that glial AP1 is initially protective after TBI but can lead to tau pathology and degeneration over time. This process may also occur with normal aging, suggesting that TBI could accelerate age-related degenerative processes.
