Review
Oncology
Jonathan Robert Weitz, Herve Tiriac, Tatiana Hurtado de Mendoza, Alexis Wascher, Andrew M. Lowy
Summary: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has the highest mortality rate among major cancers, and current therapies have had limited success. Understanding the complex tumor microenvironment (TME) of PDAC, including fibrotic matrix and immunosuppressive features, is crucial for developing effective treatments. Organotypic tumor slices from patient tumors provide a valuable model system to study TME interactions and potential therapeutic approaches for personalized cancer therapy.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sara Merlo, Grazia Ilaria Caruso, Dhwani Sunil Korde, Alla Khodorovska, Christian Humpel, Maria Angela Sortino
Summary: Melatonin exerts neuroprotective effects on neuronal and glial cells, with its effects on microglia mediated by MT1 receptor and dependent on SIRT1 activation. In this study, the effects of melatonin on hippocampal microglia in a 3D context were compared to a single cell type context using the HMC3 cell line. Melatonin showed anti-inflammatory effects against LPS-induced inflammation, including the regulation of NF-kB expression, and these effects were mediated by SIRT1. The multicellular context is important for the full activity of melatonin, especially in a preventive view, and organotypic brain cultures can be used as a favorable model to study inflammatory responses.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Qian Jiao, Li Wang, Zhichao Zhang, Xinlin Chen, Haixia Lu, Yong Liu
Summary: Therapeutic strategies based on neural stem cells (NSCs) transplantation provide hope for neural degenerative disorders, but the influence of host tissue on the behavior of transplanted NSCs is not well understood. This study examined the interaction between NSC grafts and host tissue in normal and pathological conditions, revealing that the microenvironment strongly influenced the survival, differentiation, and growth of NSCs. The findings contribute to understanding how the host environment determines the fate of transplanted NSCs and support the potential of NSC transplantation therapy for neurological diseases.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Maria V. Monteiro, Yu Shrike Zhang, Vitor M. Gaspar, Joao F. Mano
Summary: The combination of organ-on-a-chip platforms with additive manufacturing technologies offers a disruptive approach for upgrading cancer-on-a-chip systems. These hybrid platforms can create physiomimetic 3D models that better emulate tumor microenvironment elements and improve the predictability of therapeutics performance.
TRENDS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jeffrey A. Stogsdill, Corey C. Harwell, Steven A. Goldman
Summary: Astrocytes are crucial for the development, plasticity, and maintenance of neural circuits in the central nervous system. They have diverse functions and play integral roles in regulating neural activity. Dysfunction of astrocytes has been implicated in various neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders. This review focuses on the contributions of astrocytes to synaptic development and maturation, as well as their role in supporting myelin integrity and potential therapeutic strategies targeting these cells.
ANNALS OF THE NEW YORK ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Yolanda Paes-Colli, Priscila M. P. Trindade, Louise C. Vitorino, Fabiana Piscitelli, Fabio Arturo Iannotti, Raquel M. P. Campos, Alinny R. Isaac, Andrey Fabiano Lourenco de Aguiar, Silvana Allodi, Fernando G. de Mello, Marcelo Einicker-Lamas, Raphael de Siqueira-Santos, Vincenzo Di Marzo, Bakhos A. Tannous, Litia A. Carvalho, Ricardo De Melo A. Reis, Luzia S. Sampaio
Summary: This study investigated the expression of the endocannabinoid system (ECS) in olfactory ensheathing glia (OEG) and its role in regulating the differentiation of oligodendrocytes in hippocampal mixed cell cultures. The results showed that OEG expresses key genes of the ECS and the conditioned medium of OEG cultures contains endocannabinoids such as anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG). Additionally, the addition of OEG conditioned medium enhanced the complexity of oligodendrocyte process branching, which was inhibited by a CB1 receptor antagonist.
FRONTIERS IN CELLULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Rebeca Sanchez-Gonzalez, Laura Lopez-Mascaraque
Summary: This study provides a detailed analysis of the glial cell layering, ontogeny, and sibling cell relationship in the piriform cortex using multi-color genetic lineage tracing approaches, revealing a temporal pattern and spatio-temporal progenitor heterogeneity.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Lisa Nieland, Liza M. Morsett, Marike L. D. Broekman, Xandra O. Breakefield, Erik R. Abels
Summary: This review focuses on recent findings regarding extracellular vesicle-mediated communication between glioblastoma cells and astrocytes, highlighting the protumor and antitumor roles of astrocytes in glioblastoma development.
TRENDS IN NEUROSCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Sun-Li Cai, Yao-Shun Yang, Yan-Fu Ding, Shu-Hua Yang, Xi-Zheng Jia, Yun-Wen Gu, Chris Wood, Xue-Ting Huang, Jin-Shu Yang, Wei-Jun Yang
Summary: This study reveals the existence of long-lived deep quiescent NSCs in the adult murine brain and their role in brain development. SETD4, an epigenetic determinant of cellular quiescence, plays an important role in maintaining the quiescent state of NSCs. The findings suggest that SETD4 has a dual role in the maintenance and activation of NSCs, regulating neurogenesis.
Review
Hematology
Alberto Yanez, Cristina Bono, Helen S. Goodridge
Summary: This review discusses recent studies on the heterogeneity of myeloid cells, including granulocytes, monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells, highlighting the influence of ontogeny and microenvironmental cues on their diversity. Understanding the heterogeneity of myeloid cells is crucial for comprehending their various activities and designing novel therapeutic approaches.
CURRENT OPINION IN HEMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Nadia Yanet Cortes-Alvarez, Cesar Ruben Vuelvas-Olmos, Maria Fernanda Pinto-Gonzalez, Jorge Guzman-Muniz, Oscar Gonzalez-Perez, Norma Angelica Moy-Lopez
Summary: Maternal high-fat diet during pregnancy affects neurodevelopment and cognitive function in offspring, as evidenced by changes in Ob-R expression in the hippocampal regions and poor memory performance.
NUTRITIONAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Andrea Manterola, Juan Carlos Chara, Tania Aguado, Javier Palazuelos, Carlos Matute, Susana Mato
Summary: CB1 receptors are present in a low proportion of adult oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPCs), which provides an anatomical basis for the remyelination effects of cannabinoids. This study opens a novel perspective on the roles of the endocannabinoid system in brain physiology through the modulation of NG2 glia.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROANATOMY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Anneline Pinson, Wieland B. Huttner
Summary: The evolutionary expansion of the neocortex is primarily due to an increased and prolonged proliferation of neural progenitor cells, with basal progenitors playing a key role in the generation of neurons. Recent studies have identified primate-specific and human-specific genes that promote increased proliferative capacity of cortical progenitors.
CURRENT OPINION IN CELL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Simon Hippenmeyer
Summary: How to generate a brain of correct size and with appropriate cell-type diversity during development is a major question in Neuroscience. In the developing neocortex, radial glial progenitor (RGP) cells are important neural stem cells that produce cortical neurons and glial cells. Understanding the cellular and molecular mechanisms instructing faithful RGP lineage progression is crucial for preventing cortical malformations.
CURRENT OPINION IN NEUROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nadezda Lukacova, Alexandra Kisucka, Katarina Kiss Bimbova, Maria Bacova, Maria Ileninova, Tomas Kuruc, Jan Galik
Summary: Traumatic spinal cord injury induces acute inflammatory response driven by microglia and macrophages. The interaction between microglia and astrocytes plays a crucial role in determining their fate and function after SCI. The time-dependent transformation of reactive microglia and astrocytes into neuroprotective phenotypes is essential for post-SCI recovery.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)