Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Pao-Huan Chen, Cheng-Chih Chung, Yuan-Feng Lin, Yu-Hsun Kao, Yi-Jen Chen
Summary: The study showed that therapeutic trough levels of lithium can reduce the migration and collagen synthesis abilities of human cardiac fibroblasts by inhibiting SOCE and Orai1 expression.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Jose Luis Garrido-Huarte, Josep Fita-Torro, Rosa Viana, Amparo Pascual-Ahuir, Markus Proft
Summary: SARS-CoV-2 accessory proteins ORF3a and ORF7a manipulate autophagic flux within host cells, promoting virus replication and spreading. In yeast models, ORF3a localizes to the vacuolar membrane and inhibits autophagic degradation, while ORF7a targets the endoplasmic reticulum and stimulates autophagosome formation. Both proteins decrease cellular fitness and interfere with autophagosome processing and formation, as well as with Ca2+ homeostasis.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Anna Luganini, Valentina Serra, Giorgia Scarpellino, Shree Madhu Bhat, Luca Munaron, Alessandra Fiorio Pla, Giorgio Gribaudo
Summary: Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) captures and duplicates cellular genes to generate modern viral proteins that interfere with cellular pathways, promoting infection and persistence. The US21 viral protein, a cellular-derived calcium channel, manipulates intracellular calcium to enhance HCMV replication. This study characterizes a new function of the US21 protein as a viral regulator of cell migration and adhesion through its calcium channel activity, providing insights for understanding viral pathogenesis and potential antiviral strategies.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Yun-Zhong Nie, Yun-Wen Zheng, Hideki Taniguchi
Summary: This study established a hepatocyte aging model from human-induced pluripotent stem cells and developed a method to characterize hepatocyte plasticity ex vivo. The study found that hepatocyte plasticity decreases with aging due to histone hypoacetylation, and inhibiting histone deacetylases can restore aging-impaired plasticity. By improving the plasticity of elderly primary human hepatocytes, their repopulation capacity in liver injury models was enhanced, indicating hepatocyte plasticity as a potential therapeutic target for promoting liver regeneration in the elderly.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Carmen Costas-Ferreira, Lilian R. F. Faro
Summary: Pesticides from different chemical classes exert toxic effects on the nervous system by altering calcium homeostasis, leading to oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and ultimately neuronal death. Proposed strategies to counteract these effects are also discussed in the review.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Nora Botten, Robin R. Hodges, Jeffrey Bair, Tor P. Utheim, Charles N. Serhan, Menglu Yang, Darlene A. Dartt
Summary: The mucin layer of the tear film, produced by conjunctival goblet cells, is important for protecting the ocular surface. A lipid mediator called resolvin D2 (RvD2), derived from omega 3 fatty acids, has been found to stimulate mucin secretion from these goblet cells. This study aimed to identify the Ca2+-dependent signaling pathways involved in RvD2-induced secretion. The results showed that RvD2 activates multiple Ca2+-dependent pathways, along with one Ca2+-independent and one cAMP/protein kinase A-dependent pathway. These findings contribute to our understanding of ocular surface homeostasis and health.
JOURNAL OF CELLULAR PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Medicinal
Murugaiah A. M. Subbaiah, Lakshumanan Subramani, Thangeswaran Ramar, Salil Desai, Sarmistha Sinha, Sandhya Mandlekar, John F. Kadow, Susan Jenkins, Mark Krystal, Murali Subramanian, Srikanth Sridhar, Shweta Padmanabhan, Priyadeep Bhutani, Rambabu Arla, Nicholas A. Meanwell
Summary: This study examined a series of (carbonyl)oxyalkyl amino acid ester prodrugs of the marketed HIV-1 protease inhibitor atazanavir (1) to enhance its systemic drug delivery. The optimized candidates showed significantly enhanced plasma exposure and trough concentration of 1 in rats, and exhibited differentiated PK paradigms based on prodrug activation and drug release kinetics.
JOURNAL OF MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Erzsebet Paszti-Gere, Judit Pomothy, Akos Jerzsele, Oliver Pilgram, Torsten Steinmetzer
Summary: The study demonstrated that MI-1900 and MI-1907 were tolerated up to 50 μM in HIEC-6 and PHH, without affecting cell viability, occludin distribution or inflammatory cytokine levels. However, redox status in PHH was disturbed by the inhibitors. Additionally, MI-1900 was shown to inhibit the replication and spread of SARS-CoV-2 in infected Calu-3 cells by targeting the host protease TMPRSS2.
JOURNAL OF ENZYME INHIBITION AND MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xinzhi Li, Kaixin Ding, Xueying Li, Bingchuan Yuan, Yuqin Wang, Zhicheng Yao, Shuaikang Wang, He Huang, Bolin Xu, Liwei Xie, Tuo Deng, Xiao-wei Chen, Zheng Chen
Summary: Hepatic WTAP plays a crucial role in regulating ectopic lipid accumulation and inflammation during NASH progression. Deletion of WTAP promotes both ectopic lipid accumulation and inflammation, leading to the development of NASH.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Maryam Aghadi, Ramy Elgendy, Essam M. Abdelalim
Summary: FOXA2 plays a crucial role in the development and function of human hepatocytes, and its loss leads to developmental defects and functional abnormalities. This study provides insights into the mechanisms of FOXA2 in liver cells and offers a valuable model for studying FOXA2-associated liver disorders.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nathaniel H. O. Harder, Hannah P. Lee, Valerie J. Flood, Jessica A. San Juan, Skyler K. Gillette, Marie C. Heffern
Summary: Recent studies have shown that fat accumulation alters copper regulation, leading to a state of copper deficiency in cells. This study further investigates the impact of excess fatty acids on copper trafficking mechanisms in liver cells, revealing that fatty acid uptake induces copper overload initially, but shifts to copper deficiency over time. These findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms linking copper-deficient states to obesity-associated disorders.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Yi Zheng, Jian Zhao, Deyu Miao, Tingting Xu, Liziniu Wang, Changhui Liu, Yong Gao, Lili Yu, Chuangpeng Shen
Summary: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common health issue. This study investigated the beneficial effect of Typhaneoside (TYP) on cells and mice with disorders of glucose and lipid metabolism, inflammation, oxidative stress and lower thermogenesis, mediated through the activation of the farnesoid X receptor (FXR). TYP improved metabolic parameters, such as blood glucose, lipid accumulation, insulin resistance, inflammation, oxidative stress and energy expenditure in vitro and in vivo by activating the expression of FXR.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Yuan Du, Shuqin Jian, Xicheng Wang, Chao Yang, Hua Qiu, Kang Fang, Yehong Yan, Jun Shi, Jianfeng Li
Summary: By analyzing single-cell transcriptomic data, we have identified a population of hepatocytes that are closely associated with liver regeneration. Through machine learning algorithms, we have identified a set of 17 genes that are highly indicative of the regenerative capacity of hepatocytes. Functional enrichment analysis of these genes indicates their close correlation with the cell cycle pathway.
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Stephanie D. Wolf, Christian Ehlting, Sophia Mueller-Dott, Gereon Poschmann, Patrick Petzsch, Tobias Lautwein, Sai Wang, Barbara Helm, Marcel Schilling, Julio Saez-Rodriguez, Mihael Vucur, Kai Stuehler, Karl Koehrer, Frank Tacke, Steven Dooley, Ursula Klingmueller, Tom Luedde, Johannes G. Bode
Summary: This study reveals the importance of different macrophage populations in the liver and their activation states. The F4/80(+)/CD11b(hi)/CD14(hi) macrophages are recruited in a CCR2-dependent manner and exhibit a distinct activation state compared to other liver macrophage populations. The primary hepatocytes can induce the same specific activation state in bone marrow-derived macrophages in vitro as observed in F4/80(+)/CD11b(hi)/CD14(hi) liver macrophages in vivo.
HEPATOLOGY COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dario F. De Jesus, Tomohiko Kimura, Manoj K. Gupta, Rohit N. Kulkarni
Summary: In this study, we found that neuronal regeneration-related protein (NREP) is downregulated in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and its deficiency leads to transcriptomic remodeling and abnormal lipid metabolism in human hepatocytes. Calcium signaling is identified as a potential mediator of NREP insufficiency's effects.
CELL CHEMICAL BIOLOGY
(2023)