Article
Cell Biology
Mathilde Kerherve, Sara Rosinska, Kilian Trillet, Alya Zeinaty, Magalie Feyeux, Steven Nedellec, Julie Gavard
Summary: Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a rare but devastating brain tumor in adults, with current treatments being generally ineffective. This study focused on a population of self-sustaining transformed cells with stem-like properties (GSCs) within GBM, which play a crucial role in tumor initiation, growth, invasion, and recurrence. An ex vivo model was established to explore the invasive behavior of GSCs, and it was found that the glycoprotein Neuropilin-1 (NRP1) contributes to their spreading and invasion. This study proposes a reliable approach to studying invasive properties of patient glioma cells and identifies NRP1 as a mediator in this malignant process.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Dejan Mamula, Mark Korthals, Johannes Hradsky, Anna Gottfried, Klaus-Dieter Fischer, Kerry Tedford
Summary: Arhgef6 acts as a repressor of T cell speed and turning by limiting actin polymerization and lamellipodia formation, which leads to faster migration and increased turning in Arhgef6(-/-) T cells. This repression is due to hyperactive Cofilin and abnormal GTPase activation and recruitment.
JOURNAL OF LEUKOCYTE BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Yang Yang, Yizhe Wang, Xiaofang Che, Kezuo Hou, Jie Wu, Chunlei Zheng, Yang Cheng, Yunpeng Liu, Xuejun Hu, Jingdong Zhang
Summary: The study revealed that the integrin alpha 5/FAK/STAT3/AKT signaling pathway promotes icotinib resistance and malignancy in NSCLC cells. Targeting this pathway may provide a promising strategy to overcome drug resistance.
Article
Neurosciences
Kathleen K. Catignas, Luciana R. Frick, Marta Pellegatta, Edward Hurley, Zachary Kolb, Kathryn Addabbo, Joseph H. McCarty, Richard O. Hynes, Arjan van der Flier, Yannick Poitelon, Lawrence Wrabetz, Maria Laura Feltri
Summary: The study indicates that alpha(V)-containing integrins play a role in the interaction between Schwann cells and axons in the developing peripheral nervous system. However, animal experiments suggest that overlapping or compensatory mechanisms may mask the function of RGD-binding integrins in vivo in the absence of the alpha(V) subunit.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Laura Wiggins, Alice Lord, Killian L. Murphy, Stuart E. Lacy, Peter J. O'Toole, William J. Brackenbury, Julie Wilson
Summary: CellPhe is a pattern recognition toolkit that enables unbiased characterization of cellular phenotypes within time-lapse videos. It imports tracking information from multiple algorithms and provides automated recognition and removal of erroneous cell boundaries. It also offers a variety of feature selection and classification algorithms.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Yujing Gao, Yujie Fang, Yongli Huang, Rui Ma, Xixi Chen, Fang Wang, Xiuying Pei, Yuanqi Gao, Xuehua Chen, Xinrui Liu, Jingxuan Shan, Pu Li
Summary: MIIP has been identified as a favorable indicator of prognosis in triple-negative breast cancer. It exerts its tumor-suppressive effects by inhibiting angiogenesis, proliferation, and metastasis of cancer cells. MIIP interacts with ITGB3 and suppresses its downstream signaling, resulting in downregulated VEGFA production and epithelial mesenchymal transition. The RGD motif of MIIP is essential for its binding with ITGB3 and efficient tumor suppression.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anpei Huang, Ruizhi Wang, Ji Cui, Ying Gao, Zheng Yin, Lianzhou Chen, Meifang He, Wen Li
Summary: This study found that GOLPH3 is overexpressed in colorectal cancer tissues and cells, and it promotes the metastasis and progression of colorectal cancer by facilitating STAT3 activation and regulating the expression of EMT transcription factor ZEB1 and integrin alpha 3.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Claire A. Gianakas, Daniel P. Keeley, William Ramos-Lewis, Kieop Park, Ranjay Jayadev, Isabel W. Kenny, Qiuyi Chi, David R. Sherwood
Summary: The study identifies the crucial role of hemicentin and fibulin-1 in initiating and strengthening basement membrane (BM) attachment. The mechanisms underlying BM-BM linkage maturation are revealed, providing new insights into this specialized form of tissue linkage.
JOURNAL OF CELL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Hongmei Xu, Yucheng Huo, Quan Zhou, Lianghao Abraham Wang, Pingqiang Cai, Bryant Doss, Changjin Huang, K. Jimmy Hsia
Summary: Wound healing through reepithelialization of gaps is regulated by the geometry of the gap, which may occur through different pathways. In addition to purse-string contraction, cell protrusion and lamellipodium extension are critical mechanisms for closure of wavy gaps. The direction of cell migration, gap bridging, and actin cable constriction depend on the perpendicular alignment, size, and negative curvature of the gap. The discoveries deepen our understanding of cell responses to curvature and provide insights for tissue repair and wound management strategies.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jinman Xiao, Tian Zhao, Wanli Fang, Yu Chen, Hao Wu, Ping Li, Xiangyan Chen, Ran Yan, Ying Jiang, Shun Li, Hong Yang, Chunhui Wu, Xiang Qin, Xiaoling Liao, Lulu Cai, Tingting Li, Yiyao Liu
Summary: Mitochondrial dynamics play a crucial role in cancer progression, and an imbalance of mitochondrial fusion and fission can greatly affect cancer cell behavior. This study found that the expression of Cav-1 is higher in highly metastatic breast cancer cells compared to low-metastatic or normal breast cells. Downregulation of Cav-1 reduces the migratory and invasive abilities of breast cancer cells by affecting mitochondrial dynamics and intracellular ROS generation. These findings suggest that Cav-1 may be a potential target for inhibiting breast cancer metastasis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOCHEMISTRY & CELL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Andrea R. Marcadis, Elizabeth Kao, Qi Wang, Chun-Hao Chen, Laxmi Gusain, Ann Powers, Richard L. Bakst, Sylvie Deborde, Richard J. Wong
Summary: The invasion of nerves by cancer cells, or perineural invasion (PNI), is influenced by the nerve microenvironment and is associated with negative clinical outcomes. However, the specific characteristics of cancer cells that enable PNI have not been well defined. Through serial passaging of pancreatic cancer cells in a murine sciatic nerve model of PNI, we generated cell lines enriched for a rapid neuroinvasive phenotype. These leading neuroinvasive cells exhibited upregulation of proteins involving the plasma membrane, cell leading edge, and cell movement. They also underwent phenotypic changes from a mesenchymal to an amoeboid phenotype, and acquired increased migration ability and affinity for dorsal root ganglia. Inhibition of ROCK reversed these changes and reduced PNI in a murine sciatic nerve model. This study highlights the plasticity of cancer migration mode in facilitating rapid nerve invasion.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jianfei Zhang, Qianqiao Guo, Guoxiang Zhang, Xuemei Cao, Wei Chen, Yong Li, Minwu Guan, Jianjun Yu, Xindong Wang, Yujin Yan
Summary: The expression of MYBPH is found to be highly associated with glioma aggressiveness and poor prognosis. This study establishes MYBPH as an important prognostic biomarker and suggests its potential as a therapeutic target.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Marc Wolf, Robiya Joseph, Judith Austermann, Chiara Scharrnbeck-Davis, Sven Hermann, Johannes Roth, Thomas Vogl
Summary: Immune reactions involve the migration of phagocytes to sites of inflammation to prevent uncontrolled extravasation. The calcium-binding protein complex S100A8/S100A9 has both extracellular and intracellular functions, and this study reveals that it plays an important role in coordinating cytoskeleton rearrangement during cell migration. Cells lacking S100A8/S100A9 showed abnormalities in adhesion and motility, as well as dysregulated integrin-mediated adhesion and migration. The findings suggest that intracellular S100A8/S100A9 is involved in a regulatory mechanism that controls the transition between quiescent and activated states of phagocytes.
Article
Plant Sciences
Bu Wang, Fang Zou, Gu Xin, Bao-Li Xiang, Jian-Qing Zhao, Sheng-Fang Yuan, Xiu-Long Zhang, Zhi-Hua Zhang
Summary: This study found that sodium tanshinone IIA sulphate (STS) extracted from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge has an anti-tumor effect on lung adenocarcinoma, inhibiting cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and angiogenesis. This effect may be mediated by the miR-874/eEF-2K/TG2 pathway. STS could be a promising drug to fight against lung cancer and effectively reverse drug resistance when combined with classical anticancer drugs.
PHARMACEUTICAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Qian Liang, Yun Wang, Yingsi Lu, Qingqing Zhu, Wenlin Xie, Nannan Tang, Lifen Huang, Tailai An, Di Zhang, Anqi Yan, Shaoyu Liu, Liping Ye, Chengming Zhu
Summary: The study revealed the functional expression of RANK in human CRC cells and demonstrated that RANK induced the Ca2+-calcineurin/NFATC1-ACP5 axis in the regulation of CRC metastasis, that might be amenable to therapeutic targeting.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Elisabetta Fiacco, Maryam Alowaysi, Veronica Astro, Antonio Adamo
STEM CELL RESEARCH
(2020)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Maryam Alowaysi, Elisabetta Fiacco, Veronica Astro, Antonio Adamo
STEM CELL RESEARCH
(2020)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Maryam Alowaysi, Elisabetta Fiacco, Veronica Astro, Antonio Adamo
STEM CELL RESEARCH
(2020)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Elisabetta Fiacco, Maryam Alowaysi, Veronica Astro, Antonio Adamo
Summary: Klinefelter Syndrome (KS) is the most common X chromosome aneuploidy in males, characterized by a range of clinical manifestations such as infertility, metabolic syndrome, gynecomastia and cardiovascular diseases. This study generated multiple isogenic cell lines from one 47-XXY patient, providing a valuable tool to study the impact of X chromosome dosage on KS pathophysiology.
STEM CELL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Maryam Alowaysi, Veronica Astro, Elisabetta Fiacco, Fatema Alzahrani, Fowzan S. Alkuraya, Antonio Adamo
Summary: GLP1R is a protein expressed in multiple human tissues, with GLP1R agonists commonly used as antidiabetic drugs and also showing potential neuroprotective function. iPSC lines derived from a patient with a GLP1R variant can be used as a model to study the molecular pathology of GLP1R dysfunction.
STEM CELL RESEARCH
(2021)
Editorial Material
Cell Biology
Ivan de Curtis
Summary: Liquid-liquid phase separation plays a crucial role in the formation of biomolecular condensates and the spatial organization of cellular processes. Recent evidence suggests that components of plasma-membrane-associated platforms form biomolecular condensates near focal adhesions and indicate that phase separation regulates dynamic processes at the front of migrating cells.
TRENDS IN CELL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Marta Guerrero-Valero, Federica Grandi, Silvia Cipriani, Valeria Alberizzi, Roberta Di Guardo, Gaetan Chicanne, Linda Sawade, Francesca Bianchi, Ubaldo Del Carro, Ivan De Curtis, Davide Pareyson, Yesim Parman, Angelo Schenone, Volker Haucke, Bernard Payrastre, Alessandra Bolino
Summary: CMT4B1 is a severe autosomal recessive demyelinating neuropathy caused by loss-of-function mutations in the MTMR2 gene. MTMR2 regulates PtdIns(3,5)P-2 levels to coordinate myelin synthesis and cytoskeletal dynamics, promoting myelin membrane expansion and growth. Pharmaceutical inhibition of PtdIns(3,5)P-2 synthesis or mTORC1/RhoA signaling can ameliorate CMT4B1 phenotypes.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Marta Pellegatta, Caterina Berti, Edward Hurley, Marilena Palmisano, Ivan de Curtis, M. Laura Feltri, Luciana R. Frick
Summary: In Schwann cells, the small Rho GTPases Rac1 and Rac3 have opposing functions during peripheral myelination, with Rac3 deletion partially rescuing developmental defects caused by Rac1 deficiency. The Schwann cell-specific defect in myelin maintenance may contribute to disease deterioration even in the absence of neuronal Rac3 loss.
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Martina Ramella, Lucrezia Maria Ribolla, Ivan de Curtis
Summary: This review introduces molecular networks assembled at the edge of migrating cells and at pre- and postsynaptic sites, which share molecular players that can drive the assembly of biomolecular condensates. Recent experimental evidence suggests that liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) plays an important role in regulating active cellular processes and continuous spatial rearrangements of molecular interactions involved in these dynamic processes.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Henna Pehkonen, Ivan de Curtis, Outi Monni
Summary: Liprins are a multifunctional family of scaffold proteins involved in important neuronal functions as well as processes relevant to cancer progression. They may serve as potential biomarkers for cancer progression and have therapeutic implications.
Article
Cell Biology
Veronica Astro, Maryam Alowaysi, Elisabetta Fiacco, Alfonso Saera-Vila, Kelly J. Cardona-Londono, Riccardo Aiese Cigliano, Antonio Adamo
Summary: This study investigates the genetic characteristics of Klinefelter syndrome (KS) and higher grade sex chromosome aneuploidies (HGAs) using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). The findings suggest that genes within the pseudoautosomal region 1 (PAR1) are most susceptible to transcriptional dysregulation in higher grade X aneuploidies, while non-PAR escape genes show interclonal and interpatient variability. Furthermore, the study explores the transcriptional effects of X chromosome overdosage on autosomes and identifies nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1) as a key regulator.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Gustavo Ramirez-Calderon, Giovanni Colombo, Carlos A. Hernandez-Bautista, Veronica Astro, Antonio Adamo
Summary: Human pluripotent stem cells can be differentiated into cardiac tissue models through three-dimensional cardiac organoid protocols, which faithfully recapitulate the features of cardiac tissue in transcription, function, and morphology. Recent advances in cell differentiation methods have greatly improved the reliability and efficiency of cardiac organoid derivation and expanded their applications in drug screening and modeling of heart diseases.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Marta Ripamonti, Bernhard Wehrle-Haller, Ivan de Curtis
Summary: Focal adhesions are cell structures that anchor cells to the extracellular matrix and also play a role in mechanosignaling by integrating physical and chemical cues from the microenvironment. Paxillin, a protein involved in focal adhesion formation and scaffolding, appears to have a key role in integrating multiple signals and activating various molecular responses from the microenvironment. This minireview provides an overview of the molecular mechanisms underlying the mechanosensitivity and mechanosignaling capacity of core focal adhesion proteins, with a focus on the role of paxillin.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Veronica Astro, Gustavo Ramirez-Calderon, Roberta Pennucci, Jonatan Caroli, Alfonso Saera-Vila, Kelly Cardona-Londono, Chiara Forastieri, Elisabetta Fiacco, Fatima Maksoud, Maryam Alowaysi, Elisa Sogne, Andrea Falqui, Federico Gonzalez, Nuria Montserrat, Elena Battaglioli, Andrea Mattevi, Antonio Adamo
Summary: The histone demethylase KDM1A plays a crucial role in cardiac differentiation by regulating the expression of specific splice variants. The modulation of ubKDM1A and KDM1A+2a during fetal cardiac development is important for the specification and maintenance of cell identity. Deficiency of KDM1A severely impairs cardiac differentiation, while deficiency of KDM1A+2a enhances the differentiation into functional cardiac cells.
Article
Biology
Marta Ripamonti, Andrea Lamarca, Norman E. Davey, Diletta Tonoli, Sara Surini, Ivan de Curtis
Summary: Scaffold protein liprin-alpha 1 plays an important role in assembling plasma membrane-associated platforms (PMAPs) at the front of migrating breast cancer cells. It interacts with B56 regulatory subunits and mediates the interaction between liprin-alpha 1 and the heterotrimeric PP2A holoenzyme. B56 gamma/PP2A is a novel component of the PMAPs machinery regulating tumor cell motility.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)