Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Emma L. Woods, Irina Grigorieva, Adam C. Midgley, Charlotte V. M. Brown, Yueh-An Lu, Aled O. Phillips, Timothy Bowen, Soma Meran, Robert Steadman
Summary: The study reveals that CD44s plays a crucial role in TGF-beta 1-induced fibroblast/myofibroblast differentiation and IL-1 beta-induced monocyte binding. CD147 is associated with CD44s and is essential for myofibroblast function and collagen gel contraction.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Asma Ahrari, Hossein Najafzadehvarzi, Ali Taravati, Fatemeh Tohidi
Summary: The study demonstrated the protective effect of BBR-PLGA nanoparticles in attenuating liver injury induced by CCl4, leading to a decrease in liver enzyme levels. Compared to free BBR, BBR-PLGA-NPs significantly reduced alpha-SMA expression level and further improved hepatic histology.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Daniel A. Osorio, Silvio R. Consonni, Aline M. dos Santos, Hernandes F. Carvalho
Summary: Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) exhibit a phenotypical transition from a contractile to a synthetic phenotype under different circumstances, influenced by factors such as the fibrin matrix and TGFs. When cultured on a fibrin gel, SMCs show active degradation behavior and increased migration in response to TGF alpha.
MICROSCOPY AND MICROANALYSIS
(2021)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Kaveeta Kaw, Abhijnan Chattopadhyay, Pujun Guan, Jiyuan Chen, Suravi Majumder, Xue-yan Duan, Shuangtao Ma, Chen Zhang, Callie S. Kwartler, Dianna M. Milewicz
Summary: This study investigates how the variant p.Arg149Cys in ACTA2 gene predisposes to atherosclerosis in individuals without cardiovascular risk factors. The variant increases intracellular cholesterol levels in smooth muscle cells, leading to atherosclerotic plaque formation. Treatment with the HMG-CoAR inhibitor pravastatin successfully reverses the increased plaque burden.
EUROPEAN HEART JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Toxicology
Alireza Pouyandeh Ravan, Farjam Goudarzi, Hassan Rafieemehr, Mahdi Bahmani, Fariba Rad, Mohammad Jafari, Marzieh Mahmoodi
Summary: The study investigated the hepatoprotective effects of human umbilical cord MSCs derived conditioned medium (UC-CM) on liver fibrosis in rats induced by CCl4. The results showed significant improvement in weight loss, histological changes, and serum liver enzymes with UC-CM treatment. UC-CM also reduced liver hydroxyproline content and improved oxidative parameters in the rats with fibrosis, indicating its anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Simon Braumann, Wibke Schumacher, Nam Gyu Im, Felix Sebastian Nettersheim, Dennis Mehrkens, Senai Bokredenghel, Alexander Hof, Richard Julius Nies, Christoph Adler, Holger Winkels, Ralph Knoell, Bruce A. Freeman, Volker Rudolph, Anna Klinke, Matti Adam, Stephan Baldus, Martin Mollenhauer, Simon Geissen
Summary: The study demonstrates a substantial therapeutic benefit of NO2-OA in a murine model of dilated cardiomyopathy, mediated by interfering with endogenously activated TGF beta signaling, that can attenuate myocardial fibrosis and substantially improve systolic function in the left ventricle.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Ophthalmology
Anna Puspitasari Bani, Ikhwanuliman Putera, Eka Susanto, Rina La Distia Nora
Summary: The study compared the effect of oral and 0.1% topical diclofenac sodium on short-term inflammation and alpha-SMA expression at the tendon-scleral attachment site following strabismus surgery. The results showed that compared to oral administration, topical diclofenac sodium had a more significant reduction in short-term postoperative inflammation and alpha-SMA expression.
CURRENT EYE RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Hiroki Kobayashi, Krystyna A. Gieniec, Tamsin R. M. Lannagan, Tongtong Wang, Naoya Asai, Yasuyuki Mizutani, Tadashi Iida, Ryota Ando, Elaine M. Thomas, Akihiro Sakai, Nobumi Suzuki, Mari Ichinose, Josephine A. Wright, Laura Vrbanac, Jia Q. Ng, Jarrad Goyne, Georgette Radford, Matthew J. Lawrence, Tarik Sammour, Yoku Hayakawa, Sonja Klebe, Alice E. Shin, Samuel Asfaha, Mark L. Bettington, Florian Rieder, Nicholas Arpaia, Tal Danino, Lisa M. Butler, Alastair D. Burt, Simon J. Leedham, Anil K. Rustgi, Siddhartha Mukherjee, Masahide Takahashi, Timothy C. Wang, Atsushi Enomoto, Susan L. Woods, Daniel L. Worthley
Summary: In colorectal cancer, ACTA2(+) cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) emerge through proliferation from intestinal pericryptal leptin receptor (Lepr)(+) cells. These Lepr-lineage CAFs express melanoma cell adhesion molecule (MCAM), which is inversely associated with patient survival. Knockout of stromal Mcam attenuates orthotopically injected colorectal tumoroid growth and improves survival through decreased tumor-associated macrophage recruitment. The fibroblast MCAM interacts with interleukin-1 receptor 1 to promote macrophage chemotaxis.
Article
Physiology
Young-Yeon Choo, Tsuyoshi Sakai, Satoshi Komatsu, Reiko Ikebe, Ann Jeffers, Karan P. Singh, Steven Idell, Torry A. Tucker, Mitsuo Ikebe
Summary: By investigating the mechanism of contractile myofibroblast differentiation of PMCs, this study found that calponin 1 plays a central role in the formation of stress fibers and focal adhesions, which contribute to the stiffness of scar tissue in the pleura and promote pleural fibrosis (PF).
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-LUNG CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Claudio Humeres, Arti V. Shinde, Anis Hanna, Linda Alex, Silvia C. Hernandez, Ruoshui Li, Bijun Chen, Simon J. Conway, Nikolaos G. Frangogiannis
Summary: Repair of the infarcted heart requires TGF-beta/Smad3 signaling in cardiac myofibroblasts, but it needs to be tightly regulated to prevent excessive fibrosis and adverse remodeling.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION
(2022)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Ying-Ju Lai, Feng-Chun Tsai, Gwo-Jyh Chang, Shang-Hung Chang, Chung-Chi Huang, Wei-Jan Chen, Yung-Hsin Yeh
Summary: This study reveals a mechanistic link between TGF-β-induced endothelial-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) and atrial fibrosis through the miR-181b/Sema3A/LIMK/p-cofilin signaling pathway, and suggests blocking miR-181b and increasing Sema3A as potential strategies for AF therapeutic intervention.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Brittany Balint, Ines Garcia Lascurain Bernstorff, Tanja Schwab, Hans-Joachim Schaefers
Summary: This study investigated individuals with normal tricuspid aortic valves and non-dilated ascending aortic wall. It found that with age, smooth muscle cells in the aortic wall switch from a contractile phenotype to synthetic or senescent states, and the replicative capacity of the cells decreases. The findings suggest that modifying smooth muscle cell phenotype should be considered as a therapeutic approach against aneurysms in the future, regardless of etiology.
FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Biology
Sunisa Yoodee, Chadanat Noonin, Kanyarat Sueksakit, Rattiyaporn Kanlaya, Sakdithep Chaiyarit, Paleerath Peerapen, Visith Thongboonkerd
Summary: Using label-free quantitative proteomics, this study identified significantly altered secreted proteins from COM-exposed macrophages, suggesting their potential role in renal fibrogenesis in kidney stone disease.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Lachlan S. Brown, Natalie E. King, Jo-Maree Courtney, Robert J. Gasperini, Lisa Foa, David W. Howells, Brad A. Sutherland
Summary: Pericytes in the neurovascular unit have multiple important functions, but their heterogeneity has not been well considered in previous studies. By using primary human brain vascular pericytes (HBVP) cultures, researchers identified five distinct morphological subtypes. These subtypes displayed different behaviors and expression of contractility-related protein. Understanding pericyte heterogeneity is crucial for accurately modeling their physiology in vitro.
CELL BIOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Tao Li, Yu Chen, Yuan Li, Gang Chen, Yuqing Zhao, Guangyue Su
Summary: In this study, it was found that 20(R)-25-methoxyl-dammarane-3 beta,12 beta,20-triol (AD-1) can alleviate pulmonary fibrosis (PF) both in vitro and in vivo. The underlying mechanism may involve decreasing extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition and inflammation, enhancing antioxidant capacity, and regulating lung cell apoptosis and the TGF-beta 1/TIMP-1/alpha-SMA signaling pathway.
Article
Pathology
Hrvoje Jakovac, Nikola Stasic, Maja Krasevic, Nives Jonjic, Biserka Radosevic-Stasic
Summary: The study indicates that the expression patterns of MT and megalin in cervical squamous intraepithelial lesions vary, especially with overexpression and co-localization in high-grade lesions. The findings suggest the potential diagnostic value of combined MT/megalin analysis in pre-cancer screening.
Article
Geriatrics & Gerontology
Irene N. Fierloos, Siok Swan Tan, Greg Williams, Tamara Alhambra-Borras, Elin Koppelaar, Lovorka Bilajac, Arpana Verma, Athina Markaki, Francesco Mattace-Raso, Vanja Vasiljev, Carmen B. Franse, Hein Raat
Summary: This study examined the socio-demographic characteristics associated with emotional and social loneliness among older adults. The results showed that factors such as age, gender, living situation, and educational level influenced the experience of loneliness differently. Older age, living without a partner, and having a low educational level were associated with increased emotional and social loneliness in this population.
Review
Oncology
Sergej Nadalin, Hrvoje Jakovac, Vjekoslav Peitl, Dalibor Karlovic, Alena Buretic-Tomljanovic
Summary: The review discusses the potential link between severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and serious mental illness (SMI) through genetic and non-genetic factors influencing inflammatory response. It also proposes a genetics-based prediction model for SMI using ACE-I/D genotyping to treat patients with severe COVID-19, suggesting that ACE inhibitors may have protective effects against SMI or severe COVID-19.
MOLECULAR MEDICINE REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Hrvoje Jakovac, Antun Ferencic, Christophe Stemberger, Bojana Mohar Vitezic, Drazen Cuculic
Summary: Subacute thyroiditis is associated with acute Sars-Cov-2 infection and post-COVID-19 syndrome, possibly due to direct viral damage, systemic inflammatory reaction, or autoimmune response. An immunohistochemical/immunofluorescence detection study found the presence of Sars-Cov-2 viral proteins in thyroid tissue.
EUROPEAN THYROID JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mario Kurtjak, Sami Kereiche, Damir Klepac, Hrvoje Krizan, Marko Percic, Vedrana Krusic Alic, Teja Lavrin, Metka Lenassi, Karmen Wechtersbach, Nika Kojc, Marija Vukomanovic, Sinisa Zrna, Masa Biberic, Robert Domitrovic, Kristina Grabusic, Mladenka Malenica
Summary: Extracellular vesicles in biofluids have great diagnostic and prognostic potential. This study observed the morphology of EVs in human cerebrospinal fluid and identified different subpopulations with potential different biological functions.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Iva Potocnjak, Lidija Simic, Iva Vukelic, Lara Baticic, Robert Domitrovic
Summary: This study found that Oleanolic acid (OA) can induce both apoptosis and prosurvival mitophagy in colon cancer cells through the p38/FOXO3a/Sirt6 signaling pathway. Additionally, OA can chemosensitize colon cancer cells to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU).
CHEMICO-BIOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sergej Nadalin, Sanja Devic Pavlic, Vjekoslav Peitl, Dalibor Karlovic, Lena Zatkovic, Smiljana Ristic, Alena Buretic-Tomljanovic, Hrvoje Jakovac
Summary: We investigated the impact of a functional insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) on antipsychotic treatment. The results showed that the ACE-I/D polymorphism was significantly associated with changes in PANSS psychopathology, with a weak gender-specific effect and no association with metabolic-syndrome-related parameters.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sophie A. Korenhof, Ellen Rouwet, Liset E. M. Elstgeest, Siok Swan Tan, Stefania Macchione, Vanja Vasiljev, Tomislav Rukavina, Tamara Alhambra-Borras, Irene N. Fierloos, Hein Raat
Summary: This study aimed to explore the effects of mindfulness practices on self-management in cardiovascular disease patients. The results showed that after a 7-week mindfulness-based intervention, participants experienced significant improvements in self-efficacy, stress, social support, depressive symptoms, and self-rated health. These findings support the use of mindfulness practices in cardiovascular care for enhancing self-management.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Iva Potocnjak, Lidija Simic, Lara Baticic, Hrvoje Krizan, Robert Domitrovic
Summary: Sinomenine has been found to alleviate kidney injury caused by cisplatin by targeting multiple signaling pathways to reduce oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis.
FOOD AND CHEMICAL TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ana Zulijani, Ana Milardovic, Zoran Kovac, Berislav Peric, Hrvoje Jakovac
Summary: This study evaluated the impact of megalin expression on disease progression in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). The results showed that megalin expression was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis, vascular invasion, and lower overall survival rate. Megalin may serve as a novel molecule involved in OSCC pathogenesis and a potential biomarker for cancer progression.
CURRENT ISSUES IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY
(2023)
Letter
Pathology
Antun Ferencic, Christophe Stemberger, Drazen Cuculic, Hrvoje Jakovac
INDIAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY AND MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Hrvoje Jakovac, Antun Ferencic, Christophe Stemberger, Bojana Mohar Vitezic, Drazen Cuculic
Summary: Mounting evidence suggests that new arrhythmic events frequently occur during and after COVID-19, especially in older-aged and critically ill patients, which increases the risk of mortality. However, the underlying mechanisms and pathological substrates of COVID-related arrhythmias have not yet been fully understood. This study reports the presence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antigens and genes in the atrioventricular node (AV-node) of the cardiac conduction system, indicating a possible direct infection as an arrhythmogenic factor.
TROPICAL MEDICINE AND INFECTIOUS DISEASE
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Vanja Vasiljev, D. Juraga, L. Bilajac, M. Marinovic Glavic, D. Rovis, B. Jelakovic, T. Rukavina
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Meeting Abstract
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Denis Juraga, V. Vasiljev, L. Bilajac, M. Marinovic Glavic, D. Rovis, T. Rukavina
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Psychology, Clinical
Darko Rovis, Vanja Vasiljev, Zala Jenko-Praznikar, Ana Petelin, Gorazd Drevensek, Dolores Peruc, Masa Cernelic-Bizjak
Summary: This study examines the relationships between self-reported childhood history of trauma, parental bonding, psychopathology, impulsivity, current resiliency, two neuropeptides, and severity of drug-related problems in individuals with a history of opioid use. Serum NPY and SP levels may be used as biomarkers to predict behavioral adjustment and more severe drug-related problems.
JOURNAL OF MENTAL HEALTH
(2021)