Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Xiao Li, Yongguang Chen, Xikai Tu, Hailong Huang
Summary: The number of patients suffering from nerve injury is increasing due to traumatic accidents and diseases. A three-dimensional nerve stretch growth device has been developed for an implantable neural interface, along with optimal culturing parameters discovered through experiments using neurons derived from pluripotent stem cells.
Review
Developmental Biology
Cory J. Weaver, Fabienne E. Poulain
Summary: After the pioneering work of Ramon y Cajal, scientists have been striving to unravel the complexities of axon development underlying neural circuit formation. The advancement in imaging technology, particularly high- and super-resolution microscopy, has revolutionized our understanding of axonal development by providing spatial and temporal resolution required for studying developing axons at cellular scale. The challenges that the field of axonal biology still faces for imaging axons are being assessed, and future technology is being considered to meet these needs.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Trevor Poitras, Douglas W. Zochodne
Summary: Common mechanisms of peripheral axon regeneration are recruited following diverse forms of damage to peripheral nerve axons. Supporting peripheral axon regrowth could be achieved through direct axon support or manipulation of the inflammatory milieu. Understanding the molecular barriers to regrowth and exploiting the downstream signaling pathways that impact neuron growth are promising approaches for promoting adult peripheral axon regeneration. This review emphasizes intrinsic aspects of adult peripheral axon regeneration and highlights several molecular barriers to regrowth.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xiao Li, Xianxin Dong, Jun Wang, Xikai Tu, Hailong Huang, Yuanpeng Cao, Chenlin Wang, Yizhe Huang
Summary: A suitable environment is essential for successful cell culturing. We developed a multi-channel axon stretch growth bioreactor with a constant temperature control system using fuzzy PID algorithm, which meets the requirement of cell growth.
APPLIED BIOCHEMISTRY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Cell Biology
Adam J. Isabella, Cecilia B. Moens
Summary: The vagus nerve is a complex structure with organized topographic and molecular organization. Understanding the developmental mechanisms and regenerative processes of the vagus nerve is important for future research. However, there is still much to discover about the specific specification and guidance of vagus neuron identity.
SEMINARS IN CELL & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2024)
Review
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Iordania Constantinou, Effie E. Bastounis
Summary: Basic human functions require mechanical stretching of cells and tissues, but this aspect is often overlooked in laboratory experiments, leading to limitations in the biomimetic nature and relevance of the studies. This review highlights the importance of mechanical stretching in in vitro investigations by examining seminal works performed using cell-stretching platforms. The compatibility of cell-stretching devices with live-cell imaging, as well as their limitations and the potential research advancements that could arise from live-cell imaging during cell stretching, are discussed.
TRENDS IN BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
A. A. Sitko, L. Goodrich
Summary: The ability to perceive and interact with the world relies on specialized neural circuits carrying out specific computations. Individual circuits acquire characteristic properties through common developmental steps, but differences in sensory demands necessitate different strategies for development, as seen in comparisons between visual and auditory circuitry.
Review
Cell Biology
Mary L. Tapia, Gabriel Nascimento-dos-Santos, Kevin K. Park
Summary: This review discusses the heterogeneity of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and their differential resilience to injury and regeneration. By identifying molecular features and studying different regeneration models, specific RGC types that exhibit preferential survival and regeneration have been discovered. Cellular characteristics and the selective expression of certain genes may contribute to their reparative capacity. These studies lay an important groundwork for identifying factors that promote neural regeneration and developing targeted therapy for RGC degeneration and neurodegenerative diseases in general.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Editorial Material
Neurosciences
Nicole Y. Tsai, Derek S. Welsbie, Xin Duan
Summary: In this issue, three studies present new strategies for uncovering mediators of retinal neuroprotection and optic nerve regeneration, including transcriptional regulators and molecular targets.
Article
Developmental Biology
Olivia Spead, Cory J. Weaver, Trevor Moreland, Fabienne E. Poulain
Summary: The study used a zebrafish model to dynamically analyze retinotectal mapping in vivo, revealing that the antero-posterior retinotopic map forms early but remains dynamic, with nasal and temporal retinal axons expanding their projection domains over time. The refinement of nasal retinal projections was shown to require the adhesion molecule Contactin 2.
Review
Developmental Biology
Sara C. Sousa, Monica M. Sousa
Summary: During development, neurons undergo polarization and axon growth, which require the integration of external and internal signals. Membrane remodeling and cytoskeleton dynamics play crucial roles in guiding growth cone advancement and axon elongation. After synaptic establishment, the organism's growth leads to an increased distance between neuronal cell bodies and targets.
DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bin Gu, Brian Bradshaw, Min Zhu, Yu Sun, Sevan Hopyan, Janet Rossant
Summary: By generating a near-infrared fusion YAP reporter mouse line and using high-resolution live imaging, we have successfully visualized the localization of YAP protein during mammalian embryonic development, revealing its behavior in embryonic development and nuclear localization pattern in migrating cells.
Article
Developmental Biology
Bruce A. Rheaume, Jian Xing, Agnieszka Lukomska, William C. Theune, Ashiti Damania, Greg Sjogren, Ephraim F. Trakhtenberg
Summary: Central nervous system projection neurons cannot spontaneously regenerate injured axons. Targeting developmentally regulated genes or pro-growth tumor suppressor genes such as Pten can promote long-distance axon regeneration in a small subset of injured retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). A recent study identified rare RGC types that can regenerate long-distance axons, and revealed their cellular features, as well as novel therapeutic targets for axon regeneration.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ji Min Shin, Ling Yuan, Tomokazu Kawashima
Summary: Seed development in flowering plants is a complex process regulated by genetically distinct tissues. Live-cell imaging techniques have allowed us to explore the dynamic events involved in seed development.
Article
Neurosciences
Muhammad Sana Ullah Sahar, Tamer Mettyas, Megha Shah, Randy Bindra, Matthew Barton
Summary: This study presents a technique to translate ex-vivo axonal stretch growth to in-vivo nerve stretch growth. By examining the regrowth rate of a transected sciatic nerve in a rat model, the authors found that applying a controlled amount of negative pressure to the resected ends of the nerve resulted in enhanced growth rate of regenerating nerve fibers.
NEUROSCIENCE LETTERS
(2022)