Article
Cell Biology
Xiaoyu Yu, Ying Bai, Bing Han, Minzi Ju, Tianci Tang, Ling Shen, Mingyue Li, Li Yang, Zhao Zhang, Guoku Hu, Jie Chao, Yuan Zhang, Honghong Yao
Summary: This study investigated the effects of extracellular vesicle-mediated delivery of circDYM on MDD treatment. The results showed that RVG-circDYM-EVs were successfully delivered to the brain and alleviated depressive-like behaviors induced by CUS. Moreover, it was found that RVG-circDYM-EVs inhibited microglial activation, BBB leakiness, peripheral immune cells infiltration, and attenuated astrocyte dysfunction through the decreased expression of downstream target genes, suggesting its potential for clinical applications.
JOURNAL OF EXTRACELLULAR VESICLES
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Byung Rho Lee, Tae Jin Lee, Sekyung Oh, Chenglong Li, Jin-Hyuk A. Song, Brendan Marshall, Wenbo Zhi, Sang-Ho Kwon
Summary: In this study, the authors developed an in situ labelling approach to identify protein cargo in exosomes, which avoids the need for exosome isolation. They expressed an engineered peroxidase variant fused to an exosome cargo protein, and induced biotinylation of nearby proteins for a short period of time. Mass spectrometry analysis revealed that oxidative stress causes the accumulation of ribosomal proteins in a specific subpopulation of exosomes.
JOURNAL OF EXTRACELLULAR VESICLES
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Young Beom Kim, Gwang Bin Lee, Myeong Hee Moon
Summary: This study demonstrates that flow field-flow fractionation combined with multiangle light scattering can simultaneously separate exosomes and microvesicles, and improve the detection of low concentration EV species. Ultrafiltration retrieves more EVs compared to ultracentrifugation. The collected fractions were validated and analyzed for size and lipid composition.
ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Xiaoyang Liu, Zongke Zhou, Wei-Nan Zeng, Qin Zeng, Xingdong Zhang
Summary: Osteoimmunology involves crosstalk between the skeletal and immune systems. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a crucial role in bone remodeling by directly impacting MSC osteogenic differentiation. Understanding TLRs' role has significant implications for advancing bone regeneration and repair strategies.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Xinghua Wang, Anthony Pham, Lu Kang, Sierra A. Walker, Irina Davidovich, Dalila Iannotta, Sarvam P. TerKonda, Shane Shapiro, Yeshayahu Talmon, Si Pham, Joy Wolfram
Summary: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanoparticles released by cells that transfer biomolecules between cells. MicroRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) in EVs play a significant role in modulating signaling pathways in recipient cells. This study shows that miR-451a, abundant in EVs from adipose tissue, can suppress pro-inflammatory cytokines and enhance anti-inflammatory cytokines in the TLR4 pathway.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Changliang Zhu, Hong Tao, Shikuo Rong, Lifei Xiao, Xinxiao Li, Shucai Jiang, Baorui Guo, Lei Wang, Jiangwei Ding, Caibing Gao, Haigang Chang, Tao Sun, Feng Wang
Summary: Exendin-4 was effective in inhibiting cocaine-induced CPP, facilitating the extinction of cocaine-associated reward, and attenuating reinstatement of cocaine-induced behavior. These effects may be attributed to the inhibition of TLR4, TNF-alpha, and IL-1 beta expression.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Pediatrics
Tianjing Liu, Haifeng Zong, Xiaoyu Chen, Sihang Li, Ziyun Liu, Xuewei Cui, Guoqiang Jia, Yongyan Shi
Summary: The study indicates that necroptosis is an essential pathological process of NEC, with TLR4 possibly acting as a stimulator. Inhibiting intestinal cell necroptosis may be a beneficial strategy in the treatment of NEC.
PEDIATRIC RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Michal Korostynski, Dzesika Hoinkis, Marcin Piechota, Slawomir Golda, Joanna Pera, Agnieszka Slowik, Tomasz Dziedzic
Summary: TLR4-dependent cytokine synthesis was not associated with greater post-stroke depressive symptoms in this study. However, circulating IL-6 might be associated with depressive symptoms occurring at 3 months after stroke.
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Cristina Zivko, Finja Witt, Andreas Koeberle, Gregor Fuhrmann, Paola Luciani
Summary: Chronic hepatic diseases are a major cause of death worldwide, but there is currently no effective treatment. Recent research has shown that combining experimental drugs Elafibranor (Ela) and Obeticholic acid (OA) with PPC-rich liposomes can mitigate their damaging effects on hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). EV analysis provides a deeper evaluation of drug performance and delivery strategies.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICS AND BIOPHARMACEUTICS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Anna Piovan, Raffaella Filippini, Carla Argentini, Stefano Moro, Pietro Giusti, Morena Zusso
Summary: The blue-green alga Spirulina platensis contains phycocyanins, including C-phycocyanin (C-PC), which has hepatoprotective, nephroprotective, antioxidant, and anticancer effects. This study investigated the immunomodulatory effects of C-PC in microglia cultures and found that it upregulates the expression and release of IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha, while also promoting the nuclear translocation of the NF-kappa B transcription factor. Additionally, the study suggests that the immunoregulatory function of C-PC may involve the activation of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4).
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Xingyi Chen, Baolong Liu, Xingzhi Li, Thuy T. An, You Zhou, Gang Li, Judy Wu-Smart, Sophie Alvarez, Michael J. Naldrett, James Eudy, Gregory Kubik, Richard A. Wilson, Stephen D. Kachman, Juan Cui, Jiujiu Yu
Summary: Honey has been used as a traditional medicinal food and modern research has discovered its anti-inflammatory properties, as well as a new bioactive component that can alleviate inflammation and liver damage.
JOURNAL OF EXTRACELLULAR VESICLES
(2021)
Review
Microbiology
Eric Daniel Avila-Calderon, Maria del Socorro Ruiz-Palma, Ma. Guadalupe Aguilera-Arreola, Norma Velazquez-Guadarrama, Enrico A. Ruiz, Zulema Gomez-Lunar, Sharon Witonsky, Araceli Contreras-Rodriguez
Summary: OMVs from Gram-negative bacteria were first described over 50 years ago, but the molecular mechanisms involved in their biogenesis have only been studied in recent decades. The current knowledge of OMV biogenesis and release mechanisms is incomplete, with recent studies focusing on various cellular components.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Hematology
Bjarne Osterud, Nadezhda Latysheva, Christian Schoergenhofer, Bernd Jilma, John-Bjarne Hansen, Omri Snir
Summary: The study developed a sensitive and specific TF activity assay based on FX activation acceleration, showing high sensitivity and specificity. It can reliably quantify TF activity on cell surface, cell lysate, and isolated EVs, suitable for both laboratory and clinical research.
JOURNAL OF THROMBOSIS AND HAEMOSTASIS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Martina Gatti, Francesca Beretti, Manuela Zavatti, Emma Bertucci, Soraia Ribeiro Luz, Carla Palumbo, Tullia Maraldi
Summary: The study found that EV secreted by human amniotic fluid stem cells can improve the differentiation ability of pre-osteoblasts, increase cell viability, and reduce apoptotic markers. Moreover, EV positively modulates the oxidative stress induced by dexamethasone.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yinzhu Lu, Bingqian Lin, Weizhi Liu, Jialu Zhang, Lin Zhu, Chaoyong Yang, Yanling Song
Summary: A modular platform is developed for sequential isolation of tumor and non-tumor extracellular vesicles (EVs) using dual-aptamer recognition and tandem microchips. This method provides new clues for assessing immune heterogeneity and can be used for EV proteome profiling.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mojca Pavlin, Jasna Lojk, Klemen Strojan, Iva Hafner-Bratkovic, Roman Jerala, Adrijana Leonardi, Igor Krizaj, Natasa Drnovsek, Sasa Novak, Peter Veranic, Vladimir Bostjan Bregar
Summary: This study correlates the physicochemical properties and protein corona of nanoparticles with the response of immune cells, and investigates their relationship with toxicological endpoints. The results reveal that different engineered nanoparticles can induce moderate toxicity and transient inflammatory response, with a strong correlation between nanoparticle size and cytokine secretion. This study provides new insights into the understanding of the immune response to nanoparticles.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Biology
Samo Roskar, Iva Hafner-Bratkovic
Summary: Osteoarthritis is a common age-related form of arthritis characterized by cartilage loss and synovial inflammation, while inflammation plays an important role in disease progression. Inflammasomes, inflammatory multiprotein complexes, are implicated in secondary arthritis and may also be involved in primary osteoarthritis. Targeted therapies against inflammasomes could be a promising strategy for these debilitating diseases.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Katja Leben, Ziga Strmsek, Tina Lebar, Anze Verbic, Matej Dragovan, Neza Omersa, Gregor Anderluh, Roman Jerala
Summary: DNA transcription is regulated by various mechanisms, mainly through the recruitment of RNA polymerase complex by transcription factors. In this study, we found that a TALE lacking an activation domain can enhance transcription in mammalian cells without direct interaction with multiple transcription factors. TALEs can exert their effects over a long distance and enhance the transcriptional regulation of other factors. This mechanism may involve an allosteric effect on DNA structure or dynamics.
NUCLEIC ACIDS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Dusko Lainscek, Vida Forstneric, Veronika Mikolic, Spela Malensek, Peter Pecan, Mojca Bencina, Matjaz Sever, Helena Podgornik, Roman Jerala
Summary: The CRISPR/Cas system, when coupled with Exonuclease III, can enhance gene editing efficiency and lead to significant gene knock-out effects, especially in cell lines, primary cells, and in vivo. This approach has great potential for treating diseases with a genetic etiology.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jana Aupic, Fabio Lapenta, Ziga Strmsek, Estera Merljak, Tjasa Plaper, Roman Jerala
Summary: Researchers have developed coiled-coil dimers that can assemble diverse protein architectures through dynamic self-assembly and respond to metal ions, providing a versatile tool for designing functional polypeptide nanostructures.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Spela Mirosevic, Shivang Khandelwal, Petra Susjan, Nina Zakelj, David Gosar, Vida Forstneric, Dusko Lainscek, Roman Jerala, Damjan Osredkar
Summary: The CTNNB1 Syndrome is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder with wide genotypic and phenotypic variability. The clinical features include developmental delay, intellectual disability, delayed or absent speech, facial dysmorphisms, microcephaly, motor disabilities, language and cognitive impairments, and behavioral abnormalities. The location of mutations, particularly in the C-terminal protein region (exons 13, 14, 15), is generally associated with a milder phenotype.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Anze Smole, Alexander Benton, Mathilde A. Poussin, Monika A. Eiva, Claudia Mezzanotte, Barbara Camisa, Beatrice Greco, Prannda Sharma, Nicholas G. Minutolo, Falon Gray, Adham S. Bear, Miren L. Baroja, Casey Cummins, Chong Xu, Francesca Sanvito, Andrea Lang Goldgewicht, Tatiana Blanchard, Alba Rodriguez-Garcia, Michael Klichinsky, Chiara Bonini, Carl H. June, Avery D. Posey Jr, Gerald P. Linette, Beatriz M. Carreno, Monica Casucci, Daniel J. Powell Jr
Summary: In this study, a genetic platform called Uni-Vect was developed to combine CAR-T cells with the expression of accessory molecules, providing a foundation for a more clinically actionable cellular immunotherapy.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Estera Merljak, Benjamin Malovrh, Roman Jerala
Summary: New protein assemblies can be generated by fusing selected proteins with di/oligomerization domains that specifically interact with their partners. This study demonstrates the segmentation of a single four-helical bundle protein into multiple parts, allowing for the reconstitution of enzymes, gene expression, or CAR-T cell regulation. Understanding protein-protein interactions can have important implications for various biological processes.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Dusko Lainscek, Anja Golob-Urbanc, Veronika Mikolic, Jelica Pantovic-Zalig, Spela Malensek, Roman Jerala
Summary: CAR-T cells provide an effective therapeutic option for malignant diseases by recognizing tumor surface markers independently of MHC. However, their potent killing activity can lead to serious side effects, necessitating careful control. Researchers have developed a system to regulate CAR proliferation and activation through chemically induced heterodimerization of downstream NFAT transcription factors.
MOLECULAR THERAPY-ONCOLYTICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Tea Romih, Nikola Tasic, Lea Bibic, Ajda Beltram, Ika Fazarinc, Mojca Bencina, Roman Jerala, Samo B. Hocevar
Summary: The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 has led to a global pandemic, emphasizing the need for affordable diagnostic systems. We developed an electrochemical immunosensor for detecting anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies, which showed a linear response and low detection limit. It demonstrated good reproducibility and agreement with traditional ELISA methods, and optional amplification steps further improved its performance.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tadej Satler, San Hadzi, Roman Jerala
Summary: Coiled-coil protein origami (CCPO) is used to design polyhedral structures distinct from natural globular proteins. The crystal structure of a single-chain CCPO in the shape of a triangle was determined, and it was stabilized by a GCN(2) homodimer. The structure validates the design strategy and provides new opportunities for protein design.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
W. Clifford Boldridge, Ajasja Ljubetic, Hwangbeom Kim, Nathan Lubock, Daniel Szilagyi, Jonathan Lee, Andrej Brodnik, Roman Jerala, Sriram Kosuri
Summary: The authors developed an assay and computational methods to identify more orthogonal coiled-coil pairs, which are crucial for biological processes and drug design.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Review
Oncology
Anze Smole
Summary: CAR T cell therapy has revolutionized the treatment of certain leukemias, but challenges remain in terms of efficacy and safety. This review summarizes the principles of CAR T cell therapy, the challenges faced, and the current approaches being explored, providing an outlook for future development.
RADIOLOGY AND ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Arne Praznik, Tina Fink, Nik Franko, Jan Lonzaric, Mojca Bencina, Nina Jerala, Tjasa Plaper, Samo Roskar, Roman Jerala
Summary: This article presents two genetically encoded secretion systems that can release proteins by chemical signal-regulated proteolytic removal. These systems provide a platform for fast-responsive and tightly-controlled protein secretion in multicellular organisms.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)