Article
Cell Biology
Daniel Maucher, Birte Schmidt, Julia Schumann
Summary: Dysfunction of the endothelial barrier is central in inflammatory processes like sepsis and atherosclerosis. In this study, cytokine-induced weakening of the endothelial barrier was associated with changes in the transcriptome and upregulation of miR-29a-3p, miR-29b-3p, and miR-155-5p, which target central adhesion proteins' mRNAs. This suggests a posttranscriptional mechanism regulated by inflammatory cytokines.
Review
Cell Biology
Ece Bayir, Aylin Sendemir
Summary: The blood-brain barrier is a highly selective cellular monolayer unique to the central nervous system microvasculature, mediating communication with the body by regulating the passage of molecules. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of intermediate filaments in the formation and function of cell-cell junctions, particularly vimentin in endothelial cells. Intermediate filaments may have been overlooked as key targets in regulating blood-brain barrier permeability in health and disease.
Review
Immunology
Susana Lechuga, Manuel B. B. Braga-Neto, Nayden G. G. Naydenov, Florian Rieder, Andrei I. I. Ivanov
Summary: Disruption of the intestinal epithelial barrier is a common feature in mucosal inflammation, which leads to an inflammatory response. Previous studies on the breakdown of the gut barrier have mainly utilized colon cancer cell lines, which do not fully represent normal human intestinal epithelial cells. The development of human intestinal organoids provides a more physiologically-relevant platform to study the regulation and dysfunction of the intestinal barrier. This review discusses the use of human intestinal organoids to understand gut barrier disruption during mucosal inflammation, comparing them to conventional cell lines and identifying unique research questions that can be addressed using organoid platforms.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Rina Hashimoto, Junya Takahashi, Keisuke Shirakura, Risa Funatsu, Kaori Kosugi, Sayaka Deguchi, Masaki Yamamoto, Yugo Tsunoda, Maaya Morita, Kosuke Muraoka, Masato Tanaka, Tomoaki Kanbara, Shota Tanaka, Shigeyuki Tamiya, Nagisa Tokunoh, Atsushi Kawai, Masahito Ikawa, Chikako Ono, Keisuke Tachibana, Masuo Kondoh, Masanori Obana, Yoshiharu Matsuura, Akihiro Ohsumi, Takeshi Noda, Takuya Yamamoto, Yasuo Yoshioka, Yu-Suke Torisawa, Hiroshi Date, Yasushi Fujio, Miki Nagao, Kazuo Takayama, Yoshiaki Okada
Summary: This study found that SARS-CoV-2 decreases the expression of Claudin-5 (CLDN5), a tight junction protein, and disrupts vascular endothelial cadherin-mediated adherens junctions, thereby leading to the disruption of the endothelial barrier in respiratory organs. The down-regulation of CLDN5 expression was observed in the lungs of a COVID-19 patient. The overexpression of CLDN5 or treatment with Fluvastatin rescued the SARS-CoV-2-induced respiratory endothelial barrier disruption. Inducing CLDN5 expression is identified as a therapeutic strategy against COVID-19.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Young-Mee Kim, Sarah Krantz, Ankit Jambusaria, Peter T. Toth, Hyung-Geun Moon, Isuru Gunarathna, Gye Young Park, Jalees Rehman
Summary: The integrity of endothelial barrier is maintained by Mfn2 and AJs, with Mfn2 co-localizing with VE-cadherin and beta-catenin in homeostasis but being sulfenylated and dissociated from AJs under inflammatory stimulation. Mfn2 then accumulates in the nucleus and negatively regulates beta-catenin's transcriptional activity, leading to an anti-inflammatory effect in vivo.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Randy E. Strauss, Louisa Mezache, Rengasayee Veeraraghavan, Robert G. Gourdie
Summary: The alpha CT1 peptide, originally designed to inhibit Cx43/ZO1 interaction, was found to protect endothelium from thrombin-induced breakdown in cell-cell contacts by remodeling the F-actin cytoskeleton and promoting the border localization of endothelial barrier-associated proteins, suggesting a therapeutic potential in treating vascular edema.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Linyi Li, Yunyun Yang, Huina Zhang, Yunhui Du, Xiaolu Jiao, Huahui Yu, Yu Wang, Qianwen Lv, Fan Li, Qiuju Sun, Yanwen Qin
Summary: Salidroside effectively ameliorated IH-aggravated endothelial barrier injury and atherosclerosis through the cAMP/PKA/RhoA signaling pathway.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chen-Xi Li, Milton Talukder, Ya-Ru Xu, Shi-Yong Zhu, Ying-Xin Zhao, Jin- Long Li
Summary: Cadmium is a non-biodegradable environmental pollutant that can cross the blood-brain barrier and cause cerebral toxicity. However, its effect on the blood-brain barrier remains unclear.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Neven A. Ebrahim, Olive N. Mwizerwa, Emmanuel C. Ekwueme, Tessa E. Muss, Erik E. Ersland, Takahiro Oba, Keisuke Oku, Masafumi Nishino, Daichi Hikimoto, Hayato Miyoshi, Kimihiko Tomotoshi, Craig M. Neville, Cathryn A. Sundback
Summary: In vitro vascular wall bilayer models must mimic the physical and biological properties of healthy vascular tissue for drug testing and disease modeling. Comparing two commonly used membranes, the compliant honeycomb film (HCF) shows better simulation of healthy blood vessels in terms of mechanical properties, thickness, and porosity, leading to improved endothelial barrier integrity.
JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH PART A
(2023)
Article
Hematology
Joanna Kim, John A. Cooper
Summary: Septin 2 localization at cell junctions is essential for organizing cell-cell adhesion proteins, and there are common pathways in gene expression and biological pathways with inflammatory cytokine treatment.
ARTERIOSCLEROSIS THROMBOSIS AND VASCULAR BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Jiahui Li, Kai Wang, Bo Huang, Rui Li, Xilong Wang, Hailing Zhang, Haixiong Tang, Xin Chen
Summary: The study demonstrated that RAGE signaling mediates airway epithelial barrier dysfunction in a LPS-induced ALI murine model, and inhibition of RAGE effectively alleviates airway inflammation and injury.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Critical Care Medicine
Binu Tharakan, Felicia A. Hunter, Saravanakumar Muthusamy, Sonya Randolph, Crystal Byrd, Veena N. Rao, E. Shyam P. Reddy, Ed W. Childs
Summary: This study determined the specific role of ERG in regulating microvascular permeability in human lung microvascular endothelial cells and evaluated the protective effect of exogenous ERG on barrier dysfunction. The results demonstrate that ERG is a potent regulator of barrier integrity and permeability, and enhancing ERG provides protection against barrier dysfunction and hyperpermeability.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Binu Tharakan, Felicia A. Hunter, Ed W. Childs
Summary: Microvascular hyperpermeability, a serious clinical issue in conditions like shock and sepsis, can be reduced by FK506 treatment through maintenance of mitochondrial transmembrane potential and protection against caspase-3 mediated endothelial cell barrier disruption. Further exploration is needed for the therapeutic potential of FK506 in treating vascular hyperpermeability and its complications.
CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PHARMACOLOGY AND PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Jooske L. Monster, Lisa Donker, Marjolein J. Vliem, Zaw Win, Helen K. Matthews, Joleen S. Cheah, Soichiro Yamada, Johan de Rooij, Buzz Baum, Martijn Gloerich
Summary: During mitosis, epithelial cells exert tensile forces on neighboring cells by recruiting vinculin to maintain cell-cell junctions. Vinculin recruited from neighbors creates asymmetric cadherin junctions. Lack of vinculin in mitotic cells is essential for successful cell rounding.
JOURNAL OF CELL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Neurosciences
Basharat Hussain, Cheng Fang, Xiaowen Huang, Ziying Feng, Yuxuan Yao, Yu Wang, Junlei Chang
Summary: Damage to the blood-brain barrier (BBB) can lead to neuronal dysfunction and CNS disorders. The Wnt/beta-catenin signaling pathway plays a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of the adult BBB, but its impact on BBB breakdown is not well understood. This study shows that disruption of endothelial Wnt/beta-catenin signaling reduces BBB permeability and impairs both the paracellular and transcellular transport routes. Understanding the mechanisms of BBB disruption could have important implications for the treatment of CNS disorders.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Matthias F. Froelich, Kolja M. Thierfelder, Lukas T. Rotkopf, Matthias P. Fabritius, Lars Kellert, Steffen Tiedt, Wieland H. Sommer, Frank A. Wollenweber, Franziska Dorn, Thomas Liebig, Paul Reidler, Wolfgang G. Kunz
CLINICAL NEURORADIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Felix Schuler, Lukas T. Rotkopf, Daniel Apel, Matthias P. Fabritius, Steffen Tiedt, Frank A. Wollenweber, Lars Kellert, Franziska Dorn, Thomas Liebig, Kolja M. Thierfelder, Wolfgang G. Kunz
CLINICAL NEURORADIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Lukas T. Rotkopf, Steffen Tiedt, Daniel Puhr-Westerheide, Moriz Herzberg, Paul Reidler, Lars Kellert, Katharina Feil, Kolja M. Thierfelder, Franziska Dorn, Thomas Liebig, Frank A. Wollenweber, Wolfgang G. Kunz
JOURNAL OF NEUROIMAGING
(2020)
Article
Clinical Neurology
Katharina Feil, Jan Remi, Clemens Kuepper, Moriz Herzberg, Franziska Dorn, Wolfgang G. Kunz, Lukas T. Rotkopf, Johanna Heinrich, Katharina Mueller, Christoph Laub, Johannes Levin, Katrin Huettemann, Rainer Dabitz, Robert Mueller, Frank A. Wollenweber, Thomas Pfefferkorn, Gerhard F. Hamann, Thomas Liebig, Marianne Dieterich, Lars Kellert
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lukas T. Rotkopf, Benedikt Wiestler, Christine Preibisch, Friederike Liesche-Starnecker, Thomas Pyka, Dominik Norenberg, Stefanie Bette, Jens Gempt, Kolja M. Thierfelder, Claus Zimmer, Thomas Huber
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Paul Reidler, Daniel Puhr-Westerheide, Lukas Rotkopf, Matthias P. Fabritius, Katharina Feil, Lars Kellert, Steffen Tiede, Jan Remi, Thomas Liebig, Wolfgang G. Kunz
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Carlo Amato, Laura Klein, Eckhard Wehrse, Lukas T. Rotkopf, Stefan Sawall, Joscha Maier, Christian H. Ziener, Heinz-Peter Schlemmer, Marc Kachelriess
Article
Physiology
Marie-Theres Wanuske, Dominique Brantschen, Camilla Schinner, Chiara Stuedle, Elias Walter, Matthias Hiermaier, Franziska Vielmuth, Jens Waschke, Volker Spindler
Summary: Dp is crucial for desmosome formation, while not influencing individual cadherin binding properties. Instead, macro-clustering of desmosomal adhesion molecules through Dp is crucial.
Article
Oncology
E. Wehrse, S. Sawall, L. Klein, P. Glemser, S. Delorme, H. -P. Schlemmer, M. Kachelriess, M. Uhrig, C. H. Ziener, L. T. Rotkopf
Summary: The study explored the potential of higher spatial resolution for imaging of bone metastases using Photon-counting detector (PCD) computed tomography (CT) technology. The experimental PCD CT scanning demonstrated improved visualization of lesion margins and content in breast cancer patients with bone metastases, suggesting a high potential for therapy monitoring in breast cancer. Further studies are warranted to confirm these findings.
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
S. Sawall, L. Klein, E. Wehrse, L. T. Rotkopf, C. Amato, J. Maier, H. -P. Schlemmer, C. H. Ziener, S. Heinze, M. Kachelriess
Summary: The study evaluated the performance of dual-energy imaging in PCCT compared to DSCT, finding that PCCT can provide iodine images similar to DSCT, but the choice of thresholds should be optimized with respect to tube voltage for maximizing image quality.
EUROPEAN RADIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
E. Wehrse, L. Klein, L. T. Rotkopf, W. L. Wagner, M. Uhrig, C. P. Heussel, C. H. Ziener, S. Delorme, S. Heinze, M. Kachelriess, H. -P. Schlemmer, S. Sawall
Summary: Photon-counting detectors, a fundamentally new type of CT detectors, have shown superior capabilities in terms of radiation dose efficiency, contrast-to-noise ratio, metal artifact reduction, and spatial resolution. The authors illustrate the technical principles of this new technology by comparing it with conventional energy-integrating detectors and provide phantom and patient images acquired using whole-body photon-counting CT, laying the foundation for potential future applications in clinical CT.
Article
Dermatology
T. Schmitt, D. T. Egu, E. Walter, A. M. Sigmund, R. Eichkorn, A. Yazdi, E. Schmidt, M. Sardy, R. Eming, M. Goebeler, J. Waschke
Summary: The study investigates the role of the Ca2+ flux pathway in pemphigus pathogenesis and clinical phenotypes caused by different antibody profiles, finding that Ca2+-mediated signaling is important for epidermal blistering and depends on the autoantibody profile. Interfering with PLC and Ca2+ signaling may be a promising approach to treat epidermal manifestations of pemphigus.
BRITISH JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Elias Walter, Leonard von Bronk, Reinhard Hickel, Karin Christine Huth
Summary: This study analyzed the impact of COVID-19 on urgent dental care in a hospital in Germany and found that patient numbers decreased during the pandemic but fully recovered by the end of July. Pain-related treatments continued to be administered, and reasons for practice closures were mainly related to lack of protective equipment and staff issues, accounting for a low closure rate of 0.72% in total.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Thomas Schmitt, Julia Pircher, Letyfee Steinert, Katharina Meier, Kamran Ghoreschi, Franziska Vielmuth, Daniela Kugelmann, Jens Waschke
Summary: This study used super-resolution microscopy to investigate the composition of desmosomes in the skin of pemphigus patients and healthy individuals. The results showed changes in desmosome composition in different epidermal layers and a significant reduction in the number of desmosomes in patient skin. These findings suggest that pemphigus is a desmosome assembly disease and may help explain histopathologic differences between pemphigus phenotypes.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Ramona A. A. Eichkorn, Morna F. F. Schmidt, Elias Walter, Michael Hertl, Jens Malte Baron, Jens Waschke, Amir S. S. Yazdi
Summary: This study reveals the molecular mechanisms underlying auto-antibody-induced acantholysis in pemphigus vulgaris and identifies UVA as a cofactor for acantholysis. It demonstrates that UVA induces IL-1 secretion in keratinocytes and enhances the loss of epidermal adhesion mediated by anti-Dsg3 antibodies. These findings suggest that UVA plays a caspase-dependent exogenous role in blister formation in pemphigus vulgaris.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)