Article
Oncology
Noam Cohen, Dhanashree Mundhe, Sarah K. Deasy, Omer Adler, Nour Ershaid, Tamar Shami, Oshrat Levi-Galibov, Rina Wassermann, Ruth Scherz-Shouval, Neta Erez
Summary: Metastatic cancer is difficult to cure and is the main cause of cancer-related deaths. In this study, the researchers found that cancer-associated fibroblasts play a crucial role in creating a favorable microenvironment for metastasis by mediating inflammation. They also discovered that a protein called Activin A is secreted from breast tumors and promotes fibrosis in the lung, which enhances metastasis. This new mechanism could potentially be targeted for therapeutic intervention to inhibit metastatic relapse.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rasmus S. Pedersen, Neel Nissen, Christina Jensen, Jeppe Thorlacius-Ussing, Tina Manon-Jensen, Majken L. Olesen, Lasse L. Langholm, Hadi M. H. Diab, Lars N. Jorgensen, Carsten P. Hansen, Inna M. Chen, Julia S. Johansen, Morten A. Karsdal, Nicholas Willumsen
Summary: This study aims to evaluate the cleavage of latency-associated protein (LAP) by plasma kallikrein (PLK) as a non-invasive biomarker for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) and tumor fibrosis. Preliminary results suggest that PLK-cleaved LAP-TGF-beta levels are elevated in PDAC patients and are associated with poor overall survival and tumor fibrosis.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Jun Zhang, Tiantian Zuo, Jie Yang, Zongwei Hu, Zhihua Wang, Rui Xu, Siyu Ma, Yawen Wei, Qi Shen
Summary: This study utilized bio-responsive nanoparticles to modulate the tumor microenvironment and successfully inhibited the formation of tumor-associated fibroblasts, reduced the secretion of transforming growth factor-β and collagen I.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Daniel Bakopoulos, Sofya Golenkina, Callum Dark, Elizabeth L. Christie, Besaiz J. Sanchez-Sanchez, Brian M. Stramer, Louise Y. Cheng
Summary: This study shows that insulin and TGF-beta signalling converge via a BMP antagonist sog to regulate ECM remodelling in adipose tissue. In tumour bearing animals, Sog also modulates TGF-beta signalling to regulate ECM accumulation. Activation of insulin signalling, inhibition of TGF-beta signalling, or modulation of ECM levels can rescue tissue wasting in the presence of tumor.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Fangfang Cai, Huangru Xu, Daolong Zha, Xiaoyang Wang, Ping Li, Shihui Yu, Yingying Yao, Xiaoyao Chang, Jia Chen, Yanyan Lu, Zi-Chun Hua, Hongqin Zhuang
Summary: AK2 regulates tumor cell metastasis in lung adenocarcinoma, with its high expression associated with poor patient survival; AK2 is closely related to the migration and invasion ability of lung adenocarcinoma cells; AK2 may regulate epithelial-mesenchymal transition through Smad-related signaling pathways.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dieuwke L. Marvin, Jelmer Dijkstra, Rabia M. Zulfiqar, Michiel Vermeulen, Peter ten Dijke, Laila Ritsma
Summary: Melanoma patients with liver metastasis have a poor prognosis. The cytokine Transforming Growth Factor beta (TGF-beta) plays a role in melanoma cells and acts on cells in the liver. We hypothesized that this cytokine influences the metastatic outgrowth of melanoma in liver. To investigate this, we generated a model to turn on and off TGF-beta signaling in the B16F10 melanoma cells, and found that TGF-beta activation repressed cell growth and migration in vitro, while it increased outgrowth in liver in vivo.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lifeng Luo, Baoli Zhang, Feng Tao, Zhong Chen, Qingsong Ye, Xiaozhi Zhao, Jinhui Wu
Summary: This study confirmed that downregulation of platelet-derived TGF-beta by PFTBA@HSA will be a potential approach and therapeutic candidate for the prevention of tumor metastasis.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Francesco Cambuli, Veronica Foletto, Alessandro Alaimo, Dario De Felice, Francesco Gandolfi, Maria Dilia Palumbieri, Michela Zaffagni, Sacha Genovesi, Marco Lorenzoni, Martina Celotti, Emiliana Bertossio, Giosue Mazzero, Arianna Bertossi, Alessandra Bisio, Francesco Berardinelli, Antonio Antoccia, Marco Gaspari, Mattia Barbareschi, Michelangelo Fiorentino, Michael M. Shen, Massimo Loda, Alessandro Romanel, Andrea Lunardi
Summary: This study demonstrates that non-canonical Activin A signaling plays a critical role in maintaining epithelial quiescence in the healthy prostate, with potential implications for understanding cancer initiation and the development of therapies targeting quiescent tumor progenitors.
Article
Oncology
Yan-Long Han, Dan Luo, Kakeng Habaxi, Julaiti Tayierjiang, Wei Zhao, Wei Wang, Wumaierjiang Aikebaier, Li Wang
Summary: In this study, we identified COL5A2 as a prognostic gene for osteosarcoma through bioinformatics analysis, and showed that COL5A2 inhibits invasion and metastasis of osteosarcoma by suppressing the TGF-beta and Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathways.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Heng Zou, Zihan Yang, Yuen-San Chan, Sung-king Au Yeung, Md Kowsar Alam, Tongxu Si, Tao Xu, Mengsu Yang
Summary: This research investigated the gene expression and mechanical properties associated with EMT at the single-cell level in non-small cell lung cancer fingers. The study found that leader cells in the cancer fingers were more elastic and less sticky than follower cells. SNAIL and VIM were identified as two key genes that positively correlated with leader cell phenotypes and controlled cancer finger formation.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Abdul Basit Baba, Bilal Rah, Gh Rasool Bhat, Ifra Mushtaq, Sabra Parveen, Rukhsana Hassan, Mahrukh Hameed Zargar, Dil Afroze
Summary: The ubiquitously expressed cytokine transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) plays a significant role in cellular mechanisms. It functions as a tumor suppressor at the early onset of malignancy but promotes tumorigenesis at an advanced stage. Moreover, TGF-beta regulates cell fate through immune and stroma components.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Heejin Lim, Taewoo Yang, Wongeun Lee, Sung-Gyoo Park
Summary: The study demonstrates that MDSCs are a source of MFGE8, which plays a role in tumor metastasis. TME positively regulates MFGE8 production by MDSCs through TGF-beta, suggesting MFGE8 as an important effector molecule for MDSCs to promote tumor metastasis.
Review
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Jiao Huang, Wai-Ying Tsang, Zhi-Hong Li, Xin-Yuan Guan
Summary: Emerging evidence highlights the importance of the tumor microenvironment and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in tumorigenesis and progression. CAFs secrete soluble factors and remodel the extracellular matrix, playing crucial roles in tumor development and therapeutic response. However, the limited understanding of CAF heterogeneity poses challenges for targeting CAFs clinically.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Erik Martinez-Hackert, Anders Sundan, Toril Holien
Summary: The TGF-beta family is a group of structurally related, multifunctional growth factors crucially involved in the development, regulation, and maintenance of animal tissues. These ligands exhibit promiscuity and compete with each other for binding to receptors, possibly allowing cells to process multiple ligand inputs for subtle, distinctive, or adaptive responses and developmental plasticity. This concept of ligand competition may be fundamentally tied to human physiology, disease, and therapy.
CYTOKINE & GROWTH FACTOR REVIEWS
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lin Zheng, Hui Liang, Qiaoling Zhang, Zichu Shen, Yixin Sun, Xuyang Zhao, Jingjing Gong, Zhiyuan Hou, Kewei Jiang, Quan Wang, Yan Jin, Yuxin Yin
Summary: This study revealed a novel circular RNA (circPTEN1) generated from the PTEN gene, which is downregulated in colorectal cancer and associated with poor survival. Low expression of circPTEN1 promotes metastasis and invasion, while overexpression shows opposite effects. Mechanistically, circPTEN1 binds to Smad4 and disrupts its interaction with Smad2/3, inhibiting the formation and translocation of Smad complexes. Additionally, eIF4A3 suppresses the cyclization of circPTEN1.
Correction
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Jessica Bauer, Md Abul Bashar Emon, Jonas J. Staudacher, Alexandra L. Thomas, Jasmin Zessner-Spitzenberg, Georgina Mancinelli, Nancy Krett, M. Taher Saif, Barbara Jung
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2020)
Article
Engineering, Mechanical
Onur Aydin, Bashar Emon, Shyuan Cheng, Liu Hong, Leonardo P. Chamorro, M. Taher A. Saif
EXTREME MECHANICS LETTERS
(2020)
Article
Engineering, Mechanical
M. A. Bashar Emon, Samantha Knoll, Umnia Doha, Lauren Ladehoff, Luke Lalonde, Danielle Baietto, Mayandi Sivaguru, Rohit Bhargava, M. Taher A. Saif
Summary: It has been shown that cells exhibit different contractile responses to light of different wavelengths and intensities, with lower light intensities below specific thresholds not perturbing cell force homeostasis. Cell traction is highly sensitive to the effect of light on cells, and lower than previously reported safe thresholds are dose-independent, suggesting a highly sensitive readout of cell response to light.
EXTREME MECHANICS LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Georgina Mancinelli, Carolina Torres, Nancy Krett, Jessica Bauer, Karla Castellanos, Ron McKinney, David Dawson, Grace Guzman, Rosa Hwang, Sam Grimaldo, Paul Grippo, Barbara Jung
Summary: The study reveals that high expression of Activin A in the stroma of PDAC patients is associated with poor prognosis, with pancreatic stellate cells (PSC) secreting Activin A to promote PDAC cell migration. Inhibition of Activin A in mice can decrease tumor metastases.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bashar Emon, Zhengwei Li, Md Saddam H. Joy, Umnia Doha, Farhad Kosari, M. Taher A. Saif
Summary: Cells in vivo generate mechanical traction on the surrounding 3D extracellular matrix and neighboring cells, influencing cell functions and forces. A method to directly quantify single-cell forces and matrix remodeling in 3D has been developed, revealing notable force fluctuations in single cells and increased tissue stiffness in a simulated cancer tumor microenvironment.
Meeting Abstract
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mark B. Wiley, Jessica Bauer, Kunaal Mehrotra, Jasmin Zessner-Spitzenberg, Lyonell Kone, Guilin Quiao, Karla Castellanos, David N. Church, Rachel S. Kerr, David J. Kerr, Paul Grippo, Ajay Maker, Barbara Jung
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yue Wang, Zhengwei Li, Mohamed Elhebeary, Rene Hensel, Eduard Arzt, M. Taher A. Saif
Summary: This study uses a novel microcup to reveal the mechanisms of its attachment and detachment underwater. The cup utilizes elasticity-enhanced hydrodynamics to generate self-sealing and high suction, effectively turning water into glue. The study also identifies three mechanisms of cup breaking and develops a mathematical model to describe the interplay between attachment and detachment.
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Quansan Yang, Tzu-Li Liu, Yeguang Xue, Heling Wang, Yameng Xu, Bashar Emon, Mingzheng Wu, Corey Rountree, Tong Wei, Irawati Kandela, Chad R. Haney, Anlil Brikha, Iwona Stepien, Jessica Hornick, Rebecca A. Sponenburg, Christina Cheng, Lauren Ladehoff, Yitong Chen, Ziying Hu, Changsheng Wu, Mengdi Han, John M. Torkelson, Yevgenia Kozorovitskiy, M. Taher A. Saif, Yonggang Huang, Jan-Kai Chang, John A. Rogers
Summary: Transient MEMS devices based on water-soluble materials can safely integrate with biointegrated systems, either dissolving naturally in the environment or in the body. Biocompatibility is demonstrated through mechanobiology, histology, and hematology studies, and bioresorbable encapsulating materials and deployment strategies are shown in animal models.
NATURE ELECTRONICS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Umnia Doha, Onur Aydin, Md Saddam Hossain Joy, Bashar Emon, William Drennan, M. Taher A. Saif
Summary: Cells in 3D extracellular matrix (ECM) form a network and initiate the transition from disorder to order, triggering collective behavior. The relationship between cell-cell distance and compaction of collagen gels is revealed, emphasizing the significance of cell-mediated ECM remodeling.
ACTA BIOMATERIALIA
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Mark B. Wiley, Jessica Bauer, Kunaal Mehrotra, Jasmin Zessner-Spitzenberg, Zoe Kolics, Wenxuan Cheng, Karla Castellanos, Michael G. Nash, Xianyong Gui, Lyonell Kone, Ajay V. Maker, Guilin Qiao, Deepti Reddi, David N. Church, Rachel S. Kerr, David J. Kerr, Paul J. Grippo, Barbara Jung
Summary: We have demonstrated that activin A has pro-metastatic effects in colorectal cancer and can activate pro-metastatic pathways in lung cancer. In this study, we investigated the cell-specific effects of activin in the tumor microenvironment of CRC and its impact on immune cells and tumor cell behavior. Our findings suggest that activin is a context-dependent molecule that affects CRC growth, migration, and immune plasticity in the TME.
Meeting Abstract
Oncology
Mark B. Wiley, Jessica Bauer, Kunaal Mehrotra, David N. Church, Rachel S. Kerr, David J. Kerr, Paul Grippo, Barbara Jung
Meeting Abstract
Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Kunaal Mehrotra, Jessica Bauer, Jasmin Zessner-Spitzenberg, Mark Wiley, Lyonell B. Kone, Guilin Qiao, Karla J. Castellanos, David Church, Rachel S. Kerr, David Kerr, Paul Grippo, Ajay Maker, Barbara Jung
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Onur Aydin, Austin P. Passaro, Mohamed Elhebeary, Gelson J. Pagan-Diaz, Anthony Fan, Sittinon Nuethong, Rashid Bashir, Steven L. Stice, M. Taher A. Saif
APL BIOENGINEERING
(2020)
