Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Adele Chimento, Maria D'Amico, Vincenzo Pezzi, Francesca De Amicis
Summary: Dysregulation of the Notch signaling pathway promotes breast cancer progression through various mechanisms, including the maintenance of stem cells, cell proliferation, and migration/invasion. Additionally, Notch plays a crucial role in juxtracrine and paracrine communication between tumor and stroma. The complex interplay between the abnormal Notch pathway and the activation of other signals and cellular heterogeneity contributes to remodeling of the tumor microenvironment. These changes, along with tumor evolution and treatment pressure, drive breast cancer drug resistance. Preclinical studies have demonstrated that targeting the Notch pathway can prevent or reverse resistance and reduce or eliminate breast cancer stem cells.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xuefei Guo, Yumeng Wang, Jiayao Zhou, Chen Jin, Jiaoni Wang, Bojun Jia, Dan Jing, Chuangye Yan, Jianlin Lei, Rui Zhou, Yigong Shi
Summary: The study reveals the isoform-dependent sensitivity of gamma-secretase containing Presenilin isoforms (PS1 and PS2) to the inhibitor MRK-560. Cryo-EM structures of PS1/PS2 complexes treated with MRK-560 were determined, and key residues responsible for the isoform-dependent selectivity were identified.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
I-Ming Jou, Tung-Tai Wu, Che-Chia Hsu, Cheng-Chang Yang, Jhy-Shrian Huang, Yuan-Kun Tu, Jung-Shun Lee, Fong-Chin Su, Yao-Lung Kuo
Summary: Inflammatory response is crucial for clearance and regeneration after peripheral nerve injury. Hyaluronic acid (HA) exerts different effects based on molecular size, with high molecular weight HA showing immunosuppressive properties and low molecular weight HA inducing proinflammatory responses. The interaction of high molecular weight HA with CD44 plays a role in neuroinflammatory responses, with potential for improving recovery in peripheral nerve injury.
JOURNAL OF BIOMEDICAL MATERIALS RESEARCH PART B-APPLIED BIOMATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Peng Xu, Jerry C. Chang, Xiaopu Zhou, Wei Wang, Michael Bamkole, Eitan Wong, Karima Bettayeb, Lu-Lin Jiang, Timothy Huang, Wenjie Luo, Huaxi Xu, Angus C. Nairn, Marc Flajolet, Nancy Y. Ip, Yue-Ming Li, Paul Greengard
Summary: Research has shown that GSAP plays important roles in Alzheimer's disease and Down's syndrome by regulating multiple biological pathways including protein phosphorylation, trafficking, lipid metabolism, and mitochondrial function. GSAP physically interacts with the Fe65-APP complex to regulate APP trafficking/partitioning, is enriched in the mitochondria-associated membrane, and affects lipid homeostasis through the amyloidogenic processing of APP. Deletion of GSAP can lead to an unfavorable lipid environment for AD pathogenesis, improved mitochondrial function, and rescue of cognitive deficits in an AD mouse model.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Psychiatry
Nobuto Kakuda, Mako Takami, Masayasu Okochi, Kensaku Kasuga, Yasuo Ihara, Takeshi Ikeuchi
Summary: Individuals with a genetic mutation in Presenilin can generate Aβ42 and Aβ43 in cerebral parenchyma, leading to early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Some FAD participants have unchanged levels of Aβ43 in their CSF, while Aβ42 and Aβ40 levels are decreased. PS1 mutations result in a switch in the generation pathway of Aβ43.
TRANSLATIONAL PSYCHIATRY
(2021)
Review
Crystallography
A. S. Urban, Ya. V. Bershatskii, K. V. Pavlov, E. V. Bocharov
Summary: Alzheimer's disease is a common neurodegenerative disease characterized by the degeneration of neurons in the cerebral cortex, leading to impaired cognitive perception and memory. Accumulation of amyloid peptide in the brain forms ordered strands known as amyloid plaques, which are key pathological features of the disease. These plaques are formed from the aggregation of beta-amyloid or Aβ peptides produced by the cleavage of membrane glycoprotein precursor by beta- and gamma-secretases in neurons' plasma membrane.
CRYSTALLOGRAPHY REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Jason C. Casler, Natalie Johnson, Adam H. Krahn, Areti Pantazopoulou, Kasey J. Day, Benjamin S. Glick
Summary: Through studying yeast, it was found that the AP-1 and Ent5 clathrin adaptors cooperate in the recycling of Golgi transmembrane proteins. Removal of these proteins leads to the diversion of Golgi proteins into an alternative recycling loop involving traffic to the plasma membrane and endocytosis.
JOURNAL OF CELL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Chenyang Liu, Yan Xu, Yichi Lu, Pan Du, Xiaoxiao Li, Chengchun Wang, Peng Guo, Ling Diao, Guozhong Lu
Summary: The study demonstrates that S-IT MSCs can effectively induce M2 polarization of macrophages via IL-6 dependent signaling pathways and accelerate wound healing. Results show that S-IT MSCs significantly enhance the ability of M2 phenotype to promote vascularization and collagen deposition, ultimately improving wound healing quality.
STEM CELL RESEARCH & THERAPY
(2022)
Article
Microbiology
V Dirix, N. Dauby, M. Hites, E. Watelet, A. Van Praet, A. Godefroid, E. Petit, M. Singh, C. Locht, F. Mascart, V Corbiere
Summary: Optimal detection of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is crucial for achieving tuberculosis elimination. A user-friendly whole-blood interferon gamma release assay (IGRA) was developed to improve the detection of LTBI. Clinical evaluation showed a sensitivity of 93% for detecting LTBI among asymptomatic individuals. Individuals with responses to both antigens are likely at risk for reactivating the infection and should be prioritized for prophylactic treatment.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Huihui Zhang, Xiaofei Lv, Qunfang Kong, Yi Tan
Summary: In the treatment of CD19 + B cell acute lymphocytic leukemia and lymphoma, a potential strategy of double knockdown of IL-6 and IFN-gamma has been investigated to manage the severe side effects of anti-CD19 CAR-T cell therapy, such as cytokine release syndrome. This improved therapy reduces cytokine release, thereby improving the safety and efficacy of CAR-T cell treatment.
HUMAN VACCINES & IMMUNOTHERAPEUTICS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alexander S. Haworth, Samantha L. Hodges, Alina L. Capatina, Lori L. Isom, Christoph G. Baumann, William J. Brackenbury
Summary: The beta 1 subunit of the voltage-gated Na+ channel plays a crucial role in alpha subunit function in breast cancer cells. It is cleaved by secretases, releasing extracellular and intracellular domains, and gamma-secretase may be important in breast cancer. The ICD of beta 1 is necessary and sufficient to increase Na+ current at the plasma membrane.
JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Hematology
Adela Constantinescu-Bercu, Yuxiao A. Wang, Kevin J. Woollard, Pierre Mangin, Karen Vanhoorelbeke, James T. B. Crawley, Isabelle I. Salles-Crawleyl
Summary: In this study, a novel GPIbα transgenic mouse (GpIbα(Δsig/Δsig)) was generated using CRISPR-Cas9 technology, and it was found that the intracellular tail of GPIbα plays an important role in transducing VWF-GPIbα and collagen-GPVI signaling events in platelets.
Review
Infectious Diseases
D. A. Kudlay, N. P. Doktorova
Summary: Recombinant technologies, specifically using ESAT-6 and CFP-10 proteins, have been effectively utilized in the diagnosis and prevention of tuberculosis. The discovery of ESAT-6 and CFP-10 antigens has significantly improved the diagnostic methods for latent tuberculosis infection. These proteins have shown high sensitivity and specificity in early detection of tuberculosis, and the combined use of ESAT-6 and CFP-10 has helped reduce the drawbacks associated with traditional tuberculin skin tests.
INFEKTSIYA I IMMUNITET
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Roman Goetzke, Antonio Sechi, Laura De Laporte, Sabine Neuss, Wolfgang Wagner
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2018)
Article
Neurosciences
Alfred Yamoah, Priyanka Tripathi, Antonio Sechi, Christoph Koehler, Haihong Guo, Akila Chandrasekar, Kay Wilhelm Nolte, Christoph Jan Wruck, Istvan Katona, Jasper Anink, Dirk Troost, Eleonora Aronica, Harry Steinbusch, Joachim Weis, Anand Goswami
JOURNAL OF ALZHEIMERS DISEASE
(2020)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sebastian Raja, Ahmed E. Hamouda, Marcelo A. S. de Toledo, Chaolei Hu, Marcela P. Bernardo, Carmen Schalla, Liliane S. F. Leite, Eva Miriam Buhl, Stephan Dreschers, Andrij Pich, Martin Zenke, Luiz H. C. Mattoso, Antonio Sechi
Summary: The study demonstrates that PDI-labeled CNCs have superior photostability compared to commercially available dyes, excellent cytocompatibility towards various cell lines, and efficient labeling of different cell types.
Article
Hematology
Marcelo A. S. Toledo, Malrun Gatz, Stephanie Sontag, Karoline Gleixner, Gregor Eisenwort, Kristina Feldberg, Ahmed E. Hamouda, Frederick Kluge, Riccardo Guareschi, Giulia Rossetti, Antonio S. Sechi, Olli M. J. Dufva, Satu M. Mustjoki, Angela Maurer, Herdit M. Schueler, Roman Goetzke, Till Braunschweig, Anne Kaiser, Jens Panse, Mohamad Jawhar, Andreas Reiter, Frank Hilberg, Peter Ettmayer, Wolfgang Wagner, Steffen Koschmieder, Tim H. Bruemmendorf, Peter Valent, Nicolas Chatain, Martin Zenke
Summary: The KIT D816V mutation is a key therapeutic target for systemic mastocytosis, and nintedanib has been identified as a potential inhibitor for KIT D816V in patient-specific pluripotent stem cells.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Katja Scharinger, Sebastian Maxeiner, Carmen Schalla, Stephan Rutten, Martin Zenke, Antonio Sechi
Summary: The bimolecular complex between LSP1 and myosin1e plays a crucial role in regulating actin cytoskeleton remodeling and focal adhesion dynamics in macrophages, impacting cell migration, lamellipodia formation, and focal adhesion turnover.
Article
Cell Biology
Priyanka Tripathi, Haihong Guo, Alice Dreser, Alfred Yamoah, Antonio Sechi, Christopher Marvin Jesse, Istvan Katona, Panagiotis Doukas, Stefan Nikolin, Sabrina Ernst, Eleonora Aronica, Hannes Glass, Andreas Hermann, Harry Steinbusch, Alfred C. Feller, Markus Bergmann, Dick Jaarsma, Joachim Weis, Anand Goswami
Summary: Mutations in RNA binding proteins and genes regulating autophagy can cause familial amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The P56S mutation in VAPB affects the autophagy pathway and RBP homeostasis.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Pascal Achenbach, Inge Hambeukers, Anna L. Pierling, Jose L. Gerardo-Nava, Laura Hillerbrand, Antonio S. Sechi, Katharina J. Glucks, Paul D. Dalton, Andrij Pich, Axel Dievernich, Haktan Altinova, Gary A. Brook
Summary: The molecular composition and topography of the extracellular matrix play a crucial role in regenerative cell migration after peripheral nerve injury. A new technique called Elastic band spacers (EBS) has been introduced to preserve ECM-derived molecular and topographical cues while assessing cell migration. EBS represents a cost-effective and accessible tool for migration assays, providing significant benefits in terms of substrate preservation.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE METHODS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Janine Riegert, Alexander Toepel, Jana Schieren, Renee Coryn, Stella Dibenedetto, Dominik Braunmiller, Kamil Zajt, Carmen Schalla, Stephan Ruetten, Martin Zenke, Andrij Pich, Antonio Sechi
Summary: The spacing and rigidity of surface-grafted microgel arrays have been shown to effectively modulate cell adhesion and motility in diverse cellular systems, providing a basis for future developments in the fields of medicine and tissue engineering.
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Sebastian Raja, Eva Miriam Buhl, Stephan Dreschers, Carmen Schalla, Martin Zenke, Antonio Sechi, Luiz H. C. Mattoso
Summary: This study demonstrates the generation of carbon dots (C-dots) derived from curau ' a fruit and their application in Fe(III) detection, bioimaging, and FACS analysis. C-dots exhibit high water solubility, excitation-dependent multicolor fluorescence emission, and superior photostability, making them effective for Fe(III) ion detection in aqueous medium. In biological cell systems, C-dots are well tolerated and effectively internalized, serving as versatile probes for long-term live cell imaging experiments and multi-channel flow cytometry analysis. Overall, curau ' a-derived C-dots show promise as natural products for sensing, labeling, and bioimaging various cell types.
MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING C-MATERIALS FOR BIOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Marcela P. Bernardo, Bruna C. R. da Silva, Ahmed E. Hamouda, Marcelo A. S. de Toledo, Carmen Schalla, Stephan Rutten, Roman Goetzke, Luiz H. C. Mattoso, Martin Zenke, Antonio Sechi
Summary: Bone defects are a major challenge in reconstructive surgery, and 3D-printed scaffolds using fused deposition modelling (FDM) can provide a tailored solution. This study developed 3D-printed porous scaffolds made of polylactic acid/hydroxyapatite (PLA/HA) composites with high ceramic contents, which exhibited mechanical properties similar to trabecular bone and showed no immune-stimulatory properties. Additionally, these PLA/HA scaffolds were shown to promote osteogenic differentiation of human mesenchymal stem cells.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Heike Chauvistre, Batool Shannan, Sheena M. Daignault-Mill, Robert J. Ju, Daniel Picard, Stefanie Egetemaier, Renata Varaljai, Christine S. Gibhardt, Antonio Sechi, Farnusch Kaschani, Oliver Keminer, Samantha J. Stehbens, Qin Liu, Xiangfan Yin, Kirujan Jeyakumar, Felix C. E. Vogel, Clemens Krepler, Vito W. Rebecca, Linda Kubat, Smiths S. Lueong, Jan Forster, Susanne Horn, Marc Remke, Michael Ehrmann, Annette Paschen, Juergen C. Becker, Iris Helfrich, Daniel Rauh, Markus Kaiser, Sheraz Gul, Meenhard Herlyn, Ivan Bogeski, Jose Neptuno Rodriguez-Lopez, Nikolas K. Haass, Dirk Schadendorf, Alexander Roesch
Summary: This study demonstrates that maintaining a high expression of KDM5B in slow-cycling melanoma cells can induce their differentiation and cell cycle arrest, thereby limiting tumor plasticity. The study also identifies a chemical agent, Cpd1, that can phenocopy the effect of high KDM5B expression and sensitizes melanoma cells to a specific antifolate prodrug.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Marcela P. Bernardo, Bruna C. Rodrigues, Antonio Sechi, Luiz H. C. Mattoso
Summary: The use of 3D printing techniques allows the construction of customized scaffolds for bone replacement. This study investigated the use of maleic anhydride-grafted poly(lactic acid) (MAPLA) as a compatibilizer agent to enhance the properties of PLA/HA composites. The results showed improved physicochemical and biological properties, especially the induction of MSC osteogenic differentiation.
JOURNAL OF BIOMATERIALS APPLICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Dermatology
Ahmed E. I. Hamouda, Carmen Schalla, Antonio Sechi, Martin Zenke, Rebekka K. Schneider, Thomas Hieronymus
Summary: This study investigates the importance of HGF receptor/Met signaling in the migration of skin-resident Langerhans cells (LCs) and dermal dendritic cells (DCs) towards draining lymph nodes. It demonstrates that Met deficiency impairs podosome formation and gelatin degradation in DCs, leading to inefficient crossing of the basement membrane. HGF-dependent Met activation reduces adhesion and enhances motility of DCs in collagen matrices, while Met signaling has no impact on integrin-independent amoeboid migration.
JOURNAL OF INVESTIGATIVE DERMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Alice Dreser, Jan Tilmann Vollrath, Antonio Sechi, Sonja Johann, Andreas Roos, Alfred Yamoah, Istvan Katona, Saeed Bohlega, Dominik Wiemuth, Yuemin Tian, Axel Schmidt, Jorg Vervoorts, Marc Dohmen, Cordian Beyer, Jasper Anink, Eleonora Aronica, Dirk Troost, Joachim Weis, Anand Goswami
CELL DEATH AND DIFFERENTIATION
(2017)