Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Min Xia, Lyu Jiao, Xiao-Han Wang, Min Tong, Mu-Di Yao, Xiu-Miao Li, Jin Yao, Dan Li, Pei-Quan Zhao, Biao Yan
Summary: Using single-cell RNA sequencing, researchers identified specific cell types involved in capillary dysfunction and identified Col1a1 as a potential therapeutic target. Col1a1 was upregulated in the OIR model and in patients with diabetic retinopathy and retinopathy of prematurity. These findings enhance our understanding of retinal cell complexity and heterogeneity and have important implications for future treatments of capillary dysfunction.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Shu Zhu, Anqi Wang, Wei Xu, Longfei Hu, Jiafan Sun, Xiuli Wang
Summary: This study used single-cell RNA sequencing to investigate the properties of ectopic endometrium (ECE), eutopic endometrium (EUE), and normal endometrium (NOE) in patients with endometriosis. The study found that myofibroblasts, pericytes, and macrophages were more abundant in ECE compared to non-ectopic tissues. Myofibroblasts mainly underwent fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transdifferentiation, while pericytes were dependent on endothelial cell differentiation. These findings suggest that targeting myofibroblasts, pericytes, and macrophages may be a potential therapeutic approach for endometriosis.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR BASIS OF DISEASE
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Cheng Feng, Mengjie Shan, Yijun Xia, Zhi Zheng, Kai He, Yingxin Wei, Kexin Song, Tian Meng, Hao Liu, Yan Hao, Zhengyun Liang, Youbin Wang, Yongsheng Huang
Summary: In this study, the cellular composition of keloids was analyzed using single-cell RNA sequencing. Significant differences were found in most cell types between keloid and adjacent normal tissue. The study also revealed distinctive immune profiles in keloids, including an increased proportion of macrophages and decreased proportion of cDC2 cells. Additionally, tumor-associated macrophage characteristics were upregulated in advanced keloid cells.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
A. Gomez-Collignon, R. Brown, A. Carr, S. Dakin, A. Lach, C. Loizou, M. Rogers, R. Sharp, A. Kendal
Summary: Chronic tendinopathy is a growing healthcare burden in the ageing population, and curative therapies are still lacking. Identifying and isolating key pathogenic and reparative cells through in vitro culture of human tendon cells can provide insights for developing precision therapies and implantable materials. Different subpopulations of tendon cells were found to persist in vitro, and could be recognized by specific gene and surface-protein signatures.
EUROPEAN CELLS & MATERIALS
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Liyun Cheng, Yanyan Wang, Ruihe Wu, Tingting Ding, Hongwei Xue, Chong Gao, Xiaofeng Li, Caihong Wang
Summary: Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) technology has the potential to make significant breakthroughs in the study of synovial cell differentiation and development, subset identification, functional analysis, and new therapeutic targets in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Phoebe M. Kirkwood, Douglas A. Gibson, James R. Smith, John R. Wilson-Kanamori, Olympia Kelepouri, Arantza Esnal-Zufiaurre, Ross Dobie, Neil C. Henderson, Philippa T. K. Saunders
Summary: The endometrium is a dynamic tissue that relies on complex interactions between stromal and epithelial compartments. Rare populations of putative mesenchymal progenitor cells have been found in the human endometrium, while the existence of equivalent cell populations in mice is unclear. This study redefined the endometrial mesenchyme in mice, identifying different subpopulations of cells and their potential functions.
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Lanfang Li, Min Wang, Qiuxiao Ma, Yunxiu Li, Jingxue Ye, Xiaobo Sun, Guibo Sun
Summary: After myocardial infarction, the heart goes through a remodeling and repair phase that involves changes in cell proportions and functions. The advent of single-cell transcriptome sequencing technology has greatly facilitated the exploration of cellular changes and the identification of potential therapeutic targets.
FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Yichen Yang, Ben Ma, Litao Han, Weibo Xu, Xiaoxue Du, Wenjun Wei, Tian Liao, Qinghai Ji, Ning Qu, Yu Wang
Summary: This study aimed to identify a prognosis-related subtype of cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and investigate its contributions to molecular characteristics, immune characteristics, and potential benefits in immunotherapy and chemotherapy for HNSCC. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) analysis was performed on CAFs from HNSCC patient samples to identify the prognostic subgroup. A prognostic signature based on 4 genes derived from the prognosis-related CAFs was constructed. The results showed that higher CAF scores correlated with poor survival outcomes, lower infiltration levels of immune cells, and decreased sensitivity to chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Yingwen Chen, Jia Song, Qingyu Ruan, Xi Zeng, Lingling Wu, Linfeng Cai, Xuanqun Wang, Chaoyong Yang
Summary: Cells are fundamental building blocks of biological systems, and studying single cells can provide insights into cell diversity and disease processes. Single-cell RNA sequencing technologies allow cellular heterogeneity to be dissected at unprecedented resolution.
Review
Neurosciences
Chenxu Chang, Hongyan Zuo, Yang Li
Summary: Single-cell and single-nucleus RNA sequencing technologies have revolutionized biomedical research in the past decade, allowing the analysis of heterogenous cell populations and providing insights into the molecular mechanisms of the hippocampus. This review summarizes the applications of these technologies in studying hippocampal development, health, and diseases.
NEUROBIOLOGY OF DISEASE
(2023)
Review
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Hui-Qi Qu, Charlly Kao, Hakon Hakonarson
Summary: Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) is a revolutionary technology that has greatly contributed to our understanding of cellular heterogeneity and gene expression dynamics, particularly in stem cell research. Different types of scRNA-seq technologies have been developed and they offer distinct advantages in capturing cellular heterogeneity and characterizing rare cell populations within complex tissues.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yingzheng Weng, Jiangjie Lou, Yizong Bao, Changhong Cai, Kefu Zhu, Changqing Du, Xiaofeng Chen, Lijiang Tang
Summary: In this study, the mechanism of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) was investigated using single-cell RNA sequencing technology. The research revealed the cellular heterogeneity of AAA and suggested that fibroblasts may play a critical role in the progression of AAA induced by angiotensin II.
DNA AND CELL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Zhimou Cai, Lin Chen, Siyu Chen, Ruihua Fang, Xiaolin Chen, Wenbin Lei
Summary: mCAFs act as communication center in HPSCC TME, enhancing invasion ability of HPSCC cells and mobilizing surrounding cells to construct tumor-favorable microenvironment. Inhibiting mCAF activation offers a new anti-HPSCC therapeutic strategy.
CELL COMMUNICATION AND SIGNALING
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Jianping Liu, Liqun He, Lars Muhl, Giuseppe Mocci, Sonja Gustavsson, Byambajav Buyandelger, Michael Vanlandewijck, Christer Betsholtz, Bengt Westermark, Johanna Andrae
Summary: The brain vasculature features a blood-brain barrier (BBB) that protects the brain from pathogens and toxins. Recent identification of human cells that may be equivalent to murine brain perivascular fibroblasts, with a similar transcriptomic profile, opens up new possibilities for studying human CNS diseases.
EXPERIMENTAL CELL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Meichen Dong, Aatish Thennavan, Eugene Urrutia, Yun Li, Charles M. Perou, Fei Zou, Yuchao Jiang
Summary: SCDC is a deconvolution method for bulk RNA-seq data that improves the accuracy of cell-type decomposition. It leverages cell-type specific gene expression profiles from multiple scRNA-seq reference datasets and integrates deconvolution results from different experiments and laboratories. The study demonstrates that SCDC outperforms existing methods in both settings.
BRIEFINGS IN BIOINFORMATICS
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Douglas W. Van Pelt, Yalda A. Kharaz, Dylan C. Sarver, Logan R. Eckhardt, Justin T. Dzierzawski, Nathaniel P. Disser, Alex N. Piacentini, Eithne Comerford, Brian McDonagh, Christopher L. Mendias
Summary: This study utilized multiomic approaches to investigate the pathological changes in Duchenne muscular dystrophy at the transcriptome, proteome, metabolome, and lipidome levels. Despite gross pathological changes in muscles of mdx/mTR mice, there were no differences in muscle fiber contractility compared to wild type mice. There was a moderate agreement between the proteome and transcriptome but also significant differences, with notable changes in markers of muscle metabolism observed in dystrophic muscles.
CONNECTIVE TISSUE RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biology
Silvia Diaz-Lora, Tomas Perez-Contreras, Manuel Azcarate-Garcia, Juan Manuel Peralta-Sanchez, Manuel Martinez-Bueno, Juan Jose Soler, Manuel Martin-Vivaldi
Summary: The signaling hypothesis suggests that avian eggshell coloration may act as a post-mating sexual signal of female quality to males, with males adjusting their provisioning rate accordingly. This study provides the first experimental evidence that egg color stained with uropygial secretion could serve as a cue for male investment in hoopoes.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Maria Belen Giorello, Ayelen Matas, Pablo Marenco, Kevin Mauro Davies, Francisco Raul Borzone, Maria de Lujan Calcagno, Hernan Garcia-Rivello, Alejandra Wernicke, Leandro Marcelo Martinez, Vivian Labovsky, Norma Alejandra Chasseing
Summary: The study suggests that in early breast cancer patients, high levels of CD1a( +) dendritic cells are associated with lower risk of bone metastasis and better prognosis, while high levels of CD83( +) dendritic cells are linked to lower risk of mix metastasis and improved prognosis. Therefore, the numbers of CD1a and CD83 dendritic cells can serve as independent prognostic factors for metastasis in early breast cancer.
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Juan Jose Soler, Ester Martinez-Renau, Manuel Azcarate-Garcia, Cristina Ruiz-Castellano, Jose Martin, Manuel Martin-Vivaldi
Summary: This study explores the cosmetic use of intensely yellow-colored uropygial secretion by spotless starling nestlings and its role in parent-offspring communication. The secretion color is genetically determined and correlates positively with Vitamin E supplementation and plasma carotenoid concentration. The coloration of begging-related traits and nestling secretion predicts parental feeding preferences. These findings suggest the informative value and significance of cosmetic coloration in offspring- parent communication.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Umji Lee, Pascal Stuelsatz, Sonia Karaz, David W. McKellar, Julie Russeil, Maria Deak, Iwijn De Vlaminck, Christoph Lepper, Bart Deplancke, Benjamin D. Cosgrove, Jerome N. Feige
Summary: This study identifies the regulation of Apelin by Tead1, with Tead1 playing an important role in myogenic cells and influencing Apln secretion, which in turn affects endothelial remodeling during muscle repair.
Article
Orthopedics
Nathaniel P. Disser, Alexander N. Piacentini, Andrea J. De Micheli, Martin M. Schonk, Vincent J. H. Yao, Xiang-Hua Deng, David J. Oliver, Scott A. Rodeo
Summary: This study investigated the transcriptomic and mechanical properties of a single Achilles tendon and found region-specific gene expression signatures and mechanical properties. The proximal region displayed gene expression resembling a tendon phenotype and increased expression of nerve cell markers, while the distal region showed increased expression of genes involved in extracellular matrix synthesis and remodeling, immune cell regulation, and a phenotype similar to cartilage and bone. There was a significant increase in Young modulus from the proximal to middle region and an additional increase from the middle to distal region.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SPORTS MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
David W. McKellar, Madhav Mantri, Meleana M. Hinchman, John S. L. Parker, Praveen Sethupathy, Benjamin D. Cosgrove, Iwijn De Vlaminck
Summary: Spatial transcriptomics allows us to study the spatial context of gene expression. Current methods are limited to detecting a subset of RNA transcripts. By using enzymatic in situ polyadenylation of RNA, we are able to detect the full spectrum of RNAs, expanding the scope of research. Applying this approach, we studied skeletal muscle regeneration and viral-induced myocarditis, and made new discoveries.
NATURE BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Microbiology
Ester Martinez-Renau, Monica Mazorra-Alonso, Cristina Ruiz-Castellano, Manuel Martin-Vivaldi, Antonio M. Martin-Platero, Maria Dolores Baron, Juan Jose Soler
Summary: Symbiotic bacteria on animal hosts can prevent pathogenic bacterial infections by enhancing host's immune responses or producing antimicrobial substances. The antimicrobial properties of bacterial symbionts vary among different host species, reflecting their risk of microbial infection. This suggests that the risk of infection drives natural selection to enhance animal immunocompetence through selecting for antibiotic-producing symbionts.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Behavioral Sciences
Laura Arco, Juan Manuel Peralta-Sanchez, Manuel Martin-Vivaldi, Manuel Soler
Summary: Brood parasites lay their eggs in nests of other species, tricking hosts into raising their parasitic offspring. Hosts may fight back impeding successful parasitism by developing defenses at any of the stages of their breeding cycle. This study found that hoopoes have evolved the less common host defense: discrimination of parasite fledglings, even in the absence of their own fledgling for comparison. This suggests that discrimination during the later stages of the nesting cycle may be more common than previously assumed.
BEHAVIORAL ECOLOGY AND SOCIOBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Haiyin Li, Antonion Korcari, David Ciufo, Christopher L. L. Mendias, Scott A. A. Rodeo, Mark R. R. Buckley, Alayna E. E. Loiselle, Geoffrey S. S. Pitt, Chike Cao
Summary: This study found that Ca2+ signaling through Ca(V)1.2 voltage-gated Ca2+ channel plays a role in tendon formation. Ca(V)1.2 is highly expressed in developing tendons but downregulated in adult homeostasis. Mutant tendons with increased Ca2+ signaling display hypertrophic characteristics, increased collagen fibrillogenesis, and alterations in ECM proteins and growth factors.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Shivem B. Shah, Christopher R. Carlson, Kristine Lai, Zhe Zhong, Grazia Marsico, Katherine M. Lee, Nicole E. Felix Velez, Elisabeth B. Abeles, Mayar Allam, Thomas Hu, Lauren D. Walter, Karen E. Martin, Khanjan Gandhi, Scott D. Butler, Rishi Puri, Angela L. McCleary-Wheeler, Wayne Tam, Olivier Elemento, Katsuyoshi Takata, Christian Steidl, David W. Scott, Lorena Fontan, Hideki Ueno, Benjamin D. Cosgrove, Giorgio Inghirami, Andres J. Garcia, Ahmet F. Coskun, Jean L. Koff, Ari Melnick, Ankur Singh
Summary: Using synthetic-hydrogel-based organoids, researchers identified that cellular and biophysical factors in the lymphoid tumor microenvironment (Ly-TME) dampen the efficacy of targeted therapies for DLBCL. Combinatorial inhibition of multiple aberrant signaling pathways showed higher antitumor efficacy in lymphoid organoids and implanted patient tumors. These studies define the crosstalk between malignant ABC-DLBCL cells and Ly-TME and provide rational combinatorial therapies to overcome treatment resistance mediated by Ly-TME.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Alessandra M. Norris, Ambili Bai Appu, Connor D. Johnson, Lylybell Y. Zhou, David W. McKellar, Marie-Ange Renault, David Hammers, Benjamin D. Cosgrove, Daniel Kopinke
Summary: Successful muscle regeneration relies on the interplay of multiple cell populations, and the Hedgehog signaling pathway plays a crucial role in controlling the fate of fibro/adipogenic progenitors (FAPs) and muscle regeneration. This study also highlights the potential role of mis-regulation of the Hh pathway in pathological intramuscular fat formation.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Sara G. Danielli, Ermelinda Porpiglia, Andrea J. De Micheli, Natalia Navarro, Michael J. Zellinger, Ingrid Bechtold, Samanta Kisele, Larissa Volken, Joana G. Marques, Stephanie Kasper, Peter K. Bode, Anton G. Henssen, Dennis Guergen, Olivier Delattre, Didier Surdez, Josep Roma, Peter Buhlmann, Helen M. Blau, Marco Wachtel, Beat W. Schafer
Summary: This study investigates the cellular hierarchy and mechanisms underlying the aggressiveness, chemoresistance, and progression of alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma (aRMS), a pediatric cancer. The researchers identify plastic muscle stem-like cells and cycling progenitors in aRMS that drive tumor growth, as well as a subpopulation of differentiated cells with better outcomes. Chemotherapy eliminates cycling progenitors but enriches aRMS for muscle stem-like cells. The researchers discover a combination of RAF and MEK inhibitors that induce myogenic differentiation and inhibit tumor growth, suggesting the RAS pathway as a promising therapeutic target.
Article
Sport Sciences
Jonathan S. Yu, David M. Dare, Daniel Edon, Alec L. Sinatro, Dylan C. Sarver, Scott Rodeo, Joshua S. Dines, Christopher L. Mendias
Summary: This exploratory study aimed to investigate the relationship between biomarkers of cartilage turnover and inflammation and specific shoulder lesions in patients with shoulder instability. The findings suggest that inflammatory biomarkers were not associated with specific shoulder lesions, while biomarkers of cartilage turnover were only elevated in Hill-Sachs lesions.
TRANSLATIONAL SPORTS MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Zoology
Juan Jose Soler, Manuel Martin-Vivaldi, Sona Nuhlickova, Cristina Ruiz-Castellano, Monica Mazorra-Alonso, Ester Martinez-Renau, Manfred Eckenfellner, Jan Svetlik, Herbert Hoi
Summary: Sibling cannibalism is found to be common in the Eurasian hoopoe, with a higher incidence in the Spanish population compared to the Austrian population. The higher occurrence of sibling cannibalism in the southern population may be due to more nestlings condemned to die. Factors such as hatching failure, food scarcity, and hatching asynchrony influence the likelihood and intensity of sibling cannibalism.
ZOOLOGICAL RESEARCH
(2022)