Article
Chemistry, Physical
Saber Shakibi, Patrick R. R. Onck, Erik van der Giessen
Summary: Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) are polysaccharides that play crucial roles in biological processes. They are important structural components of cartilage and the extracellular matrix of the brain. Coarse-grained modeling is essential due to the large size of GAGs.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL THEORY AND COMPUTATION
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gabriel Berdugo-Vega, Shonali Dhingra, Federico Calegari
Summary: This article reviews a wealth of research in cellular, anatomical, behavioral, and computational studies on the mammalian hippocampus, aiming to understand the fundamental mechanisms underlying cognition. Despite accumulating knowledge on how the hippocampus processes and stores information for learning and memory, our understanding of hippocampal cognitive function remains incomplete. The article discusses the structural separability of the two blades of the dentate gyrus in the hippocampus and proposes a model that suggests differences in connectivity and adult neurogenesis in the two blades may contribute to subtly different cognitive functions.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kento Shionoya, Takehiro Suzuki, Mako Takada, Kazuki Sato, Shoichi Onishi, Naoshi Dohmae, Koichiro Nishino, Takeshi Wada, Robert J. Linhardt, Toshihiko Toida, Kyohei Higashi
Summary: This study conducted a comprehensive analysis of cartilage in the heads of 10 bony fishes, including sturgeon and salmon. The results revealed that the structure of chondroitin sulfate (CS) in sturgeons and salmon differed from other bony fishes, and aggrecan was identified as the major core protein in all bony fish head cartilage.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2022)
Review
Neurosciences
Jesse D. Cushman, Michael R. Drew, Franklin B. Krasne
Summary: The primary function of juvenile and adult hippocampal neurogenesis appears to be allowing behavioral experience to shape connectivity in the dentate gyrus and optimize hippocampal circuits for future learning. This environmental sculpting reduces overlap among memory representations, provides more information, and allows for more memories to be stored accurately. The decline of neurogenesis prior to adulthood may be explained by this prospective function of sculpting hippocampal circuits.
PROGRESS IN NEUROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Gustavo J. Cavallero, Yan Wang, Charles Nwosu, Sheng Gu, Muthuraman Meiyappan, Joseph Zaia
Summary: Recombinant protein engineering design affects therapeutic properties including protein efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity. Glycosylation modulates glycoprotein therapeutic pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and effector functions. NanoHILIC-MS is advantageous in elucidating glycan features on glycotherapeutics that fail to be detected using traditional methods.
ANALYTICAL AND BIOANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Hongmin Li, Samira Ghorbani, Ruiyi Zhang, Vincent Ebacher, Erin L. Stephenson, Michael B. Keough, V. Wee Yong, Mengzhou Xue
Summary: Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) causes distinct alterations in extracellular matrix (ECM) molecules. Among chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG) members, neurocan is selectively upregulated in both murine and human ICH, and inhibits the properties of oligodendrocyte lineage cells in tissue culture. These changes to the ECM in ICH may adversely affect reparative outcomes after stroke.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xiumin Sun, Haiqian Liu, Zan Tan, Yuhui Hou, Mao Pang, Shengfeng Chen, Longyou Xiao, Qiuju Yuan, Bin Liu, Limin Rong, Liumin He
Summary: In this study, a functional self-assembling peptide (F-SAP) hydrogel loaded with membrane-permeable intracellular sigma peptide (ISP) and intracellular LAR peptide (ILP) was used to bridge the fluid-filled cystic cavity formed after spinal cord injury. Compared to previous methods, this approach promotes a beneficial anti-inflammatory response and improves functional recovery.
Article
Neurosciences
Lyles R. Clark, Sanghee Yun, Nana K. Acquah, Priya L. Kumar, Hannah E. Metheny, Rikley C. C. Paixao, Akivas S. Cohen, Amelia J. Eisch
Summary: This study discusses the impact of mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBIs) on the process of adult hippocampal DG neurogenesis. The results show that mTBI induces transient increases in neurogenesis in the ipsilateral hippocampal region, but not in the contralateral hemisphere. These findings are important for understanding the functional implications of TBI-induced neurogenesis and potential neuron replacement or repair after TBI.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Anthony J. Hayes, James Melrose
Summary: Chondroitin sulfate plays crucial roles in cell regulation and structural support in the central and peripheral nervous systems, controlling tissue function and homeostasis, and playing key roles in tissue recovery following neural injuries.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Luka Culig, Xixia Chu, Vilhelm A. Bohr
Summary: Adult neurogenesis is a potential target for extending cognitive healthspan, as aging is a major risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases. This review describes the role of adult neurogenesis in neurodegenerative diseases and discusses the molecular mechanisms involving key proteins. Interventions that increase neurogenesis and regulate aging research targets are summarized, and the outlook for restoring neurogenesis levels in elderly individuals and those with neurodegeneration is shared.
AGEING RESEARCH REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Neurosciences
Rahul Kaushik, Nikita Lipachev, Gabriela Matuszko, Anastasia Kochneva, Anastasia Dvoeglazova, Axel Becker, Mikhail Paveliev, Alexander Dityatev
Summary: Perineuronal nets (PNNs) are highly condensed brain extracellular matrix structures that play a key role in postnatal brain development, cell excitability, and are implicated in brain disorders such as schizophrenia. A new open-source script was developed to quantify structural alterations of PNNs in a schizophrenia rat model. The intensity, size, and shape of PNN units were found to be the major factors determining their variability, with ketamine-treated rats showing differences in these parameters compared to control rats. Multidimensional analysis of PNN units provided a comprehensive morphometric fingerprinting of ECM structure abnormalities in the experimental schizophrenia model.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
Gaifen Li, Jia Liu, Yuying Guan, Xunming Ji
Summary: Hypoxia plays a crucial role in regulating various cell functions, including stem cells and neural stem cells. Hypoxia stimulation in specific brain regions can promote proliferation, migration, and maturation of neural stem cells, potentially offering a promising strategy for treating central nervous system diseases.
CNS NEUROSCIENCE & THERAPEUTICS
(2021)
Article
Psychiatry
Hu Meng, Qiongwei Li, Jinxin Wang, Weihua Yue, Dai Zhang, Xiaoxuan Sun, Lifang Wang, Jun Li
Summary: Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are neurodevelopmental disorders characterized by impaired social interaction and communication. This study aimed to improve the social deficit in a mouse model by increasing neurogenesis in the hippocampus. Three approaches were used: repeated oxytocin administration, enriched environment, and overexpression of Cdk4-CyclinD1 complex in neural stem cells. Results showed increased proliferation of neural stem cells and newborn neurons, as well as significant improvement in social recognition deficit. These findings provide new insight into the treatment of autism.
FRONTIERS IN PSYCHIATRY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Michel Baudry, Wenyue Su, Jeffrey Seinfeld, Jiandong Sun, Xiaoning Bi
Summary: The study found that the absence of calpain-1 in mutant mice reduced the rate of cell proliferation and long-term survival of newly-generated neurons in the adult hippocampus. Differential gene expression related to cell division, cell migration, cell proliferation, and cell survival was identified in the brains of calpain-1 knockout mice, suggesting a significant impact on neurogenesis.
FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR BIOSCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Chao Li, Zheng Zhang, Yu Peng, Yanying Zhang, Wanrong Kang, Yingdong Li, Yang Hai
Summary: The study found that oxygen-glucose deprivation and TGF beta 1 stimulation induced myofibroblast transformation and C4S synthesis in vitro, and this response was mediated via cooperation between canonical Smad3 and mTORC1 signaling. Inhibiting myofibroblast transformation may reduce C4S synthesis, providing insight into the regeneration of sympathetic nerves and reduction of fibrosis after myocardial infarction at the cellular level.
EXPERIMENTAL AND THERAPEUTIC MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Youngjae Ryu, Yong Jin Kim, Yoon Young Kim, Jungwoo Kim, Sung Woo Kim, Hoon Kim, Seung Yup Ku
Summary: This study successfully established a PCOS model in mice using STZ, with findings indicating that low doses of STZ can induce PCOS features without causing diabetes features. Different doses of STZ treatment had varying effects on body weight, blood glucose levels, and hormone levels in mice.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Liwei Jiang, Sungwook Jung, Jing Zhao, Vivek Kasinath, Takaharu Ichimura, John Joseph, Paolo Fiorina, Andrew S. Liss, Khalid Shah, Nasim Annabi, Nitin Joshi, Tomoya O. Akama, Jonathan S. Bromberg, Motohiro Kobayashi, Kenji Uchimura, Reza Abdi
Summary: The newly developed MHA112-Taxol drug delivery platform can simultaneously target tumors, TDLNs, and metastatic lesions, effectively reducing the size of primary tumors and the number of metastatic lesions.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Youngjae Ryu, Toru Ogata, Motoshi Nagao, Yasuhiro Sawada, Ryohei Nishimura, Naoki Fujita
Summary: Early administration of escitalopram after spinal cord injury effectively prevented the onset of spastic behaviors through modulation of the 5-HT system, but did not impact exaggerated spinal reflexes. This suggests a novel application of SSRIs for preventative treatment of spasticity.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Hitomi Hoshino, Tomoya O. Akama, Kenji Uchimura, Mana Fukushima, Akifumi Muramoto, Takeshi Uehara, Yasuni Nakanuma, Motohiro Kobayashi
Summary: This study demonstrates the expression of distinct sulfated glycans in the cytoplasm and apical membrane of cells in large-sized ducts and ductules, with differences observed in various liver diseases and cholangiocarcinoma. The presence of these glycans as a characteristic feature in ductules and their reactive and neoplastic counterparts suggests a potential role in pathological conditions.
JOURNAL OF HISTOCHEMISTRY & CYTOCHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kazuchika Nishitsuji, Midori Ikezaki, Shino Manabe, Kenji Uchimura, Yukishige Ito, Yoshito Ihara
Summary: C-Mannosylation affects the biological functions of proteins, especially in thrombospondin 1 repeats. C-Mannosylated WSPW peptide inhibits TGF-beta-mediated synaptogenesis by suppressing Smad 2 activation. The molecular details of how C-mannosylation affects the biological functions of WxxW motifs require further study for clarification.
GLYCOCONJUGATE JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Yoshiko Takeda-Uchimura, Kazuchika Nishitsuji, Midori Ikezaki, Tomoya O. Akama, Yoshito Ihara, Fabrice Allain, Kenji Uchimura
Summary: KS glycan is crucially attached to proteoglycans in the adult brain. Beta3Gn-T7, encoded by B3gnt7, is identified as a major enzyme for KS synthesis in neuropils and the perineuronal region. This suggests that Beta3Gn-T7 in oligodendrocyte lineage cells may play a significant role in forming neuropils and perineuronal nets in the adult brain.
FRONTIERS IN NEUROANATOMY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kenji Uchimura, Kazuchika Nishitsuji, Li-Ting Chiu, Takashi Ohgita, Hiroyuki Saito, Fabrice Allain, Veeranjaneyulu Gannedi, Chi-Huey Wong, Shang-Cheng Hung
Summary: Misregulation and abnormal processing of amyloidogenic proteins lead to amyloidosis, and the synthesized 6-O-phosphorylated HS/HP oligosaccharides have competitive effects on inhibiting Aβ fibril formation.
Article
Cell Biology
Rana El Masri, Amal Seffouh, Caroline Roelants, Ilham Seffouh, Evelyne Gout, Julien Perard, Fabien Dalonneau, Kazuchika Nishitsuji, Fredrik Noborn, Mahnaz Nikpour, Goran Larson, Yoann Cretinon, Melanie Friedel-Arboleas, Kenji Uchimura, Regis Daniel, Hugues Lortat-Jacob, Odile Filhol, Romain R. Vives
Summary: This study found that human HSulf-2 enzyme carries a chondroitin/dermatan sulfate glycosaminoglycan (GAG) chain, which regulates the enzyme's activity and is promoted by mammalian hyaluronidase.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yoshiko Takeda-Uchimura, Midori Ikezaki, Tomoya O. Akama, Kaho Nishioka, Yoshito Ihara, Fabrice Allain, Kazuchika Nishitsuji, Kenji Uchimura
Summary: In this study, it was found that CL40-positive sialylated and sulfated glycans are abundant in the pleural mesothelium and are synthesized complementarily by GlcNAc6ST2 and GlcNAc6ST3 under physiological conditions.
Review
Immunology
Bilal Hussain, Vivek Kasinath, Gabriel P. Ashton-Rickardt, Thomas Clancy, Kenji Uchimura, George Tsokos, Reza Abdi
Summary: High endothelial venules (HEVs) are specialized blood vessels that support the migration of lymphocytes. They are formed in organs affected by chronic inflammation and cancer. HEVs play a crucial role in cancer treatment and immunotherapy. This review discusses the characteristics of HEVs, the mechanisms of their formation, HEV-dependent immunotherapies, and the potential use of HEV-targeted therapies in the treatment of cancer and immune-mediated diseases.
TRENDS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Takahiro Maekawa, Naoyoshi Sakitani, Youngjae Ryu, Atsushi Takashima, Shuhei Murase, Julius Fink, Motoshi Nagao, Toru Ogata, Masahiro Shinohara, Yasuhiro Sawada
Summary: Exercise is effective for brain dysfunction, but the molecular mechanisms behind it are poorly understood. A custom-designed system was developed to simulate mechanical stimulation experienced by rodents during treadmill running. The study found that this stimulation affects the 5-HT2A signaling in the brain. The research provides detailed protocols for using this system in experiments.
JOVE-JOURNAL OF VISUALIZED EXPERIMENTS
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Francesco Boato, Xiaofei Guan, Yanjie Zhu, Youngjae Ryu, Mariel Voutounou, Christopher Rynne, Chase R. Freschlin, Paul Zumbo, Doron Betel, Katie Matho, Sergey N. Makarov, Zhuhao Wu, Young-Jin Son, Aapo Nummenmaa, Josh Z. Huang, Dylan J. Edwards, Jian Zhong
Summary: Facilitating axon regeneration in the injured central nervous system remains challenging. Activating BRAF kinase in mature corticospinal neurons enhances axon regeneration and sprouting after spinal cord injury in mice. High-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (HF-rTMS) modulates MAP2K signaling and promotes corticospinal axon regeneration, suggesting its potential in spinal cord injury treatment.
SCIENCE TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Naoyuki Iwahashi, Midori Ikezaki, Yoshihiro Komohara, Yukio Fujiwara, Tomoko Noguchi, Kaho Nishioka, Kazuko Sakai, Kazuto Nishio, Mitsuharu Ueda, Yoshito Ihara, Kenji Uchimura, Kazuhiko Ino, Kazuchika Nishitsuji
Summary: Recent studies have found that aggregates of mutant p53 proteins can propagate and disrupt normal p53 function in cancer cells. This study demonstrates the involvement of p53 aggregate transmission in poor prognosis and chemotherapy resistance in cancer.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yuki Takechi-Haraya, Takashi Ohgita, Mana Kotani, Hiroki Kono, Chihiro Saito, Hiroko Tamagaki-Asahina, Kazuchika Nishitsuji, Kenji Uchimura, Takeshi Sato, Ryuji Kawano, Kumiko Sakai-Kato, Ken-ichi Izutsu, Hiroyuki Saito
Summary: By studying the structural isomers of A2-17 peptide, we found a correlation between the hydrophobic moment and membrane interaction and direct cell penetration. A2-17 L14R/R15L, with the highest hydrophobic moment, showed the most efficient penetration into cells, forming stable membrane pores.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)