Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Chae Won Kim, Kyun-Do Kim, Heung Kyu Lee
Summary: Dendritic cells play a crucial role in initiating antitumor immune responses through antigen presentation. Different subsets of DCs have distinct roles in the tumor microenvironment, and regulating DC functionality holds promise for improving cancer therapies.
Review
Cell Biology
Qing Zhang, Jialin Wang, Junwen Zhang, Fusheng Liu
Summary: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) play crucial roles in the tumor microenvironment (TME), contributing to tumor progression and therapeutic resistance. Glioma-resident MSCs (GR-MSCs) enhance the tumorigenicity of glioma stem cells (GSCs) through the IL-6/gp130/STAT3 pathway. Higher percentage of GR-MSCs in the TME leads to poor prognosis of glioma patients and their secretion of specific miRNA promotes tumor growth. Novel therapeutic strategies targeting GR-MSCs are urgently needed for GBM patients.
CELL BIOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Georgina Lopez-Cortes, Miryam Palacios-Perez, Margarita M. Hernandez-Aguilar, Hannya F. Velediaz, Marco Jose
Summary: Coronaviruses use their spike proteins to interact with protein or carbohydrate receptors and infect cells. Three known protein receptors, ANPEP/CD13, DPP IV/CD26, and ACE2, play important roles in the infection of human coronaviruses. These receptors are involved in various physiological processes and expressed in different tissues/cell types. Understanding the commonalities and functions of these enzymes, as well as their impact on systemic deregulations and multi-organ failures, is crucial for developing effective medications against coronaviruses.
Review
Immunology
Peishan Li, Qianmin Ou, Songtao Shi, Changshun Shao
Summary: Mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) are widely distributed in the body and can be used for the treatment of autoimmune diseases and other chronic disorders. Dental stem cells (DSCs) have remarkable immunomodulatory properties and have therapeutic effects on systemic inflammatory diseases. MSCs derived from nondental tissues, such as the umbilical cord, also show benefits in the management of periodontitis in preclinical studies.
CELLULAR & MOLECULAR IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Sheila Alcantara Llaguno, Luis F. Parada
Summary: Recent studies have revealed the complexity of glioma cancer stem cells (CSCs), including developmental origins, plasticity, cellular states, and interactions with the microenvironment. These cells exhibit diverse transcriptional cellular states, susceptible to transitions, playing important roles in treatment resistance and immune evasion.
CURRENT OPINION IN NEUROLOGY
(2021)
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Nathaniel H. Boyd, Anh Nhat Tran, Joshua D. Bernstock, Tina Etminan, Amber B. Jones, G. Yancey Gillespie, Gregory K. Friedman, Anita B. Hjelmeland
Summary: Tumor microenvironments result from cellular alterations in cancer that promote unrestricted growth and angiogenesis, with hypoxia and acidic stress known to modulate therapeutic resistance. Understanding the interplay between tumor microenvironments and glioma stem cells is crucial for developing better treatment options for glioblastoma.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Dimitris Ntekoumes, Sharon Gerecht
Summary: Endothelial cell dysfunction is crucial in various pathologies, and tissue engineering provides a platform to study its underlying mechanisms through hydrogel biomaterials, three-dimensional bioprinting, and organs-on-a-chip technology. Understanding endothelial dysfunction can lead to potential therapeutics.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Anatomy & Morphology
Seyedeh Shaghayegh Zafarmand, Saeideh Karimi-Haghighi, Mohammad Saied Salehi, Etrat Hooshmandi, Maryam Owjfard, Mahnaz Bayat, Sedigheh Karimlou, Sareh Pandamooz, Mehdi Dianatpour, Afshin Borhani-Haghighi
Summary: This review examines the effects of aspirin on stem cell therapy, focusing on its impact on the viability, proliferation, differentiation, and immunomodulatory properties of cells in vitro and in animal models.
Review
Oncology
Abigail Harland, Xia Liu, Mattia Ghirardello, M. Carmen Galan, Claire M. Perks, Kathreena M. Kurian
Summary: This review explores the characteristics of glioma stem-like cells (GSCs), their metabolic interactions, and potential strategies for overcoming GSC resistance.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Oncology
Ying Yang, Wen-Jian Meng, Zi-Qiang Wang
Summary: Gastric cancer is a common malignancy with poor prognosis. Gastric cancer stem cells (GCSCs) are closely associated with drug resistance, recurrence, and metastasis, indicating their potential as therapeutic targets for gastric cancer. However, the relationship and mechanism between GCSCs and gastric cancer still require further exploration.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Immunology
Qihang Hou, Jingxi Huang, Hammed Ayansola, Hori Masatoshi, Bingkun Zhang
Summary: The mammalian intestine is the largest immune organ, containing intestinal stem cells (ISC), differentiated epithelial cells, and gut resident-immune cells. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) threatens intestinal integrity and the continuous renewal of intestinal mucosal epithelium relies on ISC. Targeting inflamed mucosa healing may improve clinical symptoms and disease recurrence in IBD patients. Recent findings suggest that immune cells and cytokines play critical roles in ISC and intestinal epithelium regeneration, paving the way for new therapeutic approaches such as ISC transplantation. Integration of biological agents and ISC transplantation could revolutionize future therapy for IBD patients.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yurika Nakagawa-Saito, Shinichi Saitoh, Yuta Mitobe, Asuka Sugai, Keita Togashi, Shuhei Suzuki, Chifumi Kitanaka, Masashi Okada
Summary: This study aimed to discover novel drugs for the treatment of therapy-resistant brain tumors. The researchers found that domatinostat, an HDAC inhibitor, can selectively eliminate glioma stem cells and inhibit their self-renewal capacity.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Bo Wu, Xiang Shi, Meixi Jiang, Hongxu Liu
Summary: Ongoing research has revealed that the existence of cancer stem cells (CSCs) is a major obstacle in current cancer therapy. CSCs play a significant role in tumor progression, recurrence, and chemoresistance due to their stemness characteristics. CSCs interact with the tumor microenvironment through complex mechanisms, and also engage in interactions with immune cells and molecules to protect themselves against immune clearance. Understanding these interactions may provide novel therapeutic approaches to cancer.
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Brian J. Kwee, Kyung E. Sung
Summary: This mini-review introduces strategies for expanding and characterizing therapeutic cells using biomaterials, bioreactors, and microphysiological systems. These methods can provide distinct environmental cues to maintain cell quality attributes and evaluate their function under physiologically relevant conditions.
EXPERIMENTAL BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
(2021)
Review
Cell Biology
Jinxin Liu, Guanning Shang
Summary: This review article describes the role of noncoding RNAs in regulating the development of cancer stem cells (CSCs) in osteosarcoma. The study found that miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs play crucial roles in the regulation of CSCs development and potential mechanisms.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cristiana Tanase, Ana Maria Enciu, Elena Codrici, Ionela Daniela Popescu, Maria Dudau, Ana Maria Dobri, Sevinci Pop, Simona Mihai, Ancuta-Augustina Gheorghisan-Galateanu, Mihail Eugen Hinescu
Summary: Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive tumor with high heterogeneity. The accumulation of fatty acid metabolites is associated with low survival rates in patients with high-grade gliomas. The diversity of brain lipids, especially polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and the involvement of FA transport proteins and FA translocases are crucial for PUFAs transportation through the blood-brain barrier and delivery to brain cells. Among them, the CD36 FA translocase plays a role in the uptake of long-chain FAs and oxidized lipoproteins. Furthermore, the interaction between CD36 and thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) has an important role in glioma cell invasion and angiogenesis in GBM. The interconnection and interrelationship between FA, CD36, CD47, and their ligand TSP-1 have been highlighted in recent research to exert a cumulative effect on the modulation of the GBM molecular network.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Elena Codrici, Ionela-Daniela Popescu, Cristiana Tanase, Ana-Maria Enciu
Summary: This review article focuses on the components of the GBM microenvironment and their roles in tumor development, as well as the immune-related processes that connect different cell types. It also summarizes the current understanding of soluble factors and highlights the dysregulated inflammatory chemokine/specific receptors cascades/networks and their significance in tumorigenesis, cancer-related inflammation, and metastasis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ana-Maria Dobri, Elena Codrici, Ionela-Daniela Popescu, Lucian Albulescu, Emanuel Tudor Fertig, Ana-Maria Enciu, Cristiana Tanase, Mihail E. Hinescu
Summary: Fatty acids can induce inflammation in astrocytes, and this inflammatory response can be prevented by the inhibitor SSO. Low concentrations of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids can induce the secretion of IL-8 protein in astrocytes, and this effect can be specifically inhibited by SSO pre-treatment.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Tiberiu A. Burinaru, Bianca Adiaconita, Marioara Avram, Pretruta Preda, Ana-Maria Enciu, Eugen Chiriac, Catalin Marculescu, Tiberiu Constantin, Manuella Militaru
Summary: Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) can be detected using non-invasive liquid biopsy techniques and are useful for early diagnosis, cancer treatment management, precision medicine, and understanding metastasis. In this article, a label-free detection method based on a microfluidic device and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy biosensor is proposed. The device showed high sensitivity in detecting CTCs in breast cancer cells and blood samples from canines with mammary carcinomas.
MATERIALS TODAY COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Bianca Tincu, Tiberiu Burinaru, Ana-Maria Enciu, Petruta Preda, Eugen Chiriac, Catalin Marculescu, Marioara Avram, Andrei Avram
Summary: This paper presents a graphene-based electrochemical biosensor for the selective and rapid detection of tumor cells. By measuring the dielectric characteristics of the cells, different types of tumor cells can be differentiated.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Ana Caruntu, Cristian Scheau, Elena Codrici, Ionela Daniela Popescu, Bogdan Calenic, Constantin Caruntu, Cristiana Tanase
Summary: Serum cytokine levels in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients are significantly higher compared with control, and they are not significantly altered by treatment, implying that they are also influenced by systemic factors. Further studies are needed to clarify the interactions between the involved cytokines and the pathways they regulate.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Diana Stan, Elena Codrici, Ana-Maria Enciu, Ewa Olewnik-Kruszkowska, Georgiana Gavril, Lavinia Liliana Ruta, Carmen Moldovan, Oana Brincoveanu, Lorena-Andreea Bocancia-Mateescu, Andreea-Cristina Mirica, Dana Stan, Cristiana Tanase
Summary: Healthcare professionals face challenges in managing wounds, but hydrogel wound dressings offer an effective solution with their affordability, ease of use, and ability to enhance wound healing. Our study developed and evaluated hybrid hydrogel membranes enriched with bioactive components, demonstrating favorable properties with minimal concentrations of bioactive agents.
Article
Polymer Science
Petruta Preda, Ana-Maria Enciu, Cristiana Tanase, Maria Dudau, Lucian Albulescu, Monica-Elisabeta Maxim, Raluca Nicoleta Darie-Nita, Oana Brincoveanu, Marioara Avram
Summary: This study aimed to investigate and develop amorphous and crosslinked hydrogels based on natural compounds, such as sodium alginate, aloe vera gel powder, and chitosan, for tumor spheroid formation. The results showed that adding chitosan allowed the formation of spheroids at pH 5, while low viscosity and pH 12 aloe vera gels also promoted spheroid formation. Crosslinked hydrogel variants enhanced spheroid formation efficiency.
Meeting Abstract
Oncology
C. Tanase, E. Codrici, I. D. S. Popescu, A-M. Enciu, L. Albulescu, M. Dudau, M-L. Popa, R. Albulescu
ANNALS OF ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Petruta Preda, Ana-Maria Enciu, Bianca Adiaconita, Iuliana Mihalache, Gabriel Craciun, Adina Boldeiu, Ludmila Aricov, Cosmin Romanitan, Diana Stan, Catalin Marculescu, Cristiana Tanase, Marioara Avram
Summary: This study developed a new formulation of amorphous hydrogel and demonstrated its pro-proliferation and antibacterial properties. These hydrogels show potential as alternatives for wound healing.
Meeting Abstract
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
I. D. Popescu, E. Codrici, A. M. Enciu, S. Pop, M. C. Pristavu, A. Moraru, C. Tanase
Meeting Abstract
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
E. Codrici, A. M. Enciu, I. D. Popescu, L. Albulescu, C. Tanase
Meeting Abstract
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
A. Enciu, P. Preda, E. Codrici, D. I. Popescu, N. Constantin, T. Burinaru, B. Tincu, C. Tanase, M. Avram
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Ana Caruntu, Liliana Moraru, Mihaela Surcel, Adriana Munteanu, Daniel Octavian Costache, Cristiana Tanase, Carolina Constantin, Cristian Scheau, Monica Neagu, Constantin Caruntu
Summary: This study assessed the proportions of different lymphocyte subsets in the peripheral blood of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients and found immune changes associated with the development of OSCC, providing new insights into the complex connections between immuno-inflammatory processes and carcinogenesis.
