Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Per Fesse, Jan Nyman, Ingegerd Hermansson, Maj-Lis Book, Johan Ahlgren, Ingela Turesson
Summary: The DNA-damage response of cutaneous interfollicular melanocytes to fractionated radiotherapy was investigated. The surrounding keratinocytes and the stem cell factor BMI1 played important roles in maintaining cell differentiation, preventing apoptosis, and premature senescence.
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Yunan Wang, Hiroyuki Kitahata, Hideyuki Kosumi, Mika Watanabe, Yu Fujimura, Shota Takashima, Shin-Ichi Osada, Tomonori Hirose, Wataru Nishie, Masaharu Nagayama, Hiroshi Shimizu, Ken Natsuga
Summary: The study demonstrates that COL17 plays a crucial role in maintaining epidermal patterning in mice and humans, and prevents wound-induced deformation. This sheds light on the role of the stem cell niche in tissue pattern formation.
LABORATORY INVESTIGATION
(2022)
Article
Mathematics, Applied
Meryeme Hassouna, Abdelaziz Ouhadan, El Hassan El Kinani
Summary: In this paper, a fractional order is introduced into a psoriasis model, and the local existence and uniqueness of the solution of the fractional psoriasis system are proven. Stability conditions of the model equilibrium are provided, and numerical results are presented to confirm the stability.
MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN THE APPLIED SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Michael Ablinger, Thomas Lettner, Nicole Friedl, Hannah Potocki, Theresa Palmetzhofer, Ulrich Koller, Julia Illmer, Bernadette Liemberger, Stefan Hainzl, Alfred Klausegger, Manuela Reisenberger, Jo Lambert, Mireille Van Gele, Eline Desmet, Els Van Maelsaeke, Monika Wimmer, Roland Zauner, Johann W. Bauer, Verena Wally
Summary: Intermediate junctional epidermolysis bullosa caused by mutations in the COL17A1 gene is a rare disease with heterogeneous mutations, making therapy development challenging. However, the use of AON to induce exon skipping shows promise as a personalized treatment approach for this condition.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jussi Tuusa, Nina Kokkonen, Kaisa Tasanen
Summary: BP180 is a type II collagenous transmembrane protein, known as the major autoantigen in the blistering skin disease bullous pemphigoid (BP). Apart from its role in hemidesmosomes, BP180 is also expressed in non-HD locations with unclear functions. In addition to its immunological roles in BP, novel functions in cell proliferation, differentiation, and aging have recently been described.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Yi Zhu, Wenna Li, Yifang Dong, Chujie Xia, Rong Fu
Summary: The function mechanisms of collagens in regulating innate immunity are largely unknown. This study investigated the role of collagens in epidermal immune defense using C. elegans as a model. It was found that most collagens in the epidermis are unable to trigger immune defense when damaged, except for six DPY collagens and the BLI-1 collagen. Further investigation revealed that the interaction between BLI-1 and the hemidesmosome receptor MUP-4 is regulated by the six DPY collagens. Collagen damage leads to the separation of BLI-1 from MUP-4, resulting in the induction of antimicrobial peptides.
Article
Immunology
Pascale Zwicky, Florian Ingelfinger, Bruno Marcel Silva de Melo, Fiorella Ruchti, Stefanie Scharli, Nicole Puertas, Mirjam Lutz, Truong San Phan, Thomas M. Kundig, Mitchell P. Levesque, Julia-Tatjana Maul, Christoph Schlapbach, Salome LeibundGut-Landmann, Sarah Mundt, Burkhard Becher
Summary: Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder caused by dysregulated cytokine signaling. Research shows that IL-12 signaling blocks the hyperproliferation of keratinocytes, maintains skin barrier integrity, and reduces disease-driving immune circuits. IL-23p19 inhibitors demonstrate superior efficacy in patients with psoriasis, potentially due to the unperceived role of IL-12 in maintaining skin epithelial cell homeostasis.
SCIENCE IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Yangdan Liu, Chiakang Ho, Dongsheng Wen, Jiaming Sun, Lu Huang, Ya Gao, Qingfeng Li, Yifan Zhang
Summary: The self-renewal ability of stem cells is crucial for skin homeostasis, aging, and wound repair. COL17, as a component of the stem cell niche, plays a pivotal role in regulating stem cell maintenance and function.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
R. Ichijo, M. Kabata, H. Kidoya, F. Muramatsu, R. Ishibashi, K. Abe, K. Tsutsui, H. Kubo, Y. Iizuka, S. Kitano, H. Miyachi, Y. Kubota, H. Fujiwara, A. Sada, T. Yamamoto, F. Toyoshima
Summary: This study uncovers the regulation of stem cells in dynamic skin, specifically in the context of epidermal proliferation and differentiation during pregnancy, and how the skin adjusts its size in coordination with dermal constituents.
Article
Immunology
Wuren Huang, Ruijuan Tang, Shirong Li, Ying Zhang, Rongbing Chen, Liyuan Gong, Xuefei Wei, Yingyu Tang, Qiuning Liu, Lei Geng, Guoqing Pan, Brenda T. Beerntsen, Erjun Ling
Summary: Investigating the fixed-site infection method can help screen genes involved in penetrating the integument, revealing the mechanism of fungal infection. Melanization occurs before new hyphae penetrate the integument, and fungal infection induces epidermal cell proliferation.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Yadong Zhao, Kunyu Lu, Xinyue Piao, Yan Song, Libin Wang, Rusen Zhou, Pingping Gao, Heng Yen Khong
Summary: This study evaluated the effect of adding collagen on the gel properties of surimi and observed the influence of collagen type for the first time. Compared to type II, collagen type I has higher water solubility and more charged amino acids, which allows it to better intertwine with surimi myofibrillar proteins, resulting in higher exposure of protein functional domains, more conformational changes of myosin, and stronger formation of chemical forces among proteins. These improvements accelerate the gelation rate, leading to a well-stabilized surimi gel. Surimi gels containing collagen I have more compact structures with uniformly distributed smaller pores compared to those containing collagen II, resulting in higher water holding capacity and better texture. The fortification performance of collagen I in surimi gel and the elucidated interaction mechanism between collagen and myofibrillar protein will guide the further use of collagen as an effective additive in the food industry.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yukiko Ota, Hiroyuki Yoshida, Yoko Endo, Tetsuya Sayo, Yoshito Takahashi
Summary: This study investigates the role of hyaluronan (HA) in reconstructed skin or epidermal equivalents. The findings suggest that HA production mediated by HAS3 plays an important role in keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Dan Li, Ning-Yi Shao, Jan-Renier Moonen, Zhixin Zhao, Minyi Shi, Shoichiro Otsuki, Lingli Wang, Tiffany Nguyen, Elaine Yan, David P. Marciano, Kevin Contrepois, Caiyun G. Li, Joseph C. Wu, Michael P. Snyder, Marlene Rabinovitch
Summary: Our studies have uncovered a metabolic-transcriptional axis explaining how dividing cells use ALDH1A3 to coordinate their energy needs with the epigenetic and transcriptional regulation of genes required for SMC proliferation. They suggest that selectively disrupting the pivotal role of ALDH1A3 in PAH SMC, but not endothelial cells, is an important therapeutic consideration.
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Claire Miller, Edmund Crampin, James M. Osborne
Summary: Maintenance of epidermal thickness is crucial for the skin's barrier function. This paper combines a subcellular model of desquamation with a multicellular model to investigate the role of cell adhesion degradation in maintaining tissue thickness. The model shows how disruptions to desquamation can lead to reduced tissue thickness and investigates the impact of different treatment scenarios on tissue response.
PLOS COMPUTATIONAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biophysics
Yang Yang, Alastair Campbell Ritchie, Nicola M. Everitt
Summary: Recombinant human collagen polypeptide (RHC) and RHC-chitosan (RHC-CHI) porous scaffolds with high porosity and adjustable mechanical properties show excellent in vitro cytocompatibility. The porous scaffolds promote cell attachment, proliferation, and synthesis of extra cellular matrix-associated proteins in vitro. In vivo studies demonstrate that these scaffolds accelerate cell infiltration and collagen deposition, facilitating wound closure.
COLLOIDS AND SURFACES B-BIOINTERFACES
(2021)
Letter
Dermatology
Tomoko Miyake, Ken Natsuga, Takatsune Umayahara, Seiko Naito, Junko Yoshimoto, Akemi Senoo, Han-Tang Wang, Chao-Kai Hsu, Osamu Yamasaki, Shin Morizane
JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Dermatology
Osamu Ansai, Toshinari Miyauchi, Ryota Hayashi, Tatsuya Katsumi, Tomoki Nishiguchi, Akito Hasegawa, Satoru Shinkuma, Ken Natsuga, Toshifumi Nomura, Yutaka Shimomura, Riichiro Abe
Summary: Serum IL-18 levels are elevated in patients with epidermolytic ichthyosis and correlate with disease severity. Mutant keratin promotes NLRP3 inflammasome activation and IL-18 release in keratinocytes. IL-18 may serve as a severity marker and targeting it could be a potential therapeutic option for epidermolytic ichthyosis.
CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY
(2023)
Letter
Dermatology
Shingo Takei, Ryota Hayashi, Tatsuya Katsumi, Osamu Ansai, Akari Sakai, Ken Natsuga, Riichiro Abe
JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Andrea Lauria, Guohua Meng, Valentina Proserpio, Stefania Rapelli, Mara Maldotti, Isabelle Laurence Polignano, Francesca Anselmi, Danny Incarnato, Anna Krepelova, Daniela Donna, Chiara Levra Levron, Giacomo Donati, Ivan Molineris, Francesco Neri, Salvatore Oliviero
Summary: The establishment of DNA methylation patterns during mouse early development is crucial for cell fate determination. However, the specific molecular targets and mechanisms of de novo methylation machinery during differentiation are not fully understood. In this study, the researchers identified DNMT3B-dependent regulatory elements that play a critical role in cell fate determination. They found that DNMT3B-dependent DNA methylation is essential for proper differentiation and lineage determination, and ectopic expression of DNMT3B can restore normal gene expression and cell fate. This study provides important insights into the role of DNA methylation in early development and cell fate determination.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Chiara Levra Levron, Mika Watanabe, Valentina Proserpio, Gabriele Piacenti, Andrea Lauria, Stefan Kaltenbach, Annalaura Tamburrini, Takuma Nohara, Francesca Anselmi, Carlotta Duval, Luca Elettrico, Daniela Donna, Laura Conti, Denis Baev, Ken Natsuga, Tzachi Hagai, Salvatore Oliviero, Giacomo Donati
Summary: Levra Levron et al. found that epidermal injury can activate memory progenitors in distant areas, enhancing their repair abilities but also favoring cancerization. The cells involved in wound healing show more efficient response to future injuries, mainly at a local level. Furthermore, the study reveals that cell adaptation resulting from localized tissue damage has a wide spatial impact. Specific stem cells far away from the original injury can produce long-lasting wound memory progenitors in their own niche. These distal memory cells have not participated in the initial healing but become pre-activated through priming, leading to enhanced wound repair.
NATURE CELL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Genetics & Heredity
Hideyuki Kosumi, Ken Natsuga, Teruki Yanagi, Hideyuki Ujiie
Summary: Generalized verrucosis (GV) is a group of immunodeficiency disorders accompanied by widespread human papillomavirus infection. Two cases of GV due to congenital interleukin-7 deficiency were successfully treated with systemic retinoids. A review of the literature suggests that systemic retinoids are a safe and effective option for managing recalcitrant wart lesions in cases of GV.
Letter
Dermatology
Meng-Ling Li, Yi-Kai Hong, Yu-Chen Lin, Ken Natsuga, Hideyuki Ujiie, Kentaro Izumi, Hiroaki Iwata, Chao-Kai Hsu
Summary: This article presents a case study of a patient with bullous pemphigoid (BP) who showed significant improvement in skin lesions and reduced levels of autoantibodies after treatment with dupilumab. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that dupilumab reduced the expression of genes related to interleukin signalling, myeloid leucocyte activation, and T-cell activation, suggesting its effectiveness in reducing disease activity in BP patients.
CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Joanne E. Anstee, Karen T. Feehan, James W. Opzoomer, Isaac Dean, Henrike P. Muller, Meriem Bahri, Tik Shing Cheung, Kifayathullah Liakath-Ali, Ziyan Liu, Desmond Choy, Jonathan Caron, Dominika Sosnowska, Richard Beatson, Tamara Muliaditan, Zhengwen An, Cheryl E. Gillett, Guocheng Lan, Xiangang Zou, Fiona M. Watt, Tony Ng, Joy M. Burchell, Shahram Kordasti, David R. Withers, Toby Lawrence, James N. Arnold
Summary: This study describes a population of LYVE-1-expressing TAMs that form complex multi-cellular nest structures and are distributed around blood vessels in breast cancer tumors. The researchers found that LYVE-1+ TAMs develop in response to IL-6, and their nest formation is guided by a CCR5-dependent signaling axis. Blocking the development of LYVE-1+ TAMs or their nest structures enhances the recruitment of CD8+ T cells to the tumor and improves response to chemotherapy.
DEVELOPMENTAL CELL
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Tina Jacob, Karl Annusver, Paulo Czarnewski, Tim Dalessandri, Christina Kalk, Chiara Levra Levron, Nil Campamasanz, Maria Eleni Kastriti, Marja L. Mikkola, Michael Rendl, Beate M. Lichtenberger, Giacomo Donati, Asa K. Bjorklund, Maria Kasper
Summary: This study investigates early embryonic mouse skin development using single-cell transcriptomics and other techniques. The researchers identify the development of various specialized cell populations and tissue structures, such as hair-follicle-inducing cells, muscle-supportive cells, and fascia-forming cells. They also discover the formation of panniculus carnosus muscle, blood vessels without pericyte coverage, and the early residence of mast and dendritic immune cells in the skin.
DEVELOPMENTAL CELL
(2023)
Editorial Material
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fiona M. Watt
Article
Dermatology
Kosei Nakamura, Shota Takashima, Takuma Nohara, Mika Watanabe, Ken Natsuga, Hideyuki Ujiie
Summary: Epidermolysis bullosa (EB) is a genetic blistering disorder affecting the skin and mucous membranes, leading to poor nutrition. A nutritionally balanced, melt-in-the-mouth chocolate called andew is introduced for EB patients. Andew chocolate is nutritionally superior and melts easily, suitable for EB patients prone to oral erosions. It provides better taste and texture compared to other dietary supplements, promoting enjoyable eating and potentially impacting patients' mental health.
JOURNAL OF DERMATOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Oncology
Priyanka G. Bhosale, Robert A. Kennedy, Fiona M. Watt
Summary: Oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs) are genetically diverse and have different microenvironments. Despite the presence of lymphocytes, the activation of CASP8 and CASP3 is low in tumors, while apoptosis is high in lymphocytes. Higher FasL expression in CASP8 mutated tumors may predict disease progression.
JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Victor Augusti Negri, Blaise Louis, Sebastiaan Zijl, Clarisse Ganier, Christina Philippeos, Shahnawaz Ali, Gary Reynolds, Muzlifah Haniffa, Fiona M. Watt
Summary: This study validates previous experimental data and proposes new testable hypotheses by analyzing single-cell RNA sequencing resources from healthy human skin.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Lilach Schneor, Stefan Kaltenbach, Sivan Friedman, Dafna Tussia-Cohen, Yomiran Nissan, Gal Shuler, Evgeny Fraimovitch, Aleksandra A. Kolodziejczyk, Maya Weinberg, Giacomo Donati, Emma C. Teeling, Yossi Yovel, Tzachi Hagai
Summary: Bats can host disease-causing viruses without showing symptoms, and the mechanisms behind this have been a subject of interest. A study on two species of bats found that they up-regulate similar genes in response to viral infection, but a subset of these genes show transcriptional divergence between the species. These divergent genes evolve rapidly in sequence, have specific promoter structures, and are associated with tolerance and resistance. The study also identified expanded antiviral genes in bats, with duplicates showing divergence in sequence and expression. This research sheds light on the conserved antiviral program in bats and the genes that contribute to their adaptation to viral infection.
