Article
Cell Biology
Joshua T. Cohen, Michael Danise, Kristina D. Hinman, Brittany M. Neumann, Renita Johnson, Zachary S. Wilson, Anna Chorzalska, Patrycja M. Dubielecka, Craig T. Lefort
Summary: The development and use of murine myeloid progenitor cell lines that are conditionally immortalized through expression of HoxB8 has provided a valuable tool for studies of neutrophil biology. Recent work has extended the utility of HoxB8-conditional progenitors to the in vivo setting via their transplantation into irradiated mice. The results indicate that HoxB8-conditional progenitors are able to engraft in the naive host and generate mature neutrophils.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Mani Salarian, Mean Ghim, Jakub Toczek, Jinah Han, Dar Weiss, Bart Spronck, Abhay B. Ramachandra, Jae-Joon Jung, Gunjan Kukreja, Jiasheng Zhang, Deaneira Lakheram, Sung-Kwon Kim, Jay D. Humphrey, Mehran M. Sadeghi
Summary: In this study, the role of matrix metalloproteinase-12 (MMP-12) in abdominal aortic aneurysm was reevaluated. The findings demonstrate that an MMP-12 deficiency leads to adverse vascular remodeling and rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysm through the activation of the complement pathway and neutrophil extracellular traps.
CIRCULATION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Stefanie Allert, Daniela Schulz, Philipp Kaemmer, Peter Grossmann, Thomas Wolf, Sascha Schaeuble, Gianni Panagiotou, Sascha Brunke, Bernhard Hube
Summary: Candida auris is a newly emerged species causing invasive fungal infections with high rates of treatment failures. Our study revealed that C. auris is efficiently killed in human blood, but exhibits unique patterns of immune cell association, survival rates, and cytokine induction compared to other Candida species. The transcriptional adaptations of C. auris, its increased stress resistance and long-term environmental survival likely contribute to its high risk of contamination and distribution in healthcare settings.
Article
Immunology
Maite Alvarez, Antonio Pierini, Federico Simonetta, Jeanette Baker, Kristina Maas-Bauer, Toshihito Hirai, Robert S. Negrin
Summary: Allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation is an effective treatment option for hematological malignancies, but often results in severe toxicities. Less aggressive alternatives like NMAC and RIC have limitations including increased cancer relapse and limited persistence of donor chimerism. Strategies for accelerated and more durable donor engraftment are still needed.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Neurosciences
Meizhen Xie, Yulei Hao, Liangshu Feng, Tian Wang, Mengyue Yao, Hui Li, Di Ma, Jiachun Feng
Summary: Neutrophils are the first immune cells to enter the brain after ischemic stroke, playing a crucial role in stroke-related neuroinflammation. They are quickly mobilized from peripheral immune organs to infiltrate the ischemic brain parenchyma by crossing the blood-brain barrier. Neutrophils were initially thought to aggravate brain injuries through various mechanisms, but recent research has revealed their complexity and heterogeneity.
CURRENT NEUROPHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Nhu Thao N. Galvan, Samantha J. Paulsen, Ian S. Kinstlinger, Juan C. Marini, Inka C. Didelija, Dor Yoeli, Bagrat Grigoryan, Jordan S. Miller
Summary: The latest biofabrication technologies have allowed for the production of three-dimensional engineered tissues with vascular networks capable of transporting oxygen and nutrients. A surgical model for implanting and directly connecting 3D printed hydrogels in a porcine arteriovenous shunt configuration was introduced, showing robust blood flow for up to 6 hours. This approach offers a viable method for in-line implantation of bioprinted tissues, with potential for future studies on biomaterials and engineered organs suitable for transplantation.
FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Rolf Schreckenberg, Annemarie Wolf, Christian Troidl, Sakine Simsekyilmaz, Klaus-Dieter Schlueter
Summary: The study found that high physical activity reduced the number of circulating neutrophils in normotensive rats but increased it in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Additionally, transcriptional response in vascular tissue differed between normotensive and hypertensive rats in response to high intensity exercise.
FRONTIERS IN CARDIOVASCULAR MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mengqi Zhang, Milton H. Hamblin, Ke-Jie Yin
Summary: CNS injuries are a major global health concern, and brain vascular disorders play a crucial role in this process. Long non-coding RNAs have emerged as key regulators in the regulation of gene expression and signaling pathways, potentially impacting the recovery and prognosis of CNS injuries.
NEUROCHEMISTRY INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Review
Plant Sciences
Yanliang Wang, Xinhua He, Fuqiang Yu
Summary: This article summarizes studies on mycorrhizal-mediated host and non-host plant interactions. The research shows that non-host plants can have contact with the hyphae of host plants without forming typical mycorrhizal structures. This non-typical mycorrhizal colonization inhibits the growth but enhances the induced system resistance of non-host plants. Molecular analyses suggest that the colonization of non-hosts by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi differs from that of pathogenic and endophytic fungi, and the hyphae in non-host roots may have unknown functions. Therefore, non-host plants are also important players in common mycorrhizal networks.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Tanja Seibold, Jonathan Schoenfelder, Florian Weeber, Andre Lechel, Milena Armacki, Mareike Waldenmaier, Christoph Wille, Annette Palmer, Rebecca Halbgebauer, Ebru Karasu, Markus Huber-Lang, Miriam Kalbitz, Peter Radermacher, Stephan Paschke, Thomas Seufferlein, Tim Eiseler
Summary: Trauma is the leading cause of death in individuals under 44 years of age, with thorax trauma strongly associated with trauma-related death, an unbalanced immune response, sepsis, respiratory distress syndrome, and organ dysfunction. Research shows that small extracellular nanovesicles (sEVs) released from endothelial cells in response to trauma trigger systemic inflammation, neutrophil infiltration, and organ damage, suggesting a fundamental pathophysiological mechanism.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Suzanne Gillies, Rachel Verdon, Vicki Stone, David M. Brown, Theodore Henry, Lang Tran, Carl Tucker, Adriano G. Rossi, Charles R. Tyler, Helinor J. Johnston
Summary: This study used transgenic zebrafish as a model to evaluate the toxicity of nanomaterials by assessing inflammatory responses. The results showed that silver and zinc oxide nanomaterials could induce inflammatory responses in zebrafish, with silver nanomaterials having a stronger effect.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Janusz P. Sikora, Jakub Karawani, Jaroslaw Sobczak
Summary: This study aims to determine the role of neutrophils in individual phenomena occurring during an inflammatory and anti-inflammatory reaction, considering their cidal, immunoregulatory, and reparative abilities. The study also highlights the pro- and anticoagulatory properties of endothelium in systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and their clinical implications. Additionally, it presents clinically useful biomarkers related to neutrophils and emphasizes their role in the diagnosis and forecasting of sepsis, burn disease, and COVID-19.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Emilio G. Vozza, Michelle E. Mulcahy, Rachel M. McLoughlin
Summary: The success of Staphylococcus aureus as a human commensal and opportunistic pathogen lies in its ability to adapt to various niches within the host. Evading the host's innate immune response, S. aureus can parasitize phagocytes and manipulate the autophagy pathway to create an intracellular survival niche. Neutrophils play a critical role in S. aureus infection, with the bacterium surviving and potentially impacting host signaling pathways for its own benefit.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Nina Vorobjeva, Yulia Dagil, Mikhail Pashenkov, Boris Pinegin, Boris Chernyak
Summary: Neutrophils release extracellular traps (NETs) as a last suicidal resource in the fight against infection, but they also play a role in autoimmune, inflammatory and malignant diseases. The study investigated the role of protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms in NETosis, oxidative burst, and spreading. The findings suggest that PKCfi, PKC8, and PKC zeta are involved in NETosis activated by calcium ionophore A23187, while PKCfi is implicated in functions activated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA).
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Diksha Kumari, Kuljit Singh
Summary: Leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease caused by different species of Leishmania parasite, still poses a global concern. This review focuses on the immunological perspectives of the disease, discussing the role of host immune cells in countering parasite infection and highlighting recent discoveries in leishmanicidal molecules/compounds. The knowledge gained from this review can contribute to the identification of biomarkers, novel therapeutics, and vaccine candidates against leishmaniasis.
INTERNATIONAL IMMUNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
William T. Pu
Summary: The passage discusses how mutation of the gene Tafazzin (TAZ) causes Barth syndrome, characterized by cardiomyopathy, skeletal muscle weakness, and neutropenia, due to TAZ's role in remodeling cardiolipin. Various model systems have been established to study the impact of cardiolipin remodeling on mitochondrial function and the pathogenesis of Barth syndrome, each contributing to a better understanding of TAZ function and the disease's pathophysiology.
JOURNAL OF INHERITED METABOLIC DISEASE
(2022)
Review
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Reid Thompson, John Jefferies, Suya Wang, William T. Pu, Clifford Takemoto, Brittany Hornby, Andrea Heyman, Michael T. Chin, Hilary J. Vernon
Summary: Barth Syndrome is a genetic disorder caused by pathogenic variants in the TAFAZZIN gene, which results in symptoms affecting the heart, neutrophils, growth, and skeletal muscles. Current treatment focuses on symptom management and clinical trials are exploring new treatments targeting the mitochondrial pathology of the disease. Future treatments may include enzyme and gene therapies to directly target the defective TAFAZZIN pathway.
JOURNAL OF INHERITED METABOLIC DISEASE
(2022)
Article
Hematology
Jihee Sohn, Jelena Milosevic, Thomas Brouse, Najihah Aziz, Jenna Elkhoury, Suya Wang, Alexander Hauschild, Nick van Gastel, Murat Cetinbas, Sara F. Tufa, Douglas R. Keene, Ruslan Sadreyev, William T. Pu, David B. Sykes
Summary: Barth syndrome is an X-linked disorder that causes cardiomyopathy, skeletal myopathy, and neutropenia. In this study, the researchers investigated potential mechanisms of neutropenia in Barth syndrome. They found that TAFAZZIN-deficient neutrophil progenitors showed increased sensitivity to apoptosis triggers and upregulation of markers of endoplasmic reticulum stress. However, there were no significant differences in neutrophil development or function. These findings provide a foundation for further research.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Yuxuan Guo, Yangpo Cao, Blake D. Jardin, Xiaoran Zhang, Pingzhu Zhou, Silvia Guatimosim, Junsen Lin, Zhan Chen, Yueyang Zhang, Neil Mazumdar, Fujian Lu, Qing Ma, Yao-Wei Lu, Mingming Zhao, Da-Zhi Wang, Erdan Dong, William T. Pu
Summary: The aim of this study is to investigate the role of RYR2 in cardiomyocyte maturation. The researchers used genetic editing techniques to knockout RYR2 and found that its depletion led to structural and transcriptional defects in cardiomyocytes, along with activation of ER stress pathways. The defects in RYR2-depleted cardiomyocytes were partially rescued by an ER stress alleviator.
CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH
(2023)
Letter
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Yanjiang Zheng, Nathan J. VanDusen, Catalina E. Butler, Qing Ma, Justin S. King, William T. Pu
Article
Neurosciences
Eduardo Molina-Holgado, Pedro F. Esteban, Angel Arevalo-Martin, Rafael Moreno-Luna, Francisco Molina-Holgado, Daniel Garcia-Ovejero
Summary: Oligodendrocytes in the central nervous system synthesize myelin and have the ability to regulate their functions through interactions with other cells and sensing the environment. They respond to various signals, including the endocannabinoid signaling, which has therapeutic potential for promoting remyelination in central nervous system pathologies.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lucia Beltran-Camacho, Sara Eslava-Alcon, Marta Rojas-Torres, Daniel Sanchez-Morillo, Ma Pilar Martinez-Nicolas, Victoria Martin-Bermejo, Ines Garcia de la Torre, Esther Berrocoso, Juan Antonio Moreno, Rafael Moreno-Luna, Ma Carmen Duran-Ruiz
Summary: This study evaluated the impact of serum from asymptomatic COVID-19 individuals on circulating angiogenic cells (CACs) using a proteomics-based quantitative approach. The results confirmed that SARS-CoV-2 infection in asymptomatic individuals caused protein level changes related to coagulation and inflammatory processes. Additionally, certain proteins were up-regulated only in CACs treated with serum from asymptomatic patients during the highest peak of infection. These findings provide insight into the effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the development of potential treatment methods.
MOLECULAR MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Cell Biology
Mario Martinez-Torija, Pedro F. Esteban, Francisco Javier Espino-Rodriguez, Beatriz Paniagua-Torija, Eduardo Molina-Holgado, Silvia Ceruelo, Gemma Barroso-Garcia, Alba G. Arandilla, Luis F. Lopez-Almodovar, Angel Arevalo-Martin, Juan Antonio Moreno, Daniel Garcia-Ovejero, M. Carmen Duran-Ruiz, Rafael Moreno-Luna
Summary: The risk of complications following surgical procedures is significantly increased in patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection. This study found that SCI patients with a COVID-19-positive diagnosis showed worse recovery and severe postoperative complications. Proteomic analysis revealed several upregulated proteins in the adipose tissue surrounding the ulcers. Among them, CKMT2 and CKM stood out and increased after the COVID-19 diagnosis. These proteins were largely found in MGCs within the adipose tissue. The presence of CKMT2, CKM, and MGCs may serve as predictive biomarkers of postsurgical complications in post-COVID patients.
Article
Cell Biology
Antonia T. L. Zech, Maksymilian Prondzynski, Sonia R. Singh, Niels Pietsch, Ellen Orthey, Erda Alizoti, Josefine Busch, Alexandra Madsen, Charlotta S. Behrens, Moritz Meyer-Jens, Giulia Mearini, Marc D. Lemoine, Elisabeth Kraemer, Diogo Mosqueira, Sanamjeet Virdi, Daniela Indenbirken, Maren Depke, Manuela Gesell Salazar, Uwe Voelker, Ingke Braren, William T. Pu, Thomas Eschenhagen, Elke Hammer, Saskia Schlossarek, Lucie Carrier
Summary: This study evaluated the impact of ACTN2 gene variants on cardiomyocyte structure and function. The results showed that the variants led to abnormal cellular phenotypes, including multinucleation, protein aggregation, hypertrophy, and myofibrillar disarray. Additionally, the variants activated proteolytic systems and impaired cardiac force. This study highlights the cellular pathology caused by ACTN2 gene variants and its importance in understanding ACTN2-associated cardiomyopathies.
Editorial Material
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Cheryl L. McDonald, Pankaj Qasba, Daniel G. Anderson, Gang Bao, Richard A. Colvin, Donald B. Kohn, Punam Malik, Michael J. Mitchell, William T. Pu, David J. Rawlings, David A. Williams, Terence R. Flotte
HUMAN GENE THERAPY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Suya Wang, Erika Yazawa, Erin M. Keating, Neil Mazumdar, Alexander Hauschild, Qing Ma, Haiyan Wu, Yang Xu, Xu Shi, Douglas Strathdee, Robert E. Gerszten, Michael Schlame, William T. Pu
Summary: Barth syndrome is an X-linked disorder caused by loss-of-function mutations in Tafazzin (TAZ). Genetic modifiers strongly influence the phenotypic expression of Taz inactivation.
HUMAN MOLECULAR GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lucia Beltran-Camacho, Santosh D. Bhosale, Daniel Sanchez-Morillo, Ismael Sanchez-Gomar, Marta Rojas-Torres, Sara Eslava-Alcon, Mario Martinez-Torija, M. Angeles Ruiz de Infante, M. Dolores Nieto-Martin, Manuel A. Rodriguez-Iglesias, Juan A. Moreno, Esther Berrocoso, Martin R. Larsen, Rafael Moreno-Luna, M. Carmen Duran-Ruiz
Summary: SARS-CoV-2 infection affects the cardiovascular system, causing vascular damage and thromboembolic events. Endothelial dysfunction is an early response to COVID-19, which may lead to cardiovascular complications and long-term sequelae. However, the molecular mechanisms involved in these processes remain poorly understood.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Peng Yue, Yue Zhang, Lei Liu, Kaiyu Zhou, Shutao Xia, Mou Peng, Hualin Yan, Xiaoqiang Tang, Zhan Chen, Donghui Zhang, Junling Guo, William T. Pu, Yuxuan Guo, Yimin Hua, Yifei Li
Summary: This study identified YAP signaling as a therapeutic target for pressure overload-induced heart diseases. The activation of YAP1 is associated with pathological hypertrophy, and its specific deletion in cardiomyocytes attenuates hypertrophy. Overexpression of YAP1 can replicate pressure overload-induced hypertrophy, and its activation leads to perturbation of mitochondria ultrastructure and function, as well as the repression of mitochondria dynamics regulators Dnm1l and Mfn1.
Meeting Abstract
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Caroline Sheldon, Steven Negron, Chase W. Kessinger, Bing Xu, William T. Pu, Chieh-Yu Lin, Zhiqiang Lin
CIRCULATION RESEARCH
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Nazia Hilal, Maksymilian K. Prondzynski, Sarah Araten, Guanlan Dong, Huang Yue, Michael Trembley, Indu Sivankutty, Christopher Walsh, Ming H. Chen, William T. Pu, Eunjung Alice Lee, Sangita Choudhury
CIRCULATION RESEARCH
(2022)