Review
Ecology
Mylene M. Mariette, David F. Clayton, Katherine L. Buchanan
Summary: Conditions experienced prenatally have lifelong effects on individual phenotypes and fitness, ultimately influencing population dynamics. Prenatal acoustic signals can program individual phenotypes for predicted postnatal environmental conditions, improving fitness. Embryos across taxonomic groups have shown immediate adaptive responses to external sounds and vibrations, indicating direct developmental effects of sound and noise.
TRENDS IN ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Francesco Bruno, Alessia Pellerino, Luca Bertero, Riccardo Soffietti, Roberta Ruda
Summary: This article reviews recent progress in the molecular understanding of and therapeutic options for rare brain tumors in both children and adults, showing how specific molecular treatments can improve neurological symptoms and quality of life.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sidharth Mehan, Navneet Arora, Sonalika Bhalla, Andleeb Khan, Muneeb U. Rehman, Badrah S. Alghamdi, Torki Al Zughaibi, Ghulam Md Ashraf
Summary: Brain tumours pose challenges in terms of prognosis and survival rate. Investigating the efficacy of phytochemicals and utilizing nanotechnology may offer potential solutions for the treatment of brain tumours.
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Duncan E. Astle, Mark H. Johnson, Danyal Akarca
Summary: Brain development is influenced by the complex interactions between neural assemblies, resulting in structural and functional changes. The theory of neuroconstructivism suggests that these interactions shape neural functions and is central to developmental theories. However, understanding the underlying developmental mechanisms is challenging due to their complexity. A computational framework that mathematically defines brain development processes within physical constraints has the potential to provide mechanistic insights, and this article outlines the conceptual and technical challenges in addressing this theory gap and provides examples and requirements for exploring computational explanations of system-wide development.
TRENDS IN COGNITIVE SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Joseph R. Knoedler, Sayaka Inoue, Daniel W. Bayless, Taehong Yang, Adarsh Tantry, Chung-ha Davis, Nicole Y. Leung, Srinivas Parthasarathy, Grace Wang, Maricruz Alvarado, Abbas H. Rizvi, Lief E. Fenno, Charu Ramakrishnan, Karl Deisseroth, Nirao M. Shah
Summary: Sex hormones play a significant role in gendered behaviors, but the specific regulatory mechanisms are still unclear. Among different sex hormone-responsive neuronal populations, two distinct cell types are crucial for sex recognition in males and mating in females.
Editorial Material
Medicine, General & Internal
Elizabeth G. Phimister, Elena Aikawa, Joshua D. Hutcheson
Summary: This article discusses the origins of calcific aortic stenosis and emphasizes the need to understand how critical pathways in early developmental stages contribute to stenosis.
NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Biology
Vijay K. Samineni, Jose G. Grajales-Reyes, Gary E. Grajales-Reyes, Eric Tycksen, Bryan A. Copits, Christian Pedersen, Edem S. Ankudey, Julian N. Sackey, Sienna B. Sewell, Michael R. Bruchas, Robert W. Gereau
Summary: Studies have shown that chloroquine-activated neurons in the CeA play a crucial role in regulating itch sensation and associated aversion, as well as in itch-related comorbidities such as anxiety-like behaviors. These neurons modulate itch through differentially expressed genes and signaling pathways, projecting to key brain regions involved in itch modulation.
Review
Behavioral Sciences
Carlijn Peerboom, Corette J. Wierenga
Summary: The transition from depolarizing to hyperpolarizing GABA signaling during postnatal development is crucial for brain function and associated with neurodevelopmental disorders. Each developmental shift in GABA function regulates different aspects of neuron development, ensuring alignment with the developing network environment. Proper timing of the postnatal GABA shift may be influenced by sensory input and a developmental perspective is needed to understand the consequences of mismatches in connectivity, activity, and GABA signaling during brain development.
NEUROSCIENCE AND BIOBEHAVIORAL REVIEWS
(2021)
Review
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Paula McSteen, Elizabeth A. Kellogg
Summary: Grasses have been cultivated by humans for various purposes for thousands of years. They have adapted and diversified into approximately 12,000 species, with different genes and traits selected in different crop species. Research on the molecular, cellular, and developmental bases of grain yield and dispersal in grasses is ongoing, and with increasing genomic resources, we expect to gain more insights into their ecological and economic success.
Review
Clinical Neurology
Kevin Akeret, Michael Weller, Niklaus Krayenbuehl
Summary: Many neurological conditions have specific anatomical patterns, which contribute to disease understanding and tailored diagnostics and therapy. Neuroepithelial tumours have distinct anatomical phenotypes and dynamics, while brain metastases and primary CNS lymphomas show preferences for specific locations. Understanding the anatomical behavior of neuroepithelial tumours can refine their classification and guide treatment decisions.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Annabelle Klein, Muriel Rhinn, William M. M. Keyes
Summary: Cellular senescence is a state induced by aging and stress, with both beneficial and harmful effects. Misregulation of senescence can lead to diseases and aging. The role of atypical senescence in the pathogenesis of developmental defects has not been well studied.
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Carmen Woortman, Geert J. L. H. van Leenders, Niek Hugen, Martijn G. H. van Oijen, Iris D. Nagtegaal
Summary: This study performed a retrospective cohort analysis to explore the timing, presentation, and prognosis of testicular metastases and the factors influencing outcome. The results showed that testicular metastases are very rare and usually originate from primary tumors anatomically close to the testes. Poor prognosis was associated with primary skin, bladder, and colon cancer.
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Yanran Li, Yong Jin, Di Wu, Lifang Zhang
Summary: This study systematically analysed and discussed the relationship between suppressive heterogeneous brain tumours (BTs) and a common brain network. By comparing the data of healthy adults, it was found that the location of depressive tumours highly overlapped with the suppressive network. This provides a theoretical basis for the diagnosis and treatment of BT-related depression.
BRAIN STRUCTURE & FUNCTION
(2022)
Article
Biology
Brandon Mark, Sen-Lin Lai, Aref Arzan Zarin, Laurina Manning, Heather Q. Pollington, Ashok Litwin-Kumar, Albert Cardona, James W. Truman, Chris Q. Doe
Summary: The study reveals that mechanisms governing neuronal diversity also play a crucial role in regulating neural circuit formation and function, with wide applicability throughout the nervous system. Neurons generate sensory and motor hemilineages during development, with synaptic targeting and connectivity influenced by temporal identity and the Notch pathway.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Akram A. Hamed, Daniel J. Kunz, Ibrahim El-Hamamy, Quang M. Trinh, Omar D. Subedar, Laura M. Richards, Warren Foltz, Garrett Bullivant, Matthaeus Ware, Maria C. Vladoiu, Jiao Zhang, Antony M. Raj, Trevor J. Pugh, Michael D. Taylor, Sarah A. Teichmann, Lincoln D. Stein, Benjamin D. Simons, Peter B. Dirks
Summary: By comparing the developmental stages of mouse cerebrum with glial tumors in human cerebrum, the study suggests that adult gliomas may acquire embryonic-like states during development, providing insight into the origins of human glioma.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Developmental Biology
Nikitas Georgakopoulos, Nicole Prior, Brigitte Angres, Gianmarco Mastrogiovanni, Alex Cagan, Daisy Harrison, Christopher J. Hindley, Robert Arnes-Benito, Siong-Seng Liau, Abbie Curd, Natasha Ivory, Benjamin D. Simons, Inigo Martincorena, Helmut Wurst, Kourosh Saeb-Parsy, Meritxell Huch
BMC DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Cell Biology
Lemonia Chatzeli, Benjamin D. Simons
COLD SPRING HARBOR PERSPECTIVES IN BIOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Biology
Roberta Azzarelli, Michela Ori, Anna Philpott, Benjamin D. Simons
Summary: The emerging 3D cultures of glioblastoma are powerful models for studying cell behavior and interactions. GSCs can efficiently integrate into brain organoids in co-culture conditions, paving the way for analyzing fate behavior and lineage progression. This establishes the 3D culture system as a viable and versatile GBM model for investigating tumor cell biology and GSC heterogeneity.
Article
Developmental Biology
Can Aztekin, Tom W. Hiscock, John Gurdon, Jerome Jullien, John Marioni, Benjamin David Simons
Summary: Specialized wound epidermis is not a new cell state, but a re-deployment of the AER programme. Secreted inhibitory factors, including Noggin, are identified as key inhibitors of AER cell formation in regeneration-incompetent tadpoles. These factors can be overridden by Fgf10, providing a potential strategy to restore regeneration potential in higher vertebrates.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Min Kyu Yum, Seungmin Han, Juergen Fink, Szu-Hsien Sam Wu, Catherine Dabrowska, Teodora Trendafilova, Roxana Mustata, Lemonia Chatzeli, Roberta Azzarelli, Irina Pshenichnaya, Eunmin Lee, Frances England, Jong Kyoung Kim, Daniel E. Stange, Anna Philpott, Joo-Hyeon Lee, Bon-Kyoung Koo, Benjamin D. Simons
Summary: The study utilized a multicolour reporter mouse model, the Red2Onco system, to investigate interactions between tumour cells and the microenvironment. The research revealed that oncogene-driven paracrine remodeling leads to the destruction of wild-type tissue and promotes region transformation dominated by oncogenic clones. Mechanisms such as secretion of BMP ligands and alteration of the WNT signaling environment contribute to this process.
Article
Cell Biology
Jinwook Choi, Yu Jin Jang, Catherine Dabrowska, Elhadi Iich, Kelly Evans, Helen Hall, Sam M. Janes, Benjamin D. Simons, Bon-Kyoung Koo, Jonghwan Kim, Joo-Hyeon Lee
Summary: The study reveals a crucial role of the IL-1 beta-Notch-Fosl2 signaling axis in regulating the conversion of airway secretory cells into alveolar type 2 cells. It demonstrates the coordination of airway progenitor differentiation plasticity by inflammatory signals during alveolar regeneration. The findings propose a potential therapeutic target for guiding the fate decision of secretory cells during lung injury repair.
NATURE CELL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Mareike Damen, Lisa Wirtz, Ekaterina Soroka, Houda Khatif, Christian Kukat, Benjamin D. Simons, Hisham Bazzi
Summary: The study suggests that the orientation of cell division is linked to the stratification process of the skin epidermis, although it has less impact on epidermal differentiation in later stages. The data provide insights into tissue homeostasis and hyperproliferative diseases.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Roberta Azzarelli, Aoibheann McNally, Claudia Dell'Amico, Marco Onorati, Benjamin Simons, Anna Philpott
Summary: Glioblastoma (GBM) growth is driven by a subpopulation of stem/progenitor cells, and re-engaging their capacity for cell differentiation could be a potential therapeutic approach. The transcription factor ASCL1 plays a role in normal brain development and is expressed in a subset of GBM cells, but fails to initiate full differentiation. Phosphorylation of ASCL1 and deletion of the differentiation inhibitor ID2 enhance the efficiency of ASCL1-driven differentiation and cell cycle exit in GBM cells.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Miranda Robbins, Venkat Pisupati, Roberta Azzarelli, Samer Nehme, Roger A. Barker, Ljiljana Fruk, Gabriele S. Kaminski Schierle
Summary: This study explores the use of bacterial cellulose as an in vitro scaffold to promote the growth and differentiation of different stem cell-derived cell types, focusing on dopaminergic neuronal progenitors. The results show that the covalent functionalisation of bacterial cellulose sheets with bioactive peptides can improve the growth and differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells into dopaminergic neuronal progenitors. This suggests that bacterial cellulose has potential applications in cell therapy and tissue engineering for repairing damage to the central nervous system, such as in Parkinson's disease.
STEM CELL RESEARCH & THERAPY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Lemonia Chatzeli, Ignacio Bordeu, Seungmin Han, Sara Bisetto, Zahra Waheed, Bon-Kyoung Koo, Maria P. Alcolea, Benjamin D. Simons
Summary: The development of the mouse salivary gland involves a process of branching morphogenesis, in which progenitor cells transition from a multipotent state to unipotent states via two distinct bipotent states. Notch signaling and Kras activation play important roles in promoting specific lineages. These findings provide insights into the mechanisms underlying lineage segregation and ductal patterning.
DEVELOPMENTAL CELL
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Omer Karin, Eric A. Miska, Benjamin D. Simons
Summary: Biological systems can maintain memories over long timescales, such as memories in the brain and immune system. This study focuses on transgenerational epigenetic inheritance in Caenorhabditis elegans to understand how functional properties of memory systems are established by biological circuits. The findings suggest that fine-tuning of biochemical rates and competition for synthesis resources play a role in maintaining memory persistence and self-organization around critical states.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ignacio Bordeu, Lemonia Chatzeli, Benjamin D. Simons
Summary: In this study, the mechanisms of patterning in branched epithelia were investigated. The authors proposed the branching-annihilating random walk (BARW) model and the branching-delayed random walk (BDRW) model. The findings suggest that the BDRW model can provide a better explanation for the large-scale organization of tissue. In this model, branching tips that are inhibited by steric interaction with proximate ducts can continue branching as constraints are alleviated by the expansion of the surrounding tissue. This inflationary BDRW model presents a general paradigm for branching morphogenesis.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Review
Oncology
Amir Jassim, Eric P. Rahrmann, Ben D. Simons, Richard J. Gilbertson
Summary: Understanding the combination of cell intrinsic and extrinsic factors in initiating transformation is important for cancer prevention, detection, and early treatment. This review outlines current theories on cancer origins and the underlying determinants of cancer risk. While cancer has been a leading cause of death for decades, controversy remains regarding the transformation of tissues, hindering effective prevention and early intervention. By understanding the complex interplay of cell intrinsic and extrinsic factors, effective strategies for preventing, detecting, and stopping cancer before it becomes incurable can be discovered.
NATURE REVIEWS CANCER
(2023)
