Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Xueting Xu, Tanveer Ahmed, Lulu Wang, Xintao Cao, Zeyu Zhang, Ming Wang, Yuan Lv, Shahzina Kanwal, Muqddas Tariq, Runxia Lin, Hui Zhang, Yinghua Huang, Hao Peng, Danni Lin, Xue Shi, Didi Geng, Baohua Liu, Xiaofei Zhang, Wen Yi, Yan Qin, Miguel A. Esteban, Baoming Qin
Summary: The study demonstrates the role of mTORC1 in regulating paused pluripotency in mESCs, and reveals a context-dependent function of eIF4F in translating pluripotency genes in SL and 2iL culture conditions.
Article
Cell Biology
Haibin Jiang, Mingxia Du, Yaning Li, Tengfei Zhou, Jia Lei, Hongqing Liang, Zhen Zhong, Rafia S. Al-Lamki, Ming Jiang, Jun Yang
Summary: It has been found that ID1 and ID3 play important roles in the survival and pluripotency of hESCs, regulating the transition between primed and naive-like states through the AKT signaling pathway. TCF3 mediates transcriptional inhibition of MCL1 to promote AKT phosphorylation.
CELL DEATH & DISEASE
(2022)
Article
Developmental Biology
Anish Dattani, Tao Huang, Corin Liddle, Austin Smith, Ge Guo
Summary: Stabilization of human naive pluripotent stem cells and suppression of trophectoderm differentiation require inhibition of Tankyrase. XAV939 prevents trophectoderm induction by reducing YAP activation and stabilizing nuclear angiomotin. Depletion of YAP1 or TAZ in naive pluripotent stem cells allows efficient self-renewal and resistance to trophectoderm differentiation.
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Fuquan Chen, Xiaomin Li, Xiao Feng, Tingting Gao, Weiyu Zhang, Zhi Cheng, Xuan Zhao, Ruiqing Chen, Xinyi Lu
Summary: In this study, lncRNA Lx8-SINE B2 was identified as a novel regulator of ESC proliferation, cell cycle, and metabolism through working with Eno1.
Article
Biology
Yan Ruan, Jiaqi Wang, Meng Yu, Fengsheng Wang, Jiangjun Wang, Yixiao Xu, Lianlian Liu, Yuda Cheng, Ran Yang, Chen Zhang, Yi Yang, JiaLi Wang, Wei Wu, Yi Huang, Yanping Tian, Guangxing Chen, Junlei Zhang, Rui Jian
Summary: An extended pluripotency gene regulatory network in mouse embryonic stem cells was proposed through integrative analysis of CRISPR/Cas9-based functional genomics screens and multi-omics data. By integrating various types of data, a new pluripotency gene regulatory network with six functionally independent transcriptional modules was constructed. The activity pattern of these modules was found to be shared by both mouse ESCs and pluripotent cells of early embryos, as well as human ESCs and cancers. These findings provide novel insights into the molecular basis of ESC pluripotency.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Pengfei Guo, Nam Hoang, Joseph Sanchez, Elaine H. Zhang, Keshari Rajawasam, Kristiana Trinidad, Hong Sun, Hui Zhang
Summary: The authors demonstrate that the assembly/disassembly of mammalian SWI/SNF complexes is dynamically regulated by a lysine methylation mechanism involving LSD1 demethylase and L3MBTL3 methyl-lysine reader protein. This mechanism targets SET7-methylated lysines in SMARCC1 and SMARCC2 for proteolysis by CRL4 ubiquitin ligase. The study also reveals the critical role of LSD1 and L3MBTL3 in maintaining the pluripotency and self-renewal of embryonic stem cells, as well as regulating proteolysis induced by loss of SWI/SNF subunits.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Noriaki Yamashita, Masahiro Kawahara, Takayuki Imai, Goichi Tatsumi, Ai Asai-Nishishita, Akira Andoh
Summary: A single nucleotide polymorphism in the NUDT15 gene, known as R139C, leads to hematopoietic stem cell exhaustion upon administration of 6-MP. RNA sequencing and GO analysis reveal that changes in DNA damage response and cell cycle processes are the major effects of this mutation on HSCs. Therefore, caution should be exercised in long-term use of 6-MP in patients with NUDT15 R139C due to its potential adverse effects on HSCs.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2023)
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Se-Ra Park, Seong-Kwan Kim, Soo-Rim Kim, Wook-Joon Yu, Seung-Jin Lee, Hwa-Yong Lee
Summary: Smoking has harmful effects on female fertility by inhibiting the functions of resident endometrial stem cells. Exposure to cigarette smoke extracts significantly suppresses various tissue regeneration-associated functions of endometrial stem cells by activating the SERPINB2 gene. Knockdown of SERPINB2 effectively abolishes the inhibitory effects of cigarette smoke on endometrial stem cell functions.
STEM CELL RESEARCH & THERAPY
(2022)
Article
Developmental Biology
Masaki Kinoshita, Toshihiro Kobayashi, Benjamin Planells, Doris Klisch, Daniel Spindlow, Hideki Masaki, Susanne Bornelov, Giuliano Giuseppe Stirparo, Hitomi Matsunari, Ayuko Uchikura, Ismael Lamas-Toranzo, Jennifer Nichols, Hiromitsu Nakauchi, Hiroshi Nagashima, Ramiro Alberio, Austin Smith
Summary: This study successfully established pluripotent stem cell lines from porcine, ovine, and bovine embryos without using feeder cells or serum factors. The cells showed differentiation in teratomas and in vitro, with global transcriptome analyses revealing commonality in transcription factor expression across the three species. The research also demonstrated the generation of cloned porcine fetuses using genetically modified AFX stem cells through nuclear transfer.
Article
Oncology
Miaoling Tang, Meisongzhu Yang, Geyan Wu, Shuang Mo, Xingui Wu, Shuxia Zhang, Ruyuan Yu, Yameng Hu, Yingru Xu, Ziwen Li, Xinyi Liao, Jun Li, Libing Song
Summary: In liver cancer cells, the upregulation of MFF mediated by the TBX19/PRMT1 complex promotes mitochondrial fission and tumor-initiating capacity, indicating that PRMT1 may be a viable therapeutic target in liver cancer.
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Martin Bergert, Sergio Lembo, Sumana Sharma, Luigi Russo, Danica Milovanovic, Kristjan H. Gretarsson, Mandy Boermel, Pierre A. Neveu, Jamie A. Hackett, Evangelia Petsalaki, Alba Diz-Munoz
Summary: Cell membrane mechanics play a crucial role in the exit from naive pluripotency of mouse embryonic stem cells, with a decrease in membrane-to-cortex attachment identified as an essential cell-intrinsic mechanism for differentiation.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Dan Li, Jihong Yang, Xin Huang, Hongwei Zhou, Jianlong Wang
Summary: Translational control is a fundamental regulatory layer that governs cellular identity and functions. Through an RNA interference screen, we identified eIF4A2 as a key translation initiation factor required for maintaining embryonic stem cell identity and defined its mechanistic action.
Article
Cell Biology
Warunya Chakritbudsabong, Somjit Chaiwattanarungruengpaisan, Ladawan Sariya, Sirikron Pamonsupornvichit, Joao N. Ferreira, Panithi Sukho, Dulyatad Gronsang, Theerawat Tharasanit, Andras Dinnyes, Sasitorn Rungarunlert
Summary: In addition to the four transcription factors, LIN28 is required for the effective induction of piPSCs and the maintenance of their long-term self-renewal and pluripotency towards the development of all germ layers.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Gregg L. Semenza
Summary: Many advanced human cancers contain regions of intratumoral hypoxia which leads to the activation of HIFs and drives tumor growth and metastasis. Hypoxia induces the formation of breast cancer stem cells and affects the expression of pluripotency factors through various molecular mechanisms involving PLXNB3, NARF, and TERT. These findings provide important insights into the relationship between hypoxia and tumor progression.
STEM CELLS TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Katherine G. Zyner, Angela Simeone, Sean M. Flynn, Colm Doyle, Giovanni Marsico, Santosh Adhikari, Guillem Portella, David Tannahill, Shankar Balasubramanian
Summary: This study reveals that G-quadruplexes (G4s), four-stranded DNA secondary structures, are key genomic features linked to cellular differentiation. G4s are highly present in human embryonic stem cells but lost during lineage specification. They are mainly found in enhancers and promoters and are closely associated with transcriptional stabilization of genes involved in essential cellular functions and transitions in histone post-translational modification landscape. Moreover, stabilizing G4s with small molecules delays stem cell differentiation, maintaining a pluripotent-like state. These findings highlight the importance of G4s as epigenetic features coupled to stem cell pluripotency and differentiation.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Charlotte Rafaluk-Mohr, Michael Gerth, Jordan E. Sealey, Alice K. E. Ekroth, Aziz A. Aboobaker, Anke Kloock, Kayla C. King
Summary: The study found that protective host microbiota can influence the coevolutionary patterns and processes between hosts and parasites, by suppressing parasite infection and altering parasite adaptation to microbial defenses. This finding is significant for understanding the interactions between hosts and parasites.
Letter
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Michail Katsoulis, Bianca De Stavola, Alvina G. Lai, Manuel Gomes, Karla Diaz-Ordaz
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Wai Hoong Chang, Stefanie H. Mueller, Sheng-Chia Chung, Graham R. Foster, Alvina G. Lai
Summary: This study investigated the burden, risk, and premature mortality of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with liver disease. The findings revealed a higher incidence rate of CVD in liver disease patients, along with associations between specific clinical factors and CVD risk. Geographical variations in burden were also observed. These findings are important for improving cardiovascular health management in liver disease patients.
JOURNAL OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wai Hoong Chang, Alvina G. Lai
Summary: Cancer patients experience considerable psychological distress, with depression being the most common psychiatric disorder. Chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery increase the burden of psychiatric disorders, especially alkylating agent chemotherapeutics. All mental illnesses are associated with an increased risk of subsequent self-harm, with the highest risk occurring within 12 months of diagnosis. Patients who harm themselves are at a significantly higher risk of dying from unnatural causes within the first 12 months.
Editorial Material
Oncology
Alvina G. Lai, Wai Hoong Chang
CLINICAL AND TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Review
Oncology
Jurgita Kaubryte, Alvina G. Lai
Summary: This study systematically evaluated clinicopathological factors and genetic mutations associated with prognosis in multiple cancer types, providing a comprehensive knowledge base of biomarkers for personalized treatment, which may guide healthcare practitioners and researchers across the continuum of cancer care.
NPJ PRECISION ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Psychiatry
Wai Hoong Chang, Graham R. Foster, Deirdre A. Kelly, Alvina G. Lai
Summary: This population cohort study in England found a high burden of psychiatric events, such as anxiety disorder, depression, substance misuse, and self-harm, in young people with chronic liver disease compared to matched controls. The risk of these psychiatric disorders was significantly increased in participants with liver disease.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Sheng-Chia Chung, Alvina Lai, Gregory Y. H. Lip, Pier D. Lambiase, Rui Providencia
Summary: Using real-world data from the UK, this study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of anti-arrhythmic drugs and catheter ablation in improving the survival of atrial fibrillation patients. The study found that patients receiving rhythm control treatment had lower mortality rates, with pulmonary vein isolation showing the most pronounced survival benefit.
Article
Biology
Jakke Neiro, Divya Sridhar, Anish Dattani, Aziz Aboobaker
Summary: By integrating epigenetic and expression data, we predicted enhancer elements active in adult stem cells that are responsible for regeneration. These enhancers are enriched with binding sites for transcription factors expressed in adult stem cells, and footprinting analysis supported their occupancy in these cells. Our study contributes to understanding the regulatory mechanisms of stem cells and the process of regeneration.
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Stefanie H. Mueller, Alvina G. Lai, Maria Valkovskaya, Kyriaki Michailidou, Manjeet K. Bolla, Qin Wang, Joe Dennis, Michael Lush, Zomoruda Abu-Ful, Thomas U. Ahearn, Irene L. Andrulis, Hoda Anton-Culver, Natalia N. Antonenkova, Volker Arndt, Kristan J. Aronson, Annelie Augustinsson, Thais Baert, Laura E. Beane Freeman, Matthias W. Beckmann, Sabine Behrens, Javier Benitez, Marina Bermisheva, Carl Blomqvist, Natalia Bogdanova, Stig E. Bojesen, Bernardo Bonanni, Hermann Brenner, Sara Y. Brucker, Saundra S. Buys, Jose E. Castelao, Tsun L. Chan, Jenny Chang-Claude, Stephen J. Chanock, Ji-Yeob Choi, Wendy K. Chung, Sarah Colonna, Sten Cornelissen, Fergus J. Couch, Kamila Czene, Mary B. Daly, Peter Devilee, Thilo Dork, Laure Dossus, Miriam Dwek, Diana M. Eccles, Arif B. Ekici, A. Heather Eliassen, Christoph Engel, D. Gareth Evans, Peter A. Fasching, Olivia Fletcher, Henrik Flyger, Manuela Gago-Dominguez, Yu-Tang Gao, Montserrat Garcia-Closas, Jose A. Garcia-Saenz, Jeanine Genkinger, Aleksandra Gentry-Maharaj, Felix Grassmann, Pascal Guenel, Melanie Gundert, Lothar Haeberle, Eric Hahnen, Christopher A. Haiman, Niclas Hakansson, Per Hall, Elaine F. Harkness, Patricia A. Harrington, Jaana M. Hartikainen, Mikael Hartman, Alexander Hein, Weang-Kee Ho, Maartje J. Hooning, Reiner Hoppe, John L. Hopper, Richard S. Houlston, Anthony Howell, David J. Hunter, Dezheng Huo, Abctb Investigators, Hidemi Ito, Motoki Iwasaki, Anna Jakubowska, Wolfgang Janni, Esther M. John, Michael E. Jones, Audrey Jung, Rudolf Kaaks, Daehee Kang, Elza K. Khusnutdinova, Sung-Won Kim, Cari M. Kitahara, Stella Koutros, Peter Kraft, Vessela N. Kristensen, Katerina Kubelka-Sabit, Allison W. Kurian, Ava Kwong, James Lacey, Diether Lambrechts, Loic Le Marchand, Jingmei Li, Martha Linet, Wing-Yee Lo, Jirong Long, Artitaya Lophatananon, Arto Mannermaa, Mehdi Manoochehri, Sara Margolin, Keitaro Matsuo, Dimitrios Mavroudis, Usha Menon, Kenneth Muir, Rachel A. Murphy, Heli Nevanlinna, William G. Newman, Dieter Niederacher, Katie M. O'Brien, Nadia Obi, Kenneth Offit, Olufunmilayo Olopade, Andrew F. Olshan, Hakan Olsson, Sue K. Park, Alpa Patel, Achal Patel, Charles M. Perou, Julian Peto, Paul D. P. Pharoah, Dijana Plaseska-Karanfilska, Nadege Presneau, Brigitte Rack, Paolo Radice, Dhanya Ramachandran, Muhammad U. Rashid, Gad Rennert, Atocha Romero, Kathryn J. Ruddy, Matthias Ruebner, Emmanouil Saloustros, Dale P. Sandler, Elinor J. Sawyer, Marjanka K. Schmidt, Rita K. Schmutzler, Michael O. Schneider, Christopher Scott, Mitul Shah, Priyanka Sharma, Chen-Yang Shen, Xiao-Ou Shu, Jacques Simard, Harald Surowy, Rulla M. Tamimi, William J. Tapper, Jack A. Taylor, Soo Hwang Teo, Lauren R. Teras, Amanda E. Toland, Rob A. E. M. Tollenaar, Diana Torres, Gabriela Torres-Mejia, Melissa A. Troester, Therese Truong, Celine M. Vachon, Joseph Vijai, Clarice R. Weinberg, Camilla Wendt, Robert Winqvist, Alicja Wolk, Anna H. Wu, Taiki Yamaji, Xiaohong R. Yang, Jyh-Cherng Yu, Wei Zheng, Argyrios Ziogas, Elad Ziv, Alison M. Dunning, Douglas F. Easton, Harry Hemingway, Ute Hamann, Karoline B. Kuchenbaecker
Summary: This study identified 14 genes associated with breast cancer using gene-based aggregation analysis, including two newly discovered genes FMNL3 and AC058822.1. Furthermore, associations with established candidate genes like ESR1 were found through the collaboration of multi-ancestral cohorts, highlighting the importance of diversifying study cohorts. These findings provide new insights into the development of breast cancer.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Holly Simpson Ragdale, Melanie Clements, Wenhao Tang, Elitza Deltcheva, Catia Andreassi, Alvina G. Lai, Wai Hoong Chang, Maria Pandrea, Ivan Andrew, Laurence Game, Imran Uddin, Michael Ellis, Tariq Enver, Antonella Riccio, Samuel Marguerat, Simona Parrinello
Summary: Most normal parenchymal astrocytes are unable to dedifferentiate to neural stem cells after injury, while aberrant lineage plasticity is a characteristic of gliomas. In this study, it was found that p53 loss destabilizes the identity of astrocytes, making them more prone to dedifferentiation. This is caused by persistent neuroinflammation and EGFR activation, and involves the upregulation of mTOR signaling downstream of p53 loss and EGFR.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Wai Hoong Chang, Richard D. Neal, Martin D. Forster, Alvina G. Lai
Summary: This study evaluated the burden of 144 health conditions and critical care admissions in 243,767 adults with 26 adult cancers and treatment modalities. The top conditions by fold difference in cumulative burden in survivors compared to controls were haematology, immunology/infection, and pulmonary conditions. Patients receiving chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgery had a higher burden of late morbidities compared to those receiving radiotherapy alone. The top five cancers with the highest cumulative burden of critical care admissions were bone, brain, spinal cord and nervous system, testis, and Hodgkin lymphoma.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Harrison Wilde, Christopher Tomlinson, Bilal A. Mateen, David Selby, Hari Krishnan Kanthimathinathan, Padmanabhan Ramnarayan, Pascale Du Pre, Mae Johnson, Nazima Pathan, Arturo Gonzalez-Izquierdo, Alvina G. Lai, Deepti Gurdasani, Christina Pagel, Spiros Denaxas, Sebastian Vollmer, Katherine Brown
Summary: This cohort study examined hospital admissions associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and adolescents in England. The results showed that most admissions were due to SARS-CoV-2 or SARS-CoV-2 was a contributory factor. Boys, younger children, and those from ethnic minority groups or areas of high deprivation were more likely to be admitted to hospital. These findings have implications for public health initiatives and further research.
BMJ-BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Sounak Sahu, Teresa L. Sullivan, Alexander Y. Mitrophanov, Melissa Galloux, Darryl Nousome, Eileen Southon, Dylan Caylor, Arun Prakash Mishra, Christine N. Evans, Michelle E. Clapp, Sandra Burkett, Tyler Malys, Raj Chari, Kajal Biswas, Shyam K. Sharan
Summary: This study describes the development of a high-throughput functional assay using CRISPR-Cas9 technology to determine the functional significance of a large number of variants in the BRCA2 gene. By saturating specific codons and exons of BRCA2, the study successfully categorizes the functional and non-functional variants, and demonstrates the response of these variants to DNA-damaging agents.
Article
Medical Informatics
Johan H. Thygesen, Christopher Tomlinson, Sam Hollings, Mehrdad A. Mizani, Alex Handy, Ashley Akbari, Amitava Banerjee, Jennifer Cooper, Alvina G. Lai, Kezhi Li, Bilal A. Mateen, Naveed Sattar, Reecha Sofat, Ana Torralbo, Honghan Wu, Angela Wood, Jonathan A. C. Sterne, Christina Pagel, William N. Whiteley, Cathie Sudlow, Harry Hemingway, Spiros Denaxas
Summary: This study used nationwide linked electronic health records to define and validate ten COVID-19 phenotypes, providing insights into the different stages and transitions of the disease. The results showed infection rates, hospitalization rates, intensive care unit usage, and mortality rates of COVID-19. Longer patient trajectories were observed in the second wave compared to the first wave.
LANCET DIGITAL HEALTH
(2022)
Review
Developmental Biology
Cheng Shi, Pengfei Jiao, Zhiyi Chen, Lan Ma, Siyue Yao
Summary: This review discusses the molecular etiology of congenital craniofacial abnormalities, with a focus on the role and mechanism of noncoding RNAs in regulating craniofacial development. Aberrant expression of noncoding RNAs has been implicated in the pathogenesis of craniofacial abnormalities, providing potential therapeutic targets.
DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Developmental Biology
Hideru Togashi, Steven Ray Davis, Makoto Sato
Summary: Tile patterns, regulated by cell adhesion molecules, are regular arrangements of cells that play important functional roles in multicellular organisms. The physical constraints and cell adhesion regulate both cell shape and tissue morphogenesis.
DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Developmental Biology
Armen Khanbabei, Lina Segura, Cynthia Petrossian, Aaron Lemus, Ithan Cano, Courtney Frazier, Armen Halajyan, Donnie Ca, Mariano Loza-Coll
Summary: This article investigates the genetic regulatory mechanisms of Drosophila intestinal stem cells. The study found that most target genes co-regulated by Esg and STAT show a consistent gene expression pattern. However, manipulating these validated targets in vivo rarely replicated the effects of manipulating Esg and STAT, suggesting the presence of complex genetic interactions among the downstream targets of these two master regulator genes.
DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Developmental Biology
Bayley J. Waters, Zoe R. Birman, Matthew R. Wagner, Julia Lemanski, Barak Blum
Summary: Researchers found that conditional deletion of Robo2 in adult mice led to a significant loss of islet architecture without affecting beta cell identity or function, suggesting that Robo2 plays a role in actively maintaining adult islet architecture. Understanding the factors required for islet architecture maintenance is crucial for developing future diabetes therapies.
DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Developmental Biology
Rhiannon Clements, Tyler Smith, Luke Cowart, Jennifer Zhumi, Alan Sherrod, Aidan Cahill, Ginger L. Hunter
Summary: Cell protrusions play a crucial role in regulating cell activities during development. By studying the regulation mechanism in fruit fly sensory bristle patterning, it was found that Myosin XV is essential for the dynamics of signaling filopodia and promotes long-range Notch signaling.
DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Developmental Biology
Margaret Keating, Ryan Hagle, Daniel Osorio-Mendez, Anjelica Rodriguez-Parks, Sarah I. Almutawa, Junsu Kang
Summary: Knock-in reporter (KI) animals are essential for studying gene expression in biomedical research. This study developed a new strategy using minicircle technology and a minimal promoter to enhance knock-in events and establish stable KI transgenic reporter lines. The study also highlighted the importance of selecting the proper KI line due to potential inappropriate influence of genome editing on reporter gene expression.
DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2024)
Article
Developmental Biology
Christian Altbuerger, Meta Rath, Daniel Armbruster, Wolfgang Driever
Summary: This study reveals that Neurog1 and Olig2 transcription factors have differential requirements for the development of dopaminergic neurons, and they integrate local patterning signals and Notch neurogenic selection signaling to specify the progenitor population and initiate neurogenesis and differentiation.
DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2024)