Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Henrik Hertz, Aurea Susana Blancas-Velazquez, Martin Fredensborg Rath
Summary: Homeobox genes are expressed postnatally in the pineal gland and retina, playing a role in melatonin synthesis and phototransduction. Rat pinealocyte culture is used as an in vitro model for studying retinal phototransduction. Individual knockdown of certain homeobox genes in pinealocytes led to downregulation of phototransduction genes, suggesting that homeobox gene-encoded transcription factors control postnatal expression of phototransduction genes in the retinal photoreceptor.
JOURNAL OF PINEAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Endocrinology & Metabolism
Jihong Zheng, Wenqi Song, Yihang Zhou, Xuan Li, Meng Wang, Chao Zhang
Summary: This study provides a detailed examination of the evolutionary transition of the pineal gland from a photoreceptive organ in fish to a neuroendocrine organ in mammals at the single-cell resolution. The comparative analysis of single-cell transcriptomic datasets from zebrafish, rats, and monkeys reveals distinct cellular compositions, gene expressions, and signaling processes in the pineal gland of each species. The study identifies key factors responsible for the anatomical and functional transformation of the pineal gland, including the involvement of specific genes, ligand-receptor interactions, and transcription factors. The findings enhance our understanding of the pineal gland's role in phototransduction, melatonin production, and circadian rhythms in vertebrates.
JOURNAL OF PINEAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Biology
Juan M. Angueyra, Vincent P. Kunze, Laura K. Patak, Hailey Kim, Katie Kindt, Wei Li
Summary: The study provides resources and techniques to identify transcription factors involved in the generation and maintenance of diversity in photoreceptor subtypes. They use transcriptomic analysis and CRISPR-Cas9 mutagenesis to identify the role of Tbx2 in controlling the generation of all photoreceptor subtypes. The research also explores the involvement of four unknown transcription factors in photoreceptor subtype generation.
Article
Agriculture, Dairy & Animal Science
Jingjing Qi, Fajun Pu, Jianmei Wang, Qian Xu, Qian Tang, Junpeng Li, Bin Wei, Qinglan Yang, Cai Chen, Chunchun Han, Jiwen Wang, Liang Li, Hehe Liu
Summary: The intensity of light has an impact on animal production performance. This study examines how light intensity affects duck growth and investigates the changes in the retina and pineal gland transcriptome under different light intensities. The results show that increasing light intensity significantly decreases production performance and affects the function of the retina and pineal gland.
Article
Clinical Neurology
Sabri Batin, Yakup Ekinci, Kaan Gurbuz, Ahmet Payas, Erdal Kurtoglu, Ilyas Ucar, Turgut Seber, Mustafa Arik, Halil Yilmaz, Erdogan Unur
Summary: This study found significantly reduced pineal gland volumes in the AIS group, supporting the role of the pineal gland in the etiopathogenesis of AIS.
EUROPEAN SPINE JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Neurosciences
Tylor R. Lewis, Mustafa S. Makia, Carson M. Castillo, Muayyad R. Al-Ubaidi, Muna Naash, Vadim Y. Arshavsky
Summary: Mutations in the PRPH2 gene cause a broad range of retinal diseases by affecting the structure of outer segment of photoreceptor cells, resulting in irregular disc enclosure process. Abnormal PRPH2 oligomerization leads to defects in outer segment structure, particularly at the stage of disc enclosure.
JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Oncology
Gaia Favero, Francesca Bonomini, Rita Rezzani
Summary: This article discusses the classification, diagnosis, and clinical management of pineal tumors, emphasizing the importance of studying the triggering causes to make accurate diagnoses and proper therapeutic interventions.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Alexandra V. Garafalo, Rebecca Sheplock, Alexander Sumaroka, Alejandro J. Roman, Artur V. Cideciyan, Samuel G. Jacobson
Summary: Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) encompass cone-rod diseases, which have complex etiologies and can lead to vision loss. Among the causative genes, there is diversity, leading to a variety of disease manifestations, and paving the way for potential therapies.
Article
Cell Biology
Ning Sha, Hua-Wei Wang, Bin Sun, Min Gong, Po Miao, Xiao-Lu Jiang, Xiao-Feng Yang, Mei Li, Li-Xiao Xu, Chen-Xi Feng, Yuan-Yuan Yang, Jie Zhang, Wen-Jing Zhu, Yuan-Yuan Gao, Xing Feng, Xin Ding
Summary: The miR-325-LHX3 axis plays a key role in regulating circadian rhythms in newborns with HIBD, offering insights into potential therapeutic targets for circadian rhythm disorders in this patient population.
NEURAL REGENERATION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Biology
Gregor Belusic, Marko Ilic, Andrej Meglic, Primoz Pirih
Summary: A novel class of green-sensitive photoreceptors, G+R- cells, have been discovered in butterflies, showing hyperpolarizing responses to red light and interacting with red opponent units R9. This mechanism has been found in various butterfly species, suggesting the potential for tetrachromacy in their visual systems.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Review
Clinical Neurology
Robin M. Bouttelgier, Mariska Sie, Giorgio G. Hallaert
Summary: This case report highlights the possibility of spontaneous involution of pineal cysts, suggesting that surgery may not be the best option for patients with non-specific symptoms. Surveillance strategy with follow-up imaging may be a more appropriate approach in such cases, as opposed to immediate surgical intervention.
Review
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Amira Mohamed Taha, Abdelrahman Mohamed Mahmoud, Mohamed M. Ghonaim, Ateeba Kamran, Jehad Feras Alsamhori, Majd M. Albarakat, Abhigan Babu Shrestha, Vikash Jaiswal, Russel J. Reiter
Summary: Septic cardiomyopathy is a complication of sepsis with high mortality rates. Despite extensive research, there is currently no effective pharmacological agent for this condition. Melatonin, with its diverse functions in the body, has emerged as a potential treatment for sepsis-induced cardiomyopathy due to its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and cardioprotective roles.
BIOMEDICINE & PHARMACOTHERAPY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Madhu Sudhana Saddala, Xu Yang, Shibo Tang, Hu Huang
Summary: This study identified the core set of sensome and pro-inflammatory genes and their regulators in retinal microglial cells using transcriptome and data mining approaches. The transcriptional regulators identified may play crucial roles in regulating the sensome and inflammatory genes of RMCs and contribute to the pathogenesis of retinal neurodegenerative diseases.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aritra Bej, James B. Ames
Summary: Retinal cyclic nucleotide-gated (CNG) ion channels play a crucial role in visual phototransduction. This review discusses the binding of calmodulin to CNGB1 subunits and its impact on channel desensitization and retinal disease.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Eric B. Miller, Sarah J. Karlen, Kaitryn E. Ronning, Marie E. Burns
Summary: The Cx3cr1-Dendra2 mouse model allows for noninvasive and unambiguous tracking of D2-expressing microglia and monocytes, providing a powerful new tool for unraveling the roles of distinct immune cell subpopulations in neuroinflammation.
JOURNAL OF NEUROINFLAMMATION
(2021)