Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ashlie Hartigan, Adrian Jaimes-Becerra, Beth Okamura, Liam B. Doonan, Malcolm Ward, Antonio C. Marques, Paul F. Long
Summary: Cnidarians, the oldest lineage of venomous animals, use nematocysts to discharge toxins. The recruitment of venom toxins to support parasitic lifestyles in Endocnidozoa is unknown. Research on transcriptomic, proteomic, and phylogenetic analysis suggests that myxozoans express and translate venom toxin homologs inherited from ancestral cnidarians, but with reduced venom diversity possibly due to smaller genome sizes. Further investigation is needed to determine the expression of myxozoan venom candidates in transmission stages.
Review
Cell Biology
Hadi Boukhatmi
Summary: Experiments in Drosophila have been essential in understanding the molecular and cellular mechanisms regulating MuSCs, with a rich genetic toolbox available. The study revealed how AMPs in fruit flies are positioned, acquire identity, and are controlled by environmental signals. Recent identification of adult MuSCs in fruit flies with similar characteristics to vertebrates opens up new possibilities for muscle stem cell biology research.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Aine Varley, Helen R. Horkan, Emma T. McMahon, Gabriel Krasovec, Uri Frank
Summary: In most animals, pluripotent cells are lost after gastrulation, but the developmental potential of adult stem cells in cnidarians remains unclear. This study shows that adult stem cells in the cnidarian Hydractinia symbiolon-gicarpus are pluripotent and can contribute to different cell lineages and gamete production. This discovery has implications for understanding regeneration and clonal growth in these animals.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Benjamin Americus, Nicole Hams, Anna M. L. Klompen, Gema Alama-Bermejo, Tamar Lotan, Jerri L. Bartholomew, Stephen D. Atkinson
Summary: Cnidarians are ancient venomous organisms that use nematocysts for prey capture or defense. Myxozoans, a group of parasitic cnidarians, have reduced diversity in venom-like compounds (VLCs) compared to free-living cnidarians. VLCs play a role in host adhesion and invasion, with some inherited from a cnidarian ancestor and others potentially gained through convergent evolution. Understanding the function and expression of VLCs during infection enriches the concept of venom function and provides potential targets for therapeutic development against myxozoan infections.
Article
Cell & Tissue Engineering
Faiza Farhan, Manjari Trivedi, Priscilla Di Wu, Wei Cui
Summary: This study found that HLCs cultured with collagen showed increased albumin and alpha-1 anti-trypsin expression, reduced AFP, and higher urea secretion compared to HLCs cultured with Matrigel. However, collagen-cultured HLCs exhibited lower CYP3A4 activity and glycogen storage than Matrigel-cultured HLCs. The functional differences in HLCs between collagen and Matrigel cultures resemble hepatic zonation in the liver lobules.
STEM CELL RESEARCH & THERAPY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yang Shen, Li-rong Xu, Dong Yan, Min Zhou, Tong-lei Han, Chao Lu, Xiao Tang, Chang-po Lin, Rui-zhe Qian, Da-qiao Guo
Summary: The study found that BMAL1 is a key regulator in the phenotypic switch of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in atherosclerotic plaques. High expression of BMAL1 is associated with plaque stability and upregulation of FSP1, and BMAL1 promotes VSMCs phenotypic switch towards fibroblast-like cells by upregulating the expression of YAP1. In addition, VSMC-specific Bmal1(-/-) mice exhibit vulnerable plaques with lower levels of YAP1 and FSP1 in VSMCs. The findings highlight the importance of BMAL1 in VSMCs phenotypic switch and plaque stability.
BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR BASIS OF DISEASE
(2022)
Review
Cell Biology
Koya Yoshihi, Hideaki Iida, Machiko Teramoto, Yasuo Ishii, Kagayaki Kato, Hisato Kondoh
Summary: Live imaging of migrating and interacting cells in developing embryos has provided new insights into morphogenesis and patterning. A recent study in chicken embryos revealed that anterior epiblast cells can migrate to the head axis and differentiate into brain or head ectoderm. The node does not directly participate in brain development, while the AME plays an important role.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Hematology
Carmen Yap, Arnout Mieremet, Carlie J. M. de Vries, Dimitra Micha, Vivian de Waard
Summary: Multiple layers of vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMCs) form the media of blood vessels, providing structure and regulating blood flow. vSMCs exhibit high plasticity and can switch between different phenotypes, with a total of 6 phenotypes identified. The central dedifferentiated vSMC type is the mesenchymal-like phenotype, which can differentiate into various other cell types contributing to vascular disease.
ARTERIOSCLEROSIS THROMBOSIS AND VASCULAR BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biology
LinXi Cheng, MingHui Xie, WeiHua Qiao, Yu Song, YanYong Zhang, YingChao Geng, WeiLin Xu, Lin Wang, Zheng Wang, Kai Huang, NianGuo Dong, YuHua Sun
Summary: This study describes a two-step chemically defined xeno-free method for generating valve endothelial-like cells from human pluripotent stem cells. The derived valvular cells exhibit superior proliferative and clonogenic potential, and could be used as seed cells for construction of valve organoids or next generation tissue engineered heart valves.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Miriam Bobadilla Munoz, Josune Orbe, Gloria Abizanda, Florencio J. D. Machado, Amaia Vilas, Asier Ullate-Agote, Leire Extramiana, Arantxa Baraibar Churio, Xabier L. Aranguren, Gloria Cantero, Neira Sainz Amillo, Jose Antonio Rodriguez, Luis Ramos Garcia, Juan Pablo Romero Riojas, Ainara Vallejo-Illarramendi, Carmen Paradas, Adolfo Lopez de Munain, Jose Antonio Paramo, Felipe Prosper, Ana Perez-Ruiz
Summary: Aged muscles have a decline in their response to damage, which is mainly attributed to intrinsic defects in satellite cells. However, changes in the muscle-stem cell microenvironment also contribute to aging. Loss of MMP-10 in young mice alters the muscle ECM and disrupts the satellite cell niche, leading to premature aging features. MMP-10 has a protective effect on satellite cells and can delay their aging and overcome dysfunction in muscular dystrophy.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Hematology
Abhijnan Chattopadhyay, Callie S. Kwartler, Kaveeta Kaw, Yanming Li, Anita Kaw, Jiyuan Chen, Scott A. LeMaire, Ying H. Shen, Dianna M. Milewicz
Summary: The study found that vascular smooth muscle cells undergo phenotypic switching and express macrophage and fibroblast markers under cholesterol exposure. This switching is associated with the activation of the endoplasmic reticulum unfolded protein response, and blocking this response prevents the phenotypic transition.
ARTERIOSCLEROSIS THROMBOSIS AND VASCULAR BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Oncology
Davide Bagnara, Monica Colombo, Daniele Reverberi, Serena Matis, Rosanna Massara, Niccolo Cardente, Gianluca Ubezio, Vanessa Agostini, Luca Agnelli, Antonino Neri, Martina Cardillo, Stefano Vergani, Fabio Ghiotto, Andrea Nicola Mazzarello, Fortunato Morabito, Giovanna Cutrona, Manlio Ferrarini, Franco Fais
Summary: This study analyzed the expression and features of CLL-like stereotyped-IG in different B-cell subpopulations and found that these stereotyped-IG did not preferentially accumulate in CD5(+) B cells or specific B-cell subpopulations. Their distribution and features were not restricted to a single IG light chain type. The features of CLL-like stereotyped-IG suggest a CLL stereotyped subset-specific ontogeny, which differs from the immunophenotype.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biology
Abhinandan M. Tripathi, Yael Admoni, Arie Fridrich, Magda Lewandowska, Joachim M. Surm, Reuven Aharoni, Yehu Moran
Summary: The biogenesis of miRNAs in animals and plants depends on RNase III Dicer, but their partner proteins are considered distinct. However, a homolog of the plant-specific Dicer partner HYL1 has been discovered in the cnidarian phylum, challenging the idea that miRNAs evolved convergently in animals and plants. This study shows that the HYL1 homolog Hyl1La is crucial for development and miRNA biogenesis in the cnidarian model Nematostella vectensis, suggesting an early emergence of the miRNA system.
Article
Cell Biology
Xiangyuan Chen, Dongsheng Lian, Huasong Zeng
Summary: This study investigates the dynamic changes of cell type, cell composition, and transcriptional profiles in peripheral blood and muscle tissues in Juvenile dermatomyositis (JDM) patients. It reveals enhanced type I interferon responses in immune cells, smooth muscle cells, and fibroblasts of JDM patients. CD74(+) smooth muscle cells and CCL19+ fibroblasts are identified as inflammatory-related cell subtypes in JDM.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Biomedical
Jason Wang, Torie Broer, Taylor Chavez, Chris J. Zhou, Sabrina Tran, Yu Xiang, Alastair Khodabukus, Yarui Diao, Nenad Bursac
Summary: This study optimized the methods for deactivating in vitro expanded human myoblasts within a 3D culture of engineered human skeletal muscle tissues. The results showed that a fraction of myoblasts within the culture adopted a quiescent phenotype similar to native satellite cells, and could be reactivated. Single cell RNA-sequencing revealed the existence of two subpopulations of these quiescent and activated cells, and characterized their gene expression changes. This study provides a platform for further research on human muscle regeneration and disease-associated satellite cell dysfunction.