Abstract
Epicardial formation is necessary for normal myocardial morphogenesis. Here, we show that differentiating hiPSC-derived lateral plate mesoderm with BMP4, RA and VEGF (BVR) can generate a ...premature form of epicardial cells (termed pre-epicardial cells, PECs) expressing
WT1
,
TBX18
,
SEMA3D
, and
SCX
within 7 days. BVR stimulation after Wnt inhibition of LPM demonstrates co-differentiation and spatial organization of PECs and cardiomyocytes (CMs) in a single 2D culture. Co-culture consolidates CMs into dense aggregates, which then form a connected beating syncytium with enhanced contractility and calcium handling; while PECs become more mature with significant upregulation of
UPK1B
,
ITGA4
, and
ALDH1A2
expressions. Our study also demonstrates that PECs secrete IGF2 and stimulate CM proliferation in co-culture. Three-dimensional PEC-CM spheroid co-cultures form outer smooth muscle cell layers on cardiac micro-tissues with organized internal luminal structures. These characteristics suggest PECs could play a key role in enhancing tissue organization within engineered cardiac constructs in vitro.
RAF kinases are a family of enzymes in the MAP kinase pathway that contribute to the development of different types of cancer. BRAF is the most important member of RAF kinases. BRAF mutations have ...been detected in 7% of all cancers and 66% of melanomas; as such, the FDA has approved a few BRAF inhibitor drugs to date. However, BRAF can activate CRAF leading to resistance to BRAF inhibitors. Berberine (BBR) is an alkaloid that is widely distributed in different plant species. Several studies have been carried out on the anti-cancer effects of BBR but direct targets of BBR are unknown. In this study, interactions of BBR derivatives against BRAF and CRAF kinases were modeled and predicted using an in silico-based approach. To analyze and identify the residues important in BRAF docking, we modeled interactions of ATP, the universal substrate of BRAF, and found that Lys483 and Asp594 are the most important residues involved in both ATP and BBR binding (The average score = -11.5 kcal/mol (ATP); Range of scores = -7.78 to -9.55 kcal/mol (BBR). In addition to these polar residues, Trp530 and Phe583 are also applicable to the molecular docking of BRAF. We also observed that Asp593 was excluded from the enzyme cavity, while Phe594 was included inside the cavity, making the enzyme inactive. Finally, three alternatives for BBR were identified with dual RAF inhibition effects The best scores against BRAF = -11.62 kcal/mol (BBR-7), -10.64 kcal/mol (BBR-9), and -11.01 kcal/mol (BBR-10); the best scores against CRAF = -9.68 kcal/mol (BBR-7), -9.60 kcal/mol (BBR-9), and -9.20 kcal/mol (BBR-10). Direct effects of BBR derivatives against BRAF and CRAF kinases had not yet been reported previously, and, thus, for the first time, we report three cycloprotoberberines as lead compounds against RAF kinases.
•miRNAs associated with cell signaling pathways in breast cancer are explained in detail.•Different strategies by which miRNAs can be regulated to suppress hallmarks of cancer are described.•Nucleic ...acid-based and drug-based approaches as new grouping of miRNA-based therapeutic strategies are discussed in detail.•The effects of miRNAs on conventional therapies of breast cancer are discussed.•The clinical importance of miRNAs detected in blood circulation is discussed.
MicroRNAs (miRNA) are 21–23 nucleotide molecules not translated into proteins that bind and target the 3′ untranslated regions of mRNA. These characteristics make them a possible tool for inhibiting protein translation. Different cellular pathways involved in cancer development, such as cellular proliferation, apoptosis, and migration, are regulated by miRNAs. The objective of this review is to discuss various miRNAs involved in breast cancer in detail as well as different therapeutic strategies from the clinic to industry. A comprehensive discussion is provided on various miRNAs involved in breast cancer development, progression, and metastasis as well as the roles, targets, and related therapeutic strategies of different miRNAs associated with breast cancer. miRNAs known to be clinically useful for the diagnosis and prognosis of breast cancer are also discussed. Different strategies and challenges, including nucleic acid-based (miRNA mimics, antagomiRs, and miRNA sponges) and drug-based (drug resistance, drugs/miRNA interaction, nanodelivery, and sensing systems) approaches to suppress specific oncogenes and/or activate target tumor suppressors are discussed. In contrast to other articles written on the same topic, this review focuses on the therapeutic and clinical value of miRNAs as well as their corresponding targets in order to explore how these strategies can overcome breast cancer, which is the second most frequent type of cancer worldwide. This review focuses on promising and validated miRNAs involved in breast cancer. In particular, two miRNAs, miR-21 and miR-34, are discussed as the most promising targets for RNA-based therapy in non-invasive and invasive breast cancer, respectively. Finally, relevant and commercialized therapeutic strategies are highlighted.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide and novel therapeutic agents are needed to treat this disease. The plant-based alkaloid berberine has potential therapeutic applications ...for breast cancer, although a better understanding of the genes and cellular pathways regulated by this compound is needed to define the mechanism of its action in cancer treatment. In this review, the molecular targets of berberine in various cancers, particularly breast cancer, are discussed. Berberine was shown to be effective in inhibiting cell proliferation and promoting apoptosis in various cancerous cells. Some signaling pathways affected by berberine, including the MAP (mitogen-activated protein) kinase and Wnt/β-catenin pathways, are critical for reducing cellular migration and sensitivity to various growth factors. This review will discuss recent studies and consider the application of new prospective approaches based on microRNAs and other crucial regulators for use in future studies to define the action of berberine in cancer. The effects of berberine on cancer cell survival and proliferation are also outlined.
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Down syndrome (DS) is the most frequently diagnosed chromosomal disorder of chromosome 21 (HSA21) aneuploidy, characterized by intellectual disability and reduced lifespan. The transcription ...repressor, Repressor Element-1 Silencing Transcription factor (REST), which acts as an epigenetic regulator, is a crucial regulator of neuronal and glial gene expression. In this study, we identified and investigated the role of REST-target genes in human brain tissues, cerebral organoids, and neural cells in Down syndrome. Gene expression datasets generated from healthy controls and DS samples of human brain tissues, cerebral organoids, NPC, neurons, and astrocytes were retrieved from the Gene Ontology (GEO) and Sequence Read Archive (SRA) databases. Differential expression analysis was performed on all datasets to produce differential expression genes (DEGs) between DS and control groups. REST-targeted DEGs were subjected to functional ontologies, pathways, and network analyses. We found that REST-targeted DEGs in DS were enriched for the JAK-STAT and HIF-1 signaling pathways across multiple distinct brain regions, ages, and neural cell types. We also identified REST-targeted DEGs involved in nervous system development, cell differentiation, fatty acid metabolism and inflammation in the DS brain. Based on the findings, we propose REST as the critical regulator and a promising therapeutic target to modulate homeostatic gene expression in the DS brain.
The molecular basis of the earliest neuronal changes that lead to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is unclear. Here, we analyze neural cells derived from sporadic AD (SAD), APOE4 gene-edited and control ...induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). We observe major differences in iPSC-derived neural progenitor (NP) cells and neurons in gene networks related to neuronal differentiation, neurogenesis, and synaptic transmission. The iPSC-derived neural cells from SAD patients exhibit accelerated neural differentiation and reduced progenitor cell renewal. Moreover, a similar phenotype appears in NP cells and cerebral organoids derived from APOE4 iPSCs. Impaired function of the transcriptional repressor REST is strongly implicated in the altered transcriptome and differentiation state. SAD and APOE4 expression result in reduced REST nuclear translocation and chromatin binding, and disruption of the nuclear lamina. Thus, dysregulation of neural gene networks may set in motion the pathologic cascade that leads to AD.
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•Sporadic AD and apolipoprotein E4 (APOE4) share a common neural transcriptome•AD and APOE4 neural progenitors exhibit altered neural differentiation•Loss of function of REST alters transcription and differentiation in AD and APOE4•Nuclear lamina disruption associated with AD and APOE4 may impair REST function
Meyer et al. derive neural progenitors, neurons, and cerebral organoids from sporadic Alzheimer’s disease (SAD) and APOE4 gene-edited iPSCs. SAD and APOE4 expression alter the neural transcriptome and differentiation in part through loss of function of the transcriptional repressor REST. Thus, neural gene network dysregulation may lead to Alzheimer’s disease.
Annexin A2 is a membrane scaffolding and binding protein, which mediated various cellular events. Its functions are generally affected by cellular localization. In the cytoplasm, they interacted with ...different phospholipid membranes in Ca
-dependent manner and play vital roles including actin binding, remodeling and dynamics, cytoskeletal rearrangement, and lipid-raft microdomain formation. However, upon cell exposure to certain stimuli, annexin A2 translocates to the external leaflets of the plasma membrane where annexin A2 was recently reported to serve as a virus receptor, play an important role in the formation of virus replication complex, or implicated in virus assembly and budding. Here, we review some of annexin A2 roles in virus infections and the potentiality of targeting annexin A2 in the design of novel and promising antivirus agent that may have a broader consequence in virus therapy.
Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a neurotrophin found in abundance in brain regions such as the hippocampus, cortex, cerebellum and basal forebrain. It has been associated with the risk of ...susceptibility to major depressive disorder (MDD). This study aimed to determine the association of three BDNF variants (rs6265, rs1048218 and rs1048220) with Malaysian MDD patients.
The correlation of these variants to the plasma BDNF level among Malaysian MDD patients was assessed. A total of 300 cases and 300 matched controls recruited from four public hospitals within the Klang Valley of Selangor State, Malaysia and matched for age, sex and ethnicity were screened for BDNF rs6265, rs1048218 and rs1048220 using high resolution melting (HRM).
BDNF rs1048218 and BDNF rs1048220 were monomorphic and were excluded from further analysis. The distribution of the alleles and genotypes for BDNF rs6265 was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for the controls (p = 0.13) but was in Hardy Weinberg disequilibrium for the cases (p = 0.011). Findings from this study indicated that having BDNF rs6265 in the Malaysian population increase the odds of developing MDD by 2.05 folds (95% CI = 1.48-3.65). Plasma from 206 cases and 206 controls were randomly selected to measure the BDNF level using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). A significant decrease in the plasma BDNF level of the cases as compared to controls (p<0.0001) was observed. However, there was no evidence of the effect of the rs6265 genotypes on the BDNF level indicating a possible role of other factors in modulating the BDNF level that warrants further investigation.
The study indicated that having the BDNF rs6265 allele (A) increase the risk of developing MDD in the Malaysian population suggesting a possible role of BDNF in the etiology of the disorder.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI) could result in life-long disabilities and death. Though the mechanical insult causes primary injury, the secondary injury due to dysregulated responses following ...neuronal apoptosis and inflammation is often the cause for more detrimental consequences. Mesenchymal stromal cell (MSC) has been extensively investigated as the emerging therapeutic for TBI, and the functional properties are chiefly attributed to their secretome, especially the exosomes. Delivering these nanosize exosomes have shown to ameliorate post-traumatic injury and restore brain functions. Recent technology advances also allow engineering MSC-derived exosomes to carry specific biomolecules of interest to augment their therapeutic outcome. In this review, we discuss the pathophysiology of TBI and summarize the recent progress in the applications of MSCs-derived exosomes, the roles and the signalling mechanisms underlying the protective effects in the treatment of the TBI.
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