scholarly journals Unraveling the complexity of thermogenic remodeling of white fat reveals potential antiobesity therapies

2021 ◽  
Vol 35 (21-22) ◽  
pp. 1395-1397
Author(s):  
Nabil Rabhi ◽  
Stephen R. Farmer
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Cellular Interaction ◽  
Transcriptional Program ◽  
Previous Issue ◽  
Beige Adipocytes ◽  
Dietary Cues ◽  
Different Cell Types ◽  
White Fat ◽  
Complex Organ

Adipose tissue is a complex organ consisting of a mixture of mature adipocytes and stromal vascular cells. It displays a remarkable ability to adapt to environmental and dietary cues by changing its morphology and metabolic capacity. This plasticity is demonstrated by the emergence of interspersed thermogenic beige adipocytes within white depots in response to catecholamines secretion. Coordinated cellular interaction between different cell types within the tissue and a fine-tuned transcriptional program synergistically take place to promote beige remodeling. However, both cell–cell interactions and molecular mechanisms governing beige adipocyte appearance and maintenance are poorly understood. In this and the previous issue of Genes & Development, Shao and colleagues (pp. 1461–1474) and Shan and colleagues (pp. 1333–1338) advance our understanding of these issues and, in doing so, highlight potential therapeutic strategies to combat obesity-associated diseases.

scholarly journals MicroRNAs and Stem-like Properties: The Complex Regulation Underlying Stemness Maintenance and Cancer Development

Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 1074
Author(s):  
Giuseppina Divisato ◽  
Silvia Piscitelli ◽  
Mariantonietta Elia ◽  
Emanuela Cascone ◽  
Silvia Parisi
Keyword(s):  
Stem Cells ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Embryonic Stem ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Cancer Development ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Self Renewal ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Different Cell Types

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) have the extraordinary properties to indefinitely proliferate and self-renew in culture to produce different cell progeny through differentiation. This latter process recapitulates embryonic development and requires rounds of the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). EMT is characterized by the loss of the epithelial features and the acquisition of the typical phenotype of the mesenchymal cells. In pathological conditions, EMT can confer stemness or stem-like phenotypes, playing a role in the tumorigenic process. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) represent a subpopulation, found in the tumor tissues, with stem-like properties such as uncontrolled proliferation, self-renewal, and ability to differentiate into different cell types. ESCs and CSCs share numerous features (pluripotency, self-renewal, expression of stemness genes, and acquisition of epithelial–mesenchymal features), and most of them are under the control of microRNAs (miRNAs). These small molecules have relevant roles during both embryogenesis and cancer development. The aim of this review was to recapitulate molecular mechanisms shared by ESCs and CSCs, with a special focus on the recently identified classes of microRNAs (noncanonical miRNAs, mirtrons, isomiRs, and competitive endogenous miRNAs) and their complex functions during embryogenesis and cancer development.

scholarly journals Filopodyan: An open-source pipeline for the analysis of filopodia

2017 ◽  
Vol 216 (10) ◽  
pp. 3405-3422 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vasja Urbančič ◽  
Richard Butler ◽  
Benjamin Richier ◽  
Manuel Peter ◽  
Julia Mason ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Dynamic Properties ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Molecular Heterogeneity ◽  
Interactive Editing ◽  
Motile Cells ◽  
Different Cell Types ◽  
Neuronal Growth Cones

Filopodia have important sensory and mechanical roles in motile cells. The recruitment of actin regulators, such as ENA/VASP proteins, to sites of protrusion underlies diverse molecular mechanisms of filopodia formation and extension. We developed Filopodyan (filopodia dynamics analysis) in Fiji and R to measure fluorescence in filopodia and at their tips and bases concurrently with their morphological and dynamic properties. Filopodyan supports high-throughput phenotype characterization as well as detailed interactive editing of filopodia reconstructions through an intuitive graphical user interface. Our highly customizable pipeline is widely applicable, capable of detecting filopodia in four different cell types in vitro and in vivo. We use Filopodyan to quantify the recruitment of ENA and VASP preceding filopodia formation in neuronal growth cones, and uncover a molecular heterogeneity whereby different filopodia display markedly different responses to changes in the accumulation of ENA and VASP fluorescence in their tips over time.

scholarly journals Systems Biology and Kidney Disease

2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (5) ◽  
pp. 695-703 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jennifer A. Schaub ◽  
Habib Hamidi ◽  
Lalita Subramanian ◽  
Matthias Kretzler
Keyword(s):  
Systems Biology ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Kidney Diseases ◽  
Clinical Care ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Current State ◽  
Health And Disease ◽  
National Databases ◽  
Different Cell Types

The kidney is a complex organ responsible for maintaining multiple aspects of homeostasis in the human body. The combination of distinct, yet interrelated, molecular functions across different cell types make the delineation of factors associated with loss or decline in kidney function challenging. Consequently, there has been a paucity of new diagnostic markers and treatment options becoming available to clinicians and patients in managing kidney diseases. A systems biology approach to understanding the kidney leverages recent advances in computational technology and methods to integrate diverse sets of data. It has the potential to unravel the interplay of multiple genes, proteins, and molecular mechanisms that drive key functions in kidney health and disease. The emergence of large, detailed, multilevel biologic and clinical data from national databases, cohort studies, and trials now provide the critical pieces needed for meaningful application of systems biology approaches in nephrology. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of the current state in the evolution of the field. Recent successes of systems biology to identify targeted therapies linked to mechanistic biomarkers in the kidney are described to emphasize the relevance to clinical care and the outlook for improving outcomes for patients with kidney diseases.

scholarly journals Single-cell RNA-Seq Reveals Transcriptional Landscape and Intra-tumor Heterogenicity in Gallbladder Cancer Liver Metastasis Microenvironment

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenhua You ◽  
Xiangyu Li ◽  
Peng Wang ◽  
Bowen Sha ◽  
Yuan Liang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cells ◽  
Liver Metastasis ◽  
Gallbladder Cancer ◽  
Single Cell ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Malignant Cells ◽  
Different Cell Types ◽  
High Degree

Abstract Background: Gallbladder cancer (GBC) is a highly aggressive biliary epithelial malignancy. Tumor invasion and metastasis contributed to the high mortality of GBC patients. However, molecular mechanisms involved in GBC metastases are still little known. Methods: We performed single-cell RNA sequencing on GBC liver metastasis tissue and analyzed the data based on different cell types.Results: In this study, 8 cell types, including T cells, B cells, malignant cells, fibroblasts, endothelial cells, macrophages, dendritic cells, and mast cells were identified. Malignant cells displayed a high degree of intra-tumor heterogenicity and neutrophils could promote GBC progression in vitro. Besides, cytotoxic CD8+ T cells became exhausted and CD4+ Tregs presented immunosuppressive characteristics. Macrophages played an important role in the tumor microenvironment. We identified three distinct macrophage subsets and emerged M2 polarization. We also found that cancer-associated fibroblasts exhibited heterogeneity and promoted GBC metastasis. Conclusions: In conclusion, our work provided a landscape view at the single-cell level and may clear the way for the therapy of GBC metastases.

scholarly journals Cellular and molecular mechanisms that regulate mammalian digit tip regeneration

Open Biology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 200194
Author(s):  
Mekayla A. Storer ◽  
Freda D. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Tissue Regeneration ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Cell Mass ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Original Structure ◽  
Mammalian Tissue ◽  
Blastema Formation ◽  
Different Cell Types ◽  
Proliferating Cell ◽  
Adult Mammal

Digit tip regeneration is one of the few examples of true multi-tissue regeneration in an adult mammal. The key step in this process is the formation of the blastema, a transient proliferating cell mass that generates the different cell types of the digit to replicate the original structure. Failure to form the blastema results in a lack of regeneration and has been postulated to be the reason why mammalian limbs cannot regrow following amputation. Understanding how the blastema forms and functions will help us to determine what is required for mammalian regeneration to occur and will provide insights into potential therapies for mammalian tissue regeneration and repair. This review summarizes the cellular and molecular mechanisms that influence murine blastema formation and govern digit tip regeneration.

scholarly journals Gene Expression Profiling of NFATc1-Knockdown in RAW 264.7 Cells: An Alternative Pathway for Macrophage Differentiation

Cells ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberta Russo ◽  
Selene Mallia ◽  
Francesca Zito ◽  
Nadia Lampiasi
Keyword(s):  
Cell Differentiation ◽  
Expression Profiling ◽  
Development Process ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Alternative Pathway ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Raw 264.7 Cells ◽  
Raw 264.7 ◽  
Transcriptional Program ◽  
Macrophage Differentiation

NFATc1, which is ubiquitous in many cell types, is the master regulator of osteoclastogenesis. However, the molecular mechanisms by which NFATc1 drives its transcriptional program to produce osteoclasts from macrophages (M) remains poorly understood. We performed quantitative PCR (QPCR) arrays and bioinformatic analyses to discover new direct and indirect NFATc1 targets. The results revealed that NFATc1 significantly modified the expression of 55 genes in untransfected cells and 31 genes after NFATc1-knockdown (≥2). Among them, we focused on 19 common genes that showed changes in the PCR arrays between the two groups of cells. Gene Ontology (GO) demonstrated that genes related to cell differentiation and the development process were significantly (p > 0.05) affected by NFATc1-knockdown. Among all the genes analyzed, we focused on GATA2, which was up-regulated in NFATc1-knockdown cells, while its expression was reduced after NFATc1 rescue. Thus, we suggest GATA2 as a new target of NFATc1. Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA) identified up-regulated GATA2 and the STAT family members as principal nodes involved in cell differentiation. Mechanistically, we demonstrated that STAT6 was activated in parallel with GATA2 in NFATc1-knockdown cells. We suggest an alternative pathway for macrophage differentiation in the absence of NFATc1 due to the GATA2 transcription factor.

scholarly journals Cell biology of fat storage

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (16) ◽  
pp. 2523-2527 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Cohen ◽  
Bruce M. Spiegelman
Keyword(s):  
Immune Cells ◽  
Cell Biology ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Fat Cells ◽  
Obesity And Diabetes ◽  
Beige Adipocytes ◽  
Therapeutic Development ◽  
White Fat

The worldwide epidemic of obesity and type 2 diabetes has greatly increased interest in the biology and physiology of adipose tissues. Adipose (fat) cells are specialized for the storage of energy in the form of triglycerides, but research in the last few decades has shown that fat cells also play a critical role in sensing and responding to changes in systemic energy balance. White fat cells secrete important hormone-like molecules such as leptin, adiponectin, and adipsin to influence processes such as food intake, insulin sensitivity, and insulin secretion. Brown fat, on the other hand, dissipates chemical energy in the form of heat, thereby defending against hypothermia, obesity, and diabetes. It is now appreciated that there are two distinct types of thermogenic fat cells, termed brown and beige adipocytes. In addition to these distinct properties of fat cells, adipocytes exist within adipose tissue, where they are in dynamic communication with immune cells and closely influenced by innervation and blood supply. This review is intended to serve as an introduction to adipose cell biology and to familiarize the reader with how these cell types play a role in metabolic disease and, perhaps, as targets for therapeutic development.

scholarly journals Differing molecular mechanisms appear to underlie early toxicity of prefibrillar HypF-N aggregates to different cell types

FEBS Journal ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 273 (10) ◽  
pp. 2206-2222 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cristina Cecchi ◽  
Anna Pensalfini ◽  
Serena Baglioni ◽  
Claudia Fiorillo ◽  
Roberto Caporale ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Different Cell Types ◽  
Early Toxicity

Wound healing and local neuroendocrine regulation in the injured liver

2008 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad R. Ebrahimkhani ◽  
Ahmed M. Elsharkawy ◽  
Derek A. Mann
Keyword(s):  
Wound Healing ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Neuroendocrine System ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Antifibrotic Therapy ◽  
Complex Process ◽  
Wound Healing Response ◽  
Fibrotic Scar ◽  
Different Cell Types

The hepatic wound-healing response is a complex process involving many different cell types and factors. It leads to the formation of excessive matrix and a fibrotic scar, which ultimately disrupts proper functioning of the liver and establishes cirrhosis. Activated hepatic myofibroblasts, which are derived from cells such as hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), play a key role in this process. Upon chronic liver injury, there is an upregulation in the local neuroendocrine system and it has recently been demonstrated that activated HSCs express specific receptors and respond to different components of this system. Neuroendocrine factors and their receptors participate in a complex network that modulates liver inflammation and wound healing, and controls the development and progression of liver fibrosis. The first part of this review provides an overview of the molecular mechanisms governing hepatic wound healing. In the second section, we explore important components of the hepatic neuroendocrine system and their recently highlighted roles in HSC biology and hepatic fibrogenesis. We discuss the therapeutic interventions that are being developed for use in antifibrotic therapy.

scholarly journals Modelling molecular mechanisms of breast cancer and invasion: lessons from the normal gland

2007 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 18-22 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.J. Bissell
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Cell Culture ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Genes And Environment ◽  
Different Cell Types ◽  
Cancerous Cells ◽  
Cancer Studies ◽  
Dimensional Cell

The interplay between genes and environment is complex, particularly when it comes to cancer. Studies on breast cancer cells have shown that environmental influences dominate over genotype in their effect on phenotype, and can cause cancerous cells to revert to a non-malignant phenotype, while remaining genotypically malignant. Using breast tissue in three-dimensional cell culture has proved a better model than traditional two-dimensional cell culture in that different cell types can be seen to behave differently to the same pro­-apoptotic signal, with normal cells surviving.

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