The Phloem Intercalated With Xylem-Correlated 3 Receptor-Like Kinase Constitutively Interacts With Brassinosteroid Insensitive 1-Associated Receptor Kinase 1 and Is Involved in Vascular Development in Arabidopsis

Leucine-rich repeat receptor-like kinases (LRR-RLKs) play fundamental roles in cell-to-cell and plant-environment communication. LRR-RLKs can function as receptors perceiving endogenous or external ligands, or as coreceptors, which stabilize the complex, and enhance transduction of the intracellular signal. The LRR-RLK BAK1 is a coreceptor for different developmental and immunity pathways. In this article, we identified PXY-CORRELATED 3 (PXC3) as a BAK1-interacting LRR-RLK, which was previously reported to be transcribed in vascular tissues co-expressed with PHLOEM INTERCALATED WITH XYLEM (PXY), the receptor of the TDIF/CLE41 peptide. Characterization of pxc3 loss-of-function mutants revealed reduced hypocotyl stele width and vascular cells compared to wild type, indicating that PXC3 plays a role in the vascular development in Arabidopsis. Furthermore, our data suggest that PXC3 might function as a positive regulator of the CLE41/TDIF–TDR/PXY signaling pathway.

Dynamics of the Actin Cytoskeleton at Adhesion Complexes

The shape of cells is altered to allow cells to adapt to their changing environments, including responding to internally generated and externally applied force. Force is sensed by cell surface adhesion proteins that are enriched in sites where cells bind to the extracellular matrix (focal adhesions) and neighboring cells (cell–cell or adherens junctions). Receptors at these adhesion sites stimulate intracellular signal transduction cascades that culminate in dramatic changes in the actin cytoskeleton. New actin filaments form, and/or new and existing filaments can be cleaved, branched, or bundled. Here, we discuss the actin cytoskeleton and its functions. We will examine the current understanding for how the actin cytoskeleton is tethered to adhesion sites. Finally, we will highlight recent studies describing how the actin cytoskeleton at these adhesion sites is remodeled in response to force.

Endocrine Disruption of the Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Receptor Signaling During the Human Antral Follicle Growth

An increasing number of pollutants with endocrine disrupting potential are accumulating in the environment, increasing the exposure risk for humans. Several of them are known or suspected to interfere with endocrine signals, impairing reproductive functions. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is a glycoprotein playing an essential role in supporting antral follicle maturation and may be a target of disrupting chemicals (EDs) likely impacting female fertility. EDs may interfere with FSH-mediated signals at different levels, since they may modulate the mRNA or protein levels of both the hormone and its receptor (FSHR), perturb the functioning of partner membrane molecules, modify intracellular signal transduction pathways and gene expression. In vitro studies and animal models provided results helpful to understand ED modes of action and suggest that they could effectively play a role as molecules interfering with the female reproductive system. However, most of these data are potentially subjected to experimental limitations and need to be confirmed by long-term observations in human.

An Exploration of Non-Coding RNAs in Extracellular Vesicles Delivered by Swine Anterior Pituitary

Extracellular vesicles are lipid bilayer-delimited particles carrying proteins, lipids, and small RNAs. Previous studies have demonstrated that they had regulatory functions both physiologically and pathologically. However, information remains inadequate on extracellular vesicles from the anterior pituitary, a key endocrine organ in animals and humans. In this study, we separated and identified extracellular vesicles from the anterior pituitary of the Duroc swine model. Total RNA was extracted and RNA-seq was performed, followed by a comprehensive analysis of miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs. Resultantly, we obtained 416 miRNAs, 16,232 lncRNAs, and 495 circRNAs. Furthermore, GO and KEGG enrichment analysis showed that the ncRNAs in extracellular vesicles may participate in regulating intracellular signal transduction, cellular component organization or biogenesis, small molecule binding, and transferase activity. The cross-talk between them also suggested that they may play an important role in the signaling process and biological regulation. This is the first report of ncRNA data in the anterior pituitary extracellular vesicles from the duroc swine breed, which is a fundamental resource for exploring detailed functions of extracellular vesicles from the anterior pituitary.

The p53 Protein Family in the Response of Tumor Cells to Ionizing Radiation: Problem Development

Survival mechanisms are activated in tumor cells in response to therapeutic ionizing radiation. This reduces a treatments effectiveness. The p53, p63, and p73 proteins belonging to the family of proteins that regulate the numerous pathways of intracellular signal transduction play a key role in the development of radioresistance. This review analyzes the p53-dependent and p53-independent mechanisms involved in overcoming the resistance of tumor cells to radiation exposure.

What Do We Know about Classical and Non-Classical Progesterone Receptors in the Human Female Reproductive Tract? A Review

The progesterone hormone regulates the human menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and parturition by its action via the different progesterone receptors and signaling pathways in the female reproductive tract. Progesterone actions can be exerted through classical and non-classical receptors, or even a combination of both. The former are nuclear receptors whose activation leads to transcriptional activity regulation and thus in turn leads to slower but long-lasting responses. The latter are composed of progesterone receptors membrane components (PGRMC) and membrane progestin receptors (mPRs). These receptors rapidly activate the appropriate intracellular signal transduction pathways, and they can subsequently initiate specific cell responses or even modulate genomic cell responses. This review covers our current knowledge on the mechanisms of action and the relevance of classical and non-classical progesterone receptors in female reproductive tissues ranging from the ovary and uterus to the cervix, and it exposes their crucial role in female infertility.

Beta3-Adrenergic Receptor (β3-AR) Modulation Prior to and / or at the end of Sustained Ischaemia and / or Early Reperfusion May Prove to be a Valuable Cardioprotective Strategy

β3-AR activation contributes partly or may be solely responsible for ensuing cardiac damage in myocardial ischaemia or heart failure. This would largely depend on disease stage, severity, experimental model as well as drug specificities which should be considered when investigating β3-AR pharmacology for potential therapeutic applications. These conceptions largely contribute to the discrepancies of the subsequent role of β3-AR activation in the cardiovascular disease process. The β3-AR delivers a sustained intracellular signal because of its resistance to short term agonist promoted desensitization, making this receptor an ideal target for therapeutic intervention and in this manner protecting the heart from catecholamine overstimulation. The current communication highlights the importance of the cumulative effect of BRL (PerT) treatment, at the end stage of ischaemia as well as BRL (PostT) treatment, at the onset of reperfusion. This undoubtedly illustrate the significance of the end stage of ischaemia as well as the onset of reperfusion in the concept of ischaemia- reperfusion damage and the importance of the application of cardioprotective interventions at these time periods. Subsequently, if cardioprotective regimens are initiated during the late phase of ischaemia and continued into early reperfusion, it is likely that they will enhance protection, especially with longer durations of ischaemia.

Bioengineering of Extracellular Vesicles: Exosome-Based Next-Generation Therapeutic Strategy in Cancer

Extracellular nano vesicles and exosomes hold compelling evidence in intercellular communication. Exosomal intracellular signal transduction is mediated by the transfer of cargo proteins, lipids, micro (mi)RNAs, long noncoding (lnc)RNAs, small interfering (si)RNAs, DNA, and other functional molecules that play a pivotal role in regulating tumor growth and metastasis. However, emerging research trends indicate that exosomes may be used as a promising tool in anticancer treatment. This review features a majority of the bioengineering applications of fabricated exosomal cargoes. It also encompasses how the manipulation and delivery of specific cargoes—noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs), recombinant proteins, immune-modulators, chemotherapeutic drugs, and other small molecules—may serve as a precise therapeutic approach in cancer management.

Correlation Between SMADs and Colorectal Cancer Expression, Prognosis, and Immune Infiltrates

Background: In current years, the incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer (CRC) are increasing, and the 5-year survival rate of advanced metastatic CRC is poor. The Small mothers against decapentaplegic (SMAD) superfamily is an intracellular signal transduction protein associated with the development and prognosis of a variety of tumors. At present, no study has systematically analyzed the relationship between SMADs and CRC.Methods: Here, R3.6.3 was used to analyze the expression of SMADs in pan-cancer and CRC. Protein expression of SMADs were analyzed by HPA. GEPIA was used to evaluate the correlation between SMADs and tumor stage in CRC. The effect of R language and GEPIA on prognosis was analyzed. Mutation rates of SMADs in CRC were determined by c-BioPortal and potentially related genes were predicted using GeneMANIA. R analysis was used for correlation with immune cell infiltration in CRC.Results: Both SMAD1 and SMAD2 were found to be weak expression in CRC and correlated with immune invasion level. SMAD1 was correlated with patient prognosis, and SMAD2 was correlated with tumor stage. SMAD3, SMAD4 and SMAD7 were all low expressed in CRC and associated with a variety of immune cells. SMAD3 and SMAD4 proteins were also low expressed, and SMAD4 had the highest mutation rate. SMAD5 and SMAD6 were overexpressed in CRC, and SMAD6 was also associated with patient OS and CD8+ T cells, macrophages and neutrophils. Conclusions: Our results reveal innovative and strong evidence that SMADs can be used as biomarkers for the treatment and prognosis of CRC.