scholarly journals HTLV Tax: A Fascinating Multifunctional Co-Regulator of Viral and Cellular Pathways

2012 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Currer ◽  
Rachel Van Duyne ◽  
Elizabeth Jaworski ◽  
Irene Guendel ◽  
Gavin Sampey ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Author(s):  
Robert P. Apkarian

A multitude of complex ultrastructural features are involved in endothelial cell (EC) gating and sorting of lipid through capillaries and into steroidogenic cells of the adrenal cortex. Correlative microscopy is necessary to distinguish the structural identity of features involved in specific cellular pathways. In addition to diaphragmed fenestrae that frequently appear in clusters, other 60-80 nm openings; plasmalemma vesicles (PV), channels and pockets fitted with diaphragms of the same dimension, coexist on the thin EC surface. Non-diaphragmed coated pits (CP) (100-120 nm) involved in receptor mediated endocytosis were also present on the EC membrane. The present study employed HRSEM of cryofractured and chromium coated specimens and low voltage HRSTEM of 80 nm thick LX-112 embedded sections stained with 2.0% uranyl acetate. Both preparations were imaged at 25 kV with a Topcon DS-130 FESEM equipped with in-lens stage and STEM detector.HRSEM images of the capillary lumen coated with a lnm continuous fine grain Cr film, provided the ability to scan many openings and resolve (SE-I contrast) the fine structure of diaphragm spokes and central densities (Fig. 1).


2013 ◽  
Vol 55 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura E. Gallagher ◽  
Edmond Y.W. Chan

Autophagy is a conserved cellular degradative process important for cellular homoeostasis and survival. An early committal step during the initiation of autophagy requires the actions of a protein kinase called ATG1 (autophagy gene 1). In mammalian cells, ATG1 is represented by ULK1 (uncoordinated-51-like kinase 1), which relies on its essential regulatory cofactors mATG13, FIP200 (focal adhesion kinase family-interacting protein 200 kDa) and ATG101. Much evidence indicates that mTORC1 [mechanistic (also known as mammalian) target of rapamycin complex 1] signals downstream to the ULK1 complex to negatively regulate autophagy. In this chapter, we discuss our understanding on how the mTORC1–ULK1 signalling axis drives the initial steps of autophagy induction. We conclude with a summary of our growing appreciation of the additional cellular pathways that interconnect with the core mTORC1–ULK1 signalling module.


2011 ◽  
Vol 44 (06) ◽  
Author(s):  
NC Gassen ◽  
Y Han ◽  
G Wochnik ◽  
F Holsboer ◽  
T Rein

2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mallory I. Frederick ◽  
Ilka U. Heinemann

AbstractRNA homeostasis is regulated by a multitude of cellular pathways. Although the addition of untemplated adenine residues to the 3′ end of mRNAs has long been known to affect RNA stability, newly developed techniques for 3′-end sequencing of RNAs have revealed various unexpected RNA modifications. Among these, uridylation is most recognized for its role in mRNA decay but is also a key regulator of numerous RNA species, including miRNAs and tRNAs, with dual roles in both stability and maturation of miRNAs. Additionally, low levels of untemplated guanidine and cytidine residues have been observed as parts of more complex tailing patterns.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 1583
Author(s):  
Sara Pescatori ◽  
Francesco Berardinelli ◽  
Jacopo Albanesi ◽  
Paolo Ascenzi ◽  
Maria Marino ◽  
...  

17β-estradiol (E2) regulates human physiology both in females and in males. At the same time, E2 acts as a genotoxic substance as it could induce DNA damages, causing the initiation of cellular transformation. Indeed, increased E2 plasma levels are a risk factor for the development of several types of cancers including breast cancer. This paradoxical identity of E2 undermines the foundations of the physiological definition of “hormone” as E2 works both as a homeostatic regulator of body functions and as a genotoxic compound. Here, (i) the molecular circuitries underlying this double face of E2 are reviewed, and (ii) a possible framework to reconcile the intrinsic discrepancies of the E2 function is reported. Indeed, E2 is a regulator of the DNA damage response, which this hormone exploits to calibrate its genotoxicity with its physiological effects. Accordingly, the genes required to maintain genome integrity belong to the E2-controlled cellular signaling network and are essential for the appearance of the E2-induced cellular effects. This concept requires an “upgrade” to the vision of E2 as a “genotoxic hormone”, which balances physiological and detrimental pathways to guarantee human body homeostasis. Deregulation of this equilibrium between cellular pathways would determine the E2 pathological effects.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 312-341
Author(s):  
Maria Neus Ballester Roig ◽  
Tanya Leduc ◽  
Cassandra C. Areal ◽  
Valérie Mongrain

Uncaria rhynchophylla is a plant highly used in the traditional Chinese and Japanese medicines. It has numerous health benefits, which are often attributed to its alkaloid components. Recent studies in humans show that drugs containing Uncaria ameliorate sleep quality and increase sleep time, both in physiological and pathological conditions. Rhynchophylline (Rhy) is one of the principal alkaloids in Uncaria species. Although treatment with Rhy alone has not been tested in humans, observations in rodents show that Rhy increases sleep time. However, the mechanisms by which Rhy could modulate sleep have not been comprehensively described. In this review, we are highlighting cellular pathways that are shown to be targeted by Rhy and which are also known for their implications in the regulation of wakefulness and sleep. We conclude that Rhy can impact sleep through mechanisms involving ion channels, N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, tyrosine kinase receptors, extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK)/mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/RAC serine/threonine-protein kinase (AKT), and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathways. In modulating multiple cellular responses, Rhy impacts neuronal communication in a way that could have substantial effects on sleep phenotypes. Thus, understanding the mechanisms of action of Rhy will have implications for sleep pharmacology.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Won Jin Ho ◽  
Rossin Erbe ◽  
Ludmila Danilova ◽  
Zaw Phyo ◽  
Emma Bigelow ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The majority of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC) are diagnosed at the metastatic stage, and standard therapies have limited activity with a dismal 5-year survival rate of only 8%. The liver and lung are the most common sites of PDAC metastasis, and each have been differentially associated with prognoses and responses to systemic therapies. A deeper understanding of the molecular and cellular landscape within the tumor microenvironment (TME) metastasis at these different sites is critical to informing future therapeutic strategies against metastatic PDAC. Results By leveraging combined mass cytometry, immunohistochemistry, and RNA sequencing, we identify key regulatory pathways that distinguish the liver and lung TMEs in a preclinical mouse model of metastatic PDAC. We demonstrate that the lung TME generally exhibits higher levels of immune infiltration, immune activation, and pro-immune signaling pathways, whereas multiple immune-suppressive pathways are emphasized in the liver TME. We then perform further validation of these preclinical findings in paired human lung and liver metastatic samples using immunohistochemistry from PDAC rapid autopsy specimens. Finally, in silico validation with transfer learning between our mouse model and TCGA datasets further demonstrates that many of the site-associated features are detectable even in the context of different primary tumors. Conclusions Determining the distinctive immune-suppressive features in multiple liver and lung TME datasets provides further insight into the tissue specificity of molecular and cellular pathways, suggesting a potential mechanism underlying the discordant clinical responses that are often observed in metastatic diseases.


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