scholarly journals Insights into the Regulation of Ciliary Disassembly

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 2977
Author(s):  
Maulin M. Patel ◽  
Leonidas Tsiokas
Keyword(s):  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Dynamic Balance ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Bardet Biedl Syndrome ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Skeletal Malformations ◽  
Signaling Center ◽  
Autosomal Dominant Polycystic Kidney ◽  
Key Steps ◽  
Molecular Signals

The primary cilium, an antenna-like structure that protrudes out from the cell surface, is present in most cell types. It is a microtubule-based organelle that serves as a mega-signaling center and is important for sensing biochemical and mechanical signals to carry out various cellular processes such as proliferation, migration, differentiation, and many others. At any given time, cilia length is determined by a dynamic balance of cilia assembly and disassembly processes. Abnormally short or long cilia can cause a plethora of human diseases commonly referred to as ciliopathies, including, but not limited to, skeletal malformations, obesity, autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, retinal degeneration, and bardet-biedl syndrome. While the process of cilia assembly is studied extensively, the process of cilia disassembly and its biological role(s) are less well understood. This review discusses current knowledge on ciliary disassembly and how different cellular processes and molecular signals converge to carry out this process. This information will help us understand how the process of ciliary disassembly is regulated, identify the key steps that need further investigation, and possibly design therapeutic targets for a subset of ciliopathies that are causally linked to defective ciliary disassembly.

scholarly journals Recent Advances in Extracellular Vesicles as Drug Delivery Systems and Their Potential in Precision Medicine

Pharmaceutics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 1006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bart de Jong ◽  
Eric Raul Barros ◽  
Joost G. J. Hoenderop ◽  
Juan Pablo Rigalli
Keyword(s):  
Drug Delivery ◽  
Extracellular Vesicles ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Treatment Options ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Administration Routes ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Key Steps

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are membrane-bilayered nanoparticles released by most cell types. Recently, an enormous number of studies have been published on the potential of EVs as carriers of therapeutic agents. In contrast to systems such as liposomes, EVs exhibit less immunogenicity and higher engineering potential. Here, we review the most relevant publications addressing the potential and use of EVs as a drug delivery system (DDS). The information is divided based on the key steps for designing an EV-mediated delivery strategy. We discuss possible sources and isolation methods of EVs. We address the administration routes that have been tested in vivo and the tissue distribution observed. We describe the current knowledge on EV clearance, a significant challenge towards enhancing bioavailability. Also, EV-engineering approaches are described as alternatives to improve tissue and cell-specificity. Finally, a summary of the ongoing clinical trials is performed. Although the application of EVs in the clinical practice is still at an early stage, a high number of studies in animals support their potential as DDS. Thus, better treatment options could be designed to precisely increase target specificity and therapeutic efficacy while reducing off-target effects and toxicity according to the individual requirements of each patient.

Septins in the glial cells of the nervous system

2014 ◽  
Vol 395 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia Patzig ◽  
Michelle S. Dworschak ◽  
Ann-Kristin Martens ◽  
Hauke B. Werner
Keyword(s):  
Nervous System ◽  
Schwann Cells ◽  
Glial Cells ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Higher Order ◽  
Neuralgic Amyotrophy ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Functional Relevance ◽  
Order Structures

Abstract The capacity of cytoskeletal septins to mediate diverse cellular processes is related to their ability to assemble as distinct heterooligomers and higher order structures. However, in many cell types the functional relevance of septins is not well understood. This minireview provides a brief overview of our current knowledge about septins in the non-neuronal cells of the vertebrate nervous system, collectively termed ‘glial cells’, i.e., astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocytes, and Schwann cells. The dysregulation of septins observed in various models of myelin pathology is discussed with respect to implications for hereditary neuralgic amyotrophy (HNA) caused by mutations of the human SEPT9-gene.

Craniofacial, orofacial and dental disorders: the role of the RAS/ERK pathway

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angeliki Vogiatzi ◽  
George Mavrothalassitis
Keyword(s):  
Animal Studies ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Human Head ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Erk Pathway ◽  
Head Development ◽  
Intracellular Signalling Pathways ◽  
Extracellular Signal ◽  
Specific Disorders ◽  
Key Steps

Deviations from the precisely coordinated programme of human head development can lead to craniofacial and orofacial malformations often including a variety of dental abnormalities too. Although the aetiology is still unknown in many cases, during the last decades different intracellular signalling pathways have been genetically linked to specific disorders. Among these pathways, the RAS/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signalling cascade is the focus of this review since it encompasses a large group of genes that when mutated cause some of the most common and severe developmental anomalies in humans. We present the components of the RAS/ERK pathway implicated in craniofacial and orodental disorders through a series of human and animal studies. We attempt to unravel the specific molecular targets downstream of ERK that act on particular cell types and regulate key steps in the associated developmental processes. Finally we point to ambiguities in our current knowledge that need to be clarified before RAS/ERK-targeting therapeutic approaches can be implemented.

scholarly journals Role of Septins in Endothelial Cells and Platelets

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Katharina Neubauer ◽  
Barbara Zieger
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Higher Plants ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Expression Patterns ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Cell Junctions ◽  
Specific Expression ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Almost All

Septins are conserved cytoskeletal GTP-binding proteins identified in almost all eukaryotes except higher plants. Mammalian septins comprise 13 family members with either ubiquitous or organ- and tissue-specific expression patterns. They form filamentous oligomers and complexes with other proteins to serve as diffusions barrier and/or multi-molecular scaffolds to function in a physiologically regulated manner. Diverse septins are highly expressed in endothelial cells and platelets, which play an important role in hemostasis, a process to prevent blood loss after vascular injury. Endothelial septins are involved in cellular processes such as exocytosis and in processes concerning organismal level, like angiogenesis. Septins are additionally found in endothelial cell-cell junctions where their presence is required to maintain the integrity of the barrier function of vascular endothelial monolayers. In platelets, septins are important for activation, degranulation, adhesion, and aggregation. They have been identified as mediators of distinct platelet functions and being essential in primary and secondary hemostatic processes. Septin-knockout mouse studies show the relevance of septins in several aspects of hemostasis. This is in line with reports that dysregulation of septins is clinically relevant in human bleeding disorders. The precise function of septins in the biology of endothelial cells and platelets remains poorly understood. The following mini-review highlights the current knowledge about the role of septin cytoskeleton in regulating critical functions in these two cell types.

scholarly journals The Diversity of Intermediate Filaments in Astrocytes

Cells ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 1604 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maja Potokar ◽  
Mitsuhiro Morita ◽  
Gerhard Wiche ◽  
Jernej Jorgačevski
Keyword(s):  
Intermediate Filaments ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Multiple Roles ◽  
Cellular Structures ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Different Types ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Neuronal Functions ◽  
The Brain

Despite the remarkable complexity of the individual neuron and of neuronal circuits, it has been clear for quite a while that, in order to understand the functioning of the brain, the contribution of other cell types in the brain have to be accounted for. Among glial cells, astrocytes have multiple roles in orchestrating neuronal functions. Their communication with neurons by exchanging signaling molecules and removing molecules from extracellular space takes place at several levels and is governed by different cellular processes, supported by multiple cellular structures, including the cytoskeleton. Intermediate filaments in astrocytes are emerging as important integrators of cellular processes. Astrocytes express five types of intermediate filaments: glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP); vimentin; nestin; synemin; lamins. Variability, interactions with different cellular structures and the particular roles of individual intermediate filaments in astrocytes have been studied extensively in the case of GFAP and vimentin, but far less attention has been given to nestin, synemin and lamins. Similarly, the interplay between different types of cytoskeleton and the interaction between the cytoskeleton and membranous structures, which is mediated by cytolinker proteins, are understudied in astrocytes. The present review summarizes the basic properties of astrocytic intermediate filaments and of other cytoskeletal macromolecules, such as cytolinker proteins, and describes the current knowledge of their roles in normal physiological and pathological conditions.

scholarly journals Deubiquitinase MYSM1 in the Hematopoietic System and beyond: A Current Review

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (8) ◽  
pp. 3007 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amanda Fiore ◽  
Yue Liang ◽  
Yun Hsiao Lin ◽  
Jacky Tung ◽  
HanChen Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Signal Transduction ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Cell Function ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Histone H2a ◽  
Hematopoietic Stem ◽  
Developmental Abnormalities ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Different Cell Types

MYSM1 has emerged as an important regulator of hematopoietic stem cell function, blood cell production, immune response, and other aspects of mammalian physiology. It is a metalloprotease family protein with deubiquitinase catalytic activity, as well as SANT and SWIRM domains. MYSM1 normally localizes to the nucleus, where it can interact with chromatin and regulate gene expression, through deubiquitination of histone H2A and non-catalytic contacts with other transcriptional regulators. A cytosolic form of MYSM1 protein was also recently described and demonstrated to regulate signal transduction pathways of innate immunity, by promoting the deubiquitination of TRAF3, TRAF6, and RIP2. In this work we review the current knowledge on the molecular mechanisms of action of MYSM1 protein in transcriptional regulation, signal transduction, and potentially other cellular processes. The functions of MYSM1 in different cell types and aspects of mammalian physiology are also reviewed, highlighting the key checkpoints in hematopoiesis, immunity, and beyond regulated by MYSM1. Importantly, mutations in MYSM1 in human were recently linked to a rare hereditary disorder characterized by leukopenia, anemia, and other hematopoietic and developmental abnormalities. Our growing knowledge of MYSM1 functions and mechanisms of actions sheds important insights into its role in mammalian physiology and the etiology of the MYSM1-deficiency disorder in human.

scholarly journals The Mechanisms of CHD8 in Neurodevelopment and Autism Spectrum Disorders

Genes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 1133
Author(s):  
Orly Weissberg ◽  
Evan Elliott
Keyword(s):  
Neuronal Development ◽  
Mutant Mouse ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Transcriptional Regulator ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Dna Binding Protein ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Spectrum Disorders

Chromodomain-helicase-DNA-binding protein 8 (CHD8) has been identified as one of the genes with the strongest association with autism. The CHD8 protein is a transcriptional regulator that is expressed in nearly all cell types and has been implicated in multiple cellular processes, including cell cycle, cell adhesion, neuronal development, myelination, and synaptogenesis. Considering the central role of CHD8 in the genetics of autism, a deeper understanding of the physiological functions of CHD8 is important to understand the development of the autism phenotype and potential therapeutic targets. Different CHD8 mutant mouse models were developed to determine autism-like phenotypes and to fully understand their mechanisms. Here, we review the current knowledge on CHD8, with an emphasis on mechanistic lessons gained from animal models that have been studied.

scholarly journals Roles and action mechanisms of WNT4 in cell differentiation and human diseases: a review

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Quanlong Zhang ◽  
Yan Pan ◽  
Jingjing Ji ◽  
Yuxin Xu ◽  
Qiaoyan Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Differentiation ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Human Diseases ◽  
Signal Pathways ◽  
Decidual Cell ◽  
Bone Homeostasis ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Development And Differentiation ◽  
And Function

AbstractWNT family member 4 (WNT4), which belongs to the conserved WNT protein family, plays an important role in the development and differentiation of many cell types during the embryonic development and adult homeostasis. Increasing evidence has shown that WNT4 is a special ligand that not only activates the β-catenin independent pathway but also acts on β-catenin signaling based on different cellular processes. This article is a summary of the current knowledge about the expression, regulation, and function of WNT4 ligands and their signal pathways in cell differentiation and human disease processes. WNT4 is a promoter in osteogenic differentiation in bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) by participating in bone homeostasis regulation in osteoporotic diseases. Non-canonical WNT4 signaling is necessary for metabolic maturation of pancreatic β-cell. WNT4 is also necessary for decidual cell differentiation and decidualization, which plays an important role in preeclampsia. WNT4 promotes neuronal differentiation of neural stem cell and dendritic cell (DC) into conventional type 1 DC (cDC1). Besides, WNT4 mediates myofibroblast differentiation in the skin, kidney, lung, and liver during scarring or fibrosis. On the negative side, WNT4 is highly expressed in cancer tissues, playing a pro-carcinogenic role in many cancer types. This review provides an overview of the progress in elucidating the role of WNT4 signaling pathway components in cell differentiation in adults, which may provide useful clues for the diagnosis, prevention, and therapy of human diseases.

scholarly journals Mitochondrial Glucocorticoid Receptors and Their Actions

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (11) ◽  
pp. 6054
Author(s):  
Ioanna Kokkinopoulou ◽  
Paraskevi Moutsatsou
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Glucocorticoid Receptors ◽  
Mitochondrial Gene ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Ros Generation ◽  
Mitochondrial Gene Expression ◽  
Mitochondrial Energy Metabolism ◽  
Bcl2 Family ◽  
Cellular Processes ◽  
Almost All

Mitochondria are membrane organelles present in almost all eukaryotic cells. In addition to their well-known role in energy production, mitochondria regulate central cellular processes, including calcium homeostasis, Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) generation, cell death, thermogenesis, and biosynthesis of lipids, nucleic acids, and steroid hormones. Glucocorticoids (GCs) regulate the mitochondrially encoded oxidative phosphorylation gene expression and mitochondrial energy metabolism. The identification of Glucocorticoid Response Elements (GREs) in mitochondrial sequences and the detection of Glucocorticoid Receptor (GR) in mitochondria of different cell types gave support to hypothesis that mitochondrial GR directly regulates mitochondrial gene expression. Numerous studies have revealed changes in mitochondrial gene expression alongside with GR import/export in mitochondria, confirming the direct effects of GCs on mitochondrial genome. Further evidence has made clear that mitochondrial GR is involved in mitochondrial function and apoptosis-mediated processes, through interacting or altering the distribution of Bcl2 family members. Even though its exact translocation mechanisms remain unknown, data have shown that GR chaperones (Hsp70/90, Bag-1, FKBP51), the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2, the HDAC6- mediated deacetylation and the outer mitochondrial translocation complexes (Tom complexes) co-ordinate GR mitochondrial trafficking. A role of mitochondrial GR in stress and depression as well as in lung and hepatic inflammation has also been demonstrated.

scholarly journals Hypoxia, Acidification and Inflammation: Partners in Crime in Parkinson’s Disease Pathogenesis?

Immuno ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 78-90
Author(s):  
Johannes Burtscher ◽  
Grégoire P. Millet
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Neurodegenerative Diseases ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Brain Cell ◽  
Special Focus ◽  
Molecular Alterations ◽  
Research Fields

Like in other neurodegenerative diseases, protein aggregation, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress and neuroinflammation are hallmarks of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Differentiating characteristics of PD include the central role of α-synuclein in the aggregation pathology, a distinct vulnerability of the striato-nigral system with the related motor symptoms, as well as specific mitochondrial deficits. Which molecular alterations cause neurodegeneration and drive PD pathogenesis is poorly understood. Here, we summarize evidence of the involvement of three interdependent factors in PD and suggest that their interplay is likely a trigger and/or aggravator of PD-related neurodegeneration: hypoxia, acidification and inflammation. We aim to integrate the existing knowledge on the well-established role of inflammation and immunity, the emerging interest in the contribution of hypoxic insults and the rather neglected effects of brain acidification in PD pathogenesis. Their tight association as an important aspect of the disease merits detailed investigation. Consequences of related injuries are discussed in the context of aging and the interaction of different brain cell types, in particular with regard to potential consequences on the vulnerability of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra. A special focus is put on the identification of current knowledge gaps and we emphasize the importance of related insights from other research fields, such as cancer research and immunometabolism, for neurodegeneration research. The highlighted interplay of hypoxia, acidification and inflammation is likely also of relevance for other neurodegenerative diseases, despite disease-specific biochemical and metabolic alterations.

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