Journal of Biomedical Science

https://jbiomedsci.biomedcentral.com

List of Papers (Total 2,166)

Integration of transcription regulation and functional genomic data reveals lncRNA SNHG6’s role in hematopoietic differentiation and leukemia

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are pivotal players in cellular processes, and their unique cell-type specific expression patterns render them attractive biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Yet, the functional roles of most lncRNAs remain enigmatic. To address the need to identify new druggable lncRNAs, we developed a comprehensive approach integrating transcription factor binding...

Metabolism-regulating non-coding RNAs in breast cancer: roles, mechanisms and clinical applications

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignancies that pose a serious threat to women's health. Reprogramming of energy metabolism is a major feature of the malignant transformation of breast cancer. Compared to normal cells, tumor cells reprogram metabolic processes more efficiently, converting nutrient supplies into glucose, amino acid and lipid required for malignant...

The role of pregnancy associated plasma protein-A in triple negative breast cancer: a promising target for achieving clinical benefits

Pregnancy associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) plays an integral role in breast cancer (BC), especially triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). This subtype accounts for the most aggressive BC, possesses high tumor heterogeneity, is least responsive to standard treatments and has the poorest clinical outcomes. There is a critical need to address the lack of effective targeted...

Genetic and pharmacologic p32-inhibition rescue CHCHD2-linked Parkinson’s disease phenotypes in vivo and in cell models

Mutations in CHCHD2 have been linked to Parkinson’s disease, however, their exact pathophysiologic roles are unclear. The p32 protein has been suggested to interact with CHCHD2, however, the physiological functions of such interaction in the context of PD have not been clarified. Interaction between CHCHD2 and p32 was confirmed by co-immunoprecipitation experiments. We studied...

Translational research on drug development and biomarker discovery for hepatocellular carcinoma

Translational research plays a key role in drug development and biomarker discovery for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, unique challenges exist in this field because of the limited availability of human tumor samples from surgery, the lack of homogenous oncogenic driver mutations, and the paucity of adequate experimental models. In this review, we provide insights into...

Germline mutations of homologous recombination genes and clinical outcomes in pancreatic cancer: a multicenter study in Taiwan

Cancer susceptibility germline mutations are associated with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, the hereditary status of PDAC and its impact on survival is largely unknown in the Asian population. Exome sequencing was performed on 527 blood samples from PDAC individuals and analyzed for mutations in 80 oncogenic genes. Pathogenic and likely pathogenic (P/LP...

Rab37 mediates trafficking and membrane presentation of PD-1 to sustain T cell exhaustion in lung cancer

Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) is an immune checkpoint receptor expressed on the surface of T cells. High expression of PD-1 leads to T-cell dysfunction in the tumor microenvironment (TME). However, the mechanism of intracellular trafficking and plasma membrane presentation of PD-1 remains unclear. Multiple databases of lung cancer patients were integratively analyzed to...

Targeting MDM2 in malignancies is a promising strategy for overcoming resistance to anticancer immunotherapy

MDM2 has been established as a biomarker indicating poor prognosis for individuals undergoing immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment for different malignancies by various pancancer studies. Specifically, patients who have MDM2 amplification are vulnerable to the development of hyperprogressive disease (HPD) following anticancer immunotherapy, resulting in marked deleterious...

FLT3L-induced virtual memory CD8 T cells engage the immune system against tumors

Previous research in FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 ligands (FLT3L) has primarily focused on their potential to generate dendritic cells (DCs) from bone marrow progenitors, with a limited understanding of how these cells affect CD8 T cell function. In this study, we further investigated the in vivo role of FLT3L for the immunomodulatory capabilities of CD8 T cells. Albumin-conjugated...

Mechanisms and functions of SUMOylation in health and disease: a review focusing on immune cells

SUMOylation, which is a type of post-translational modification that involves covalent conjugation of small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO) proteins to target substrates, regulates various important molecular and cellular processes, including transcription, the cell cycle, cell signaling, and DNA synthesis and repair. Newly synthesized SUMO is immature and cleaved by the SUMO...

TEM1/endosialin/CD248 promotes pathologic scarring and TGF-β activity through its receptor stability in dermal fibroblasts

Pathologic scars, including keloids and hypertrophic scars, represent a common form of exaggerated cutaneous scarring that is difficult to prevent or treat effectively. Additionally, the pathobiology of pathologic scars remains poorly understood. We aim at investigating the impact of TEM1 (also known as endosialin or CD248), which is a glycosylated type I transmembrane protein...

Modelling the complex nature of the tumor microenvironment: 3D tumor spheroids as an evolving tool

Cancer remains a serious burden in society and while the pace in the development of novel and more effective therapeutics is increasing, testing platforms that faithfully mimic the tumor microenvironment are lacking. With a clear shift from animal models to more complex in vitro 3D systems, spheroids emerge as strong options in this regard. Years of development have allowed...

Plectin plays a role in the migration and volume regulation of astrocytes: a potential biomarker of glioblastoma

The expression of aquaporin 4 (AQP4) and intermediate filament (IF) proteins is altered in malignant glioblastoma (GBM), yet the expression of the major IF-based cytolinker, plectin (PLEC), and its contribution to GBM migration and invasiveness, are unknown. Here, we assessed the contribution of plectin in affecting the distribution of plasmalemmal AQP4 aggregates, migratory...

Hesperetin activates CISD2 to attenuate senescence in human keratinocytes from an older person and rejuvenates naturally aged skin in mice

CDGSH iron-sulfur domain-containing protein 2 (CISD2), a pro-longevity gene, mediates healthspan in mammals. CISD2 is down-regulated during aging. Furthermore, a persistently high level of CISD2 promotes longevity and ameliorates an age-related skin phenotype in transgenic mice. Here we translate the genetic evidence into a pharmaceutical application using a potent CISD2...

Inactivation of pentraxin 3 suppresses M2-like macrophage activity and immunosuppression in colon cancer

The tumor microenvironment is characterized by inflammation-like and immunosuppression situations. Although cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are among the major stromal cell types in various solid cancers, including colon cancer, the interactions between CAFs and immune cells remains largely uncharacterized. Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) is responsive to proinflammatory cytokines and...

Physiology and pharmacological targeting of phase separation

Liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) in biology describes a process by which proteins form membraneless condensates within a cellular compartment when conditions are met, including the concentration and posttranslational modifications of the protein components, the condition of the aqueous solution (pH, ionic strength, pressure, and temperature), and the existence of assisting...

Attenuation of neurovirulence of chikungunya virus by a single amino acid mutation in viral E2 envelope protein

Chikungunya virus (CHIKV) has reemerged as a major public health concern, causing chikungunya fever with increasing cases and neurological complications. In the present study, we investigated a low-passage human isolate of the East/ Central/South African (ECSA) lineage of CHIKV strain LK(EH)CH6708, which exhibited a mix of small and large viral plaques. The small and large plaque...

Engineered EVs with pathogen proteins: promising vaccine alternatives to LNP-mRNA vaccines

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are tiny, lipid membrane-bound structures that are released by most cells. They play a vital role in facilitating intercellular communication by delivering bioactive cargoes to recipient cells and triggering cellular as well as biological responses. EVs have enormous potential for therapeutic applications as native or engineered exosomes. Native EVs...

Scaffold-based 3D cell culture models in cancer research

Three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures have emerged as valuable tools in cancer research, offering significant advantages over traditional two-dimensional (2D) cell culture systems. In 3D cell cultures, cancer cells are grown in an environment that more closely mimics the 3D architecture and complexity of in vivo tumors. This approach has revolutionized cancer research by providing...

Exploring the relationship between metabolism and immune microenvironment in osteosarcoma based on metabolic pathways

Metabolic remodeling and changes in tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) in osteosarcoma are important factors affecting prognosis and treatment. However, the relationship between metabolism and TIME needs to be further explored. RNA-Seq data and clinical information of 84 patients with osteosarcoma from the TARGET database and an independent cohort from the GEO database were...

Immune evasion in cell-based immunotherapy: unraveling challenges and novel strategies

Cell-based immunotherapies (CBIs), notably exemplified by chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered T (CAR-T) cell therapy, have emerged as groundbreaking approaches for cancer therapy. Nevertheless, akin to various other therapeutic modalities, tumor cells employ counterstrategies to manifest immune evasion, thereby circumventing the impact of CBIs. This phenomenon is...

Therapeutic antibodies for the prevention and treatment of cancer

The developments of antibodies for cancer therapeutics have made remarkable success in recent years. There are multiple factors contributing to the success of the biological molecule including origin of the antibody, isotype, affinity, avidity and mechanism of action. With better understanding of mechanism of cancer progression and immune manipulation, recombinant formats of...

Localization, traffic and function of Rab34 in adipocyte lipid and endocrine functions

Excessive lipid accumulation in the adipose tissue in obesity alters the endocrine and energy storage functions of adipocytes. Adipocyte lipid droplets represent key organelles coordinating lipid storage and mobilization in these cells. Recently, we identified the small GTPase, Rab34, in the lipid droplet proteome of adipocytes. Herein, we have characterized the distribution...

Nano-modified viruses prime the tumor microenvironment and promote the photodynamic virotherapy in liver cancer

As of 2020, hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a form of liver cancer, stood as the third most prominent contributor to global cancer-related mortality. Combining immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) with other therapies has shown promising results for treating unresectable HCC, offering new opportunities. Recombinant adeno-associated viral type 2 (AAV2) virotherapy has been approved...

ARID1A loss activates MAPK signaling via DUSP4 downregulation

ARID1A, a tumor suppressor gene encoding BAF250, a protein participating in chromatin remodeling, is frequently mutated in endometrium-related malignancies, including ovarian or uterine clear cell carcinoma (CCC) and endometrioid carcinoma (EMCA). However, how ARID1A mutations alter downstream signaling to promote tumor development is yet to be established. We used RNA-sequencing...