Site of breast cancer metastasis is independent of single nutrient levels.

Cancer metastasis is a major contributor to patient morbidity and mortality, yet the factors that determine the organs where cancers can metastasize are incompletely understood. In this study, we quantify the absolute levels of over 100 nutrients available across multiple tissues in mice and investigate how this relates to the ability of breast cancer cells to grow in different organs. We engineered breast cancer cells with broad metastatic potential to be auxotrophic for specific nutrients and assessed their ability to colonize different organs.

Mitochondria dysregulation contributes to secondary neurodegeneration progression post-contusion injury in human 3D in vitro triculture brain tissue model.

Traumatic Brain injury-induced disturbances in mitochondrial fission-and-fusion dynamics have been linked to the onset and propagation of neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration. However, cell-type-specific contributions and crosstalk between neurons, microglia, and astrocytes in mitochondria-driven neurodegeneration after brain injury remain undefined. We developed a human three-dimensional in vitro triculture tissue model of a contusion injury composed of neurons, microglia, and astrocytes and examined the contributions of mitochondrial dysregulation to neuroinflammation and progression of injury-induced neurodegeneration.

Screening neuroprotective compounds in herpes-induced Alzheimer's disease cell and 3D tissue models.

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that can cause life-altering and debilitating cognitive decline. AD's etiology is poorly understood, and no disease-modifying therapeutics exist. Here, we describe the use of 2D and 3D tissue culture models of herpesvirus-induced AD, which recapitulate hallmark disease features of plaque formation, gliosis, neuroinflammation, and impaired neuronal signaling, to screen a panel of 21 medications, supplements, and nutraceuticals with purported neuroprotective benefits.