Transcellular propagation of fibrillar α-synuclein from enteroendocrine to neuronal cells requires cell-to-cell contact and is Rab35-dependent.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative condition featured by motor dysfunction, death of midbrain dopaminergic neurons and accumulation of α-synuclein (αSyn) aggregates. Growing evidence suggests that PD diagnosis happens late in the disease progression and that the pathology may originate much earlier in the enteric nervous system (ENS) before advancing to the brain, via autonomic fibers. It was recently described that a specific cell type from the gut epithelium named enteroendocrine cells (EECs) possess many neuron-like properties including αSyn expression.

induces mitochondrial calcium overload and α -synuclein aggregation in an enteroendocrine cell line.

The gut microbiota influence neurodevelopment, modulate behavior, and contribute to neurodegenerative disorders. Several studies have consistently reported a greater abundance of in Parkinson disease (PD) fecal samples. Therefore, we investigated whether -conditioned medium (CM) could initiate α-synuclein (αSyn) misfolding in enteroendocrine cells (EEC) - a component of the gut epithelium featuring neuron-like properties.

Molecular and cellular basis of hyperassembly and protein aggregation driven by a rare pathogenic mutation in DDX3X.

Current studies estimate that 1-3% of females with unexplained intellectual disability (ID) present splice site, nonsense, frameshift, or missense mutations in the DDX3X protein (DEAD-Box Helicase 3 X-Linked). However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms by which DDX3X mutations impair brain development are not fully comprehended. Here, we show that the ID-linked missense mutation L556S renders DDX3X prone to aggregation.

Illuminating the Brain With X-Rays: Contributions and Future Perspectives of High-Resolution Microtomography to Neuroscience.

The assessment of three-dimensional (3D) brain cytoarchitecture at a cellular resolution remains a great challenge in the field of neuroscience and constant development of imaging techniques has become crucial, particularly when it comes to offering direct and clear obtention of data from macro to nano scales. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electron or optical microscopy, although valuable, still face some issues such as the lack of contrast and extensive sample preparation protocols. In this context, x-ray microtomography (μCT) has become a promising non-destructive tool for imaging a broad range of samples, from dense materials to soft biological specimens.

Rat postnatal prostate development is impaired by in vitro high-glucose environment.

The prostate development has an important postnatal period where cell proliferation begins at the first days after birth and is related to gland growth and ramification. Any metabolic and/or hormonal changes occurring during the postnatal period can interfere with prostate branching. Hyperglycemia is a common condition in low-weight preterm babies at neonatal period and also a disorder found in the offspring of obese mothers.

Stimulating effect of palmitate and insulin on cell migration and proliferation in PNT1A and PC3 prostate cells: Counteracting role of metformin.

Background: A potential association between obesity and prostate cancer has been proposed. Metformin, an antidiabetes drug, has antiproliferative effects being proposed for cancer treatment. However, under intense proliferative stimulation conditions such as those found in obesity, its efficacy is still uncertain.