ERRα is dispensable for hematopoietic stem cell function in the bone marrow.

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) have the ability to self-renew, differentiate into various blood cell types, and reside in the bone marrow (BM) niche. Estrogen-related receptor α (ERRα) is an orphan nuclear receptor that has a role in mitochondrial biogenesis and metabolic regulation. Previous research has shown that ERRα contributes to the development of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) by acting as a key regulator of mitochondrial processes, though its role in HSC regulation remains mostly unknown.

Identification of CD109 in the extracellular vesicles derived from ovarian cancer stem-like cells.

Ovarian cancer is the deadliest gynecological cancer because it has few early symptoms and metastasizes to the surrounding organs at advanced stages. Cancer stem cells (CSCs), a subpopulation of cells with acquired drug resistance, contribute to the recurrence and poor prognosis of ovarian cancer. CD109, a cell surface glycoprotein, has been reported to be a marker of CSCs; however, it remains unclear whether CD109 is secreted by CSCs.

Bioengineered human arterial equivalent and its applications from vascular graft to disease modeling.

Arterial disorders such as atherosclerosis, thrombosis, and aneurysm pose significant health risks, necessitating advanced interventions. Despite progress in artificial blood vessels and animal models aimed at understanding pathogenesis and developing therapies, limitations in graft functionality and species discrepancies restrict their clinical and research utility. Addressing these issues, bioengineered arterial equivalents (AEs) with enhanced vascular functions have been developed, incorporating innovative technologies that improve clinical outcomes and enhance disease progression modeling.

Light-based 3D bioprinting techniques for illuminating the advances of vascular tissue engineering.

Vascular tissue engineering faces significant challenges in creating vascular disease models, implantable vascular grafts, and vascularized tissue/organ constructs due to limitations in manufacturing precision, structural complexity, replicating the composited architecture, and mimicking the mechanical properties of natural vessels. Light-based 3D bioprinting, leveraging the unique advantages of light including high resolution, rapid curing, multi-material adaptability, and tunable photochemistry, offers transformative solutions to these obstacles. With the emergence of diverse light-based 3D bioprinting techniques and innovative strategies, the advances in vascular tissue engineering have been significantly accelerated.

27-Hydroxycholesterol Negatively Affects the Function of Bone Marrow Endothelial Cells in the Bone Marrow.

Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) reside in specific microenvironments that facilitate their regulation through both internal mechanisms and external cues. Bone marrow endothelial cells (BMECs), which are found in one of these microenvironments, play a vital role in controlling the self-renewal and differentiation of HSCs during hematological stress. We previously showed that 27-hydroxycholesterol (27HC) administration of exogenous 27HC negatively affected the population of HSCs and progenitor cells by increasing the reactive oxygen species levels in the bone marrow.

Blockade of mTORC1 via Rapamycin Suppresses 27-Hydroxycholestrol-Induced Inflammatory Responses.

Atherosclerosis is characterized by the deposition and accumulation of extracellular cholesterol and inflammatory cells in the arterial blood vessel walls, and 27-hydroxycholesterol (27OHChol) is the most abundant cholesterol metabolite. 27OHChol is an oxysterol that induces immune responses, including immune cell activation and chemokine secretion, although the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. In this study, we investigated the roles of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) in 27HChol-induced inflammation using rapamycin.

3D engineering of diseased blood vessels for integrative-in silico mechanobiology study.

Vascular diseases are complex conditions orchestrated by multiple factors, including cellular components, biochemical stimuli, and mechanical forces. Despite the advancement of numerous therapeutic approaches, the global mortality associated with the diseases continues to escalate owing to a lack of understanding of the underlying pathologies. Tissue engineering and computational strategies have been recently developed to investigate diseased blood vessels from multifactorial perspective, enabling more accurate prediction of disease progression and opening new avenues for preclinical advances.

Anti-inflammatory effects of Gingerenone A through modulation of toll-like receptor signaling pathways.

Toll-like receptors (TLRs) play a pivotal role in initiating immune responses, particularly in the context of inflammation. However, an excessive inflammation can detrimentally affect the immune homeostasis Thus, it is important to regulate TLR signaling pathways appropriately. Gingerenone A (GIA), a bioactive compound derived from ginger, has garnered significant attention due to its potential anti-inflammatory properties.

Development and evaluation of a radiolabelling agent for white blood cell scans.

Radiolabelled autologous leukocytes have been used for the clinical diagnosis of inflammation and infection. To develop a stable and efficient radiopharmaceutical for labelling leukocytes, we prepared a novel radioiodinated cell-penetrating peptide, I-TAT, using a bi-functional linker. I-TAT was stable for two days under three different temperature conditions of -20 °C, 4 °C, and 40 °C, with its radiochemical purity remaining over 99%.

A novel transdermal drug delivery system: drug-loaded ROS-responsive ferrocene fibers for effective photoprotective and wound healing activity.

The present study proposes an innovative transdermal drug delivery system using ferrocene-incorporated fibers to enhance the bioavailability and therapeutic efficacy of ascorbyl tetraisopalmitate. Using electrospinning technology, the authors created ferrocene polymer fibers capable of highly efficient drug encapsulation and controlled release in response to reactive oxygen species commonly found in wound sites. The approach improves upon previous methods significantly by offering higher drug loading capacities and sustained release, directly targeting diseased cells.

A Marine Collagen-Based 3D Scaffold for In Vitro Modeling of Human Prostate Cancer Niche and Anti-Cancer Therapeutic Discovery.

Recently, the need to develop a robust three-dimensional (3D) cell culture system that serves as a valuable in vitro tumor model has been emphasized. This system should closely mimic the tumor growth behaviors observed in vivo and replicate the key elements and characteristics of human tumors for the effective discovery and development of anti-tumor therapeutics. Therefore, in this study, we developed an effective 3D in vitro model of human prostate cancer (PC) using a marine collagen-based biomimetic 3D scaffold.

Hematopoietic Stem Cells and Their Niche in Bone Marrow.

Extensive research has explored the functional correlation between stem cells and progenitor cells, particularly in blood. Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) can self-renew and regenerate tissues within the bone marrow, while stromal cells regulate tissue function. Recent studies have validated the role of mammalian stem cells within specific environments, providing initial empirical proof of this functional phenomenon.

Leukemic Stem Cells and Hematological Malignancies.

The association between leukemic stem cells (LSCs) and leukemia development has been widely established in the context of genetic alterations, epigenetic pathways, and signaling pathway regulation. Hematopoietic stem cells are at the top of the bone marrow hierarchy and can self-renew and progressively generate blood and immune cells. The microenvironment, niche cells, and complex signaling pathways that regulate them acquire genetic mutations and epigenetic alterations due to aging, a chronic inflammatory environment, stress, and cancer, resulting in hematopoietic stem cell dysregulation and the production of abnormal blood and immune cells, leading to hematological malignancies and blood cancer.

Advancement in Cancer Vasculogenesis Modeling through 3D Bioprinting Technology.

Cancer vasculogenesis is a pivotal focus of cancer research and treatment given its critical role in tumor development, metastasis, and the formation of vasculogenic microenvironments. Traditional approaches to investigating cancer vasculogenesis face significant challenges in accurately modeling intricate microenvironments. Recent advancements in three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting technology present promising solutions to these challenges.

Decellularized matrix bioink with gelatin methacrylate for simultaneous improvements in printability and biofunctionality.

Gelatin methacrylate (GelMA) bioink has been widely used in bioprinting because it is a printable and biocompatible biomaterial. However, it is difficult to print GelMA bioink without any temperature control because it has a thermally-sensitive rheological property. Therefore, in this study, we developed a temperature-controlled printing system in real time without affecting the viability of the cells encapsulated in the bioink.

BR101801 enhances the radiosensitivity of p53-deficient colorectal cancer cells by inducing G2/M arrest, apoptosis, and senescence in a p53-independent manner.

Inhibition of DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK) in the non-homologous end-joining repair pathway reportedly increases the radiation sensitivity of cancer cells. We have recently reported that BR101801, a novel triple inhibitor of PI3K-gamma (γ), delta (δ), and DNA-PK, functions as an efficient sensitizer of radiation-induced DNA damage in various human solid cancer cells and a xenograft mouse model. Given that the p53 tumor suppressor gene plays an important role in radiotherapeutic efficacy, in the current study, we focused on the impact of the p53 status on BR101801-induced radiosensitization using isogenic HCT116 p53 and HCT116 p53 human colorectal cancer cell lines.

3D bioprinted multilayered cerebrovascular conduits to study cancer extravasation mechanism related with vascular geometry.

Cerebral vessels are composed of highly complex structures that facilitate blood perfusion necessary for meeting the high energy demands of the brain. Their geometrical complexities alter the biophysical behavior of circulating tumor cells in the brain, thereby influencing brain metastasis. However, recapitulation of the native cerebrovascular microenvironment that shows continuities between vascular geometry and metastatic cancer development has not been accomplished.

AZD7648, a DNA-PKcs inhibitor, overcomes radioresistance in Hep3B xenografts and cells under tumor hypoxia.

Radiation therapy is one of the most commonly used cancer treatments. However, it has important concerns such as damage to normal tissues around cancers and radioresistance. To overcome these problems, combination therapy using radiosensitizer and radiotherapy will be a good alternative.

Fish Collagen Peptides Enhance Thymopoietic Gene Expression, Cell Proliferation, Thymocyte Adherence, and Cytoprotection in Thymic Epithelial Cells via Activation of the Nuclear Factor-κB Pathway, Leading to Thymus Regeneration after Cyclophosphamide-Induced Injury.

Prolonged thymic involution results in decreased thymopoiesis and thymic output, leading to peripheral T-cell deficiency. Since the thymic-dependent pathway is the only means of generating fully mature T cells, the identification of strategies to enhance thymic regeneration is crucial in developing therapeutic interventions to revert immune suppression in immunocompromised patients. The present study clearly shows that fish collagen peptides (FCPs) stimulate activities of thymic epithelial cells (TECs), including cell proliferation, thymocyte adhesion, and the gene expression of thymopoietic factors such as FGF-7, IGF-1, BMP-4, VEGF-A, IL-7, IL-21, RANKL, LTβ, IL-22R, RANK, LTβR, SDF-1, CCL21, CCL25, CXCL5, Dll1, Dll4, Wnt4, CD40, CD80, CD86, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, FoxN1, leptin, cathepsin L, CK5, and CK8 through the NF-κB signal transduction pathway.

Comparison of Plasma Metabolites From Patients With Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer by Erlotinib Treatment and Skin Rash.

Erlotinib is a necessary anticancer treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients yet it causes severe side effects such as skin rash. In this study, researchers compared the untargeted compound profiles before and after erlotinib administration to observe changes in blood metabolites in NSCLC patients. The levels of 1005 substances changed after taking erlotinib.

ROS-responsive PEGylated ferrocene polymer nanoparticles with improved stability for tumor-selective chemotherapy and imaging.

Ferrocene-based nanoparticles have garnered interest as reactive oxygen species (ROS)-responsive nanocarriers of anticancer drugs and imaging agents. However, their biomedical applications remain limited due to their poor physiological stability. PEGylation of nanocarriers improves their stability and biocompatibility.

3D biofabrication of diseased human skin models in vitro.

Human skin is an organ located in the outermost part of the body; thus, it frequently exhibits visible signs of physiological health. Ethical concerns and genetic differences in conventional animal studies have increased the need for alternative in vitro platforms that mimic the structural and functional hallmarks of natural skin. Despite significant advances in in vitro skin modeling over the past few decades, different reproducible biofabrication strategies are required to reproduce the pathological features of diseased human skin compared to those used for healthy-skin models.

Predicting prognosis through the discovery of specific biomarkers according to colorectal cancer lymph node metastasis.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a prevalent cancer worldwide, ranking as the third most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths. The presence or absence of lymph node metastases is one of the representative markers for predicting CRC prognosis, but often yields heterogeneous results. In this study, we conducted an integrative molecular analysis of CRC using publicly available data from The Cancer Genome Atlas database and NCBI's Gene Expression Omnibus.

Engineering of Uniform Epidermal Layers via Sacrificial Gelatin Bioink-Assisted 3D Extrusion Bioprinting of Skin.

To reconstruct an ideal full-thickness skin model, basal keratinocytes must be distributed as a confluent monolayer on the dermis. However, the currently available extrusion bioprinting method for the skin is limited when producing an air-exposed cellular monolayer because the cells are encapsulated within a bioink. This is the first study to use sacrificial gelatin-assisted extrusion bioprinting to reproduce a uniform and stratified epidermal layer.