Publications by authors named "Lucas T Vu"
Background: The hypothalamus is the ultimate modulator of appetite and energy balance and therefore sensitive to changes in nutritional state. Chicks from lines selected for low (LWS) and high (HWS) body weight are hypophagic and compulsive eaters, respectively, and differ in their propensity to become obese and in their hypothalamic mRNA response to fasting.
Methods: As fasting-induced changes in hypothalamic proteins are unknown, we investigated the hypothalamic proteomes of 5-day old LWS and HWS chicks in the fed and fasted states using a label-free liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) approach.
Article Synopsis
- Three-dimensional liver models using hepatocytes and liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) allow for detailed analysis of liver functions and intercellular communication.
- The study compared hepatocyte behavior in monolayers versus 3D systems, finding that the presence of polyelectrolyte multilayers (PEMs) influences protein production related to metabolism while limiting dedifferentiation.
- LSECs enhanced the production of biotransformation enzymes and remodeling proteins, highlighting the importance of cell interactions in maintaining hepatocyte function and overall liver model performance.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a highly heterogeneous disease with no effective treatment. Drug development has been hampered by the lack of biomarkers that aid in early diagnosis, demonstrate target engagement, monitor disease progression, and can serve as surrogate endpoints to assess the efficacy of treatments. Fluid-based biomarkers may potentially address these issues.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCell migration on planar and three-dimensional matrices: a hydrogel-based perspective.
Tissue Eng Part B Rev
February 2015
The migration of cells is a complex process that is dependent on the properties of the surrounding environment. In vivo, the extracellular environment is complex with a wide range of physical features, topographies, and protein compositions. There have been a number of approaches to design substrates that can recapitulate the complex architecture in vivo.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- * These models help investigate how environmental toxins, drugs, and pharmaceuticals affect these organs, revealing complex signaling mechanisms that occur in living organisms.
- * Since experiments on large animals are costly and resource-heavy, developing organotypic models is increasingly important, with special attention given to the design considerations due to the close interactions of the liver and GI tract.