Integrin α2 is an early marker for osteoclast differentiation that contributes to key steps in osteoclastogenesis.

Introduction: Osteoclasts determine bone tissue turnover. Their increased activity causes osteoporosis, their dysfunction osteopetrosis.

Methods And Results: Murine monocytic ER-Hoxb8 cells differentiate into OCs upon treatment with M-CSF and RANKL and upregulate the collagen-binding integrin α2β1 distinctly earlier than other OC markers, such as the OC-associated receptor, OSCAR.

Reversible photoregulation of cell-cell adhesions with opto-E-cadherin.

E-cadherin-based cell-cell adhesions are dynamically and locally regulated in many essential processes, including embryogenesis, wound healing and tissue organization, with dysregulation manifesting as tumorigenesis and metastasis. However, the lack of tools that would provide control of the high spatiotemporal precision observed with E-cadherin adhesions hampers investigation of the underlying mechanisms. Here, we present an optogenetic tool, opto-E-cadherin, that allows reversible control of E-cadherin-mediated cell-cell adhesions with blue light.

Multiparametric chemical exchange saturation transfer MRI detects metabolic changes in breast cancer following immunotherapy.

Background: With metabolic alterations of the tumor microenvironment (TME) contributing to cancer progression, metastatic spread and response to targeted therapies, non-invasive and repetitive imaging of tumor metabolism is of major importance. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether multiparametric chemical exchange saturation transfer magnetic resonance imaging (CEST-MRI) allows to detect differences in the metabolic profiles of the TME in murine breast cancer models with divergent degrees of malignancy and to assess their response to immunotherapy.

Methods: Tumor characteristics of highly malignant 4T1 and low malignant 67NR murine breast cancer models were investigated, and their changes during tumor progression and immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment were evaluated.

Profiling specific cell populations within the inflammatory tumor microenvironment by oscillating-gradient diffusion-weighted MRI.

Background: The inflammatory tumor microenvironment (TME) is formed by various immune cells, being closely associated with tumorigenesis. Especially, the interaction between tumor-infiltrating T-cells and macrophages has a crucial impact on tumor progression and metastatic spread. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether oscillating-gradient diffusion-weighted MRI (OGSE-DWI) enables a cell size-based discrimination between different cell populations of the TME.

Stimulation of platelet aggregation by affinity captured rhodocytin from the Malayan pit viper Calloselasma rhodostoma.

The receptor protein CLEC-2 on platelet membranes is the target of the endogenous ligand podoplanin found on cancer cells and of rhodocytin, a snake venom component of the Malayan pit viper Calloselasma rhodostoma. Ligand binding results in platelet activation, increased blood coagulation and thrombosis. In an effort to isolate rhodocytin, we have purified CLEC-2 as bait from E.