Pharmacological inhibition of PLK2 kinase activity mitigates cognitive decline but aggravates APP pathology in a sex-dependent manner in APP/PS1 mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

Converging evidence from clinical and experimental studies suggest the potential significance of Polo-like kinase 2 (PLK2) in regulating the phosphorylation and toxicity of the Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related protein, amyloid precursor protein (APP). These findings have prompted various experimental trials aimed at inhibiting PLK2 kinase activity in different transgenic mouse models of AD. While positive impacts on cognitive decline were reported in these studies, the cellular effects remained controversial.

The evolution of mesenchymal stem cell-derived neural progenitor therapy for Multiple Sclerosis: from concept to clinic.

This review delves into the generation and therapeutic applications of mesenchymal stem cell-derived neural progenitors (MSC-NPs) in Multiple Sclerosis (MS), a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by demyelination, neuroinflammation, and progressive neurological dysfunction. Most current treatment paradigms primarily aimed at regulating the immune response show little success against the neurodegenerative aspect of MS. This calls for new therapies that would play a role in neurodegeneration and functional recovery of the central nervous system (CNS).

Do flower-colonizing microbes influence floral evolution? A test with fast-cycling Brassica.

Pollinators are thought to be the main drivers of floral evolution. Flowers are also colonized by abundant communities of microbes that can affect the interaction between plants and their pollinators. Very little is known, however, about how flower-colonizing microbes influence floral evolution.

Consequences of pollen defense compounds for pollinators and antagonists in a pollen-rewarding plant.

Plants produce an array of defensive compounds with toxic or deterrent effects on insect herbivores. Pollen can contain relatively high concentrations of such defense compounds, but the causes and consequences of this enigmatic phenomenon remain mostly unknown. These compounds could potentially protect pollen against antagonists but could also reduce flower attractiveness to pollinators.