It has long been appreciated that the apoptotic activity of TNFα is context-dependent, and requires inhibition of NFκB signaling or protein synthesis to be manifested in most normal cells in culture. Recent studies have uncovered an unexpected pro-apoptotic synergism between TNF cytokines and the CCN family of extracellular matrix proteins, which are dynamically expressed at sites of injury repair and inflammation. The presence of CCN1, CCN2, or CCN3 allows TNFα to induce apoptosis with high efficacy without perturbation of NFκB signaling or protein synthesis, thus converting TNFα from a proliferation-promoting protein into an apoptotic inducer. CCN proteins also enhance the cytotoxicity of other TNF family cytokines including LTα, FasL, and TRAIL. CCN proteins synergize with TNF cytokines through binding to integrin αβ and the heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG) syndecan-4 to induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. Knockin mice that express a CCN1 mutant defective for binding αβ-HSPG are severely blunted in TNFα- and Fas-mediated apoptosis, indicating that CCN1 is a physiologic regulator of these processes. Thus, CCN proteins in the extracellular matrix microenvironment can provide the contextual cues for the cytotoxicity of TNFα and related cytokines, and profoundly influence their activity.
Key Laboratory of Bioresources and Eco-Environment of Ministry of Education, College of Life Science, Sichuan University, Chengdu, People's Republic of China.
Introduction: The proliferation of nanoplastics (NPs) has emerged as a significant environmental concern due to their extensive use, raising concerns about potential adverse effects on human health. However, the exact impacts of NPs on the early development of hematopoietic organs remain poorly understood.
Methods: This investigation utilized fluorescence microscopy to observe the effects of various NP concentrations on the caudal vein plexus (CVP) development in zebrafish embryos.
With the rapid emergence of pufferfish aquaculture and processing industries, fish skin is underutilized as a byproduct of processing, leading to resource waste. In this study, skin collagen (TBSC) was extracted by acetic acid solubilization and its physicochemical properties were analyzed. The effects of TBSC and the TBSC hydrolysate (TBSCH) on ultraviolet (UV) irradiation-induced photoaging were investigated using a mouse model.
State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China;3. University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
Post-transcriptional ribonucleic acid (RNA) modifications play crucial roles in regulating gene expression, with both eukaryotic and prokaryotic RNA exhibiting more than 170 distinct and ubiquitous modifications. RNA turnover generates numerous free nucleosides, including unmodified nucleosides and a variety of modified ones. Unlike unmodified nucleosides, modified nucleosides are not further degraded or used in the salvage-synthesis pathway owing to a lack of specific enzymes, which leads to the cytosolic accumulation or cellular efflux of modified nucleosides.
Bone sialoprotein (Ibsp/BSP) is a bone-associated extracellular matrix protein. Ibsp knockout (Ibsp) mice exhibit defective alveolar bone formation, mineralization, and healing. We hypothesized BSP would rescue defective alveolar bone healing in a molar extraction model in Ibsp mice.
Division of Hepatobiliary and Transplantation Surgery, Department of General Surgery, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210008, China.
Liver tissue engineering holds promising in synthesizing or regenerating livers, while the design of functional scaffold remains a challenge. Owing to the intricate simulation of extracellular matrix structure and performance, porous scaffolds have demonstrated advantages in creating liver microstructures and sustaining liver functions. Currently, various methods and processes have been employed to fabricate porous scaffolds, manipulating the properties and morphologies of materials to confer them with unique supportive functions.
