Institute of Physiological Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry and Cells-in-Motion Cluster of Excellence (EXC1003-CiM), University of Münster, D-48149 Münster, Germany.
Published: April 2019
AI Article Synopsis
Article Abstract
Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling plays a tumor-promoting role in many epithelial cancers. Cancer cells produce soluble a Shh that signals to distant stromal cells that express the receptor Patched (Ptc). These receiving cells respond by producing other soluble factors that promote cancer cell growth, generating a positive feedback loop. To interfere with reinforced Shh signaling, we examined the potential of defined heparin and heparan sulfate (HS) polysaccharides to block Shh solubilization and Ptc receptor binding. We confirm in vitro and in vivo that proteolytic cleavage of the N-terminal Cardin-Weintraub (CW) amino acid motif is a prerequisite for Shh solubilization and function. Consistent with the established binding of soluble heparin or HS to the Shh CW target motif, both polysaccharides impaired proteolytic Shh processing and release from source cells. We also show that HS and heparin bind to, and block, another set of basic amino acids required for unimpaired Shh binding to Ptc receptors on receiving cells. Both modes of Shh activity downregulation depend more on HS size and overall charge than on specific HS sulfation modifications. We conclude that heparin oligosaccharide interference in the physiological roles of HS in Shh release and reception may be used to expand the field of investigation to pharmaceutical intervention of tumor-promoting Shh functions.
Male-pattern hair loss (MPHL) is the most common form of hair loss in humans. Limited treatment options exist, which are not curative and vary in efficacy and invasiveness. Therapeutic and cosmetic hair growth stimulating agents that alleviate hair loss at a low risk of side effects are therefore of interest.
Over the last few decades, the primary cilium, an inconspicuous cell organelle, has increasingly become the focus of current research. The primary cilium is a microtubule-based, non-motile, antenna-like structure that is present on almost all mammalian cells. The ciliary membrane incorporates a large number of receptor molecules, which further characterize this cellular organelle.
Non-syndromic orofacial clefts (NSOC) are common craniofacial birth defects, and result from both genetic and environmental factors. NSOC include three major sub-phenotypes: non-syndromic cleft lip with palate (NSCLP), non-syndromic cleft lip only (NSCLO) and non-syndromic cleft palate only (NSCPO), NSCLP and NSCLO are also sometimes grouped as non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate (NSCL/P) based on epidemiology. Currently known loci only explain a limited proportion of the heritability of NSOC.
Division of Anatomical and Cellular Pathology, Department of Pathology, Iwate Medical University, 1-1-1 Idaidori, Yahaba-cho, Shiwa-gun, Iwate, 028-3694, Japan. Electronic address:
Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the role of the chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein 3 (CHD3) in tooth morphogenesis in Chd3 knockout mice.
Methods: Chd3 knockout mice were generated using the CRISPR-Cas9 method. Mandibular first molars were extracted from the mice and their littermates and morphometrically analyzed.
School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Veterinary Etiological Biology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China; Southeast Research Institute, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, PR China. Electronic address:
Objectives: The Shh pathway may shed new light on developing new cell death inhibitors for the therapy of ischemic stroke. We aimed to examine whether the Shh co-reporter SMO or its agonist halcinonide can upregulate Bcl-2 to suppress neuronal cell death, ultimately improving behavioral deficits and reducing cerebral infarction in an ischemic stroke model.
Methods: Halcinonide or genetic manipulation of SMO was conducted in PC12 cells to examine their impacts on oxidative or OGD/R stress, and the chemical, along with AAV-SMO or AAV-EGFP were tested in MCAO rats to investigate their potential protective effects against neuronal damages due to cerebral I/R injury.
