Investigating POU3F4 in cancer: Expression patterns, prognostic implications, and functional roles in tumor immunity.

Research has demonstrated that POU3F4 is integral to various cancers, in addition to its significance in inner ear development, pancreatic differentiation, as well as neural stem cell differentiation. Nevertheless, comprehensive pan-cancer analyses focusing on POU3F4 remain limited. This study aims to assess the prognostic value of POU3F4 in thirty-three cancers and explore its immune-related functions.

D-Ala2-GIP (1-30) promotes angiogenesis by facilitating endothelial cell migration via the Epac/Rap1/Cdc42 signaling pathway.

Angiogenesis, a meticulously regulated process essential for both normal development and pathological conditions, necessitates a comprehensive understanding of the endothelial mechanisms governing its progression. Leveraging the zebrafish model and NgAgo knockdown system to identify target genes influencing angiogenesis, our study highlights the significant role of gastric inhibitory polypeptide (GIP) and its receptor (GIPR) in this process. While GIP has been extensively studied for its insulinotropic and glucagonotropic effects, its role in angiogenesis remains unexplored.

bFGF-Chitosan "brain glue" promotes functional recovery after cortical ischemic stroke.

The mammalian brain has an extremely limited ability to regenerate lost neurons and to recover function following ischemic stroke. A biomaterial strategy of slowly-releasing various regeneration-promoting factors to activate endogenous neurogenesis represents a safe and practical neuronal replacement therapy. In this study, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-Chitosan gel is injected into the stroke cavity.

Monocyte-Derived cxcl12 Guides a Directional Migration of Blood Vessels in Zebra Fish.

Background: Sprouting blood vessels, reaching the aimed location, and establishing the proper connections are vital for building vascular networks. Such biological processes are subject to precise molecular regulation. So far, the mechanistic insights into understanding how blood vessels grow to the correct position are limited.

3D-Printed Myocardium-Specific Structure Enhances Maturation and Therapeutic Efficacy of Engineered Heart Tissue in Myocardial Infarction.

Despite advancements in engineered heart tissue (EHT), challenges persist in achieving accurate dimensional accuracy of scaffolds and maturing human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs), a primary source of functional cardiac cells. Drawing inspiration from cardiac muscle fiber arrangement, a three-dimensional (3D)-printed multi-layered microporous polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffold is created with interlayer angles set at 45° to replicate the precise structure of native cardiac tissue. Compared with the control group and 90° PCL scaffolds, the 45° PCL scaffolds exhibited superior biocompatibility for cell culture and improved hiPSC-CM maturation in calcium handling.

Frequency-specific and state-dependent neural responses to brain stimulation.

Non-invasive brain stimulation is promising for treating many neuropsychiatric and neurological conditions. It could be optimized by understanding its intracranial responses in different brain regions. We implanted multi-site intracranial electrodes and systematically assessed the acute responses in these regions to transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) at different frequencies.

Microglia-derived exosomal ciRS-7 mediates IL-17A effect of promoting neurodegeneration via miR-7 and SNCA targets in an experimental Parkinson's disease.

Parkinson' s disease (PD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder characterized by progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN). Our research has demonstrated that the levels of interleukin (IL)-17A are elevated in the SN of rodent models of PD, and that IL-17A accelerates neurodegeneration in PD depending on microglial activation. Furthermore, existing studies indicate that exosomes released by activated microglia may play a significant role as mediators of neurodegeneration in PD.

LEDGF/p75 promotes transcriptional pausing through preventing SPT5 phosphorylation.

SPT5 exhibits versatile functions in RNA Pol II promoter proximal pausing, pause release, and elongation in metazoans. However, the mechanism underlying the functional switch of SPT5 during early elongation has not been fully understood. Here, we report that the phosphorylation site-rich domain (PRD)/CTR1 and the prion-like domain (PLD)/CTR2, which are situated adjacent to each other within the C-terminal repeat (CTR) in SPT5, play pivotal roles in Pol II pausing and elongation, respectively.

Maternal ELL3 loss-of-function leads to oocyte aneuploidy and early miscarriage.

Up to an estimated 10% of women experience miscarriage in their lifetimes. Embryonic aneuploidy is a leading cause for miscarriage, infertility and congenital defects. Here we identify variants of ELL3, a gene encoding a transcription elongation factor, in couples who experienced consecutive early miscarriages due to embryonic aneuploidy.

A ROS-responsive hydrogel encapsulated with matrix metalloproteinase-13 siRNA nanocarriers to attenuate osteoarthritis progression.

RNA interference (RNAi) and oxidative stress inhibition therapeutic strategies have been extensively utilized in the treatment of osteoarthritis (OA), the most prevalent degenerative joint disease. However, the synergistic effects of these approaches on attenuating OA progression remain largely unexplored. In this study, matrix metalloproteinase-13 siRNA (siMMP-13) was incorporated onto polyethylenimine (PEI)-polyethylene glycol (PEG) modified FeO nanoparticles, forming a nucleic acid nanocarrier termed si-Fe NPs.

Characterization of 3,3'-iminodipropionitrile (IDPN) damaged utricle transcriptome in the adult mouse utricle.

Utricle is an important vestibular sensory organ for maintaining balance. 3,3'-iminodipropionitrile (IDPN), a prototype nitrile toxin, has been reported to be neurotoxic and vestibulotoxic, and can be used to establish an damage model of vestibular dysfunction. However, the mechanism of utricular HCs damage caused by IDPN is unclear.

Advances in biomaterial-based tissue engineering for peripheral nerve injury repair.

Peripheral nerve injury is a common clinical disease. Effective post-injury nerve repair remains a challenge in neurosurgery, and clinical outcomes are often unsatisfactory, resulting in social and economic burden. Particularly, the repair of long-distance nerve defects remains a challenge.

Corrigendum: Characterization of expression in mouse cochlear hair cells.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.

Chitooligosaccharides promote diabetic wound healing by mediating fibroblast proliferation and migration.

Diabetic wounds are notoriously difficult to heal due to impaired cell repair mechanisms, reduced angiogenesis, and a heightened risk of infection. Fibroblasts play a vital role in wound healing by producing extracellular matrix (ECM) components and various growth factors, but their function is inhibited in diabetic wounds. Chitooligosaccharides (COS), intermediate products of chitosan degradation, have shown efficacy in promoting tissue repair, yet their role in diabetic wound healing remains underexplored.

Immune Cell Biology in Peripheral Nervous System Injury.

Background: The peripheral nervous system (PNS) exhibits remarkable regenerative capability after injury. PNS regeneration relies on neurons themselves as well as a variety of other cell types, including Schwann cells, immune cells, and non-neuronal cells.

Objectives: This paper focuses on summarizing the critical roles of immune cells (SCs) in the injury and repair processes of the PNS.

Fast and sensitive multivalent spatial pattern-recognition for circular RNA detection.

While circular RNAs (circRNAs) exhibit lower abundance compared to corresponding linear RNAs, they demonstrate potent biological functions. Nevertheless, challenges arise from the low concentration and distinctive structural features of circRNAs, rendering existing methods operationally intricate and less sensitive. Here, we engineer an intelligent tetrahedral DNA framework (TDF) possessing precise spatial pattern-recognition properties with exceptional sensing speed and sensitivity for circRNAs.

Revisiting astrocytic calcium signaling in the brain.

Astrocytes, characterized by complex spongiform morphology, participate in various physiological processes, and abnormal changes in their calcium (Ca) signaling are implicated in central nervous system disorders. However, medications targeting the control of Ca have fallen short of the anticipated therapeutic outcomes in clinical applications. This underscores the fact that our comprehension of this intricate regulation of calcium ions remains considerably incomplete.

Angiogenesis-promoting effect of SKP-SC-EVs-derived miRNA-30a-5p in peripheral nerve regeneration by targeting LIF and ANGPT2.

Ischemia and hypoxia caused by vascular injury intensify nerve damage. Skin precursor-derived Schwann cells have demonstrated an accelerated in vivo prevascularization of tissue-engineered nerves. Furthermore, extracellular vesicles from skin precursor-derived Schwann cells (SKP-SC-EVs) show the potential in aiding peripheral nerve regeneration.

Unveiling the molecular blueprint of SKP-SCs-mediated tissue engineering-enhanced neuroregeneration.

Peripheral nerve injury poses a significant challenge to the nervous system's regenerative capacity. We previously described a novel approach to construct a chitosan/silk fibroin nerve graft with skin-derived precursor-induced Schwann cells (SKP-SCs). This graft has been shown to promote sciatic nerve regeneration and functional restoration to a level comparable to that achieved by autologous nerve grafts, as evidenced by behavioral, histological, and electrophysiological assessments.

Study on Recovery Strategy of Hearing Loss & SGN Regeneration Under Physical Regulation.

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that by 2050, nearly 2.5 billion people are expected to have some degree of hearing loss (HL) and at least 700 million will need hearing rehabilitation. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop treatment strategies for HL.

Kif15 regulates Coro1a cell migration and phagocytosis in zebrafish after spinal cord injury.

The role of immune cells is crucial in nerve regeneration following spinal cord injury. Kif15, a member of the kinesin family, has been shown to enhance macrophage phagocytosis. This study investigates the impact of Kif15 deficiency on immune cells in zebrafish with spinal cord injury.

Selenium promotes neural development through the regulation of GPX4 and SEPP1 in an iPSC-derived neuronal model.

Selenium (Se) is incorporated into selenoproteins in the form of selenocysteine, which has biological functions associated with neural development. Unfortunately, the specific roles and mechanisms of selenoproteins at different stages of neuronal development are still unclear. Therefore, in this study, we successfully established a neuronal model derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC-iNeuron) and used Se nanoparticles (SeNPs@LNT) with high bioavailability to intervene at different stages of neural development in iPSC-iNeuron model.

AAV-regulated overexpression promotes hair cell regeneration.

Inner ear hair cell (HC) damage is irreversible in mammals, but it has been shown that supporting cells (SCs) have the potential to differentiate into HCs. , a serine protease inhibitor, encodes protease nexin 1, and this has been suggested to be a factor that promotes HC regeneration. In this study, we overexpressed in inner ear SCs cultured in two- and three-dimensional systems using the adeno-associated virus-inner ear (AAV-ie) vector, which promoted organoid expansion and HC differentiation.

Conformation pattern changes in R1-pS262 tau peptide induced endogenous tau aggregation, synaptic damage, and cognitive impairments.

Background: To date, the effect of tau phosphorylation at different amino acid sites on the conformation and function of tau is still unclear in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Protein fingerprinting, also known as the protein folding shape code (PFSC) method, is a protein structure prediction technique based on protein sequence, which can reveal proteins' most likely spatial conformation.

Objective: To investigate the effect of phosphorylation on tau protein conformation using PFSC technology and further analyze the differences in the effect of phosphorylation on tau aggregation at specific sites.