Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
R. Nithin, Ayushi Aggarwal, Anne Boyina Sravani, Pooja Mallya, Shaila Lewis
Summary: Organ-on-a-chip (OOC) technology has emerged as a transformative approach in drug testing research, replicating human organ responses to external signals more accurately than traditional methods. The effectiveness of OOC devices in replacing human volunteers in certain clinical studies highlights their critical role in transforming drug testing methodologies.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Yuhan Song, Fujie Song, Xuan Xiao, Zhifeng Song, Shangfeng Liu
Summary: It has been found that the Wnt signaling pathway plays a crucial role in the early development of teeth and mutations in Wnt signaling pathway antagonists may result in supernumerary teeth. However, the expression pattern of Wnt signaling molecules, especially stage-specific genes, during tooth development remains unclear. Therefore, we used RNA-seq analysis to determine the expression levels of Wnt signal molecules at five different stages of rat first molar tooth germ. Additionally, through literature review, we summarized the function of Wnt signaling molecules during tooth development and their relationship with tooth agenesis. Our study may have important implications for understanding the role of Wnt signaling molecules in different stages of tooth development.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Joud Mulla, Rohan Katti, Melanie J. J. Scott
Summary: Gasdermin-D (GSDMD) is a pore-forming effector protein that belongs to the Gasdermin family (GSDM). It facilitates inflammatory cell death, also known as pyroptosis. Pyroptosis is dependent on inflammatory caspase activation, which cleaves GSDMD to form membrane pores and release pro-inflammatory cytokines. GSDMD plays a crucial role in immune regulation and homeostasis in various organ systems. This review summarizes its role in pyroptosis-mediated cellular and organ injury, and discusses the potential therapeutic targets of GSDMD in different organ systems.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Kimberly Ortiz, Zeliha Cetin, Yiyue Sun, Zhiping Hu, Takeshi Kurihara, Edgar N. N. Tafaleng, Rodrigo M. M. Florentino, Alina Ostrowska, Alejandro Soto-Gutierrez, Lanuza A. P. Faccioli
Summary: This study characterizes hepatocytes isolated from explanted livers of patients with PBC and PSC. The findings reveal changes in intracellular bile acid levels, oxidative stress, and expression of hepatocyte-specific genes in these diseases. These insights provide a basis for understanding the hepatocellular response to cholestasis in cholestatic liver diseases and support the use of hepatocytes as an experimental tool for studying these diseases.
Article
Plant Sciences
Niluphar Akter, Jaekyung Shim, Sanghyeob Lee
Summary: An efficient protocol for isolating protoplasts from pepper placental tissues and the PEG-mediated transient expression of GFP was optimized in this study, facilitating rapid investigation of pepper gene functions.
IN VITRO CELLULAR & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY-PLANT
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Noriaki Sasai, Shogo Tada, Jumi Ohshiro, Chikara Kogiso, Takuma Shinozuka
Summary: ERCC6L2 acts as a key factor in ensuring the survival of neural progenitor cells. It interacts with Sonic Hedgehog signaling and blocks programmed cell death, while promoting the induction of anti-apoptotic factor Bcl-2.
DEVELOPMENT GROWTH & DIFFERENTIATION
(2023)
Article
Developmental Biology
Munir Ahmed, Charles Shumate, Heidi Bojes, Ketki Patel, A. J. Agopian, Mark Canfield
Summary: This study found that the one-year survival rate of infants with congenital hydrocephaly without spina bifida in Texas was 82%. Survival rates were influenced by maternal race and ethnicity, clinical classification, preterm birth, birth weight, birth year, and maternal education. Infants of non-Hispanic Black and Hispanic women had an increased risk of mortality compared to infants of non-Hispanic White women.
BIRTH DEFECTS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Developmental Biology
Vahid Reisi-Vanani, Zahra Lorigooini, Elham Bijad, Hossein Amini-Khoei
Summary: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is the fastest-growing neurodevelopmental disease worldwide, and this study suggests that maternal separation stress and neuroinflammatory response in the hippocampus may contribute to the development of autistic-like behaviors in mice.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROSCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Developmental Biology
Gabriella A. Perez, Kyung-Won Park, Denise Lanza, Jenna Cicardo, M. Danish Uddin, Joanna L. Jankowsky
Summary: Creating a new CreER(T2) driver line targeted to specific neuroblasts and immature neurons allows for better genetic manipulation of adult-born neurons and addresses limitations of existing driver lines.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Dana E. Korneisel, Sara Hassan, Hillary C. Maddin
Summary: This study found that the interglenoid tubercle on the first vertebra is one of the rare skeletal features that unite lissamphibians, through observations of frog development and examination of fossil taxa.
EVOLUTION & DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Article
Cell Biology
Ziwen Liu, Fujun Shang, Na Li, Wenting Dong
Summary: TBC1D25 has been found to have an antagonistic role in cardiac hypertrophy, but its protective effect on myocardial ischemia-reperfusion (MIR) injury remains unknown. This study demonstrates that overexpression of TBC1D25 can protect against MIR injury in cardiomyocytes and rats, accompanied by inhibition of the TAK1-JNK/p38 MAPK signaling cascade. These findings suggest that TBC1D25 may be a potential therapeutic target for MIR injury.
IN VITRO CELLULAR & DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY-ANIMAL
(2023)
Article
Developmental Biology
Revital Gandelman-Marton, Jacques Theitler
Summary: This study evaluated the rate of folic acid supplementation in nonpregnant women of childbearing age with epilepsy and its relation to the type and number of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) used. The results showed that the rate of folic acid supplementation was low and unaffected by AED treatment. Patient and physician-targeted interventions are needed to increase folic acid prescription and patient adherence.
BIRTH DEFECTS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Developmental Biology
Jenil Patel, Maria D. Politis, Meredith M. Howley, Marilyn L. Browne, Elijah H. Bolin, Elizabeth C. Ailes, Candice Y. Johnson, Everett Magann, Wendy N. Nembhard
Summary: This study examined the association between prenatal maternal urinary tract infections (UTI) and specific congenital heart defects (CHDs), and explored the role of fever and antibiotic use in this association. The findings suggest that fever due to UTI and corresponding maternal antibiotic use do not substantially modify the association between maternal UTIs and specific CHDs in offspring.
BIRTH DEFECTS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Developmental Biology
Tutku Soyer, Ozlem Boybeyi, Beren Karaosmanoglu, Ekim Taskiran, Ozlem Pelin Simsek, Guelen Eda Utine
Summary: The genetic basis behind the isolated familial cases of esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistula (EA-TEF) is not well understood. In this case report, a male infant born with EA-TEF and his affected father were evaluated using whole genome sequencing to identify a genetic causative variation. Several variants were found, including one in the CHRND gene that was present in both the patient and his father.
BIRTH DEFECTS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Evan Tjeerdema, Yoon Lee, Rachel Metry, Amro Hamdoun
Summary: The extreme fecundity and synchrony of sea urchins can be effectively utilized in imaging-based drug screens. By combining stable genetics, high content imaging, and machine learning-based image analysis, this study explores the role of a drug transporter in sea urchin embryos. The high-throughput assay and nested convolutional neural network analysis accurately classify embryos and measure their responses to drugs. The results reveal the increased sensitivity of ABCB1 knockout embryos to transporter substrates and mitotic poisons.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART B-MOLECULAR AND DEVELOPMENTAL EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Developmental Biology
Neerja Gupta, Nitika Langeh, Aparna Sharma, Asit Mridha, Manisha Jana, Adarsh Barwad, Kalaivani Mani, Vatsla Dadhwal, Atin Kumar, Dipika Deka, Madhulika Kabra
Summary: This study assesses the feasibility and accuracy of minimally invasive autopsy (MIA) compared to conventional autopsy and found that there was a 97.3% concordance in diagnostic accuracy between MIA and autopsy in malformed cases. The overall diagnostic accuracy of MIA was 96.04%.
BIRTH DEFECTS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Developmental Biology
Shizuko Murakami, Hiroko Ohki-Hamazaki, Yasuo Uchiyama
Summary: The expression of somatostatin (SST) in the olfactory epithelium and nerves of chick embryos during embryonic days 5-8 suggests its involvement in the development and migration of GnRH neurons. Suppression of SST mRNA in chick embryos reduced the number of GnRH neurons in the nasal region without affecting their entry into the forebrain. SST treatment increased the number and migration distance of GnRH neurons in OP explant cultures, and SST antagonist blocked these effects. Furthermore, SST was found to facilitate the fasciculation of olfactory-related fibers.
DEVELOPMENTAL NEUROBIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Mai Kamata, Yuri Taniguchi, Junko Yaguchi, Hiroyuki Tanaka, Shunsuke Yaguchi
Summary: This study found that Troponin-I (TnI) is expressed in future gut cells and regulates gastrulation in sea urchin embryos. Blocking the function of TnI inhibited invagination, indicating its involvement in nonmuscular actin-myosin interactions. The results suggest a new evolutionary and functional scenario of the Troponin system in nonmuscular cell behaviors.
DEVELOPMENTAL DYNAMICS
(2023)
Article
Developmental Biology
L. David Wise, John M. Desesso
Summary: This study evaluated the basis, methods, and usefulness of adjusted fetal weight as a derived endpoint in embryo-fetal developmental toxicity (EFDT) studies in rats. The study found that adjusted fetal weight should not be a routine endpoint, but could be useful in certain cases. The authors recommend further examination of previous EFDT study data to establish guidance on the use of adjusted mean live fetal weights.
BIRTH DEFECTS RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Developmental Biology
Mingyi Zhang, Jifan Feng, Yue Li, Peter Z. Qin, Yang Chai
Summary: In this study, we established a Tfap2b-CreER(T2) transgenic mouse line to investigate the lineage dynamics and contribution of Tfap2b+ cells in neural crest-derived domains. By inducing Cre activity at distinct developmental time points using tamoxifen, we identified the presence of Tfap2b lineage in facial mesenchyme, midbrain, cerebellum, spinal cord, and limbs. Additionally, Tfap2b served as a marker for progenitors in tooth development, with the process initiating at E12.5.
