MINGYUE HUANG^1,#, JUNFEI DAI^1,#, XIANLIANG ZHONG², JIN WANG², JIANZHONG XU², BO DU^2,*

BIOCELL, Vol.48, No.6, pp. 889-896, 2024, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2024.050097 - 10 June 2024

Abstract Chronic subdural hematoma (CSDH) is a disease characterized by capsuled blood products that progressively occupy the intracranial space, causing intracranial hypertension and compression in the brain. CSDH frequently occurs in all demographics, especially in the elderly, but the pathogenesis of CSDH remains unclear. In this review, we discuss the origin, development, and current treatment strategies of CSDH. For the first time, we analyzed the cellular and molecular compositions of hematoma membranes with a focus on neomembrane formation, a complex early-stage interactive event in hematoma pathogenesis. We hypothesize that in patients with CSDH, dural border cells… More >

ALEKSANDRA GORNOSTAEVA, LUDMILA BURAVKOVA, MARGARITA LOBANOVA, ELENA ANDREEVA^*

BIOCELL, Vol.48, No.5, pp. 677-692, 2024, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2024.048873 - 06 May 2024

Abstract The structural and associated molecules of the extracellular matrix (ECM) complex is an important component of the local milieu of cells, both for maintaining their functions and homeostasis. It is a dynamic structure that is finely tuned to changes in the microenvironment. One of these factors is hypoxia, which can arise in tissues due to physiological or pathological effects. As a result of the hypoxic effect, the properties of the ECM are significantly modified, stiffness increases, the balance between degradation and synthesis of structural proteins shifts, and the deposition of biologically active mediators’ changes. Hypoxia-inducible… More >

AAYUSHI RANDHAWA^1,2, SAYAN DEB DUTTA¹, KEYA GANGULY¹, TEJAL V. PATIL^1,2, RACHMI LUTHFIKASARI¹, KI-TAEK LIM^1,2,*

BIOCELL, Vol.47, No.4, pp. 789-808, 2023, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2023.026217 - 08 March 2023

Abstract Tissues are made up of cells and the extracellular matrix (ECM) which surrounds them. These cells and tissues are actively adaptable to enduring significant stress that occurs in daily life. This astonishing mechanical stress develops due to the interaction between the live cells and the non-living ECM. Cells in the matrix microenvironment can sense the signals and forces produced and initiate a signaling cascade that plays a crucial role in the body’s normal functioning and influences various properties of the native cells, including growth, proliferation, and differentiation. However, the matrix’s characteristic features also impact the More >

NOUR HIJAZI, DON C. ROCKEY^*, ZENGDUN SHI^*

BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.9, pp. 2003-2007, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.020171 - 18 May 2022

Abstract Hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are the primary effector cells in liver fibrosis. In the normal liver, HSCs serve as the primary vitamin A storage cells in the body and retain a “quiescent” phenotype. However, after liver injury, they transdifferentiate to an “activated” myofibroblast-like phenotype, which is associated with dramatic upregulation of smooth muscle specific actin and extracellular matrix proteins. The result is a fibrotic, stiff, and dysfunctional liver. Therefore, understanding the molecular mechanisms that govern HSC function is essential for the development of anti-fibrotic medications. The actin cytoskeleton has emerged as a key component of More >

OK-HYEON KIM^1,2,#, EUN RAN KIM^3,#, JUN HYUNG PARK², HYUN JUNG LEE^1,2,*

BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.6, pp. 1439-1443, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.018921 - 07 February 2022

Abstract Exogenously delivered mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) are therapeutically beneficial owing to their paracrine effect; they secrete various cytokines, nucleic acids, and proteins. Multiple bioengineering techniques can help MSC cultures to release secretomes by providing stem cell niche-like conditions (both structurally and functionally). Various scaffolds mimic the natural extracellular matrix (ECM) using both natural and synthetic polymers, providing favorable environments for MSC proliferation and differentiation. Depending on material properties, either topographically or elastically structured scaffolds can be fabricated. Three-dimensional scaffolds have tunable substrate rigidities and structures, aiding MSC cultivation. Decellularized ECM-derived hydrogels are similar to the More >

PETRA KRAUS^1,*, ANKITA SAMANTA¹, SINA LUFKIN², THOMAS LUFKIN¹

BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.4, pp. 893-898, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.018432 - 15 December 2021

Abstract Pain and lifestyle changes are common consequences of intervertebral disc degeneration (IVDD) and affect a large part of the aging population. The stemness of cells is exploited in the field of regenerative medicine as key to treat degenerative diseases. Transplanted cells however often face delivery and survival challenges, especially in tissues with a naturally harsh microniche environment such as the intervertebral disc. Recent interest in the secretome of stem cells, especially cargo protected from microniche-related decay as frequently present in degenerating tissues, provides new means of rejuvenating ailing cells and tissues. Exosomes, a type of More >

FREDERICK H. SILVER

BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.2, pp. 297-299, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.017406 - 20 October 2021

Abstract Gravity plays a central role in vertebrate development and evolution. Mechanotransduction involves the tensile tethering of veins and arteries, connections between the epidermis and dermis in skin, tensile stress concentrations that occur at tissue interfaces, cell-cell interactions, cell-collagen fiber stress transfer in extracellular matrix and fluid shear flow. While attention in the past has been directed at understanding the myriad of biochemical players associated with mechanotransduction pathways, less attention has been focused on determining the tensile mechanical behavior of tissues in vivo. Fibroblasts sit on the surface of collagen fibers in living skin and exert a More >

OLIVIA A. ROBLES-RODRÍGUEZ¹, MARÍA J. LOERA-ARIAS^1,*, JOSÉ J. PÉREZ-TRUJILLO¹, ARNULFO VILLANUEVA-OLIVO¹, ERNESTO PICÓN-GALINDO¹, LAURA VILLARREAL-MARTÍNEZ², ADOLFO SOTO-DOMÍNGUEZ¹, HUMBERTO RODRÍGUEZ-ROCHA¹, ARACELY GARCÍA-GARCÍA¹, ODILA SAUCEDO-CÁRDENAS^1,3, ROBERTO MONTES DE OCA-LUNA^1,*

BIOCELL, Vol.44, No.3, pp. 401-409, 2020, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2020.010064 - 22 September 2020

Abstract Human-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) are an accessible source of adult-derived, patient-specific pluripotent stem cells for use in basic research, drug discovery, disease modeling, and stem cell therapy. Improving the accessibility of methods to obtain iPSCs regardless of the cell source can enhance their clinical application. Therefore, our purpose is to report a simple protocol to obtain iPS-like cells from urine-derived renal epithelial cells (RECs) using different extracellular matrices and transfection reagents. In this study, we began by culturing urine-derived cells from healthy donors to establish a primary culture of renal epithelial cells, followed by… More >

Yan Zu^1,2, Qiang Li¹, Chun Yang^2,*

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.16, Suppl.2, pp. 106-106, 2019, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2019.07132

Abstract Extracellular matrix (ECM) elasticity affects the function of a variety of cells. Integrins are transmembrane receptors that considered to be a sensor of cellular mechanical stimulation. The activity of integrins is strongly influenced by glycans through glycosylation events and the establishment of glycan-mediated interactions. Our study found that the level of β1 integrin N-linked glycosylation was significantly down-regulated on softer ECM. Further, sialic acid is a common monosaccharide modified at the end of the sugar chain during N-glycosylation. We subjected the enriched sialylated glycoproteins to gel-based proteomic identification by tandem mass spectrometry and found that… More >

Mingxing Ouyang^1,*, Zhili Qian¹, Yang Jin¹, Linhong Deng¹

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.16, Suppl.2, pp. 65-65, 2019, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2019.06642

Abstract The collective functions at cell population level rely on cell-cell communications with or without direct contacts [1-3]. The long-range biomechanical force propagating across certain scales far beyond single cell size may reserve the capability to trigger coordinative biological responses within cell population [3-5]. Whether and how cells communicate with each other mechanically in a distant manner remains largely to be explored. Airway smooth muscle (ASM) cells are one crucial component in providing mechanical support and contraction force for the bronchial tubes in respiratory system, whereas the mechanical property of ASM is also associated with asthma… More >