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REVIEW

Alejandro Borrego-Ruiz^1,*, Juan J. Borrego²
BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.8, pp. 1311-1338, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.066108 - 29 August 2025
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Human Microbiota: Current Knowledge and Perspectives)
Abstract The vaginal microbiome plays a pivotal role in maintaining vaginal health and protecting the host from various diseases. There is a broad agreement within the scientific community that the vaginal microbiome exhibits stable bacterial diversity, influenced by age and gonadal hormone levels, and is classified into distinct Community-State Types. A healthy vaginal microbiome is typically characterized by a predominance of Lactobacillus spp., which acidifies the vaginal environment and is essential in defending against invading microbial pathogens. This review examines the evolution of the vaginal microbiome’s composition throughout a woman’s life. It also explores how exogenous factors More >

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1683

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REVIEW

Kyung-Wan Baek^1,2,#, Jinkyung Cho^3,#, Ji Hyun Kim⁴, Ji-Seok Kim^1,2,*
BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.8, pp. 1339-1362, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.064916 - 29 August 2025
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Cellular and Molecular Mechanisms of Exercise in Aging and Chronic Disease)
Abstract Chronic kidney disease (CKD) affects a significant fraction of the global population and is closely associated with elevated cardiovascular risk and poor clinical outcomes. Its pathophysiology entails complex molecular and cellular disturbances, including reduced nitric oxide bioavailability, persistent low-grade inflammation, oxidative stress, endothelial dysfunction, altered mineral metabolism, genetic predispositions, and uremic toxin accumulation. As current pharmacological treatments provide only partial risk reduction, complementary approaches are imperative. Exercise training, both aerobic and resistance, has emerged as a potent non-pharmacological intervention targeting these underlying molecular pathways. Regular exercise can enhance nitric oxide signaling, improve antioxidant defenses, attenuate… More >

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2997

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1638

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REVIEW

Saranya Velmurugan¹, Dapkupar Wankhar², Vijayalakshmi Paramasivan³, Gowtham Kumar Subbaraj^1,*
BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.8, pp. 1363-1390, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.065891 - 29 August 2025
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Genetic Biomarkers of Cancer: Insights into Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms)
Abstract Cancer rates are increasing globally, making it more urgent than ever to enhance research and treatment strategies. This study aims to investigate how innovative technology and integrated multi-omics techniques could help improve cancer diagnosis, knowledge, and therapy. A complete literature search was undertaken using PubMed, Elsevier, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, Embase, and NCBI. This review examined the articles published from 2010 to 2025. Relevant articles were found using keywords and selected using inclusion criteria New sequencing methods, like next-generation sequencing and single-cell analysis, have transformed our ability to study tumor complexity and genetic mutations, paving the… More >

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2868

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1780

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REVIEW

Carmen Rubio^1,#, Norma Serrano-GarcíA^1,#, Elisa Taddei¹, Eduardo CastañEda², HéCtor Romo^1,3, MoiséS Rubio-Osornio^4,*
BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.8, pp. 1391-1412, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.066320 - 29 August 2025
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Mitochondrial Dynamics and Oxidative Stress in Disease: Cellular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Targets)
Abstract Rotenone is a lipophilic herbicide extensively utilized in experimental neurodegenerative models because of its capacity to disrupt complex I of the mitochondrial electron transport chain. This inhibition results in reduced ATP synthesis, elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation, and mitochondrial malfunction, which instigates oxidative stress and cellular damage, critical elements in neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In addition to causing direct neuronal injury, rotenone significantly contributes to the activation of glial cells, specifically microglia and astrocytes. Activated microglia assumes a proinflammatory (M1) phenotype, distinguished by the… More >

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2833

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1612

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Fan Yang, Zhongbo Zhu, Lijuan Shi, Xiping Liu^*
BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.8, pp. 1413-1433, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.064982 - 29 August 2025
Abstract Gastric cancer remains a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide, with its complex tumor microenvironment (TME) playing a crucial role in tumor initiation, progression, and therapeutic response. As key components of the TME, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) influence tumor cell proliferation, invasion, and treatment resistance through cytokine secretion, exosomal communication, and metabolic regulation. MSCs enhance cancer stemness and therapy resistance by modulating glycolysis and fatty acid oxidation (FAO), while also promoting tumor progression through immune modulation and interactions with surrounding microenvironmental elements. Despite their potential for therapeutic applications, the clinical use of MSCs in gastric… More >

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1510

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ARTICLE

Seo Yeon Shin¹, Nu Ri Song¹, Sa Rang Choi¹, Ki Min Kim¹, Jae Hee Byun¹, Su Jung Kim², Dai Hyun Jung², Seong Sim Kim², Seong Ju Park², So Jeong Chu², Kyung Mok Park^1,*
BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.8, pp. 1435-1448, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.065199 - 29 August 2025
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Understanding Cellular Mechanisms in Wound Healing During Therapeutic Interventions)
Abstract Background: The efficient transdermal delivery of biologically active molecules remains a major challenge because of the structural barrier of the stratum corneum, which limits the penetration of large or hydrophilic molecules. Low-molecular-weight protamine (LMWP) has a structure similar to that of the HIV TAT protein-derived peptide and is a representative cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) used to increase cell permeability. However, protamine has been reported to have many toxicities and side effects. Objectives: We developed human-derived low-molecular-weight protamine (hLMWP), which is based on fish-derived LMWP but designed using human protein sequences to improve safety and functionality. As… More >

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1305

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ARTICLE

Alejandro Javier Español^1,2,*, Yamila Sanchez¹, Sofia Volpi²
BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.8, pp. 1449-1480, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.068034 - 29 August 2025
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Exploring the Role of Cancer Stem Cells)
Abstract Background: Triple-negative (TN) breast cancer, the most aggressive subtype of breast cancer, is usually treated with high doses of paclitaxel (PX), which induces resistance. To prevent this adverse effect, metronomic chemotherapy based on administering low doses of PX plus carbachol (Carb), a muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (mAChR) agonist, has emerged as an alternative. Other acetylcholine receptors also present in breast tissue are nicotinic ones. When activated by nicotine (Nic), these receptors can decrease the effectiveness of conventional chemotherapy. However, whether metronomic chemotherapy with PX and Carb is affected by Nic has not yet been described. This… More >

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1671

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1407

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ARTICLE

Shuyan Kong^1,#, Danting Li^1,#, Haonan Meng^1,#, Haoxiang Zhang¹, Xiaochun Jiang¹, Peilin Zheng², Shoujun Huang^1,*
BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.8, pp. 1481-1504, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.066205 - 29 August 2025
（This article belongs to the Special Issue: Genetic Biomarkers of Cancer: Insights into Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms)
Abstract Background: Small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO)-specific proteases (SENPs) cleave the isopeptidic bond between SUMO1/2/3 and protein substrates, thus regulating the structure, activity, and lifetime of a variety of proteins. Recently, accumulating evidence has suggested that SENPs play a role in the initiation and progression of human cancers. Nevertheless, the potential role of the SENP family of proteins in liver cancer has yet to be fully elucidated. Methods: This study conducted a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of the SENP family in liver cancer, including differential expression profiling, survival analysis, mutation and copy number variations (CNVs) assessment, immune infiltration… More >

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1351

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ARTICLE

Xiaoyue Feng^1,#, Yu Liu^2,#, Ying Kang¹, Juan Wei², Bei Yuan³, Kang Jiang⁴, Weijun Xu², Xinyi Xia⁵, Fangyu Wang^1,*
BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.8, pp. 1505-1528, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.066504 - 29 August 2025
Abstract Objectives: A common side effect of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is intestinal fibrosis, which frequently leads to intestinal blockage and stricture formation. Although Thalidomide (THD) has shown anti-fibrotic benefits in hepatic and renal models, little is known about how it affects intestinal fibrosis and the underlying processes. The present research examines the molecular targets of THD and its potential as a treatment for intestinal fibrosis brought on by colitis. Methods: Clinical samples from Crohn’s disease (CD) patients with intestinal strictures treated with infliximab (IFX) and THD combined with IFX were collected. Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)… More >

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1964

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1375

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ARTICLE

Yi Zhang¹, Hua Jin^2,*
BIOCELL, Vol.49, No.8, pp. 1529-1543, 2025, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2025.066479 - 29 August 2025
Abstract Objectives: The present study investigated whether Tripartite Motif-Containing Protein 32 (TRIM32) contributes to the aberrant activation of keloid fibroblasts (KFs) via glycolysis. Methods: The expression levels of TRIM32, pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 1 (PDK1), hexokinase 2 (HK2), and glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) in normal human skin fibroblasts (NFs) and KFs were analyzed using RT-qPCR analyses and western blotting. Cellular proliferation, invasion, and migration were evaluated using Transwell, wound healing, 5-ethynyl-2^′-deoxyuridine (EdU), and cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assays. The extracellular acidification rate (ECAR) was measured using the XF96 Extracellular Flux Analyzer. Glucose uptake and ATP production were measured using… More >

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