GIORDANO WOSGRAU CALLONI^1,*, MARCO AUGUSTO STIMAMIGLIO^2,*

BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.6, pp. 1375-1381, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.019681

Abstract Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) and their byproducts have been widely validated as potential therapeutic products for regenerative medicine. The therapeutic effects result mainly from the paracrine activity of MSCs, which consists of the secretion of bioactive molecules, whether dispersed in medium conditioned by cell culture or encapsulated in extracellular vesicles. The composition of the MSC secretome, which represents the set of these secreted cellular products, is crucial for the performance of the desired therapeutic functions. Different cell culture strategies have been employed to adjust the secretome composition of MSCs to obtain the best therapeutic responses for different clinical contexts. However,… More >

JUAN CARLOS STOCKERT^1,2,*, ALFONSO BLÁZQUEZ-CASTRO³

BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.6, pp. 1391-1415, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.019493

Abstract

Melanins represent one of the most ancient and important group of natural macromolecular pigments. They have multiple biological roles in almost all organisms across the Phyla, examples being photoprotection, anti-oxidative action, radical scavenger activity, and heavy metal removal. From the biomedical point of view, melanocytes are involved in the origin of melanoma tumors, and the main therapeutic advances for their treatment have been revised in Part 1 of this review. The chemical structure of eumelanin is a biological concern of great importance, and therefore, exploring theoretical molecular models and synthesis mechanisms will be here described, as well as molecular orbital… More >

MIN TANG^1,#, XUELING HE^1,2,#, XINGHONG YAO¹, JIRUI WEN¹, MINGYUE BAO¹, LIANG LI^1,*

BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.6, pp. 1465-1472, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.018967

Abstract The present study was designed to investigate the role of estrogen receptor α (ERα) in biaxial tensile strain (BTS) regulated osteogenic differentiation of rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs). rBMSCs were derived from rats and overexpressed ERα. The rBMSCs were subjected to BTS at 1 Hz with a strain of 2% for 4 h per day, 3 days, with or without ERα inhibitor ICI 182,780 (ICI). Then, bone mineralization was performed by Alizarin Red Staining. The markers of osteogenic differentiation and downstream Wnt3a/β-catenin signaling were detected by western blotting. Results showed that BTS enhanced the osteogenic differentiation of rBMSCs,… More >

KAREL H. M. VAN WELY^*

BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.6, pp. 1453-1457, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.018939

Abstract Transcription termination of nearly all protein-coding genes in mammals requires 3’ end processing by a multiprotein complex that will cleave and polyadenylate the messenger RNA precursor. Because a variety of enzyme complexes intervene, 3’ end processing was thought to be fundamentally complex and subject to a multitude of regulatory effects. The possibility to select just one out of several polyadenylation sites, in particular, has caused much questioning and speculation. What appear to be separate mechanisms however can be combined into a defined set of rules, allowing for a relatively simple interpretation of 3’ end processing. Ultimately, readiness of the terminal… 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

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 natural ECM, thus improving the… More >

IGOR A. KHLUSOV^1,*, LARISA S. LITVINOVA^2,*, KRISTINA A. YUROVA², MARINA Y. KHLUSOVA³

BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.6, pp. 1365-1373, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.018917

Abstract Stem cell microterritories (niches), as a specialized part of the extracellular matrix (ECM), are considered an important target and tool for the development of new materials, medical implants, and devices. However, tissue bioengineering products that have stem cell niches of known size on the surface or in the bulk structure of artificial materials are practically unknown. This brief review attempts to draw attention to the problematic aspects of niches as specific parts of the ECM, such as their hierarchy and size for mesenchymal stromal/stem cells (MSCs). These parameters arise directly from numerous definitions of stem cell niches as specialized morphological… More >

MARGARIDA LORIGO^1,2, ELISA CAIRRAO^1,2,*

BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.6, pp. 1383-1389, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.018895

Abstract Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are one of the leading causes of death worldwide. The knowledge and understanding of CVD are based on the study of vascular physiology and how the smooth muscle cells and tissues perform their different functions. Exposure to endocrine disruptors (EDCs), such as phytoestrogens, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, flame retardants, plasticizers, pesticides, and cosmetics, is an integral and fundamental part of human exposure. Humans are exposed to EDCs by multiple pathways including air, food, water, and consumer products. However, this exposure can lead to several adverse effects on human health, including on the cardiovascular (CV) system. The negative impact… More >

KAN OUYANG^1,2,#, MEIQUAN XU^3,#, YUJIE LIANG⁴, XIAO XU², LIMEI XU², CAINING WEN^1,2, ZHUAN QIN², YIXIN XIE², HUAWEI ZHANG⁵, LI DUAN^2,*, DAPING WANG^1,2,5,*

BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.6, pp. 1521-1526, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.018788

Abstract There is no efficient tracking system available for the therapeutic molecules delivered to cartilage. The dense matrix covering the cartilage surface is the main biological barrier that the therapeutic molecules must overcome. In this study, we aimed to establish a system that can dynamically and effectively track the therapeutic molecules delivered to cartilage. To this aim, we adopted bovine and human cartilage explants as ex vivo models for chondrocyte-targeted exosome dispersion. The efficiency of drug delivery was evaluated using frozen sections. The results of this study showed that the penetration and distribution of chondrocyte-targeted exosomes in cartilage explants can be… More >

W. BENTON SWANSON, YUJI MISHINA^*

BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.6, pp. 1445-1451, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.018781

Abstract Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have long been regarded as critical components of regenerative medicine strategies, given their multipotency and persistence in a variety of tissues. Recently, the specific role of MSCs in mediating regenerative outcomes has been attributed (in part) to secreted factors from transplanted cells, namely extracellular vesicles. This viewpoint manuscript highlights the promise of cell-derived extracellular vesicles as agents of regeneration, enhanced by synergy with appropriate biomaterials platforms. Extracellular vesicles are a potentially interesting regenerative tool to enhance the synergy between MSCs and biomaterials. As a result, we believe these technologies will improve patient outcomes through efficient therapeutic… More >

HE LI¹, RUNAN CHEN¹, ZHONGCHENG CHEN¹, JIAXIN LIN¹, XIJUN JIN¹, CHUNYUAN REN¹, QIUSEN CHEN¹, FENGQIONG CHEN¹, GAOBO YU^1,*, YUXIAN ZHANG^1,2,*

BIOCELL, Vol.46, No.6, pp. 1575-1592, 2022, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2022.018762

Abstract The Type-B authentic response regulator (ARR-Bs) gene family is one of the important plant-specific transcription factor families involved in variety of physiological processes. However, study of ARR-Bs gene family in soybean is limited. Genome-wide analysis and expression profiling of the ARR-Bs gene family were performed in the soybean genome. 31 ARR-Bs genes (namely GmARR-B1-31) were identified, containing conserved catalytic domains with protein lengths and molecular weights ranging from 246 to 699 amino acids (aa) and 28.30 to 76.86 kDa, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis grouped ARR-Bs genes into three clusters—Cluster I, Cluster II, and Cluster III—which included 15, 12, and 4 genes,… More >