Triptolide inhibits ovarian cancer growth and metastasis via reprogramming of tumor-associated macrophages
For full text please see pdf.
Cell Stress
Cell Stress (CES) emerges as a peer-reviewed publishing platform for high-impact research. CES publishes articles of extraordinary novelty and significance, including research papers and reviews that cover heterogenous topics in the field of cellular pathophysiology.
MicroRNA as key players in skin regeneration and anti-aging pathways
Azizi et al.For full text please see pdf.
Stress management by benzodiazepines in septic shock and critical illness: mechanistic and clinical evidence supporting alternative sedative strategies
Lambertucci et al.For full text please see pdf.
Triptolide inhibits ovarian cancer growth and metastasis via reprogramming of tumor-associated macrophages
Chen et al.For full text please see pdf.
The IRE1α-XBP1s-NFκB axis controls cell survival and epithelial differentiation under osmotic stress through arachidonic acid metabolism activation
Parra et al.Arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism plays a critical role in renal cell osmoadaptation. We recently demonstrated that hypertonicity induces the expression and activation of cytosolic phospholipase A2 (cPLA2). On one hand, AA released by cPLA2 enhances triacylglyceride (TG) synthesis and accumulation. On the other hand, AA is converted into prostaglandins (PG) through cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) activity. Both processes are required for renal cell survival under osmotic stress. However, the mechanisms by which hypertonicity induces cPLA2 expression remain poorly understood. Given that we previously shown that hypertonicity regulates TG synthesis through the IRE1α-XBP1s branch of the unfolded protein (…)
Multifaceted role of CNPY2 beyond ER stress: Disease implications and therapeutic potential
Ebadollahibaruq et al.This review meticulously dissects CNPY2’s structural characteristics, expression patterns, and biological functions across various disorders, emphasizing its role on tumor initiation, microenvironmental stress, and chemoresistance, and evaluating its potential as a therapeutic target.
Antifungal peptides: from modes of action to synergistic and immunologic potential
Carmona-Gutierrez et al.Reversal of Cushing syndrome by antibody-mediated neutralization of ACBP/DBI
Shen et al.For full text please see pdf.
RPA and Pif1 cooperate to remove G-rich structures at both leading and lagging strand
Maestroni et al.In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, the absence of Pif1 helicase induces the instability of G4-containing CEB1 minisatellite during leading strand but not lagging strand replication. We report that RPA and Pif1 cooperate to maintain CEB1 stability when the G4 forming strand is either on the leading or lagging strand templates. At the leading strand, RPA acts in the same pathway as Pif1 to maintain CEB1 stability. Consistent with this result, RPA co-precipitates with Pif1. This association between Pif1 and RPA is affected by the rfa1-D228Y mutation that lowers the affinity of RPA in particular for G-rich single-stranded DNA. At the lagging strand, in contrast to pif1∆, the rfa1-D228Y mutation strongly increases the frequency of CEB1 rearrangements. We explain that Pif1 is dispensable at the lagging strand DNA by the ability of RPA by itself to prevent formation of stable G-rich secondary structures during lagging (…)
LTX-315 sequentially promotes lymphocyte-independent and lymphocyte-dependent antitumor effects
Liao et al.LTX-315 is an oncolytic peptide that has antitumor efficacy in mice grafted with various tumor cell lines and is currently being tested in phase II clinical trials. Here we aimed to further evaluate LTX-315 in conditional genetic mouse models of cancer that typically resist current treatment options and to better understand the drug’s mode of action in vivo. We report LTX-315 mediates profound antitumor effects against Braf- and Pten-driven melanoma and delays the progression of Kras- and P53-driven soft tissue sarcoma in mice. Additionally, we show in melanoma that LTX-315 triggers two sequential phases of antitumor response. The first phase of response, which begins within minutes of drug delivery into tumors, is defined by disrupted tumor vasculature and decreased tumor burden and occurs independently of (…)
Inflammation induced PD-L1-specific T cells
Munir et al.PD-L1-specific T cells are a natural part of the T-cell repertoire in humans. Hence, we have previously described spontaneous CD8+ and CD4+ T-cell reactivity against PD-L1 in the peripheral blood of patients with various cancers as well as in healthy donors. It is well described that the expression of the PD-L1 protein is introduced in cells by pro-inflammatory cytokines, e.g. IFN-γ. In the current study, we were able to directly link inflammation with PD-L1-specific T cells by showing that inflammatory mediators such as IFN-γ generate measurable numbers of PD-L1-specific T cells in human PBMCs as well as in in vivo models. These PD-L1-specific T cells can vigorously modulate the cell compartments of the local environment. PD-L1-specific T cells may be important for immune homeostasis by sustaining the ongoing inflammatory response by the suppression of regulatory cell function both (…)
Gold Nanoparticles sensitize pancreatic cancer cells to gemcitabine
Huai et al.INTRODUCTION Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly lethal disease. The mortality rate closely parallels that of incidence [1][2]. The current standard of care for advanced stage PDAC patients includes combination treatment with Nab-paclitaxel and
The primary cilium protein folliculin is part of the autophagy signaling pathway to regulate epithelial cell size in response to fluid flow
Zemirli et al.Autophagy is a conserved molecular pathway directly involved in the degradation and recycling of intracellular components. Autophagy is associated with a response to stress situations, such as nutrients deficit, chemical toxicity, mechanical stress or microbial host defense. We have recently shown that primary cilium-dependent autophagy is important to control kidney epithelial cell size in response to fluid flow induced shear stress. Here we show that the ciliary protein folliculin (FLCN) actively participates to the signaling cascade leading to the stimulation of fluid flow-dependent autophagy upstream of the cell size regulation in HK2 kidney epithelial cells. The knockdown of FLCN induces a shortening of the primary cilium, inhibits the activation of AMPK and the recruitment of the autophagy protein ATG16L1 at the primary cilium. Altogether, our results suggest that FLCN (…)
Neuronal Lamin regulates motor circuit integrity and controls motor function and lifespan
Oyston et al.Neuronal aging involves a progressive decline in cognitive abilities and loss of motor function. Mutations in human Lamin genes (LMNA, LMNB1, LMNB2) lead to a wide-range of diseases including muscular dystrophy, peripheral neuropathy and progeria. Here we investigate the role of neuronal Lamin in regulating age-related phenotypes. Neuronal targeting of Lamin led to shortened lifespan, progressive impairment of motor function and loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons within the protocerebral anterior medial (PAM) cluster in the Drosophila melanogaster brain. Loss of neuronal Lamin caused an age-related decline in neural physiology, with slower neurotransmission and increased chance of motor circuit failure with age. Unexpectedly, Lamin-dependent decline in motor function was specific for the chemical synapses of the dorsal longitudinal muscle (DLM). Together (…)
Assay for high-throughput screening of inhibitors of the ASC-PYD inflammasome core filament
Sborgi et al.The protein ASC is a central component of most inflammasome complexes, forming functional oligomeric filaments that activate large amounts of pro-caspase-1 for further IL-1β processing and the induction of Gasdermin D-dependent cell death. The central role of inflammasomes in the innate immune response pose them as new molecular targets for therapy of diverse acute, chronic and inherited autoinflammatory pathologies. In recent years, an increasing number of molecules were proposed to modulate inflammasome signalling by interacting with different components of inflammasome complexes. However, the difficult in vitro reconstitution of the inflammasome has limited the development of specific on-target biochemical assays for compound activity confirmation and for drug discovery in high throughput screening setups. Here we describe a homogeneous, pH (…)
Dram1 regulates DNA damage-induced alternative autophagy
Nagata et al.Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved process that degrades subcellular constituents. Mammalian cells undergo two types of autophagy; Atg5-dependent conventional autophagy and Atg5-independent alternative autophagy, and the molecules required for the latter type of autophagy are largely unknown. In this study, we analyzed the molecular mechanisms of genotoxic stress-induced alternative autophagy, and identified the essential role of p53 and damage-regulated autophagy modulator (Dram1). Dram1 was sufficient to induce alternative autophagy. In the mechanism of alternative autophagy, Dram1 functions in the closure of isolation membranes downstream of p53. These findings indicate that Dram1 plays a pivotal role in genotoxic stress-induced alternative autophagy.
MicroRNA as key players in skin regeneration and anti-aging pathways
Azizi et al.For full text please see pdf.
Multifaceted role of CNPY2 beyond ER stress: Disease implications and therapeutic potential
Ebadollahibaruq et al.This review meticulously dissects CNPY2’s structural characteristics, expression patterns, and biological functions across various disorders, emphasizing its role on tumor initiation, microenvironmental stress, and chemoresistance, and evaluating its potential as a therapeutic target.
Antifungal peptides: from modes of action to synergistic and immunologic potential
Carmona-Gutierrez et al.Role of mitochondrial dysfunction in ocular surface diseases
Chen et al.For full text please see pdf.
NFAT5: a stress-related transcription factor with multiple functions in health and disease
Domínguez-López et al.For full text please see the pdf.
Probiotics and mediterranean diet for breast cancer management and prevention?
Sharif-Askari et al.The human gut microbiota, a diverse community of beneficial normal flora microorganisms, significantly influences physiological function and the immune response. Various microbiota strains have shown promise in supporting clinical treatment of chronic diseases, including cancer, by potentially providing antioxidative and anti-tumorigenic effects in both in vivo and in vitro studies. Breast cancer, which ranks amongst the top five cancer types common worldwide and particularly in Mediterranean countries, has been showing high incidence and prevalence. In breast cancer, microbiota composition, hormonal dynamics, and dietary choices are believed to play significant roles. Hence, the Mediterranean diet, known for its microbiota-friendly features, emerges as a potential protective factor against breast cancer development, highlighting the potential for personalized dietary strategies in cancer prevention. This comprehensive review highlights the emerging mechanisms by (…)
Saliva, a molecular reflection of the human body? Implications for diagnosis and treatment
Géli and NabetINTRODUCTION The possibility of using biological fluids such as blood, urine, saliva and other biofluids to diagnose pathologies is a relatively old idea that has taken on a new lease of life in recent years.
Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1 and its ambiguous role in cellular life and death
Castedo et alThe deletion of the gene coding for poly(ADPribose) polymerase-1 (PARP1) or its pharmacological inhibition protects mice against cerebral ischemia and Parkinson’s disease. In sharp contrast, PARP1 inhibitors are in clinical use for the eradication of vulnerable cancer cells. It appears that excessive PARP1 activation is involved in a specific cell death pathway called parthanatos, while inhibition of PARP1 in cancer cells amplifies DNA damage to a lethal level. Hence, PARP1 plays a context-dependent role in cell fate decisions. In addition, it appears that PARP1 plays an ambiguous role in organismal aging.
Cardiac PI3K p110α attenuation delays aging and extends lifespan
Abdellatif et alPhosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) is a key component of the insulin signaling pathway that controls cellular me-tabolism and growth. Loss-of-function mutations in PI3K signaling and other downstream effectors of the insulin signaling pathway extend the lifespan of various model organisms. However, the pro-longevity effect appears to be sex-specific and young mice with reduced PI3K signaling have increased risk of cardiac disease. Hence, it remains elusive as to whether PI3K inhibition is a valid strategy to delay aging and extend healthspan in humans. We recently demonstrated that reduced PI3K activity in cardiomyocytes delays cardiac growth, causing subnormal contractility and cardiopulmonary functional capacity, as well as increased risk of mortality at young age. In stark contrast, in aged mice, experimental attenuation of PI3K signaling reduced the age-dependent decline in cardiac function and extended maximal lifespan, suggesting (…)
A purinergic call to arms from dying brown adipocytes
Mohammed K. HankirBrown adipocytes react to temperature and nutritional challenges by ramping up their metabolism and generating heat. This adaptation to changes in the environment is crucial for defending organismal homeostasis, but is impaired in obesity and during aging. Writing in Nature, Niemann et al. show that brown adipocytes become apoptotic under thermoneutral conditions and release ATP, which in turn is converted extracellularly into inosine. They further present evidence that pharmacological and genetic manipulations that enhance signalling of this purine metabolite stimulates thermo-genesis in brown adipocytes and promotes metabolic health.
Spermidine supplementation in rare translation-associated disorders
Zimmermann et al.Spermidine is a naturally occurring polyamine that is strongly involved in manifold cellular processes, for example, DNA, RNA and protein stabilization, cell growth, proliferation, autophagy, and aging. Importantly, spermidine has also been connected to the
Exploiting the circuit breaker cancer evolution model in human clear cell renal cell carcinoma
Hsieh and ChengINTRODUCTION On average a human adult body encompasses fifty trillion cells (~5×1013) with a daily turnover of hundred billion cells (~1011) within which each contains two copies of ~three billion base-pair DNA haploid genome. Approximately,
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Peer-reviewed, open-access research using unicellular organisms (and multicellular microorganisms) to understand cellular responses and human disease.
The journal (founded in 2014) is led by its Editors-in-Chief Frank Madeo, Didac Carmona-Gutierrez, and Guido Kroemer
Microbial Cell has been publishing original scientific literature since 2014, and from the very beginning has been managed by active scientists through an independent Publishing House (Shared science Publishers). The journal was conceived as a platform to acknowledge the importance of unicellular organisms, both as model systems as well as in the biological context of human health and disease.
Ever since, Microbial Cell has very positively developed and strongly grown into a respected journal in the unicellular research community and even beyond. This scientific impact is reflected in the yearly number of citations obtained by articles published in Microbial Cell, as recorded by the Web of Science (Clarivate, formerly Thomson/Reuters):
The scientific impact of Microbial Cell is also mirrored in a series of milestones:
2015: Microbial Cell is included in the Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI), a selection of developing journals drafted by Clarivate Analytics based on the candidate’s publishing standards, quality, editorial content, and citation data. Note: As an ESCI-selected journal, Microbial Cell is currently being evaluated in a rigorous and long process to determine an inclusion in the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE), which allows the official calculation of Clarivate Analytics’ impact factor.
2016: Microbial Cell is awarded the so-called DOAJ Seal by the selective Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ). The DOAJ Seal is an exclusive mark of certification for open access journals granted by DOAJ to journals that adhere to outstanding best practice and achieve an extra high and clear commitment to open access and high publishing standards.
2017: Microbial Cell is included in Pubmed Central (PMC), allowing the archiving of all the journal’s articles in PMC and PubMed.
2019: Microbial Cell is indexed in the prestigious abstract and citation database Scopus after a thorough selection process. This also means that Microbial Cell obtains, for the first time, an official Scopus CiteScore as well as an official journal ranking in the Scimago Journal and Country Ranking.
2022: Microbial Cell’s CiteScore reaches a value of 7.2 for the year 2021, positioning Microbial Cell among the top microbiology journals (previously available CiteScores: 2019: 5.4; 2020: 5.1).
2022: Microbial Cell is indexed in the highly selective Science Citation Index Expanded™, which covers approx. 9,500 of the world’s most impactful journals across 178 scientific disciplines. In their journal selection and curation process, Clarivate´s editors apply 24 ‘quality’ criteria and four ‘impact’ criteria to select the most influential journals in their respective fields. This selection is also a pre-requisite for inclusion in the JCR, which features the impact factor.
2022: Microbial Cell is listed in the Journal Citation Reports™ (JCR), and obtains its first official Journal Impact Factor™ (JIF) for the year 2021: 5.316.Check Article Types and Manuscript Preparation guidelines. Submit online via Scholastica.