Research Spotlight - January 2023

This month, we highlight several research advancements in tissue engineering and regenerative medicine, including the novel role of a transiently activated epicardial progenitor cell to enhance cardiac repair, inhibition of AMPK-mediated fibro-adipogenic progenitors apoptosis for muscle regeneration, and inhibition of PTGFR and its downstream pathway for proliferative retinal disease management.

In addition, recent discoveries in cancer diagnosis and treatment are presented. Different approaches to enhance cancer cells' response to immunotherapy, such as combining PCIF1 inhibition with anti-PD-1 treatment, offer promising results for tumor growth suppression.

Scroll down to learn more about these research studies!

Activation of a Transient Progenitor State in the Epicardium is Required for Zebrafish Heart Regeneration

Authors: Xia, Y., Duca, S., Perder, B., Dündar, F., Zumbo, P., Qiu, M., Yao, J…
Journal: Nature Communications

The epicardium, a mesothelial cell tissue that encompasses vertebrate hearts, supports heart regeneration after injury through paracrine effects and as a source of multipotent progenitors. However, the progenitor state in the adult epicardium has yet to be defined. Through single-cell RNA-sequencing of isolated epicardial cells...

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Cited Boster Product(s): Anti-Zebrafish Mef2 Antibody (DZ01398-1)

PGF2α Facilitates Pathological Retinal Angiogenesis by Modulating Endothelial FOS-Driven ELR+ CXC Chemokine Expression

Authors: Zhao, Y., Lei, Y., Ning, H., Zhang, Y., Chen, G., Wang, C., Wan, Q…
Journal: EMBO Molecular Medicine

The pathological retinal angiogenesis often causes blindness. Current anti-angiogenic therapy for proliferative retinopathy targets the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), but many patients do not radically benefit from this therapy. Herein, we report that circulating prostaglandin (PG) F2α metabolites were increased in type...

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Cited Boster Product(s): Mouse CXCL1/Gro Alpha ELISA Kit PicoKine® (EK0723)

Role of PCIF1-Mediated 5’-Cap N6-Methyladeonsine mRNA Methylation in Colorectal Cancer and AntiPD-1 Immunotherapy

Authors: Wang, L., Wu, L., Zhu, Z., Zhang, Q., Li, W., Gonzalez, G. M…
Journal: The EMBO Journal

Adenosine N6-methylation (m6A) and N6,2′-O-dimethylation (m6Am) are regulatory modifications of eukaryotic mRNAs. m6Am formation is catalyzed by the methyl transferase phosphorylated CTD-interacting factor 1 (PCIF1); however, the pathophysiological functions of this RNA modification and PCIF1 in cancers are unclear...

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Cited Boster Product(s): Mouse TGF-Beta 3 ELISA Kit PicoKine® (EK1104)

AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Inhibition in Fibro-Adipogenic Progenitors Impairs Muscle Regeneration and Increases Fibrosis

Authors: Liu, X., Zhao, L., Gao, Y., Chen, Y., Tian, Q., Son, J. S., Chae, S. A…
Journal: Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle

Background: Following muscle injury, fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs) are rapidly activated and undergo apoptosis at the resolution stage, which is required for proper muscle regeneration. When excessive FAPs remain, it contributes to fibrotic and fatty infiltration, impairing muscle recovery. Mechanisms controlling FAP apoptosis...

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Cited Boster Product(s): Mouse TGF Beta 1 ELISA Kit PicoKine® (EK0515)

Akkermansia Supplementation Reverses the Tumor-Promoting Effect of the Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in Ovarian Cancer

Authors: Wang, Z., Qin, X., Hu, D., Huang, J., Guo, E., Xiao, R., Li, W., Sun, C...
Journal: Cell Reports

Ovarian cancer (OC) remains a clinical challenge for its difficulty in early diagnosis and insensitivity to treatments. Gut microbiota modulate multiple carcinoma progression through immunoregulation. The relationship between OC and gut microbiota has not been fully characterized. We find that the feces of patients with OC demonstrate...

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Cited Boster Product(s): Mouse IFN Gamma / IFNG / Interferon Gamma ELISA Kit PicoKine® (EK0375)

Histone Methyltransferase KMT2B Promotes Metastasis and Angiogenesis of Cervical Cancer by Upregulating EGF Expression

Authors: Zhao, D., Yuan, H., Fang, Y., Gao, J., Li, H., Li, M., Cong, H…
Journal: International Journal of Biological Sciences

Evidence has indicated that lysine methyltransferase 2B (KMT2B), a major H3K4 tri-methyltransferase (H3K4me3), contributes to the development of various cancers; however, its role in cervical cancer (CC) is unclear. In this study, increased KMT2B expression was observed in human CC specimens and significantly associated...

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Cited Boster Product(s): Human EGF ELISA Kit PicoKine® (EK0325)

2D and 3D Cultured Human Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cell-Conditioned Medium has a Dual Effect in Type 1 Diabetes Model in Rats: Immunomodulation and Beta-Cell Regeneration

Authors: Isildar, B., Ozkan, S., Ercin, M., Oktayoglu, S. G., Oncul, M…
Journal: Inflammation and Regeneration

Type 1 diabetes (T1D) is a T-cell-mediated autoimmune disease characterized by the irreversible destruction of insulin-producing β-cells in pancreatic islets. Helper and cytotoxic T-cells and cytokine production, which is impaired by this process, take a synergetic role in β-cell destruction, and hyperglycemia develops due to insulin...

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Cited Boster Product(s): Human IFN Gamma ELISA Kit PicoKine® (EK0373); Human IL-17/IL-17A ELISA Kit PicoKine® (EK0430); Human IL-4 ELISA Kit PicoKine® (EK0404); Human IL-10 ELISA Kit PicoKine® (EK0416)

Monophosphoryl Lipid A Ameliorates Radiation-Induced Lung Injury by Promoting the Polarization of Macrophages to the M1 Phenotype

Authors: Guo, X., Du, L., Ma, N., Zhang, P., Wang, Y., Han, Y., Huang, X…
Journal: Journal of Translational Medicine

Background: Radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) often occurs during clinical chest radiotherapy and acute irradiation from accidental nuclear leakage. This study explored the role of monophosphoryl lipid A (MPLA) in RILI. Materials and Methods: The entire thoracic cavity of C57BL/6N mice was irradiated at 20 Gy with or without...

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Cited Boster Product(s): Mouse TNF Alpha ELISA Kit PicoKine® (EK0527); Mouse TGF Beta 1 ELISA Kit PicoKine® (EK0515); Mouse IL-1 Beta ELISA Kit PicoKine® (EK0394); Mouse IL-10 ELISA Kit PicoKine® (EK0417)

Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts Promote Radioresistance of Breast Cancer Cells via the HGF/c-Met Signaling Pathway

Authors: Wang, B., Liu, W., Liu, C., Du, K., Guo, Z., Zhang, G., Huang, Z…
Journal: International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics

Purpose: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) are an integral part of the tumor microenvironment (TME), which is involved in the therapy resistance. Here, we aimed to investigate the role of CAFs in radiosensitivity of breast cancer cells. Methods and Materials: The CAFs were isolated form the breast cancer tissues and the conditioned...

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Cited Boster Product(s): Human HGF/Hepatocyte Growth Factor ELISA Kit PicoKine® (EK0369); Human TNF Alpha/Tumor Necrosis Factor ELISA Kit PicoKine® (EK0525)

Avicularin Alleviates Osteoporosis-Induced Implant Loosening by Attenuating Macrophage M1 Polarization via its Inhibitory Effect on the Activation of NF-κB

Authors: Yang, Y., Sheng, D., Shi, J., Xiao, L., Wang, Z., Yin, Z., Zhuang, Q…
Journal: Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy

Currently, the failure rate for internal fixation in patients with osteoporosis can be reduced by antiosteoporosis therapy alone. However, the administration of anti-osteoporotic drugs is not a complete solution. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate other causes of surgical failure, such as inflammation...

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Cited Boster Product(s): Mouse IL-6/Interleukin-6 PicoKine® Quick ELISA Kit (FEK0411); Mouse TNF Alpha/Tumor Necrosis Factor PicoKine® Quick ELISA Kit (FEK0527)