Cell Signaling

In many metazoan tissues, highly specialized cells are constantly lost and need to be replaced by tissue homeostasis from adult stem cells. When adult stem cells divide by mitosis their daughter cells either become new stem cells, or enter a proliferation and differentiation path. Recent studies in Drosophila males showed that germline stem cells (GSCs) can increase their mitotic activity in response to repeated mating.

This commentary focuses on two recent publications showing deregulation of the transcription factor Slug/Snail2 and TGF-β function in primary bronchial basal/progenitor cells of patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and the impact on proliferation and the expression of genes involved in stem cell maintenance. We discuss the molecular mechanisms related to the exhaustion of airway basal stem/progenitor cells in tobacco smoke-induced COPD, as well as putative links between COPD and lung cancer at the molecular level.

Microbial infection can cause cell damage in both plants and animals, as well as triggering stress responses commonly induced by environmental (abiotic) cues. 

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of blindness in the U.S. However, not much is known of underlying molecular mechanism and how oxidative stress contributes to its development. In the present study, we investigated the involvement of TGFβ signaling pathway on the effect of oxidative stress on VEGF secretion and viability of retinal cells. VEGF is the hallmark that exacerbates DR progression in prolonged diabetes. Some major concerns that have arisen are the underlying effects of antioxidants in elevating VEGF secretion in diabetes.

The promising results of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) in tumors have changed the current treatment modality for cancer. ICIs response prediction is urgently needed for the personalized therapy approach. In the recent issue of the Journal of Oncology, Zixin Hu et al.