Targeting Pericytes to Improve Wound Healing Outcomes
AbstractPurpose of ReviewRecently, pericytes, a mesenchymal stem-like cell population, has been of great interest due to its plasticity and for its role in different pathologies. This review will focus on the contributions of pericytes specifically to wound healing and the potential to manipulate this specific cell population for better healing outcome.Recent FindingsSeveral studies point towards the capability of pericytes to regulate inflammation, angiogenesis and the remodeling phase of healing. Interestingly, findings also show that the source from which pericytes are isolated has differential and varied effects during...
Source: Current Pathobiology Reports - March 19, 2018 Category: Laboratory Medicine Source Type: research
Epigenetic Regulation of Myofibroblast Phenotypes in Fibrosis
AbstractPurpose of ReviewMyofibroblasts are the fundamental drivers of fibrosing disorders; there is great value in better defining epigenetic networks involved in myofibroblast behavior. Complex epigenetic paradigms, which are likely organ and/or disease specific, direct pathologic myofibroblast phenotypes. In this review, we highlight epigenetic regulators and the mechanisms through which they shape myofibroblast phenotype in fibrotic diseases of different organs.Recent FindingsHundreds of genes and their expression contribute to the myofibroblast transcriptional regime influencing myofibroblast phenotype. An increasingl...
Source: Current Pathobiology Reports - March 16, 2018 Category: Laboratory Medicine Source Type: research
Microbial Interactions with the Intestinal Epithelium and Beyond: Focusing on Immune Cell Maturation and Homeostasis
AbstractPurpose of ReviewOur perception of human microbes has changed greatly in the past decade from a focus on pathogens and infections to a new world view of mutualism and coevolution of microbes and mammalian hosts. This review article seeks to explain the dynamic interactions occurring between the intestinal microbiome and the mammalian host mucosa..Recent FindingsMicrobial metabolites influence the functions of epithelial, endothelial, and immune cells in the intestinal mucosa. Microbial metabolites like SCFAs and B complex vitamins influence macrophage differentiation and polarization, whereas microbe-derived biogen...
Source: Current Pathobiology Reports - March 5, 2018 Category: Laboratory Medicine Source Type: research
Tissue Repair and Epimorphic Regeneration: an Overview
AbstractPurpose of the ReviewThis manuscript discusses wound healing as a component of epimorphic regeneration and the role of the immune system in this process.Recent FindingsEpimorphic regeneration involves formation of a blastema, a mass of undifferentiated cells capable of giving rise to the regenerated tissues. The apical epithelial cap plays an important role in blastemal formation.SummaryTrue regeneration is rarely observed in mammals. With the exception of transgenic strains, tissue repair in mammals usually leads to non-functional fibrotic tissue formation. In contrast, a number of lower order species including pl...
Source: Current Pathobiology Reports - March 1, 2018 Category: Laboratory Medicine Source Type: research
Racing to Stay Put: How Resident Microbiota Stimulate Intestinal Epithelial Cell Proliferation
AbstractPurpose of ReviewIn this review, we describe a shared requirement for resident microbiota to stimulate intestinal epithelial cell proliferation revealed in germ-free mice, zebrafish, and fruit flies. We seek to understand the extent to which these hosts respond to their microbiota through shared mechanisms, reflecting ancient animal epithelial tissue adaptations to microbial coexistence, versus through host-specific specializations.Recent FindingsWe find examples of host-specific microbial pro-proliferative stimuli, but across hosts, these stimuli are often sensed via innate immune pathways involving Myd88 and NFka...
Source: Current Pathobiology Reports - March 1, 2018 Category: Laboratory Medicine Source Type: research
Mechanisms of Pathology-Induced Neural Stem Cell Plasticity and Neural Regeneration in Adult Zebrafish Brain
AbstractPurpose of the ReviewThe purpose of this study is to review the current knowledge on the damage-induced molecular programs that underlie the regenerative ability in zebrafish brain.Recent FindingsNeural stem cells are the reservoir for new neurons during development and regeneration of the vertebrate brains. Pathological conditions such as neurodegenerative diseases hamper neural stem cell plasticity and neurogenic outcome in humans, whereas adult zebrafish brain can enhance proliferation and neurogenic capacity of its neural stem cells despite the incipient pathology. Evidence suggests that zebrafish uses damage-i...
Source: Current Pathobiology Reports - March 1, 2018 Category: Laboratory Medicine Source Type: research
Alerting the Body to Tissue Injury: The Role of Alarmins and DAMPs in Cutaneous Wound Healing
This article will provide an overview of alarmins and outline the latest findings on these mediators in cutaneous wound healing.Recent FindingsIn addition to stimulating inflammatory cells, recent evidence suggests that alarmins can act on other cells in the skin to affect wound closure and the extent of scar tissue production. This review will focus on high-mobility group box-1 and IL-33, two alarmins that have received recent attention in the wound healing field.SummaryBecause a properly regulated inflammatory response is critical for optimal healing, further research must be done to fully understand the role of alarmins...
Source: Current Pathobiology Reports - March 1, 2018 Category: Laboratory Medicine Source Type: research
Regional Control of Regulatory Immune Cells in the Intestine
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe intestine contains the largest compartment of immune regulatory cells which include T regulatory cells and IL-10-producing macrophages. These cell populations serve to restrain unnecessary immune responses of the intestine, which may lead to the pathogenesis of Crohn ’s disease or food allergy.Recent FindingsThis review discusses the recent findings pertaining to the functional regulation of these cells which may provide insight into novel therapies. Both T regulatory cells and macrophages are regulated in microbiota-dependent and microbiota-independent manners, i.e., dietary antigens. Often,...
Source: Current Pathobiology Reports - March 1, 2018 Category: Laboratory Medicine Source Type: research
Correction to: Liver Disease in Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency: Current Approaches and Future Directions
AbstractThe article Liver Disease in Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency: Current Approaches and Future Directions, written by Ellen L. Mitchell and Zahida Khan, was originally published Online First without open access. After publication in volume 5, issue 3, page 243 –252. (Source: Current Pathobiology Reports)
Source: Current Pathobiology Reports - March 1, 2018 Category: Laboratory Medicine Source Type: research
Racing to Stay Put: How Resident Microbiota Stimulate Intestinal Epithelial Cell Proliferation
AbstractPurpose of ReviewIn this review, we describe a shared requirement for resident microbiota to stimulate intestinal epithelial cell proliferation revealed in germ-free mice, zebrafish, and fruit flies. We seek to understand the extent to which these hosts respond to their microbiota through shared mechanisms, reflecting ancient animal epithelial tissue adaptations to microbial coexistence, versus through host-specific specializations.Recent FindingsWe find examples of host-specific microbial pro-proliferative stimuli, but across hosts, these stimuli are often sensed via innate immune pathways involving Myd88 and NFka...
Source: Current Pathobiology Reports - February 14, 2018 Category: Laboratory Medicine Source Type: research
Targeting the Microbiota, From Irritable Bowel Syndrome to Mood Disorders: Focus on Probiotics and Prebiotics
AbstractPurpose of ReviewThe crosstalk between the gut and the brain has revealed a complex communication system responsible for maintaining a proper gastrointestinal homeostasis as well as affect emotional mood and cognitive functions. Recent research has revealed that beneficial manipulation of the microbiota by probiotics and prebiotics represents an emerging and novel strategy for the treatment of a large spectrum of diseases ranging from visceral pain to mood disorders. The review critically evaluates current knowledge of the effects exerted by both probiotics and prebiotics in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and mood ...
Source: Current Pathobiology Reports - February 12, 2018 Category: Laboratory Medicine Source Type: research
Tissue Repair and Epimorphic Regeneration: an Overview
AbstractPurpose of the ReviewThis manuscript discusses wound healing as a component of epimorphic regeneration and the role of the immune system in this process.Recent FindingsEpimorphic regeneration involves formation of a blastema, a mass of undifferentiated cells capable of giving rise to the regenerated tissues. The apical epithelial cap plays an important role in blastemal formation.SummaryTrue regeneration is rarely observed in mammals. With the exception of transgenic strains, tissue repair in mammals usually leads to non-functional fibrotic tissue formation. In contrast, a number of lower order species including pl...
Source: Current Pathobiology Reports - February 4, 2018 Category: Laboratory Medicine Source Type: research
Correction to: Liver Disease in Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency: Current Approaches and Future Directions
AbstractThe article Liver Disease in Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency: Current Approaches and Future Directions, written by Ellen L. Mitchell and Zahida Khan, was originally published Online First without open access. After publication in volume 5, issue 3, page 243 –252. (Source: Current Pathobiology Reports)
Source: Current Pathobiology Reports - January 23, 2018 Category: Laboratory Medicine Source Type: research
Intrauterine Inflammation, Epigenetics, and Microbiome Influences on Preterm Infant Health
We present a unifying theme that preterm infant outcomes are associated with modulation of host immune and inflammatory responses, which are influenced by acute intrauterine infection, epigenetic, and microbiome factors. (Source: Current Pathobiology Reports)
Source: Current Pathobiology Reports - January 20, 2018 Category: Laboratory Medicine Source Type: research
Alerting the Body to Tissue Injury: The Role of Alarmins and DAMPs in Cutaneous Wound Healing
This article will provide an overview of alarmins and outline the latest findings on these mediators in cutaneous wound healing.Recent FindingsIn addition to stimulating inflammatory cells, recent evidence suggests that alarmins can act on other cells in the skin to affect wound closure and the extent of scar tissue production. This review will focus on high-mobility group box-1 and IL-33, two alarmins that have received recent attention in the wound healing field.SummaryBecause a properly regulated inflammatory response is critical for optimal healing, further research must be done to fully understand the role of alarmins...
Source: Current Pathobiology Reports - January 20, 2018 Category: Laboratory Medicine Source Type: research
