Nidogen

Nidogen, also known as entactin, is a multifunctional glycoprotein that plays a crucial role in the maintenance of the basement membrane (BM), morphogenesis and neuronal plasticity. This review aims to provide an overview of the structural features, molecular interactions and diverse functions associated with Nidogen. As a bridging molecule within the BM, Nidogen acts as a linchpin connecting various extracellular matrix (ECM) components. Its involvement in tissue development, homeostasis, and pathological conditions underscores its biological and medical significance...

BACKGROUND: Vascular depression (VaD) is a depressive disorder closely associated with cerebrovascular disease and vascular risk factors. It remains underestimated owing to challenging diagnostics and limited information regarding the pathophysiological mechanisms of VaD. The purpose of this study was to analyze the proteomic signatures and identify the potential biomarkers with diagnostic significance in VaD. METHODS: Deep profiling of the serum proteome of 35 patients with VaD and 36 controls was performed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS)...

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death, with atherosclerosis the major underlying cause. While often asymptomatic for decades, atherosclerotic plaque destabilization and rupture can arise suddenly and cause acute arterial occlusion or peripheral embolization resulting in myocardial infarction, stroke and lower limb ischaemia. As extracellular matrix (ECM) remodelling is associated with plaque instability, we hypothesized that the ECM composition would differ between plaques. We analyzed atherosclerotic plaques obtained from 21 patients who underwent carotid surgery following recent symptomatic carotid artery stenosis...

Lupus nephritis (LN) is a pathologically heterogenous autoimmune disease linked to end-stage kidney disease and mortality. Better therapeutic strategies are needed as only 30%-40% of patients completely respond to treatment. Noninvasive biomarkers of intrarenal inflammation may guide more precise approaches. Because urine collects the byproducts of kidney inflammation, we studied the urine proteomic profiles of 225 patients with LN (573 samples) in the longitudinal Accelerating Medicines Partnership in RA/SLE cohort...

Multiplex fluorescence imaging plays a vital role in precision medicine for targeting complex diseases with diverse biomolecular signatures. Quantum dot (QD) probes with vibrant colors are promising candidates for multiplex imaging, but their stability and specificity are frequently compromised by the current tedious post-modification process. We have herein developed a robust and versatile host-guest peptide (HGP) toolbox for creating highly stable and specific QD-based peptide probes for imaging extracellular matrices and cells...

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role and distribution of various molecular markers using immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence to further elucidate and understand the pathogenesis of otosclerosis. METHODS: Archival celloidin formalin-fixed 20-micron thick histologic sections from 7 patients diagnosed with otosclerosis were studied and compared to controls. Sections in the mid-modiolar region were immunoreacted with rabbit polyclonal antibodies against nidogen-1, β2-laminin, collagen-IX, BSP, and monoclonal antibodies against TGF β-1 and ubiquitin...

Both nanostructure and multivalency enhance the biological activities of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), whose mechanism of action is cooperative. In addition, the efficacy of a particular AMP should benefit from a steady concentration at the local place of action and, therefore, from a slow release after a dynamic repository. In the context of emerging multi-resistant bacterial infections and the urgent need for novel and effective antimicrobial drugs, we tested these concepts through the engineering of four AMPs into supramolecular complexes as pharmacological entities...

We have previously shown that the extracellular matrix and basement membrane protein Nidogen1 (NID1) is secreted by more malignant, mesenchymal-like CRC cells and induces the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and promotes the migration and invasion of less malignant, epithelial-like CRC cells. Here, we performed a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of multiple datasets derived from CRC patients and showed that elevated expression of NID1 and the genes ITGA3 , ITGB1 , and ITGAV, which encode NID1 receptors, is associated with poor prognosis and advanced tumor stage...

The Megalocytivirus genus, family Iridoviridae, is a group of large DNA viruses that pose significant threats to marine and freshwater fishes. In tissues, the Megalocytivirus -infected cells are attached by a layer of lymphatic endothelial cells (LECs), constituting a unique histopathological phenomenon. Megalocytivirus induces the formation of an extracellular structure on the surface of infected cells that is functionally similar to the host basement membrane (BM), known as the virus-mock basement membrane (VMBM)...

Peroxidasin (PXDN) is an extracellular peroxidase, which generates hypobromous acid to form sulfilimine cross-links within collagen IV networks. We have previously demonstrated that mouse and human renal basement membranes (BM) are enriched in bromine due to PXDN-dependent post-translational bromination of protein tyrosine residues. The goal of the present study was identification of specific brominated sites within renal BM. A comprehensive analysis of brominated proteome of mouse glomerular matrix had been performed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry...

The basement membrane (BM) is a thin, planar-organized extracellular matrix that underlies epithelia and surrounds most organs. During development, the BM is highly dynamic and simultaneously provides mechanical properties that stabilize tissue structure and shape organs. Moreover, it is important for cell polarity, cell migration, and cell signaling. Thereby BM diverges regarding molecular composition, structure, and modes of assembly. Different BM organization leads to various physical features. The mechanisms that regulate BM composition and structure and how this affects mechanical properties are not fully understood...

PURPOSE: To understand which cell types, either alone or in combination, contribute to the assembly of the epithelial basement membrane (BM) during corneal wound healing. METHODS: A 3D corneal organotypic model and an in situ rabbit photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) model were used in this study. The 3D corneal organotypic model was established by culturing the rabbit corneal epithelial cells with either corneal fibroblasts or myofibroblasts embedded in collagen type I for 18 days...

Basement membranes (BMs) are thin, sheet-like extracellular structures that cover the basal side of epithelial and endothelial tissues and provide structural and functional support to adjacent cell layers. The molecular structure of BMs is a fine meshwork that incorporates specialized extracellular matrix proteins. Recently, live visualization of BMs in invertebrates demonstrated that their structure is flexible and dynamically rearranged during cell differentiation and organogenesis. However, the BM dynamics in mammalian tissues remain to be elucidated...

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a leading cause of birth defects in humans. These birth defects include microcephaly, sensorineural hearing loss, vision loss, and cognitive impairment. The process by which the developing fetus incurs these neurological defects is poorly understood. To elucidate some of these mechanisms, we have utilized HCMV-infected induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to generate in vitro brain organoids, modeling the first trimester of fetal brain development. Early during culturing, brain organoids generate neural rosettes...

Purpose: We carried out a histological characterization analysis of the stromal layer of human heterotypic cornea substitutes generated with extra-corneal cells to determine their putative usefulness in tissue engineering. Methods: Human bioartificial corneas were generated using nanostructured fibrin-agarose biomaterials with corneal stromal cells immersed within. To generate heterotypical corneas, umbilical cord Wharton's jelly stem cells (HWJSC) were cultured on the surface of the stromal substitutes to obtain an epithelial-like layer...

Collagen type IV α1 chain (COL4A1) is a collagen protein that acts as a tumor-promoting factor in several types of cancer. However, the role and the potential mechanisms involving COL4A1 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) remain unclear. Using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blotting, the expression levels of COL4A1 and (nidogen-1) NID1 in OSCC cells were assessed. Cell Counting Kit-8, EdU staining and colony formation assays were used to evaluate cell proliferation. Cell migration and invasion were assessed using wound healing and Transwell invasion assays, respectively...

Endometrial and cervical cancers are the two most common gynaecological malignancies and among the leading causes of death worldwide. The extracellular matrix (ECM) is an important component of the cellular microenvironment and plays an important role in developing and regulating normal tissues and homeostasis. The pathological dynamics of the ECM contribute to several different processes such as endometriosis, infertility, cancer, and metastasis. Identifying changes in components of ECM is crucial for understanding the mechanisms of cancer development and its progression...

Oxidative stress-induced cellular senescence and mitochondrial dysfunction result in skin aging by increasing ECM levels-degrading proteins such as MMPs, and decreasing collagen synthesis. MMPs also destroy the basement membrane, which is involved in skin elasticity. The extracellular matrix vitalizer RATM (RA) contains various antioxidants and sodium hyaluronate, which lead to skin rejuvenation. We evaluated whether RA decreases oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction, eventually increasing skin elasticity in aged animals...

BACKGROUND: The incidence of cutaneous melanoma continues to rise rapidly and has an extremely poor prognosis. Immunotherapy strategies are the most effective approach for patients who have developed metastases, but not all cases have been successful due to the complex and variable mechanisms of melanoma response to immune checkpoint inhibition. METHODS: We synthesized collagen-coding gene expression data (second-generation and single-cell sequencing) from public Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) databases...

Wharton's jelly stem cells (WJSC) from the human umbilical cord (UC) are one of the most promising mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in tissue engineering (TE) and advanced therapies. The cell niche is a key element for both, MSC and fully differentiated tissues, to preserve their unique features. The basement membrane (BM) is an essential structure during embryonic development and in adult tissues. Epithelial BMs are well-known, but similar structures are present in other histological structures, such as in peripheral nerve fibers, myocytes or chondrocytes...