Laminin

Subcutaneous islet transplantation is a promising treatment for severe diabetes; however, poor engraftment hinders its prevalence. We previously revealed that a gelatin hydrogel nonwoven fabric (GHNF) markedly improved subcutaneous islet engraftment. We herein investigated whether the addition of adipose tissue-derived stem cells (ADSCs) to GHNF affected the outcome. A silicone spacer sandwiched between two GHNFs with (AG group) or without (GHNF group) ADSCs, or a silicone spacer alone (Silicone group) was implanted into the subcutaneous space of healthy mice at 6 weeks before transplantation, then diabetes was induced 7 days before transplantation...

Omics, bioinformatics, molecular docking, and experimental validation were used to elucidate the hepatoprotective effects, mechanisms, and active compounds of Shandougen (SDG) based on the biolabel-led research pattern. Integrated omics were used to explore the biolabels of SDG intervention in liver tissue. Subsequently, bioinformatics and molecular docking were applied to topologically analyze its therapeutic effects, mechanisms, and active compounds based on biolabels. Finally, an animal model was used to verify the biolabel analysis results...

LAMA2-related dystrophies (LAMA2-RD) constitute a rare neuromuscular disorder with a broad spectrum of phenotypic severity. Our understanding of the genotype-phenotype correlations in this condition remains incomplete, and reliable clinical data for clinical trial readiness is limited. In this retrospective study, we reviewed the genetic data and medical records of 114 LAMA2-RD patients enrolled at seven research centers in Brazil. We identified 58 different pathogenic variants, including 21 novel ones. Six variants were more prevalent and were present in 81...

BACKGROUND: Researchers are focusing on cellular therapy for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) using mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), with human bone marrow-derived MSCs (hBM-MSCs) leading the way. However, BM-MSCs may not be as optimal as therapeutic cells owing to their low growth potential, invasive harvesting, and high expression of aging-related genes with poor differentiation potential. Consequently, umbilical cord-derived MSCs (hUC-MSCs), which have many excellent features as allogeneic heterologous stem cells, have received considerable attention...

Haematopoiesis occurs in the bone marrow (BM), within a specialised microenvironment referred to as the stem cell niche, where the haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) reside and are regulated for quiescence, self-renewal and differentiation through intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms. The BM contains at least two distinctive HSC supportive niches: an endosteal osteoblastic niche, which supports quiescence and self-renewal and a more vascular/peri-sinusoidal niche that promotes proliferation and differentiation...

Laminin receptor 1 (LAMR) may have a role in the progression of premalignant squamous epithelial lesions to cervical cancer. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the expression of laminin receptor 1 (LAMR) in normal, premalignant, and malignant tissues of the uterine cervix. Paraffin blocks of 129 specimens with the diagnoses of normal cervical tissue (n = 33), cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 1 (n = 30), CIN 2 (n = 14), CIN 3 (n = 28), and squamous cell carcinoma (n = 24) were immunohistochemically stained with LAMR antibody and its expression percentage, pattern, and intensity in these tissues were assessed...

Proteins featuring the Domain of Unknown Function 1735 are frequently found in Polysaccharide Utilization Loci, yet their role remains unknown. The domain and vicinity analyzer programs we developed mine the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes and UniProt to enhance the functional prediction of DUF1735. Our datasets confirmed the exclusive presence of DUF1735 in Bacteroidota genomes, with Bacteroidetes thetaiotaomicron harboring 46 copies. Notably, 97.8% of DUF1735 are encoded in PULs, and 89% are N-termini of multimodular proteins featuring C-termini like Laminin_G_3, F5/8-typeC, and GH18 domains...

Natural scaffolds have been the cornerstone of tissue engineering for decades, providing ideal environments for cell growth within extracellular matrices. Previous studies have favored animal-derived materials, including collagen, gelatin, and laminin, owing to their superior effects in promoting cell attachment, proliferation, and differentiation compared to non-animal scaffolds, and used immortalized cell lines. However, for cultured meat production, non-animal-derived scaffolds with edible cells are preferred...

The tumor microenvironment (TME), a complex assembly of cellular and extracellular matrix (ECM) components, plays a crucial role in driving tumor progression, shaping treatment responses, and influencing metastasis. This narrative review focuses on the cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) tumor stroma, highlighting its key constituents and their dynamic contributions. We examine how significant changes within the cSCC ECM-specifically, alterations in fibronectin, hyaluronic acid, laminins, proteoglycans, and collagens-promote cancer progression, metastasis, and drug resistance...

Cell replacement therapy is under development for dry age-related macular degeneration (AMD). A thin membrane resembling the Bruch's membrane is required to form a cell-on-membrane construct with retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. These cells have been differentiated from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) in vitro. A carrier membrane is required for cell implantation, which is biocompatible for cell growth and has dimensions and physical properties resembling the Bruch's membrane. Here a nanofiber electrospun poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA) membrane is tested for capacity to support cell growth and maturation...

Interventions aimed at weight control often have limited effectiveness in combating obesity. This review explores how obesity-induced dysfunction in white (WAT) and brown adipose tissue (BAT), skeletal muscle, and the brain blunt weight loss, leading to retention of stored fat. In obesity, increased adrenergic stimulation and inflammation downregulate β-adrenoreceptors and impair catecholaminergic signalling in adipocytes. This disrupts adrenergic-mediated lipolysis, diminishing lipid oxidation in both white and brown adipocytes, lowering thermogenesis and blunting fat loss...

The transition from collective to single-cell invasion in metastatic tumors has been regarded as the consequence of oncogenic drivers in concert with extracellular triggers received from the tumor microenvironment. In this issue, Yoon and colleagues (https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.202308080) have identified an epigenetic program by which collective niches release laminin-332 and thereby cause the detachment and invasion of fully individualized tumor cells.

PURPOSE: To investigate the extracellular matrix and cellular components in lens capsules extracted from patients with dead bag syndrome (DBS) through immunohistochemistry. SETTING: Department of Ophthalmology, Wakayama Medical University School of Medicine and Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, John A. Moran Eye Center, University of Utah. DESIGN: Immunohistochemical experimental study. METHODS: Nine capsular bag specimens from DBS cases, as well as 2 control specimens from late-postoperative in-the-bag intraocular lens dislocation cases related to previous vitrectomy, pseudoexfoliation, and blunt trauma were included...

BACKGROUND: Traditional bandages, gauze, and cotton balls are increasingly insufficient for addressing complex war injuries characterized by severe bleeding and diverse wound conditions. The giant salamander, a species of high medical value, secretes a unique mucus when stimulated, which has potential applications in wound care. MATERIALS: Giant salamander skin mucus gel dressing wrapped with bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs-GSSM-gel) was prepared and validated...

The recent FDA decision to eliminate animal testing requirements emphasises the role of cell models, such as spheroids, as regulatory test alternatives for investigations of cellular behaviour, drug responses, and disease modelling. The influence of environment on spheroid formation are incompletely understood, leading to uncertainty in matrix selection for scaffold-based 3D culture. This study uses atomic force microscopy-based techniques to quantify cell adhesion to Matrigel and cellulose nanofibrils (CNF), and cell-cell adhesion forces, and their role in spheroid formation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS(IMR90)-4)...

Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) is a highly aggressive and fatal pediatric brain cancer. One pre-requisite for tumor cells to infiltrate is adhesion to extracellular matrix (ECM) components. However, it remains largely unknown which ECM proteins are critical in enabling DIPG adhesion and migration and which integrin receptors mediate these processes. Here, we identify laminin as a key ECM protein that supports robust DIPG cell adhesion and migration. To study DIPG infiltration, we developed a DIPG-neural assembloid model, which is composed of a DIPG spheroid fused to a human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural organoid...

Prostate cancer is one of the most common neoplasm in the male population. It is not known why some tumors become more aggressive than others. Although most studies show changes in the expression of cell adhesion molecules and the extracellular matrix correlated with the Gleason score, no study has objectively measured the tissue content of these molecules. This study aims to measure the content and tissue expression of collagen type I and IV and laminin in the extracellular matrix of patients with prostate adenocarcinoma and correlate these findings with the Gleason score and clinical characteristics...

OBJECTIVES: Gastric cancer (GC) is a prevalent malignant tumor widely distributed globally, exhibiting elevated incidence and fatality rates. The gene LAMC2 encodes the laminin subunit gamma-2 chain and is found specifically in the basement membrane of epithelial cells. Its expression is aberrant in multiple types of malignant tumors. This research elucidated a link between LAMC2 and the clinical characteristics of GC and investigated the potential involvement of LAMC2 in GC proliferation and advancement...

Telomerase activity is directly affected by the laminin receptor precursor (LRP) protein, a highly conserved nonintegrin transmembrane receptor, which has been shown to have therapeutic effects in ageing, and age-related diseases. Recently, it has been found that overexpression of LRP-FLAG, by plasmid transfection, leads to a significant increase in telomerase activity in cell culture models. This may indicate that upregulation of LRP can be used to treat various age-related diseases. However, transfection is not a viable treatment strategy for patients...

PURPOSE: The biosynthetic Symatix membrane (SM) was developed to replace fresh human amniotic membrane (hAM) in ocular surgical applications. The purpose of this study was to test the biocompatibility of the SM with human limbus-derived epithelial cells with regard to their physical and biological properties. METHODS: Different physical properties of SM were tested ex vivo by simulation on human corneas. In vitro, primary limbal epithelial cells from limbal explants were used to test biological properties such as cell migration, proliferation, metabolic activity, and limbal epithelial cell markers on the SM, hAM, and freeze-dried amniotic membrane (FDAM)...