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From Cell to Organism: Cytological, Experimental Molecular and Medical Aspects

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Biology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 November 2023) | Viewed by 11150

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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In this special issue: articles, reviews and short communications on various aspects of protozoa, plant, animal and human cell biology e.g., cell compartments, organelle and membrane biogenesis and dynamics, macromolecules and their intracellular transport, whole-cell locomotion, cytoskeleton organization, signaling and regulatory cascades, the cell-cycle and cell-to-cell communication are especially welcome. However, also novel insights into the structure, specialization, function and physiology of cells, tissues and organs together with medical or molecular aspects of cell biology and also reproductive biology are invited. Environmental and toxicologic effects on tissue and organ functions together with cytological and histological results will be also accepted. All paper with advanced methods/techniques (microscopical and molecular) will be especially welcome.

Therefore, in this Special Issue of IJMS, we invite you to submit both review and original papers on the topic of widely understood cell biology.

Prof. Dr. Bartosz Jan Płachno
Prof. Dr. Małgorzata Kotula-Balak
Guest Editors

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 5390 KiB  
Communication
The Localization of Cell Wall Components in the Quadrifids of Whole-Mount Immunolabeled Utricularia dichotoma Traps
by Bartosz J. Płachno and Małgorzata Kapusta
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(1), 56; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25010056 - 19 Dec 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1500
Abstract
Utricularia (bladderworts) are carnivorous plants. They produce small hollow vesicles, which function as suction traps that work underwater and capture fine organisms. Inside the traps, there are numerous glandular trichomes (quadrifids), which take part in the secretion of digestive enzymes, the resorption of [...] Read more.
Utricularia (bladderworts) are carnivorous plants. They produce small hollow vesicles, which function as suction traps that work underwater and capture fine organisms. Inside the traps, there are numerous glandular trichomes (quadrifids), which take part in the secretion of digestive enzymes, the resorption of released nutrients, and likely the pumping out of water. Due to the extreme specialization of quadrifids, they are an interesting model for studying the cell walls. This aim of the study was to fill in the gap in the literature concerning the immunocytochemistry of quadrifids in the major cell wall polysaccharides and glycoproteins. To do this, the localization of the cell wall components in the quadrifids was performed using whole-mount immunolabeled Utricularia traps. It was observed that only parts (arms) of the terminal cells had enough discontinuous cuticle to be permeable to antibodies. There were different patterns of the cell wall components in the arms of the terminal cells of the quadrifids. The cell walls of the arms were especially rich in low-methyl-esterified homogalacturonan. Moreover, various arabinogalactan proteins also occurred. Cell walls in glandular cells of quadrifids were rich in low-methyl-esterified homogalacturonan; in contrast, in the aquatic carnivorous plant Aldrovanda vesiculosa, cell walls in the glandular cells of digestive glands were poor in low-methyl-esterified homogalacturonan. Arabinogalactan proteins were found in the cell walls of trap gland cells in all studied carnivorous plants: Utricularia, and members of Droseraceae and Drosophyllaceae. Full article
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23 pages, 5077 KiB  
Article
Comparative Study of Cytotoxicity and Antioxidant, Anti-Aging and Antibacterial Properties of Unfermented and Fermented Extract of Cornus mas L.
by Martyna Zagórska-Dziok, Aleksandra Ziemlewska, Agnieszka Mokrzyńska, Zofia Nizioł-Łukaszewska, Ireneusz Sowa, Dariusz Szczepanek and Magdalena Wójciak
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(17), 13232; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241713232 - 26 Aug 2023
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 1879
Abstract
Due to the high demand for products that can help treat various skin conditions, the interest in plant extracts, which are a valuable source of phytochemicals, is constantly growing. In this work, the properties of extracts and ferments from Cornus mas L. and [...] Read more.
Due to the high demand for products that can help treat various skin conditions, the interest in plant extracts, which are a valuable source of phytochemicals, is constantly growing. In this work, the properties of extracts and ferments from Cornus mas L. and their potential use in cosmetic products were compared. For this purpose, their composition, antioxidant properties and cytotoxicity against skin cells, keratinocytes and fibroblasts were assessed in vitro. In addition, the ability to inhibit the activity of collagenase and elastase was compared, which enabled the assessment of their potential to inhibit skin aging. Microbiological analyses carried out on different bacterial strains were made in order to compare their antibacterial properties. The conducted analyses showed that both dogwood extract and ferment have antioxidant and anti-aging properties. In addition, they can have a positive effect on the viability of keratinocytes and fibroblasts and inhibit the proliferation of various pathogenic bacteria, which indicates their great potential as ingredients in skin care preparations. The stronger activity of the ferment compared to the extract indicates the legitimacy of carrying out the fermentation process of plant raw materials using kombucha in order to obtain valuable products for the cosmetics industry. Full article
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11 pages, 3925 KiB  
Article
Effect of Diosmin on Selected Parameters of Oxygen Homeostasis
by Marcin Feldo, Magdalena Wójciak, Sławomir Dresler, Paweł Sowa, Bartosz J. Płachno, Dariusz Samborski and Ireneusz Sowa
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(16), 12917; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241612917 - 18 Aug 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1274
Abstract
Chronic venous disease (CVD) is a condition characterized by functional disturbances in the microcirculation of the superficial and deep veins, affecting up to 30% of the global population. Diosmin, a phlebotropic drug, is commonly used in the treatment of CVD, and its beneficial [...] Read more.
Chronic venous disease (CVD) is a condition characterized by functional disturbances in the microcirculation of the superficial and deep veins, affecting up to 30% of the global population. Diosmin, a phlebotropic drug, is commonly used in the treatment of CVD, and its beneficial effects have been described in numerous clinical studies. However, the precise molecular mechanism underlying the activity of diosmin is not yet fully understood. Therefore, the objective of our study was to investigate whether diosmin has an impact on oxygen management, as cardiovascular diseases are often associated with hypoxia. In our study, patients were administered a daily dosage of 2 × 600 mg of diosmin for 3 months, and we evaluated several factors associated with oxygen management, angiogenesis, and inflammation using biochemical assays. Our findings indicate that diosmin reduced the levels of fibroblast growth factors (FGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-C), while increasing endostatin and angiostatin levels, suggesting a potential influence on angiogenesis regulation. Furthermore, diosmin exhibited anti-inflammatory properties by suppressing the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin 1-beta (IL-1β), and interleukin 6 (IL-6), while promoting the production of interleukin 12 (IL-12). Additionally, diosmin significantly decreased the levels of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF), anion gap (AG), and lactate, indicating its potential influence on the hypoxia-inducible factor pathway. These findings suggest that diosmin may play a crucial role in modulating oxygen management and inflammation in the context of chronic venous disease. Full article
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17 pages, 1730 KiB  
Article
How Is Arachidonic Acid Metabolism in the Uterus Connected with the Immune Status of Red Deer Females (Cervus elaphus L.) in Different Reproductive Stages?
by Angelika M. Kotlarczyk, Julia Kaczmarczyk, Olga Witkowska-Piłaszewicz, Małgorzata Kotula-Balak and Anna J. Korzekwa
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(5), 4771; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24054771 - 1 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1479
Abstract
Reproductive and condition parameters’ dependency on immune status in seasonally reproducing ruminants such as red deer have not been outlined to date. We determined T and B blood lymphocytes; the concentration of IgG, cAMP, haptoglobulin, and 6-keto-PGF1α in blood plasma; and the mRNA [...] Read more.
Reproductive and condition parameters’ dependency on immune status in seasonally reproducing ruminants such as red deer have not been outlined to date. We determined T and B blood lymphocytes; the concentration of IgG, cAMP, haptoglobulin, and 6-keto-PGF1α in blood plasma; and the mRNA and protein expression of PG endoperoxide synthase 2, 5-lipoxygenase, PGE2 synthase (PGES), PGF2α synthase (PGFS), PGI2 synthase (PGIS), leukotriene (LT)A4 hydrolase, and LTC4 synthase (LTC4S) in the uterine endo- and myometrium, on the 4th (N = 7) and 13th (N = 8) days of the estrous cycle, in anestrus (N = 6) and pregnancy (N = 8) in hinds. An increase in CD4+ T regulatory lymphocyte percentage during the estrous cycle and anestrus compared with pregnancy was recorded; the opposite effect was observed for CD21+ B cells (p < 0.05). cAMP and haptoglobin concentration were elevated during the cycle, as was IgG on the fourth day of the cycle, whereas 6-keto-PGF1α concentration was the highest in pregnancy, and the nearest in anestrus similarly were LTC4S, PGES, PGFS, and PGIS protein expression in the endometrium (p < 0.05). We showed an interaction between the immune system activation and AA-metabolite production in the uterus throughout different reproductive stages. IgG, cAMP, haptoglobin, and 6-keto-PGF1α concentrations are valuable candidates for markers of reproductive status in hinds. The results help expand our knowledge of the mechanisms underlying seasonal reproduction in ruminants. Full article
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9 pages, 1267 KiB  
Communication
Comparison of SOX2 and POU5F1 Gene Expression in Leukapheresis-Derived CD34+ Cells before and during Cell Culture
by Małgorzata Świstowska, Paulina Gil-Kulik, Marcin Czop, Katarzyna Wieczorek, Arkadiusz Macheta, Alicja Petniak, Maria Cioch, Marek Hus, Mariusz Szuta, Mansur Rahnama-Hezavah, Bartosz J. Płachno and Janusz Kocki
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(4), 4186; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24044186 - 20 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1786
Abstract
Bone marrow is an abundant source of both hematopoietic as well as non-hematopoietic stem cells. Embryonic, fetal and stem cells located in tissues (adipose tissue, skin, myocardium and dental pulp) express core transcription factors, including the SOX2, POU5F1 and NANOG gene responsible [...] Read more.
Bone marrow is an abundant source of both hematopoietic as well as non-hematopoietic stem cells. Embryonic, fetal and stem cells located in tissues (adipose tissue, skin, myocardium and dental pulp) express core transcription factors, including the SOX2, POU5F1 and NANOG gene responsible for regeneration, proliferation and differentiation into daughter cells. The aim of the study was to examine the expression of SOX2 and POU5F1 genes in CD34-positive peripheral blood stem cells (CD34+ PBSCs) and to analyze the influence of cell culture on the expression of SOX2 and POU5F1 genes. The study material consisted of bone marrow-derived stem cells isolated by using leukapheresis from 40 hematooncology patients. Cells obtained in this process were subject to cytometric analysis to determine the content of CD34+ cells. CD34-positive cell separation was conducted using MACS separation. Cell cultures were set, and RNA was isolated. Real-time PCR was conducted in order to evaluate the expression of SOX2 and POU5F1 genes and the obtained data were subject to statistical analysis. We identified the expression of SOX2 and POU5F1 genes in the examined cells and demonstrated a statistically significant (p < 0.05) change in their expression in cell cultures. Short-term cell cultures (<6 days) were associated with an increase in the expression of SOX2 and POU5F1 genes. Thus, short-term cultivation of transplanted stem cells could be used to induce pluripotency, leading to better therapeutic effects. Full article
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20 pages, 3625 KiB  
Communication
Influence of Perinatal Factors on Gene Expression of IAPs Family and Main Factors of Pluripotency: OCT4 and SOX2 in Human Breast Milk Stem Cells—A Preliminary Report
by Paulina Gil-Kulik, Michał Leśniewski, Karolina Bieńko, Monika Wójcik, Marta Więckowska, Dominika Przywara, Alicja Petniak, Adrianna Kondracka, Małgorzata Świstowska, Rafał Szymanowski, Agnieszka Wilińska, Mateusz Wiliński, Bartosz J. Płachno, Marzena Kostuch, Mansur Rahnama-Hezavach, Mariusz Szuta, Anna Kwaśniewska, Anna Bogucka-Kocka and Janusz Kocki
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(3), 2476; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms24032476 - 27 Jan 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2103
Abstract
Due to their therapeutic potential, mesenchymal stem cells are the subject of intensive research on the use of their potential in the treatment of, among others, neurodegenerative diseases or immunological diseases. They are among the newest in the field of medicine. The presented [...] Read more.
Due to their therapeutic potential, mesenchymal stem cells are the subject of intensive research on the use of their potential in the treatment of, among others, neurodegenerative diseases or immunological diseases. They are among the newest in the field of medicine. The presented study aimed to evaluate the expression of eight genes from the IAP family and the gene regulating IAP—XAF1—in stem cells derived from human milk, using the qPCR method. The relationships between the expression of genes under study and clinical data, such as maternal age, maternal BMI, week of pregnancy in which the delivery took place, bodyweight of the newborn, the number of pregnancies and deliveries, and the time elapsed since delivery, were also analyzed. The research was carried out on samples of human milk collected from 42 patients hospitalized in The Clinic of Obstetrics and Perinatology of the Independent Public Clinical Hospital No. 4, in Lublin. The conducted research confirmed the expression of the following genes in the tested material: NAIP, BIRC2, BIRC3, BIRC5, BIRC6, BIRC8, XIAP, XAF1, OCT4 and SOX2. Moreover, several dependencies of the expression of individual genes on the maternal BMI (BIRC5, XAF1 and NAIP), the time since childbirth (BIRC5, BIRC6, XAF1 and NAIP), the number of pregnancies and deliveries (BIRC2, BIRC5, BIRC6 and XAF1), the manner of delivery (XAF1 and OCT4), preterm labor (BIRC6 and NAIP) were demonstrated. Additionally, we found positive relationships between gene expression of BIRC7, BIRC8 and XAF1 and the main factors of pluripotency: SOX2 and OCT4. This work is the first to investigate the expression of genes from the IAPs family in mother’s milk stem cells. Full article
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