TNF-α

[Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine] The authors investigated the function of circ_0002984 in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) incubated by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL). Loss of circ_0002984 suppressed VSMC viability, cell cycle distribution and migration capacity.

[Cell Death & Disease] Scientists showed that TNF-α strongly induced human endothelial cells to undergo Endothelial–mesenchymal transition. They also showed that TNF-α-induced EndMT was reversible. Furthermore, TNF-α treatment of orthotopic mice resulted in an important increase in the stroma, including cancer-associated fibroblasts.

[Scientific Reports] Investigators developed a human-on-a-chip model composed of human hepatocytes and adipose tissue chambers capable of modeling the metabolic factors that contribute to liver disease development and progression, and evaluation of the therapeutic metformin.

[Experimental & Molecular Medicine] Scientists showed that GPx type 1 (GPx1) played a key regulatory role in the apoptosis signaling pathway. The absence of GPx1 augmented TNF-α-induced apoptosis in various RIPK3-negative cancer cells by markedly elevating the level of cytosolic H2O2, which was derived from mitochondria.

[PLOS One] Scientists evaluated the in vitro anti-viral activities of combinations of certain commercially available drugs that have recently formed part of COVID-19 therapy. These drugs were mixed at specific ratios and evaluated for their safe use based on the cytotoxicity concentration values of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells.

[Journal of Immunology] Researchers performed a phenome-wide association study and reported that the T allele of GPR65-intronic single-nucleotide polymorphism rs8005161, which reduced GPR65 signaling, showed a significant association with atopic dermatitis, in addition to inflammatory bowel diseases and asthma, as previously reported.