Trends in Cell BiologyPub Date : 2025-05-01Epub Date: 2024-12-31DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2024.11.009
Dmytro V Vasylyev, Chuan-Ju Liu, Stephen G Waxman
{"title":"Sodium channels in non-excitable cells: powerful actions and therapeutic targets beyond Hodgkin and Huxley.","authors":"Dmytro V Vasylyev, Chuan-Ju Liu, Stephen G Waxman","doi":"10.1016/j.tcb.2024.11.009","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tcb.2024.11.009","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Voltage-gated sodium channels (VGSCs) are best known for their role in the generation and propagation of action potentials in neurons, muscle cells, and cardiac myocytes, which have traditionally been labeled as 'excitable'. However, emerging evidence challenges this traditional perspective. It is now clear that VGSCs are also expressed in a broad spectrum of cells outside the neuromuscular realm, where they regulate diverse cellular functions. In this review, we summarize current knowledge on the expression, regulation, and function of VGSCs in non-neuromuscular cells, highlighting their contributions to physiological processes and pathological conditions. Dynamic expression patterns of VGSCs in different cell types, involvement of VGSCs in cellular functions, such as phagocytosis, motility, and cytokine release, and their potential as therapeutic targets for diseases that include inflammatory disorders, osteoarthritis (OA), and cancer, are discussed. This new understanding of VGSCs and their effects on cells outside the neuromuscular realm opens new avenues for research and therapeutic interventions.</p>","PeriodicalId":56085,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Cell Biology","volume":" ","pages":"381-398"},"PeriodicalIF":18.1,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12374754/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142916392","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in Cell BiologyPub Date : 2025-05-01Epub Date: 2025-04-10DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2025.03.006
Xin Xiang
{"title":"Meiotic spindle pushed outward by inward organelle packing.","authors":"Xin Xiang","doi":"10.1016/j.tcb.2025.03.006","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tcb.2025.03.006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In Caenorhabditis elegans oocytes, meiotic spindle movement toward the cortex before anaphase depends on kinesin-1. A recent study by Aquino et al. uncovers a novel mechanism whereby the inward organelle packing driven by kinesin-1 excludes the spindle from the center, thereby causing it to be positioned near the cortex.</p>","PeriodicalId":56085,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Cell Biology","volume":"35 5","pages":"357-358"},"PeriodicalIF":13.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12048203/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144059540","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in Cell BiologyPub Date : 2025-05-01Epub Date: 2024-10-26DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2024.09.006
Venkatesh Varadharaj, Wyatt Petersen, Surinder K Batra, Moorthy P Ponnusamy
{"title":"Sugar symphony: glycosylation in cancer metabolism and stemness.","authors":"Venkatesh Varadharaj, Wyatt Petersen, Surinder K Batra, Moorthy P Ponnusamy","doi":"10.1016/j.tcb.2024.09.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tcb.2024.09.006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Glycosylation is a complex co-translational and post-translational modification (PTM) in eukaryotes that utilizes glycosyltransferases to generate a vast array of glycoconjugate structures. Recent studies have highlighted the role of glycans in regulating essential molecular, cellular, tissue, organ, and systemic biological processes with significant implications for human diseases, particularly cancer. The metabolic reliance of cancer, spanning tumor initiation, disease progression, and resistance to therapy, necessitates a range of uniquely altered cellular metabolic pathways. In addition, the intricate interplay between cell-intrinsic and -extrinsic mechanisms is exemplified by the communication between cancer cells, cancer stem cells (CSCs), cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), and immune cells within the tumor microenvironment (TME). In this review article, we explore how differential glycosylation in cancer influences the metabolism and stemness features alongside new avenues in glycobiology.</p>","PeriodicalId":56085,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Cell Biology","volume":" ","pages":"412-425"},"PeriodicalIF":13.0,"publicationDate":"2025-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12032065/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142513571","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Dan Li, Kaien Liu, Danni Li, Axel Brunger, Cong Li, Jacqueline Burré, Jiajie Diao
{"title":"α-Synuclein condensation in synaptic vesicle function and synucleinopathies.","authors":"Dan Li, Kaien Liu, Danni Li, Axel Brunger, Cong Li, Jacqueline Burré, Jiajie Diao","doi":"10.1016/j.tcb.2025.03.007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tcb.2025.03.007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Research into the crosstalk between α-synuclein (α-syn) and synaptic vesicles (SVs) has gained considerable attention. Notably, the recently discovered liquid-liquid phase separation of α-syn involving SVs is crucial for performing their physiological functions and mediating the transition to pathological aggregates. This review first examines the functional interactions between α-syn and SVs in the context of α-syn's condensation state. It then explores how these interactions become disrupted under pathological conditions, leading to α-syn aggregation and subsequent synaptic dysfunction. Finally, the review discusses the therapeutic potential of targeting α-syn-SV interactions to restore synaptic function in diseased states. By connecting α-syn's physiological roles with its pathological effects, the article aims to shed light on its dual role as both a regulator of SVs and a driver of neurodegeneration.</p>","PeriodicalId":56085,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Cell Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144058567","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Sha Zhang, Zong-Yu Zhang, Bing-Dong Sui, Chen-Xi Zheng, Yu Fu
{"title":"The epigenetic landscape of mesenchymal stem cell and extracellular vesicle therapy.","authors":"Sha Zhang, Zong-Yu Zhang, Bing-Dong Sui, Chen-Xi Zheng, Yu Fu","doi":"10.1016/j.tcb.2025.03.008","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tcb.2025.03.008","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy shows great potential for treating tissue impairments and immune disorders. Epigenetic regulation is a core molecular signature that ensures long-lasting memory in MSC functional modulation and mediates therapeutic efficacy. Studies reveal that transplanted MSCs drive epigenetic changes in recipient cells, which contributes to restoration of organismal and microenvironmental homeostasis. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from MSCs, including exosomes and apoptotic vesicles (apoVs), enable the transfer of epigenetic regulators, orchestrating intercellular epigenetic reprogramming and signaling modulation in both local and systemic microenvironments. Here, the epigenetic regulation of MSC and EV therapies is reviewed, together with current challenges, aiming to deepen the understanding of donor-recipient communication and inspire next-generation approaches to counteract tissue defects and diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":56085,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Cell Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144028387","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Lauren N Randolph, Claudia Castiglioni, Manuela Tavian, Christopher M Sturgeon, Andrea Ditadi
{"title":"Bloodhounds chasing the origin of blood cells.","authors":"Lauren N Randolph, Claudia Castiglioni, Manuela Tavian, Christopher M Sturgeon, Andrea Ditadi","doi":"10.1016/j.tcb.2025.03.003","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tcb.2025.03.003","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The generation of blood cells during embryonic development involves a process resembling lineage reprogramming, where specialized cells within the vasculature become blood forming, or hemogenic. These hemogenic cells undergo rapid transcriptional and morphological changes as they appear to switch from an endothelial to blood identity. What controls this process and the exact nature of the hemogenic cells remains debated, with evidence supporting several hypotheses. In this opinion, we synthesize current knowledge and propose a model reconciling conflicting observations, integrating evolutionary and mechanistic insights into blood cell emergence.</p>","PeriodicalId":56085,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Cell Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":18.1,"publicationDate":"2025-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12353867/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144058966","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"3D genome folding in epigenetic regulation and cellular memory.","authors":"Flora Paldi, Giacomo Cavalli","doi":"10.1016/j.tcb.2025.03.001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tcb.2025.03.001","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The 3D folding of the genome is tightly linked to its epigenetic state which maintains gene expression programmes. Although the relationship between gene expression and genome organisation is highly context dependent, 3D genome organisation is emerging as a novel epigenetic layer to reinforce and stabilise transcriptional states. Whether regulatory information carried in genome folding could be transmitted through mitosis is an area of active investigation. In this review, we discuss the relationship between epigenetic state and nuclear organisation, as well as the interplay between transcriptional regulation and epigenetic genome folding. We also consider the architectural remodelling of nuclei as cells enter and exit mitosis, and evaluate the potential of the 3D genome to contribute to cellular memory.</p>","PeriodicalId":56085,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Cell Biology","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144053731","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in Cell BiologyPub Date : 2025-04-01Epub Date: 2025-02-25DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2025.02.004
Woo Yong Park, Claudia Montufar, Elma Zaganjor
{"title":"Mitochondrial substrate oxidation regulates distinct cell differentiation outcomes.","authors":"Woo Yong Park, Claudia Montufar, Elma Zaganjor","doi":"10.1016/j.tcb.2025.02.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tcb.2025.02.004","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Mitochondrial metabolism, signaling, and dynamics are key regulators of cell fate. While glycolysis supports stemness, mitochondrial expansion and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) facilitate differentiation. This forum presents emerging evidence that the type of substrate, whether amino acids, carbohydrates, or fatty acids, oxidized by mitochondria significantly influences differentiation outcomes.</p>","PeriodicalId":56085,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Cell Biology","volume":" ","pages":"274-277"},"PeriodicalIF":13.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11972143/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143517366","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in Cell BiologyPub Date : 2025-04-01Epub Date: 2025-02-10DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2025.01.007
Marco B Rust, Sharof Khudayberdiev
{"title":"Cyclase-associated protein: an actin regulator with multiple neuronal functions.","authors":"Marco B Rust, Sharof Khudayberdiev","doi":"10.1016/j.tcb.2025.01.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tcb.2025.01.007","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Studies of the past decade established cyclase-associated protein (CAP) as a key regulator of actin dynamics and associated its dysregulation with human brain disorders. However, its neuronal functions remained unknown until recent studies deciphered CAP-dependent mechanisms relevant for neuron differentiation or synapse morphogenesis, which are summarized and discussed in this forum article.</p>","PeriodicalId":56085,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Cell Biology","volume":" ","pages":"278-281"},"PeriodicalIF":13.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143400874","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Trends in Cell BiologyPub Date : 2025-04-01Epub Date: 2024-08-13DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2024.07.006
Jun Wei Pek
{"title":"The idiosyncrasies of oocytes.","authors":"Jun Wei Pek","doi":"10.1016/j.tcb.2024.07.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tcb.2024.07.006","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Animal oocytes face extreme challenges. They remain dormant in the body for long periods of time. To support offspring development and health, they need to store genetic material and maternal factors stably and at the same time manage cellular damage in a reliable manner. Recent studies have provided new insights on how oocytes cope with such challenges. This review discusses the many unusual or idiosyncratic nature of oocytes and how understanding oocyte biology can help us address issues of reproduction and intergenerational inheritance.</p>","PeriodicalId":56085,"journal":{"name":"Trends in Cell Biology","volume":" ","pages":"305-315"},"PeriodicalIF":13.0,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141984060","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}