Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports最新文献

{"title":"8-O-acetylharpagide, an active compound isolated from A. taiwanensis selectively induced G2/M phase arrest and radiosensitivity in hypopharyngeal cancer cells","authors":"Wan-Yu Yang ,&nbsp;Yung-Cheng Wang ,&nbsp;Yun-Lian Lin ,&nbsp;Kuei-Yuan Hou ,&nbsp;Wan-Chun Li ,&nbsp;Yi-Jang Lee","doi":"10.1016/j.bbrep.2025.102431","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbrep.2025.102431","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hypopharyngeal cancer (HPC) is a rare but most malignant subtype of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Conventional chemo-radiotherapy is the primary approach for the treatment of HPC, while the efficacy is limited and complications. Previously, we have isolated an active compound (AT-1) identified as 8-O-acetylharpagide from <em>Ajuga taiwanensis</em>. Because Ajuga extracts are both edible and known for their anti-cancer properties, it is worthwhile to investigate whether AT-1 can inhibit cancers of otolaryngological origin. In this study, we compared the cell killing effects of AT-1 on FaDu HPC cells and periodontal ligament <em>(</em>PDL) cells. The results showed that AT-1 was more toxic on FaDu cells (IC₅₀ = 0.88 mM) than on PDL cells (IC₅₀ = 1.65 mM), yielding a selectivity index (SI) ≈ 1.85. AT-1 caused significant G2/M phase arrest in FaDu cells with a dose-dependent manner. Concomitantly, high concentration of AT-1 could induce necrosis-like fraction and late apoptosis in FaDu cells. Notably, AT-1 did not influence the cell cycle redistribution and cell death in PDL cells under the same condition of treatment. Furthermore, AT-1 enhanced the radiosensitivity of FaDu cells rather than PDL cells, suggesting that AT-1 induced G2/M phase arrest remains sensitive to ionizing radiation known as a principle of radiobiology. Taken together, current data indicate that AT-1 raises selectively efficacy on HPC cells by increasing G2/M phase arrest, apoptosis, as well as radiosensitivity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8771,"journal":{"name":"Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article 102431"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145938989","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of myocardial microcirculation changes in rats from different altitudes based on CT myocardial perfusion imaging","authors":"Chunlong Yan ,&nbsp;Jinfeng Ma ,&nbsp;Tingjun Yan ,&nbsp;Yanqiu Sun","doi":"10.1016/j.bbrep.2025.102417","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbrep.2025.102417","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study employed computed tomography myocardial perfusion imaging (CT-MPI) to investigate myocardial microcirculation changes in rats across different altitudes. Four-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were allocated into plain (450 m), moderate-altitude (MA, 2200 m), and high-altitude (HA-A, 3800 m; HA-B, 4200 m) groups. After 28 weeks, CT-MPI revealed significant altitude-dependent alterations in myocardial perfusion parameters: TTP and MTT increased while BF and BV decreased (P &lt; 0.05). Accompanying these changes were modifications in blood parameters—including red blood cell indices, white blood cell counts, and biochemical markers—along with myocardial structural remodeling characterized by disordered cell arrangement, widened intercellular gaps, and increased collagen deposition. Molecular analyses demonstrated variations in mRNA and protein expression of hypoxia-related markers (CD34, EPO, VEGF, HIF-1α, HIF-2α) and collagen types I/III, with HIF-2α exhibiting particular sensitivity to altitude variation. These findings indicate that high-altitude exposure induces progressive myocardial microcirculation impairment coupled with hematological adaptations and tissue remodeling, potentially mediated through HIF-2α-regulated hypoxia response pathways.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8771,"journal":{"name":"Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article 102417"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145938987","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"LncRNA RMST knockout inhibits fibrosis by down-regulating Smad3 during mouse skin wound healing","authors":"Zhong Zhou ,&nbsp;Xulong Huang ,&nbsp;Chaohang Chen ,&nbsp;Tao Zou ,&nbsp;Yifan Hai ,&nbsp;Guokai Dong ,&nbsp;Shanshan Li","doi":"10.1016/j.bbrep.2025.102386","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbrep.2025.102386","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background and objective</h3><div>Scarring presents a significant clinical challenge, imposing both physical and psychological burdens on patients. This drives the need for novel therapeutic strategies. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have emerged as pivotal regulators of fibrosis. This study aims to investigate the role of the lncRNA RMST, which we identified as being upregulated during skin wound healing, in the pathogenesis of cutaneous scarring.</div></div><div><h3>Materials and methods</h3><div>A transcriptomic dataset was analyzed to identify lncRNAs dysregulated during skin wound healing. The function of RMST was assessed using in vivo RMST knockout models in a murine skin wound healing model. Wound tissues were harvested at day 21 post-injury for histological and molecular analysis. Downstream targets of RMST were predicted through bioinformatic analysis and validated using quantitative RT-PCR and Western blot. Finally, a rescue experiment was performed by overexpressing Smad3 in the context of RMST knockout to confirm the functional hierarchy.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>RMST knockout significantly suppressed fibrotic progression and inflammatory activity at day 21 post-injury, demonstrated by reduced collagen deposition and lower levels of key inflammatory mediators. Bioinformatic and experimental analyses identified Smad3 as a key downstream target. RMST knockout directly reduced both Smad3 mRNA and protein levels, indicating a direct regulatory mechanism acting at the expression level. Crucially, the anti-fibrotic effects of RMST knockout were effectively reversed upon Smad3 overexpression, confirming that Smad3 acts functionally downstream of RMST.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Our findings establish lncRNA RMST as a key driver of cutaneous fibrosis through its regulation of Smad3 expression. Targeting the RMST-Smad3 signaling axis therefore represents a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment and prevention of scarring.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8771,"journal":{"name":"Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article 102386"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145622784","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"New insight into role of mast cells in erythrocyte homeostasis and clearance under oxidative stress conditions in vivo","authors":"Priyanka Sharma,&nbsp;Mohd Suleman,&nbsp;Niti Puri","doi":"10.1016/j.bbrep.2025.102389","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbrep.2025.102389","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Erythrocytes are exposed to reactive oxygen species during circulation constantly, due to normal aerobic cellular metabolism and pathology of inflammatory diseases. Genetic depletion of mast cells and systemic mastocytosis seem to affect anaemia. We attempted to reveal the participation of mast cells in erythrocytes clearance <em>in vivo</em> and during interaction with professional phagocytes like macrophages <em>in vitro</em>. Mastocytosis was induced in DBA/2 mice by injecting P815 cells and mast cell depletion was attained with compound 48/80 treatment under normal or phenylhydrazine (PHZ) induced oxidative stress conditions in mice. The mastocytosis model showed a significant decrease in circulatory erythrocytes while mast cell absence led to significantly high accumulation of erythrocytes in spleens of mast cell depleted anemic mice. The present study provides important evidences for contribution of mast cells in erythrocyte clearance during oxidative stress conditions and augmented uptake of oxydatively damaged erythrocytes (ODE) in presence of macrophages in close proximity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8771,"journal":{"name":"Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article 102389"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145622885","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ectopic endometrial mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomal miR-4466 promotes angiogenesis by targeting RUNX1 in adenomyosis","authors":"Jindan Wang ,&nbsp;Yongyan Ni ,&nbsp;Jiali Sun ,&nbsp;Yingying Qiu ,&nbsp;Xinjun Wei ,&nbsp;Bei Wang ,&nbsp;Meihua Huang ,&nbsp;Zhenli Li ,&nbsp;Tao Gui","doi":"10.1016/j.bbrep.2026.102457","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbrep.2026.102457","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Abnormal angiogenesis plays vital role in the pathogenesis of adenomyosis (AM). Emerging evidence suggests that exosomes derived from endometrial cells can accelerate the progression of AM. In this study, we aim to investigate the pro-angiogenic role and potential mechanisms of ectopic endometrial mesenchymal stem cells (eMSCs)-derived exosomes (Ec-exo).</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>MicroRNA sequencing was conducted to identify differentially expressed miRNAs (DE-miRNAs) in exosomes derived from normal eMSCs (N-exo) and Ec-exo. Candidate miRNAs were selected using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The effects of miR-4466 on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) proliferation, invasion/migration, and tube formation were analysed in vitro. The target gene of miR-4466 was predicted via bioinformatics analysis and validated by qRT-PCR, western blotting, luciferase assays, and rescue experiments.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>We identified 81 up-regulated and 92 down-regulated miRNAs between N-exo and Ec-exo. Among these DE-miRNAs, miR-4466 was the most significantly up-regulated. The internalisation assay demonstrated that exosomal miR-4466 can be internalised by HUVECs. Overexpression or inhibition of miR-4466 significantly promoted or inhibited HUVEC proliferation, invasion/migration, and tube formation. Bioinformatics predictions and luciferase assays revealed that runt-related transcription factor 1 (RUNX1) is a direct target of miR-4466. Moreover, rescue experiments confirmed that RUNX1 overexpression reversed the pro-angiogenic effect of miR-4466 by inhibiting vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) expression.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Our study demonstrates that exosomal miR-4466 derived from ectopic eMSCs promotes angiogenesis by targeting the RUNX1/VEGFA axis in AM. These findings may offer new insights into therapeutic targets and treatment strategies for the anti-angiogenic treatment of AM.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8771,"journal":{"name":"Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article 102457"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146034422","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Exploring the impact of hAMSCs secretome on Panc1 cells via TNF-α/NF-κB (p50/p65)/Caspase 3 signaling pathways: An in vitro study","authors":"Aynaz Khalafi,&nbsp;Fatemeh Safari","doi":"10.1016/j.bbrep.2025.102411","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbrep.2025.102411","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The second most prevalent cause of mortality worldwide is cancer. Pancreatic cancer, known as the “king of cancers” due to its unfavorable prognosis and absence of symptoms, is among the fatal types of cancer. Despite the availability of various cancer therapy options, current strategies are often ineffective. Therefore, there is a constant need to explore novel platforms with low side effects and high efficacy. The application of stem cells or their derivatives in treating diseases including cancer, has become well-established. This study, focuses on investigating the effects of the secretome of human mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs) on Panc1 pancreatic cancer cells through the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α)/nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)/Caspase 3 signaling pathways. A co-culture system using 6-well plates transwell was utilized for this purpose. After 72 h, cell death in hAMSCs-treated Panc1 cells was analyzed through the TNF-α/NF-κB (p50/p65)<strong>/</strong>Caspase 3 signaling pathways using Western blot and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). DAPI staining was used to visualize cell death in hAMSCs-treated Panc1 cells. The results showed an up-regulation of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-8, p-IKK, p-IKKα, p-IKKβ, p-IκB, p53, PUMA, Caspase 3, and NF-κB (p50/p65) as well as a down-regulation of IKβ. These findings suggest that the secretome of hAMSCs promotes both inflammation and apoptosis in Panc1 pancreatic cancer cells simultaneously.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8771,"journal":{"name":"Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article 102411"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145747998","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Optimization design of solution preparation methods of three poorly soluble drugs of clinical use in infusions on orthogonal test and evaluation of stability study","authors":"Dan Jiang ,&nbsp;Dongfei Fang ,&nbsp;Zicen Wang ,&nbsp;Huanqi Cun ,&nbsp;Baoxia Fang ,&nbsp;Fuchao Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.bbrep.2025.102412","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbrep.2025.102412","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><div>To optimize the preparation methods of three intravenous poorly soluble antibacterial drugs (oxacillin sodium, cefmetazole sodium, and ciprofloxacin hydrochloride) and investigate their compatibility and stability in infusion.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Taking the variety of solvents, volume of initial solvent, and oscillation time as influencing factors, and with the count of particulate matter and content uniformity in the preparation solution as the evaluation indices, the L₉(3⁴) orthogonal test was used to optimize the preparation methods of three intravenous insoluble antibacterial drugs. Simulate clinical drug concentrations, mix each drug separately with 0.9 % sodium chloride (0.9 % NS) and 5 % glucose (5 % GS), and take samples at different time points under room temperature and refrigerator conditions to determine their appearance, pH value, and relative percentage of drug content.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The optimal preparation method for oxacillin sodium was as follows: it was pre-dissolved in 8 mL of 0.9 % NS and shaken for 90 s before dilution and preparation. The optimal preparation method for cefmetazole sodium was as follows: it was pre-dissolved in 8 mL of 5 % GS, and shaken for 120 s before dilution and preparation. The optimal preparation method for ciprofloxacin hydrochloride was as follows: it was pre-dissolved in 18 mL of 5 % GS, and oscillation for 120 s before dilution and preparation. The three drugs were combined with 0.9 % NS and 5 % GS, respectively, and remained relatively stable within 24 h.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>Optimal selection of the variety of solvents, the volume of the initial solvent, and the oscillation time in preparing poorly soluble antibiotics can improve the quality of the intravenous infusion. Stability experiments confirmed that the three drugs can remain stable for 24 h, ensuring safety during clinical intravenous infusion.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8771,"journal":{"name":"Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article 102412"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145797524","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"SERPINA3 facilitates malignant progression and remodels tumor immune microenvironment in glioma","authors":"Wanwan Wen ,&nbsp;Qing Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.bbrep.2025.102419","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbrep.2025.102419","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Glioblastoma (GBM) have high aggression and immunosuppression characteristics, with treatment limitation and poor clinical prognosis. Glioma-associated macrophages and microglia (GAMs) constitute the majority immune cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME). Differential molecular characteristics in GBM are related to the poor prognosis and result in therapeutic resistance. Previous research revealed that elevated SERPINA3 expression portends a dismal prognosis for glioma patients. However, the relationship between SERPINA3 and glioma malignant progression, as well as its association with GAMs infiltration, remains unclear. In this study, we explored SERPINA3 levels in different grade glioma tissues and its correlation with GAMs markers. We found that an upregulated of SERPINA3 protein expression in GBM tissues compared to low-grade gliomas. Notably, the expressions of CD68 and IBA1, markers for GAMs, were significantly increased in GBM. Furthermore, we observed a strong correlation between high levels of SERPINA3, CD68, and IBA1 with reduced survival in patients with primary gliomas. Intriguingly, within GBM tissues, we further confirmed the expression of SERPINA3 in GAMs, and that SERPINA3 expression is positively associated with CD68 and IBA1 in primary gliomas, indicating remodeling of the tumor immune microenvironment. This study provides an insight into the therapeutic strategy targeting SERPINA3 in glioma patients.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8771,"journal":{"name":"Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article 102419"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145938482","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Computational analysis of the structural and functional impact of the deleterious nsSNPs in the human F2R gene and their implications in glioma","authors":"Saif Mukramoon Arosh ,&nbsp;Md. Raiyan Hosen ,&nbsp;Md. Ismail Hosen ,&nbsp;Atiqur Rahman","doi":"10.1016/j.bbrep.2025.102430","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbrep.2025.102430","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The protease-activated receptor 1 (PAR1) protein, derived from the <em>F2R</em> gene, is integral to various physiological and pathological mechanisms and has been recognized as an oncogene in multiple studies, playing a crucial role in the aggressive and metastatic characteristics of cancer. However, no comprehensive investigation has yet been conducted on the possible impact of its missense mutations. In this study, we employed a computational pipeline to determine potentially deleterious nonsynonymous single-nucleotide polymorphisms (nsSNPs) within the <em>F2R</em> gene and evaluate their structural and functional impact on the PAR1 protein, as well as their association with cancer. PAR1 missense variants were primarily retrieved from the dbSNP database and Ensembl genome browser. Fifteen variants were subsequently predicted to exert detrimental effects using fourteen different computational tools. Phenotypic effect prediction, integrated with structural modeling, revealed that two variants (R214H and C378G) exert the most severe functional consequences, based on their location in highly conserved regions and their predicted ability to destabilize protein structure. Molecular docking analysis and subsequent molecular dynamics simulations demonstrated a destabilization of the two variants compared to the wild type, potentially leading to reduced protein activity. Furthermore, non-coding SNPs were predicted to alter regulatory elements of the <em>F2R</em> gene, influencing its expression across multiple tissues. Analysis of the <em>F2R</em> gene using TCGA data suggested its significant association with the progression and overall survival of low-grade glioma patients. These findings provide a foundation for future large-scale population studies and highlight the prospect of targeting PAR1 protein variants in cancer research and drug discovery, particularly in the context of precision medicine for glioma.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8771,"journal":{"name":"Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article 102430"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145938991","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"In vitro 3D models of neuron-astrocyte interactions","authors":"Tong Su,&nbsp;Zhixiang Li,&nbsp;Yujie Yang,&nbsp;Yangfan Dai,&nbsp;Yueqi Li,&nbsp;Huan Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.bbrep.2025.102400","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.bbrep.2025.102400","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The pathological processes of neurodegenerative diseases (e.g., Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) also include relationships between neuron and glia cells. Conventional two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures have limitations to mimic the microenvironment of cells inside living organisms because of flaws in intercellular relationships investigated using 2D cell cultures. Recent advances have introduced three-dimensional (3D) cell cultures that have the capability to create 3D cellular architecture to mimic advanced platforms for scientific inquiries into neurodegenerative diseases, simulating microenvironments inside living organisms.This review provides a brief overview of the development of <em>in vitro</em> 3D cell culture models of astrocytes and attempts to highlight the role of astrocytes in crucial pathophysiologic events occurring in 3D cultures. Studies have shown the use of <em>in vitro</em> 3D cultures to better represent the dual functions of astrocytes in neurodegenerative disorders. Looking ahead to the future, novel advances in microfluidics and multi-omics analysis promise to further improve 3D cultures and push forward new insights into neurological dysfunction to spark innovative advances for treatment strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":8771,"journal":{"name":"Biochemistry and Biophysics Reports","volume":"45 ","pages":"Article 102400"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145691575","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}