RESUMEN
Ocular surface tissues are vulnerable to various stimuli from the external environment,including microbial invasion,mechanical damage,chemical stimulation,dust,UV light,and allergen stimulation.Conjunctival goblet cells play an important role in maintaining ocular surface self-homeostasis and health.These cells are the only unicellular glands in humans and mammals that are mainly distributed in the epithelium of the digestive tract,respiratory tract,and the ocular surface.Many factors affect goblet cell development and differentiation,especially the newly discovered molecule Spdef,which is a transcription factor found in the ETS family.The main function of conjunctival goblet cells is to secrete mucin to protect and lubricate the ocular surface;however,they also secrete a variety of other bioactive substances.Recent studies have demonstrated that goblet cells are involved in antigen presentation,regulation of dendritic cell phenotype differentiation,and induction of immune tolerance on the mucosa.Many ocular surface diseases,such as dry eye,will alter density and function of conjunctival goblet cells.Therefore,ophthalmologists should be concerned about the biological behavior of conjunctival goblet cells and the relationship between them and ocular surface diseases.
RESUMEN
Synthetic biology is an emerging interdisciplinary research field. By designing and constructing new or re-designing the existing natural systems, it confers them novel functions, which do not exist in nature. Owing to the predictability and controllability, synthetic biology attracts more and more interest from biologists, physicists, and engineers. Synthetic biology approaches not only can be widely used for biotechnological applications but also can be used to study complex biological systems to address fundamental questions. Here, we reviewed the recent studies following the concept of "build-to-understand", particularly, the studies to understand intracellular network structure, cell physiology, the behavior of multicellular populations, and ecosystems.
RESUMEN
The Paks (p21-activated kinases) are members of a family of serine/threonine kinases which are highly conserved throughout evolution in a variety of organisms. Paks can be activated by a variety of upstream signaling molecules, especially by Rac and Cdc42 from Rho family small G proteins. The activated Paks play an important role in regulating many signaling pathways and cell function. The aberrant expression of Paks has been observed in a variety of cancers. Paks promote tumorigenesis through regulating cytoskeleton remodeling, cell motility, cell proliferation, cell differentiation, apoptosis, mitosis and angiogenesis. It appears promising to consider Paks as potential therapeutic targets in cancer therapy. Copyright © 2012 by TUMOR.
RESUMEN
El condrocito es la única célula presente en el cartílago articular, por lo que es de gran importancia el conocimiento de los mecanismos que regulan sus funciones, en particular los mecanismos de transporte de membrana que le permiten a esta célula enfrentar los continuos cambios de la osmolaridad externa a que están sometidos como consecuencia de las variaciones en la carga mecánica. Los mecanismos implicados en la regulaciín del volumen intracelular, el pH intracelular, la concentraciín citoplásmica de calcio y el potencial de membrana son claves para la comprensiín de los procesos que se afectan con el desarrollo de la enfermedad, puesto que cualquier alteraciín de la homeostasis del condrocito articular afecta el metabolismo de los componentes de la matriz extracelular y por ende, las características funcionales del tejido. El presente artículo revisa los principales elementos funcionales del condrocito articular y su entorno en el contexto del transporte de membrana y su regulaciín.
The chondrocyte is the only cell in the articular cartilage; for this reason it is very important the knowledge about mechanisms that regulate its functions, particularly the membrane transport mechanisms which allow this cell to cope the continuous changes of external osmolarity as a consequence of variations in mechanic load. The mechanisms implied in regulation of cell volume, intracellular pH, cytoplasmic calcium concentration and membrane potential are key factors for understanding the process that are affected during illness, because any alteration of articular chondrocyte homeostasis affects the metabolism of the components of extracellular matrix and tissue functional characteristics. The present paper reviews the main functional elements of articular chondrocytes and its environment in the context of membrane transport regulation.