Biomarkers of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy: a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Current diagnostic criteria for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy in the early hours lack objective measurement tools. Therefore, this systematic review aims to identify putative molecules that can be used in diagnosis in daily clinical practice (PROSPERO ID: CRD42021272610). DATA SOURCES: Searches were performed in PubMed, Web of Science, and Science Direct databases until November 2020. English original papers analyzing samples from newborns > 36 weeks that met at least two American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists diagnostic criteria and/or imaging evidence of cerebral damage were included. Bias was assessed by the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. The search and data extraction were verified by two authors separately. RESULTS: From 373 papers, 30 met the inclusion criteria. Data from samples collected in the first 72 hours were extracted, and increased serum levels of neuron-specific enolase and S100-calcium-binding protein-B were associated with a worse prognosis in newborns that suffered an episode of perinatal asphyxia. In addition, the levels of glial fibrillary acidic protein, ubiquitin carboxyl terminal hydrolase isozyme-L1, glutamic pyruvic transaminase-2, lactate, and glucose were elevated in newborns diagnosed with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Moreover, pathway analysis revealed insulin-like growth factor signaling and alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism to be involved in the early molecular response to insult. CONCLUSIONS: Neuron-specific enolase and S100-calcium-binding protein-B are potential biomarkers, since they are correlated with an unfavorable outcome of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy newborns. However, more studies are required to determine the sensitivity and specificity of this approach to be validated for clinical practice.

Cofilin-1 Is a Mechanosensitive Regulator of Transcription.

The mechanical properties of the extracellular environment are interrogated by cells and integrated through mechanotransduction. Many cellular processes depend on actomyosin-dependent contractility, which is influenced by the microenvironment's stiffness. Here, we explored the influence of substrate stiffness on the proteome of proliferating undifferentiated human umbilical cord-matrix mesenchymal stem/stromal cells. The relative abundance of several proteins changed significantly by expanding cells on soft (∼3 kPa) or stiff substrates (GPa). Many such proteins are associated with the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton, a major player of mechanotransduction and cell physiology in response to mechanical cues. Specifically, Cofilin-1 levels were elevated in cells cultured on soft comparing with stiff substrates. Furthermore, Cofilin-1 was de-phosphorylated (active) and present in the nuclei of cells kept on soft substrates, in contrast with phosphorylated (inactive) and widespread distribution in cells on stiff. Soft substrates promoted Cofilin-1-dependent increased RNA transcription and faster RNA polymerase II-mediated transcription elongation. Cofilin-1 is part of a novel mechanism linking mechanotransduction and transcription.

Shedding light on microRNA function via microscopy-based screening.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that post-transcriptionally modulate gene expression and orchestrate a wide range of biological and pathological processes. The use of high-throughput screening technologies, in particular microscopy-based screenings (also known as high-content screenings), coupled with genome-wide libraries for modulation of miRNA levels, allow for comprehensive functional analysis of each member of the miRNome in different phenotypic cell-based assays. The wealth of information obtained from such screenings spans across various fields of research, including cancer, cardiovascular, cell reprogramming, and infection biology. Here, we provide an overview of the rationale for performing screenings using synthetic libraries of miRNA mimics and inhibitors, and of the microscopy-based miRNA screenings performed to date. Moreover, a list of resources available for such endeavor is provided. Finally, we describe a detailed procedure for a case study where microscopy-based screening using a library of miRNA mimics was performed to identify miRNAs that control infection of epithelial cells by the bacterial pathogen Salmonella. The methodologies described here can be easily adapted for screenings addressing other biological questions.