A5081064466- Adipose Tissue and Metabolism
- Lipid Membrane Structure and Behavior
- Adipokines, Inflammation, and Metabolic Diseases
- Cellular transport and secretion
- Autophagy in Disease and Therapy
- RNA Interference and Gene Delivery
- Cardiovascular Disease and Adiposity
- Cell Image Analysis Techniques
- Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
- Single-cell and spatial transcriptomics
- Advanced Fluorescence Microscopy Techniques
- Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research
- Neuroscience of respiration and sleep
- Ion channel regulation and function
- Neurogenetic and Muscular Disorders Research
- Respiratory Support and Mechanisms
- Cell Adhesion Molecules Research
- Muscle and Compartmental Disorders
- Cancer, Hypoxia, and Metabolism
- 3D Printing in Biomedical Research
- Biomedical and Engineering Education
- Climate Change and Health Impacts
- Global Health and Surgery
- Cerebrospinal fluid and hydrocephalus
- Spinal Cord Injury Research
The University of Texas at San Antonio
2017-2024
Mayo Clinic
2016-2019
Mayo Clinic in Arizona
2017-2018
Mayo Clinic in Florida
2016-2018
In aging Fischer 344 rats, phrenic motor neuron loss, neuromuscular junction abnormalities, and diaphragm muscle (DIAm) sarcopenia are present by 24 mo of age, with larger fast-twitch fatigue-intermediate (type FInt) fatigable FF) units particularly vulnerable. We hypothesize that in old DIAm transmission deficits specific to type FInt and/or FF units. nerve/DIAm preparations from rats at 6 the nerve was supramaximally stimulated 10, 40, or 75 Hz. Every 15 s, directly stimulated, difference...
Cervical spinal hemisection at C2 (SH) removes premotor drive to phrenic motoneurons located in segments C3-C5 rats. Spontaneous recovery of ipsilateral diaphragm muscle activity is associated with increased motoneuron expression glutamatergic N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors and decreased α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-proprionic acid (AMPA) receptors. Glutamatergic receptor regulated by tropomyosin-related kinase subtype B (TrkB) signaling various neuronal systems, TrkB...
Abstract Obesity and the metabolic disease epidemic has led to an increase in morbidity mortality. A rise adipose thermogenic capacity via activation of brown or beige fat is a potential treatment for diseases. However, understanding how local factors control adipocyte fate limited. Mice with null mutation laminin α4 (LAMA4) gene (KO) exhibit resistance obesity enhanced expression markers white tissue (WAT). In this study, changes WAT extracellular matrix composition absence LAMA4 were...
In this study, we described a method for generating functional, beige (thermogenic) adipose microtissues from human microvascular fragments (MVFs). The MVFs were isolated tissue acquired adults over 50 years of age. tissues express thermogenic gene markers and reproduce functions essential the potential therapeutic impact such as enhanced lipid metabolism increased mitochondrial respiration. serve single, autologous source cells that can be adult patients, induced to recreate functional...
In motor neurons, cholera toxin B (CTB) binds to the cell-surface ganglioside GM1 and is internalized transported via structurally unique components of plasma membranes (lipid rafts).Lipid raft uptake by axon terminals adjoining type-identified rat diaphragm muscle fibers was investigated using CTB confocal imaging.Lipid increased significantly at higher frequency stimulation (80 Hz), compared with lower (20 Hz) unstimulated (0 conditions. The fraction terminal occupied ∼45% 0- or 20-Hz...
We introduce cytoNet, a cloud-based tool to characterize cell populations from microscopy images. cytoNet quantifies spatial topology and functional relationships in communities using principles of network science. Capturing multicellular dynamics through graph features, also evaluates the effect cell-cell interactions on individual phenotypes. demonstrate cytoNet’s capabilities four case studies: 1) characterizing temporal neural progenitor during differentiation, 2) identifying...
Obesity affects nearly one billion globally and can lead to life-threatening sequelae. Consequently, there is an urgent need for novel therapeutics. We have previously shown that laminin, alpha 4 ( Lama4 ) knockout in mice leads resistance adipose tissue accumulation; however, the relationship between LAMA4 obesity humans has not been established. In this study we measured laminin-α chain collagen mRNA expression subcutaneous white (sWAT) of placed on chow (RCD) or 45% high fat diet (HFD) 8...
Engineering thermogenic adipose tissue (e.g., beige or brown tissues) has been investigated as a potential therapy for metabolic diseases the design of personalized microtissues health screening and drug testing. Current strategies are often quite complex fail to accurately fully depict multicellular functional properties tissue. Microvascular fragments, small intact microvessels comprised arteriole, venules, capillaries isolated from tissue, serve single autologous source cells that enable...
Abstract Impaired autophagy, a cellular digestion process that eliminates proteins and damaged organelles, has been implicated in neurodegenerative diseases, including motor neuron disorders. Motor targeted upregulation of autophagy may serve as promising therapeutic approach. Lanthionine ketenamine (LK), an amino acid metabolite found mammalian brain tissue, activates neuronal cell lines. We hypothesized analogs LK can be to neurons using nanoparticles improve flux. Using mouse neuron-like...
Abstract We introduce cytoNet, a cloud-based tool to characterize cell populations from microscopy images. cytoNet quantifies spatial topology and functional relationships in communities using principles of network science. Capturing multicellular dynamics through graph features, also evaluates the effect cell-cell interactions on individual phenotypes. demonstrate cytoNet’s capabilities four case studies: 1) characterizing temporal neural progenitor during differentiation, 2) identifying...
Abstract Laminin-α4 (LAMA4) is an extracellular matrix protein implicated in the regulation of adipocyte differentiation and function. Prior research describes a role for LAMA4 modulating thermogenesis uncoupling protein-1 (UCP1) expression white adipose; however, mechanisms involved are poorly understood. Here, we describe that Lama4 knockout mice (Lama4−/−) exhibit heightened mitochondrial biogenesis peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1 (PGC-1) subcutaneous adipose...
Abstract Despite encouraging outcomes of the eight FDA approved drugs in lessening obesity burden, they have been associated with side effects caused by lack direct action on adipose tissue. Therefore, a nanomedicine is reported that promotes transformation local fat‐storage white adipocytes, obesity, into thermogenic indicative enhanced metabolism, to both human cells and mice. This consisting lipid‐silica nanohybrid allows accommodation natural supplement forskolin has resulted successful...
At present, there are limited delivery systems to target neurons in the central nervous system. Neurological diseases commonly hindered by treatments lacking drug selectivity of interest. In particular, motoneuron will likely require selective targeting therapeutic interventions, which can be delivered via peripheral Nanoparticles novel with exceptional potential. Specifically, mesoporous silica nanoparticles coated a lipid bilayer (protocells) suitable treatment vehicle and system because...
Engineering thermogenic adipose tissue (e.g., beige or brown tissues) has been investigated as a potential therapy for metabolic diseases the design of personalized microtissues health screening and drug testing. Current strategies are often quite complex fail to accurately fully depict multicellular functional properties tissue. Microvascular fragments, small intact microvessels comprised arteriole, venules, capillaries isolated from tissue, serve single autologous source cells that enable...
Cholera toxin B modified protocells (CTB‐protocells) are a promising, customizable approach for targeting and delivering drugs to motoneurons. Understanding the endocytic mechanism intracellular fate of CTB‐protocells is essential safe therapeutic application cargo delivery efficiency, also elucidate characteristics motoneuron physiology that not well understood. To assess energy dependent uptake by motoneurons, protocell fluorescence was measured at 4°C 37°C. Confocal analysis demonstrated...
Mesoporous silica nanoparticles coated with a lipid bilayer (protocells) are stable, versatile and biocompatible delivery platform that allows surface engineering to target specific cells intracellular cargo delivery. The endo‐lysosomal escape of this type drug carriers is important enhance the therapeutic efficacy their cargo. Motoneurons can be specifically targeted by surface‐coating protocells subunit B cholera toxin (CTB‐protocells). central hypothesis was CTB‐protocells compartments...
Lipid rafts are structurally unique components of plasma membranes, crucial for neural development and function. The uptake transport lipid raft associated molecules in motor neurons is poorly characterized under normal pathologic conditions, including advanced aging effects. particularly important as they shuttle cargo between peripheral central compartments. cholera toxin subunit B (CTB) binds the cell‐surface ganglioside GM1, which internalized transported via neurons, thus commonly used...
Obesity is characterized by an increase in adipose mass and the leading risk factor for type 2 diabetes. Increasing thermogenic capacity, activation of brown or beige fat, could be a treatment metabolic diseases. Nevertheless, many approaches fail maintaining transformed tissue vivo, part, due to limited understanding how environmental factors control cell fate maintenance. We have shown that mice with null mutation laminin α4 exhibit resistance obesity, enhanced expression fat markers...
Autophagy is a cellular digestion process that contributes to homeostasis by the elimination of proteins and damaged organelles. Impaired autophagy has been implicated in aging-related disorders neurodegenerative diseases, including motor neuron disorders. Therefore, upregulation may serve as promising therapeutic approach. Lanthionine ketenamine (LK), an amino acid metabolite found mammalian brain tissue at low concentrations, activates rat glioma human neuroblastoma cells vitro, well...