A5048951215- Retinal Development and Disorders
- Retinal Diseases and Treatments
- Photoreceptor and optogenetics research
- CRISPR and Genetic Engineering
- Angiogenesis and VEGF in Cancer
- Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Disease
- Pluripotent Stem Cells Research
- Glaucoma and retinal disorders
- Nanoplatforms for cancer theranostics
- Immunotherapy and Immune Responses
- Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
- Advanced Nanomaterials in Catalysis
- Peptidase Inhibition and Analysis
- Immune cells in cancer
- Connexins and lens biology
- Inhalation and Respiratory Drug Delivery
- Protease and Inhibitor Mechanisms
- Extracellular vesicles in disease
- Advanced Glycation End Products research
- Retinopathy of Prematurity Studies
- Autophagy in Disease and Therapy
- Heme Oxygenase-1 and Carbon Monoxide
- Optical Coherence Tomography Applications
- Photoacoustic and Ultrasonic Imaging
- Flavonoids in Medical Research
Brigham and Women's Hospital
2020-2024
Harvard University
2020-2024
Tarbiat Modares University
2016-2022
Ocular Surface Center
2021
Abstract Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are responsible for therapeutic resistance and recurrence in colorectal cancer. Despite advances immunotherapy, the inability to specifically eradicate CSCs has led treatment failure. Hence, identification of appropriate antigen sources is a major challenge designing dendritic cell (DC)‐based strategies against CSCs. Here, an vitro model using HT‐29 colon cancer line, we explored efficacy DCs loaded with exosomes derived from CSC‐enriched colonospheres (CSC...
This work elucidates the first cellular and molecular causes of cataractogenesis. Current paradigm presupposes elevated blood glucose as a prerequisite in diabetic Novel evidence our model cataract challenges this notion introduces immune cell migration to lens epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) epithelial cells (LECs) underlying causes.Paucity suitable animal models has hampered mechanistic studies cataract, most were traditionally carried out acutely induced hyperglycemic animals....
ABSTRACT Adeno associated virus (AAV)‐mediated gene delivery of GRP78 (78 kDa glucose‐regulated protein) attenuates the condition endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and prevents apoptotic loss photoreceptors in Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) rats. In current study we overexpressed Grp78 with help AAV‐2 primary human retinal pigmented epithelium (hRPE) cell cultures examined its effect on response to ER stress. The purpose this work was studying potential stimulating adaptation/pro‐survival hRPE...
Abstract Background About 90% of cancer-related deaths are due to metastasis cancer cells, and angiogenesis is a critical step in this process. sFLT01 novel fusion protein dual-targeting agent that neutralizes both VEGF PlGF proangiogenic activities. GRP78 dual effect tumor growth could be activated under stimulation. The current study was designed investigate the inhibitory impact on VEGF/GRP78 axis. To point, construct synthesized, recombinant plasmid expressed eukaryotic host...
Abstract Angiogenesis, inflammation and endothelial cells’ migration proliferation exert fundamental roles in different diseases. However, more studies are needed to identify key proteins pathways involved these processes. Aflibercept has received the approval of US Food Drug Administration (FDA) for treatment wet AMD colorectal cancer. Moreover, effect on VEGFR2 downstream signalling not been investigated yet. Here, we integrated text mining data, protein‐protein interaction networks...
Retinal degenerative diseases, due to the lack of regeneration systems and self-renewable cells, often lead visual impairment. Pax6 is a pleiotropic transcription factor its expression level determines self-renewal status or differentiation retinal cells. Here, we investigated fate simultaneous induction ganglion cell death overexpression in retro-differentiation cells their commitment re-enter into cycle. Induction acute generation mouse experimental model was performed by N-methyl...
Macrophages are the main infiltrating immune cells in choroidal neovascularization (CNV), a hallmark of human wet, or neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Due to their plasticity and ability adapt local microenvironment tissue-dependent manner, macrophages display polar functional phenotypes characterized by cell surface markers cytokine profiles. We found accumulation hemoglobin-scavenging cluster differentiation 163 (CD163)(+) laser-induced CNV lesions higher expression...
Diabetes is a major risk factor for cataract, the leading cause of blindness worldwide. There an unmet need realistic model diabetic cataract mechanistic and longitudinal studies, as existing models do not reflect key aspects complex human disease. Here, we introduce characterize in Nile grass rat (NGR, Arvicanthis niloticus), established metabolic syndrome type 2 diabetes (T2D). We conducted study over 88 NGRs their non-diabetic, pre-diabetic, stages metabolism. Oral glucose tolerance test...
Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a major healthcare challenge for individuals with diabetes and associated increased cardiovascular morbidity mortality. The existing rodent models do not fully represent the complex course of human disease. Hence, developing translational model that reproduces both early advanced characteristics DN faithfully recapitulates overall pathology an unmet need. Here, we introduce Nile grass rat (NGR) as novel characterize key pathologies underlying DN. NGRs...
Degenerative eye diseases cause partial or complete blindness due to photoreceptor degeneration. Optogenetic gene therapy is a revolutionary technique combining genetics and optical methods control the function of neurons. Due inherent risk photochemical damage, light intensity necessary activate Opto-mGluR6 surpasses safe threshold for retinal illumination. Conversely, red-shifted lights pose significantly lower inducing such damage compared blue lights. We designed photopigments with wide,...
Local stimuli differentiate monocytes into M2-like macrophages that mechanistically drive the pathologies in cancer and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). A photo-controlled nanodrug halts macrophage polarization through Rho-associated kinase (ROCK) inhibition was developed. small-molecule ROCK inhibitor, fasudil, conjugated to a photo-responsive group short poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chain. This resulted novel amphiphilic prodrug,...
Cell replacement is a promising therapy for degenerative diseases like age‐related macular degeneration (AMD). Since the human retina lacks regeneration capacity, much attention has been directed toward persuading cells that can differentiate into retinal neurons. In this report, we have investigated reprogramming of RPE and concerned effect donor age on cellular fate as critical determinant in competence. We evaluated SOX2 over‐expression neonatal adult cultures. The coding region gene was...
Abstract In retinal degenerative disorders, when neural cells are damaged, cell transplantation is one of the most promising therapeutic approaches. Optogenetic technology plays an essential role in differentiation stem via membrane depolarization. This study explored efficacy blue light stimulation neuroretinal Opto‐mGluR6‐engineered mouse pigment epithelium (mRPE) and bone marrow mesenchymal (BMSCs). mRPE BMSCs were selected for optogenetic due to their capability differentiate into...
The retinal pigment epithelium is a monolayer of highly specialized pigmented cells located between the neural retina and Bruch's membrane choroid. RPE play crucial role in maintenance function underlying photoreceptors. This study introduces spontaneously arising human epithelial cell line, HRPE‐2S, which was isolated from primary culture 2 days old male donor. We characterized morphology functional properties new line. immortalized line maintained for more than 70 passages 240 divisions....
Aims: DLL4 of the Notch pathway is a key regulator VEGF expression, which mediates tumor neovascularization and stem cell self-renewal in colorectal cancer (CRC). The authors investigated association expression with clinicopathological characteristics survival outcomes CRC patients. Methods: level was evaluated 199 samples using immunohistochemistry analysis tissue microarrays. Results: high inversely associated distant metastasis (p < 0.029), recurrence 0.04) longer overall following...
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a debilitating organ manifestation of diabetes. Currently, there no technology that allows detection early molecular changes in the eyes individuals with The clinical diagnosis DR based on visualizations structural damages are irreversible. Absent and intervention, vision tends to rapidly decline. Over past two decades we developed novel approach for non-invasive molecules retinal microvessels. A hurdle translation remained generation biodegradable nanoprobes...
The blood-retina-barrier (BRB) is a critical barrier that protects the retinal neurons. It selectively regulates permeability of molecules, responds to pathologies, and modulates disease progression. While BRB prevents harmful molecules from blood affecting neurons thus essential for health, it also poses hurdle therapeutic agents impedes treatment. goals are non-invasive well-defined transient increase BRB’s by mechanical microscale-induced forces, visualize change in real-time,...
Abstract Immunothrombosis, an inflammation‐dependent activation of the coagulation cascade, leads to microthrombi formations in small vessels. It is a dreaded complication COVID‐19 and major cause respiratory failure. Due their size disseminated nature, are currently undetectable. Here, noninvasive detection volatile reporter exhaled air introduced for assessment systemic immunothrombosis. A dendritic nanoprobe, containing high loading thrombin‐sensitive substrate, selectively cleaved by...