Holos Academy International

🛶 What is a Lipid Raft? 🛶 Lipid rafts are specialized, dynamic microdomains found within the plasma membrane of cells, enriched with cholesterol, sphingolipids, and certain proteins. These regions play a pivotal role in cellular signaling, trafficking, and organization of membrane proteins. Composition and Structure 🧬 Lipid rafts are composed primarily of sphingolipids and cholesterol, which create a more ordered and tightly packed membrane structure compared to the surrounding fluid bilayer. The rigidity provided by cholesterol allows these microdomains to segregate specific proteins, such as GPI-anchored proteins and signaling receptors. This separation is crucial for maintaining distinct signaling environments. Functions of Lipid Rafts ⚙️ 1️⃣ Signal Transduction ⚡: Lipid rafts act as platforms for the assembly of signaling molecules, facilitating the rapid transmission of signals across the membrane. Many receptors, such as receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) and G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), rely on lipid rafts to organize signaling cascades efficiently. 2️⃣ Membrane Trafficking 🚚: Rafts are involved in the regulation of endocytosis and exocytosis. They help direct certain proteins and lipids into vesicles, playing a role in intracellular transport. 3️⃣ Pathogen Entry 🦠: Many pathogens exploit lipid rafts as entry points into host cells. Viruses, such as HIV and influenza, use these domains to facilitate fusion with the plasma membrane, taking advantage of the raft's role in organizing membrane components. 4️⃣ Immune Function 🛡️: In immune cells, lipid rafts play a crucial role in the clustering of receptors that trigger immune responses, such as T-cell receptor (TCR) signaling. By concentrating signaling molecules, lipid rafts enhance the efficiency and specificity of immune responses. Dynamics of Lipid Rafts 🔄 Lipid rafts are not static structures; they exist as transient, nanoscale domains that can coalesce into larger platforms during specific cellular events. Their formation and dissolution are highly dynamic, allowing cells to modulate their membrane organization rapidly in response to environmental signals. Clinical Relevance 🏥 Alterations in lipid raft composition or function are associated with a variety of diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s, where disruption in raft-mediated signaling has been observed. Additionally, lipid rafts are implicated in cancer progression, as they facilitate signaling pathways that promote cell proliferation and survival. Credit to Smart Biology for the great video! #CellBiology #Science #Education #Biology

🔬 Death of a Cancer Cell 🧬 Cancer cells can die through various mechanisms, each offering insights into potential therapeutic strategies. Here's a brief overview of the primary pathways: 1️⃣ Apoptosis - Programmed Cell Death 🧬 Apoptosis is a controlled process essential for eliminating damaged or unwanted cells. In cancer therapy, inducing apoptosis involves activating caspases, enzymes that systematically dismantle the cell without causing inflammation. 2️⃣ Necrosis - Uncontrolled Cell Death ⚡ Necrosis results from acute injury, leading to cell lysis and inflammation. While traditionally seen as a chaotic process, it can be targeted in cancer therapy, particularly in hypoxic tumor regions. 3️⃣ Autophagy - Cellular Self-Digestion 🍽️ Autophagy allows cells to degrade their components for survival under stress. In cancer, excessive autophagy can lead to cell death, making it a potential target for therapy. 4️⃣ Senescence - Permanent Cell Cycle Arrest ⏳ Senescence halts cell proliferation in response to stressors like DNA damage. While it prevents tumor growth, the accumulation of senescent cells can contribute to inflammation and tumor progression. 5️⃣ Immunogenic Cell Death (ICD) - Immune System Activation 🛡️ ICD stimulates the immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells by releasing signals that enhance tumor antigen presentation, making it a promising area for immunotherapy. 6️⃣ Therapeutic Interventions 💉 Modern therapies aim to induce specific cell death mechanisms. For example, chemotherapy often triggers apoptosis, while immune checkpoint inhibitors enhance ICD, offering pathways to more effective treatments. #Cancer #Oncology #Education #Healthcare

Did you know that the #endocannabinoidsystem is not the only lipid signaling system in the body?! In fact, there are numerous of "neuro-lipid" systems in our body that help to maintain balance (homeostasis).. and their relation to the ECS is still being explored Historical opinion was that lipids did not play a role in neurotransmission, but the last 40 years have slipped that idea on it's head and we learn more each day about bioactive lipids Pereira-Castelo G, de Tena IB, Martínez-Gardeazabal J, et al. Neurolipid systems: A new target for the treatment of dementia. Basic Clin Pharmacol Toxicol. Published online July 22, 2024. doi:10.1111/bcpt.14059

⚠️ Harnessing GABA for Brain Health: #Microbe-derived #ɣ_aminobutyric acid❗️ ❇️ #Bacteroides and #Lactobacillus produce GABA, the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in mammals. ❇️Bacteroides are the primary producers of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the human gut, with a study of 961 Bacteroides genomes revealing that 95% of human gut isolates contain genes (GAD) necessary for converting glutamate into GABA. ❇️Sixteen distinct species of Bacteroides were found to produce GABA in vitro at concentrations between 0.09 and 60.84 mM. 💠GABA's Role in the Gut for #Alzheimer #disease’s : 👉🏻Vagus Nerve Stimulation: GABA may stimulate the vagus nerve to send signals to the brain. 👉🏻Mucosal Barrier Integrity: GABA can alter the gut mucosal membrane by affecting mucin production. 💠Mucus Layer Function: ❇️Acts as a barrier between microbes and gut epithelial cells. ❇️Facilitates movement of solutes within and out of the gut. 💠Impact of Reduced Mucus Layers: ❇️Allows closer proximity of microbes to gut epithelial cells. ❇️Compromises tight junctions, allowing microbial products into the lamina propria. 💠Endogenous GABA: ❇️Can escape through the intestinal epithelia into the lamina propria. ❇️Travels through the bloodstream to the brain. 📍Lactobacilli's Role in Health: ❇️Depletion of Lactobacillus salivarius in AD models suggests a preclinical role in neuroprotection. ❇️Increased GABA or lactic acid production by Lactobacillus in early AD stages may inhibit vagus nerve stimulation, affecting gut epithelial tight junctions and disease progression. ❇️The body may increase GABA-producing microbes to elevate GABA levels, influencing gut permeability and brain health. 💠GABA's Influence on Gut Integrity: ❇️Modulates gut mucins and tight junction proteins, maintaining the gut barrier. ❇️Essential for preventing harmful substances from translocating from the gut to the bloodstream and brain. 💠Dysregulation in AD: ❇️Altered GABA levels and signaling pathways contribute to cognitive decline. ❇️Studies show GABA concentrations differ in AD patients compared to controls, indicating a complex relationship with cognitive function. ❇️Regulation of Muscle Tone and Motor Control: 👉🏻GABA inhibits excessive muscle contractions, ensuring smooth movements. 📍Dietary Sources of GABA: ❇️Found in fermented products like yogurt and kimchi, and some teas. ❇️GABA supplements are marketed for reducing anxiety, improving sleep, and enhancing mood. ♦️GABA and its microbial sources are explored as therapeutic targets. ♦️Enhancing GABA production through diet or probiotics may support gut barrier function and mitigate neurological impacts in AD. 📌To sum up, alterations in gut microbiota in AD influence intestinal barrier integrity, with microbiome-derived neurotransmitters playing a key role in GABAergic signaling. 🖇Plz read more on the topic here👉🏻: https://lnkd.in/dGWPGJu6

Long COVID: a clinical update More than four years after the COVID-19 pandemic began, millions of people continue to experience long-term impacts of SARS-CoV-2 infection. A new Review in The Lancet brings together streams of literature on post-COVID-19 condition (also known as long COVID): https://hubs.li/Q02JS5c70 👇 Figure: Summary of pathology, presentation, and management of long COVID

The Lancet Commission on dementia prevention, intervention, and care has raised the number of modifiable risk factors definitively linked to cognitive loss to 14, based on research conducted since its last update in 2020. Vision loss and high levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol are now added to the commission's list, which stood at 12 in the previous version. The new 57-page update, from Gill Livingston, et al. was published Wednesday, July 31st in The Lancet. Modifiable risk factors linked to cognitive loss: #Education, #HearingLoss, #Depression, #HeadTrauma from sports and Bike Riding, Physical Activity, #Smoking, #Hypertension, #Obesity, #Type2diabetes, #Alcohol Drinking, #SocialIsolation, #AirPollution, #VisionLoss & #HighLDL Learn More in The Lancet https://lnkd.in/ewgiCPUH Dementia prevention, intervention, and care: 2024 report of the Lancet standing Commission - Gill Livingston, Jonathan Huntley, Kathy Y Liu, Sergi Costafreda, Geir Selbaek, Suvarna Alladi, David Ames, Sube Banerjee, Alistair Burns, Carol Brayne, Nick C Fox, Cleusa Ferri, Laura N. Gitlin, Robert Howard,  Helen Kales, Mika Kivimaki, Eric B. Larson, Noeline Nakasujja, Kenneth Rockwood, Quincy Samus, Kokoro Shirai, Archana Singh-Manoux, Lon S. Schneider, Sebastian Walsh, Yao Yao, Andrew Sommerlad, Naaheed Mukadam