HoloMonitor publication highlights 2022
In 2022, researchers around the world published 34 publications featuring HoloMonitor. We at PHI are thrilled to see how HoloMonitor helps scientists around the world explore new areas of study and address questions from cancer research to neuroscience. This blog celebrates the researchers, and the HoloMonitor publication highlights 2022.
Keep on reading!
In the following, we highlight five new and notable research articles from different research fields that feature HoloMonitor and its multiple software live cell assays.
Here are the HoloMonitor publication highlights for 2022:
Oncology
Circulating Tumor Cell Models Mimicking Metastasizing Cells In Vitro: Discrimination of Colorectal Cancer Cells and White Blood Cells Using Digital Holographic Cytometry
Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second most metastatic disease. Metastases are formed by circulating altered phenotype tumor cells, causing 20% of CRC-related deaths. The authors used HoloMonitor to determine the cellular morphological properties of metastatic and non-metastatic colorectal cancer cell lines to show differences in morphology between the CRC cells and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs).
By establishing differences in the cell area, cell thickness, cell volume, and cell irregularity even when the CRC cells were in the minority (5% out of PBMCs), HoloMonitor M4 can discriminate between CRC cells and the PBMCs in vitro. This suggests HoloMonitor is a new powerful tool for discriminating cells of different sizes in suspension and combining biomarkers.
Neuroscience
Chronic glucocorticoid exposure accelerates Aβ generation and neurotoxicity by activating calcium-mediated CN-NFAT1 signaling in hippocampal neurons in APP/PS1 mice
Significant attempts have been made to promote neuronal extension and migration in nerve development and regeneration. This study provides a promising new approach for developing mechanical stretching therapy in injured neuronal regeneration.
Researchers used HoloMonitor M4 to study the axonal trajectory to evaluate stretch-grown neuronal motility and migration, and they found that stretch-grown neurons displayed growth in the stretching direction. The findings supported the idea that applying an extremely low mechanical stretch could contribute to neuronal guidance growth. In addition, 5% tensile strain for 4h activated Netrin-1/DCC to attract neurites extending toward target neurons. The repulsive molecule Sema3A-Neuropilin-1/Plexin-A1 signaling was also very critical in stretch-grown neurons.
Immune Disease
Downregulation of Vascular Hemeoxygenase-1 Leads to Vasculopathy in Systemic Sclerosis
In this paper, the authors investigate the physiological role of an antioxidant enzyme, Hemeoxygenase-1(HO-1), and its relevance in the cardiovascular complications of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Authors use HoloMonitor to study endothelial cells’ morphological and functional features in the presence of an HO-1 activator and selective inhibitors.
The results demonstrate that inhibition of HO-1 significantly reduces cell proliferation and cell motility (migration) of cultured endothelial cells. In summary, results indicate a clear link between 1) the downregulation of HO-1/CO signaling; and 2) pathophysiological processes occurring in the early phases of SSc, such as calcium homeostasis dysregulation, impaired angiogenesis and cardiac arrhythmias.
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Cell Study
The Multicellular Effects of VDAC1 N-Terminal-Derived Peptide
The mitochondrial voltage-dependent anion channel-1 (VDAC1) protein functions in various mitochondria-linked physiological and pathological processes. In this study, the authors identified one cell-penetrating VDAC1 N-terminal-derived peptide that induces apoptosis, autophagy, senescence, cell volume enlargement, and the refusion of divided daughter cells into a single cell.
HoloMonitor M4 was used to quantify the peptide-induced cell morphological changes and record the abnormal cell division activities. The results of this study further support the role of VDAC1 as a mitochondrial gatekeeper protein in controlling a variety of cell functions via interaction with associated proteins.
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Cancer Research
Therapy-Induced Senescent/Polyploid Cancer Cells Undergo Atypical Divisions Associated with Altered Expression of Meiosis
Upon anticancer treatment, cancer cells can undergo cellular senescence, accompanied by polyploidization and subsequent amitotic divisions, giving rise to mitotically dividing progeny. In this study, the authors documented that escape from senescence/polyploidy of cancer cells is connected with the presence of small descendants inside the giant cells and the gradual transcriptome adaptation related to meiosis and spermatogenesis.
With HoloMonitor M4, authors can see the small cells are released from giant mother cells. The giant cells are multinucleated, and some of the subnuclei may possess a proper set of chromosomes, which allows them to survive.
