Progesterone Interactions with the Cervix: Translational Implications for Term and Preterm Birth

The uterine cervix plays a vital role in maintaining pregnancy and an equally important role in allowing parturition to occur. Progesterone, either endogenously produced or supplied exogenously, supports the function of the cervix in sustaining intrauterine pregnancy, and the withdrawal of progesterone, either through natural processes or pharmacologic intervention, leads to delivery which underscores the importance of the progesterone's biological activities manifest in normal gestation and pregnancy that ends prematurely. Research crossing many scientific disciplines has demonstrated that progesterone is a pleotropic compound that affects the cervix through cytoplasmic and membrane receptors with profound effects on cellular and molecular functions that influence inflammatory cascades and extracellular matrix, both of which have consequences for parturition. Beyond the local cell and molecular biology of progesterone, it has systemic effects of relevance to pregnancy as well. This paper examines the biology of the cervix from its gross to cellular structure and biological activities of its cell and molecular processes that may be affected by progesterone. The implications of these processes for preterm birth are explored, and direction of current research is in relation to translational medicine implications for diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic approaches to threatened preterm birth

Migrasomes, new vescicles as Hansel and Gretel white pebbles?

Migrasomes, released by migrating cells, belong to the heterogeneous world of extracellular vesicles (EVs). However, they can be distinguished from all other members of EVs by their size, biorigin and protein cargo. As far as we know, they can play important roles in various communication processes, by mediating the release of signals, such as mRNAs, proteins or damaged mitochondria. To extend and better understand the functional roles and importance of migrasomes, it is first essential to well understand the basic molecular mechanisms behind their formation and function. Herein, we endeavor to provide a brief and up-to-date description of migrasome biogenesis, release, characterization, biological properties and functional activities in cell-to-cell communication, and we will discuss and propose putative new functions for these vesicles

HD Physiology Project-Japanese efforts to promote multilevel integrative systems biology and physiome research.

The HD Physiology Project is a Japanese research consortium that aimed to develop methods and a computational platform in which physiological and pathological information can be described in high-level definitions across multiple scales of time and size. During the 5 years of this project, an appropriate software platform for multilevel functional simulation was developed and a whole-heart model including pharmacokinetics for the assessment of the proarrhythmic risk of drugs was developed. In this article, we outline the description and scientific strategy of this project and present the achievements and influence on multilevel integrative systems biology and physiome research