Regulated ATF5 loss-of-function in adult mice blocks formation and causes regression/eradication of gliomas

Glioblastomas are among the most incurable cancers. Our past findings indicated that glioblastoma cells, but not neurons or glia, require the transcription factor ATF5 (activating transcription factor 5) for survival. However, it was unknown whether interference with ATF5 function can prevent or promote regression/eradication of malignant gliomas in vivo. To address this issue, we created a mouse model by crossing a human glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) promoter-tetracycline transactivator mouse line with tetracycline operon-dominant negative-ATF5 (d/n-ATF5) mice to establish bi-transgenic mice. In this model, d/n-ATF5 expression is controlled by doxycycline and the promoter for GFAP, a marker for stem/progenitor cells as well as gliomas. Endogenous gliomas were produced with high efficiency by retroviral delivery of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-B and p53-short hairpin RNA (shRNA) in adult bi-transgenic mice in which expression of d/n-ATF5 was spatially and temporally regulated. Induction of d/n-ATF5 before delivery of PDGF-B/p53-shRNA virus greatly reduced the proportion of mice that formed tumors. Moreover, d/n-ATF5 induction after tumor formation led to regression/eradication of detectable gliomas without evident damage to normal brain cells in all 24 mice assessed

Use of Emerging 3D Printing and Modeling Technologies in the Health Domain

Three-Dimensional (3D) technologies emerged from the technological advances in manufacturing required to produce physical versions of digital models. The most attractive feature of 3D technologies is that virtual models are easy to mold, and custom-made items can be physically produced. Health domains are areas in which 3D technologies have been applied, and several studies have been conducted assessing the usefulness of such technologies in those domains. In this paper we present the results of a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) on the applications of 3D technologies in the health domain. Discussion from the revision of 33 papers is presented. The main finding of this SLR is that none of the available research papers are focused on computer science related areas (i.e., all papers are published by doctors or researchers in Medicine). Moreover, all the included papers were published in journals specialized in Medicine. Therefore, they do not delve in the computational conclusions of the studies. In this article, we identified significant research gaps (from the computational perspective), as well as new ideas are being proposed on the future of 3D technologies in health.Universidad de Costa Rica/[834-B6-076]/VINV/Costa RicaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ingeniería::Centro de Investigaciones en Tecnologías de Información y Comunicación (CITIC