Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) is a specialized type of adipose tissue that surrounds most mammalian blood vessels. PVAT is a metabolically active, endocrine organ capable of regulating blood vessel tone, endothelium function, vascular smooth muscle cell growth and proliferation, and contributing critically to cardiovascular disease onset and progression. In the context of vascular tone regulation, under physiological conditions, PVAT exerts a potent anticontractile effect by releasing a plethora of vasoactive substances, including NO, H₂S, H₂O₂, prostacyclin, palmitic acid methyl ester, angiotensin 1-7, adiponectin, leptin, and omentin. However, under certain pathophysiological conditions, PVAT exerts pro-contractile effects by decreasing the production of anticontractile and increasing that of pro-contractile factors, including superoxide anion, angiotensin II, catecholamines, prostaglandins, chemerin, resistin, and visfatin. The present review discusses the regulatory effect of PVAT on vascular tone and the factors involved. In this scenario, dissecting the precise role of PVAT is a prerequisite to the development of PVAT-targeted therapies.

Cancer cells undergo remarkable metabolic changes to meet their high energetic and biosynthetic demands. The Warburg effect is the most well-characterized metabolic alteration, driving cancer cells to catabolize glucose through aerobic glycolysis to promote proliferation. Another prominent metabolic hallmark of cancer cells is their increased reliance on glutamine to replenish tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle intermediates essential for ATP production, aspartate and fatty acid synthesis, and maintaining redox homeostasis. In this context, mitochondria, which are primarily used to maintain energy homeostasis and support balanced biosynthesis in normal cells, become central organelles for fulfilling the heightened biosynthetic and energetic demands of proliferating cancer cells. Mitochondrial coordination and metabolite exchange with other cellular compartments are crucial. The human SLC25 mitochondrial carrier family, comprising 53 members, plays a pivotal role in transporting TCA intermediates, amino acids, vitamins, nucleotides, and cofactors across the inner mitochondrial membrane, thereby facilitating this cross-talk. Numerous studies have demonstrated that mitochondrial carriers are altered in cancer cells, actively contributing to tumorigenesis. This review comprehensively discusses the role of SLC25 carriers in cancer pathogenesis and metabolic reprogramming based on current experimental evidence. It also highlights the research gaps that need to be addressed in future studies. Understanding the involvement of these carriers in tumorigenesis may provide valuable novel targets for drug development.

The stable and safe integration of exogenous DNA into the genome is crucial to both genetic engineering and gene therapy. Traditional transgenesis approaches, such as those using retroviral vectors, result in random genomic integration, posing the risk of insertional mutagenesis and transcriptional dysregulation. Safe harbor sites (SHSs), genomic loci that support reliable transgene expression without compromising endogenous gene function, genomic integrity, or cellular physiology, have been identified and characterized across various model organisms. Well-established SHSs such as AAVS1, ROSA26, and CLYBL are routinely utilized for targeted transgene integration in human cells. Recent advances in genome architecture, gene regulation, and genome editing technologies are driving the discovery of novel SHSs for precise and safe genetic modification. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of SHSs and their applications that will guide investigators in the choice of SHS, especially when complementary sites are needed for more than one transgene integration. First, it outlines safety and functional criteria that qualify a genomic site as a safe harbor site. It then discusses the two primary strategies for identifying SHSs: i) traditional lentiviral-based random transgenesis, and ii) modern genome-wide in silico screening followed by CRISPR-based validation. This review also provides an updated catalogue of currently known SHSs in the human genome, detailing their characteristics, uses, and limitations. Additionally, it discusses the diverse applications of SHSs in basic research, gene therapy, CAR T cell-based therapy, and biotechnological production systems. Finally, it concludes by highlighting challenges in identifying universally applicable SHSs and outlines future directions for their refinement and validation across biological systems.

Ovarian cancer (OC) is an aggressive and lethal gynecologic cancer due to its asymptomatic nature resulting in a late diagnosis. OC encompasses distinct histological subtypes, with serous OC representing the most common and aggressive form. However, within the same histological OC subtype, additional heterogeneity has been found in terms of genetic mutations and metabolic profiles probably contributing to treatment response. In cancer, metabolic reprogramming strongly involves mitochondria. Mitochondrial function can be regulated by the cAMP pathway, and its deregulation has been reported in various cancers including OC. Here we analyzed two serous OC cell lines, OC316 and OV56, and eleven human OC tissues. OC316 cell lines showed elevated cAMP level with respect to OV56. The high cAMP levels were associated with activation of thecAMP/PKA/CREB/PGC-1α axis resulting in increased mitochondrial biogenesis, respiratory chain activity, modulation of mitochondrial dynamics and apoptosis resistance. Accordingly, principal component analysis (PCA) of the twenty-three biochemical parameters, in eleven human OC tissues, classified OC into two groups showing different cAMP levels associated with distinct mitochondrial profiles. This analysis highlights a cAMP-dependent stratification revealing two mitochondrial subpopulations within serous OC. These findings indicate that the molecular heterogeneity of OC poses a challenge for understanding disease mechanisms and developing effective targeted therapies.

Carbon dots (CDs), a class of fluorescent nanomaterials, have emerged as powerful tools for biological applications, particularly in the targeting, imaging, and therapeutic modulation of mitochondria. Due to their small size, simplicity of synthesis, biocompatibility, and tunable optical properties, CDs can be engineered to selectively accumulate in mitochondria, enabling real-time imaging of mitochondrial function and dynamics in live cells. Moreover, their ability to carry therapeutic agents, such as antioxidants, drugs, and gene delivery vectors, offers potential in treating mitochondrial dysfunction, which is central to various diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, and metabolic diseases. Recent advancements in surface functionalization have enhanced mitochondrial targeting and specificity, while ongoing research aims to optimize the safety, efficiency, and clinical translation of CDs for therapeutic applications. This review highlights the latest developments in the use of carbon dots for mitochondrial imaging, therapeutic delivery, and disease intervention, offering promising avenues for future research and clinical applications.

The present study demonstrated isolation and characterization of 48 bacterial strains (ABOs01-ABOs48) from rhizosphere of rice plant (Oryza sativa) of Rind Jada (Kahror Pacca), Punjab, Pakistan. Morphological studies including colony color, bacterial shape and gram staining were performed and colonies were observed to be either orange yellow, light yellow, pink, greenish yellow, white, or off-white in appearance. Gram staining showed that out of 48 isolates, 38 were gram positive and 10 were gram negative. Various Biochemical tests were performed to identify these strains; the results were used to identify these strains at the species levels. These strains belongs to the following species Erwinia stewartii (13), Klebsiella terrigena (9), Klebsiella pneumonia susp. Ozaene (8), Serratia plymuthica (6), Yersinia (5), Escherichia blattae (5), 1 Edwardsiella ictaluri (1), and Obesumbacterium proteus (1). Additionally, amylase test showed that 39 strains were positive while 9 were negative. Conversely, all strains were negative for cellulase production. Finally, Antibiotics resistance showed 23 isolates were sensitive vs 25 resistant to ampicillin and 4 isolates were resistant vs 44 sensitive to penicillin. These findings suggested a great microbial diversity in rice plant rhizosphere which demands more investigations for agricultural and industrial purposes.