Physiology

Melanocortin 1 receptor regulates cholesterol and bile acid metabolism in the liver

1. Keshav Thapa
2. James J Kadiri
3. Karla Saukkonen
4. Iida Pennanen
5. Bishwa Ghimire
6. Minying Cai
7. Eriika Savontaus
8. Petteri Rinne

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  The significance of this manuscript is that is provides useful information for the field of hepatology and endocrinology on the regulatory mechanisms of cholesterol homeostasis by melanocortin. The authors provide solid evidence utilizing both in vivo and in vitro molecular, cellular, and biochemical approaches to support their claims.

Reviewed by eLife

A class of secreted mammalian peptides with potential to expand cell-cell communication

1. Amanda L. Wiggenhorn
2. Hind Z. Abuzaid
3. Laetitia Coassolo
4. Veronica L. Li
5. Julia T. Tanzo
6. Wei Wei
7. Xuchao Lyu
8. Katrin J. Svensson
9. Jonathan Z. Long

Reviewed by Arcadia Science

Kidney and Lung ACE2 expression after an ACE inhibitor or an Ang II receptor blocker: implications for COVID-19

1. Jan Wysocki
2. Enrique Lores
3. Minghao Ye
4. Maria Jose Soler
5. Daniel Batlle

Reviewed by ScreenIT

Sex, androgens and regulation of pulmonary AR, TMPRSS2 and ACE2

1. Mehdi Baratchian
2. Jeffrey M. McManus
3. Mike Berk
4. Fumihiko Nakamura
5. Sanjay Mukhopadhyay
6. Weiling Xu
7. Serpil Erzurum
8. Judy Drazba
9. John Peterson
10. Eric A. Klein
11. Ben Gaston
12. Nima Sharifi

Reviewed by ScreenIT

Mechanistic insights into robust cardiac IKs potassium channel activation by aromatic polyunsaturated fatty acid analogues

1. Briana M Bohannon
2. Jessica J Jowais
3. Leif Nyberg
4. Vanessa Olivier-Meo
5. Valentina Corradi
6. D Peter Tieleman
7. Sara I Liin
8. H Peter Larsson

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  This work reports important findings regarding the regulation of ion channels by polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) through the identification of novel aromatic PUFA analogs with potent effects on the IKs channels, which allow for mechanistic insights into their mode of action. The experiments are solid, combining site-directed mutagenesis, electrophysiological and pharmacological approaches to dissect the different molecular mechanisms and sites involved in the functional interactions. This work will be of broad interest to ion channel biophysicists, physiologists, and medical chemists interested in drug development for LQT syndrome. The study presents some limitations that may need to be addressed or further discussed, in order to strengthen the conclusions reached in the study.

Reviewed by eLife

Calcium and bicarbonate signaling pathways have pivotal, resonating roles in matching ATP production to demand

1. Maura Greiser
2. Mariusz Karbowski
3. Aaron David Kaplan
4. Andrew Kyle Coleman
5. Nicolas Verhoeven
6. Carmen A Mannella
7. W Jonathan Lederer
8. Liron Boyman

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  The important work presented here provides findings that substantially advance our understanding of a major research question into how bicarbonate/CO2 signaling regulates cardiac mitochondrial energy supply. The methods, data, and analyses broadly support the claims with only minor weaknesses concerning the exact spatial location of the enzymes involved. The work will be of broad interest to cell biologists and biochemists interested in metabolic control.

Reviewed by eLife

A cell-and-plasma numerical model reveals hemodynamic stress and flow adaptation in zebrafish microvessels after morphological alteration

1. Swe Soe Maung Ye
2. Li-Kun Phng

Reviewed by Review Commons

VO2max prediction based on submaximal cardiorespiratory relationships and body composition in male runners and cyclists: a population study

1. Szczepan Wiecha
2. Przemysław Seweryn Kasiak
3. Piotr Szwed
4. Tomasz Kowalski
5. Igor Cieśliński
6. Marek Postuła
7. Andrzej Klusiewicz

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  The authors have established new formulas to predict maximum oxygen uptake for cyclists and runners based on submaximal exercise testing and anthropometric characteristics. This is an important study with a large and comprehensive dataset, which may be helpful for many exercise labs. The work is convincing, using appropriate and validated methodology in line with the current state-of-the-art, as shown by references to common exercise books.

Reviewed by eLife

Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 signaling drives placental aging and can provoke preterm labor

1. Erin J Ciampa
2. Padraich Flahardy
3. Harini Srinivasan
4. Christopher Jacobs
5. Linus Tsai
6. S Ananth Karumanchi
7. Samir M Parikh

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  This valuable study provides insights into mechanisms of placental aging and its relationship to labor initiation. The authors provide solid evidence and have thoroughly investigated the molecular characteristics of normal placental aging using in vivo and in vitro model systems and human placental tissue analysis to corroborate their findings. This work contributes to existing work in placental aging and preterm birth and will be of interest to reproductive scientists.

Reviewed by eLife

Tmem117 in AVP neurons regulates the counterregulatory response to hypoglycemia

1. Sevasti Gaspari
2. Gwenaël Labouèbe
3. Alexandre Picard
4. Xavier Berney
5. Ana Rodriguez Sanchez‐Archidona
6. Bernard Thorens

Reviewed by Review Commons