Biology subjects

Benton, J.

Publications and source records attributed to Benton, J..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

A regenerative stem cell-derived matrix accelerates functional dermal wound repair in a diabetic model

Despite the growing prevalence of non-healing diabetic wounds, no current treatment options overcome multifactorial deficits in repair. To this end, a mesenchymal stromal cell-derived regenerative extracellular matrix (rECM) was evaluated for the ability to accelerate cutaneous wound repair in leptin receptor-deficient (db/db) diabetic mice with paired full-thickness dorsal skin defects. A single dose of rECM significantly accelerated wound closure compared with vehicle controls. Also, rECM dose-dependently improved overall histological healing scores and modulated granulation tissue dynamics, with the highest dose promoting rapid resolution of granulation tissue relative to wound area. Spatial transcriptomics and immunofluorescence revealed that rECM drove robust formation of de novo peripheral nerve clusters characterized by the Schwann cell marker, p75. The rECM also enhanced vascular maturation in healed wounds, increasing average blood vessel size, smooth muscle actin-positive vessels, and vessel density within myofibroblast-rich regions. In a complementary 3D angiogenic sprouting model, rECM accelerated endothelial invasion and filopodia extension, and at higher concentrations induced contraction of collagen matrices consistent with accelerated resolution of granulation tissue. These data demonstrate that rECM accelerates closure of diabetic skin defects by coordinating faster granulation tissue remodeling with enhanced peripheral nerve formation and vascular maturation.

physiology↗

bioRxiv2024

Sleep-wake states are encoded across emotion-regulation regions of the mouse brain

Emotional dysregulation is highly comorbid with sleep disturbances. Sleep is comprised of unique physiological states that are reflected by conserved brain oscillations. Though the role of these state-dependent oscillations in cognitive function has been well established, less is known regarding the nature of state-dependent oscillations across brain regions that strongly contribute to emotional function. To characterize these dynamics, we recorded local field potentials simultaneously from multiple cortical and subcortical regions implicated in sleep and emotion-regulation and characterize widespread patterns of spectral power and synchrony between brain regions during sleep/wake states. First, we showed that these brain regions encode sleep state, albeit to various degrees of accuracy. We then identified network-based classifiers of sleep based on the combination of features from all recorded brain regions. Spectral power and synchrony from brain networks allowed for automatic, accurate and rapid discrimination of wake, non-REM sleep (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. When we examined the impact of commonly prescribed sleep promoting medications on neural dynamics across these regions, we found disparate alterations to both cortical and subcortical activity across all three states. Finally, a we found that a stress manipulation that disrupts circadian rhythm produced increased sleep fragmentation without altering the underlying average brain dynamics across sleep-wake states. Thus, we characterized state dependent brain dynamics across regions canonically associated with emotions. Significance StatementSleep and emotion regulation are known to be intertwined at the level of behavior and in neuropsychiatric illnesses. Here, we examined how brain regions involved in emotion regulation encode wake and sleep states by performing multi-site electrophysiological recordings in mice. We developed sleep-wake state classifiers that rapidly labeled sleep-wake states from brain activity alone. We then identified how commonly prescribed sleep-inducing medications have unique impacts on brain activity throughout these emotion-regulation regions. Finally, we explored the impact of circadian rhythm disruption on sleep architecture and brain activity. Together, these data shed light on how brain regions which regulate emotion behave during sleep so that one day, treatments to improve both sleep and emotional well-being may be developed.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2023

Sale of critically endangered sharks in the United States

Shark meat is widely available in the United States in grocery stores and seafood markets. The meat is often mislabeled or generically labeled as "shark". The ambiguity of these generic labels makes it challenging to assess the conservation implications of this practice and for consumers to avoid species with high mercury concentrations. For this study we purchased and DNA barcoded 30 shark products purchased in the United States to determine their species identity and conservation status. These samples consisted of 19 filets sold in grocery stores, seafood markets, and Asian specialty markets (mostly in North Carolina) and 11 ordered online as "jerky". 70% of samples were "soft mislabeled" (i.e., labeled generically as shark but not as a specific species). Of the nine samples labeled to species, eight were mislabeled (e.g., spinner shark labeled as mako shark). Only one sample was correctly labeled. All 30 samples were identified as shark and came from 11 different species, including three species listed by the IUCN as Critically Endangered: great hammerhead, scalloped hammerhead, and tope. The first two species have been found to contain very high levels of mercury, illustrating the implications of seafood mislabeling for human health. The widespread availability of shark meat in U.S. grocery stores is surprising given the dramatic decline of shark populations globally. Moreover, the fact that nearly all shark meat is either mislabeled or not labeled to species amplifies the problem. Accurate, verified product labels for shark meat would benefit consumers and shark conservation efforts, and should be a priority for the seafood industry.

genetics↗