Biology subjects

Patel, V. N.

Publications and source records attributed to Patel, V. N..

4 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

Profiling miRNAs involved in Human Oligodendrocyte Precursor Cell Differentiation and Maturation

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are evolutionarily conserved post-transcriptional regulators that play critical roles in cellular development and differentiation across species. Although the importance of miRNAs in oligodendrocyte lineage cell (OLLC) differentiation has been extensively studied in rodent models, their roles in human OL development remain less understood. To address this gap, we used a human embryonic stem cell (hESC) reporter system designed to study human OLs and OL progenitor cells (OPCs). Using an optimized differentiation protocol, we used the reporter hESCs to generate and isolate well-characterized OLLCs at specific developmental stages and performed next-generation sequencing-based miRNA profiling to identify stage-specific miRNAs enriched during OL lineage specification and maturation. In addition to canonical miRNAs known to be enriched at various stages of OL development, our study identified several lesser-known miRNAs with distinct stage-specific enrichment patterns that may serve as useful molecular markers for classifying human CNS cell types in future studies. Target analysis of OPC-and OL-enriched miRNAs revealed key genes, including transcription factors ZNF488 and DLX1, cytoskeletal regulator CSNK2B, and potassium channel gene KCNJ1, along with key signaling pathways such as AKT, SMAD2/3, estrogen receptor, and insulin signaling, which regulate OPC and OL lineage function. These findings advance our understanding of the OLLC-specific miRNAs, and miRNA-mediated regulatory networks governing human OL differentiation and maturation and provide promising therapeutic targets for future studies aimed at restoring myelin integrity and improving outcomes in demyelinating diseases.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2025

Acridine Orange dye for long-term staining and live imaging of cnidarian development and regeneration

As the sister phylum to Bilateria, Cnidaria, holds a phylogenetic position that is crucial in evolutionary studies of animal development. However, the analysis of cnidarian species, as well as other emerging models, is limited by the scarcity of tools that are readily available and applied with ease. Commercial fluorescent dyes are an accessible option to increase visibility when transgenic approaches are out of reach. In this study, the commercial dye Acridine Orange (AO) was found to be suitable for long-term staining and live imaging of the cnidarian model Nematostella vectensis. Temporary incubation in media containing AO resulted in broad cellular labeling. Individuals stained with AO as zygotes retained the dye throughout embryogenesis, metamorphosis, and for longer than three months of growth, at which point the signal became restricted to subsets of cells. In contrast, staining of zebrafish zygotes with AO resulted in signal decay within the first couple of days of development and preferential accumulation in the yolk sac. AO is retained in N. vectensis adults after amputation and inherited by new tissue during regeneration. Surprisingly, AO was not found suitable for cell tracking via microinjection, as the dye dissipated within minutes of being injected into the cytoplasm of zygotes and blastomeres. Surprisingly, the subcellular distribution of AO signal did not match the pattern expected from it use in mammalian cell lines, where green fluorescence is observed when associated with cellular DNA and red fluorescence when bound to RNA. Instead, long-lived green fluorescence was observed throughout the cell surface and/or in the cytoplasm of N. vectensis stained with AO, whereas red emission was similarly distributed but short lived. Expanding the use of AO as a visualization tool will facilitate future studies of cnidarians and other underexplored animal models.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2023

High-THC Cannabis smoke impairs working memory capacity in spontaneous tests of novelty preference for objects and odors in rats

Working memory (WM) is an executive function that orchestrates the use of a limited amount of information, referred to as working memory capacity (WMC), in cognitive functions. In humans, Cannabis exposure impairs WM; however, it is unclear if Cannabis facilitates or impairs rodent WM. Existing literature also fails to address the effects of Cannabis exposure on rodent WMC using exposure paradigms that closely mirror patterns of human use. In the present study, WMC of rats was inferred by novelty preference after a short delay in spontaneous recognition-based tests. Either object or odor-based stimuli were used in different variations of the tests that present identical (IOT) and different (DOT) sets of stimuli (3 or 6) for low-and high-cognitive loads, respectively. Additionally, we present a human-machine hybrid (HYB) behavioral quantification approach which supplements stopwatch-based scoring with supervised machine learning (SML)-based classification, enabling behavioral data to be made publicly available. After validating the spontaneous tests, 6-item IOT and DOT tests with the HYB method were used to evaluate the impact of acute exposure to high-THC or high-CBD Cannabis smoke on novelty preference. Under control conditions, rats showed novelty preference in all test variations. We found that high-THC, but not high-CBD, Cannabis smoke exposure impaired novelty preference for objects under a high-cognitive load. Odor-based recognition deficits were seen under both low-, and high-cognitive loads only following high-THC smoke exposure. Ultimately, these data show that Cannabis smoke exposure impacts novelty preference in a load-dependent, and stimuli-specific manner. Significance StatementWorking memory (WM) capacity is the limited amount of information that can be utilized by WM to orchestrate processes like learning and memory. Using object-and odor-based spontaneous recognition tests, the impact of high-THC or high-CBD Cannabis smoke on novelty preference was evaluated. Behavioral measurements were generated using a combination of open-source analysis software and traditional stopwatch scoring to form a human-machine hybrid (HYB) scoring method. We show novelty preference deficits under high-cognitive loads in object-based tests, while impacting novelty preference under both high-and low-cognitive loads in the odor-based tests. Ultimately, we show that Cannabis smoke exposure affects cognitive functions that underly WM in rats, which has broad implications for human use.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2022

In-vitro Analysis of Hemostatic Cotton Khadi Dressing with Kaolin/Chitosan-based Composition and Its Application as Prospective Wound Dressing

The current investigation illustrates the formulation of Kaolin/Chitosan-based composition by using a simple mechanochemical method that can produce a stabilized hemostatic composition. Chitosan is stabilized in sodium hydroxide solution with which kaolin solution is mixed under controlled conditions. When the formulated hemostatic composition was impregnated on cotton khadi dressing it showed drastically improved hemostatic efficiency as compared to standard cotton gauze. The tightly woven cotton khadi fabric has a larger surface area as compared to standard cotton gauze and so it retains more hemostatic composition. The hemostatic properties of the composition are characterized using various in-vitro testing techniques like bleeding time analysis, clotting time analysis, absorption strength study, and several other parameters. Investigation of the freshly drawn blood samples from humans was used for experimenting in order to obtain highly accurate results. The results demonstrate that Kaolin/Chitosan composite impregnated cotton khadi dressing can noticeably enhance the hemostasis other than being biocompatible as demonstrated through an animal model and fresh blood study.

bioengineering↗