Principles of Adipobiology: a Gentle Introduction
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Adipobiology ISSN 1313-3705 (online) CONTINUING MEDICAL © Bul garian Society for Cell Biology EDUCATION PRINCIPLES OF ADIPOBIOLOGY: A GENTLE INTRODUCTION George N. Chaldakov* Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University, Varna, Bulgaria and Institute for Advanced Study, Varna, Bulgaria Figure 1. Schematic view of cell-to-cell interactions via nexuses (gap junctions, channel junctions, communicating junc- tions, macula communicans) between the neibouring Cell A and Cell B, intercellular space of 2 - 4 nm. One channel of nexus is composed of two connexons (or hemichannels). The hexagonal structure of connexons (cross sectioned) consisting of six proteins termed connexins – Cx) is evident; an arrow runs through one of the chanells. One nexus consists of about 100 connexons. (*Grosely R, Sorgen PL. A history of gap junction structure: Hexagonal arrays to atomic resolution. Cell Commun Adhes 2013; 20. DOI:10.3109/15419061.2013.775256 *Wright JA, Richards T, Becker DL. Connexins and diabetes. Cardiol Res Pract 2012; 2012: 496904. DOI:10.1155/2012/496904) *Received 2 June 2019, revised 10 June 2019, accepted 11 June 2019. Correspondence to: Dr George N. Chaldakov, Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Medical University, BG-9002 Varna, Bulgaria Mobile phone: +359 888 679 204 E-mail: [email protected] - to keep students-to-teacher communicating junctions alive and kicking (Fig. 1) 114 Principles of adipobiology: a gentle introduction CONTINUING MEDICAL EDUCATION Prologue Introduction Student – Latin, studеo – devoted to do something; studium – The biological research has already provided a wealth of eager, passion, study. knowledge about individual cellular components and their Teacher To be a teacher is profound responsibility. functions. Despite its success, it is increasingly clear that most Paraphrasing Emily Dickinson’s biological phenomena arise from multiplex interactions be- To be a flower is profound responsibility. tween the cell’s numerous constituents, such as molecules and structures (organelles). Therefore, a key challenge for cell biol- DECALOGUE FOR THE STUDENT* ogy and adipobiology at present is to understand the dynamics 1. He who learns, he will succeed. (Bulgarian proverb) of the cell-to-cell and cell-to-extracellular matrix (ECM; here- 2. Forward! Science is a sun,/ which in our souls shines! (a tra- after, matrix) interactions (communications, signaling) that ditional song of Bulgarian students and teachers) - not only contribute to the biological life (*Chaldakov GN. Cell Biology. on May 24, the Bulgarian National Day of Cyrillic Alpha- 2th updated and enlarged edition - in Bulgarian. University bet and Culture, but continuously throughout life (LLP – Press, Varna, Bulgaria. 2014. *Chaldakov GN. Biomorphogen- Lifelong Learning Program; also, Laboratory, Library, Pub; ic principles of cell-matrix biology: A plectics insight. Biomed CME - Continuing Medical Education). Rev 2019;30:143-148 *Also a cell biology lecture in YouTube: 3. Follow didactic cascade: from information to knowledge https://youtu.be/cNBY_ykbK3Q to way of thinking. Feel the knowledge like you feel your and adipobiology lecture, both presented in English: mother tongue. Translate the information of cellular mol- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QrXLA4UsQnw ecules, structures and functions (MSF) into knowledge https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a36MeFO1L8I). of the pathogenesis of Diseases and their Prevention and Therapy (DPT); that is a creative journey from bench-to- My didactics is focused on research-based and associa- bedside (BtB). Remember: There are no departments and tive teaching applying both stream of associations (SOA) clinics within the cell. and keep it short and simple (KISS)* 4. Learning without thinking is useless. Thinking without If you give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. If you teach learning is dangerous (Confucius). Be thinker and doer, him to fish, you feed him for a lifetime. both. 5. Human cognitive potential is symbiosis of thoughts and Chinese saying emotions. Think outside the box. In the didactics and epistemology this is “to know how”, not 6. Imagination is more important than knowledge because only “to know that”. knowledge is limited (Albert Einstein) – stream of associa “The learning outcomes have to be on the level of analyzing, tions is an essential tool of a creative learning. evaluating and creating, not only on the level of remembering, 7. Develop moral reflexes - mutual respect and love for each uderstading and applying. To know about information are out- other, create and enjoy brainandheart friend/ship (BHF). comes of surface learning versus deep learning approach” (*Isa 8. Follow your parents’ advice: WHAT DID I ARRIVE HERE Jahnke. Digital Didactical Designs in CrossActionSpace. 2015). FOR? - to study first, then rejoice - the reverse chronology __________ is meaningless. *In the “stream”, KISS also means KISS gene – encoding for 9. Healthy lifestyle and good education can ensure your qual kisspeptin-1, a biomolecule involved in reproductive and can- ity of life (QoL). cer biology. And may stand for Ockham‘s razor, the idea attrib- 10. Stay tuned, wise and independent (sapere aude), have the uted to English philosopher William of Ockham (1287–1347). intellectual courage to cross (at least once) at a red light That is the problem-solving principle: „Entities should not be the road of science to make your own green path on it. To multiplied without necessity.” In the same stream are Aristot- achieve your Eureka effects. le’s own words: Nature never makes anything that is superfluous Then you can say: Vox Studentium vox Dei! written in his book De Partibus Animalium. __________ *From: Chaldakov GN. Homo Janus. Psychology and Psycho My didactics aims at: pathology (not only) of Bulgarians. Publissays and science-in- (i) Inflaming the curiosity of students (and teachers), re- fiction. Third revised and enlarged edition. 2018. Morski Sviat membering Plato’s “Philosophy begins in wonder”, modi- Publisher, Varna, Bulgaria. ISBN 978-619-7328-12-7 fying herein as “Science and education begin in wonder.” Adipobiology 10, 2019 Chaldakov 115 (ii) Teaching students how information becomes knowledge Table 1. A selected list of adipose-derived neurotrophic and way of thinking in the biomedicine (and in the life). factors (iii) Transforming the knowledge of cellular MSF into knowl- edge of DPT - that is Bench-to-Bedside (BtB), Transla- Neurotrophins (NGF, nerve growth factor, BDNF, brain-derive tional Cell Biology. neurotrophic factor, neurotrophins (NT-3, NT-4/5, NT-6, NT-7) Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) In the SOA, see Donald Hebb’s 1949 book The Organization Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) of Behavior about associative learning based on cell assembly Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) theory, also known as Hebb‘s rule (Cell that fire together, wire Leptin, Adiponectin, Metallothioneins together, that sounds like the Latin Repetitio est mater studi Meteorin-like (Metrnl), also known as Cometin, Subfatin, orum). Hebbian learning account of mirror neurons in the Interleukin 39) brain, an influential behavioral theory. These neurons „mir- Neprilysin (NEP) - β-amyloid peptide (Aβ)-degrading enzyme ror“ the actions and intentions of the other - they fire both when an individual performs an action and when the individ- ual sees or hears another perform a similar action (*Iacoboni Table 2. A selected list of myokines M. Grasping the intentions of others with one’s own mirror Irisin*, Visfatin, Interleukin (IL-4, IL-6, IL-7, IL-15) neuron system. PLOS Biology. 2005;3 (3): e79. DOI:10.1371/ Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), Nerve growth journal.pbio.0030079). factor (NGF) Myonectin, Myostatin, Leukaemia inhibitory factor (LIF), Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP)** Abbreviations and terms (listed associatively, not alphabetically) * Named after the Greek messenger goddess Irisi. Irisin derives MSF, molecules, structures, functions from the cleavage of fibronectin type III domain-containing pro- DPT, disease, prevention, therapy tein 5 (FNDC5) ** Promotes kidney excretion of salt and water. ANP is secreted by ECM, extracellular matrix (briefly, matrix) atrial cardiomyocytes of the heart. BtB, bench-to-bedside CME, continuing medical education The better you know Cell Biology, the better will D (or Da), D, kD, MD, GD. Dalton, named after John know Adipobiology Dalton, is unified atomic mass unit; unit of molecular weight The present continuing medical education (CME) is for all of proteins, DNA, RNA and other large biopolymers - medical, dental and cell biology students, also medical and kilodaltons (kD), megadaltons (MD), and gigadalton (GD). dental doctors and university teachers who are loaded with Cx, connexin – the composer of nexuses as shown in love-of-knowledge (in Bulgarian, lyuboznanie; in Greek, epis- Figure 1. temophilia - episteme – knowledge, philia – love, friendship). Cx32, Cx36, Cx43, connexins with molecular weight of 32, This CME embodies a personal didactic philosophy I hope to 36, 43 kD, respectively be appreciated by the readers. And enjoy their lyuboznanie. AT, adipose tissue From Latin principium means “first, foremost” - that is the WAT, white adipose tissue foundation of one’s knowledge (*Chaldakov GN. Biomorpho- BAT, brown adipose tissue genic principles of cell-matrix biology: A plectics insight. Bi BRITE, brown-in-white adipose tissue (beige AT, beige omed Rev 2019; 30:143-148 *Torday JS, Rehan VK. Evolution adipocytes) ary Biology,