SABITA Research Highlights | March 2026
Recent publications from SABITA researchers highlight advances across neuroscience, biomedical science, and translational research.
Ultrastructural and histochemical insights into neotenic and metamorphic axolotl lungs with clues to pulmonary regeneration
Why can some organisms regenerate their lungs, while others cannot?
A new study published in Scientific Reports (Q1) investigates this question by examining the lungs of the axolotl—an amphibian known for its remarkable regenerative capacity. By comparing neotenic (aquatic) and metamorphic (terrestrial) stages, the study provides a detailed view of how lung structure adapts and reorganizes during the transition to air breathing.
Using histological, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural analyses, the researchers reveal significant remodeling in lung architecture. Neotenic axolotls exhibit thicker alveolar walls and collagen-rich tissue, while metamorphic lungs show expanded air spaces and increased elastic fiber density—features associated with more efficient air-based respiration.
At the cellular level, the study highlights dynamic changes in pneumocytes and connective tissue composition. Notably, the presence of lipid-rich interstitial cells and the restructuring of surfactant-producing components suggest a flexible and adaptive cellular environment that supports tissue remodeling.
Importantly, these structural changes are driven by thyroid hormone–induced metamorphosis, linking systemic signaling to organ-level transformation. Despite these adaptations, axolotl lungs retain unique features distinct from mammalian lungs, reflecting a different balance between function and regenerative potential.
By mapping how lung tissue reorganizes during development, this study provides a morphological framework for understanding pulmonary plasticity. These insights may help inform future strategies aimed at enhancing lung repair and regeneration in humans.
SABITA Researchers: Arzu Güneş, İlknur Keskin, Duygu Gürsoy Gürgen, Arife Ahsen Kaplan, İlkay Özdemir
Corresponding Author: Arzu GÜNEŞ
*This study was conducted in collaboration with researchers from international partner institutions. Full author list available in the original publication.
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-45215-8
Comparative effects of locally applied vancomycin and teicoplanin on bone formation and spinal fusion rates: an experimental study
Can the antibiotics used to prevent infection also interfere with bone healing?
A new study published in Neurosurgical Review explores this critical question by comparing the effects of locally applied vancomycin and teicoplanin on spinal fusion outcomes.
Using a rat model of posterolateral spinal fusion, researchers evaluated how different doses of these commonly used antibiotics influence bone formation and fusion integrity. The findings reveal a nuanced balance between infection control and tissue regeneration.
While high-dose vancomycin significantly reduced fusion mass volume and led to less organized bone architecture, these structural changes did not translate into a statistically significant reduction in overall fusion scores.
In contrast, teicoplanin—at both low and high doses—preserved bone morphology and fusion characteristics comparable to the control group, suggesting a more favorable profile in maintaining bone integrity during the healing process.
Histological analyses further supported these findings, showing reduced new bone formation and microstructural alterations in the high-dose vancomycin group, whereas teicoplanin-treated groups maintained more stable trabecular organization.
These results highlight an important clinical consideration: the local application of antibiotics in spinal surgery should not be evaluated solely for antimicrobial efficacy, but also for their potential impact on bone regeneration.
By demonstrating that antibiotic type and dosage can influence fusion outcomes, this study provides valuable insight for optimizing surgical strategies in spinal procedures.
SABITA Researchers: Arzu Güneş, İlknur KESKİN
*This study was conducted in collaboration with researchers from national partner institutions.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10143-026-04216-x
Plasma Proteomics Reveals Persistent and Surgery-Responsive Molecular Signatures in Osteoarthritis Patients
Osteoarthritis (OA) remains one of the most prevalent and disabling musculoskeletal disorders worldwide—yet its molecular landscape and response to surgical intervention are still not fully understood.
A recent study involving researchers from SABITA (Istanbul Medipol University) provides new insight into this challenge by mapping systemic protein changes in OA patients before and after arthroplasty.
Using mass spectrometry-based plasma proteomics, the study identified distinct molecular signatures associated with both disease progression and post-surgical recovery. In total, 93 proteins showed significant alterations prior to surgery, reflecting processes such as inflammation, immune regulation, extracellular matrix remodeling, and coagulation.
Importantly, the findings reveal a dual biological pattern:
A core set of proteins remained persistently dysregulated, even after surgery
A second group exhibited dynamic, surgery-responsive changes, indicating recovery-associated remodeling
Post-operative analyses showed partial normalization of several pathways alongside incomplete molecular recovery, while new protein signatures emerged, likely reflecting acute immune responses and tissue repair mechanisms.
Overall, this study provides exploratory insights into systemic molecular changes in OA and supports the idea that osteoarthritis extends beyond the joint, involving interconnected immune, metabolic, and structural processes.
SABITA Researchers: Hayriye E. Yelkenci, Melike Güvendi
*This study was conducted in collaboration with researchers from national partner institutions.
Impaired event-related theta spectral coherence in emotional facial expression processing in neurodegenerative disorders
Recognizing emotions is not just a social skill—it is a rapid and highly coordinated process involving large-scale brain networks. Disruptions in this system can significantly impact cognitive and social functioning in neurodegenerative diseases.
In a recent study published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience, researchers, including contributors from SABITA, investigated how emotional facial expressions are processed in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
Using EEG-based analyses, the study focused on theta-band functional connectivity, a key mechanism underlying communication between brain regions. The findings revealed that patients with Parkinson’s disease—particularly those with cognitive impairment—show marked reductions in inter-hemispheric connectivity, indicating reduced functional connectivity, particularly in the theta band.
The study also showed that negative emotional stimuli, such as angry faces, elicit stronger neural coordination, but this response becomes weaker as the disease progresses.
By highlighting how brain network dynamics are altered in neurodegenerative conditions, this work provides new insight into the mechanisms underlying emotional processing deficits and opens potential pathways for early detection and disease monitoring.
SABITA Researcher: Rümeysa Duygun, Tuba Aktürk, Bahar Güntekin, Lütfü Hanoğlu
Corresponding author: Bahar Güntekin
*This study was conducted in collaboration with researchers from national partner institutions.
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/human neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnhum.2026.1708832/abstract
The neural niche in cancer: mechanistic insights into tumor–neuron–immune crosstalk and therapeutic opportunities
Cancer is no longer viewed solely as a disease of uncontrolled cell growth. A new review brings attention to an emerging framework—one that positions the nervous system as an active regulator of tumor behavior.
In a comprehensive synthesis published in Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology, researchers outline the concept of a “neural niche,” a specialized microenvironment where tumor cells, nerve fibers, and immune components engage in continuous bidirectional communication.
Within this niche, tumors actively recruit and remodel surrounding nerves by releasing neurotrophic factors such as NGF and BDNF. In return, infiltrating nerve fibers secrete neurotransmitters that influence tumor growth, angiogenesis, and immune cell function. This interaction promotes an immunosuppressive environment, enabling tumors to evade immune surveillance and progress more aggressively.
The review further highlights how systemic factors, including chronic stress and neuroendocrine signaling via the HPA axis, amplify these effects by reshaping immune responses and promoting therapy resistance.
Importantly, this integrated tumor–neuron–immune axis opens new therapeutic avenues. Strategies targeting neural signaling—such as β-adrenergic blockade or inhibition of neurotrophic pathways—may complement existing cancer treatments, including immunotherapy.
By bridging neuroscience and oncology, this work provides a conceptual foundation for understanding cancer as a system-level disease—one that is deeply interconnected with the body’s neural networks.
SABITA Researcher: Neşe Ayşit, Esra Altıntaş
*This study was conducted in collaboration with researchers from national and international partner institutions. Full author list available in the original publication.
Sex-specific microbiome-host interactions: from infection to chronic disease—call for papers
Why do men and women respond differently to the same disease?
A recent editorial published in mSystems highlights a critical gap in microbiome research: the persistent neglect of biological sex as a core variable in host–microbe interactions.
Despite growing evidence that the microbiome plays a central role in regulating immunity, metabolism, and disease susceptibility, many studies still rely on sex-averaged models. This approach risks obscuring key biological mechanisms and limiting progress toward precision medicine.
The article emphasizes that sex is not merely a demographic variable, but a biological determinant that shapes microbiome composition, immune responses, and metabolic pathways. In particular, the bidirectional interaction between sex hormones and the microbiome emerges as a key regulatory axis influencing disease outcomes across conditions ranging from infections to autoimmune disorders and cancer.
Importantly, these interactions extend across multiple biological scales—from molecular signaling and metabolic regulation to clinical phenotypes—underscoring the need for systems-level, sex-aware research approaches.
By calling for studies that explicitly integrate sex as a biological variable, this work positions sex-aware microbiome research as a foundational step toward more accurate, reproducible, and personalized biomedical science.
SABITA Researchers and Corresponding Author: Süleyman Yıldırım
*This study was conducted within SABITA and Istanbul Medipol University research units.
Bowtie-patterned MIM SERS platform assisted by machine learning for detection of pesticide residues in food matrices
Ensuring food safety requires not only accuracy, but speed and accessibility.
A recent study published in Talanta introduces a machine learning-assisted SERS (Surface-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy) platform capable of detecting pesticide residues directly in complex food matrices such as pepper juice.
The system is built on a metal–insulator–metal (MIM) bowtie nanoarray architecture, designed to generate strong plasmonic “hotspots” that significantly amplify Raman signals. This enables the detection of pesticides at very low concentrations, even in chemically complex environments where conventional methods often struggle.
By integrating unsupervised and supervised machine learning approaches—including PCA, HCA, and SVM—the platform not only detects pesticide presence but also distinguishes between concentration levels and different sample origins with high accuracy. Notably, classification performance reached up to 100% in training datasets, highlighting the robustness of the analytical framework.
The system demonstrated strong reproducibility, stability, and matrix compatibility, and achieved high agreement (~93%) with conventional LC-MS/GC-MS methods in real sample validation.
By combining nanotechnology, spectroscopy, and artificial intelligence, this approach offers a fast, cost-effective, and field-deployable alternative for monitoring pesticide residues—bringing food safety analysis closer to real-time, on-site applications.
SABITA Researcher and Corresponding Author: Hasan Kurt
*This study was conducted in collaboration with researchers from international partner institutions. Full author list available in the original publication.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0039914026002626?via%3Dihub
Dose-Dependent Cytotoxic Effects of Mentha piperita Essential Oil on A549 Human Lung Carcinoma Cells
Can natural compounds offer new directions in cancer research?
A recent study investigates the cytotoxic effects of Mentha piperita (peppermint) essential oil on A549 human lung carcinoma cells, revealing a clear dose-dependent antiproliferative response.
Using MTT-based viability assays, the researchers demonstrated that peppermint oil significantly reduces cancer cell viability, with an IC₅₀ value of 21.3 µg/mL after 24 hours of exposure. The findings indicate that increasing concentrations of the compound lead to progressively stronger cytotoxic effects.
Morphological analyses further support these results: treated cells exhibited loss of adherent structure, rounding, and detachment from the substrate, accompanied by a marked decrease in cell density and increased intercellular gaps—hallmarks of cell death.
These findings suggest that Mentha piperita essential oil may interfere with cellular integrity and survival pathways in lung cancer cells. While further studies are required to elucidate underlying mechanisms and in vivo relevance, the study highlights the potential of plant-derived compounds as candidates for future anticancer strategies.
SABITA Researchers: Muhammet Volkan Bülbül, Semiha Mervenur Evren, İlknur Keskin
*This study was conducted in collaboration with researchers from national and international partner institutions. Full author list available in the original publication.
https://journals.lww.com/jcraniofacialsurgery/abstract/9900/dose_dependent_cytotoxic_
Oleuropein in Nasal Epithelial Cells: A Breakthrough Candidate for Anti-Inflammatory Topical Therapy
Can plant-derived compounds support tissue healing without compromising cell viability?
A recent study investigates the interaction between oleuropein, a bioactive compound found in olive leaves, and primary human nasal epithelial cells. Using cultures derived from clinically healthy nasal tissue, the study evaluates how different concentrations of oleuropein influence cellular viability and morphology.
MTT-based analyses revealed a dose-dependent response, with an IC₅₀ value of 1023 µg/mL. The findings indicate that lower concentrations are well tolerated, while higher doses lead to moderate cytotoxic effects. Notably, a transition from mild to more pronounced cytotoxicity was observed between 400–600 µg/mL, consistent with the sigmoidal dose–response profile.
Morphological observations further support these results, showing that epithelial cells maintain their structural integrity at lower concentrations but exhibit reduced viability and altered organization as the dose increases.
Importantly, the study suggests that at non-cytotoxic levels, oleuropein may support cellular recovery and tissue repair processes. These findings highlight its potential as a candidate for topical therapeutic strategies, particularly in enhancing healing following nasal surgeries such as septoplasty and rhinoplasty.
SABITA Researchers: Talat Y. Acar, Muhammed Volkan Bülbül, İlknur Keskin
*This study was conducted in collaboration with researchers from national partner institutions. Full author list available in the original publication.
Pumpkin Seed Oil as a Candidate Intranasal Delivery Medium: Evidence From Nasal Epithelial Cell Culture
Can natural lipids be used as safe carriers for intranasal therapies?
A recent study investigates the suitability of Cucurbita pepo seed oil (pumpkin seed oil, PSO) as a potential transfer medium for intranasal drug delivery, focusing on its biocompatibility with human nasal epithelial cells.
Using primary epithelial cell cultures derived from healthy nasal tissue, researchers evaluated cellular responses to increasing concentrations of PSO. MTT-based analyses revealed a dose-dependent decline in metabolic activity, with an IC₅₀ value of 62.75 µL, indicating a gradual inhibitory effect rather than an abrupt cytotoxic response.
Notably, lower concentrations were relatively well tolerated, while higher doses led to a progressive reduction in cell viability. The findings suggest that PSO does not trigger immediate toxicity but instead exerts a cumulative, concentration-dependent effect on epithelial cells.
These results highlight the importance of careful formulation and dosing strategies when considering natural oils for biomedical applications. At the same time, the observed biocompatibility at lower concentrations points to the potential of PSO as a locally applied carrier system in intranasal therapies, particularly in otolaryngological contexts such as post-surgical care.
While further in vivo and clinical studies are required, this work provides an initial framework for exploring natural lipid-based delivery platforms in mucosal drug administration.
SABITA Researcher: Talat Y. Acar, Muhammed Volkan Bülbül, İlknur Keskin, Elvin Alaskarov
*This study was conducted in collaboration with researchers from international partner institutions. Full author list available in the original publication.
Therapeutic Potential of Marrubium alysson L. Extract: Dose-Dependent Cytotoxicity in HNO210 Human Laryngeal Carcinoma Cells
Can plant-derived compounds support healing processes in clinical settings?
A recent study published in Journal of Craniofacial Surgery investigates the therapeutic potential of Marrubium alysson L., a medicinal plant known for its bioactive properties, in the context of tissue repair and regeneration.
Focusing on epithelial and tissue-level responses, the study evaluates how bioactive components of Marrubium alysson influence cellular behavior relevant to healing. The findings suggest that the extract may support cellular activity associated with tissue recovery, while maintaining a biocompatible profile under controlled conditions.
Importantly, the study highlights that the biological effects are dose-dependent, with lower concentrations showing favorable interactions, whereas higher exposures require careful evaluation due to potential cytotoxic effects.
By integrating natural compound research with clinical relevance, this work contributes to a growing body of evidence supporting the use of plant-derived molecules in topical therapeutic strategies, particularly in surgical recovery and tissue regeneration contexts.
While further in vivo and clinical validation is needed, the findings position Marrubium alysson as a promising candidate for future biomedical applications.
SABITA Researcher: Muhammed Volkan Bülbül, İlknur Keskin, Semiha Mervenur Evren, Elvin Alaskarov
*This study was conducted in collaboration with researchers from national and international partner institutions. Full author list available in the original publication.
Enriched resting-state EEG prediction of cognitive decline in prodromal Alzheimer’s disease: a machine-learning approach
Early prediction of cognitive decline remains one of the most critical challenges in Alzheimer’s disease research. A recent study published in Clinical Neurophysiology presents a promising approach by integrating resting-state EEG (rsEEG) biomarkers with machine learning algorithms to forecast disease progression at the prodromal stage.
The study focused on individuals with amnesic mild cognitive impairment (ADMCI)—a clinical condition often preceding Alzheimer’s disease. By combining multimodal data, including:
rsEEG signals
cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers
structural MRI (sMRI) measures
demographic and genetic variables (age, sex, education, APOE genotype)
researchers developed predictive models to estimate cognitive outcomes over a one-year follow-up.
Using multiple machine learning approaches, the models achieved prediction accuracies of up to 76–78% in individuals aged 70 and above, and 73–76% in younger participants.
Notably, EEG-based biomarkers demonstrated predictive performance comparable to established CSF and MRI markers, highlighting their potential as non-invasive, cost-effective tools in clinical settings.
Beyond prediction, the study also provides insight into underlying neurophysiological changes. Patients showed: increased slow-wave activity (delta and theta bands), reduced alpha activity.
These alterations are associated with disrupted cortical dynamics, particularly in mechanisms regulating arousal and vigilance.
Taken together, the findings underscore the growing potential of AI-driven neurophysiological biomarkers in improving early diagnosis and monitoring of Alzheimer’s disease. As scalable and accessible tools, EEG-based approaches may contribute to more personalized and timely clinical interventions.
SABITA Researcher: Bahar Güntekin, Lütfü Hanoğlu, Harun Yırıkoğulları
*This study was conducted in collaboration with researchers from international partner institutions. Full author list available in the original publication.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1388245726003597?via%3Dihub
Dual-shot polarization digital holographic microscopy with phase bias equalization for full-field Jones matrix imaging
Can complex polarization imaging be made both simpler and more robust?
A recent study published in Biomedical Optics Express introduces a streamlined approach to polarization-sensitive imaging, enabling full-field Jones matrix reconstruction using only two measurements.
Polarization digital holographic microscopy (PDHM) is a powerful technique for mapping tissue anisotropy—structural organization that plays a critical role in biological systems such as brain white matter and corneal collagen. However, conventional methods often require multiple sequential acquisitions, making them sensitive to phase drift and experimental instability.
In this study, researchers present a dual-shot PDHM system that significantly reduces acquisition complexity while maintaining quantitative accuracy. By using two orthogonal polarization states and a polarization-sensitive camera capable of capturing multiple analyzer channels simultaneously, the system reconstructs the full Jones matrix without the need for complex optical architectures.
A key innovation lies in the introduction of a phase bias equalization strategy, which compensates for phase inconsistencies between sequential measurements. This approach enables stable and reliable reconstruction, even under realistic experimental conditions where environmental fluctuations are unavoidable.
The method was validated on both synthetic and biological samples. Imaging of mouse brain sections revealed clear delineation of anisotropic structures such as the corpus callosum, while human cornea imaging demonstrated spatial variations in collagen organization—highlighting the technique’s potential for neuroanatomical and ophthalmological applications.
By balancing hardware simplicity, acquisition speed, and quantitative precision, this dual-shot strategy offers an accessible pathway toward advanced polarization imaging, with potential applications spanning biomedical research, diagnostics, and optical engineering.
SABITA Researcher: Mohammad Hussein, Muhammed Fatih Toy
*This study was conducted in collaboration with researchers from international partner institutions. Full author list available in the original publication.
EIM-FK: Efficient Iterative Method for Forward Kinematics of 3-RPS Parallel Robot
Accurate motion control in robotics depends on solving one critical problem: determining a robot’s exact position in real time.
A recent study introduces an Efficient Iterative Method (EIM-FK) for solving the forward kinematics (FK) of 3-RPS parallel robots—one of the most computationally challenging problems in robotic systems. While inverse kinematics is relatively straightforward, FK remains difficult due to multiple possible solutions, sensitivity to initial values, and high computational cost in existing approaches.
The proposed method addresses these limitations by significantly improving both efficiency and stability. Compared to conventional iterative techniques, EIM-FK requires approximately 40% fewer arithmetic operations per iteration and converges rapidly—typically within three iterations to an accuracy of 10⁻⁶.
In addition, the study introduces an enhanced initial value estimation strategy that improves the performance of traditional Newton-based methods. To broaden computational approaches, an artificial neural network (ANN) model is also evaluated for FK solutions.
Comparative simulations demonstrate that while both improved conventional methods and ANN-based approaches can solve the FK problem, EIM-FK achieves superior accuracy with lower computational complexity, making it particularly well-suited for real-time robotic control applications.
By reducing computational load without compromising precision, this work offers a scalable solution for high-performance robotic systems, where speed and accuracy are critical.
SABITA Researcher: Elif Hocaoğulları, Hafiz Muhammed Bilal
*This study was conducted in collaboration with researchers from international partner institutions. Full author list available in the original publication.
GABAergic ventrolateral preoptic projection to dorsomedial hypothalamus recapitulates post-ischemic neuroprotection by hypothermia
What if the protective effects of hypothermia after stroke could be achieved without externally cooling the body?
A new study involving researchers from SABITA, Istanbul Medipol University, identifies a hypothalamic neural pathway that can induce hypothermia and reduce ischemic brain injury in experimental stroke models.
Published in Cell Death & Disease, the study focuses on a GABAergic projection from the ventrolateral preoptic area (vlPOA) to the dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH)—two key brain regions involved in thermoregulation. Using chemogenetic and optogenetic approaches in mice, the researchers showed that modulating this pathway lowered core body temperature and produced neuroprotective effects after transient middle cerebral artery occlusion, a widely used model of ischemic stroke.
The findings showed that pathway modulation reduced infarct volume, brain edema, neurological deficits, and post-ischemic cell injury. Mechanistically, the protective effect was associated with reduced reperfusion injury and preservation of astrocytic homeostatic functions, including decreased markers of reactive and neurotoxic astrocyte states.
Therapeutic hypothermia is known to protect brain tissue in experimental ischemia, but its clinical translation has been limited by side effects linked to external cooling, including cardiac rhythm disturbances, hypokalemia, coagulopathy, and infections. This study suggests that centrally modulating temperature-regulating neural circuits may offer a new experimental direction for neuroprotection—potentially bypassing some limitations of conventional cooling strategies.
While further studies are needed to define therapeutic windows, long-term outcomes, and translational feasibility, the work highlights the vlPOA–DMH GABAergic pathway as a promising target for future neuroprotective strategies in ischemic stroke and other forms of brain injury.