Researchers investigate role of gene associated with Alzheimer’s disease in brain’s immune cells
When immune cells move throughout the brain, they act as the first line of defense against viruses, toxic materials and damaged neurons, rushing over to clear out them. Researchers at Indiana University School of Medicine have been investigating how these immune cells in the brain — microglia — relate to a gene mutation recently found […]
Scientists identify mechanism that may influence infectivity of SARS-CoV-2 variants: Enzyme process alters spike protein function
Scientists at the National Institutes of Health have found that a process in cells may limit infectivity of SARS-CoV-2, and that mutations in the alpha and delta variants overcome this effect, potentially boosting the virus’s ability to spread. The findings were published online in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The study was […]
Linker histones tune the length and shape of chromosomes
Human life hinges on the ability of our cells to cram six feet of DNA into a 10-micron nucleus — equivalent to fitting a mile of string inside one green pea. But stuffing genes into cramped quarters is only half the battle. The DNA must also remain organized, carefully coiled into loops that ensure the […]
Cell Therapy Safe and Effective in Women with Prior Urinary Incontinence Surgery
Autologous muscle derived cells for urinary sphincter repair (AMDC-USR) to treat stress urinary incontinence (SUI) was safe and durable, particularly for women who have undergone prior SUI surgery, a researcher reported. In a randomized phase III study, 36.9% of women receiving AMCD-USR achieved a strong response (≥75% reduction in stress incontinence episode frequency at 12 […]
Stem-like T cells could aid immunotherapy in cancer treatment
In a new study by Yale Cancer Center, researchers show stem-like T cells within certain lymph nodes could be natural cancer fighters. Targeting these T cells, which are a type of white blood cells, with immunotherapy drugs could increase the number of cancer patients that respond to treatment. The findings were reported online today in […]
How fructose in the diet contributes to obesity
Eating fructose appears to alter cells in the digestive tract in a way that enables it to take in more nutrients, according to a preclinical study from investigators at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian. These changes could help to explain the well-known link between rising fructose consumption around the world and increased rates of obesity […]
‘Frameshifting’ therapy for mast cell cancers reduces size, spread
A potential new treatment for mast cell cancers reduces the number of mast cells by “mutating” the messenger RNA (mRNA) before it can deliver instructions for manufacturing the gene responsible for cell proliferation. The method, known as frameshifting, changes the pre-mRNA so that the mature mRNA is degraded and any protein produced from its instructions […]
Differences in human, mouse brain cells have important implications for disease research
A UCLA-led study comparing brain cells known as astrocytes in humans and mice found that mouse astrocytes are more resilient to oxidative stress, a damaging imbalance that is a mechanism behind many neurological disorders. A lack of oxygen triggers molecular repair mechanisms in these mouse astrocytes but not in human astrocytes. In contrast, inflammation activates […]