Treatment with a cell-penetrating peptide that prevented nuclear export of unprocessed C9ORF72 RNA and its subsequent translation into neurotoxic dipeptide repeat proteins reduced motor neuron damage and death both in fruit fly models of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and in patient-derived induced neuronal precursor cells (iNPCs). The work suggests that targeting nuclear export could be a therapeutic option in ALS, and possibly also frontotemporal dementia (FTD), where C9ORF72 mutations also play a role.
Even its name is a testament to how enigmatic the tingible macrophage has been. Tingible, which means stainable, certainly gives no clues to its functions – but was, at least, one thing that was known about the cells. Now, scientists at the Garvan Institute of Medical Research have tracked the lifecycle and function of tangible macrophages in the lymph nodes, with implications for understanding autoimmune disorders, which are still poorly understood. Published March 2, 2023, in the journal Cell, the study highlights intravital imaging techniques the scientists used to observe how macrophages formed within the lymph nodes and how they behaved in real time.
Scientists at the University of Virginia have discovered an anti-aging mechanism mediated by an enzyme that metabolizes alcohol. Alcohol dehydrogenase, which in Caenorhabditis elegans and yeast replaces the rejuvenating effect of autophagy, would reduce age-associated glycerol levels, also promoting longevity in mice and humans.
Researchers from Georgetown University presented data from a study that aimed to assess the intrinsic mechanisms by which myeloid cells regulate their activation states during remyelination and to identify new therapeutic targets for multiple sclerosis (MS).
Metabolic-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) has emerged as a leading cause of progressive liver disease, even leading to a risk of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Animal models that mimic the key etiological and histological features of the liver in the context of metabolic dysfunction represent the basis of preclinical research in MAFLD. The aim of work from researchers at Guangdong Pharmaceutical University was to develop a diet-induced murine model of MAFLD progressing to fibrosis and HCC.
Performing experiments and potentially manufacturing products in space offers some unique advantages in a near-zero gravity environment. Space changes buoyancy, hydrostatic pressure and convective heat flow. Researchers are studying how those changes affect cells, but also looking to take advantage of the changes to create products in manufacturing processes that wouldn’t be possible on earth.
Research at Nimbus Saturn Inc. has led to the development of mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase kinase 1 (MAP4K1; HPK1; MEKKK1) inhibitors reported in a recent patent to be useful for the treatment of cancer.
Researchers at Flare Therapeutics Inc. have prepared and tested quinoline compounds acting as peroxisome-proliferator receptor γ (PPARγ) inverse agonists reported to be useful for the treatment of bladder cancer.
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