It has been previously demonstrated that genetic variability of thioredoxin reductase 1 (TXNRD1) is associated with aging and age-associated phenotypes. Researchers from MD Anderson Cancer Center have now conducted work to assess the role of TXNRD1 in regulating tissue aging.
DNA replication stress induced by oncogenes is a known driver of chromosomal instability, which is associated with poor prognosis in several cancer types.
Detailed research over the past decade has shown that that the protein stimulator of interferon genes (STING) is a master regulator of type I interferons and as such plays an essential role in activating innate immunity. STING’s importance in orchestrating the body’s response to pathogenic, tumor, or self-DNA in the cytoplasm has made it a hot target in immunology research and drug discovery and several biopharma companies have started programs dedicated to this area spanning infectious and inflammatory diseases as well as cancer.