A little-known tissue composed of a cluster of immune cells could offer novel insights into the development of neurological disorders. Meninges' immune system changes with age and neurodegeneration. Are they protecting the brain or fueling disease? Mapping and analyzing the so-called ectopic lymphoid structures (ELSs) in the meninges at different ages in preclinical models of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's may help clarify whether they are good, bad, or ugly, as in the iconic film by Sergio Leone. Read More
Colorectal cancer is among the most common malignant tumor types and the second leading cause of tumor-related deaths worldwide. Tumor necrosis factor α-induced protein 8-like protein 2 (TIPE2) is a protein member of the TIPE family and highly expressed in immune cells. The prognostic impact and the relationship with tumor immunity of TIPE2 plus other immune markers such as CD8, CD20 and CD66b were evaluated in colorectal cancer by researchers from First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University and collaborators. Read More
Evolveimmune Therapeutics Inc. has gained IND clearance from the U.S. FDA for EVOLVE-104, a novel trispecific T-cell engager for the treatment of solid tumors. The company will begin a phase I trial this year. Read More
In Parkinson’s disease, α-synuclein accumulates in neurons and may thereby contribute to their degeneration. Reducing expression of α-synuclein may be an effective therapy, but delivering short interfering RNA (siRNA) to the brain noninvasively is notoriously ineffective, in part because siRNA does not pass the blood-brain barrier efficiently. Read More
Etern Therapeutics (Wuxi) Co. Ltd. has divulged polycyclic compounds acting as receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 (RIPK1; RIP-1) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of ischemia-reperfusion injury. Read More
Pilatus Biosciences Inc. has announced a clinical trial collaboration with F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. in support of Pilatus’ upcoming first-in-human phase I trial evaluating PLT-012 in combination with atezolizumab in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Read More
Seal Rock Therapeutics Inc. has joined The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) LRRK2 Investigative Therapeutics Exchange (LITE) program. The program supports the development of new therapies targeting LRRK2 for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease patients and fosters international collaboration across more than 30 academic and clinical centers and more than a dozen companies. Read More
The Jackson Laboratory has disclosed short transient receptor potential channel 3 (TRPC3) and short transient receptor potential channel 6 (TRPC6) antagonists reported to be useful for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease. Read More
Shanghai Qilu Pharmaceutical Research and Development Centre Ltd. has synthesized Werner syndrome ATP-dependent helicase (WRN; RECQ3; RECQL2) inhibitors reported to be useful for the treatment of cancer. Read More
Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2-α kinase 3 (PERK) plays a role in homeostasis maintenance of the mitochondria-associated membrane (MAM), which in turn has an impact on the mitochondrial energy metabolism and structural morphology. To date, there is still controversy regarding the therapeutic effect of activating PERK for ischemia-reperfusion injury (I/R) management. Read More
Nanjing Medical University and Zhejiang University have described compounds reported to be useful for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection. Read More
Childhood-onset neurodegeneration with cerebellar atrophy (CONDCA) is an autosomal recessive disorder that causes progressive motor and cognitive impairment in children. The disease arises as a result of inactivating mutations in cytosolic carboxypeptidase 1 (CCP1), leading to excessive polyglutamylation of tubulin in the brain. Researchers at Shimane University have shown in a mouse model that delivering a truncated form of CCP1 into the brain can substantially mitigate Purkinje cell degeneration and improve motor function. Read More
