JAK1 signaling promotes skin inflammation and is a major therapeutic target for atopic dermatitis-related itching. But in a study appearing in the Jan. 4, 2024, print issue of Cell after earlier publication online, researchers at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, led by dermatologist Brian Kim, found that intrinsic JAK1 signaling in sensory neurons had an immunoprotective effect in the lung. The findings suggest a more precise and personalized approach is required to potentially expand JAK inhibitor use to a wider range of allergy and inflammatory disorders.
A multi-institutional research team has suggested that aberrant TDP-43 processing of the pre-mRNA of a microtubule-associated protein, stathmin-2 (STMN2), may be the primary contributor to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
A team of scientists at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School has discovered the putative cancer target UDP-glucuronate decarboxylase 1 (UXS1) in cancer cells expressing high levels of UDP-glucose 6-dehydrogenase (UGDH). UXS1 is a Golgi enzyme that appears downstream of UGDH and converts UDP-glucuronate (UDPGA) to UDP-xylose. The study also showed that UXS1 not only cleared away UDPGA but also limited its production through negative feedback on UGDH. They published their results on Oct. 25, 2023, in the online edition of Nature.
Researchers led by faculty at the Ohio State University College of Medicine have identified a previously unrecognized connection between microtubule-associated protein 6 (MAP6) and the Kv3.1 voltage-gated potassium (K+) channel – two proteins with different functions. The physical interaction between two neuronal proteins appears to maintain normal movement, anxiety and long-term recognition memory in mice.
Recently, researchers at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, in collaboration with colleagues in Japan, have developed a human vascular organoid model that accurately mimics the vascular damage caused by SARS-CoV-2.
Mitochondria regulate many processes that are altered in cancer cells, from metabolism to oxidative stress to apoptosis. The metabolic reprogramming in cancer cells promotes an immunosuppressive environment that drives cancer progression. However, in a recent study, researchers from the Salk Institute of Biological Sciences have identified succinate as a metabolite that accumulated due to specific disturbances in the mitochondrial electron transport chain.
One of the key advances in regenerative medicine has been the engraftment of external epithelial stem cells to supplement or replace damaged native cells. However, the difficulty in engrafting internal tissues has hindered the long-term rescue of diseased internal epithelia, such as those in the respiratory airways.
One of the key advances in regenerative medicine has been the engraftment of external epithelial stem cells to supplement or replace damaged native cells. However, the difficulty in engrafting internal tissues has hindered the long-term rescue of diseased internal epithelia, such as those in the respiratory airways.
Scientists have discovered that a small chemokine protein released by activated platelets, platelet factor 4 (PF 4), reduced neuroinflammation, and improved cognition in aged mice. The study was published on Aug. 16 in the online edition of Nature.
In a study reported in the online edition of Science on Aug. 10, 2023, a group of synthetic biologists from the University of California (UC) San Diego and clinicians from Australia have engineered synthetic bacteria to detect specific DNA sequences in the genomes of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells and organoids. This living cell sensor capable of detecting cancer in the colons of mice has the potential to steer the way to new biosensors capable of identifying various infections, cancers and other diseases.
