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Science News for September 30, 2000


Tailoring mitochondria to the cell's needs

Lehman et al. show that PGC-1 is limiting for mitochondrial proliferation in cardiac muscle, directing changes in mitochondrial population across cells. Overexpressing PGC-1 increases fatty acid oxidation capacity and coupled OxPhos, but constitutive expression leads to dilated cardiomyopathy.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateSep 30, 2000

Free radicals in alcoholic liver disease

A new study reveals that free radicals, generated by the macrophage enzyme NADPH oxidase, are essential for the development of alcoholic liver disease. The researchers found that mice lacking this enzyme were resistant to liver injury and had lower levels of covalent adducts in their bile.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateSep 30, 2000

Alcohol and bone fragility

Researchers found that alcohol feeding impaired osteoblast function and led to increased bone turnover, contributing to bone fragility. In contrast, mice lacking the interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene had better maintained bone mass and reduced fractures.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateSep 30, 2000