A new study reveals that targeting the SWI/SNF protein complex can disrupt PU-1-directed enhancer programs in AML cells, leading to therapeutic responses and rapid tumor regression. The findings also show that these inhibitors have manageable side effects on normal blood cells.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine discovered crucial steps that promote ciprofloxacin resistance in bacteria, pointing to potential strategies to extend antibiotics' effectiveness. The study found that RNA polymerase plays a major role in regulating DNA repair and identified a key molecule involved in modulating this response.
A recent study published in Cell Discovery found that high levels of folic acid supplementation may increase DNA mutation rates and impair DNA repair mechanisms. The researchers discovered a 'Goldilocks Effect' where too little or too much folic acid is detrimental to human health.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine discovered that human norovirus GII.4 invades gastrointestinal cells via an unexpected mechanism involving interactions between viral and human cell surface proteins. The findings provide insight into the viral infection process and highlight unique pathways for developing effective therapeutics.
Scientists discovered how alternative splicing enables the compensatory increase of MBNL2 protein in response to MBNL1 loss-of-function. This mechanism, found in animal models and potentially applicable to human patients, may help explain disease variability and offer new therapeutic avenues for Myotonic Dystrophy Type 1.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine investigated neural crest cell development to better comprehend and treat craniofacial birth defects. They discovered that changes in chromatin accessibility are regulated by the miR-302 microRNA family, which can be used to generate healthy cells for regenerating craniofacial defects.
Researchers found that social isolation triggers astrocyte-mediated deficits in learning and memory due to hyperactive astrocytes suppressing brain circuit function. Inhibiting astrocyte hyperactivity reversed cognitive deficits, suggesting a new role for astrocytes in brain physiology.
A team of researchers at Baylor College of Medicine found that glioma-related epilepsy is driven by IGSF3-mediated potassium dysregulation. This disruption leads to seizure activity, which favors disease progression. The study used human patients and animal models to confirm the findings.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and University of Michigan report that altering gut microbiome is connected to increased oxygen levels in intestine following immune-mediated intestinal damage. Reducing intestinal oxygen levels alleviated the microbial imbalance and reduced the severity of GVHD.
A new study published in Cell Reports Medicine identifies four pan-cancer molecular subtypes of metastasis, each with distinct transcriptional programs and potential therapeutic targets. The research provides valuable insights for personalized treatments of metastatic cancer.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine discovered that an altered gut microbiome drives endometriosis disease progression in an animal model. The study found that mice lacking a gut microbiome had smaller endometriotic lesions, and treatment with certain metabolites significantly enhanced cellular proliferation and lesion growth.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine discovered a novel mechanism of gene expression regulation involving enhancers and promoters. They found that enhancers and promoters are tightly interconnected through a process called enhancer-promoter entanglement, which affects transcription.
A novel laboratory protocol enables researchers to investigate connections between gut microbes and the brain, shedding light on how microbes influence the central nervous system. The tool allows for comprehensive evaluation of metabolites produced by microbes, providing insights into their role in health and disease.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine find that a widely used tool is not suitable for population epigenetics, leading to the discovery of 72 times more genetic variants associated with disease. This finding highlights the need for a better understanding of epigenetic causes of disease.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine discovered that Grb10 promotes leptin activity in the brain, which may help overcome leptin resistance. This finding suggests that increasing Grb10 activity could lead to weight loss by decreasing food intake and increasing energy expenditure.
Researchers have developed a novel oral drug delivery platform using probiotic bacteria to treat rheumatoid arthritis, reducing the need for lifelong injections. The bioengineered probiotic, LrS235, secretes peptide ShK-235, which dramatically reduces clinical signs of disease in animal models.
A Baylor College of Medicine study reveals a connection between the serotonin 2C receptor and obesity, as well as maladaptive behaviors. The research findings suggest that rare mutations in the gene responsible for this receptor play a role in these conditions.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine found that treating patients with resectable malignant pleural mesothelioma with immunotherapy ahead of surgery resulted in significant changes to the tumor microenvironment and increased overall survival. The study's findings provide a groundwork for neoadjuvant immunotherapy in mesothelioma.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have identified a potential new treatment for endometriosis, oleuropein, which selectively inhibits ER-beta activity. This natural compound effectively suppresses the growth of endometriosis lesions in mouse models and improves fertility in mice with endometriosis.
Researchers have discovered a way to promote hair cell regeneration in mature animals using cell reprogramming with transcription factors ATOH1, GFI1, and POU4F3. This approach has shown promise for advancing the treatment of long-term hearing loss.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine discovered that oxytocin drives the development of neural connections in adult-born neurons. Oxytocin triggers a signaling pathway that promotes synapse maturation, enabling these new neurons to function properly.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and Rice University developed a new contamination detection tool called Squeegee to establish reproducibility in microbiome identification. The tool uses computer analysis to detect 'breadcrumbs' of contaminants, improving the accuracy of metagenomic sequencing analysis in low biomass studies.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine found that initiating bone repair triggers bone metastasis, with cancer cells 'riding' NG2-positive stem cells to tumor sites. This finding offers new directions for preventing tumor recurrence and controlling bone metastasis.
A team of researchers at Baylor College of Medicine has investigated how breast cancer cells lose their ER expression, revealing a mechanism that explains the process and offers possibilities to overcome it. The study found that over-expressing 14-3-3τ in cancer cells leads to ER loss, with other molecular players such as AKT and GATA3...
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine discovered a novel approach to suppress the growth of therapy-resistant prostate cancer tumors. By enhancing GATA2 degradation, the study found marked suppression of tumor growth and castration resistance in animal models.
Researchers found molecular mechanisms of brain development during early life influence obesity risk, with epigenetic maturation playing a key role. The study suggests prevention efforts targeting developmental processes could help stop the worldwide obesity epidemic.
Researchers engineered immune cells to control two major complications of leukemia treatment: graft-vs-host disease and cancer relapse. The approach, using a protein called OX40, showed promise in animal models, protecting against both conditions without severely impairing the immune system.
Scientists at Baylor College of Medicine and the Broad Institute have identified biological markers associated with chemotherapy resistance in triple negative breast cancer. The study found that deletion on chromosome 19, specifically the LIG1 gene, is linked to resistance to treatment and poor clinical outcomes.
Scientists at Baylor College of Medicine have developed a new sensor that allows neuroscientists to image brain activity without missing signals, for an extended time and deeper in the brain than previously possible. The sensor uses genetically-encoded voltage indicators to capture fast brain signals while identifying specific cell types.
Neuroblastoma cells with extra copies of the MYCN gene rely on fatty acids for survival and growth. Inhibiting fatty acid uptake selectively blocks tumor growth in these cells.
A randomized clinical trial found that GlyNAC supplementation improves age-associated defects in older humans, including oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction. This led to improvements in muscle strength, gait speed, exercise capacity, and other health outcomes, showing promise for promoting healthy aging.
A team of scientists, led by Dr. Tor Savidge, has proposed a novel mechanism for enzymatic catalytic power, integrating transition state stabilization and ground state destabilization. This new understanding has significant implications for drug design applications and microbial enzymatic catalysis.
A team at Baylor College of Medicine found that Sox9, a well-known transcription factor, affects brain tumor growth differently in various tumor types. The study revealed distinct mechanisms for regulating epigenetic patterns, which may lead to new possibilities for developing novel therapies.
A study found that disruptions in brain sphingolipid metabolism lead to neuronal damage and neurodegeneration in animal models, revealing a new molecular perspective on Gaucher's disease. The research also shows that neuronal activity triggers the production of glucosylceramide, a key factor in the development of this disorder.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have developed a novel method to profile different types of DNA methylation, including 6mA, 4mC and 5mC. The NT-seq method allows for efficient and cost-effective detection of these epigenetic markers in various organisms, paving the way for further studies on cancer epigenetics.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have identified a potential more effective treatment for HER2 mutant metastatic breast cancer, poziotinib. The drug reduced tumor growth and multi-organ metastasis in laboratory tests and animal models.
Researchers identified a molecule called Lac-Phe that suppresses food intake by 50% in diet-induced obese mice. Lac-Phe also improves glucose tolerance and reduces body weight, paving the way for potential exercise pills to treat obesity and related conditions.
Scientists employed artificial intelligence to determine the 3D structure of the VP8* B domain in group B rotavirus, a crucial step towards understanding its interaction with host cells and developing new treatments. The newly described structure reveals unique sugar recognition capabilities, distinct from other rotaviruses.
A study published in Arthritis & Rheumatology found that walking for exercise can reduce new frequent knee pain and slow joint damage in people with knee osteoarthritis. Researchers analyzed data from the Osteoarthritis Initiative and found a 40% decrease in odds of new frequent knee pain among walkers compared to non-walkers.
Pediatric pathologists have discovered a new, aggressive subtype of liver cancer in children, characterized by molecular features that don't fit existing classification models. The tumors are less responsive to chemotherapy and have poor outcomes, prompting the development of a diagnostic algorithm to guide specialized treatment.
Researchers found abnormal dopamine-serotonin brain circuit activity causes anorexia, which was reversed by restoring normal activity and inhibiting key receptor. The study provides potential therapeutic approach for treating anorexia, with future studies needed to explore sex differences.
A team at Baylor College of Medicine found that human NANOG's 'super stickiness' enables it to form large aggregates at low concentrations, which interact with chromatin to activate a pluripotent state. This process involves reshaping the genomic landscape and turning on genes involved in pluripotency.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine have identified a combination therapy that targets both tumor cells and macrophages to treat triple-negative breast cancer. The therapy resulted in durable tumor regression and immune memory in animal models, suggesting potential for improved treatment outcomes.
A Baylor College of Medicine study finds that type I interferon is a major driver of memory and cognitive loss in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease. Blocking IFN reversed these memory and cognitive deficits in the animal model, suggesting that inflammation plays a key role in AD progression.
A recent study identified two main subtypes of tuberculosis based on immune response to the infection. One subtype has a better prognosis and could improve treatment options, while another has a higher risk of treatment failure and death.
Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine discovered oleic acid as a key regulator of neurogenesis in the hippocampus, enabling learning, memory, and mood regulation. This finding has major therapeutic implications for treating diseases like Alzheimer's and depression.
Researchers have identified 79 ASD-associated genes and found that many of them alter behavior in fruit flies, providing functional evidence for their consequences. The study also uncovered a new form of rare disease due to the GLRA2 gene, highlighting the importance of de novo genetic variants in autism.
Researchers found that Rett syndrome mice have larger and more correlated ensembles of neurons, suggesting reduced inhibition. Activating somatostatin-expressing inhibitory neurons improved contextual memory recall in Rett mice.
Researchers find SRC-3 plays crucial role in regulating 12-hour biological rhythms, affecting lipid and energy metabolism. Alterations in SRC-3 expression linked to metabolic diseases, including diabetes, obesity, and cancer.
Researchers found that GlyNAC supplementation can increase lifespan and improve multiple key age-associated defects in mice. The supplement corrected glutathione deficiency, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and other hallmarks of aging.