A study of 52,000 participants found that those with detectable brown fat were less likely to suffer cardiac and metabolic conditions. Brown fat burns energy, and its presence was linked to lower risk of hypertension, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease.
Researchers have found that telomere shortening protects against cancer in humans. The study used CRISPR gene-editing technology to analyze mutant cells with long telomeres and found that they were at greater risk of developing breast, colorectal, melanoma, and thyroid cancers.
Researchers discovered that the gut's local immune system creates antibodies tailored to specific microbiota, challenging the long-held assumption of a non-specific approach. This finding has significant implications for understanding the relationship between the immune system and the composition of our microbiomes.
Researchers discovered that actin filaments serve as tiny stretchy tension sensors in cells, transmitting mechanical signals to other proteins. The findings have significant implications for understanding how cells mechanically control movement, including cardiac cell contraction and motile cell migration.
Researchers found a group of neurons in female mosquitoes' stylets that activate only when sugar, salt, and other components of blood are present together. This discovery opens the door to further examination of novel forms of taste detection and unique feeding strategies.
Breast and lung cancer cells use the Slit2 protein, normally produced by neurons, to signal their migration. This intricate mechanism enables them to escape primary tumors and spread to other organs. The findings could lead to novel diagnostics and treatments for metastasis.
Researchers found that working memory is not confined to one brain area but requires synchronous activity of at least two regions. Gpr12 receptors in the thalamus are essential for establishing synchrony between the prefrontal cortex and other brain areas, leading to improved working memory performance.
Researchers found that over 10% of young, healthy individuals with severe COVID-19 have misguided antibodies attacking their immune system. A genetic mutation in type I interferon production is also common among these patients.
Scientists discovered that mechanical properties of tissue elements surrounding pre-malignant cells influence the development of basal and squamous cell carcinomas, two common forms of skin cancer. The research may help predict how a tumor will evolve and lead to novel anti-cancer therapies.
Researchers found that fat-burning neurons in mice can grow and increase their ability to burn energy when given the hormone leptin. This discovery could lead to new treatments for obesity by targeting these neurons.
Researchers at Rockefeller University have identified a new type of cell, known as PRIME cells, whose presence in the bloodstream increases before a flare-up, allowing for potential early warnings. The discovery may hold key to understanding rheumatoid arthritis root causes and developing therapies to prevent flares.
A new study sheds light on the molecular factors that render entorhinal brain cells uniquely sensitive to degeneration. Researchers found that a suite of genes is likely involved in making these neurons easy targets for degeneration, with PTBP1 playing a major role.
Researchers have found that genetic mutations from birth can promote cancer metastasis, with a single gene variant ApoE4 associated with slower tumor growth and better immune response. This discovery may lead to personalized treatment approaches for patients based on their genetics.
Researchers discovered that keratohyalin granules, which form through phase separation, carry molecular messages that prompt skin cells to flatten and die. This process is crucial for maintaining the skin barrier against pathogens.
Studies have shown that turtle ant soldiers exhibit a four-fold difference in head shapes, adapted to different tunnel sizes. The research suggests that evolution can be dynamic and reversible, with some species evolving back into more generalist stages.
A severely infected patient revealed a rare genetic variation in immune deficiency, linked to CMV control. Researchers sequenced the man's genes and found a mutation in NOS2, a critical component of macrophages that kill microbes.
Researchers discovered that a rise in pH within lysosomes causes iron depletion, leading to cell death and inhibition of proliferation. This finding has implications for understanding and treating diseases, including cancer.
Researchers successfully tracked brain activity of zebrafish larvae to predict decisions, revealing a major role for the cerebellum in cognitive functions. The study used light field microscopy to track neuronal activity and identified specific patterns that predicted correct or incorrect turns.
Researchers study how gut infections damage the nervous system, leading to chronic inflammation and conditions like IBS. They find that specific genes contribute to cell death and propose potential treatments by boosting polyamine production or restoring gut microbial communities.
Research at Rockefeller University discovered a new brain area, PITd, that steers attention and challenges the long-held concept of attention control. The finding suggests a rethinking of old concepts about attentional control and highlights the complexity of the brain's attention mechanisms.
Researchers found that a problem in gene-regulatory process can cause normal cells to turn malignant and produce Wilms' tumor. The implicated reader protein causes problems by acquiring a new property and being too active, leading to abnormal gene expression and tumor formation.
Researchers found that protein clumps in the brain are caused by transportation failures of proteasomes, a molecular machinery that breaks down proteins. Without proper transport, damaged proteins accumulate and disrupt cell function, leading to degeneration and cell death.
Researchers found that Parkinson's disease dopamine neurons can shut down without fully dying, releasing chemicals that cause inflammation and senescence in healthy neighbors. This discovery suggests new avenues for therapies targeting SATB1 or p21 to prevent or slow the disease.
Scientists discover molecular coordination tool and specialized lymphatic capillaries that transport immune cells and drain excess fluids from tissues, controlling fluid composition and cell synchronization during hair follicle stem cell activity.
Researchers have found clues to Huntington's disease origins in early brain development, using a new technology that manipulates human embryonic stem cells. The study takes the developmental timeframe back further than previous work, revealing dramatic effects on tissue structures.
Researchers used fruit flies to study the emergence of new genes in the testes, finding 184 de novo genes that originate from scratch. These genes show complex patterns and are most active during the spermatocyte phase of sperm development, suggesting they play roles in maturing sperm cells.
Researchers found that antibodies generated against the Zika virus itself may contribute to birth defects in some pregnancies. The study suggests that a safe vaccine would need to induce protective antibodies while avoiding those that increase the risk of microcephaly.
A recent study found that genetic mutations affecting RNA regulation play a crucial role in autism spectrum disorder and stroke. Analyzing noncoding DNA, researchers discovered new insights into the mechanisms underlying these complex conditions.
Researchers found that fruit flies compare their current direction to a goal direction, calculate the difference, and adjust their next step. The animals' brain activity suggests they aim to keep their neural compass needle at an internally-generated goal angle.
Researchers characterized the interaction between potentiators and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein at atomic resolution. The study found that two distinct compounds act on the same region of CFTR, pointing to strategies for developing more effective drugs.
Rockefeller scientists created a 3D model of early embryonic tissues using stem cells, allowing them to simulate developmental processes in time and space. The researchers successfully demonstrated the utility of their tool by inducing symmetry breaking, a fundamental process driving embryonic development.
Scientists have found that a group of brain cells regulate both food intake and energy expenditure, leading to a new possibility for effective weight-loss medication. The discovery could enable a doubly effective assault against obesity.
Rockefeller scientists have found that an animal's education relies on both what experiences it acquires and when it acquires them. Studying fruit flies, researchers showed that a single odor can become either appealing or disgusting depending on the timing of its encounter relative to a reward.
Researchers discovered that bacteria employ Cas13 to counter viral attacks, employing a dormancy strategy to hinder virus replication. This approach offers superior protection against viral mutations and phage escape.
Researchers at Rockefeller University developed small molecules that inhibit cGAS, an enzyme implicated in misguided immune responses. These compounds could lead to new treatments for people with certain autoimmune disorders and shed light on autoimmunity.
A new study from Rockefeller University reveals that the gut is organized into compartments with different immune system functions in each segment. This discovery has potential to improve drugs for gastrointestinal disorders and inform the development of oral vaccines.
In a recent study, Rockefeller scientists found that skin cells in mice engage in two forms of competition, one during early embryonic development and the other before birth. Loser cells are eliminated by winners, promoting healthy tissue development. Disrupting this process leads to slower skin development and reduced barrier function.
Scientists studying microscopic worms discovered a brain circuit that underlies repetitive behavior. The study found defects in one protein cause animals to reorient themselves over and over again, similar to human psychiatric illnesses like Tourette's syndrome and autism spectrum disorders.
A novel microscopy technique, developed by Rockefeller scientists, integrates approaches to build a more cohesive picture of the brain. It captures cellular activity across large volumes of neural tissue, allowing researchers to generate a picture of rapid cellular activity across multiple layers of brain tissue.
A recent study in animal models of diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) has identified an experimental drug that effectively destroys DIPG cells by depleting cellular cholesterol. The researchers also found that the compound works by directly inhibiting lanosterol synthase, an enzyme involved in cholesterol production.
Research in mice reveals the existence of brain cells called hD2R neurons that curb an animal's impulse to eat. These cells play a role in regulating memory and are part of a larger brain circuit that promotes balanced eating.
Researchers at Rockefeller University have identified a genetic mechanism that may contribute to 10% of all obesity cases. Alterations in the cellular machinery regulating leptin production can lead to obesity treatable with leptin therapy, and human genetics studies suggest a similar mechanism may contribute to obesity in some patients.
A new study reveals neural mechanisms responsible for local search in C. elegans, showing that smell and touch responses function independently. The researchers also found that altering brain activity can trigger extended search periods, potentially related to short-term memory.
Researchers discovered a rare tumor type that can't synthesize cholesterol, leading to its dependence on external nutrients. This vulnerability can be exploited with therapies blocking cholesterol uptake, offering a potential treatment for drug-resistant ALCL cells.
Scientists have discovered a new compound that selectively activates the NPYLR7 receptor in female mosquitoes, suppressing their host-seeking and biting behaviors. This breakthrough could lead to new ways of controlling mosquito populations and preventing diseases like dengue, Zika, and yellow fever.
Researchers have discovered a genetic mutation that makes people vulnerable to tuberculosis, a condition affecting one in five people globally. The mutation, TYK2, increases the risk of developing TB by disrupting the immune system's ability to fight mycobacteria, making individuals more susceptible to infection.
A new study reveals geckos use a unique combination of slapping, surface tension, and their superhydrophobic skin to scurry across the water's surface. This behavior is ideal for developing robots that can mimic the animal's aquatic agility in search and rescue missions.
Researchers discovered that the Cas10 enzyme, part of the type III CRISPR-Cas system, can selectively target foreign genetic material while avoiding its own DNA. This dynamic regulation enables bacteria to maintain a robust immune response even when invaders mutate their genetic sequences.
Researchers created a detailed atlas of fetal and maternal cells in the first trimester, revealing 20 distinct cell types and gene expression profiles. The findings could inform further research into pregnancy complications like preeclampsia and pre-term birth.
Researchers develop a novel methodology for characterizing neurons and their gene expression patterns, uncovering species-specific and age-related differences that could hold major implications for studying human brain disorders.