Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys have identified a molecular signaling pathway involving Stat3 and Fam3a proteins that regulates muscle stem cell fate. Boosting these cells could lead to muscle-boosting therapeutics for muscular dystrophies or age-related muscle decline, potentially helping people live an active and independent life.
A new web-based portal, Metascape, integrates over 40 bioinformatics data sources to allow non-technical users to generate insights in one click. This tool removes data analysis barriers, enabling researchers to focus on important biological questions.
Researchers have discovered a causal link between the gut microbiome and anti-tumor immunity, identifying key bacterial strains that activate the immune system to slow melanoma growth. The study also reveals the role of unfolded protein response (UPR) in this process, providing potential markers for patient stratification.
Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys have created a mouse model of choroid plexus carcinoma (CPC), a challenging type of brain cancer that affects young children. The study identified three promising drug compounds with biological activity, including dinaciclib and flavopiridol.
Scientists from Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute identified how prostate cancer becomes treatment-resistant NEPC following targeted treatment. They found that an FDA-approved drug holds potential as a NEPC treatment and uncovered new therapeutic avenues to prevent transformation.
A targeted therapy that blocks the protein LSD1 has been shown to shrink tumors in mice with a form of pediatric brain cancer known as medulloblastoma. The treatment, which is currently being tested in clinical trials for other cancers, may offer new hope for children with this devastating disease.
Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute have found that muscle stem cells can give rise to cancer in DMD patients. The study identified two genes linked to the tumor's growth and suggests that treatments targeting muscle stem cells should consider potential cancer risk.
Scientists identify epigenetic marker and genes that cause heart failure in fruit fly offspring, even when fed a normal diet. Reversing the epigenetic modification or over-expressing these genes protects subsequent generations from negative heart effects.
Researchers have identified a unique actin filament nanoscaffold triggered by molecular signals, which expands our understanding of cell movement. The discovery could yield insights into cancer metastasis, wound healing, and other cell-motility-related conditions.
Scientists identified that loss of two genes drives serrated colorectal cancer and found a combination treatment that has treated the cancer in mice. This discovery holds implications for patient care and may provide insights into the link between inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer.
Scientists have identified a new DNA recombination process in Alzheimer's disease brains, producing thousands of previously unknown gene variations. The process, requiring an enzyme found in HIV, may hold a key to developing new treatments for the disease.
Researchers have discovered that host responses during sepsis progression can vary in important ways based on pathogen type. Boosting anti-inflammatory enzymes or using neuraminidase inhibitors showed therapeutic approaches, indicating a potential direction for drug development.
Scientists have identified the cause of Saul-Wilson syndrome, a rare type of dwarfism characterized by short stature and developmental delays. A single spontaneous gene change alters protein packaging in the cell's Golgi complex, affecting protein function and stability.
Researchers used machine learning to detect small DNA changes in single brain cells, revealing thousands of previously unknown variations. The study found that these changes peaked during a key stage of brain development, implying a regulated process.
Researchers discover mannose reduces body fat, improves fitness, and modifies the gut microbiome in mice with a high-fat diet. The study sheds light on the role of the microbiome in obesity and its potential for treating weight-related diseases.
Researchers have discovered a protein called RNF5 that drives intestinal inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). High levels of S100A8, another protein regulated by RNF5, are linked to disease severity and may serve as a potential diagnostic marker.
Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute have identified a previously unknown astrocyte subpopulation that plays a key role in driving brain inflammation. The newly discovered 'ieAstrocytes' are activated early in neuroinflammatory diseases, such as multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute found that cancer cells redirect energy production when lactate dehydrogenase is inhibited, instead relying on glutamine to sustain growth and survival. This discovery identifies a potential new target for melanoma treatment by targeting the ATF4-signaling pathway.
Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute have found that amodiaquine suppresses blood vessel formation through both the apelin and VEGF pathways, reversing vascular eye damage in animal models. The compound blocks the receptor's function by binding to a unique area, inhibiting apelin's ability to drive blood ve...
Fibro-adipogenic progenitors (FAPs) have multiple identities during muscle regeneration, driving symptoms of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Targeting FAPs with defined markers may prevent fibrosis and promote regeneration.
Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute found sarcolipin increases muscle energy expenditure and fat oxidization by uncoupling calcium ion transporter SERCA activity. This leads to increased mitochondrial biogenesis and fat burning, potentially helping people with obesity and type 2 diabetes
Researchers discovered fibro-adipogenic progenitor cells promote muscle wasting and scarring in spinal cord injury, ALS, and SMA models. By targeting IL-6-STAT3 signaling, they found a potential new avenue for treating or testing motor neuron diseases.
Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute has received four Padres Pedal the Cause collaborative grants to fund research projects in cancer and immunology. The projects aim to develop new insights into developing drugs and treatments designed to attack and kill cancer cells.
A new study by Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute (SBP) researchers describes how nuclear pore component Nup210 is critical for the survival of circulating CD4+ T cells. The findings identify a new node of T cell receptor signaling and could pave the way for the development of future immunotherapies.
Researchers have identified a novel regulatory step in autophagy, shedding light on the anti-cancer potential of PI5P4K inhibitors. Targeting these proteins could be a promising approach for cancer therapeutics.
Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute discovered that PKC zeta deficiency promotes liver metastasis through the inactivation of enzyme ADAR2, leading to increased secretion of miR-200s. Treatment with a compound inhibiting miR-200s reduced liver metastasis in mice with colorectal cancer.
San Diego County has received a $1.3 million NIH grant to advance Alzheimer's research, aiming to find a treatment or cure for the disease. The funding will support a team of scientists in identifying prototype drugs that can bind to and modulate TREM2, a gene known to correlate with increased risk of developing late-onset Alzheimer's.
Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute reveal that the loss of p62 in fat cells fuels aggressive prostate cancer by inhibiting energy-consuming processes. This discovery opens new avenues for therapeutic targeting and highlights the importance of considering whole-body metabolism in cancer treatment.
Evan Y. Snyder, a leading researcher on stem cells and neural development, has been elected to the Association of American Physicians for his groundbreaking contributions to human health. He will be inducted at the AAP annual meeting on April 21, 2018.
Researchers discover TREM2 receptor mediates anti-amyloid toxicity, potentially preventing or reducing neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer's. Boosting TREM2 levels in the brain may prevent disease progression and restore cognitive function.
A study published in Cell Reports found that accumulating ceramides can lead to lipotoxic cardiomyopathy, a heart condition often associated with diabetes and obesity. Researchers discovered potential therapeutic targets to prevent or reverse the effects of this condition.
Researchers developed a high-throughput imaging-based approach to investigate protein stability, identifying previously unknown human proteins targeted by HIV. The platform has broad applications in diseases such as Alzheimer's, cancer, and autoimmune disorders.
Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute have made a groundbreaking discovery that may advance neural stem cell treatments for brain disorders. The study reveals how an mRNA modification impacts the life of neural stem cells, and how it regulates histone modifications to maintain their self-renewal.
Researchers found that repeated low-grade bacterial infections can lead to severe inflammatory disease and potentially life-threatening colitis. The study also identified a link between Salmonella infection and an acquired deficiency of intestinal alkaline phosphatase, which accelerates inflammation.
A new study by researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute describes the biology behind why muscle stem cells respond differently to aging or injury. Adult muscle stem cells are essential for repairing and regenerating muscle throughout life, but their ability to cope with different stimuli varies depending on the...
Researchers found that SHARPIN increases PRMT5 activity, boosting transcription factors that contribute to melanoma growth. SHARPIN acts as a counterbalance to reduced PRMT5 activity in tumors with deleted genes.
A study by Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute founds a previously unknown regulatory axis that controls aldosterone levels, offering new avenues for drug discovery of secondary hypertension. The findings suggest that the adrenal glands' structure and cholesterol biosynthesis play a crucial role in hyperaldosteronism.
D'Angelo will investigate the role of altered nuclear pore complexes in blood cell malignant transformation and cancer. His research may lead to better treatments and potentially cures for leukemia.
A new study by Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute identifies a crucial signaling pathway for angiogenesis, the growth of new blood vessels from pre-existing ones. The findings may improve current strategies to increase blood flow in ischemic tissues associated with atherosclerosis and diabetes.
A preclinical study led by Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute demonstrates that palovarotene suppresses the formation of bony tumors in MHE models, reducing bone tumors by over 90%. The drug has been shown to be well-tolerated and is now set to begin a Phase 2/3 clinical trial.
A new study by Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute found that chloroquine, an anti-malarial drug, reduces the transmission of Zika virus from mother to fetus. The research suggests that chloroquine may be effective in treating and preventing Zika infections.
A study published in Nature Communications reveals that membralin plays a crucial role in regulating the cell's machinery for producing beta-amyloid, the protein responsible for neuronal death in Alzheimer's disease. The researchers found that membranes with lower levels of this protein are associated with increased neurodegeneration a...
Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute have identified a peptide that can predict early Alzheimer's disease by recognizing vasculature associated with brain inflammation. The discovery may provide a means of homing drugs to diseased areas of the brain, targeting treatments before amyloid plaques appear.
Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute identified a new protective function for the brain protein SORLA, which limits amyloid beta's toxic signaling. The study suggests that increasing levels of SORLA in mice reduced cognitive impairments caused by amyloid beta.
A new study published in Nature Communications identifies the cells and genes necessary to make liver ducts in zebrafish, which could lead to the development of new treatments for Alagille syndrome. The research team discovered that Jagged signals come from an unexpected cell type, endoderm-derived cells within the liver itself, stimul...
Research at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute suggests that eliminating p62 protein in surrounding stromal tissue can disrupt tumor supply lines. This could lead to new strategies to target non-oncogenic addictions and undermine cancer growth.
A new class of medicine may help treat cocaine and nicotine addiction by reducing glutamate neurotransmission in the brain. The grant will allow researchers to further characterize their lead compound and complete preclinical studies prior to clinical trials.
Researchers analyze data from over 4,000 cancer patients and discover that changes in alternative splicing lead to a loss of functional protein domains, affecting gene function in a manner similar to genetic mutations. This study reveals the potential oncogenic power of these changes, enabling healthy cells to become cancerous.
A study published in Science Signaling reveals that enhanced natriuretic peptide signaling in adipose tissue protects against obesity and insulin resistance. Boosting levels of NPs in adipose tissue may be an important avenue for combating metabolic disease.
Researchers at Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute have developed a proof-of-concept nanosystem that dramatically improves the visualization of tumors, achieving a five-fold increase over existing methods. The novel approach generates bright tumor signals by delivering quantum dots to cancer cells without toxic effects.