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Open door to treatment of renal fibrosis by showing that it is caused by telomere shortening

Renal fibrosis, a leading cause of kidney failure, has been linked to telomere shortening. Researchers found that short telomeres exacerbate epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, promoting pathological scarring of kidney tissue. They propose treating renal fibrosis by lengthening telomeres and restoring normal gene expression.

Post-Fontan liver fibrosis goes under the radar

Researchers found that conventional diagnostic methods for liver fibrosis do not accurately track the disease in patients who underwent Fontan surgery. The study revealed a unique regional development of fibrosis, which was not observed with hepatitis C and B, highlighting the need for new biomarkers and imaging techniques.

SourceOsaka City University·JournalHepatology Research·DateMar 8, 2021

Targeted therapies developed to reduce lung fibrosis

Researchers have developed two novel targeted therapies to slow down or stop fibrosis progression in people with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). These treatments aim to deliver potent drugs specifically to diseased cells, minimizing harm to healthy ones. The therapies will soon enter human clinical trials.

SourcePurdue University·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateNov 11, 2020

Rare immune cells drive gut repair

Scientists discovered that type-1 innate lymphoid cells (ILC1) promote tissue repair in the gut, but when dysregulated can contribute to IBD co-morbidities such as cancer and fibrosis. This finding has important implications for treating patients with inflammatory bowel diseases.

SourceKing's College London·JournalNature Materials·DateSep 7, 2020

Giant leap in diagnosing liver disease

A novel microbiome-based diagnostic tool has been developed to quickly and inexpensively identify liver fibrosis and cirrhosis in patients. The non-invasive method analyzes patient stool samples and achieves an accuracy of over 90% in diagnosing cirrhosis, with potential implications for improving treatment outcomes.

SourceSalk Institute·JournalCell Metabolism·DateJul 1, 2020

Researchers identify key mechanisms involved in pulmonary fibrosis development

Researchers discovered that the loss of NEDD4-2 protein leads to impaired mucociliary clearance and dysregulation of the TGF? signaling pathway, contributing to pulmonary fibrosis progression. The study provides a novel animal model for IPF research, enabling further investigation of disease mechanisms and development of new treatments.

SourceCharité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin·JournalNature Communications·DateApr 27, 2020

Mayo scientists reverse fibrosis in preclinical studies

Researchers at Mayo Clinic have identified a way to slow and reverse fibrosis by targeting a dopamine receptor, which blocks the growth of scar-forming cells. The approach reversed fibrotic processes in lung and liver models, offering a new treatment concept for fibrotic diseases.

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateOct 30, 2019

Researchers led by Georgia State develop noninvasive method to detect early-stage liver disease

Researchers at Georgia State University have developed a protein-based contrast agent that can detect early-stage liver diseases, including liver fibrosis, with high accuracy and sensitivity. The new method uses a lower dosage of contrast metal gadolinium, reducing the risk of metal toxicity and enabling earlier diagnosis and treatment.

SourceGeorgia State University·JournalNature Communications·DateOct 29, 2019

April Kloxin wins NIH innovator award

University of Delaware Professor April Kloxin wins NIH Director's New Innovator Award to develop synthetic models of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a fatal disease affecting over 3 million people globally. Her research aims to uncover insights into the underlying causes and potential treatments for lung fibrosis.

Talking receptors may affect relaxin at work

Researchers at Monash University have discovered that receptors can communicate and interact, affecting the therapeutic actions of relaxin. This finding has implications for clinical trials involving relaxin and other drugs acting on these receptors.

SourceMonash University·JournalJournal of the American Society of Nephrology·DateSep 11, 2019