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Sloppy shipping of human retina leads IU researchers to discover new treatment path for eye disease

A serendipitous accident in shipping a donated human retina led to the discovery of a previously undetected mechanism causing choroidal neovascularization, a leading cause of vision loss. Researchers found that adhesion defects play a crucial role in maintaining the retina's structure and preventing blood vessel invasion.

SourceIndiana University·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateMay 3, 2012

How human cells 'hold hands'

A team of University of Iowa researchers found that a lack of gamma-protocadherin cell adhesion molecules in the cerebral cortex disrupts neural circuitry formation. This discovery may help understand causes of human developmental disorders like autism, mental retardation, and schizophrenia.

Watching Lyme disease-causing microbes move in ticks

Scientists at the University of Connecticut Health Center have visualized the movement of Lyme disease-causing microbes within feeding ticks. The study found that these microbes undergo a biphasic mode of dissemination, first forming networks of nonmotile organisms and then becoming motile invasive organisms.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateNov 16, 2009

RNA interference toward MMP-2 may be an effective therapeutic strategy for cancer

Researchers used RNA interference to suppress MMP-2 expression in pancreatic cancer cells, leading to reduced adhesion and invasion without affecting cell proliferation and apoptosis. This finding suggests that inhibiting MMP-2 via RNA interference could be an effective therapeutic strategy for managing pancreatic tumors.

SourceWorld Journal of Gastroenterology·JournalWorld Journal of Gastroenterology·DateMar 7, 2009

Bioengineers at University of Pennsylvania devise nanoscale system to measure cellular forces

Researchers at University of Pennsylvania devise nanoscale system to observe how individual cells react to external forces. The study shows that cells respond to outside forces and demonstrate a remote response from the cell’s internal forces., The findings prove useful for understanding tissue growth, function, and disease.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 27, 2007

Floating and spiky

Researchers use computer simulations to study the effect of adhesive patch size and density on cell adhesion. They found that protrusion height is the most critical factor, with small increases leading to faster adhesion rates.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalPhysical Review Letters·DateNov 3, 2006

Needling chromosomes yields insights into cell division

A team of researchers from Duke University has successfully used micromanipulation to study the separation of sister chromatids in cell division. Their experiments revealed that chromatids are initially attached but then separate at their centers, with linkages playing a crucial role in their separation.

SourceDuke University·JournalCurrent Biology·DateDec 22, 2004

No getting around RET

Researchers at RIKEN Center for Developmental Biology challenged the view that RET-independent GFRá1 signaling plays a significant physiological role in either development or regeneration. Studies on mice lacking RET-independent GFRá1 revealed no developmental defects, suggesting that this receptor complex is not essential.

Measurement clarifies role between protein structure and cell adhesion

A team of researchers has developed a new technique to directly measure protein binding forces, clarifying the role of membrane-anchored protein NCAM in cell adhesion. Their study reveals that NCAM forms two adhesive configurations, which are validated by experimental results and contribute to spatially distinct bonds.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 26, 2004

Scientists decipher the 'zip codes' that direct cells in the bloodstream to bodily tissues where they're needed

Researchers have identified key molecules on the surface of blood cells that guide them to their rightful targets in the body's tissues. This process, known as cell trafficking, is crucial for the proper function of the immune response and helps prevent cancerous cells from spreading.

SourceUniversity of Pennsylvania·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateSep 25, 2000

Vitamin E Prevents Early Plaque Formation

Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center discovered that vitamin E can prevent the early stages of plaque formation by inhibiting the attachment of white blood cells to endothelial cells. Vitamin E's antioxidant properties help reduce the risk of atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries.

SourceUT Southwestern Medical Center·JournalJournal of the American Heart Association·DateNov 24, 1998