Researchers have identified three subclusters of cells driving pancreatic cancer-induced cachexia, a muscle-wasting and fat-loss condition that affects pancreatic cancer patients. The subclusters form a triangular regulatory network that drives the initiation and progression of cachexia.
Researchers at Bielefeld University propose a precise and unambiguous way to define chemotypes within a plant species, highlighting genetic and environmental factors influencing chemical composition. This systematic approach aims to improve understanding and practical applications of chemotypes in medicinal plants and agriculture.
Researchers identified a common signaling pathway activated by three adenosine receptor subtypes, leading to cardiac fibroblast activation and scarring. Blocking these receptors together produced a stronger antifibrotic effect, suggesting a potential therapeutic target for heart disease.
Researchers developed an ultrathin phosphomolybdic acid interlayer that improves defect passivation, energy-level alignment, and charge transport in MoOₓ-based silicon solar cells. The device achieved a champion efficiency of 24.9% with enhanced open-circuit voltage, fill factor, and minority-carrier lifetime.
Researchers developed a gene-delivery system that converts reactive astrocytes into functional neurons, improving motor recovery in mice and rats. The system, TRANsCre-DIONE, selectively targets scar-forming cells and reprograms them into neurons, which generate nerve impulses and receive signals from other neurons.
Researchers at Queen Mary University of London identified a highly mechanosensitive cell population in tendons that respond differently to changes in their physical environment. The study provides new possibilities for future research into tendon health and repair, and may support research into tendon injuries in animals.
Researchers developed a new brain imaging measure, CCSI, to study how blood flow and cellular organization align across the brain. CCSI revealed patterns of blood flow and cellular density that correlated with mitochondrial activity and energy demands, offering new insights into brain function and potential treatments for diseases.
A new study published in Aging reveals that a mutation affecting the immune and metabolic regulator SHP-1 reshapes liver function during aging, showing improved glucose metabolism can coexist with immune-cell accumulation and liver fibrosis. The findings separate liver inflammation and fibrosis from insulin resistance, obesity and lipi...
Researchers developed a new culture membrane that recreates the biochemical composition and soft physical environment of native intestinal tissue, enhancing intestinal cell growth and behavior. The membrane, combined with human colon organoid-derived epithelial cells, exhibited increased characteristics associated with intestinal stem ...
Scientists at Salk Institute create first microprotein atlas of human frontal cortex with and without Alzheimer's disease, identifying 1,067 new microproteins and a potential link to immune cell dysfunction in Alzheimer's. The atlas provides a system for investigating microproteins in aging and neurodegeneration, bringing scientists cl...
A new device uses electricity to separate cancer-associated signals from healthy particles in the blood, offering a new method for studying pancreatic cancer. The device, which sorts particles based on their electrical charge, showed promise in distinguishing cancer samples from healthy ones.
Researchers at Janelia Research Campus have developed a method to study cellular communication across the entire animal, capturing signals from nearly every cell in a living vertebrate. This technique, called WHOLISTIC, provides a complete, concurrent picture of how biological systems interact, offering new insights into the machinery ...
A new study identifies astrocytes in the brain's fear center as a key player in stress response and anxiety. The research found that restoring the antenna-like structure on these cells can ease stress behaviors, and a potential treatment target has been identified.
Researchers found that meal timing programs the liver's daily rhythms and can have serious metabolic and health consequences when out of sync. The liver uses food signals to activate metabolic pathways, which can conflict with the body's natural circadian clock, leading to health issues.
Research identifies aberrant ERBB4 expression in excitatory neurons as an early driver of Alzheimer's disease pathologies, including neuronal hyperactivity, synapse loss, and cognitive decline. Manipulating ERBB4 expression in mouse models reveals its role in driving disease features, including reactive gliosis and amyloid buildup.
Researchers have discovered a gene linked to Parkinson's disease may also strengthen the body's ability to fight dangerous infections. The study found that a well-studied mutation in the LRRK2 gene increases the production of reactive oxygen species, making immune cells more effective at eliminating intracellular bacteria.
Researchers designed bacteria that function as transistors, allowing for the creation of living circuit boards that can perform complicated calculations. The transistors can be combined to create a variety of circuits, including those that add two or three inputs or send one input to a specific location.
WPI researchers develop new models to study uterine fibroids with NIH funding, building on student projects. The models will help researchers better understand and develop treatments for fibroids, which affect millions of women.
Dr. Chelsea Hu's research combines device engineering, real-time feedback control and mathematical modeling to address the challenge of controlling dynamic biological systems. Her team developed LED-Embedded Microplate for Optogenetic Studies (LEMOS), a platform that makes real-time optogenetic feedback control more accessible.
Researchers at Murdoch Children's Research Institute have developed a powerful platform to test and advance new treatments for childhood heart diseases. The breakthrough involves creating lab-grown heart valve tissues that closely resemble human body valves, providing a promising approach for regenerative medicine.
A study published in the Journal of Cachexia, Sarcopenia and Muscle reveals that deleting transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-β1) from macrophages enhances muscle regeneration and mitochondrial function. The research found that this approach protected against obesity-related muscle wasting and improved exercise performance.
Researchers at La Jolla Institute for Immunology discovered that immune cells in lung tissue express genes associated with autoimmune disease risk. These tissue-resident immune cells may actively drive the development of autoimmune diseases, particularly in women.
Scientists have discovered that TRF2, a protein previously known for protecting chromosome ends, plays a crucial role in preserving the identity of muscle stem cells and enabling their regenerative abilities. This new understanding may lead to the development of therapeutic strategies for muscular dystrophy and cancer research.
Researchers have discovered that tumor-educated pericytes drive alternative angiogenic pathways, bypassing VEGF inhibition and making them a major contributor to drug resistance. A novel therapeutic strategy targeting both endothelial cells and pericytes has shown superior anti-angiogenic effects in multiple cancer models.
Combining cemiplimab, fianlimab, and paclitaxel-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy improved pathologic complete response rates in high-risk -negative breast cancer. Patients with the ImPrint immune signature showed enhanced sensitivity to the combination.
An embryonic protein, GCL, organizes a distinct region of the embryo's membrane to separate future germ cells from the soma. This separation relies on the local organization of lipids in the membrane.
Epithelial tissues respond to sustained mechanical stress by slowly reorganising their keratin cytoskeleton, forming supracellular networks that push the cell nucleus out of its protective cage. This process reveals a new mechanism for tissue adaptation and has implications for development and disease understanding.
A study identifies curcumin as the natural compound with the most balanced combination of anticancer activity and safety against fibrosarcoma cells. Curcumin, along with berberine, disrupts mitochondrial function and energy metabolism in cancer cells, leading to cellular senescence and death.
A UNIGE study shows that a slight overproduction of tubulin, essential for cell structure, can disrupt tissue architecture and reduce cell viability. Microtubules play a dynamic role in adapting to the cell's changing needs, and excess tubulin makes them abnormally stable.
A scoping review suggests astrocytic dysfunction may precede neuronal degeneration in CTE. Astrocytes' dysregulation contributes to the development of CTE's characteristic features through mechanisms including astrogliosis, disrupted waste clearance pathways, and chronic neuroinflammation.
Researchers developed a new way to uncover differences in how viruses infect and destroy individual microbial cells. The study used a mathematical modeling framework to analyze infection outcomes in individual cells, revealing striking accuracy and new insights into viral behavior.
Researchers at MIT have created a precise way to engineer artificial blood vessels by mechanically stretching and pulling a "blood vessel on a chip". The new method, reported in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, enables controlled sprouting of new vessels and programming of their growth patterns.
Researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago have developed a new imaging method that allows scientists to see previously hidden enzyme activities in small regions across the whole cell. The technique, dubbed Fluctuation Increase Negated by Intra-Chain (FINICI), flips the optical readout of negative biosensors into positive, reada...
A study by John Innes Centre researchers reveals that inner tissues play a crucial role in shaping plant organs, contradicting the widespread assumption that external layers control growth. By analyzing cell division orientation and gene editing techniques, they discovered genes affecting stem thickness in Arabidopsis.
Researchers at UMass Amherst have discovered that grasses grow according to temperature, not light, unlike most other plants. The team used a bioluminescence imaging system to study the growth of purple false brome and found that temperature influences grass growth in complex ways.
A new review reveals adaptor proteins play a crucial role in regulating the behavior of tumor-associated macrophages in cancer. These molecular scaffolds coordinate signaling pathways that determine whether macrophages adopt anti-tumor or pro-tumor phenotypes, influencing immune responses within the tumor microenvironment.
Researchers discovered astrocytes actively preserve long-term memories by regulating Ank2 and BDNF signaling. This finding expands the understanding of how memories are stored in the brain.
Research reveals birds can harness lactate to rapidly resurrect blood function, outperforming mammals. Lactate enables bird RBCs to convert methaemoglobin back to haemoglobin three times faster than mammalian RBCs.
A biomaterial scaffold has been developed to recreate a skull stem cell niche, reducing craniosynostosis-related deformities and promoting normal skull growth. The triphasic scaffold maintained skeletal stem cells while supporting bone formation and tissue regeneration.
Researchers found that dietary fat balance influences T-cell membrane oxidation, making them more vulnerable to ferroptosis. This can weaken immune responses, including CAR-T cell therapy effectiveness.
Researchers mapped the human kidney's developmental axis and engineered synthetic organizer cells to recreate key signals, producing improved lab-grown organoids. These advances enable more reliable models for studying disease and evaluating potential therapies.
Researchers found that ROS-producing enzymes coordinate cell proliferation, tissue integrity, and differentiation in plants. The study used a liverwort model to examine the role of RBOHs in plant development, revealing their importance in maintaining normal cell shape and tissue organization.
Researchers identified karyoptosis as a key link between toxic protein accumulation and neuron death in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and frontotemporal dementia. The study found that targeting proteins acting as 'switches' in this pathway may slow or prevent cell death by karyoptosis.
Researchers discovered Paneth cell metaplasia can act as a protective response in ulcerative colitis by promoting healing and regeneration of the intestinal lining through REG3A. However, persistent changes may still carry risks, including increased cancer risk.
A new trial aims to restore the function of worn-out T cells, a type of white blood cell that helps coordinate the body's immune response. The Phase 1 trial will focus on exhausted or senescent T cells, which accumulate with age and in chronic disease, and may help improve immune resilience and support healthier ageing.
A University of Guelph researcher has discovered a common skincare ingredient that may target acute myeloid leukemia by blocking the fat-to-fuel process in cancer cells. The compound inhibits ABCD1 protein production, causing leukemia cells to die while healthy cells adapt and survive.
Researchers at UCLA may have discovered a new way to heal damaged kidneys by blocking the protein ENPP1. Blocking this protein speeds up repair after kidney injury in mice, according to a recent study published in Cell Stem Cell.
Researchers discovered a single amino acid change that allows coronaviruses to interact with human and bat immune systems differently, shifting the body's response to infection. This alteration enables benign animal viruses to adapt to humans and cause severe disease.
By identifying three distinct developmental stages of photoreceptor cells, researchers aim to determine which cell population is most capable of forming neuronal connections in the eye. This may lead to improved treatment outcomes for late-stage blinding conditions through cell-based therapies.
A groundbreaking study identifies a direct energy route between mitochondria and the nucleus, supporting gene regulation, chromatin remodeling, and cell differentiation. The finding challenges traditional assumptions about energy transfer in cells and has significant implications for understanding health and disease.
Researchers have made major steps toward solving the mystery of how brain aneurysms form by identifying key cell types and genetic pathways involved. The study's findings provide new insights into a clinical paradox: smaller aneurysms can still rupture, and offer opportunities for early intervention to prevent ruptures.
A University of Ottawa-led study has discovered a hidden network driving glioblastoma's aggressive growth, highlighting a promising target for next-generation therapies. The research reveals that a protein called OSMR plays a critical role in tumor progression and supports the survival of brain tumour stem cells.
Researchers found a unique protein called YAF9B that helps plants protect their stem cells from DNA damage. This discovery sheds light on how plants coordinate DNA repair processes, which could improve future crops by guiding more precise genome editing.
Researchers from Florida Atlantic University have identified a key immune pathway that appears to drive damaging inflammation in Huntington disease. Blocking this pathway reduced brain inflammation, protected neurons, and improved movement in a humanized mouse model of the disease.
Cellular senescence has emerged as a key biological process linked to aging and age-related disease. Researchers have identified major features of senescence, including stable proliferative arrest and the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), which can influence inflammation and tissue dysfunction.
TIGIT is a second-generation immune checkpoint that exerts immunosuppressive effects through multiple pathways, promoting a hypoxic tumor microenvironment. Combination with PD-1 inhibitors has shown remarkable promise, improving objective remission rates and progression-free survival.
Researchers from six Asian countries have launched a coordinated effort to create an artificial single-celled biological system. The 10-year roadmap aims to develop stable phospholipid vesicles with minimal genomes, endogenous synthesis of key metabolites, and true self-replication.
The new method allows for scalable production of cell-containing capsules, maintaining cell viability and enabling studies on dynamic interactions. Researchers can customize capsule size and properties, making the technique useful for drug screening, regenerative medicine, and basic cell biology research.
A recent study identified a new type of β-1,2-glucan-binding protein in bacteria, which binds cyclic β-1,2-glucans and has implications for understanding bacterial interactions with these complex molecules. The discovery opens up new avenues for developing biological pesticides to protect crops from pathogens.
New research reveals that cells slow down heat dissipation due to unique biomolecules, changing our understanding of heat conduction. This phenomenon could affect treatments for conditions linked to body temperature changes.