Add BrightSurf on Google Email

JCI online early table of contents: Feb. 1, 2012

A team of researchers has identified a potential new therapeutic target for the treatment of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), a highly aggressive form of brain cancer. They found that protein SULF2 is expressed in primary human GBM tumors and cell lines, and its expression is associated with abnormal activation of signaling pathways down...

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateFeb 1, 2012

World's first chimeric monkeys are born

Researchers have successfully produced chimeric monkeys with six distinct genomes, expanding the scope of biomedical research. The breakthrough suggests limitations in using cultured embryonic stem cells and highlights the importance of studying primate and human embryos.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell·DateJan 5, 2012

Mayo researchers discover tactic to delay age-related disorders

Researchers at Mayo Clinic found that eliminating senescent cells can prevent or delay the onset of age-related disorders and disabilities. The study showed that lifelong elimination of these cells delayed age-related disorders such as cataracts and muscle loss, and slowed their progression in already established diseases.

SourceMayo Clinic·JournalNature·DateNov 2, 2011

Human lung stem cell discovered

Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital have identified a human lung stem cell capable of regenerating damaged lung tissue. The discovery has the potential to offer a new treatment option for those suffering from chronic lung diseases.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalNew England Journal of Medicine·DateMay 11, 2011

Cells derived from different stem cells: Same or different?

Researchers have found that mouse induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells and embryonic stem (ES) cells produce highly similar definitive endoderm when differentiated in vitro. This suggests that iPS cells could be used for developing cell-based therapies for diseased endoderm-derived tissues.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateMay 2, 2011

Monkeys, too, can recollect what they've seen

Rhesus monkeys demonstrated flexible recall of simple shapes from memory, similar to humans, and showed ability to transfer memory skill to novel shapes. This finding suggests that the ability to recollect may have been present in our common ancestor 30 million years ago.

SourceCell Press·JournalCurrent Biology·DateApr 28, 2011

JCI table of contents: April 25, 2011

A team of researchers has identified a key role for the protein fibulin-5 in preventing pelvic organ prolapse (POP) in mice. Fibulin-5 prevents POP by facilitating the assembly of normal elastic fibers and inhibiting the activity of MMP9, a protein that degrades these fibers. Increased levels of MMP-9 were found in vaginal tissue sampl...

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateApr 25, 2011

How TRIM5 fights HIV

Researchers have discovered TRIM5's mechanism of preventing HIV multiplication, which opens up new prospects for fighting the virus in humans. The protein triggers an immune response and stimulates the production of signal molecules to eliminate infected cells.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalNature·DateApr 20, 2011

Rethinking reprogramming: A new way to make stem cells

Researchers have discovered a new way to reprogram adult cells into an embryonic stem cell-like state using specific microRNAs and Hdac2 suppression, offering a more efficient alternative to traditional methods. This breakthrough could lead to improved strategies for developing stem cells for therapeutic use.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Stem Cell·DateApr 7, 2011

Trigger found for autoimmune heart attacks

Scientists at Joslin Diabetes Center have found that a protein called alpha-myosin heavy chain triggers inflammatory heart disease in people with type 1 diabetes. The discovery could lead to diagnostic and therapeutic tools for this condition, which is often fatal.

SourceJoslin Diabetes Center·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateMar 23, 2011

Insulin-releasing switch discovered

Scientists have identified a protein called Snapin as the molecular switch that controls insulin secretion in pancreatic beta cells. This discovery provides an explanation for the failure of these cells in type 2 diabetes and may lead to new therapies.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalCell Metabolism·DateMar 15, 2011

New microscope decodes complex eye circuitry

Researchers have discovered that retinal ganglion cells receive visual information from amacrine cell dendrites running along the null-direction, allowing for directional selectivity. This mechanism relies on asymmetric synapses and inhibitory influences between neighbouring amacrine cells.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature·DateMar 9, 2011

Blame the environment: Why vaccines may be ineffective for some people

Researchers found that Mycobacterium chelonae, a common environmental bacterium, can decrease the effectiveness of the bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine. The study suggests that immune cells exposed to this bacterium may dampen vaccine efficacy. This discovery could lead to new, more effective vaccines against tuberculosis.

SourceFederation of American Societies for Experimental Biology·JournalJournal of Leukocyte Biology·DateDec 1, 2010

New microscope reveals ultrastructure of cells

Researchers have developed a new X-ray microscope that delivers immediate 3D images of entire living cells, closing the gap between conventional microscopic techniques. The new method allows for high-resolution imaging without chemical fixation or labelling, enabling detailed study of cellular ultrastructure.

SourceHelmholtz Association·JournalNature Methods·DateNov 19, 2010

1-touch make-up -- for our cells

Scientists have developed a novel system called MultiLabel to efficiently label mammalian cells with multiple fluorescent markers, allowing for faster disease process analysis. This technique enables precise labeling of cellular components involved in various diseases, facilitating accelerated drug development and screening.

SourceEuropean Molecular Biology Laboratory·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 17, 2010

JCI online early table of contents: Nov. 1, 2010

Researchers have identified a potential new drug combination for treating diffuse large B cell lymphoma and found potential therapeutic targets for Noonan syndrome. The combination of an inhibitor of BCL6 with either an HDAC protein or Hsp90 protein showed enhanced killing of cancer cells in vitro and potent suppression of tumor growth...

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateNov 1, 2010

Researchers could use plant's light switch to control cells

Researchers have created a novel 'on-off switch' using a plant's light-activated proteins to control cell functions. The blue-light switch has been successfully tested in yeast, mammalian cells and cultured rodent brain tissue, offering a new approach for controlling cell growth, death and delivering medication directly to diseased cells.

SourceDuke University·JournalNature Methods·DateOct 31, 2010

JCI table of contents: Oct. 25, 2010

Researchers found that maternal KIRs interacting with fetal HLA-C molecules determine trophoblast invasion, affecting recurrent miscarriage and preeclampsia. Meanwhile, a new approach to treating thrombocytopenia involves infusing mature megakaryocytes into mice to generate functional platelets.

SourceJCI Journals·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateOct 25, 2010

New insight into 'accelerated aging' disease

A study published in Developmental Cell sheds light on Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome, a rare genetic disease causing premature aging. Researchers discovered that defects in the extracellular matrix and Wnt signaling pathway contribute to progeria's characteristic symptoms.

SourceCell Press·JournalDevelopmental Cell·DateSep 13, 2010

New tagging technique enhances view of living cells

A new tagging technique developed by researchers at the University of Illinois Chicago provides a clearer and more dynamic view of protein-protein interactions in living mammalian cells. The technique uses luminescence resonance energy transfer to label proteins with differently colored, luminescent molecules, allowing for faster data ...

SourceUniversity of Illinois Chicago·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 3, 2010