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New artificial skin functions like natural skin

Researchers created an artificial skin equivalent that reproduces traction-force balance in the lateral direction, a property controlling skin structure and function. This human-skin equivalent enhances physiological skin function analysis, disease research, and reduces animal testing.

SourceRIKEN·JournalCommunications Biology·DateOct 30, 2020

Creating hairy human skin: Not as easy as you think

Researchers at Boston Children's Hospital successfully recreate human skin with hair, nerves, and fat using a novel culture technique. The breakthrough has the potential to revolutionize wound treatment, burn care, and cosmetics testing, as well as aid in the development of new treatments for diseases such as Merkel cell carcinoma.

SourceBoston Children's Hospital·JournalNature·DateJun 5, 2020

Tissues protect their DNA under mechanical stress

Researchers found that cells protect themselves from mechanical stress by not only deforming cell nuclei but also softening the genetic material itself. This mechanism helps prevent DNA damage and disease, including cancer. The study also reveals that healthy stem cells are more resistant to mechanical stretch than cancer cells.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalCell·DateApr 22, 2020

A molecular atlas of skin cells

A detailed molecular atlas of skin cells has been created, revealing over 50 different cell types and new variations of cell types. The study uncovers how cells are coordinated during hair growth and rest, providing vital knowledge on the flexibility of the skin.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalCell Stem Cell·DateFeb 27, 2020

Studying the geometry of a common skin disease

Hives affect 1 in 5 people, and researchers used a mathematical model to recreate the patterns of hives. The study suggests that certain mechanisms may inhibit histamine release, adding complexity to the disease. The findings will help create a more detailed picture of how the skin disease develops.

SourceHiroshima University·JournalPLOS Computational Biology·DateJan 28, 2020

Discovery sheds new light on how cells move

Researchers have discovered that the force each cell applies to the surface beneath it primarily controls its shape and motion in a collective cell migration. This finding provides new insights into how cells rearrange and migrate as a group, which could lead to the development of new treatments to speed up wound healing.

SourceUniversity of Wisconsin-Madison·JournalPhysical Review X·DateJan 24, 2020

Water-repellent leaves

Researchers report that the leaves of the floating fern Salvinia molesta can efficiently recover air mattress trapped in microstructures due to interconnected wedge-shaped grooves. Artificially fabricated leaf surfaces also exhibit air mattress recovery and could prove useful in various underwater applications.

SourceProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 20, 2020

Team builds the first living robots

A team of scientists has created the first living robots, 'xenobots', by assembling frog embryo cells into new life forms. These biodegradable organisms can move, heal themselves, and even carry payloads, promising advances in drug delivery, toxic waste clean-up, and more.

SourceUniversity of Vermont·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJan 13, 2020

Insights into psoriasis suggest a new treatment target

Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital have uncovered a novel pathway explaining why skin thickens in psoriasis, suggesting new strategies for developing therapies. The study found a defect in the epigenetic covering that resulted in loss of DNA methylation hydroxymethylation mark, leading to dysregulated stem cell behavior.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalJournal of Investigative Dermatology·DateDec 11, 2019

A marvelous molecular machine

Scientists discovered that reflectin proteins control iridocytes, which contribute to changing visibility and appearance. The proteins fold up when phosphate groups are added, exposing sticky surfaces that allow them to clump together, creating an osmotic motor that responds to neuronal signals.

SourceUniversity of California - Santa Barbara·JournalJournal of Biological Chemistry·DateNov 15, 2019

Treatment for 'low T' could someday come from a single skin cell, USC research shows

USC researchers have successfully grown human testosterone-producing cells in the lab, paving the way to treat low testosterone with personalized replacement cells. The breakthrough could potentially bypass side effects associated with current treatments, such as infertility and increased risk of prostate cancer.

SourceUniversity of Southern California·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 7, 2019

Helping skin cells differentiate could be key to treating common skin cancer

Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have identified LSD1 as a key regulator of skin cell turnover and found that blocking it could be an effective treatment method for non-melanoma skin cancers. The study shows that targeting LSD1 can force skin cells to differentiate, potentially turning tumor cells into healthier cells.

The start of a new era in stem cell therapy

A recent study has improved upon Nobel Laureate Prof. Shinya Yamanaka's cellular reprogramming method, reducing the waiting period from 3-4 weeks to approximately a week. The new method also increases the success rate up to ten-fold, making it easier to apply in clinical settings.

SourceKoc University·JournalNature Chemical Biology·DateJun 13, 2019