Add BrightSurf on Google Email

Ribosomes found to induce somatic cell pluripotency

A research team from Kumamoto University has discovered that ribosomes, the protein synthesizing organelle, can induce somatic cells to acquire pluripotency. This finding suggests a potential new approach for treating cancer and regenerating cells, as previously differentiated cells can be reprogrammed into multipotent stem cells.

SourceKumamoto University·JournalScientific Reports·DateFeb 4, 2018

Unexpected helpers in wound healing

Peripheral nerve cells change their identity and distribute factors that support wound closure, reconstitution of the dermis, and chronic wound healing. Researchers found reprogrammed nerve cells in human skin wounds, which may lead to an effective treatment for chronic wounds.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalNature Communications·DateJan 24, 2018

Hairy skin grown from mouse stem cells

Indy University researchers created lab-grown skin tissue with hair follicles using mouse stem cells. The skin model closely resembles natural hair growth, making it useful for testing drugs and understanding hair development. The team discovered that the two layers of skin cells must grow together to form hair follicles.

SourceCell Press·JournalCell Reports·DateJan 2, 2018

Crowding in the skin

Researchers found that local stress induced by crowding leads to differentiation, triggering the movement of stem cells upwards in the tissue. This mechanism helps maintain balanced numbers of stem and differentiated cells, ensuring proper skin function.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Cell Biology·DateDec 13, 2017

How the skin becomes inflamed

The study identifies a protein called IL-36 as a key player in inducing skin inflammation in response to bacteria on the skin surface. This finding has significant implications for developing alternative treatments for atopic dermatitis, a condition affecting 20% of children and 5% of adults.

SourceJohns Hopkins Medicine·JournalCell Host & Microbe·DateNov 8, 2017

Uncovering why psoriasis recurs

A study by Brigham and Women's Hospital researchers identifies a population of tissue resident memory cells that may be driving recurrence in psoriasis. These cells, which live long-term in the skin, can cause misguided immune responses leading to red, inflamed patches on the skin.

SourceBrigham and Women's Hospital·JournalJournal of Clinical Investigation·DateSep 28, 2017

The best place to treat type 1 diabetes might be just under your skin

University of Toronto researchers successfully transplanted healthy pancreatic cells under the skin to produce insulin, restoring normal blood sugar levels in a short period. The study's findings suggest that this method could provide a more manageable and efficient way to treat type 1 diabetes.

SourceUniversity of Toronto Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 14, 2017

USC Stem Cell scientists obtain 'how to' guide for producing hair follicles

A USC-led study published in PNAS has revealed a molecular 'how to' guide for driving individual skin cells to self-organize into organoids that can produce hair. The researchers successfully stimulated adult organoids to continue their development and produce 40% more hair than newborn organoids.

SourceUniversity of Southern California - Health Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 11, 2017

Transforming skin cells to insulin

Researchers at the University of Bergen have successfully transformed skin puncture cells from diabetes patients into insulin-producing cells. The goal is to transplant these cells under the skin, potentially replacing insulin shots and blood sugar measurements.

SourceThe University of Bergen·JournalScientific Reports·DateAug 9, 2017

Breakthrough device heals organs with a single touch

Researchers developed Tissue Nanotransfection (TNT) technology to generate any cell type for treatment within the patient's own body. The technology can repair injured tissue and restore organ function in aging tissues, including organs, blood vessels, and nerve cells.

SourceMediaSource·JournalNature Nanotechnology·DateAug 7, 2017

Making chicken feathers

The study reveals that even spacing of cell clumps is set by the gentle tug of war among cells as an organism grows, triggering genes that produce follicles and feathers. This discovery could lead to creating artificial skin with hair follicles and sweat pores for grafts.

Skin cell model advances study of genetic mutation linked to heart disease, stroke risk

Researchers have developed a new skin cell model to study the genetic mutation ACTA2-R258C, which is linked to early-onset aortic aneurysm and moyamoya-like cerebrovascular disease. The study found that the mutation disrupts cytoskeleton functions, leading to impaired smooth muscle contraction and increased risk of heart disease.

SourceUT Southwestern Medical Center·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 26, 2017

How to color a lizard: From biology to mathematics

Researchers at Université de Genève discovered that a lizard's skin color pattern forms a cellular automaton, a natural process generated by biological evolution, using a computational system invented by John von Neumann. Computer simulations implemented the discretisation of Turing's equations, which linked the biology-driven mechanis...

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalNature·DateApr 12, 2017

A cellular system makes the battle against a rare disease personal

Researchers have created a human stem-cell based system to find drugs for mitochondrial disease. They extracted skin cells from patients with faulty mitochondria and used them to identify a promising potential drug called avanafil. This breakthrough gives the potential for truly personalized treatments for rare diseases.

The beating heart of solar energy

Researchers found that small solar cells under the skin can generate enough power to fully charge pacemakers or extend their lifespan. This technology has the potential to reduce device replacements and size, saving patients discomfort and stress.

SourceSpringer·JournalAnnals of Biomedical Engineering·DateJan 3, 2017