Articles tagged with Neurons
The study developed an optical tool that can read metabolism at subcellular resolution without perturbing cells or destroying them. The method identifies specific metabolic signatures associated with diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular, and neurodegenerative diseases.
A biochemical pathway in the Golgi apparatus helps cells counter oxidative stress, and researchers found it can be activated by a drug called monensin, which may protect cells against Huntington's disease.
Researchers have developed a straightforward modification to computer models of calcium ions that leads to highly accurate simulations. The new model can simulate calcium interactions with proteins and other molecules, providing powerful tools for studying biological processes.
Researchers have identified over 250 genes involved in brain aging, including Dbx2, which can prematurely age stem cells. The study found that increasing the activity of Dbx2 in young brain stem cells slows their growth, causing them to behave more like older cells.
Researchers used CRISPR to identify genes that help neurons defend against toxic protein aggregates, which are thought to drive ALS progression. A handful of genes, including Tmx2, show promise as potential drug targets.
Researchers found that a compound enhanced protein trafficking reduced amyloid beta and Tau protein production in brain cells. The study suggests targeting endosomal network defects as a promising strategy against Alzheimer's disease.
Caltech scientists have identified a hierarchical neural circuit in the mouse brain that regulates thirst, involving excitatory and inhibitory neurons. The study reveals how this circuit integrates signals from the subfornical organ and organum vasculosum laminae terminalis to initiate drinking behavior, while also providing insight in...
Researchers recorded electrical activity of hundreds of neurons in a mouse model for up to half an hour, discovering competing neural networks that operate at different timescales. The findings show that certain networks can synchronize their activity, while others slow down or speed up in a coordinated manner.
A new study creates a functional map of how the hawkmoth smells, tracing the process from the antennae to specific areas in the brain. The researchers mapped how the moth distinguishes between odors to find a safe place to eat or to lay eggs.
Researchers at Duke-NUS Medical School investigated the role of phosphatidylinositol lipids and proteins in asymmetric cell division, a process vital for producing mature brain cells. They discovered a new protein called Vibrator, which plays a key role in this complex process.
Researchers discovered that brain-gut signals lead to an axis of aging, where the brain and intestines work together to regulate longevity. The study found two types of neurons processing temperature cues, transmitting information to the intestine to boost or slow down aging processes.
Researchers at MIT have created a fluorescent sensor that allows them to image neurons' electrical communications without electrodes. This breakthrough could enable the study of brain activity in millisecond-by-millisecond detail, revolutionizing our understanding of neural behavior and cognition.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge have shown that skin cells re-programmed into brain stem cells can help reduce inflammation and repair damage caused by multiple sclerosis. The study suggests that using a patient's own skin cells could provide a personalized route to treating chronic inflammatory diseases like MS.
A Massachusetts General Hospital-led research team has identified a genetic defect in the TAF1 gene as the possible cause of X-linked dystonia parkinsonism, a rare and severe neurodegenerative disease. The study found that aberrant splicing of the TAF1 gene leads to truncated RNA expression, which may be responsible for the disease.
Researchers at the University of Michigan discovered that fruit flies use external temperature to regulate their sleep cycles, which may provide insights into human sleep patterns. Mild changes in temperature have physiological effects on clock neurons that control sleep timing.
Scientists at Whitehead Institute have developed a modified CRISPR/Cas9 system to remove methylation tags from the FMR1 gene, restoring its expression and rescuing neurons from fragile X syndrome. This approach may prove useful for other diseases caused by abnormal methylation.
A team of researchers has invented tiny, light-powered wires that can modulate brain electrical signals, promising a new approach to understanding and treating brain disorders like Parkinson's disease and psychiatric conditions. The nanowires use silicon and gold to trigger neurons to fire electrical signals.
Scientists have identified a key protein quality control mechanism in the brain that plays a crucial role in regulating appetite and weight. The discovery sheds light on how genetic mutations can lead to severe forms of childhood obesity.
Researchers developed compounds that modify DNA packing in Ewing sarcoma cells, inducing chromatic relaxation and reducing expression of oncogenes. This approach aims to promote neural differentiation and inhibit tumor growth, offering new potential treatment strategies for childhood cancer.
A neuroeconomics model suggests that valuing identity over accuracy leads to accepting incorrect information aligned with political party beliefs. Strategies to reduce this effect include creating a superordinate identity, engaging in constructive dialogue, and increasing the value of accurate beliefs.
Researchers at the University of Chicago have discovered that birds and primates share similar brain cell types linked to cognitive abilities, such as goal-directed behaviors. This finding suggests that these species may have evolved intelligence independently, despite their distinct anatomical structures.
A new study published in Science suggests that loss of mossy cells plays a critical role in both convulsive seizures and memory problems associated with temporal lobe epilepsy. In a mouse model, researchers found that turning on mossy cells prevented seizures from transitioning into convulsions.
Researchers created a detailed molecular atlas of brain blood vessels and the life-essential blood-brain barrier, providing new knowledge on cell functions and disease involvement.
A study published in Scientific Reports has identified a drug that can reverse the damaging impacts of heavy alcohol consumption on brain cells. Tandospirone was found to improve brain neurogenesis and reduce anxiety-like behaviors associated with alcohol withdrawal, opening up new avenues for treating substance-abuse deficits.
Researchers found that silencing astrocytes in the brain's breathing center caused rats to breathe at a lower rate and tire out on a treadmill earlier. Astrocytes were shown to use adenosine triphosphate (ATP) to communicate with other cells, and their modulation was linked to changes in oxygen levels.
The Vilcek Prize in Biomedical Science is awarded to Alexander Rudensky for his work on regulatory T cells and their role in cancer treatment. Two younger immigrants, Polina Anikeeva and Sergiu P. Pasca, receive $50,000 prizes for their promising contributions to biomedical engineering and brain disease research.
Scientists at WashU Medicine have transformed skin cells from patients with Huntington's disease into brain cells, allowing them to study the degenerative disorder. The resulting neurons exhibited 'symptoms' of the disease, including DNA damage and cell death, which were prevented by correcting malfunctioning genes.
Researchers found genetic clues to distinct susceptibility to virus infection in congenital Zika syndrome, using Brazilian twin babies with different outcomes. The study revealed a single gene cannot explain the cases of CZS development nor brain resistance to Zika virus.
Scientists at Rockefeller University discovered early abnormalities in human embryonic stem cells with Huntington's disease, suggesting the disorder originates much earlier than previously thought. The study implies that existing treatments may do more harm than good and necessitates a new approach to treating the disease.
A study published in JNeurosci found that stimulating carbon dioxide-sensing neurons in the midbrain of adult male mice awakened them without affecting breathing. This discovery sheds light on the mechanisms underlying obstructive sleep apnea, sudden infant death syndrome, and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy.
A recent study by Case Western Reserve University researchers has reversed symptoms of respiratory and cognitive abnormalities in a mouse model of Rett syndrome. The findings suggest that stimulating neurons in the medial prefrontal cortex could be therapeutic for Rett patients, potentially leading to improved breathing and cognitive f...
Researchers at Karolinska Institutet discover that oestrogen can induce neuroblastoma cells to differentiate into neuron-like cells. This finding has implications for treating aggressive forms of the disease, particularly those with high levels of the oestrogen receptor.
A study published in Nature Communications reveals that kisspeptin, a hormone in the brain, drives attraction to the opposite sex and triggers sexual behavior. The discovery opens up new possibilities for treating patients with low sexual desire disorders.
Researchers found that a repurposed drug used to treat Hepatitis C effectively protected and rescued neural cells infected by the Zika virus in both cell cultures and mouse models. The study suggests that the drug could be effective against Zika-infected adults, including pregnant women.
Researchers at UConn Health have reversed Prader-Willi syndrome in lab-grown brain cells by targeting the ZNF274 protein, which silences many genes. The breakthrough provides clues for treating this genetic disorder and offers new hope for patients with life-threatening childhood obesity.
Researchers have created the world's first monkey clones using somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), a technique that made Dolly the sheep. The cloned monkeys, Zhong Zhong and Hua Hua, are genetically identical long-tailed macaques born recently at the Chinese Academy of Sciences Institute of Neuroscience in Shanghai.
University of Texas researchers use supercomputer simulations to study how blast waves affect the brain's perineuronal nets, potentially leading to life-threatening injuries. They also explore materials for space shuttles, aiming to improve their durability and performance.
Arizona State University is developing a biomanufacturing platform to generate human neurons for testing treatments of neurodegenerative diseases. The project aims to engineer neural cell types needed for drug screening, potentially leading to innovative solutions for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Researchers at the University of Montreal have identified a key molecule, Pax7, which acts like a pioneer factor to open specific parts of the genome. This discovery provides insight into mechanisms of genome access and has significant implications for our understanding of cell diversification and disease prevention.
Researchers have developed a microfluidic device that emulates the human blood-retinal barrier, allowing for the study of its structure and physiological conditions. The device enables cells to communicate and interact with each other like in a living organ, making it an essential tool for boosting in vitro experimentation.
Researchers at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging have identified a potential therapeutic avenue for Parkinson's disease by clearing senescent astrocytes, which stop dividing and secrete deleterious factors. This approach shows promise in preventing symptoms of the incurable neurological disorder.
Researchers have used a material's persistent photoconductivity to stimulate PC12 neurotypic cells, demonstrating a faster and noninvasive way to influence cellular behavior. The technique, which was shown to increase calcium ion levels within the cells, has the potential to advance research on cellular behavior.
Research at the Santa Fe Institute shows that living systems use collective computation to make decisions, with individuals contributing their own opinions and preferences. The system can produce accurate distributions of power, even in complex environments like primate social groups.
An international team of researchers identified activation of CRH-positive neurons in PVH as sufficient and necessary to induce dietary preference for carbohydrates over fats. The study reveals the role of AMPK and CPT1c in regulating food selection behavior.
A study in mice suggests that West Nile virus infection can lead to persistent neurological problems due to unresolved inflammation. Targeting this inflammation with an arthritis drug may prevent some of these problems with memory.
A new study from the University of Bergen shows that impairment in mitochondria may actually protect the brain in Parkinson's disease. Brain cells with decreased complex I levels are less likely to contain Lewy bodies, abnormal protein-aggregates that characterize Parkinson's disease.
Scientists have developed a new technique to map electrical circuits in the brain with unprecedented accuracy, revealing the detailed architecture of microcircuits. This breakthrough enables researchers to understand how the brain processes complex information and may lead to insights into behavior and sensory processing.
A recent study by University of Utah Health researchers has discovered a novel protein, Arc, that resembles viral proteins and plays a significant role in cell-to-cell communication in the brain. The protein facilitates the transfer of genetic material between neurons, potentially altering our understanding of how memories are formed.
A new study in mice reveals that excess cholesterol may be hindering the repair of fatty protective sheaths around neurons. Researchers found that phagocytes, which ingest debris, had internal organs called lysosomes overwhelmed with cholesterol crystals, reducing their ability to repair myelin.
Exosomes from tick cells can transmit viral proteins and genetic material to vertebrate host cells, enabling the spread of brain-infecting viruses. This discovery suggests that tick-borne Flaviviridae viruses may use exosomes to drive transmission and dissemination within the vertebrate host.
Researchers identified rare genetic variations in Thorase protein associated with schizophrenia, reversed anti-social behavior in mice using perampanel. The study provides preliminary support for Thorase's role in behavioral disorders.
Researchers at UCSB have identified a unique class of gustatory receptor neurons necessary for calcium taste in fruit flies. They found that calcium is sensed as slightly bitter and sour, but its effects on human health are complex, with high levels associated with diseases.
Biomedical engineers have discovered a way to enhance the effectiveness and safety of sonogenetics, emerging techniques that use sound waves to control neuron behavior. By attaching microscopic beads to receptors on cell surfaces, they can produce cell-stretching effects with much less risk of cellular injury.
The primate brain's anterior medial patch uses a combinatorial code to adjust neuron firing rates for face recognition. This coding mechanism is also found in the fruit fly olfactory system.
Researchers developed an antibody selection system to identify therapeutically significant antibodies that induce microglia-like cells. These cells migrated to the brain and exhibited anti-inflammatory properties, reducing brain amyloid deposition in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers have discovered how cells adapt to stressors by reprogramming their internal signaling networks, which could lead to therapeutics for multiple diseases. The studies focus on cellular mechanisms that protect against cell death and dysfunction, particularly in the context of endoplasmic reticulum stress.
Researchers at Tel Aviv University have identified a novel form of protein aggregation that is both reversible and has positive physiological consequences for cells. This discovery may lead to new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.
Scientists discovered a complex color vision circuit in mice involving the M5 cell, which may process color information and lead to new treatments for humans. This finding expands our understanding of color vision and its relationship with other types of vision.
Scientists at Johns Hopkins used supercomputers to create an atomic scale map of how glutamate binds to a neuron in the brain. The study reveals that glutamate molecules follow specific pathways on the surface of glutamate receptors, with positively charged atoms guiding its negatively charged atoms.
A researcher at Case Western Reserve University is investigating the link between abnormal embryonic brain development and autism. The study aims to understand how cell-signaling defects lead to excessive early brain-cell growth and enlarged neonatal brains, resulting in long-term alterations in brain circuitry.