Articles tagged with Neurons
Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center found that leptin and insulin work together in specific neurons to regulate blood sugar levels and female fertility. The study suggests a functional redundancy between the two hormones, implying that one can compensate for the lack of the other.
Scientists at the German Cancer Research Center discovered that brain stem cells in the subventricular zone are characterized by Protein Tlx, which stimulates gene activity. When Tlx is increased, tissue stem cells turn into cancer stem cells, leading to glioblastoma formation.
Johns Hopkins researchers discovered that a tail module in a calcium channel protein controls its sensitivity to calcium, potentially leading to neurodegenerative diseases. This finding has implications for conditions like schizophrenia, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and Huntington's.
Researchers have created a way to implant an inorganic device into a cell wall without damaging it, allowing for up to a week of observation. The 'stealth' probe mimics natural gateways in the cell membrane and integrates smoothly into membranes, enabling electrical access to the inside of cells.
Research reveals that brain damage to the ventromedial prefrontal cortex impairs judgment of harmful intent, leading to more lenient moral judgments for attempted harms. The study suggests that patients with VMPC damage primarily evaluate actions based on outcomes rather than intentions.
Research suggests that microglia, immune cells in the brain, play a significant role in neuron loss during Alzheimer's disease. Stressed nerve cells secrete chemical messengers that attract microglia, leading to inflammation and elimination of neurons.
A molecule called Rab35 acts as a switch to activate the fast-track recycling pathway, allowing cargo to be rapidly selected and transported. Defects in this trafficking pathway can lead to numerous diseases, including high cholesterol and neuropathies.
A new treatment to restore brain cells damaged by stroke has passed the safety stage of a clinical trial led by UC Irvine neurologist Dr. Steven C. Cramer. Patients showed no ill effects after receiving sequential growth factors that encourage neuron creation in stroke-damaged areas of the brain.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School have discovered that the loss of Ube3A enzyme disrupts the brain's ability to fine-tune neuronal connections, leading to developmental deficits in Angelman syndrome. This finding also suggests a connection between Ube3A and autism spectrum disorders, paving the way for new therapeutic targets.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine discovered that restricting genetic splicing variants decreases as embryonic stem cells differentiate into specialized cells. This finding provides new insights into the complex process of neural differentiation and potential implications for human development.
Researchers propose that MeCP2 affects the entire genome in neurons, leading to increased histone acetylation and spurious transcription of 'junk DNA'. This discovery challenges the previous view of MeCP2 as a target-specific transcription factor.
A key mechanism that makes certain brain cells become tumorous has been identified by researchers. The tumours occur most often spontaneously but can also be part of inherited disease Neurofibromatosis type 2.
Researchers at CSHL have identified a protein called Rac as the regulator of forgetting in short-term memories. Elevated Rac activity accelerates memory decay, while inhibition slows it down.
Researchers at Stanford University School of Medicine have found a protein controlling DNA accessibility responsible for the cells' developmental flexibility, offering insights into CHARGE syndrome and cancer metastasis. The study suggests that increased CHD7 levels may enhance metastasis in certain cancers.
A new study found that glial cells can switch from protecting neurons to killing them when triggered by proNGF. The process can lead to vision loss and blindness. Researchers hope to find ways to block proNGF's effects to prevent this damage.
Neurobiologists at the University of Maryland discovered that the brain's auditory cortex is more complex and chaotic than previously thought, with neighboring neurons creating different outputs. This disorder could indicate that the brain is far more adaptable than previously thought.
Scientists at Baylor College of Medicine discovered that adjacent neurons in the brain do not synchronize their action potentials, contrary to previous beliefs. This finding provides insight into how the brain processes information efficiently by introducing a 'decorrelated state' that allows for uncorrelated activity.
Researchers at Emory University School of Medicine have identified a novel compound, 7,8-dihydroxyflavone, that mimics the brain's growth factor and protects against neurological disease damage. The flavonoid compound shows potential as a new class of brain-protecting drugs with low chronic toxicity.
A study published in Developmental Cell has identified protease-activated receptors as crucial for neural tube closure, a process disrupted in congenital birth defects such as anencephaly and spina bifida. The research suggests that this PAR signaling system may regulate the integrity of tissue to prevent neural tube defects.
A study from Columbia University Medical Center found that an excess of one type of serotonin receptor in the brain's center may cause antidepressants to fail for half of patients. Researchers created a mouse model with high and low receptor levels, showing that reducing receptors can transform non-responders into responders.
Researchers at MIT have found that cells with higher activity levels are more likely to survive and integrate into the adult brain. This discovery is significant for cell replacement therapies used to treat neurological diseases like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's.
The discovery of Sox2, a protein that regulates stem cell formation, is crucial for spiral ganglion neuron development. The study's findings may lead to the regeneration of these nerve cells, potentially revolutionizing cochlear implant technology and biological treatments for hearing loss.
Researchers used a special peptide to modify laboratory mice's immune systems, reducing characteristic features of Alzheimer's disease. Anti-inflammatory cells were recruited, dampening the local inflammatory response and boosting plaque-degrading enzyme action.
Neuroscientists at MIT have developed a powerful new class of tools that can reversibly shut down brain activity using different colors of light. These 'super silencers' exert exquisite control over the timing of shutdown, allowing researchers to study neural circuits and potentially treat disorders such as chronic pain, epilepsy, and ...
Researchers discovered four small molecules capable of protecting cells from alpha-synuclein toxicity, a hallmark of Parkinson's disease. The compounds improved protein trafficking and decreased mitochondrial damage in multiple models, suggesting potential therapeutic avenues for the disease.
Researchers identified a key molecular switch that drives the onset of Huntington's disease, an incurable neurodegenerative disorder. A subtle change in two amino acids reduced the pathogenic potential of the mutant protein, potentially leading to new treatment strategies.
Researchers found that a synergistic interaction between ?-syn and LRRK2 exacerbates neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease by disrupting intracellular transport mechanisms. Inhibition of LRRK2 expression may provide a therapeutic strategy to prevent PD-associated neuropathology.
Researchers suggest progesterone as a viable treatment option for traumatic brain injuries due to its ability to protect damaged cells and reduce swelling. The hormone has been shown to improve behavioral outcomes and protect neurons after injury.
Researchers at Tufts University discovered that maternal behavior can stimulate new neuron creation in the brains of adult female rats who have never given birth. The study found increased numbers of new neurons in the subventricular region of the brain in these rats, which exhibited maternal behavior when exposed to foster pups.
Researchers used biosensors to study how anti-psychotic drugs, such as atypical neuroleptics, affect the brain. The study found that these drugs block a particular type of receptor, overriding the increase in acetylcholine they stimulate.
Researchers have found that specific waves in EEG signals can reliably predict neural activity in the brain. By combining EEG and direct neuron recordings, scientists identified a link between 'frequency band coupling' and cell firing rates.
Scientists at Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics develop new method to interpret EEG signals, providing insights into neural activity. By combining EEG and neuron recordings, researchers can accurately predict brain cell activity, shedding light on abnormal EEG waveforms in neurological disorders.
A recent study by Johns Hopkins scientists suggests that repeated ecstasy use significantly raises the risk of developing sleep apnea in otherwise healthy young adults. The researchers found that the more participants had used MDMA in the past, the more severe their apnea was likely to be.
Research by Professor Yasuhiko Minokoshi and Dr. Tetsuya Shiuchi found that meals with sweet taste stimulation activate 'orexin' neurons, reducing blood glucose levels in mice. Pleasant eating habits may prevent hyperglycemia by activating orexin neurons.
Researchers found that naked mole rat brain tissue can survive for over half an hour without oxygen, which could lead to new treatment options for brain injuries caused by heart attacks, strokes, and accidents. This adaptation may also provide insights into how to prevent permanent human brain damage after temporary loss of oxygen.
A new study reveals how our brains fill in gaps to create continuous sound by suppressing slow brain waves during interruptions. This mechanism enhances our understanding of human hearing and may inspire future devices for people with hearing deficits.
Scientists have discovered a direct link between insulin and core body temperature, finding that insulin injection in specific brain areas increases metabolism, brown adipose tissue activity, and core temperature. The study suggests a potential therapeutic area for future drug design and new insights into obesity and diabetes.
Researchers discovered that Srebp2 regulates cholesterol biosynthesis in prion-infected neuronal cells, leading to increased cholesterol levels and potential disease promotion. This finding may lead to new therapy approaches for prion-dependent diseases.
Researchers from NC State University have identified a gene called FoxJ1 that tells embryonic stem cells in the brain when to stop producing nerve cells. This discovery advances understanding of the nervous system and its development, with potential applications for conditions like Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's.
Researchers found a dual-brake mechanism controlling chloride transport, which calms hyperactive fetal neurons after birth. This process may benefit people with epilepsy and neuropathic pain by re-establishing natural inhibition.
Scientists at Max Planck Institute for Biological Cybernetics create tiny laser-scanning microscope images brain cells in awake and moving animals, eliminating the need for electrodes. This breakthrough allows researchers to study how the brain generates an internal representation of the outside world.
A new study found that preventative brain radiation therapy for lung cancer patients reduces the risk of developing brain metastases by 10%, but negatively affects short-term and long-term memory. Despite this, the treatment has no significant impact on survival or quality of life.
A randomized study found that preventative brain radiation for nonsmall cell lung cancer patients decreased the risk of brain metastases by over 50%, but increased short and long-term memory loss. The study also showed no significant difference in overall survival between treated and untreated patients.
A recent study found that statins can have profoundly different effects on brain cells, including benefits in reducing cholesterol transporter expression but potential risks in increasing Alzheimer's disease-related proteins. The findings highlight the importance of personalized treatment approaches for individuals taking statin therapy.
Researchers identified populations of neurons coding time with extreme precision in the primate brain's prefrontal cortex and striatum. This fine-scale coverage enables precise timing of actions, such as speaking or driving a car.
A study published in the Journal of Cell Biology reveals that PIKfyve, a lipid kinase, protects neurons from calcium overload by degrading voltage-gated calcium channels. This mechanism may provide new insights into neurodegenerative disorders such as stroke, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease.
The company has developed a 2-week method for generating human induced-pluripotent stem cells with a 200-fold increase in yield. This breakthrough has broad implications for pharmaceutical-grade iPSCs production without genetic modification at commercial scale.
Researchers used optogenetics to stimulate 12 cells in fly brains, creating false memories of an unpleasant event. This discovery provides new insights into how simple organisms can form complex cognitive associations.
Researchers at the University of Manchester discovered two types of brain cells with distinct electrical properties that differ significantly between day and night. One type contains a key gene and can survive high levels of excitability, while the other cannot, contradicting accepted theory on how the daily clock works.
A Purdue University researcher has discovered that increasing protein phosphatase 5 (PP5) in neurons reduces reactive oxygen species-induced cell death, a mechanism linked to Alzheimer's disease. PP5 overexpression also prevents amyloid beta-mediated stress pathways.
A UNC study found that the GSK-3 gene plays a crucial role in regulating the balance between neural stem cell proliferation and differentiation. Deleting this gene led to an overabundance of proliferating stem cells, resulting in fewer mature neurons. This discovery has implications for treating neuropsychiatric disorders.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University found that Merkel cells, responsible for touch perception, originate from the skin, contradicting previous speculation. The study's results provide significant insights into the development and function of Merkel cells, which may hold implications for understanding Merkel cell carcinoma.
Researchers at the University of Michigan have developed brain implants coated with conducting polymer nanotubes, which can record neural signals better than conventional metal electrodes. The new implants may eventually lead to more effective treatment of neurological disorders like Parkinson's disease and paralysis.
Researchers found that the number of cracks in the membrane determines how many proteins are bound, contradicting earlier ideas about affinity. This knowledge could lead to a better understanding of cellular processes and diseases such as depression and Alzheimer's.
Researchers used light-activated proteins to pinpoint the neural cell responsible for a specific behavior in zebrafish, a breakthrough that could lead to new insights into biological systems and synthetic biology applications. This technique may also aid in optimizing biofuels and disease-fighting therapies.
Researchers at Weizmann Institute discovered a new protein partnership between TrkA and CCM2 that leads to pediatric tumor regression. This finding may lead to the development of drugs that induce tumor regression. The study found that TrkA and CCM2 are always expressed together in tumors with high regression rates.
Scientists have developed nanoparticles that can target and destroy glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) brain cancer cells using light-sensitive titanium dioxide material. The 'nanobio hybrids' killed up to 80% of brain cancer cells after exposure to focused white light, making them a promising part of brain cancer therapy.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center have made a breakthrough in understanding how monkeys weigh costs and benefits when deciding whether to explore new options or stick with what they know. By analyzing neural signals in the posterior cingulate cortex, the team was able to predict which strategy the monkey would employ.
Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can lead to a range of adverse outcomes, including learning disabilities and increased susceptibility to diseases. The destruction of beta-endorphin neurons in the hypothalamus region can result in permanent impairment of stress and immune system functions throughout life.
Researchers at UC Riverside have identified a novel class of compounds that could pave the way for developing inexpensive and safe mosquito repellents. These odorants, including hexanol and 2,3-butanedione, prevent CO2-sensitive neurons in mosquitoes from functioning.