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Nerve stimulation promotes resolution of inflammation

Researchers at Karolinska Institutet discovered that electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve promotes healing in acute inflammation by shifting the balance between inflammatory and anti-inflammatory molecules. This finding opens new avenues for treating inflammatory diseases, including autoimmune and cardiovascular conditions.

SourceKarolinska Institutet·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 31, 2022

Aging-US: Hallmarks of cancer and hallmarks of aging

The article proposes a new framework for understanding the hallmarks of cancer and aging, highlighting their shared underlying principles. Dr. Blagosklonny's hyperfunction theory arranges these hallmarks in a hierarchical structure, revealing common signaling pathways involved in both aging and cancer.

SourceImpact Journals LLC·JournalAging-US·TypeLiterature review·DateMay 18, 2022

Genetic study identifies migraine causes and promising therapeutic targets

Researchers have found blood proteins that cause migraine, including DKK1 and PDGFB, which inhibit Wnt signalling pathways. Lower levels of antioxidant proteins FARS2, GSTA4, and CHIC2 also contribute to inflammation linked to migraine. Therapies targeting increased DKK1 levels may represent novel tools for treatment.

SourceQueensland University of Technology·JournalNature Communications·TypeData/statistical analysis·DateMay 11, 2022

Ben-Gurion University researchers and colleagues offer new treatment protocol for advanced head and neck cancer

Researchers at Ben-Gurion University have developed a potential treatment combination for advanced head and neck cancer, which shows promise in pre-clinical models. The therapy involves blocking a specific signaling pathway and sensitizing tumors to immunotherapy, resulting in the disappearance of tumors.

SourceBen-Gurion University of the Negev·JournalJournal for ImmunoTherapy of Cancer·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 28, 2022

Study shows that intranasal Rx halts memory decay in experimental Alzheimer’s model

Researchers at LSU Health New Orleans and Karolinska Institutet found that intranasal application of pro-resolving lipid mediators arrested memory loss and brain degeneration in an experimental Alzheimer's model. This discovery opens up new possibilities for therapeutic interventions for Alzheimer's disease.

SourceLouisiana State University Health Sciences Center·JournalCommunications Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateMar 21, 2022

‘Lefty’ tightens control of embryonic development

Researchers at Rice University have discovered that the Lefty protein plays a crucial role in regulating Nodal signaling during embryonic development. By visualizing the interaction between Nodal and Lefty, they found that cells relay the signal to produce new Nodals, triggering a wave of differentiation. This study provides new insigh...

SourceRice University·JournalNature Communications·TypeExperimental study·DateJan 25, 2022

Slow release of a drug, TT-10, improves heart attack recovery in a mouse model

Researchers found that slow release of TT-10 from nanoparticles improved heart function after a heart attack, accompanied by increased cardiomyocyte proliferation and smaller infarct size. The study suggests that PLGA nanoparticles could be used to improve treatment administration efficiency for cardiovascular drugs.

SourceUniversity of Alabama at Birmingham·JournalJCI Insight·TypeExperimental study·DateOct 22, 2021

Frontrunner target for Parkinson’s Disease may only be relevant for small fraction of patients

A recent study suggests that targeting alpha-synuclein protein in Parkinson's disease may not be sufficient to cure most patients. Instead, resolving brain inflammation caused by dysfunctional interferon-beta receptor signaling may hold the key to developing more effective treatments.

Darwin’s short-beak enigma solved

A study by University of Utah biologists discovered a mutation in the ROR2 gene is linked to short beak length in domestic pigeons. This mutation also underlies the human disorder Robinow syndrome, which shares striking facial features with the pigeon phenotype.

SourceUniversity of Utah·JournalCurrent Biology·TypeExperimental study·DateSep 21, 2021

Cellular communication agent

Stabilizing the NO signaling pathway has been achieved through the use of zinc complexes, which can bind to thionitrite and perthionitrite anions. This breakthrough reveals the importance of these intermediates in cellular communication, shedding light on their roles in vasodilation and cell protection.

SourceWiley·JournalAngewandte Chemie International Edition·TypeExperimental study·DateAug 24, 2021

Study identifies molecule that stimulates muscle-building in humans

Researchers found that consuming dileucine enhances the metabolic processes driving muscle growth, resulting in a 42% increase in protein synthesis. In contrast, leucine alone showed no significant impact on protein breakdown, highlighting the molecule's potential as a signaling agent for muscle-building pathways.

SourceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, News Bureau·JournalJournal of Applied Physiology·TypeRandomized controlled/clinical trial·DateAug 9, 2021

Convergent mechanism of aging discovered

Researchers have discovered folate metabolism as a common mechanism underlying aging and lifespan extension across different species. The study found that altering folate metabolism increases lifespan in worms and mice by up to 30 percent, suggesting a potential new approach to improving human health during aging.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature Communications·DateJun 16, 2021

Scientists discover cellular stress enzyme that might play key role in neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS

Researchers at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health have discovered a cellular stress enzyme called MARK2 that controls protein synthesis in response to types of stress or damage seen in neurodegenerative disorders. The finding suggests that MARK2 may play a key role in diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and ALS.

New signaling pathway in neurons

Researchers have identified a new signaling pathway that regulates the production of RNA-protein complexes in neurons, which are overproduced in neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS and senile dementia. This discovery may lead to better understanding and potential therapeutic options for these conditions.

SourceUniversity of Würzburg·JournalNature Communications·DateFeb 25, 2021

Web resources bring new insight into COVID-19

Researchers have developed two new web resources to study the effects of coronavirus infection on host molecular signaling pathways. These resources, freely available through the Signaling Pathways Project and Network Data Exchange, provide valuable information for accelerating the development of novel therapeutic strategies for COVID-19.

SourceBaylor College of Medicine·JournalScientific Data·DateSep 22, 2020

To listen is to survive: Unravelling how plants process information

Researchers at Helmholtz Munich identified hundreds of new information exchange points between plant proteins, revealing that most proteins function in multiple signaling pathways. This discovery may lead to new strategies for biotechnological development or breeding of plants to address climate change challenges.

Oxygen deficiency rewires mitochondria

Researchers have discovered that mitochondria undergo reprogramming under low oxygen conditions, a process that could provide new therapeutic targets for pancreatic cancer. This reprogramming enables cancer cells to adapt to energy scarcity by switching to glycolysis, allowing them to continue growing despite limited nutrients and oxygen.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalNature·DateNov 11, 2019

Bringing information into the cell

Researchers at PSI have produced the most detailed image to date of a type of membrane protein involved in signal transmission. They discovered that this protein inhibits itself, preventing overproduction of cAMP, an important secondary messenger in cell signaling.

SourcePaul Scherrer Institute·JournalScience·DateApr 25, 2019

The secret of a long life

Research team from the University of Freiburg found that termite queens can live up to 20 years due to their unique genetic profile, which differs significantly from older workers. The discovery suggests that the superorganism concept may hold the key to understanding longevity in social insects.

SourceUniversity of Freiburg·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateMay 8, 2018

Ras protein's role in spreading cancer

Researchers at the University of Illinois discovered how Ras protein binding to cell membranes impact the signaling pathways that cause cancer's uncontrolled growth. The study found that KRas4b binds more tightly to the cell membrane, but it needs to attach on the correct side.

Omnipath sends strong signal

Researchers can now analyze biological signaling pathways with unprecedented accuracy thanks to OmniPath, combining 27 public databases on signalling interactions. The tool provides a comprehensive and unified collection of literature-curated signalling pathways based on an analysis of 41,000 scientific papers.

SourceEarlham Institute·JournalNature Methods·DateNov 29, 2016

Heart signaling map sheds light on the molecular culprits behind cardiovascular disease

A new University of Toronto study reveals widespread differences in protein biochemistry between healthy and diseased hearts, shedding light on the molecular causes behind dilated cardiomyopathy. The researchers mapped changes in protein signalling pathways, uncovering hundreds of signalling pathways that go off course in DCM hearts.

SourceUniversity of Toronto·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateOct 10, 2016

Novel optogenetic tool

Scientists have created an optogenetic tool that can control specific G-protein-coupled signalling pathways in the brain with high temporal precision. By using different-coloured light, researchers can switch these pathways on and off, offering new insights into the role of certain signalling pathways in disease.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalCurrent Biology·DateApr 8, 2016

Decoding the cell's genetic filing system

Scientists have developed a method to introduce non-native chromatin into cells, allowing them to systematically interrogate transcriptional signaling pathways. This approach enables researchers to propose mechanistic pathways and validate hypotheses in vivo, paving the way for potential therapeutic applications.

SourcePrinceton University·JournalNature Chemistry·DateApr 22, 2015

Omics methods: Towards a better prediction of the effects of substances at very low doses

Scientists use advanced omics technologies to analyze the effects of substances on human cells, revealing potential health risks at very low concentrations. The study identifies changes in protein patterns and metabolism at non-toxic levels, which could inform the development of new risk assessment methods.

SourceHelmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ·JournalJournal of Proteome Research·DateMar 16, 2015

New jigsaw piece for the repair of DNA crosslinks

A team of scientists reveals that a specific protein recognizes and repairs DNA crosslinks using the Fanconi anemia signal pathway. The study sheds light on the complex process of repairing damaged DNA, which can trigger cancer development. This new knowledge may lead to improved drugs for cancer treatment.

SourceUniversity of Zurich·JournalCell Reports·DateMay 27, 2014

Well-rested flies

Scientists at the Max Planck Institute found that inhibiting insulin/IGF signalling improves sleep quality in fruit flies and reverses age-related sleep deterioration. The study suggests a potential link between aging humans' sleep problems and the insulin/IGF pathway.

SourceMax-Planck-Gesellschaft·JournalPLOS Biology·DateApr 1, 2014

Genetic cause of heart valve defects

Scientists at the University of Bonn identified Creld1 as a crucial gene for heart valve development in mice, which also functions similarly in humans. This discovery may lead to improved diagnosis of unidentified heart valve diseases and better understanding of cardiac development.

SourceUniversity of Bonn·JournalDevelopmental Cell·DateMar 31, 2014