Tim-1 is an attractive target for combating EbolaThe recent Ebola virus epidemic in West Africa is the most serious outbreak of Ebola virus disease in history. More than 27,000 cases and 11,000 deaths have been reported to date. A number of therapeutic agents and candi...
Detailed information

Researchers find a way to diminish leukemic stem cellsChronic myelogenous (or myeloid or myelocytic) leukemia (CML) is a type of cancer that occurs when too many myeloid cells are made in the bone marrow. CML originates from a rare population of cells, known as leukemic ste...
Detailed information

Human monoclonal antibody against Dengue fights Zika in miceA team composed of researchers from Washington University School of Medicine in the USA and Imperial College in the UK has identified an anti-Dengue virus antibody that has therapeutic activity against Zika virus. ...
Detailed information

Structural study reveals three-dimensional properties of a mutated breast cancer proteinBRCA1 is a tumor suppressor gene that encodes a protein called breast cancer type 1 susceptibility protein. Under normal conditions, BRCA1 takes part in DNA double-strand break repair and mismatch repair, decreasing the ...
Detailed information

Study points to a new strategy for treating osteoporosisA study by Zhejiang University researchers and collaborators at the University of Alabama at Birmingham could yield new treatment strategies for patients with age-associated osteoporosis. Osteoporosis is a b...
Detailed information

Neuroligin-3 represents a potential therapeutic target for gliomaAccording to a study published online 20 September 2017 in Nature, blocking the neuroligin-3 protein inhibits the growth of high-grade gliomas. The study provides a novel way to treat high-grade gliomas, the leading caus...
Detailed information

Exosomes carrying microRNAs regulate insulin sensitivityFindings of a new study appearing in the journal Cell add to the growing body of evidence that exosomes carrying microRNAs (miRNAs) play a key role in insulin resistance in diabetes. The study, led by resear...
Detailed information

Inhibition of IGPR-1 represents a novel way to treat colon cancerResearchers have found a new way to inhibit the growth of colon cancer and enhance the efficacy of existing chemotherapy drugs. The study (Targeting tumor multicellular aggregation through IGPR-1 inhibits colon cancer gr...
Detailed information

Research reveals a role of CIC gene in cancerScientists at Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Oncológicas (CNIO) have demonstrated that inactivation of the CIC gene in adult mice triggers the formation of T-ALL, an aggressive form of blood cancer. CIC...
Detailed information

New gene implicated in an inherited kidney disorderA research team has made progress in understanding the genetic basis of renal agenesis (RA), an inherited disorder characterized by the absence of one or both kidneys. The team is composed of researchers fro...
Detailed information

New strategy to tackle obesityScientists at Washington University School of Medicine have found a way to turn bad fat into good fat. The discovery would lead to new preventive strategies for overweight, obesity, and related disorders like diabetes. ...
Detailed information

Study sheds light on how α-syn triggers neurotoxicity in Parkinson's diseaseAlpha-synuclein (α-syn) is a protein highly expressed in the central nervous system. Parkinson's disease (PD) and several other neurodegenerative disorders involve the accumulation of α-syn in neurons in the brain. A l...
Detailed information

Two cytokines involved in progressive multiple sclerosisMultiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. The debilitating disease can cause disability. Worldwide, there are an estimated 2.3 million people affected by i...
Detailed information

Resistance to gemcitabine is linked to bacteriaResearchers from the Weizmann Institute of Science have found a new mechanism of tumor resistance to chemotherapy. The study adds to the growing body of evidence that microorganisms have an impact on the effectiveness of...
Detailed information

The mystery of agingLongevity is a common pursuit of humans. Various factors affect an individual's life expectancy such as gender, genetics, access to health care, diet, and physical exercise. Due to advances in science, average human life...
Detailed information

New treatment for obstructive lung diseaseAccording to a paper appearing in the New England Journal of Medicine, an antibody therapy approved for the treatment of asthma -- mepolizumab -- can treat eosinophilic chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). ...
Detailed information

Tofacitinib shows promise in curbing chronic itchChronic itch is a common condition that affects millions of people, but its causes are poorly understood. Now, researchers from Washington University School of Medicine, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, and ...
Detailed information

Novel antibody detection strategy may improve diagnosis of type 1 diabetesA team of researchers from Stanford University, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, University of Florida, and South University of Science and Technology of China, has developed a novel antibody detection strategy that wou...
Detailed information

Cigarette smoke induces epigenetic changes that might contribute to lung cancerCigarette smoke is hazardous to health. One adverse effect of cigarette smoke is the increased risk of various cancers, especially lung cancer. Smokers account for 85% of all lung cancer cases. Harmful substances in ciga...
Detailed information

SATB2 linked to colon cancer stem cellsScientists have identified a mechanism about how normal cells in the colon become malignant. Described online recently in Scientific Reports, their findings deepen our understanding of transformation and carcinogenesis a...
Detailed information

How does viral dsRNA provoke immune response?Findings of a new study provide clues about antiviral immunity. The study, titled "SIDT2 Transports Extracellular dsRNA into the Cytoplasm for Innate Immune Recognition," appears in the prestigious journal Immunity. ...
Detailed information

GPC2 could be targeted to treat neuroblastomaScientists studying neuroblastoma have identified the cell-surface protein GPC2 as an oncoprotein and candidate therapeutic target. Neuroblastoma (NB) is a rare childhood cancer of the nervous system, with a...
Detailed information

Dual role of caspase-8 extends understanding of liver cancerLiver cancer predominantly occurs in people who have chronic liver diseases, such as viral hepatitis, fatty liver disease, and cholestatic disease. All chronic liver diseases show persistent hepatocyte (liver cell) damag...
Detailed information

Potential treatment strategy for sinus infectionsTaste receptors have key roles in the regulation of innate immune defenses in the human respiratory tract. Bitter taste receptors (T2Rs) and sweet taste receptor (T1R2/3) are all G-protein-coupled receptors. T2Rs in the ...
Detailed information

New insight into neurobiology of alcohol abuseScientists have identified a protein implicated in alcohol intake, seeking, and reward. The finding would help to find strategies for solving the problem of excessive drinking, which kills 3.3 million people annually. ...
Detailed information

Intracellular bacterium alters host mitochondria in order to replicateLegionnaires' disease, or called legionellosis, is a severe form of lung inflammation, mainly caused by the bacterium Legionella pneumophila. The bacterium is widely distributed in freshwater settings and is also found i...
Detailed information

Telomere shortening is associated with muscular dystrophyMuscular dystrophy (MD) refers to a group of muscle diseases characterized by progressive muscle weakening and wasting. The most common type of MD is Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), which happens more frequently in bo...
Detailed information

Newly identified compound normalizes brain development in mice with Down syndromeInvestigators from Kyoto University and Tokyo Medical and Dental University have found a compound that normalizes brain structure and function in mice with Down syndrome. Down syndrome (DS), or trisomy 21, i...
Detailed information

Enhancing MC1R palmitoylation may prevent skin cancerPeople with red hair are more likely to develop skin cancer than others. The phenomenon has a genetic basis. Red hair, fair skin and a sensitivity to the sun are all associated with variations in a gene called MC1R. The ...
Detailed information

How does thyroid hormone influence red blood cell maturation?Scientists take a big step forward in understanding the connection of thyroid hormone with red blood cell maturation. The thyroid, a gland located in the neck, produces hormones that regulate metabolic rate ...
Detailed information

Human monoclonal antibodies give 100% protection against Lassa feverLassa fever is an acute illness caused Lassa virus, which is an arenavirus included on the Category A pathogen list. The illness is endemic in some regions of West Africa, such as Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, and Niger...
Detailed information

Dual role of protein IRE1 in cancer identifiedScientists at the Pennsylvania State University (PSU) have found that the inositol-requiring enzyme 1 (IRE1) has a dual role in cancer. On the one hand, IRE1 helps regulate the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. On the o...
Detailed information

ATAC-seq identifies transcription factors that drive oesophageal adenocarcinomaA new study now provides insights into the mechanism of oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC), a common cancer of the esophagus, or food pipe. A worldwide increasing incidence is seen for OAC over the last decade...
Detailed information

Inflammation predicts a common sleep disorderA new study demonstrates that increased inflammation from childhood to adolescence predicts sleep apnea in adolescence. The discovery not only extends our knowledge of sleep apnea but also points to new treatment strateg...
Detailed information

CHK2 inhibitor is promising in preventing infertility from cancer treatmentInfertility is a common complication of cancer treatment in women. According to a new study, infertility from cancer treatment may be prevented by a drug, which is a CHK2 inhibitor. It is important to keep i...
Detailed information

Scientists identify genetic variants that affect the risk of preeclampsiaAccording to a study described in Nature Genetics, genetic variants near the FLT1 gene have an impact on the risk of preeclampsia. Preeclampsia is a pregnancy complication that triggers high blood pressure, kidney dam...
Detailed information

Protein synthesis is elevated in premature aging diseaseA study, carried out by Abigail Buchwalter and Martin Hetzer from The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, reveals that protein synthesis is elevated in Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS), a rare hereditary di...
Detailed information

Promising cell therapy for Parkinson's diseaseIn Parkinson's disease, dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the brain gradually degenerate. One approach to treat Parkinson's disease is to replace the lost DA neurons. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells) are a promising...
Detailed information

Monocytes link HIV and heart diseaseHeart disease has become an increasing concern in the HIV population. HIV-infected people are more likely to develop heart disease than noninfected people, even if the virus is controlled by efficient antiretroviral ther...
Detailed information

New clues to obestiyObesity is often thought to be a reflection of lack of self-control. But thanks to science, it is increasingly clear that obesity actually is associated with many factors. According to a study published online 15 Augu...
Detailed information

Great progress in fighting mosquito-borne virusesA team consisting of researchers from Australia, Singapore, the UK, the USA, Brazil, and Ireland has made great progress in understanding the pathogenesis of inflammatory diseases caused by alphaviruses, a group of small...
Detailed information

Anti-inflammatory drug reduces heart disease riskA randomized, double-blind trial shows that the anti-inflammatory agent canakinumab reduces the risk of heart attacks. Canakinumab is a therapeutic monoclonal antibody targeting IL-1β. IL-1β is an importan...
Detailed information

New approach to improve bone transplantationFindings of a new study appearing in the Journal of Clinical Investigation may lead to strategies to improve bone transplantation. Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) in the bone marrow have a capacity of multi-...
Detailed information

A cancer drug reactivates latent HIV by targeting BRD4Advances in HIV treatment have led to tremendous improvements in morbidity and mortality in HIV-infected people. The most significant advance may be the use of antiretroviral therapy, which is the combination of several ...
Detailed information

Chimeric monoclonal antibody treats cancer in dogsLike humans, some animals also develop cancer. Overexpression of the immune checkpoint molecule PD-L1 has been frequently found in human cancers and has been suggested to help cancer cells survive. Immunotherapies that i...
Detailed information

Study sheds light on self-reactive B cell response in autoimmune diseaseSelf-tolerance describes a phenomenon that our immune system normally does not mount a strong immune response against our own (self) antigens. Disruption of self-tolerance triggers a wide range of diseases. In these dise...
Detailed information

Scientists identify gene that inhibits anxietyAnxiety is a feeling of uneasiness and worry. We all want to avoid this unpleasant feeling. In fact, anxiety possesses cognitive function: it serves to maintain high levels of vigilance for danger. Therefore, it is thoug...
Detailed information

Co-expression network analyses reveal gene targets for treating liver diseaseIdentification of novel targets would facilitate the development of disease treatments. In a paper appearing online in Molecular Systems Biology on 21 August 2017, scientists report a group of liver-specific targets for ...
Detailed information

Scientists identify a compound with the potential to treat arthritisScientists have successfully identified a compound that may slow down cartilage degeneration, which is the cause of the painful disease arthritis. Cell experiments of the compound showed promising results, and animal exp...
Detailed information

New insights into the roles of miRNAs in liver cancerA team of researchers has uncovered the target network of the miRNA-122. The discovery would have implications in the treatment of liver diseases like liver cancer, given that miRNA-122 is a liver-specific miRNA and has ...
Detailed information