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Brain cancer growth halted by absence of protein

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Experiments by a group of NIH-funded scientists suggests a possible methodology for halting the enlargement of sure mind tumors. Credit score: Picture courtesy of Michelle Monje, M.D., Ph.D., Stanford College The expansion of sure aggressive mind tumors may be halted by slicing off their entry t o a signaling molecule produced by the mind's nerve cells, in response to a brand new examine by researchers on the Stanford College College of Medication. When the signaling molecule neuroligin-Three was absent, or when its sign was interrupted with medicine, human cancers referred to as high-grade gliomas couldn't unfold within the brains of mice, the researchers discovered. The examine will likely be revealed on-line Sept. 20 in  Nature . Graduate scholar Humsa Venkatesh is the ...

Newly ID'd role of major Alzheimer's gene suggests possible therapeutic target

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Components of the mind essential for reminiscence have atrophied in a mouse carrying the high-risk Alzheimer's gene ApoE4, leaving a big fluid-filled gap within the mind (white space in picture at left), in contrast with a a lot smaller one in a mouse with out the gene (proper). A brand new research led by researchers at Washington College College of Medication in St. Louis reveals that the presence of ApoE4 exacerbates mind injury associated to the Alzheimer's protein tau. Credit score: Yang Shi Practically 1 / 4 century in the past, a genetic variant often called ApoE4 was recognized as a significant danger issue for Alzheimer's illness -- one which will increase an individual's probabilities of growing the neurodegenerative illness by as much as 12 instances. Never...

Finding a natural defense against clogged arteries

Scientists have long known that in diabetes, high levels of glucose and lipids (cholesterol and triglycerides) trigger white blood cell called monocytes to move into artery walls and evolve into other cells known as macrophages. These cells engulf lipids but then end up stuck on the artery walls, eventually producing atherosclerosis (a narrowing and thickening of the walls). During this process, the high levels of glucose and lipids also activate multiple forms of a molecule called protein kinase C (PKC), which help these unhelpful macrophages to activate, survive and multiply, thus boosting inflammation. In experiments with a mouse model of type 2 diabetes, however, the Joslin investigators showed that one form of the PKC molecule called PKC-delta actually defends against this inflammation process, by suppressing the population of macrophages gone wrong. "The complete surprise to us was that although most forms of PKC make inflammation worse, PKC-delta happens to be t...