Researchers have developed a new model to optimize radiation therapy and significantly increase the number of tumour cells killed during treatment. The new mathematical model, outlined in a recent study led by a University of Waterloo student, can use information about where the majority of the cells in a tumour…
Promising approach to reducing plaque in arteries
In a new Yale-led study, investigators have revealed previously unknown factors that contribute to the hardening of arteries and plaque growth, which cause heart disease. Their insight is the basis for a promising therapeutic approach to halt and potentially reverse plaque buildup and the progression of disease, the researchers said….
Certain metabolites linked to stem cell function in the intestine: Molecules called ketone bodies may improve stem cells’ ability to regenerate new intestinal tissue
MIT biologists have discovered an unexpected effect of a ketogenic, or fat-rich, diet: They showed that high levels of ketone bodies, molecules produced by the breakdown of fat, help the intestine to maintain a large pool of adult stem cells, which are crucial for keeping the intestinal lining healthy. The…
Gut throws cells overboard when chemical insults build up
A team of Duke researchers has discovered that cells lining the gut of zebrafish — and probably humans too — have a remarkable defense mechanism when faced with certain kinds of toxins: they hit the eject button. “The gut has the challenging job of handling all the chemicals that we…
A new framework to study congenital heart defects: Complete catalog of cells involved in heart development
Each year, 9 months of dreams and anticipation shared by millions of parents-to-be turn to despair and fright when learning their child is born with a birth defect; an often-devastating event affecting one out of 20 children born worldwide. The formation of our organs, limbs, and face are the result…
First events in stem cells becoming specialized cells needed for organ development
New research by cell biologists at the University of Toronto (U of T) provides significant new insight into the very first step stem cells go through to turn into the specialized cells that make up organs. The findings published online in Genes & Development implicate the ability of proteins to…
New tool for understanding cells in health and disease: A first-of-its-kind data analysis platform is helping make sense of the overwhelming amounts of data generated by single-cell research
A first-of-its-kind data analysis platform is enabling researchers to select the best tool for interpreting the overwhelming amounts of data generated by single-cell research. Accurately making sense of this information will help to explain the vital and varied roles cells play in health and disease. The platform, CellBench, was published…
How egg cells choose their best powerhouses to pass on
Developing egg cells conduct tests to select the healthiest of their energy-making machines to be passed to the next generation. A new study in fruit flies, published online May 15 in Nature, shows how the testing is done. The work focuses on mitochondria, the cellular machines that turn the sugars,…
Pericytes may improve muscle recovery: Pericyte transplantation may improve skeletal muscle recovery following limb immobilization, animal study shows
Extended periods of limb immobilization — whether from long-term bed rest, casting, spaceflight, or other circumstances — can reduce skeletal muscle mass and strength to the extent that recovery is delayed or never achieved. The biological basis for this lack of recovery, however, remains unclear. An animal study published in…
Single-cell sequencing reveals landscape of immune cell subtypes in lung cancer tumors: Map of myeloid immune cell subpopulations points to new targets for immunotherapy
The recent emergence of immunotherapy has marked a sea change in research and care for many forms of cancer, bringing new hope to patients and families around the world. For those who respond to treatment, the results can be dramatic. Activation of a patient’s immune system against cancer can kill…
Immune system’s unknown messenger
Researchers can now explain how a cell that is being attacked by bacteria or viruses specifically manages to ‘sound the alarm’ among its neighbouring cells so they can react with a quick response. “We’ve succeeded in finding and describing a messenger which both quickly and effectively can inform the surrounding…