Navigation Links
Inflammation triggers cell fusions that could protect neurons, Stanford research shows
Date:4/20/2008

ted significantly more heterokaryons than we ever had in the past," said Blau, "from fewer than 10 in an entire animal to several hundred." When the researchers looked more closely, they found that those animals with higher-than-expected numbers of fused cells also had an inflammatory skin condition common to aging laboratory mice called idiopathic ulcerative dermatitis. This type of chronic inflammation affects the entire immune system of the animal and causes a systemwide immune response.

The researchers confirmed that the remarkable increase in the numbers of fused cells was related to inflammation by using the traditional radiation/bone marrow transplant approach in mice with dermatitis. Finally, they counted the fused cells that formed in a mouse model of multiple sclerosis - an autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation and damage of the central nervous system. Neurologist and multiple sclerosis specialist Lawrence Steinman, MD, professor of neurology and neurological sciences at the medical school, co-authored the research and provided the mouse model for study. Heterokaryons in some of these mice numbered in the thousands.

Even more intriguing than the inflammation-induced increase in numbers was a cross-species experiment that showed nuclei from rat blood stem cells that had fused to Purkinje cells in mice stop expressing blood cell proteins and begin to express rat neuron-specific gene products. This switch exemplifies a type of genetic reprogramming that has been a source of ongoing debate and great interest in the world of stem cell research. Such reprogramming is critical to the regeneration of functional tissues by stem cells.

"What we're seeing is that this phenomenon is happening in real life," said Blau, who next plans to study whether such fusions can rescue damaged or dying Purkinje neurons. "We don't know yet if this function is beneficial, but we now know that there are sites where it happens at fairly high fre
'/>"/>

Contact: Mitzi Baker
mabaker@stanford.edu
650-725-2106
Stanford University Medical Center
Source:Eurekalert

1

GOOD

Page: 1 2 3 4

Related biology news :

1. Bleeding, not inflammation, is major cause of early lung infection death
2. St. Louis University scientists identify chemical that triggers Parkinsons disease
3. Agent that triggers immune response in plants is uncovered
4. Carnegie Mellon scientists investigate initial molecular mechanism that triggers neuronal firing
5. Smithsonian scientists find evidence that could rewrite Hawaiis botanical history
6. For some who have lost their sense of smell, a once popular asthma drug could help
7. New fish has a face even Dale Chihuly could love
8. Coral reefs and climate change: Microbes could be the key to coral death
9. Algae could one day be major hydrogen fuel source
10. Specially-designed soils could help combat climate change
11. U-M ballast-free ship could cut costs while blocking aquatic invaders
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:5/24/2013)... systems like ecosystems can get messy, especially when trying ... like climate change. , In a new paper ... of the National Academy of Sciences , researchers from ... assumption at the very heart of a popular way ... how climate changes may impact biodiversity, researchers like Jessica ...
(Date:5/24/2013)... concern in the ongoing public health debate is the ... are nutrient dense. A new study, "Vegetable Cost ... Per Penny," published in the journal PLOS ONE ... nutritional values in the produce aisle, providing one of ... raw vegetables and delivering one of the most affordable ...
(Date:5/24/2013)... world,s largest and fastest growing open-access publishers, today announces ... Physics . , A broad scope journal covering all ... open-science and interactive web platform for the research community ... , Frontiers, real-time and interactive peer-review enables fast, fair ... With an average of three months from submission to ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Understanding the past and predicting the future by looking across space and time 2New research shows that potatoes provide one of the best nutritional values per penny 2Frontiers launches new open-access journal in physics 2Frontiers launches new open-access journal in physics 3
... a common component of plastic used in many consumer products, ... -- because it can mimic natural estrogen in the body. ... male mice whose mothers were exposed even to high doses ... their testes as adults. "This might alleviate some worries ...
... (Bronx, NY) -- Researchers at Albert Einstein College ... a novel type of antibody works against pneumococcal bacteria. ... in the September/October issue of mBio , the ... Until recently, scientists thought that antibodies work against pneumococcal ...
... A study published by researchers at the RIKEN ... a class of heterometallic molecular structures whose unique features ... lightweight fuel cell technology. The structures contain a previously-unexplored ... the compact storage of hydrogen. The most abundant ...
Cached Biology News:No harm to mice testes from BPA in utero 2Newly identified antibodies may improve pneumonia vaccine design 2New metal hydride clusters provide insights into hydrogen storage 2
(Date:5/25/2013)... Czech Republic (PRWEB) May 25, 2013 ... nanoscale optical manipulation have been recognized with presentation of ... (ICO). The presentations were made 16 April during the ... SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics , ... Jan Perina of Palacký University was presented with the ...
(Date:5/25/2013)... (PRWEB) May 25, 2013 Dennis R. HIll ... in Oakland, CA reports that recently there has been a ... has markedly improved the permanent seed, or low dose rate, ... isotope has a higher energy, a shorter half life, and ... is true that Cesium 131 has a higher average energy ...
(Date:5/24/2013)... (PRWEB) May 24, 2013 Dr. Ingrid Warmuth ... and Swedesboro, NJ, are proud to announce an Open House ... take place on Saturday, June 8th from 10 AM to ... Anamaria Newport, MHS, PA-C and staff will be on hand ... laser and aesthetic treatments, and provide complimentary cosmetic consultations. There ...
(Date:5/24/2013)... WA (PRWEB) May 24, 2013 ... engineers, and industry suppliers will present technologies with ... at the annual SPIE Optics and Photonics ... Organized by SPIE, the international society for ... largest international, multidisciplinary optical sciences and technology meeting ...
Breaking Biology Technology:ICO Honors Three with Awards during SPIE Optics and Optoelectronics 2ICO Honors Three with Awards during SPIE Optics and Optoelectronics 3Dennis R. Hill MD HDR Prostate Brachytherapy Specialist Compares Prostate Cancer Treatment Options: Not All Low Dose Rate Brachytherapy Isotopes Are the Same 2Dennis R. Hill MD HDR Prostate Brachytherapy Specialist Compares Prostate Cancer Treatment Options: Not All Low Dose Rate Brachytherapy Isotopes Are the Same 3See What’s in Earth’s Future ? and Out in Space Now ? at SPIE Optics and Photonics 2See What’s in Earth’s Future ? and Out in Space Now ? at SPIE Optics and Photonics 3See What’s in Earth’s Future ? and Out in Space Now ? at SPIE Optics and Photonics 4
... and General ... Counsel-, -Gisela M. Schwab Promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief ... ... ) today announced promotions for two members of its,senior management team. Pamela A. Simonton, Senior ...
... Called ... ... today a new pre-clinical antibody program called HuMax-CD32b(TM).,This fully human ... hematological tumors. HuMax-CD32b may have therapeutic potential,in the treatment of ...
... Jerusalem has discovered a way to literally catch terrorists red-handed. ... Almog of the Hebrew University,s Casali Institute of Applied Chemistry ... swabs taken from the hands of a suspect, if they ... turn a blood red hue. , Urea nitrate is a ...
Cached Biology Technology:Exelixis Announces Senior Management Promotions 2Exelixis Announces Senior Management Promotions 3Genmab Announces HuMax-CD32b Pre-Clinical Program 2Genmab Announces HuMax-CD32b Pre-Clinical Program 3HU scientist finds way to catch terrorists red-handed 2
5,6 Carboxyfluorescein is conjugated to BSA (bovine serum albumin) protein through amide bonds....
MOUSE ANTI BOVINE WC1:FITC Immunogen: Bovine lymphocytes...
B.D. Hames and D.M. Glover (1996) • This issue covers T-Cell antigen receptor genes; T-Lymphocyte signal transduction; B-Cell activation antibody engineering and the complement system and other ...
...
Biology Products: