Navigation Links
Pulmonary fibrosis: Between a ROCK and a hard place
Date:2/22/2013

Pulmonary fibrosis is a scarring or thickening of the lungs that causes shortness of breath, a dry cough, fatigue, chest discomfort, weight loss, a decrease in the ability of the lungs to transmit oxygen to the blood stream, and, eventually, heart failure. Cells known as myofibroblasts normally secrete materials that are required for wound healing; once the wound has closed, the cells disappear. In pulmonary fibrosis, the myofibroblasts stick around, continuing to secrete wound healing factors that cause fibrosis in the lungs. In this issue of the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Yong Zhou and colleagues at the University of Alabama at Birmingham identified a mechanosensitive cellular signaling pathway in myofibroblasts that is activated by the hardening of tissue that has become fibrotic. Activation of this pathway promotes myofibroblast survival and prevents the normal disappearance of these cells after completion of wound healing. The pathway is dependent on a protein known as ROCK. Zhou and colleagues found that a drug that inhibits ROCK, fasudil, attenuates the pro-survival pathway and causes myofibroblasts to die. Further, fasudil treatment protected mice from injury-induced lung fibrosis. These studies suggest that ROCK inhibitors could be used to treat pulmonary fibrosis. In a companion Attending Physician article, Dean Sheppard of the University of California, San Francisco, discusses the feasibility of using ROCK inhibitors in a clinical setting.


'/>"/>

Contact: Jillian Hurst
press_releases@the-jci.org
Journal of Clinical Investigation
Source:Eurekalert

0

GOOD

Page: 1

Related biology technology :

1. Intravenous Remodulin Approved for the Treatment of Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension in Most of the European Union
2. Ikaria® Completes Patient Enrollment in Pivotal Phase III Trial for Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia
3. Innovative MetaMorph® NX Software Shatters Barriers Between Researchers and Image Analysis Goals with Exclusive Visual Workflow
4. EveryDayMatters.com Aims to Raise Awareness and Coordinate Care Between Mental and Physical Health
5. Researchers Find Potential Link Between Drinking Alcohol And Breast Cancer
6. Collaboration between Sanofi and Joslin Diabetes Center to focus on new drugs for diabetes
7. Triboelectric generator produces electricity by harnessing friction between surfaces
8. Blue Brain Project accurately predicts connections between neurons
9. Mangrove Partners Agrees to Support Amended Transaction Between Nabi Biopharmaceuticals and Biota Holdings
10. Puma Biotechnology Announces Completion of Private Placement
11. Unigenes 2011 Year in Review - Key Elements in Place to Address Debt in 2012
Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
(Date:5/21/2013)... 21, 2013  Personal Genome Diagnostics Inc. (PGDx), ... methodologies and expertise in genomic analysis of defined ... collaboration with Blueprint Medicines.  PGDx is an innovator ... alterations in tumors, and Blueprint Medicines is an ... a genetically defined patient population. "This ...
(Date:5/21/2013)... Ontario (PRWEB) May 21, 2013 ... scientists of the ITN to design the study, ... of two key clinical models used in the ... (EEC) and Nasal Allergen Challenge (NAC) models. Although ... by numerous publications, to date no direct comparison ...
(Date:5/21/2013)... PathoGenetix, Inc., a commercial-stage developer of ... today that it has successfully identified and strain typed ... from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) ... findings are detailed in a poster presented ... Microbiology in Denver on Monday. , The 250 E. ...
(Date:5/20/2013)... UAE (PRWEB) May 21, 2013 ... consultancy specializing in “game-changing” life science and health related ... Dalia Dergham to its International Project Team. Dergham's expertise ... even greater multi-cultural depth to Grace Century as it ... the globe. , Ms. Dergham holds both an under ...
Breaking Biology Technology:Personal Genome Diagnostics And Blueprint Medicines Form Collaboration to Identify Novel Kinase Targets 2Personal Genome Diagnostics And Blueprint Medicines Form Collaboration to Identify Novel Kinase Targets 3Inflamax Research selected by the Immune Tolerance Network and the National Institutes of Health to conduct a landmark clinical study on the underlying mechanisms of allergic inflammation. 2New Genotyping System Identifies Pathogenic E. coli Outbreak Strains 2New Genotyping System Identifies Pathogenic E. coli Outbreak Strains 3Dalia Dergham Joins Grace Century FZ LLC International Project Team 2
... TORONTO, ON - Quantum mechanics is famous for saying that ... there doesn,t make a sound. Quantum mechanics also says that ... tree. And so the famous paradox: how can we ... An international team of researchers, led by University ...
... Genentech and Novartis have the best image among ... market research consultancy that recently completed its 2011 MSImage ... corporate equity and R&D attributes to determine which measures ... growing marketplace. Amgen, Sanofi-aventis and Eli ...
... 2, 2011 Morphotek®, Inc., a subsidiary of Eisai ... phase II study of MORAb-004 for the treatment of ... first-in-class monoclonal antibody that specifically binds to endosialin/tumor endothelial ... safety and therapeutic activity at two dosages. ...
Cached Biology Technology:U of T scientist leads international team in quantum physics first 2U of T scientist leads international team in quantum physics first 3Genentech and Novartis Remain Image Leaders in Oncology and Hematology 2Genentech and Novartis Remain Image Leaders in Oncology and Hematology 3Morphotek®, Inc. Announces Initiation of MORAb-004 Phase II Study in Melanoma 2Morphotek®, Inc. Announces Initiation of MORAb-004 Phase II Study in Melanoma 3
(Date:5/21/2013)... Widely available in pharmacies and health stores, phosphatidylserine ... oysters, and soy. Proven to improve cognition and ... older people experiencing memory impairment. Now a team ... Bochner of Tel Aviv University,s Department of ... same supplement improves the functioning of genes involved ...
(Date:5/21/2013)... of biomass experts , Where? Copenhagen, ... 03-07 June 2013 , Why? ... assessment, market and policy developments, manufacturing and installation, drawing ... benefiting from its 2013 edition from a record of ... countries, more than 240 plenary and oral presentations, more ...
(Date:5/20/2013)... Minnesota Medical School researchers from the Masonic Cancer Center, ... Tumor Program, have developed a new mouse model of ... to discover new genes and gene pathways driving this ... week in the journal Nature Genetics . , ... lab of David Largaespada, Ph.D., professor in the Medical ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Common food supplement fights degenerative brain disorders 221st European Biomass Conference and Exhibition 221st European Biomass Conference and Exhibition 321st European Biomass Conference and Exhibition 4U of M researchers develop model for better testing, targeting of MPNST 2
... combined with an immune-boosting substance called an adjuvant, ... strain of avian influenza (H9N2) provoked a strong ... by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious ... Health. , The clinical trial of 96 adults ...
... brain cells on a new three-dimensional scaffold of tiny ... body than any other cell culture system. , An ... may one day replace the ubiquitous Petri dish for ... ONE. Shuguang Zhang, associate director of MIT's Center for ...
... Peering deep within the cells of fruit flies, developmental ... University in Philadelphia may have discovered a new way ... If they're right, and the same processes are at ... eventually have implications for improving the understanding of a ...
Cached Biology News:H9N2 avian flu vaccine paired with adjuvant provokes strong human immune response at low doses 2MIT creates 3-D scaffold for growing stem cells 2MIT creates 3-D scaffold for growing stem cells 3Jefferson researchers uncover new way nature turns genes on and off 2
...
...
... 48° Fixed Angle Polypropylene Rotor ... Series, IEC Centra CL3/CL3R** and Centra-MP4/MP4R*. ... quiet operation. /MP4, ,EXCLUSIVE polypropylene rotor ... can be repeatedly autoclaved. Polypropylene ...
The 891 45° Fixed Angle Rotor is designed to provide aerosol containment and can be removed from a centrifuge (seal entact) and opened under an environmental hood....
Biology Products: