Category Health/Medical

Mice received injections of drugs that specifically block the activity of two different molecules. Blocking those molecules reduced pain symptoms coming from nearby nerves. Credit: Hiroshima University

A specific molecule involved in maintaining pain after a nerve injury has been identified and blocked in mice by Hiroshima University researchers. These results reveal a promising therapeutic strategy for treating neuropathic pain. Mice with an injury to their sciatic nerve showed less pain after multiple injections of a drug that blocks the activity of a molecule called high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1). Researchers also discovered that a single dose of a drug to block the activity of a different molecule, called matrix metalloprotease-9 (MMP-9), could also alleviate pain from the injury.

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IMAGE: Huntington’s disease is due to a fault (a repeat of DNA) on chromosome 4. This repetition of genetic information results in the production of an abnormal protein called huntingtin,. Mutant huntingtin aggregates in clusters in the nuclei of certain neurons in the brain, particularly the striatum, a brain structure involved in controlling movement. These neurons degenerate and eventually die, explaining the appearance of abnormal movements. Then huntingtin accumulates in the nuclei of neurons in the cerebral cortex also causing neuronal degeneration with consequent cognitive impairment (memory, attention …) and psychiatric disorders.

A drug that would be the first to target the cause of Huntington’s disease (HD) is effective and safe when tested in mice and monkeys...

Professor Birch-Machin said: “As our bodies age we see that the batteries in our cells run down, known as decreased bio-energy, and harmful free radicals increase.

A breakthrough in understanding human skin cells offers a pathway for new anti-aging treatments. A study has found the activity of mitochondrial complex II significantly decreases in older skin. This discovery brings experts a step closer to developing powerful anti-ageing treatments and cosmetic products which may be tailored to counteract the decline in the enzyme’s activity levels. Findings may also lead to a greater understanding of how other organs in the body age, which could pave the way for drug developments in a number of age-related diseases, including cancer.

Professor Birch-Machin said: “As our bodies age we see th...

Scientists found evidence of the metabolism-regulating protein amylin, shown in red, present in multiple regions throughout a brain area called the hypothalamus. Experiments suggest amylin produced by hypothalamic neurons helps reduce food consumption together with leptin. Credit: Laboratory of Molecular Genetics at The Rockefeller University/Cell Metabolism

Feeling hungry or full leads us to change how much we eat, but the molecular wiring of this process is not well understood. Scientists have identified a new player in this circuit called amylin, which contributes to reducing food consumption in mice. Prof. Jeffrey Friedman said; “Amylin caught our attention when we were profiling a set of neurons in the hypothalamus, a part of the brain known to be involved in feeding behavior...