interleukin-6 tagged posts

Blood Plasma Protein Fibrinogen Interacts Directly with Nerve Cells to Cause Brain Inflammation

Interactions of blood plasma protein fibrinogen with its receptors, cellular prion protein (above) and intercellular adhesion molecule (below), on the surface of neurons are shown with red dots using a method called proximity ligation assay.  The presence of red dots indicates interaction of the target protein with its receptor. Neuronal nuclei are shown in blue.  — Microscopic images courtesy of Lominadze Laboratory, USF Health

Neuroinflammatory diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and traumatic brain injury, have been linked to deposits of a tough protein known as fibrin, derived from the blood clotting factor fibrinogen. These mesh-like fibrin deposits occur outside blood vessels in the brain, contributing to the death of neurons that eventually leads to impaired memory.

Now...

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New link between Personality and Risk of Early Death

Dr Páraic Ó Súilleabháin, from the Department of Psychology and Health Research Institute at University of Limerick, who was principal investigator on the study

Ground-breaking research led by University of Limerick has revealed for the first time that the immune system directly links personality to long-term risk of death. The study sheds new light on why people who are more conscientious tend to live longer.

Results from the new international study published in the journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity have found that the immune system plays a previously unknown role in the link between personality traits and long-term risk of death.

“Personality is known to be associated with long-term risk of death, it is a well replicated finding observed across numerous research studies...

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How Exercise Reduces Belly Fat in humans

This graphical abstract shows that in abdominally obese people, exercise-mediated loss of visceral adipose tissue mass requires IL-6 receptor signaling.
CREDIT
Wedell-Neergaard, Lehrskov, and Christensen, et al. / Cell Metabolism

Some of you may have made a New Year’s resolution to hit the gym to tackle that annoying belly fat. But have you ever wondered how physical activity produces this desired effect? A signaling molecule called interleukin-6 plays a critical role in this process, researchers report December 27 in the journal Cell Metabolism.

As expected, a 12-week intervention consisting of bicycle exercise decreased visceral abdominal fat in obese adults...

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