Scientists have shown that a very small protein we have in our bodies can dramatically reduce the ability of the Zika virus to infect human and mouse cells, and in some cases can also prevent Zika from killing our cells. The findings, about interferon-induced protein 3 (IFITM3), were published in the journal Cell Reports. “This… Continue reading Fighting Zika on a Cellular Level
Tag: cell
A Cellular Remedy for Heart Failure
Patients with heart failure often have a buildup of scar tissue that leads to a gradual loss of heart function, but researchers say they are making progress toward an approach that could shrink the amount of heart scar tissue while replenishing the supply of healthy heart muscle. The findings, published in the journal Cell Stem… Continue reading A Cellular Remedy for Heart Failure
A Protein May Help Fight Aging Memory
Investigators have discovered an interesting way that may improve memory and learning in aging brains: by increasing the quantity of a protein in nerve cells. The study, led by scientists at The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), the Veterans Affairs San Diego Healthcare System (VA) and University of California (UC) San Diego School of Medicine, was published… Continue reading A Protein May Help Fight Aging Memory
Prostate Cancer And A Deadly Protein
Researchers have discovered that a newly discovered protein promotes prostate-cancer cell growth – and the finding could lead to a new therapeutic target for the illness. The findings from Keck School of Medicine, of the University of Southern California, provide evidence that the newly discovered member of a family of cell surface proteins called G-protein… Continue reading Prostate Cancer And A Deadly Protein
New Hope for Healing the Heart
Researchers from UCLA have discovered that cells that form scars in the heart can change into the kind of cells that help the heart to heal. The study focused on the scar-forming cells, known as fibroblasts, and their ability to transform into endothelial cells, which form blood vessels. That discovery could pave the way for… Continue reading New Hope for Healing the Heart
Stopping Aging via Remote Control
An anti-aging process that involves remote control of cells? It sounds like science fiction, but it’s getting closer to reality thanks to biologists from UCLA. The scientists, working with fruit flies, remotely increased levels of a gene called AMPK. The gene, a crucial sensor of energy in cells, gets activated when cellular energy levels are… Continue reading Stopping Aging via Remote Control