Investigators at the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science have identified the oxidative stress sensor DJ-1 as a previously unknown inflammatory molecule which is released from damaged neurons to activate macrophages in post-stroke neuroinflammation.

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases, and the role of ?-synuclein accumulation and the subsequent death of dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain have long been recognized as key steps in the disease. Progress in understanding genetic risk factors, meanwhile, has uncovered multiple genetic risk factors. Even though aging is the single biggest risk factor for PD, there are versions of the disorder that affect children.

An international study led by virologists at The University of Hong Kong has shown that geographically and genetically distinct Middle East respiratory syndrome coronaviruses (MERS-CoV) from Africa have lower replication competence in human and mouse lung than those from the ME.

The new peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) agonist leriglitazone (hydroxypioglizatone; Minoryx Therapeutics), has a better profile for treating neurodegenerative diseases, such as X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy (X-ALD), than similar drugs, including pioglitazone (Actos; Takeda).

Researchers at the University of Queensland Brain Institute have for the first time shown that a proteotoxic species can increase mitochondrial DNA mutations in neurons.

Data on the prevalence of diabetes in the U.S. show that non-Hispanic white people are least likely to suffer from the disease. Yet to date most genetic studies of the glycemic traits that are used to diagnose and monitor type 2 diabetes and cardiometabolic health have focused on individuals of European ancestry.

Data on the prevalence of diabetes in the U.S. show that non-Hispanic white people are least likely to suffer from the disease. Yet to date most genetic studies of the glycemic traits that are used to diagnose and monitor type 2 diabetes and cardiometabolic health have focused on individuals of European ancestry.

While there is known to be an association between inflammation and depression, it is not known if there is cause and effect. Now, the power of the UK Biobank has been brought to bear to show that when all genetic, health and environmental factors are accounted for, people with depression have higher levels of inflammation in their bodies than controls.

Single-cell gene studies at Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore and Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, have shown that gene expression signatures underlie the microglial phagocytosis of beta-amyloid (Abeta) plaque in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), the authors reported in the May 20, 2021, edition of Nature Communications.

LONDON – New guidelines for stem cell research open the door to extending the legal limit on human embryo research beyond the current 14-day maximum set down 40 years ago.