HOME >> BIOLOGY >> NEWS
Touching research: How white blood cells navigate

We all know the power of touch: A whack on the skull or a hug can convey more information than other forms of communication ever can. It turns out the same is true inside our bodies, where just the right touch among blood cells can mean the difference between good health and chronic conditions like heart disease and diabetes.

The power of touch among blood cells is the focus of a team of biomedical engineers at the University of Rochester that has received an $11.5 million grant from the National Institutes of Health. The five-year program takes aim at a process that is fundamental to our health: How do mechanical forces govern our white blood cells and assure that they protect our bodies from invaders like the flu? What forces help keep those cells from getting out of control and attacking our own tissues?

The group is focusing on white blood cells known as neutrophils, which are the body's first responders to inflammation and infection, and how those cells interact with the blood vessel lining known as the endothelium. The cells float along in the bloodstream and make the round trip through the human body in about one minute, always on patrol, looking for invaders. When they see an intruder, they call in reinforcements, pursue and destroy but only in partnership with the blood vessel lining, which gives the cells access to tissue, like a police officer who clears the way for other officers to pursue the target. The physical touching between the cells and the lining is crucial.

"This is your first line of defense against disease," says Richard Waugh, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Biomedical Engineering and leader of the team of engineers and scientists who received the grant. "Some of the biggest health problems that people face result from inappropriate responses of white blood cells. Understanding the details of our defenses, at the level of the blood cell, is crucial for developing new treatments and for controlling inappropriat
'"/>

Contact: Tom Rickey
tom_rickey@urmc.rochester.edu
585-275-7954
University of Rochester Medical Center
12-Oct-2004


Page: 1 2 3

Related biology news :

1. Multinational research: protecting ecology means understanding people, too
2. From clinical cancer research: rethinking therapeutic cancer vaccine trials
3. New diabetes research: Half of Americans have gene that affects how body burns sugar
4. UC Davis scientists groundbreaking research: Mate-attracting chemicals
5. New research: Soy germ isoflavones reduce bone loss
6. VCU research: Magnetic nanoparticles for potential cancer treatment
7. New slant on vision research: Neurons sensitive to viewing angle
8. Warning from new SLU research: Usual test for vitamin deficiency can mislead doctors
9. Latest buzz in research: Intoxicated honey bees may clue scientists into drunken human behavior
10. Frontiers in cancer prevention research: Defeating cancer before it strikes
11. A low expression of MX2 gene exists in the white blood cells of narcoleptics

Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
TAG: Touching research How white blood cells navigate

(Date:5/21/2013)... genes function without changing the underlying DNA sequence, ... pregnant women during any trimester, potentially providing a ... after giving birth, and an opportunity to intervene ... the small study involving 52 pregnant women are ... . , "Postpartum depression can be harmful to ...
(Date:5/20/2013)... the effect of physical education (PE) on child weight, ... increasing the amount of time that elementary schoolchildren spent ... The study represents some of the first evidence of ... is forthcoming in the Journal of Health Economics ... can be viewed at: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0167629613000556 , The ...
(Date:5/20/2013)... grant will help establish the Center for Advanced Research ... of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI) ... research in drying moist, porous materials such as food ... products; textiles; and biopharmaceuticals," said Hao Feng, a U ... and the Illinois site director. , According to Feng, ...
Breaking Biology News(10 mins):Genetic predictors of postpartum depression uncovered by Hopkins researchers 2Genetic predictors of postpartum depression uncovered by Hopkins researchers 3Gym class reduces probability of obesity, study finds for first time 2NSF approves planning grant for Center for Advanced Research in Drying 2
(Date:5/22/2013)... CANTON, Mass. and NEW ORLEANS ... commercial leader in the field of regenerative medicine, presented ... expert economists from Analysis Group (a leading health economics ... that diabetic foot ulcers (DFU) and venous leg ulcers ... The results of this research, which reveal annual ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... Express Diagnostics Int’l, Inc. (EDI) ... are pleased to announce a sponsorship agreement with Erebus ... Zealand distributor of DrugCheck® onsite testing devices, manufactured by ... the Austin 400 May 17-19 in Austin, Texas. , ... involves each car of the Erebus Motorsport team displaying ...
(Date:5/22/2013)... , May 22, 2013  Moderna Therapeutics, the pioneering ... modality to enable the in vivo production ... Reynders will join Moderna in early July ... Reynders is a proven leader in the design and ... development, from discovery to translation, clinical operations and commercial ...
(Date:5/21/2013)... 2013 Through science fairs, workshops, kits ... lab equipment, 25 organizations will continue their work to ... and photonics in daily life with the aid of ... located in 10 countries, are the first of two ... SPIE, the international society for optics and photonics ...
Breaking Biology Technology:Organogenesis Presents Findings from Groundbreaking Research Highlighting the Healthcare Resource and Economic Burden of Venous Leg Ulcers and Diabetic Foot Ulcers 2Organogenesis Presents Findings from Groundbreaking Research Highlighting the Healthcare Resource and Economic Burden of Venous Leg Ulcers and Diabetic Foot Ulcers 3Organogenesis Presents Findings from Groundbreaking Research Highlighting the Healthcare Resource and Economic Burden of Venous Leg Ulcers and Diabetic Foot Ulcers 4Australian Distributor of Express Diagnostics Signs Sponsorship Agreement with V8 Supercar Team 2Industry Leader John Reynders Joins Moderna Therapeutics as Chief Information Officer 2Industry Leader John Reynders Joins Moderna Therapeutics as Chief Information Officer 3Learning About Light: Education Outreach Projects Funded in 10 Countries Through First Round of SPIE Grants 2Learning About Light: Education Outreach Projects Funded in 10 Countries Through First Round of SPIE Grants 3
Cached News: