News tips from the Journal of Neuroscience
... in the nucleus of the solitary tract (NST), where peripheral taste fibers converge. In each strain, NST cells responded preferentially to sucrose, salt, or acid (S-, N-, and H-cells, respectively). B6 mice had more S-cells, and all neurons responded more strongly to sucrose than did neurons of 129 mice. The au...News tips from the Journal of Neuroscience
...t-Marie-Tooth type 2 (CMT2) causes degeneration of peripheral sensory and motor neurons, particularly at the ends of these long axons. Many cases of CMT2 arise from mutations in a mitochondrial fusion protein mitofusin 2 (MFN2). This week, Baloh et al. propose that MFN2 mutations cause disease by altering mitoc...Regulatory T cells require WASp if they are to prevent self-destruction
...to control autoimmunity. Consistent with this, the peripheral blood of a WASp-deficient patient in whom a spontaneous revertant mutation occurred had substantial numbers of WASp+ Treg. These cells were able to ameliorate this individual's recurrent episodes of autoimmune hemolytic anemia, indicating that a defe...JCI table of contents -- January 11, 2006
...to control autoimmunity. Consistent with this, the peripheral blood of a WASp-deficient patient in whom a spontaneous revertant mutation occurred had substantial numbers of WASp+ Treg. These cells were able to ameliorate this individual's recurrent episodes of autoimmune hemolytic anemia, indicating that a defe...Defective movement of cell's power plants implicated in commom inherited neurological disorder
... in many cases, the loss of function. CMT affects peripheral nerves, among the longest nerves in the body where energy transport is vital. "This work is of critical importance because the design of effective therapeutic approaches requires an understanding of the underlying disease mechanism," says Brian Popk...NIH gives PITT $13 million grant for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease research
... be conducted through the center are: Seeking peripheral markers of COPD supporting a hypothesis that the disease is not uniform in its presentation, but rather heterogeneous. Researchers believe these differences are definable by anatomic, physiological, molecular and cellular processes to determine disea...Tracing the pathways of neurofibromatosis
...sis is characterized by the formation of tumors of peripheral nerve cells. Scientists know the disease is caused by defects in a gene called Nf1, but they have yet to find out precisely how the defective genes cause tumors to form. "Our results suggest that having a defect in Nf1 begins a kind of biochemical ...Cells passed from mother to child during pregnancy live on and make insulin
...significantly higher levels of maternal DNA in the peripheral blood of 94 children and adults with Type 1 diabetes as compared to 54 unaffected siblings and 24 unrelated healthy subjects they studied. Originally, the study of 172 individuals and pancreatic tissue from four males was designed to ask the quest...LSU professor uses tai chi to fight degenerative nerve disease
...g a study into the benefits of tai chi for elderly peripheral neuropathy patients. So far, those practicing tai ... it can help others fight back against the pain of peripheral neuropathy. "I have really been helped by the program. My legs felt like they had bands around them ...Central and peripheral signals set the circadian liver clock
...nucleus (SCN) in the brain. "Phase adjustments" in peripheral tissues ensure that each clock follows the same sc... question is whether cyclically expressed genes in peripheral tissues are controlled by local circadian clocks or by systemic cues that are directly or indirectly...Targeting tau: Inflammation study suggests new approach for fighting Alzheimer's
...ementia, parkinsonism, or weakened motor skills in peripheral muscles, and later muscle atrophy. Hence, blocking fibril formation or eliminating misfolded proteins have become targets for drug discovery for Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and related disorders. "The ultimate aim of this work is to develop diagnosti......lood cancers (leukemias and lymphomes) by means of peripheral blood T-cell grafts. Peripheral blood stem-cell grafts from immunologically-matched donors are still the best way to treat or cure patients with certain leukemias and lymphomas. In Canada alone, 10 000 people have benefited from this therapy. Howev...Scripps research team discovers a chemical pathway that causes mice to overeat and gain weight
...e lack of EP3 in the central nervous system and/or peripheral organs, as EP3 is expressed in both locations. The research has interesting implications for scientists' understanding of appetite regulation. PGE2 is known to stimulate the release of leptin-an important hormone secreted by white fat cells and a ...Biodesign Institute takes part in $14.4M NIH chemical defense grant
...effects by shutting down the control of the body's peripheral nervous system, including control of glands, internal organs and skeletal muscles. This nervous system has a vital, sweeping scope, from the dilation of the pupil in the eye, through excretion of tears and saliva to powerful muscle contractions in th...JCI table of contents: February 15, 2006
...org/article.php?id=28859 ONCOLOGY: Profiling peripheral T cell lymphoma for clues to its pathogenesis P...t closely related to either CD4+ or CD8+ activated peripheral T lymphocytes. The authors found that, compared to normal T cells, PCTL/Us display deregulation of a...Eye movement tasks can be used to assess fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
...om (antisaccade) a stimulus that appeared in their peripheral visual field. Researchers measured reaction times...tiate eye movement both towards and away from the peripheral visual target," said Reynolds. "FASD children also made a greater number of direction errors, even ...Gene therapy shows promise as treatment for diseased limbs
...omised blood flow is caused by severe blockages of peripheral arteries, or peripheral arterial disease (PAD), which occurs when cholesterol or plaque builds up in the arteries outside th...Gene therapy for blindness clears hurdle in mice
...ing in dimly lit places, followed by loss of their peripheral sight. The rate of progression varies, but most patients are blind by 40. UF Genetics Institute researchers engineered the interfering RNA into a virus, which in turn was injected below the retinas in more than a dozen normal mice. Analysis showed ...Erectile dysfunction in diabetes is due to selective defect in the brain
...ain, an integration center between the central and peripheral nervous systems. The site is involved in numerous functions, including erectile function and sexual behavior, and is a primary site within the forebrain that has been implicated in penile erection. The investigators also examined central nitric oxide......o encountered in almost every cell type (so-called peripheral clocks), in which they regulate daily changes in c...at the Max Planck Institute in Tuebingen find that peripheral clocks require the steroid hormone cortisol to generate daily rhythms of cell proliferation. Their w...