cells

While examining patterns of DNA modification in lung cancer, scientists have discovered what they say is a surprising new mechanism.

They say that "silencing" of a single gene in lung cancer led to a general impairment in genome-wide changes in cells, contributing to cancer development and progression.

Current research suggests laminin, a protein that helps cells stick together, may lead to enhanced muscle repair in muscular dystrophy.

Researchers have created a new family of fluorescent probes called hydrocyanines that can be used to detect and measure the presence of reactive oxygen species -- superoxide and the hydroxide radical -- in cells, tissue and, for the first time, in vivo.

HIV is so deadly largely because it evolves so rapidly. With a single virus as the origin of an infection, most patients will quickly come to harbor thousands of different versions of HIV, all a little bit different and all competing with one another to most efficiently infect that person's cells.

Now scientists have settled a longstanding question about just how HIV morphs in the body.

MIT Engineers have developed carbon nanotubes into sensors for cancer drugs and other DNA-damaging agents inside living cells.

Scientists have determined that the immune-system protein interferon plays a key role in "teaching" the immune system how to fight off repeated infections of the same virus.

(Cytori Therapeutics) Cytori Therapeutics reports 12-month pre-clinical study results that suggest the potential benefit of adipose-derived stem and regenerative cells in spinal disc repair.

The data are top-line findings that will be reported in full in spring 2009.

Cells shut down and stop dividing when their DNA is damaged so as to prevent damaged DNA from leading to unregulated cell division and therefore cancer.

However, a new study has found that when these cells shut down they also spew proteins into their surrounding environment.

This causes inflammation and sets up conditions that support the development of age-related diseases including, ironically, cancer.

How "molecular machines" inside cells swing into action to activate genes at different times in a cell's life is revealed in new research published in Molecular Cell.

Scientists have discovered a mechanism by which intracellular pathogens can shut down one of the body's key chemical weapons against them: nitric oxide.