Latest news with #CellMetabolism
South China Morning Post
26-05-2025
- Health
- South China Morning Post
Sleep helps the brain enter repair mode to clean up free radicals, Chinese study finds
Sleep serves as the brain's nightly clean-up crew, flushing out harmful oxygen-derived free radicals that accumulate during wakefulness, Chinese scientists have discovered in a landmark study. The research published in Cell Metabolism on May 15 deciphers how hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), a reactive by-product of metabolism, acts as a molecular signal to trigger sleep and restore balance in the brain. By confirming a decades-old hypothesis, the team found that when H₂O₂ levels rise in sleep-regulating neurons, the brain switches to 'repair mode,' prompting restorative slumber. 06:23 Can China claim the leadership mantle after the US quits the WHO and Paris Agreement? Can China claim the leadership mantle after the US quits the WHO and Paris Agreement? Excess build-up of these free radicals disrupts sleep quality and sparks inflammation, offering critical insights into age-related insomnia and degenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease This breakthrough not only solves a long-standing mystery of why sleep is biologically essential but also opens pathways for therapies targeting oxidative stress to combat sleep disorders. While scientists around the globe have identified some molecular changes that occur in the brain during sleep, Liu Danqian, a researcher from the Shanghai-based Centre for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology, an affiliate of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, who led the study, said this was 'the first time' they had fully delineated how a molecule specifically functioned in the brain. Just as a person seeks food when they are hungry or water when they are thirsty, this type of instinctive behaviour is known in neuroscience as 'homeostatic regulation' – the body's ability to maintain a stable internal environment. One mystery scientists have been exploring is what kinds of material changes in the brain trigger homeostatic regulation of sleep, according to Liu.
Hans India
24-05-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Study shows impact of weight loss drugs on nerve cells in brain
New Delhi: Swedish researchers have tracked how nerve cells get activated by weight loss drugs such as semaglutide and how it affects the brain. Semaglutide belongs to a group of drugs called GLP-1R agonists and has been shown to effectively reduce food intake and body weight. The drug is already well established as part of the treatment for obesity and type 2 diabetes but can cause side effects such as nausea and muscle loss. In the study, researchers at the Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg showed that it is possible to distinguish the nerve cells in the brain that control the beneficial effects --such as reduced food intake and fat loss -- from those that contribute to side effects. To investigate how semaglutide affects the brain, the researchers worked with mice. They tracked which nerve cells were activated by the drug and were then able to stimulate these cells—without administering the drug itself. The results, published in the journal Cell Metabolism, revealed that the mice ate less and lost weight, just as they did when treated with semaglutide. When these nerve cells were killed, the drug's effect on appetite and fat loss instead decreased significantly. However, side effects such as nausea and muscle loss remained. "This suggests that these nerve cells control the beneficial effects of semaglutide. We have therefore identified a specific group of nerve cells that is necessary for the effects that semaglutide has on weight and appetite, but which does not appear to contribute to any significant extent to side effects such as nausea. "If we can target the treatment there, we may be able to maintain the positive effects while reducing side effects," says Júlia Teixidor-Deulofeu, first author of the study and Ph.D. student at Sahlgrenska Academy at the University of Gothenburg. The identified nerve cells are located in an area of the brain called the dorsal vagal complex. The team noted that the finding is not only an early step toward potentially improved treatment, but it also provides new knowledge about how semaglutide works in the brain. The study also provides deeper insight into how the brain stem regulates our energy balance.
Time of India
15-05-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Can a hormone reverse fatty liver disease? Here's what experts think
Researchers at Oklahoma University found that the hormone FGF21 can reverse fatty liver disease. The hormone signals the brain to improve liver function. It lowers liver fat and reverses fibrosis. The hormone also lowers cholesterol. This discovery could lead to new drugs for treating fatty liver disease. Clinical trials are showing good therapeutic benefits. Fatty liver disease is rising as a global health concern. Often considered a 'silent' disease as it shows few or no symptoms, fatty liver disease, however, can get serious, depending on its cause and progression. A new study has found that a certain hormone can reverse fatty liver disease . A groundbreaking study by the researchers at the University of Oklahoma found that a hormone can reverse the effects of fatty liver disease in mice. The study is published in Cell Metabolism . What is fatty liver disease? Fatty liver, medically known as hepatic steatosis, is a condition in which fat builds up in the liver. There are two major types of fatty liver disease: alcoholic fatty liver disease (AFLD) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). AFLD, as the name suggests, occurs in people who drink large amounts of alcohol. NAFLD, on the other hand, affects people who drink little or no alcohol. Though the cause of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is unknown, people who have type 2 diabetes, or prediabetes, obesity, are middle-aged or older, have high blood pressure, are prone to the disease. How does the hormone control fatty liver disease? The researchers found that the hormone FGF21 (fibroblast growth factor 21) can reverse fatty liver disease . The hormone works primarily by signaling the brain to improve liver function . Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo They delved into how FGF21 acts on the brain to influence liver metabolism. Understanding the mechanism of action of the hormone could become instrumental as a target for a new class of highly anticipated drugs that are in Phase 3 clinical trials. 'Fatty liver disease, or MASLD (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease), is a buildup of fat in the liver. It can progress to MASH (metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis) during which fibrosis and, ultimately, cirrhosis can occur. MASLD is becoming a very big problem in the United States, affecting 40% of people worldwide, and there is currently only one treatment approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat MASH. A new class of drugs, based on FGF21 signaling, is showing good therapeutic benefits in clinical trials, but until now, the mechanism for how they work has been unclear,' Matthew Potthoff, Ph.D., the lead author and a professor of biochemistry and physiology at the University of Oklahoma College of Medicine and deputy director of OU Health Harold Hamm Diabetes Center said in a statement. Fatty liver diet: Best and worst foods for your liver The findings showed that FGF21 was effective at causing signaling in the model species that changed the liver's metabolism. The researchers found that this process lowered the liver's fat, and the fibrosis too was reversed. The hormone also sent a separate signal directly to the liver, specifically to lower cholesterol. 'It's a feedback loop where the hormone sends a signal to the brain, and the brain changes nerve activity to the liver to protect it. The majority of the effect comes from the signal to the brain as opposed to signaling the liver directly, but together, the two signals are powerful in their ability to regulate the different types of lipids in the liver,' Potthoff added. Similar to the GLP-1s (glucagon-like peptide 1) weightloss drugs that regulate blood sugar levels and appetite, FGF21 acts on the brain to regulate metabolism. Interestingly, both are hormones produced from peripheral tissues: GLP-1 from the intestine and FGF21 from the liver, and both work by sending a signal to the brain. 'It is interesting that this metabolic hormone/drug works primarily by signaling to the brain instead of to the liver directly, in this case. FGF21 is quite powerful because it not only led to a reduction of fat, but it also mediated the reversal of fibrosis, which is the pathological part of the disease, and it did so while the mice were still eating a diet that would cause the disease. Now, we not only understand how the hormone works, but it may guide us in creating even more targeted therapies in the future,' the lead author added. Future-Proof Your Child with AI Skills | Limited Early Bird Seats – 33% OFF! | WhatsApp: 9560500838
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Scientists identify strategy to boost mitochondrial function, improve immunotherapy treatment
May 2—Despite the massive successes of immunotherapy, which utilizes the body's immune system as a tool to fight cancer, therapy resistance is still a common treatment obstacle for many patients with solid tumors. With a new paper in the leading scientific journal Cell Metabolism, the lab of Vivek Verma, PhD, assistant professor at The Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, outlines a pharmacological method to boost mitochondrial function in cells that could be easily translated to clinics, enhancing immunotherapy treatments for better outcomes in patients. "This study has huge implications in reversing the resistance of cancer patients to various immunotherapies," Verma said. "Our study provides a direct link between cell metabolism and gene expression, especially in mitochondria." The cancerous tumor microenvironment is a hostile one, especially to an immune cell's powerhouse: the mitochondria. Signals given off in this microenvironment can interfere with nutrition, inhibit mitochondrial function, and lead to immune cell exhaustion. With little to no energy, immune cells are unable to actively fight off pathogens, infections, and cancerous cells. Mitochondrial function is also essential for the process of T cells transitioning from their naive phase to the effector phase—when these immune cells begin actively fighting off pathogens or cancerous cells. Currently, there are not yet any clinically viable strategies that can be used to target mitochondria to ensure it retains the power necessary to fight off disease, including cancer. In the Cell Metabolism paper, Verma and the team found that activating the enzyme PKM2 helped boost mitochondrial metabolism in anti-tumor CD8 T cells. Additionally, the team learned that CD8 T cells with activated PKM2 also displayed better efficacy in adoptive cell models and in combination with immune checkpoint-based immunotherapy. "Surprisingly, the roles of PKM2 in CD8 T cells had not yet been established. In this study, we show for the first time that pharmacological activation of PKM2 leads to mitochondria-mediated enhancement of effector functions in CD8 T cells," Verma said. "Also surprisingly, we found that PKM2 modifies cell metabolism that regulates the expression of genes located on mitochondrial DNA. Our study provides a direct link between cell metabolism and gene expression, especially in mitochondria."
India Today
26-04-2025
- Health
- India Today
Interval walking boosts heart health and helps you reduce weight: What is it
When it comes to improving your heart health and shedding those extra kilos, you don't always need intense gym workouts or fancy equipment.A simple routine called interval walking is proving to be highly effective, and it's something almost anyone can IS INTERVAL WALKING? Interval walking involves alternating between periods of brisk walking and slower, relaxed walking. The idea is to walk at a faster-than-usual pace for a short time to raise your heart rate, then slow down to recover, and repeat the cycle over a set time or key is to walk briskly enough to get your heart rate up and make you work harder," according to Dr. Lauren Elson, medical editor of the Harvard Special Health Report Walking for what counts as "brisk" can differ from person to person. To find the right intensity, Dr. Elson recommends using the Perceived Exertion Scale, aiming for a 5 to 6 level, which is a moderate-intensity effort where you can still talk but not INTERVAL WALKING MATTERSResearch shows that interval walking offers numerous heart-health benefits. A major study published in Cell Metabolism found that people aged 65 to 80 who did interval workouts, including walking routines, not only improved their cardiovascular health but also reversed age-related muscle loss. Their muscles became stronger, more powerful, and more interval walking supports weight loss by boosting metabolism and helping burn more calories compared to steady, slow walking. The repeated bursts of effort challenge the body, making it an efficient and sustainable way to shed extra 5-4-5 WALKING FORMULAA new twist on interval walking, called the 5-4-5 formula, is gaining attention. It's simple:5 minutes of running or brisk walking to raise your heart rate4 minutes of slow walking to recover5 minutes of brisk walking to maintain elevated heart activityRepeating this sequence two to three times a day can create a 30- to 45-minute workout that fits easily into busy schedules. There's no need for a gym, and you can do it anywhere, in a park, around your neighbourhood, or even on a treadmill.A 2024 study published in the Journal of Physical Activity and Health found that structured walking intervals significantly improved VO max — a key measure of aerobic fitness. Participants who followed an interval routine also saw notable reductions in Body Mass Index (BMI) after just six short bursts of movement throughout the day can counteract the negative effects of prolonged sitting. According to another study, taking 7,000 to 9,000 steps daily, especially broken into brisk bursts, can greatly reduce the risks linked to sedentary continuous jogging or running, interval walking is gentler on the joints while still offering powerful cardiovascular benefits. It strikes a healthy balance between high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and traditional aerobic exercise, making it a great option for people of all fitness a world filled with complex fitness trends, the 5-4-5 walking formula stands out for its simplicity and effectiveness. Whether your goal is to lose weight, improve heart health, or just feel better mentally and physically, interval walking offers a smart, science-backed solution that fits into daily small steps, quite literally, can lead to big gains for your heart, waistline, and overall well-being.
