Two 2021 reviews presented aspects of human immune systems: “The adaptive immune system’s challenge is to protect the host through generation and differentiation of pathogen‐specific short‐lived effector T cells, while in parallel developing long‐lived memory cells to control future encounters with the same pathogen. The system highly relies on self‐renewal of naïve and memory T … Continue reading Adaptive and innate immunity
This 2019 Dutch/German/Romanian perspective aimed for a better understanding of immune systems: “Based on molecular, immunological, and evolutionary arguments, we propose that innate immune memory is a primitive form of immune memory present in all living organisms, while adaptive immune memory is an advanced form of immune memory representing an evolutionary innovation in vertebrates. Innate … Continue reading Immune memory vs. immune adaptation
This 2015 Baylor human cell study subject was the underlying mechanisms of cellular responses to environmental stressors of cold, heat, hypoxia, and oxidation: “Because trinucleotide repeats are overrepresented in gene-regulatory proteins, stress-induced trinucleotide repeat mutagenesis may provide a path for the environment to subtly alter gene regulatory networks – with attendant changes in cell behavior – during … Continue reading Adaptations to stress encourage mutations in a DNA area that causes diseases
A 2023 porcine study expanded Part 1’s coverage to include stomach and small intestine microbiota: “Identification of individual intestinal microbes affecting phenotypes and diseases depends on statistical analyses between these two main variables. Because the phenotypes or diseases are typically well-defined, success of statistical analyses on these studies depend on precise elucidation of gut microbiome … Continue reading Measuring gut microbiota, Part 2
Two reviews of Nrf2 relationships with our two immune systems, starting with adaptive immunity: “We highlight recent findings about the influence of Keap1 and Nrf2 in development and effector functions of adaptive immune cells, T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes. We summarize Nrf2 research potential and targetability for treating immune pathologies. Immune cells have mechanisms in … Continue reading Nrf2 Week #7: Immunity
It’s been a while since I curated Nrf2 research. Read almost a dozen relevant 2023 papers last week. Let’s begin with an opinion paper by a highly qualified researcher: “The inducible transcription factor nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2) regulates expression of several hundred genes encoding proteins with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, drug metabolising, and other … Continue reading Nrf2 Week #1: Targeting
Here is a 2021 rodent study and relevant parts from 3 of its 26 citing papers: “A long line of evidence has established the laboratory mouse as the prime model of human aging. However, relatively little is known about detailed behavioral and functional changes that occur across their lifespan, and how this maps onto the … Continue reading What do we know about human aging from mouse models?
This 2022 human cell study investigated DNA methylation and aging: “Models based on DNA methylation can be used to predict the age of biological samples, but their interpretability is limited due to the lack of causal inferences. Neither existing epigenetic clocks nor DNA methylation changes are enriched in causal CpG sites. Causal CpGs include similar … Continue reading Measuring epigenetic DNA causes
Two papers on trained immunity, starting with a 2022 review: “Live attenuated vaccines such as the Bacillus Calmette–Guérin, measles-containing vaccines, and the oral polio vaccine have been shown to reduce overall mortality beyond their effects attributable to the targeted diseases. After an encounter with a primary stimulus, epigenetic and metabolic reprogramming of bone marrow progenitor … Continue reading Trained immunity epigenetics
Two 2022 papers, starting with a review of irisin: “This article is an overview of irisin generation, secretion, and tissue distribution. Its targeting of tissues or organs for prevention and treatment of chronic diseases is systematically summarized, with discussion of underlying molecular mechanisms. Irisin is an exercise-induced myokine expressed as a bioactive peptide in multiple … Continue reading The goddess of rainbows
Three 2022 papers on methylation epigenetic modifiers, starting with a human study focused on mitochondrial DNA non-CpG methylation involving nucleobases other than guanine (arginine, cytosine, or thymine): “We collected brain tissue in the nucleus accumbens and prefrontal cortex from deceased individuals without (n = 39) and with (n = 14) drug use, and used whole-genome bisulfite sequencing to cover … Continue reading Non-CpG methylation
This 2022 study investigated brain aging: “We aimed to explore key genes underlying cognitively normal brain aging and its potential molecular mechanisms. Cellular and molecular mechanisms of brain aging are complex and mainly include: Dysfunction of mitochondria; Accumulation of oxidatively damaged proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids in brain cells; Disorders of energy metabolism; Impaired ‘waste … Continue reading Young immune system, young brain
This 2022 study investigated biological mechanisms of aging: “Age-related multimorbidity, the presence of more than one age-related disease (ARD) in an individual, poses a major and increasing challenge. Open questions are whether mechanisms of aging can explain ARD co-occurrence in patients, and whether intervention into these mechanisms could prevent or treat multiple ARDs simultaneously. Five … Continue reading Signaling pathways and aging
This 2022 review explored the title subject: “Cell signaling imposes many demands on proteins that comprise these pathways, including abilities to form active and inactive states, and to engage in multiple protein interactions. Signaling often requires amplifying signals, regulating or tuning responses to signals, combining information sourced from multiple pathways, all while ensuring process fidelity. … Continue reading Signaling pathways and disordered proteins
I’ll highlight signaling pathway aspects of this 2022 review: “The gut bacterial community plays an important role in regulation of multiple aspects of metabolic disorders. This regulation depends, among other things, on production of a wide variety of metabolites by microbiota and on their interactions with receptors on host cells that can activate or inhibit … Continue reading Gut signals
Surface Your Real Self 