PRESS-NEWS.org - Press Release Distribution
PRESS RELEASES DISTRIBUTION

Atherosclerosis: Specific microRNAs promote inflammation

2013-03-22
(Press-News.org) Atherosclerosis, an inflammatory reaction, is at the root of the most common forms of cardiovascular disease. Researchers at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitaet (LMU) in Munich have now identified a microRNA that plays a prominent role in the process, and offers a promising target for new therapies.

Atherosclerosis – otherwise known as hardening of the arteries – is a prevalent cause of death in modern societies. The condition arises from the build-up of localized fatty deposits called plaques in the arteries. Macrophages, the phagocytic cells of the immune system, migrate to these sites, inducing chronic inflammation which exacerbates the accumulation of the atherosclerotic lesions. These can lead to obstruction of major vessels, causing heart attack and stroke. A team of medical researchers led by LMU's Professor Andreas Schober has now identified a microRNA (miRNA) that helps initiate the inflammatory process.

miRNAs are short segments of RNA derived from longer precursors transcribed from defined stretches of the genomic DNA. They act as versatile regulators of gene expression in cells, and also control the function of macrophages, in which patterns of gene activity must respond rapidly to changes in the extracellular environment. "However, the miRNAs that control the inflammation process during the various stages of atherosclerosis had not been identified up to now," says Schober.

In an earlier study, Schober and his team had shown that the microRNA miR-155 is a prominent member of the miRNA population in macrophages. The molecule prevents the synthesis of a protein that inhibits the inflammatory reaction, and thus promotes the progression of atherosclerosis. However, miR-155 does not serve as the initiator of inflammation. Schober and his colleagues have now looked at the patterns of microRNA expression in atherosclerotic lesions in the mouse, and noted that levels of a different miRNA, called miR-342-5p, increase in very early plaques.

New therapeutic approaches "The newly identified miR-342-5p is actually expressed constituently in macrophages, but it is activated by pro-inflammatory signals. This activation process then induces production of miR-155," Schober explains. The results of the new study thus make miR-342-5p an interesting target for new therapeutic agents. Indeed, in their animal model, the researchers have been able to demonstrate that inhibition of the action of miR-342-5p by means of a specific antagonist retards the progression of atherosclerosis.

"Atherosclerosis in humans should also be susceptible to treatment with inhibitors of microRNAs," Schober suggests. "Synthetic inhibitors are available for each and every microRNA, and could be used for therapeutic purposes as soon as their efficacy and safety has been demonstrated in clinical tests." Hence the researchers now plan to collaborate with biotechnology companies on the development of their own specific microRNA inhibitor for future clinical use.

### END


ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:

Modest changes in military dining facilities promoted healthier eating

2013-03-22
Philadelphia, PA, March 22, 2013 – The prevalence of obesity within the military is currently 13 percent. This rising epidemic, also rampant throughout the general population, could result in military career setbacks, negatively impact operational readiness, and jeopardize Department of Defense operations. To combat the epidemic, a team of researchers chose the military cafeteria as the venue to observe and evaluate eating behavior and the positive impact of modest changes to promote healthy eating and food selection. The results are captured in a new report published by ...

Invasive species: Understanding the threat before it's too late

2013-03-22
Catching rides on cargo ships and fishing boats, many invasive species are now covering our shorelines and compromising the existence of our native marine life. In a study published in Ecology Letters, Northeastern University Prof. David Kimbro and his team examine what factors allow some invasive species to survive in their new environments and others to fail. WHY SHOULD WE CARE? Once invasive species arrive in their new location, they begin multiplying, and in some cases, overpowering the local marine life. This can have a very strong impact on our ecosystems and ...

Certain bacteria suppress production of toxic shock toxin: Probiotic potential looms

2013-03-22
Certain Streptococci increase their production of toxic shock syndrome toxin 1, sometimes to potentially dangerous levels, when aerobic bacteria are present in the vagina. But scientists from the University of Western Ontario have discovered certain strains of lactobacillus bacteria are capable of dampening production of that toxin according to research published in the journal Applied and Environmental Microbiology. "The risk of potentially fatal toxic shock syndrome appears to be influenced by the types of bacteria present in the vagina," says principal investigator ...

Study shows resources giveaway in Latin America; Outdated model tramples human rights, environment

2013-03-22
Contact: Coimbra Sirica csirica@burnesscommunications.com 52-155-215-38038 Angélica Zambrano anyelik.zam@gmail.com 571-510-55-53 Burness Communications Study shows resources giveaway in Latin America; Outdated model tramples human rights, environment Researcher points to 'colonial mentality' as governments race to attract investors; Cites destruction of forests, rivers, way of life of rural communities in 4 nations BOGOTÁ, COLOMBIA (21 March 2013)—A new study reveals that governments in Latin America have returned to natural resources extraction to fuel ...

Making axons branch and grow to help nerve regeneration after injury

2013-03-22
PHILADELPHIA (March 22, 2013)— One molecule makes nerve cells grow longer. Another one makes them grow branches. These new experimental manipulations have taken researchers a step closer to understanding how nerve cells are repaired at their farthest reaches after injury. The research was recently published in the Journal of Neuroscience. "If you injure a peripheral nerve, it will spontaneously regenerate, but it goes very slowly. We're trying to speed that up," said Dr. Jeffery Twiss, a professor and head of the biology department at Drexel University in the College of ...

It all hinges on the bottom line

2013-03-22
This press release is available in French. Montreal March 22, 2013 – Determining the financial health of a company is no easy task. But new research from Concordia University's John Molson School of Business, recently published in the Journal of Corporate Finance, demonstrates that a company that revises its previous financial statements is more likely to have been poorly governed. "These restatements can result from a number of factors including accounting errors or omissions or fraud," explains the study's co-author, Lawrence Kryzanowski, professor and Ned Goodman ...

Computer simulations yield clues to how cells interact with surroundings

2013-03-22
Your cells are social butterflies. They constantly interact with their surroundings, taking in cues on when to divide and where to anchor themselves, among other critical tasks. This networking is driven in part by proteins called integrin, which reside in a cell's outer plasma membrane. Their job is to convert mechanical forces from outside the cell into internal chemical signals that tell the cell what to do. That is, when they work properly. When they misfire, integrins can cause diseases such as atherosclerosis and several types of cancer. Despite their importance—good ...

Huge and widespread volcanic eruptions triggered the end-Triassic extinction

2013-03-22
CAMBRIDGE, MA -- More than 200 million years ago, a massive extinction decimated 76 percent of marine and terrestrial species, marking the end of the Triassic period and the onset of the Jurassic. This devastating event cleared the way for dinosaurs to dominate Earth for the next 135 million years, taking over ecological niches formerly occupied by other marine and terrestrial species. It's not entirely clear what caused the end-Triassic extinction, although most scientists agree on a likely scenario: Over a relatively short period of time, massive volcanic eruptions ...

Energy drinks may increase blood pressure, disturb heart rhythm

2013-03-22
Energy drinks may increase blood pressure and disturb your heart's natural rhythm, according to research presented at the American Heart Association's Epidemiology and Prevention/Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism 2013 Scientific Sessions. Researchers analyzed data from seven previously published observational and interventional studies to determine how consuming energy drinks might impact heart health. In the first part of the pooled analysis, the researchers examined the QT interval of 93 people who had just consumed one to three cans of energy drinks. They ...

Eating too much salt led to 2.3 million heart-related deaths worldwide in 2010

2013-03-22
Eating too much salt contributed to 2.3 million deaths from heart attacks, strokes and other heart-related diseases throughout the world in 2010, representing 15 percent of all deaths due to these causes, according to research presented at the American Heart Association's Epidemiology and Prevention/Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism 2013 Scientific Sessions. The researchers analyzed 247 surveys of adult sodium intake, stratified by age, gender, region and country between 1990 and 2010 as part of the 2010 Global Burden of Diseases Study, an international collaborative ...

LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:

From octopus intelligence to smart artificial blood vessels: 2025 Schmidt Science Fellows to break new ground with interdisciplinary research

Experts challenge aspirin guidelines based on their undue reliance on a flawed trial

McGill discovery sheds new light on autism, intellectual disabilities

Cellular changes occur even below the hexavalent chromium limit

Study suggests a new way to curb social media’s body image toll

Plant doctor: An AI system that watches over urban trees without touching a leaf

Study tracks chromium chemistry in irradiated molten salts

Scientists: the beautiful game is a silver bullet for global health

Being physically active, even just a couple of days a week, may be key to better health

High-fat diet promote breast cancer metastasis in animal models

A router for photons

Nurses and AI collaborate to save lives, reduce hospital stays

Multi-resistance in bacteria predicted by AI model

Tinker Tots: A citizen science project to explore ethical dilemmas in embryo selection

Sensing sickness

Cost to build multifamily housing in California more than twice as high as in Texas

Program takes aim at drinking, unsafe sex, and sexual assault on college campuses

Inability to pay for healthcare reaches record high in U.S.

Science ‘storytelling’ urgently needed amid climate and biodiversity crisis

KAIST Develops Retinal Therapy to Restore Lost Vision​

Adipocyte-hepatocyte signaling mechanism uncovered in endoplasmic reticulum stress response

Mammals were adapting from life in the trees to living on the ground before dinosaur-killing asteroid

Low LDL cholesterol levels linked to reduced risk of dementia

Thickening of the eye’s retina associated with greater risk and severity of postoperative delirium in older patients

Almost one in ten people surveyed report having been harmed by the NHS in the last three years

Enhancing light control with complex frequency excitations

New research finds novel drug target for acute myeloid leukemia, bringing hope for cancer patients

New insight into factors associated with a common disease among dogs and humans

Illuminating single atoms for sustainable propylene production

New study finds Rocky Mountain snow contamination

[Press-News.org] Atherosclerosis: Specific microRNAs promote inflammation