SciBX: Science-Business eXchange Contents: September 27 2012, Volume 5 / Issue 38

TABLE OF CONTENTS September 27 2012, Volume 5 / Issue 38 Analysis Cover Story Targets and Mechanisms Tools The Distillery: Therapeutics Cancer Cardiovascular disease Endocrine/metabolic disease Hepatic disease Infectious disease Other The Distillery: Techniques Disease models Drug delivery Markers SciBX: Science-Business eXchange Recommend SciBX to your library today SciBx is a weekly publication that identifies and analyzes the most important translational research articles from over 40 journals. Find out which papers have real scientific and commercial potential, and why. Subscribe to SciBX and you won't miss the next big thing. For more information visit: www.nature.com/scibx.   Trade Secrets A Nature Network blog by BIOENTREPRENEUR Brought to you by Nature Biotechnology Access the insights, advice and commentary from scientists and entrepreneurs building biotech sectors around the world. Join the global dialogue on life science entrepreneurship: http://blogs.nature.com/trade_secrets   Analysis Cover Story Top Resetting the clock in diabetes Lev Osherovich doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.995 A Columbia University team has evidence that pancreatic islet β cells do not die but rather dedifferentiate in mouse models of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The findings suggest a therapeutic strategy of reawakening these dormant cells to restore insulin secretion in diabetics. Full Text | PDF Targets and Mechanisms Top Suppressing AML through SIRPA Kai-Jye Lou doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.996 Toronto researchers have shown that targeting SIRPA disrupts its interaction with CD47 on macrophages and could help prevent engraftment of AML stem cells. The data provide validation for a SIRPA-Fc fusion protein being developed by Trillium that antagonizes the SIRPA-CD47 interaction. Full Text | PDF Tools Top Humanizing malaria mice Tim Fulmer doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.997 U.S. researchers have developed the first mouse model that recapitulates the human stages of the malarial parasite Plasmodium falciparum life cycle. The academics plan to make additional modifications to the mice to improve their utility. Pharmas already want to use the animals in early stage research. Full Text | PDF Slipping therapeutics to the mitochondria Tracey Baas doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.998 University of Georgia researchers have developed a polymeric nanoparticle technology that can selectively deliver small molecules to the mitochondria of cultured cells. The researchers are evaluating the nanoparticles in animal models of Alzheimer's disease, cancer and metabolic disorders. Full Text | PDF Distillery: Therapeutics Cancer Top FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3 (FLT3; CD135) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.999 In vitro and mouse studies suggest statins could help treat FLT3-mutant AML. Full Text | PDF Cyclin dependent kinase 4 (CDK4); MEK; neuroblastoma Ras viral (v-Ras) oncogene (NRAS) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1000 Mouse studies suggest combined inhibition of CDK4 and MEK could help treat NRAS-mutant melanomas. Full Text | PDF Insulin-like growth factor-1 receptor (IGF1R; CD221); insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1001 In vitro and mouse studies suggest antagonizing IGF1R could help prevent resistance to Velcade bortezomib in patients with MM. Full Text | PDF Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1002 Cell culture and mouse studies suggest inhibiting NAMPT could help treat MM. Full Text | PDF Cardiovascular disease Top Polyphosphate doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1003 In vitro and mouse studies identified inhibitors of polyphosphate that could help prevent thrombosis. Full Text | PDF Endocrine/metabolic disease Top MicroRNA-378 (miR-378); miR-378* doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1004 Mouse studies suggest inhibiting miR-378 could help prevent obesity and metabolic syndrome. Full Text | PDF PTEN (MMAC1; TEP1) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1005 Human studies suggest PTEN mutations could help predict obesity risk. Full Text | PDF Hepatic disease Top IL-1 receptor (IL-1R); IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1006 Mouse studies suggest IL-1RA could help treat alcoholic liver disease. Full Text | PDF Infectious disease Top Dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR); pteridine reductase (PTR1) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1007 Cell culture studies identified piperidine-pteridine–based PTR1 inhibitors that could help circumvent antifolate drug resistance associated with Leishmania infection. Full Text | PDF Granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF; CSF2) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1008 Mouse studies suggest increasing GM-CSF signaling in airway epithelial cells could help promote recovery from influenza virus infection. Full Text | PDF Influenza A virus hemagglutinin (HA) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1009 In vitro and mouse studies suggest the HA-targeting mAb CO5 could help prevent or treat influenza infection. Full Text | PDF Unknown doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1010 In vitro studies suggest a modified oxyphenbutazone (OPB) could help treat tuberculosis. Full Text | PDF Other Top Not applicable doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1011 Gerbil studies suggest stem cell–based therapy could help treat hearing loss caused by auditory neuropathy. Full Text | PDF Distillery: Techniques Disease models Top Cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) knockout ferrets as models for cystic fibrosis–related diabetes doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1012 Cftr knockout ferrets could be useful models for cystic fibrosis–related diabetes. Full Text | PDF Dedifferentiation and restoration of islet β cells in diabetes doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1013 Diabetic mice show dedifferentiation of pancreatic islet β cells and could be used to screen compounds to restore islet β cells. Full Text | PDF Dj-1(Park7)-deficient mice as models for Parkinson's disease (PD)-associated neurodegeneration doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1014 Dj-1-deficient mice could be useful models for PD. Full Text | PDF Humanized mouse model for liver-stage malaria infection doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1015 Mice with humanized livers could be useful for identifying compounds that target the liver stage of human malarial strain Plasmodium falciparum. Full Text | PDF Drug delivery Top Activation of sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor to improve drug delivery across the blood brain barrier (BBB) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1016 Sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor agonists could help improve drug delivery across the BBB. Full Text | PDF Mixed mitochondria-targeted polymeric nanoparticles for drug delivery doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1017 Nanoparticles consisting of a mix of polymeric molecules could help improve drug delivery to the mitochondria. Full Text | PDF Markers Top Markers of squamous cell lung cancer doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1018 Genomic studies have identified recurrent mutations in squamous cell lung cancer samples that could be useful markers or therapeutic targets. Full Text | PDF You have been sent this Table of Contents Alert because you have opted in to receive it. 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