SciBX: Science-Business eXchange Contents: October 18 2012, Volume 5 / Issue 41

TABLE OF CONTENTS October 18 2012, Volume 5 / Issue 41 Analysis Cover Story Targets and Mechanisms Tools The Distillery: Therapeutics Autoimmune disease Cancer Cardiovascular disease Endocrine/metabolic disease Infectious disease Musculoskeletal disease Neurology The Distillery: Techniques Disease models Drug delivery Drug platforms Imaging New Partnering Opportunities in Alzheimer's Disease! A comprehensive interactive dashboard from Relay Technology Management.  Click here for more information on Alzheimer's partnering opportunities.   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 Taking the fat out of cancer Tim Fulmer doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1071 UT Southwestern Medical Center researchers have shown that an antibody targeting endotrophin, a fat cell–derived extracellular protein, reduced growth of breast tumors in mice. The team will next study the antibody in animal models of obesity-induced cancer and test a humanized version in human cancer samples. Full Text | PDF Targets and Mechanisms Top EZH2 moves Joanne Kotz doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1072 Epizyme and GSK have independently reported small molecule inhibitors of the histone methyltransferase EZH2 that showed efficacy in preclinical models of lymphomas with activating mutations of the target. Both companies plan to take EZH2 inhibitors into the clinic in cancer. Full Text | PDF Black mamba takes away pain Lev Osherovich doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1073 French researchers have isolated peptides from black mamba venom that block acid-sensing channels to alleviate pain. The technology has been licensed to Theralpha. Full Text | PDF Tools Top Self-contained tissue factories Tracey Baas doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1074 University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine researchers have shown that transplanting cells into mouse lymph nodes leads to engraftment and generation of ectopic tissue mass that could replace the function of failing organs. The team is now testing the technique in pig models of liver failure. Full Text | PDF Distillery: Therapeutics Autoimmune disease Top Cannabinoid CB2 receptor (CNR2) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1075 In vitro and mouse studies identified selective CNR2 agonists that could help treat IBD. Full Text | PDF Prostacyclin receptor (PTGIR) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1076 Mouse studies suggest PTGIR agonists could help treat MS. Full Text | PDF Cancer Top Endotrophin doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1077 Mouse studies suggest antagonizing endotrophin could help treat breast cancer. Full Text | PDF Not applicable doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1078 Computational analysis of breast cancer samples from patients suggests therapeutic strategies used to treat ovarian cancer could help treat a class of basal-like breast tumors. Full Text | PDF Notch 1 (NOTCH1) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1079 Mouse studies suggest suppressing NOTCH1 signaling could help treat intrahepatic cholangiocarcinomas (ICCs). Full Text | PDF Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1080 Mouse and in vitro studies suggest inhibiting EZH2 could help treat NHL characterized by EZH2-activating mutations. Full Text | PDF Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1081 Patient sample and mouse studies suggest inhibiting TLR7 could help treat pancreatic cancer. Full Text | PDF B cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2; BCL2); Bcl-XL doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1082 Cell culture and mouse studies identified inhibitors of BCL-2 and Bcl-XL that could help treat small cell lung cancer. Full Text | PDF Cardiovascular disease Top Potassium channel Kv11.1 (KCNH2; ERG) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1083 High throughput screening and rabbit studies identified a modulator of ERG activity that could help prevent drug-induced arrhythmias. Full Text | PDF MicroRNA-34a (miR-34a); miR-34b; miR-34c doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1084 Mouse studies suggest locked nucleic acids (LNAs) that inhibit the miR-34 family could promote recovery following MI. Full Text | PDF Endocrine/metabolic disease Top VEGF-B doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1085 Mouse studies suggest antagonizing VEGF-B could be useful for treating type 2 diabetes. Full Text | PDF Ceramide synthase 5 (CERS5; LASS5) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1086 Studies in cell culture and in mice suggest antagonizing CERS5 could be useful for treating diabetic cardiomyopathy. Full Text | PDF NK2 homeobox 1 (NKX2-1; TTF1); paired box gene 8 (PAX8) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1087 Studies in cell culture and in mice suggest embryonic stem cell (ESC)-derived follicular cells could be used to treat hypothyroidism. Full Text | PDF Infectious disease Top Bas-Congo virus doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1088 Deep sequencing of patient samples suggests the Bas-Congo rhabdovirus could be a diagnostic marker for an acute viral hemorrhagic fever. Full Text | PDF Musculoskeletal disease Top Hexamethylene bis-acetamide inducible 1 (HEXIM1) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1089 Mouse studies suggest inhibiting HEXIM1 signaling could help enhance muscle repair and regeneration. Full Text | PDF Neurology Top Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1090 Mouse studies suggest a GLP-1 cleavage product could help treat AD. Full Text | PDF Acid-sensing ion channel-1 (ASIC1); ASIC2 doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1091 Cell culture and mouse studies suggest snake venom–derived peptides that antagonize ASIC1 and ASIC2 could be useful for treating pain. Full Text | PDF Protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1092 Rodent studies suggest inhibiting PAR2 signaling could help treat cancer-associated pain. Full Text | PDF Distillery: Techniques Disease models Top Mouse model for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1093 A mouse model of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) could be used to help identify therapeutics. Full Text | PDF Patient-specific cell culture model of cystic fibrosis (CF) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1094 Human cell culture studies suggest in vitro–differentiated patient-derived stem cells could be useful for screening CF therapeutics. Full Text | PDF Drug delivery Top Liposomal formulation of saxitoxin and dexamethasone to delay neuropathic pain doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1095 Studies in rats suggest a liposomal formulation of the sodium channel blocker saxitoxin and the glucocorticoid agonist dexamethasone could delay neuropathic pain. Full Text | PDF Drug platforms Top Improving drug-like properties of protein therapeutics through peptide extensions that interact with the Fc fragment of IgG receptor transporter-α (FCGRT; FCRN) doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1096 Peptide extensions that promote the interaction of proteins with FCRN could improve the drug-like properties of protein therapeutics. Full Text | PDF Mesoporous silica–coated upconversion fluorescent nanoparticles (UCNs) as a photodynamic therapy agent for cancer doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1097 Mouse studies suggest UCNs could be photosensitizers that enable photodynamic therapy in deep tissue, which could be used to help treat cancer. Full Text | PDF Paper-based diagnostic for drug-associated hepatotoxicity doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1098 A paper-based method for detecting liver enzymes in the blood could be useful for detecting drug-related hepatotoxicity in the point-of-care setting. Full Text | PDF Imaging Top Analysis of CT images to assess chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) phenotype doi:10.1038/scibx.2012.1099 Analysis of CT scans could be useful for assessing COPD phenotype. Full Text | PDF You have been sent this Table of Contents Alert because you have opted in to receive it. 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