Parkinson disease (PD) is a devastating neurodegenerative movement disorder, pathologically characterized by selective loss of dopaminergic (DA) neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and the presence of intracytoplasmic inclusions named Lewy bodies and Lewy neurites (Schapira, Baillieres Clin. Neurol. 6:15-36, 1997). Increasing numbers of genes have been identified as a genetic cause...

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In an effort to find effective strategies for treatment of body tissue and structural damage as the result of trauma, cancer and other diseases, scientists at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have identified Cartilage-Derived Morphogenetic Proteins (CDMP) and associated pathways instrumental in replacing or regenerating damaged tissue. These proteins have unique activities likely...

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The delivery of DNA/RNA therapeutic drugs is still a major hurdle for the clinical application of DNA/RNA-based drugs. Also, developments in silencing the expression of specific genes, through RNA interference pathways, have led to an increased demand for synthetic RNA sequences and have created a pressing need for rapid and efficient methods for RNA...

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The human nuclear receptor co-repressor (huN-CoR) forms multimolecular complexes that alters chromatin structure, resulting in disrupted gene expression. The huN-CoR complex is central to normal processes such as erythropoiesis and thymocyte development, but is also linked to multiple cancers including colorectal carcinomas, endometrial cancers and leukemia, particularly acute myeloid leukemia. Thus, huN-CoR is a...

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Adeno-associated virus (AAV) is being developed for gene therapy applications. This virus type presents several advantages over alternate vectors for therapeutic gene delivery. AAV is not considered pathogenic and transduces stably dividing and non-dividing cells. AAV also shows good serotype specificity to various cell types for targeted gene delivery. The present invention describes a...

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NIH Inventors have recently discovered a novel Leucine-rich repeat and calponin homology domain-containing protein 4 (Lrch4) in a proteomic screen of the plasma membrane of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-exposed macrophages. Expression data by RT-PCR revealed that all Lrch family members (1-4) are expressed in macrophages, but only Lrch4 was recruited into lipid rafts (signaling microdomains of...

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AAV vectors offer unique advantages in gene therapy applications. Studies have shown that these replication deficient parvovirus vectors can deliver DNA to specific tissues and confer long-term transgene expression in a variety of systems. Although many studies have looked at the tissue-specific expression elicited by each of the AAV serotypes, a true understanding of...

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Scientists have found that individuals who carry a mutation in a gene called BAP1 are susceptible to developing two forms of cancer — mesothelioma, and melanoma of the eye. Additionally, when these individuals are exposed to asbestos or similar mineral fibers, their risk of developing mesothelioma, an aggressive cancer of the lining of the...

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Members of the local media are invited to attend a press availability followed by a roundtable discussion on the multiple benefits of federally-funded research. Join local researchers as they discuss how funding from federal agencies is allowing them to do cutting-edge science and medical research that is benefiting the citizens of North Carolina and...

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Regular exercise could help prevent brain damage associated with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, according to research published this month in Elsevier’s journal Brain, Behavior, and Immunity.

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