Francesca Biscu’s Post

I am more than happy that our paper on #RIM (Radiation-Induced Morphea) is finally published in #ScientificReports! RIM occurs after #radiotherapy (mainly of the breast) and presents as painful inflammatory #fibrosis. This is the first experimental characterisation of this rare but severe diseases. We identified aberrant Myc pathway activation as a disease-driving mechanism. #Repurposing of #Mesalazine reverses the pathological cellular phenotype and led to successful treatment of one severely affected patient. We provide new thoughts and hypotheses on the role of the #TME (tumour micro environment) and cancer-educated fibroblasts. Thank you to all the authors who contributed! Check out the full article:

"A new study has identified two distinct subtypes of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD)—formerly known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)—a fatty liver disease that can progress to cirrhosis, liver cancer, and other health complications. The disease spans from benign fat accumulation in the liver (steatosis) to its more severe form, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH, formerly nonalcoholic steatohepatitis or NASH). The research, led by Profs. François Pattou, MD, and Stefano Romeo, PhD, at Lille University Hospital, France, and published in Nature Medicine, will help clinicians better identify methods to tailor treatment for patients with this highly heterogenous disease." - https://lnkd.in/ea4CrDXj #MASH - Francois Pattou - Stefano Romeo https://lnkd.in/gdhf99RB

Jeremy Tilstra, MD, PhD, and Rachael Gordon, MD, PhD, from the UPMC Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, as well as collaborators from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Departments of Immunology and Pathology, published a paper titled “B cell-intrinsic Myd88 Regulates Disease Progression in Murine Lupus” that demonstrates that targeting Myd88 or its upstream activators may be a viable therapeutic option for systemic lupus erythematosus. Read more ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eVch9F8F

Mount Sinai researchers have made a significant breakthrough by uncovering how targeting gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT) plays a critical role in managing chronic inflammation in UC and Crohn’s disease. This discovery, published in Science Immunology, sheds light on the role of the integrin receptor α4β7 on white blood cells, including dendritic cells and T and B lymphocytes, in driving inflammation. “Our latest research helps us develop biomarkers based on real biology, leading to a better understanding of how individual patients respond to IBD treatments,” explains Dr. Saurabh Mehandru, who has led a mucosal immunology lab at Mount Sinai for over a decade. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4fVgHao Mount Sinai Department of Medicine

As research evolves, CAR-T therapy could transform the therapeutic landscape for MS, offering new hope for better disease management and outcomes. Dr. Gregory Wu is a neurologist and professor of pathology and immunology at Washington University in St. Louis. In his webinar, Dr. Wu speaks about the importance of CAR-T cells and how they are currently being used, as well as how they can be an asset in MS care. Dr. Wu's current research focuses on the interactions between the immune system and the nervous system. He shares his insights on CAR-T therapy as a potential emerging treatment for MS. Listen to our whole webinar on the latest research in CAR-T therapy for MS here -> https://lnkd.in/eQZyrqZA Thank you to our sponsors Bristol Myers Squibb and Kyverna for making this content possible.

The League of Extraordinary Cell Types - Liver: Hepatocytes 🔁 The triangular-shaped liver is one of the largest and most complex organs of the human body that works tirelessly round the clock to fulfil 500 different vital body functions. 💠 The liver comprises hepatocytes, cholangiocytes, stellate cells, Kupffer cells and liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (SECs). 80% of the total liver volume is made up of hepatocytes which are responsible for carrying out most of the functions attributed to the liver. 👐 Hepatocytes, along with cholangiocytes harbor the capacity to drive the liver regeneration process. The regeneration process is largely dependent on the volume of liver withdrawn during partial hepatectomy (PH) (surgical resection of the liver). 🤒 Hepatic failure due to severe and life-threatening diseases such as cancer or hepatitis C virus (HCV), leaves the patient with one common therapeutic option, liver transplant. 🔬Hepatocytes isolated from patients or deceased donors play a pivotal role in the development of in vitro liver disease models using the cutting-edge technologies of organ-on-a-chip, 3D bioprinting, organoids etc. Stay tuned to learn more extraordinary cell types! Credit: Art by Nelli Aghekyan, Set in motion by Emanuele Petretto, PhD , Words by Suruchi Poddar, PhD, Project Coordinator: Małgorzata Maksymowicz-Trivedi, PhD, Series Director: Dr. Radhika Patnala #scicomm #lifescience #Extraordinarycelltypes About the series: The League of Extraordinary Cell Types The team at Sci-Illustrate and Endosymbiont bring to you an exciting series where we dive deep into the wondrous cell types that make our bodies tick ❤.  ____________________________________________ Tag someone you know working in this field and help us find them 😊 If you enjoyed this content, make sure to follow us not to miss a post!

I am happy to share our latest study published in Science Translational Medicine on Sjögren’s Disease (SjD), an autoimmune disorder marked by progressive dysfunction, inflammation, and destruction of salivary and lacrimal glands, along with extraglandular manifestations. Despite its prevalence, the pathophysiology of SjD remains incompletely understood. Our research has uncovered significant new insights into the role of regulatory T (Treg) cells in SjD. We previously demonstrated that the function and development of Treg cells are dependent on store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE), mediated by ORAI1 Ca2+ channels and stromal interaction protein 1 (STIM1) and STIM2. In our current study, we show that Treg cell-specific ablation of STIM1 and STIM2 results in Treg cells of mice results in a phenotype that meets all classification criteria of human SjD. The mutant mice exhibit severe salivary and lacrimal gland dysfunction and inflammation, characterized by strong lymphocyte infiltration and transcriptional signatures dominated by T helper (Th) 1 cells and interferon (IFN) signaling. Suppressing IFN-g production by Th1 cells or inhibiting IFN signaling with baricitinib prevented salivary and lacrimal gland dysfunction. Importantly, transcriptional profiles corresponding to impaired Treg function and activated Th1 cells can also be found in the blood of patients with SjD. This study provides compelling evidence for the critical role of Treg cells and IFNγ-producing Th1 cells in the pathogenesis of SjD. It opens new avenues for potential new therapeutic interventions targeting IFN signaling in patients with SjD. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/da7wAFKR and here: https://lnkd.in/dhz__tsa

The League of Extraordinary Cell Types - Liver: Hepatocytes 🔁 The triangular-shaped liver is one of the largest and most complex organs of the human body that works tirelessly round the clock to fulfil 500 different vital body functions. 💠 The liver comprises hepatocytes, cholangiocytes, stellate cells, Kupffer cells and liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (SECs). 80% of the total liver volume is made up of hepatocytes which are responsible for carrying out most of the functions attributed to the liver. 👐 Hepatocytes, along with cholangiocytes harbor the capacity to drive the liver regeneration process. The regeneration process is largely dependent on the volume of liver withdrawn during partial hepatectomy (PH) (surgical resection of the liver). 🤒 Hepatic failure due to severe and life-threatening diseases such as cancer or hepatitis C virus (HCV), leaves the patient with one common therapeutic option, liver transplant. 🔬Hepatocytes isolated from patients or deceased donors play a pivotal role in the development of in vitro liver disease models using the cutting-edge technologies of organ-on-a-chip, 3D bioprinting, organoids etc. Stay tuned to learn more extraordinary cell types! Credit: Art by Nelli Aghekyan, Set in motion by Emanuele Petretto, PhD , Words by Suruchi Poddar, PhD, Project Coordinator: Małgorzata Maksymowicz-Trivedi, PhD, Series Director: Dr. Radhika Patnala #scicomm #lifescience #Extraordinarycelltypes About the series: The League of Extraordinary Cell Types The team at Sci-Illustrate and Endosymbiont bring to you an exciting series where we dive deep into the wondrous cell types that make our bodies tick ❤.  ____________________________________________ Tag someone you know working in this field and help us find them 😊 If you enjoyed this content, make sure to follow us not to miss a post!

🌱🔬 Revolutionary Breakthrough: Growing New Livers Inside People! 🌟 Hey LinkedIn community! 👋 Today, I bring you astonishing news from the frontier of medical science – the potential to grow brand-new livers within the human body! Yes, you read that right. It's not a plot from a sci-fi show; it's happening right now, thanks to the groundbreaking work of biotech company LyGenesis. Imagine this: for the first time ever, scientists are embarking on a mission to cultivate miniature livers inside individuals. This groundbreaking endeavor aims to address the critical shortage of donor livers for transplants, offering hope to countless patients with end-stage liver disease. Just recently, LyGenesis made a historic announcement – the initiation of a clinical trial involving the transformation of a patient's lymph node into a functioning liver. This remarkable procedure took place in Houston on March 25, marking a pivotal moment in medical history. End-stage liver disease often necessitates a liver transplant, but the scarcity of donor organs poses a significant challenge. LyGenesis aims to revolutionize the field by leveraging the body's own resources to cultivate healthy liver tissue within lymph nodes. Michael Hufford, LyGenesis' CEO, explains that even a modest increase in liver mass could have profound benefits for patients awaiting transplants. With over 10,000 Americans on the liver transplant waiting list, and many facing prolonged waits or exclusion due to health complications, the need for innovative solutions is more pressing than ever. LyGenesis utilizes discarded donor livers to isolate hepatocytes, the liver's primary cells, which are then administered to patients via injection into nearby lymph nodes. The lymph nodes, known for their regenerative properties and proximity to the liver, serve as fertile ground for the development of new liver structures. Early experiments in mice and pigs have yielded promising results, demonstrating the potential for these mini livers to assume vital functions and alleviate symptoms of liver disease. While the journey ahead is filled with challenges and uncertainties, the implications of this pioneering therapy are profound. If successful, it could offer a life-saving alternative to traditional liver transplantation, transforming the landscape of medical treatment for liver disease. Stay tuned for further updates on this extraordinary journey towards growing new livers and saving lives! 🌿💪 #LiverRegeneration #MedicalInnovation #BiotechnologyBreakthrough #HopeForPatients References: https://lnkd.in/eMmtVyiq

More and more discoveries are emerging in the field of longevity. Looks like the next big revolution in field of immunology and gerontology is getting closer. https://lnkd.in/gszWnXDp