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Epithelial peptides called defensins can kill microbes directly. New data reveal another function for some of these host antibiotics—enhancement of the innate immune response.
Studies on patients with sickle-cell disease now shed light on the physiological battle between hemoglobin and the vasoregulator nitric oxide. It appears that hemoglobin scavenges NO in these patients, likely contributing to vascular complications (pages 1383–1389).
Dysregulation of T cells and B cells occurs in lupus and other autoimmune diseases. A monoclonal antibody therapy that seems to activate T cells restores some balance in a mouse model of lupus (pages 1405–1413).
Cancer can ensue when cells do not know who they are or where they are. In the intestine, a single regulator seems to take care of both of these issues of identity.
Responses to group A streptococcal infection vary from slight discomfort to death. Now it seems that human susceptibility can depend on polymorphisms in genes encoding human leukocyte antigen class II (pages 1398–1404).
Zinc-finger transcription factors can be engineered to target specific genes. Now this approach is applied successfully to a clinically relevant setting in mice—promotion of angiogenesis. (pages 1427–1432)
In Duchenne muscular dystrophy, functional muscle fibers enlarge to compensate for damaged fibers. A new treatment in a mouse model makes muscles even larger and ameliorates symptoms of the disease.
Malaria parasites travel to cells in the liver, where they undergo a lethal transformation. The journey requires passage through several cells, leading to the controlled exocytosis of parasite ligands (pages 1318–1322).
Clinical trials of a vaccine against Alzheimer disease came to an abrupt halt this year when several patients developed inflammation in the brain. Now, the first data from the trial and a mouse study brighten the outlook for this spectacular and simple treatment approach (pages 1263–1269 and 1270–1275).
A poorly understood cancer of childhood has just become less mysterious. A new animal model identifies three pathways that underlie the progression to rhabdomyosarcoma (pages 1276–1280).
Defects in microtubules are associated with a number of human diseases. Now, a chaperone protein that helps create microtubules is pinpointed in an inherited disorder.
One out of every 4,500 males suffers cognitive impairment due to alterations in the fragile X gene. The gene has a complicated biology, and it may have just gotten a bit more complex. The fragile X gene product in flies could play a role in regulation by small RNA molecules.
Selenium-containing compounds are in phase 2 and 3 clinical trials for prostate cancer prevention, although it is unclear how they work. A study suggests that selenium can facilitate DNA repair by activating the p53 tumor suppressor in an unusual way.
