Hypothalamic programming of systemic ageing involving IKK-β, NF-κB and GnRH

Zhang, G. et al. Nature http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature12143 (1 May)

The authors show that aging in mice is regulated by hypothalamic nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) signaling. This pathway leads to decreased amounts of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and reduced neurogenesis. Administration of GnRH stimulated neurogenesis in adult mice and slowed aging.

The collagen receptor discoidin domain receptor 2 stabilizes SNAIL1 to facilitate breast cancer metastasis

Zhang, K. et al. Nat. Cell Biol. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ncb2743 (5 May)

This study shows that stabilization of SNAIL1 by discoidin domain receptor 2 (DDR2) promotes breast cancer metastasis. DDR2 expression associated with nuclear SNAIL1 was found in a number of human invasive ductal breast carcinomas.

Multiple populations of artemisinin-resistant Plasmodium falciparum in Cambodia

Miotto, O. et al. Nat. Genet. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ng.2624 (28 April)

By sequencing whole genomes of P. falciparum isolated from 825 malaria cases, the authors were able to characterize patterns of genetic variation and drug resistance, as well as genetic markers that can identify resistant strains.

T cells maintain an exhausted phenotype after antigen withdrawal and population reexpansion

Utzchneider, D.T. et al. Nat. Immunol. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/ni.2606 (5 May)

The authors find that 'exhausted' CD8+ T cells transferred from chronically lymphochoriomeningitis virus (LCMV)-infected mice to naive mice could proliferate and control a viral infection. The progeny of the transferred cells still expressed exhaustion markers in the absence of chronic infection, suggesting that the exhausted phenotype may represent a stable differentiation state.

GABA progenitors grafted into the adult epileptic brain control seizures and abnormal behavior

Hunt, R.F. et al. Nat. Neurosci. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nn.3392 (5 May)

Grafting the precursors of GABA-producing inhibitory neurons into the hippocampus of adult epileptic mice reduced seizures and ameliorated behavioral deficits.