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Although erythropoietin (Epo) is commonly used as a therapy for anemia, recent studies have suggested that Epo therapy is associated with adverse outcomes. A new study shows that polymeric IgA1 positively regulates erythropoiesis through binding to transferrin receptor 1 (Tfr1), suggesting new therapeutic routes for anemia (pages 1456–1465).
The International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium (IMPC), plans to document disease-related phenotypes for each generated mouse strain including metabolic, neurological and behavioral data. Hannah Waters spoke with Steve Brown, chairman of the IMPC and director of the UK Medical Research Council’s Mammalian Genetics Unit in Harwell, to learn more about the project.
The identification of a new mode of cell-cell communication mediated by semaphorin 4D (Sema4D) and Plexin-B1 has added another level to the regulatory balance between bone formation and resorption (pages 1473–1480). This study also highlights Sema4D as a potential target for the development of new therapeutics for osteoporosis and other bone disorders associated with increased resorption.
Increasing rates of obesity and obesity-associated type 2 diabetes are threatening to reverse recent gains in reducing the rates of cardiovascular and thrombotic disease. A new study in obese mice shows that tissue factor, the principal initiator of coagulation, is also promoting the development of insulin resistance and obesity (pages 1490–1497).
Two recently discovered genes involved in ALS could reveal the pathways that are central to the neurodegeneration caused by the disease. But as some researchers storm ahead suggesting treatments targeting these genes, others are questioning how relevant the reports are for nonheritable forms of the disease. Virginia Hughes investigates why the new findings seem to have struck a nerve in the ALS community.
b-AP15 is a novel inhibitor of proteasome activity, with a different mechanism of action than the available and widely used proteasome inhibitors such as bortezomib. b-AP15 inhibits the deubiquitinating activity of the regulatory subunit of the proteasome, necessary for protein degradation, and induces cytotoxicity impairing tumor growth in mouse models. The compound may represent an alternative therapeutic approach with a broader spectrum of applicability than current proteasome inhibitors.