Publications by authors named "Bianca Kern"
Article Synopsis
- Uncontrolled regeneration in the intestinal epithelium can lead to cancer, highlighting the need for precise regulation during tissue renewal.
- Researchers discovered that activating the liver X receptor (LXR) pathway helps balance intestinal regeneration and tumor growth after damage.
- LXR activation enhances regeneration by producing amphiregulin and is crucial for controlling tumor growth, with diminished LXR-related activity found in human colorectal cancer samples.
Article Synopsis
- Commensal-specific CD4 T cells are found in higher numbers in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) patients compared to healthy people, but their activation process isn’t fully understood.
- Using a specific type of T cell from mice, researchers discovered that these T cells grow in number after intestinal damage and that CD11c cells in the lymph nodes present the antigens.
- The study also showed that while these T cells do not start inflammation, they worsen disease outcomes when other CD4 T cells are present, indicating they play a role in exacerbating IBD rather than triggering it.
Cytokines are immunomodulatory proteins that orchestrate cellular networks in health and disease. Among these, interleukin (IL)-10 is critical for the establishment of intestinal homeostasis, as mutations in components of the IL-10 signaling pathway result in spontaneous colitis. Whether IL-10 plays other than immunomodulatory roles in the intestines is poorly understood.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe role of neuromodulators in the enforcement of cooperation is still not well understood. Here, we provide evidence that intranasal applied oxytocin, an important hormone for modulating social behavior, enhances the inclination to sanction free-riders in a social dilemma situation. Contrary to the notion of oxytocin being a pro-social hormone, we found that participants treated with oxytocin exhibited an amplification of self-reported negative social emotions such as anger towards free-riders, ultimately resulting in higher magnitude and frequency of punishment of free-riders compared to placebo.
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