Signaling pathway STAT1 is strongly activated by IFN-β in the pathogenesis of osteoporosis.

Background: Despite extensive research, the underlying pathological mechanisms of osteoporosis are not completely understood. Recent studies have indicated a distinct role for the IFN-β/STAT1 pathway in bone metabolism. An inhibitory effect of IFN-β on osteoclastogenesis has been detected and STAT1/2 has been shown to influence osteoblastic bone metabolism.

A small molecule inhibits protein disulfide isomerase and triggers the chemosensitization of cancer cells.

Resistance to chemotherapeutic agents represents a major challenge in cancer research. One approach to this problem is combination therapy, the application of a toxic chemotherapeutic drug together with a sensitizing compound that addresses the vulnerability of cancer cells to induce apoptosis. Here we report the discovery of a new compound class (T8) that sensitizes various cancer cells towards etoposide treatment at subtoxic concentrations.

Increased oxidative stress response in granulocytes from older patients with a hip fracture may account for slow regeneration.

Proximal femur fracture, a typical fracture of the elderly, is often associated with morbidity, reduced quality of life, impaired physical function and increased mortality. There exists evidence that responses of the hematopoietic microenvironment to fractures change with age. Therefore, we investigated oxidative stress markers and oxidative stress-related MAPK activation in granulocytes from the young and the elderly with and without fractured long bones.

5-azacytidine improves the osteogenic differentiation potential of aged human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells by DNA demethylation.

The therapeutic value of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (Ad-MSCs) for bone regeneration is critically discussed. A possible reason for reduced osteogenic potential may be an age-related deterioration of the Ad-MSCs. In long term in vitro culture, epigenomic changes in DNA methylation are known to cause gene silencing, affecting stem cell growth as well as the differentiation potential.

Hepatic 3D cultures but not 2D cultures preserve specific transporter activity for acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity.

Primary human hepatocytes (PHH) are the "gold standard" for in vitro toxicity tests. However, 2D PHH cultures have limitations that are due to a time-dependent dedifferentiation process visible by morphological changes closely connected to a decline of albumin production and CYP450 activity. The 3D in vitro culture corresponds to in vivo-like tissue architecture, which preserves functional characteristics of hepatocytes, and therefore can at least partially overcome the restrictions of 2D cultures.