Background: Chemokines, along with their receptors, exert critical roles in tumor development and progression. In prostate cancer (PCa), interleukin-8 (IL-8/CXCL8) was shown to enhance angiogenesis, proliferation, and metastasis. CXCL8 activates two receptors, CXCR1 and CXCR2.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDiabetes is associated with the dysfunction of glucagon-producing pancreatic islet α-cells, although the underlying mechanisms regulating glucagon secretion and α-cell dysfunction remain unclear. While insulin secretion from pancreatic β-cells has long been known to be partly controlled by intracellular phospholipid signaling, very little is known about the role of phospholipids in glucagon secretion. Here we show that TMEM55A, a lipid phosphatase that dephosphorylates phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) to phosphatidylinositol-5-phosphate (PI5P), regulates α-cell exocytosis and glucagon secretion.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPolygenic risk scores (PRSs) depend on genetic ancestry due to differences in allele frequencies between ancestral populations. This leads to implementation challenges in diverse populations. We propose a framework to calibrate PRS based on ancestral makeup.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAncient texts and archaeological evidence indicate substantial lead exposure during antiquity that potentially impacted human health. Although lead exposure routes were many and included the use of glazed tablewares, paints, cosmetics, and even intentional ingestion, the most significant for the nonelite, rural majority of the population may have been through background air pollution from mining and smelting of silver and lead ores that underpinned the Roman economy. Here, we determined potential health effects of this air pollution using Arctic ice core measurements of Roman-era lead pollution, atmospheric modeling, and modern epidemiology-based relationships between air concentrations, blood lead levels (BLLs), and cognitive decline.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIntroduction: Adults with Down syndrome (DS) have an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia, often showing neuropathological indicators by age 40. Physical function and activities of daily living (ADLs) are understudied areas of function that may inform dementia risk. We investigated associations among age, physical function (gait/balance, grip strength, and lower extremity strength), ADLs, and dementia risk symptoms in adults with DS.
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