Publications by authors named "W S Blaner"
ACS Chem Biol
October 2023
Article Synopsis
- Dysregulation of retinoid metabolism is linked to serious eye diseases, and enhancing this metabolism through drugs shows potential for treatment.
- CRBP1, the main transporter of retinol in the eye, is inhibited to protect retinas from damage, and researchers have identified new nonretinoid inhibitors through high-throughput screening.
- By analyzing CRBP1's structure and its interactions with these inhibitors, the study paves the way for designing better treatments targeting this lipid-binding protein.
Article Synopsis
- Retinol-binding protein 2 (RBP2) is crucial for vitamin A transport in gut cells, and mice without it show obesity and glucose issues.
- This study investigated how different vitamin A diets impact the function and gene expression of incretin-secreting cells in RBP2-deficient mice compared to controls.
- Results indicated that RBP2 mice gained more weight and had elevated GIP levels on a normal vitamin A diet, while their GIP response decreased on a low vitamin A diet, highlighting RBP2's role in incretin regulation and gene expression related to enter endocrine cells.
Article Synopsis
- Vitamin A is a crucial micronutrient for vertebrates, but how the body maintains its balance is not well understood.
- This study examined the role of the hypothalamus in regulating vitamin A levels in the liver and bloodstream by injecting retinoids into the brains of rats and altering retinoid levels in mice.
- Findings suggest that the brain can detect changes in vitamin A and may play a significant role in controlling its overall balance in the body.
J Am Heart Assoc
April 2023
Article Synopsis
- Transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) is a significant cause of heart failure in older adults, often linked to a specific genetic variant (pV142I) primarily found in individuals of West African descent.
- The SCAN-MP study aims to determine how prevalent ATTR-CM is in older Black and Caribbean Hispanic patients with heart failure, using noninvasive imaging techniques.
- This study is the largest of its kind focusing on cardiac amyloidosis in these populations and could lead to better treatment strategies using the approved drug tafamidis.
