Developmental Cell

Singapore-led study shows specialised support cells in the gut form direct, neuron-like connections to deliver precise instructions to stem cells; Overturns long-held beliefs about how gut cells communicate; Opens new paths for treating colon cancer and IBD

Pregnancy brings a rise in pancreatic beta cells – the cells that produce insulin. Shortly after birth, these cells return to their normal levels. The mechanisms behind this process had remained a mystery. But now a research group has revealed that white blood cells called macrophages ‘eat’ these cells.

Researchers have unveiled an intriguing phenomenon of cellular reprogramming in mature adult organs, shedding light on a novel mechanism of adaptive growth. The study, which was conducted on fruit flies (Drosophila), provides further insights into dedifferentiation - where specialized cells that have specific functions transform into less specialized, undifferentiated cells like stem cells.

Fruit fly neural stem cells emerge as an exciting new model for unravelling the mysteries of dormancy, reactivation and neuronal regeneration. New studies unlock molecular pathways that could stimulate endogenous brain repair in neurodegenerative diseases and ageing.

NYU Abu Dhabi researchers have reported a new way in which the liver is primed to regenerate itself. They found that by stripping parts of the epigenome, which play a primary role in repressing “jumping genes” (i.e. transposable elements), other epigenetic marks were redistributed.

Laboratory model breaks laws of heredity, opening up new research possibilities in genetics and synthetic biology.

Cells that provide structural support to the intestine’s interior lining also have special defences against toxins.