American Heart Association
Study revises understanding of cancer metabolism
Apr. 7, 2021—Tumors consume glucose at high rates, but a team of Vanderbilt researchers has discovered that cancer cells themselves are not the culprit, upending models of cancer metabolism that have been developed and refined over the last 100 years.
HIV, diabetes and immune cells in fat
Mar. 18, 2021—In HIV-positive individuals with diabetes, immune cells in fat are more proinflammatory and cytotoxic and may represent a therapeutic target for diabetes.
Gene variant and glucose metabolism
Feb. 18, 2021—Genetic variation that impacts glucose- and insulin-related signaling affects responses to type 2 diabetes treatments and warrants further study.
Discovery shows how to treat heart attacks; drug development underway
Feb. 11, 2021—David Merryman has discovered that targeting a protein receptor in heart cells may limit a heart attack’s acute and long-term effects.
Mitochondrial stress and hypertension
Jan. 12, 2021—Oxidative stress and toxic products called isolevuglandins in mitochondria play a role in endothelial dysfunction and hypertension — and getting rid of them with a special “scavenger” molecule has therapeutic potential.
Depression and the brain-age gap
Oct. 19, 2020—Older depressed adults show accelerated brain aging, according to a new study from Vanderbilt researchers, who suggest that the effects of depression may speed the decline in cognitive functions in older individuals.
Salt, immune cells and hypertension
Aug. 20, 2020—Excess dietary salt activates immune cells to induce inflammation and hypertension, supporting current recommendations for low sodium consumption.
Discovery of natural compound may help fend off antibiotic resistance of hard-to-treat infections
Aug. 19, 2020—A bifunctional natural compound has been discovered with the potential to make antibiotic resistance to deadly infections less likely.
Soy food, metabolism and the microbiome
Jul. 27, 2020—Consumption of soy foods may shape the microbiome and protect against hypertension only in individuals with soy-responsive microbiota, Vanderbilt researchers have discovered.
“Nur” target may aid arthritis treatment
Jul. 13, 2020—Vanderbilt immunologists have discovered that the protein Nur77 is part of a control mechanism that guards against autoimmunity in natural killer T cells.
‘Tuning’ cell shape for division
Apr. 20, 2020—Dylan Burnette and colleagues have discovered that two forms of the molecular motor protein myosin have distinct roles in regulating cell shape during cell division.
Protein interactions and brain function
Feb. 20, 2020—Roger Colbran and colleagues have discovered new molecular details about the function of an enzyme with a key role in shaping learning and memory.