Noticias Científicas

<p>Mouse cells with DOR protein. (M. Romero, IRB Barcelona)</p>

DOR protein deficiency favours the development of obesity

19 Apr 2018

Researchers at IRB Barcelona discover the mechanism that leads to a less harmful form of obesity that is associated with the number rather than volume of fat cells.

There are several types of obesity and some are more harmful than others.

The study has been published in the journal Nature Cell Biology.

<p>Illustrative image of how scientists have deciphered the covalent nature of beta-amyloid dimers, an article published in Analytical Chemistry. Authors: Marina Gay, IRB Barcelona, and Lorena Markovich</p>

Researchers demonstrate the presence of stable beta-amyloid dimers in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease

17 Apr 2018

A study headed by IRB Barcelona provides the first direct evidence of beta-amyloid dimers (two proteins joined together) in patients with Alzheimer’s disease and points to the potential of these molecules as biomarkers.

Beta-amyloid dimers may be the smallest pathological species that trigger Alzheimer’s disease.

LAT2 and TAT1 transporters collaborate in the renal reabsorption of neutral amino acids

13 Apr 2018

The new study analyses the dysfunction of basolateral transporters through a transgenic animal model.

This study is led by Manuel Palacín from IRB Barcelona and Virgínia Nunes from IDIBELL.

<p>Mitochondrial DNA stress (in red) triggers the inflammatory response in mouse muscle cells devoid of Opa1 (nuclei in green). Aida Rodríguez, IRB Barcelona</p>

The absence of a single mitochondrial protein causes severe inflammation

9 Apr 2018

A study performed at IRB Barcelona supports the notion that mitochondrial defects underlie a set of diseases of unknown origin that involve chronic muscle inflammation.

<p>Age-related hearing loss involves several environmental factors and genes. Image: CIBERER</p>

Researchers unravel the role of an amino acid transporter in age-related hearing loss

23 Feb 2018

It seems the amino acid transporter SLC7A8/SLC3A2 plays an important role in this disease.

The study was coordinated by Manuel Palacín from IRB Barcelona and Virginia Nunes from IDIBELL.

<p>The overexpression of the gene Serpent in the Drosophila wing causes permanent overgrowth and it is sufficient to promote tumour development. Image: Kyra Campbell, IRB Barcelona</p>

Genes activated in metastasis also drive the first stages of tumour growth

19 Feb 2018

In spite of the difference between the cell functions responsible for giving rise to a tumour and for the metastasis of this same tumour, studies at IRB Barcelona using the fly Drosophila melanogaster reveal that some genes can drive both phenomena.

<p>The image shows a metastatic colon tumour infiltrated by the immune system (brown) after combined treatment with the TGF-beta inhibitor and immunotherapy. (Author: Daniele Tauriello, IRB Barcelona)</p>

IRB Barcelona paves the way to the use of immunotherapy to treat aggressive colon tumours and their metastasis

14 Feb 2018

A team headed by ICREA researcher Eduard Batlle discovers that immune system-stimulating treatments combined with a TGF-beta inhibitor are effective against colon cancer.

The researchers developed a mouse model that mimics advanced human colon cancer. This model has allowed them to study the immune system response for the first time.