Acetate and gut bacteria work together to reduce obesity in mice

Researchers led by Hiroshi Ohno at the RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS) in Japan have discovered a new way to reduce obesity. Their study shows that supplying the gut with extra acetate reduces fat and liver mass in both normal and obese mice, as long as bacteria of the Bacteroides species is also … Read more

Hormone FGF21 reverses fatty liver disease by signaling the brain

A pioneering research study published today in Cell Metabolism details how the hormone FGF21 (fibroblast growth factor 21) can reverse the effects of fatty liver disease in mice. The hormone works primarily by signaling the brain to improve liver function. University of Oklahoma researcher Matthew Potthoff, Ph.D., is the lead author of the study, which … Read more

Study finds 24-hour fasting cycles enhance libido in male mice

Long-term fasting in 24-hour cycles increases the sex drive of male mice by lowering the concentration of the neurotransmitter serotonin in the brain. This effect is linked to a diet-induced deficiency of the precursor substance tryptophan – an amino acid that must be obtained through food. Researchers from DZNE report on this in the journal … Read more

GUK1 enzyme plays crucial role in lung cancer metabolism and growth

Lung cancer is a particularly challenging form of cancer. It often strikes unexpectedly and aggressively with little warning, and it can shapeshift in unpredictable ways to evade treatment. While researchers have gleaned important insights into the basic biology of lung cancer, some of the disease’s molecular maneuvers have remained elusive. Now, a team led by … Read more

Researchers develop T cell growth method that enhances cancer-fighting ability in melanoma model

Researchers have developed a new method to grow T cells that have greater longevity and can more efficiently destroy cancer cells in mouse models of melanoma compared to those grown in traditional growth media Study: Redirecting glucose flux during in vitro expansion generates epigenetically and metabolically superior T cells for cancer immunotherapy. Image Credit: ART-ur/Shutterstock.com … Read more