A protein that plays an important role in the accumulation of LDL cholesterol

The team led by Yale University has identified a protein that plays an important role in the accumulation of LDL cholesterol in blood vessels. The research was conducted using recombinant rat proteins. "This finding could lead to a treatment strategy that blocks LDL accumulation, which can help to prevent or slow the arterial blockage that causes heart disease," the researchers said. The study was published in the November 21 issue of Nature Communications.

When certain proteins (called lipoproteins) in the body bind to fat in the blood and transport the fat to the cells, the animals' blood vessels are blocked by fat and cholesterol. Scientists at first thought that LDL receptor molecules are responsible for intracellular LDL transport. However, in view of the fact that some individuals lack LDL receptors still have high levels of LDL, so questions remain about the mechanism.

To identify the mechanism, the team screened more than 18,000 genes (from the inner layers of human blood vessels) from the endothelium. They examined the genes involved in the process of LDL transfer into endothelial cells. The researchers found that the protein called ALK1 contributes to the pathway of LDL entry into the cell. "We have shown that ALK1 binds directly to LDL," said senior author William Cessa and professor of pharmacology Alfred Gilman. The team also identified the "LDL-ALK1 pathway" that helps LDL transit from the bloodstream to the tissues.

"The role of ALK1 in LDL accumulation has not been previously known, and the discovery of ALK1 as an LDL-binding protein suggests that it may initiate early stages of atherosclerosis. If we can find a small molecule or antibody that prevents ALK1 approach, then it can be used in conjunction with lipid-lowering strategies."

Current lipid-lowering strategies include statins, and it targets LDL cholesterol levels in the blood. "Therapeutic agents that block ALK1 will be a unique strategy to reduce the burden of atherosclerosis and have synergistic effects with lipid-lowering therapies," Sessa said. Heart disease caused by vascular damage is the leading cause of death worldwide. Flarebio provides you with good-quality recombinant proteins like recombinant Cdh26 at good prices.

Denosumab may prevent women carrying BRCA1 mutation from suffering from breast cancer

Recently, a study published by Australian researchers in the journal Nature Medicine indicated that a drug called denosumab may prevent women carrying BRCA1 mutation from suffering from breast cancer. The real effect of it still needs more research using recombinant horse proteins and recombinant dog proteins.

Women carrying the BRCA1 gene mutation have a very high health risk, because the mutation can significantly increase the risk of suffering from invasive breast cancer and ovarian cancer. Currently, many of such women choose to have surgery to remove breast and ovarian tissue in order to fundamentally eliminate the cancer. The famous American actress Angelina Jolie is one of them. However, if we can prevent the occurrence of cancer in these high-risk women without surgery, it will undoubtedly bring a significant improvement in their quality of life.

Australian researchers precisely identified the tumor precursor cells which may be cancerous in the future by analyzing the breast tissue of BRCA1 gene mutation carriers. These pre-tumor cells are very similar to the real tumor cells. They can proliferate rapidly, and it is easy to accumulate DNA damage; these characteristics make them easy to become cancerous.

The researchers found that these tumor precursor cells all express a protein called RANKL. Then recombinant protein found its role. This discovery is an important breakthrough, because drugs which inhibit RANKL protein signaling pathway have been used in clinical practice, such as monoclonal antibody drug denosumab. Denosumab has been approved for the treatment of osteoporosis and unresectable giant cell tumor of bone. Therefore, the researchers examined the impact of this RANKL inhibitor on tumor precursor cells in breast tissue carrying BRCA1 mutation.

The results suggest that inhibition of RANKL signaling pathway can close the proliferation of tumor precursor cells in breast tissue carrying BRCA1 mutation. Meanwhile, in the mouse model, this inhibitor can slow down the occurrence of breast cancer.

"We believe that this strategy can delay or prevent the BRCA1 gene mutation carriers from suffering from breast cancer," corresponding author Professor Geoffrey Lindeman at Australia Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research who are also interested in the development of various recombinant proteins such as recombinant Cdh26 said, "We have begun a clinical trial to further study the role of denosumab in preventing breast cancer."