News

Myocardial infarctions (MI), or more commonly known as heart attacks, have prolonged health implications that affect millions worldwide. Chronic heart failure (HF) is very common after a heart attack, with about 20-30% of patients developing it within a year. Heart failure after MI is characterized by distinct structural, cellular, and molecular changes that differentiate...

Tissue fibrosis, pathologically characterized by the excessive and dysfunctional deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) components, notably collagen, remains a significant challenge in chronic disease management. Fibrosis accounts for nearly half of all mortality in the United States. Effective therapeutic strategies must engage a dual mechanism, simultaneously arresting neo-collagenesis and actively degrading existing, pathological collagen...

Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) is a life-threatening condition characterized by the extensive remodeling and breakdown of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Understanding the factors governing aortic instability - particularly the micro/nanoscale changes - is paramount for improving AAA management. A new publication, "Nano-mechanical Mapping of Human and Porcine Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm" uses advanced imaging techniques...

Fibrosis, the pathological accumulation of collagen and other ECM components, is a major health concern implicated in an estimated ⅓ of all natural deaths. While current anti-fibrotic drugs aim to slow progression, advanced fibrosis is often left untreated, leaving transplantation the only remaining option in many cases. A new therapeutic approach is focusing on...

Liver fibrosis, a significant pathological consequence of chronic liver disease and damage, is characterized by the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. This build up of non-functional scar tissue progressively replaces healthy tissue in the liver, leading to conditions such as cirrhosis, liver failure, and heightened risk of liver cancer. With a high...

The complex interplay between the tumor microenvironment (TME) and cancer progression is a critical area of research, particularly in aggressive childhood cancers like neuroblastoma (NB). A recent study, “Unraveling the Role of Denatured Collagen in Neuroblastoma via Collagen Hybridizing Peptides,” published in July 2023, has shed light on the impact of thermal ablation on...

Fibrosis is not just characterized by extracellular matrix (ECM) component deposition, but it’s better described as an imbalance between the production and breakdown of the ECM. Current treatments for fibrosis largely focus on stopping ECM production, but there is a significant, untapped potential in promoting its breakdown. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are enzymes that degrade...

Muscle wasting in cancer is estimated to contribute to approximately 30% of cancer-related deaths, with a deterioration of respiratory muscles implicated as a major cause of mortality. One of the most lethal cancers, Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), also has the highest prevalence and earliest onset of cachexia of all cancers. While researchers knew that...