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UV light exposure causes skin damage, leading to wrinkles, roughness, and accelerated aging. While retinoids are effective anti-aging treatments, they often cause skin irritation. This study highlights a breakthrough alternative using retinal (RAL), combined with plant-derived retinol analogs like bakuchiol (BAK) and Vigna aconitifolia extract (VAE). Research on UV-damaged skin demonstrated that this combination...

Metformin pre-treatment enhances extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and reduces muscle fibrosis during bed rest, with critical insights provided by collagen hybridizing peptides (CHPs). By increasing type I myofiber size and decreasing cellular senescence markers, metformin promotes healthier muscle recovery and improves collagen turnover. This approach, supported by CHP technology, shows promise as an anti-inflammatory...

While chimeric antigen T (CAR-T) cells have shown immense promise as a cancer therapeutic, they have limited efficacy in treating solid tumors. This is due to immune exclusion, whereby physical barriers such as stromal cells woven into dense extracellular matrices prevent anti-cancer immune cells from reaching the tumor.

Fibroblasts are central architects of our skin, coordinating tissue growth and ECM production. But how do these cells know when to stop growing and start building the structural framework of the skin? In a recent study, researchers discovered a negative feedback loop between fibroblast proliferation and ECM deposition. Using live imaging and Collagen Hybridizing...

Chronic inflammation can damage previously healthy tissues and organs, leading to a number of ailments including cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and lupus. Activation and deactivation of calcium-importing ion channel TRPV4 modulates inflammation through multiple mechanisms. Indeed, it has been shown that TRPV4 antagonists reduce production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, while TRPV4 activation shifts macrophages to...

Collagen VI-related dystrophies (COL6-RDs) are a group of genetic muscle disorders impacting both children and adults. These conditions can lead to delayed motor development, progressive muscle weakness, joint contractures, and respiratory complications. In severe cases, COL6-RDs result in the loss of independent mobility and a reliance on ventilatory support. Given the profound impact on...

Adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) is the most prevalent pediatric spine disorder, affecting 3-4% of children worldwide. It develops in the absence of obvious congenital or physiological defects. While some evidence suggests a genetic correlation, the underlying biological causes remain largely unknown. Without a comprehensive understanding of AIS at a biological or physiological level, treatments...