Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a lifeline for many people with kidney failure. But it's not perfect. Over time, it can harm the peritoneal membrane (PM), the lining of the abdomen. This damage can lead to ultrafiltration failure, a serious problem with no current treatment. Scientists have found that peritoneal mesenchymal stem cells (pMSCs) can help prevent this damag...

The spread of colorectal cancer to the liver is a big problem. It often comes back after surgery. This might be because some cancer cells stick around and start growing again. These cells can be influenced by other factors in the body. Tumor-associated macrophages, or TAMs, are a type of immune cell. They are found in high numbers where cancer has spread to the live...

The liver is a tough organ. It can handle a lot of damage. However, when the liver is hurt over and over, it starts to scar. This scarring is called fibrosis. It is a big problem. It can lead to serious issues like cirrhosis and even liver cancer. But here is the good news. Fibrosis can be reversed. This means that finding ways to stop or even fix liver scarr...

Macrophages are like the body's cleanup crew. They rush to the scene of a stroke to help. But sometimes, they make things worse. They release tiny bubbles called exosomes that can mess with the brain's blood vessels. This is part of what happens in a condition called cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury, or CIRI. It's like when you twist a hose and then let go. The w...

Ovarian cancer is a formidable challenge. It's not just the cancer cells themselves that cause issues. There are other key players involved, like macrophages. These are the body's natural cleanup crew, but in the context of cancer, they can sometimes become part of the problem. Some macrophages, known as M2 macrophages, can actually assist cancer cells in growing and...

Diabetes increases the risk of atherosclerosis, a condition where plaques build up in the arteries. But how does this happen, especially when it comes to the role of macrophages? Let's dive into the fascinating world of cellular interactions. Scientists used smart tools to compare how cells in the immune system behaved differently in people with atherosclerosis and ...

Macrophages, the body's cleanup crew, swallow dead cells through a process called efferocytosis. During this cleanup, they make special lipid molecules using oxygenases. Among these, very reactive lipid-derived electrophiles (LDEs) can modify important proteins inside the cells. But until now, we didn't know much about how these LDEs work. Scientists did experiments...

Macrophages, often called TAMs (tumor-associated macrophages), are crucial immune cells hanging out in the tumor's neighborhood, or what we call the tumor microenvironment. In cervical cancer, they play a big role. They can either help the cancer grow, spread, and find new blood vessels, or they can slow the cancer down. Researchers are trying to understand how these...

Did you know that your bones can benefit from electrical stimulation? Scientists have discovered a cool way to help bones regrow using a material called piezoelectric hydrogel. This hydrogel contains tiny particles called BaTiO3 nanoparticles, which create electric signals. When these signals interact with a type of cell in your body called macrophages, they can chan...

Scientists have found a treasure trove of new chemicals in the Euphorbia peplus plant. These chemicals, known as ent-abietane diterpenoid lactones, were separated into a group of eleven never-seen-before ones (1-11) and nine already known ones (12-20). Figuring out their structures and which way they twist (absolute configurations) was done using a mix of high-tech t...