Until recently, it was believed that hepatocytes could only be derived from cells of endodermal origin and their progenitors. But, in 15 May Journal of Clinical Investigation, Robert Schwartz and colleagues from University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, USA, show that adult bone marrow stem cells can differentiate in vitro to cells exhibiting hepatocyte phenotype and function (J Clin Invest 2002, 109:1291-1302).Schwartz et al. cultured bone marrow-derived human, murine and rat multipotent adult prog

The Paneth cells (secretory epithelial cells) of the human small intestine protect against pathogenic microbial infection through the release of antibiotic polypeptides, such as defensins, but the precise identity of the mediators involved in this process remains unclear. In May 20 Nature Immunology, Dipankar Ghosh and colleagues from The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Ohio, show that the trypsin of Paneth cells is the enzyme responsible for processing human defensin-5 (HD5), stored as a propeptid

A novel compound that increases the clearance of amyloid deposits could be useful in the treatment of human amyloidosis.

A new method for searching for antibiotics isolates compounds with inhibitory activity against more than one essential target.

Functional reprogramming of somatic cells can be achieved using a nuclear and cytoplasmic extract derived from another somatic cell type.

cells regenerates pancreatic islets and leads to recovery from type 1 diabetes.

but not to chemokines signaling through other chemokine receptors.

genome reveals many of the adaptations necessary for life in the highly competitive soil environment.

causes error-prone DNA synthesis in progressive external ophthalmoplegia.

Type I diabetes is caused by the destruction of insulin secreting cells and consequently treatments focus on either replacing or regenerating insulin production. In May Diabetes, Hideto Kojima and colleagues from Shiga University of Medical Science, Japan show that combined expression of pancreatic duodenal homeobox 1 (Pdx-1) and islet factor 1 (Isl-1) can cause immature intestinal stem cells to differentiate into insulin-producing cells (Diabetes 2002, 51:1398-1408).Kojima et al. observed that

Gene-microarray analysis of multiple sclerosis lesions reveals molecular mechanisms and new therapeutic targets.

Astrocytes make up nearly half of the total number of brain cells, providing structural, metabolic and tropic support for neurons, but they were considered to play no active part in stem cell differentiation. In May 2 Nature, Hongjun Song and colleagues from The Salk Institute, La Jolla, California, show for the first time that adult astrocytes can induce neurogenesis by instructing the stem cells to adopt a neuronal fate (Nature 2002, 417:39-44).Song et al. used cell culture systems and investi