independent platelet fragmentation via the induction of reactive oxygen species.

The thrombin PAR-4 receptor found on platelets may be an important target in the treatment of thrombosis.

Mechanisms of tumorigenesis and novel cancer therapies have been investigated in cultured mutant cells, genetically engineered to develop tumors, but the behaviour of these cells in a normal tissue environment remains almost completely unknown. In September 1 Journal of Clinical Investigation, Youyan Zhang and colleagues from Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, show that normal cells can strongly modulate the growth of mutant populations in vivo and this effect should be taken i

Antigen-specific cancer immunotherapy and anti-angiogenesis represent two attractive mechanisms that could be of use in the treatment of cancer. In September 1 Journal of Clinical Investigation, Wen-Fang Cheng and colleagues from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine show an innovative vaccination approach that combines both mechanisms and suggest this is likely generate a potent antitumor effect. Cheng et al. engineered a fusion gene encoding a known viral tumor antigen (HPV-16 E7), linke

The potential of embryonic stem cells to develop into a wide variety of tissues and organs has been established, but it remains unclear how this can be achieved in practice. In 4 September Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Dan Kaufman and colleagues at the University of Wisconsin-Madison show for the first time how undifferentiated human embryonic stem cells (ES) can be cultured to become blood cells.Kaufman et al. cultured ES in flasks containing murine bone marrow cell line S17

Infection with hepatitis G virus improves survival in patients infected with HIV probably by directly influencing HIV replication.

Short-chain fatty acids protect colonic mucosa against oxidant-induced stress through inducing expression of hsp25.

Aggressive melanoma cells leave a molecular trail in the extracellular matrix enabling less aggressive cells to become more aggressive.

In an embryo, the stem cells develop into specific organs under the influence of complex extracellular signals. Sonic hedgehog (Shh) plays an important role in this process but its signalling pathway is not entirely understood. In August 31 Science Gurtej Dhoot and colleagues from the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center identify a member of a family of conserved sulfatases, QSulf1, which is responsive to Shh signaling and has role in embryonic cell fate determination.Dhoot et al. identifie

Glutamate is one of the principal neurotransmitters in the brain, but in excess can be highly neurotoxic. In September Nature Medicine Takahiro Takano and colleagues from the New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York, show that in addition to being neurotoxic, glutamate release from glioma cells also promotes growth of malignant gliomas.Takano et al. used bioluminescence to detect glutamate release from freshly prepared brain slices. They found that implanted glioma cells continue to secrete

Early after bacterial invasion dendritic cells express IL-2, providing activation signals greatly enhancing both T and B cell responses.

One or more genes on chromosome 4 seem to influence who will live to a ripe old age.