Researchers have shown in mice experiments that an mRNA-based therapy can reverse the underlying causes of pre-eclampsia, a deadly complication of pregnancy for which treatment options are limited. They designed a method to deliver genomic instructions for a blood-vessel growth factor directly into mouse placentas, which stimulated the production of extra blood vessels, reducing the high blood pressure associated with pre-eclampsia. The hope is to demonstrate the potential of using this approach to treat the condition in humans after trials.
A team of scientists has created programmable cellular switches on the surface of cells, enabling control over custom behaviors. This groundbreaking work focuses on a group of proteins called G-protein-coupled receptors, which manage many cellular processes. The challenge has been that engineering these proteins often ruins their function. The researchers overcame this by incorporating a molecular component that blocks receptor activity but can be removed in response to signals, allowing for activated control of receptor functions when needed.
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