How our cells get rid of junk and recycle

Ever wonder what happens to the rubbish inside your body? The small pouch hidden inside your cells is called the lysosome and it acts as the garbage disposal and the recycling center.

From the recycled bits, the cell rebuilds the body.

When cells mess up, genetic mutations and out of whack proteins are created. Fortunately, cells, by nature, are rather self-destructive.

As we age, our cells lose the ability to cannibalize and aren’t as good at disposing of the cellular garbage.

Dysfunctional lysosomes have been linked to over 50 disorders. Doctors can treat them by giving people the proteins they are deficient in. And knowing more about lysosomes might help in cancer prevention and aid in delaying the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.

The thing is, we don’t know that much about lysosomes. Scientists know what happens with calcium channels in muscle and nerve cells, but it’s anyone’s guess how the calcium channels function inside a lysosome.

In the labs at the University of Michigan, researchers uncovered some of the mystery surrounding lysosomes. To do so, cell biologist Haoxing Xu looked at the calcium channels in them.

By using a pipette, the researchers hooked up electrodes to a cell membrane to record the protein activity.

Xu found that a protein called TRPML1 acts as a calcium channel in lysosomes. The lipid called PI(3,5)P2, sends a signal that activates the protein.

Mutations in the gene that produces the protein and mutations in the enzymes that produce the lipid have been linked to diseases that cause mental retardation and neurodegeneration.

Therefore, tweaking TRPML1 through the use of channel activators or inhibitors could manipulate membrane traffic and prevent the development of diseases.

“If you can activate the channel, it might be possible to overcome the membrane traffic defects caused by the disease-causing mutations. Luckily, small-molecule chemicals that can stimulate TRPML1 channel activity are already available, ” Xu said in a statement.

IThe Michigan researchers are currently trying to see if manipulating the TRPML1 channel can stop or reverse the development of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) in mice models.

Breast cancer therapy found

Did you know that healthy breast cells naturally protect themselves from cancer?


Sounds simple enough, and by exploiting this innate ability, a new study introduces a homegrown way to stop cancer cell growth without damaging normal cells.

Healthy people produce up to 1,000 abnormal cells every day – often right in the face of normal cells. Luckily, our tumor surveillance system gets rid of these cancer-prone cells before they become a problem.

California researchers discovered that healthy breasts produce a small protein called interleukin-25 (IL-25). These actively seek out those cancer-prone cells and instruct them to self-destruct – just another one of our innate defense mechanisms.

1. They identified several molecules produced by normal breast cells that fight cancer, with the most powerful being IL-25.
2. They injected the protein into mice with human breast tumors, and one month later, these tumors were three-times smaller than those in mice injected with a placebo.
3. Using human breast cells grown in a culture, they found that cancer cells die off in the presence of IL-25 because those cells have a specific receptor that normal cells don’t.
4. They looked at hundreds of tumors from breast cancer patients and found that almost all of the malignant cells displayed those specific IL-25 receptors not found on healthy ones.

• The IL-25 receptor is docked on the surface of malignant breast cancer cells and signals ‘destroy me’ to IL-25. This self-destruction process allows IL-25 to kill cancer cells without affecting the growth of healthy ones.

Stick 'em up! - Inside AdSense

Stick 'em up! - Inside AdSense

CANCER

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Cancer??? Don't worry. Keep strength in your mind.

Cancer Overview

Cancer, also called malignancy, is characterized by an abnormal growth of cells. There are more than 100 types of cancer, including breast cancer, skin cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer, and lymphoma.Cancer symptoms vary widely based on the type of cancer. Cancer treatment includes chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. If you’re considering complementary treatments for cancer, discuss this with your doctor as they may interact with other cancer treatment.

How Is Cancer Diagnosed?

The earlier cancer is diagnosed and treated, the better the chance of its being cured. Some types of cancer -- such as those of the skin, breast, mouth, testicles, prostate, and rectum -- may be detected by routine self-exam or other screening measures before the symptoms become serious. Most cases of cancer are detected and diagnosed after a tumor can be felt or when other symptoms develop. In a few cases, cancer is diagnosed incidentally as a result of evaluating or treating other medical conditions.

Cancer diagnosis begins with a thorough physical exam and a complete medical history. Lab studies of blood, urine, and stool can detect abnormalities that may indicate cancer. When a tumor is suspected, imaging tests such as X-rays, computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound, and fiberoptic scope exams help doctors determine the cancer's location and size. To confirm the cancer diagnosis, a biopsy is performed: A tissue sample is surgically removed from the suspected malignancy and studied under a microscope to check for cancer cells.

Picture of Skin Cancer