Drug discovery and molecular mechanisms of drug action
A type of immunotherapy uses antibodies that activate the TNF receptor family member CD40 on immune cells. CD40 is present on antigen-presenting cells (APCs) of the immune system and is activated by surface-bound proteins called CD40L. Activation of CD40 on APCs stimulates these cells to take up and display antigens to T and B cells, … Read more
Pancreatic cancer is one of the deadliest forms of cancer with most patients surviving much less than one year from diagnosis. This was certainly the experience that my family had—diagnosis was made at the end of January and the patient died in April. For patients with metastatic disease, combination therapy with conventional chemotherapeutic agents, which … Read more
Some friends asked me about an anti-aging supplement called Basis by Elysium Health. This prompted me to look into the biology behind the two “active” ingredients in this and other anti-aging dietary supplements. The compounds are nicotinamide riboside and pterostilbene. Pterostilbene is chemically related to resveratrol; both are bioactive components found in certain berries, grapes, … Read more
Some anti-aging supplements include compounds, like nicotinamide riboside, that increase nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD: oxidized NAD+ and reduced NADH) and stilbenoid compounds, like resveratrol or pterostilbene, that are anti-oxidants and regulators of protein function. The findings that resveratrol inhibited human platelet aggregation and prevented cancer cell proliferation in culture and cancer in mice created excitement … Read more
Vitamins and nutrients in foods are key to maintaining a healthy life. Research in many areas has converged on the idea that altered metabolism is a key factor in aging and aging-associated diseases. Consequently, there is great interest in identifying molecules in food that can support a youthful, healthy metabolism and thus reduce aging-associated disease … Read more