#12 — This gene is associated with longevity in Golden Retrievers

A gene called HER4 could hold the key to extending the lifespan of golden retrievers and potentially offer insights into human cancer studies.

• Golden retrievers, a beloved dog breed, face a high cancer mortality rate of up to 65%.
• Researchers from the University of California, Davis, sought to identify genes associated with longer life rather than cancer diagnosis.
• Their study revealed that a gene called HER4, linked to human cancers, extends a golden retriever's life by nearly two years.
• This discovery could have implications for humans, as dogs and humans share many similar cancer types.
• More than 300 golden retrievers participated in the study, and dogs with specific variants of HER4 lived significantly longer.
• The gene seemed to be more crucial for female dogs' longevity and may interact with hormones and environmental toxins.
• Further research aims to validate these findings and explore the gene's impact on expression and function.

Read more at UC Davis and the research paper at GeroScience.

mRNA-loaded vesicles for immunotherapy against glioblastoma

In a groundbreaking development, scientists are harnessing extracellular vesicles to supercharge immunotherapy for glioblastoma, potentially revolutionizing cancer treatment.

• Researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center developed a novel method using extracellular vesicles to enhance immunotherapy responses in glioblastoma.
• They loaded mRNA into extracellular vesicles, small structures used to transport biomolecules, demonstrating their anti-tumor potential.
• mRNA therapies, recognised by the 2023 Nobel Prize, hold promise for cancer treatment, but delivery challenges exist.
• The team solved these issues by using a high-throughput system to produce mRNA-loaded vesicles from engineered cells.
• These vesicles were engineered to express specific proteins and loaded with mRNA encoding interferon-gamma, an immune-signalling protein.
• In preclinical models, this approach increased survival time and initial antitumor activity in glioblastoma.
• The method's adaptability allows it to be tailored for other tumor types by changing the targeted antibodies.
• Further preclinical work is underway to improve production methods and assess vesicle safety before clinical application.

Read more at the University of Texas and the research paper at Nature Communications.

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