Health & Physiology
How platelets pull the strings
No matter if it is a nosebleed, a scratch, or a cut – we regularly rely on our body’s innate ability to stop the loss of blood from injured blood vessels. This task is mainly done by little cells in our blood stream called "platelets”.... click to read more
Finding the straw that breaks the cancer's back?
The pancreas has two main functions: 1) it regulates blood glucose levels by producing insulin and glucagon and 2) it produces digestive enzymes to allow us to utilize the food we eat. Every day, up to two liters of digestive juice are passed into the... click to read more
A blood cell atlas to guide us toward transplant success
Blood and bone marrow contain a variety of cell types that execute diverse functions, from transporting oxygen (red cells) to immune defense against pathogens (white cells). All cell types in a person have the same DNA, but what differentiates them are the proteins each expresses.... click to read more
RAINmakers: how receptors orchestrate specific cell functions
All physiological functions in humans are orchestrated by cell surface receptors and their intracellular signaling effects. Cell signaling typically consists of 5 components: stimulus, receptor, transducer, messenger, and effector. These components are modularly linked to each other to ensure that extracellular cues are relayed flawlessly... click to read more
How do immune cells enter tissues to protect the body?
Most cells in our body don’t move: they stay put, forming dense tissues. But one population of cells moves continually, and we would not survive without them. These immune cells arrive at any spot in our body where damage or infection arises. Immune cells... click to read more
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