Monocyte News and Research

RSS

Engineered liver tissue model mimics early metabolic liver disease

More than 100 million people in the United States suffer from metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), characterized by a buildup of fat in the liver.

3 Feb 2026

Bacteria repurpose viral injection systems to target diverse cells

New study shows how bacteria adapted a virus-derived injection system to recognize and attach to many different types of cells.

2 Feb 2026

How DNA and life experiences leave distinct marks on the human immune system

Using single-cell epigenomic profiling of immune cells from 110 individuals, researchers show that genetic variation and environmental exposures shape the human immune system through distinct DNA methylation mechanisms. Genetic effects concentrate within gene bodies of memory cells, while environmental exposures primarily remodel regulatory regions in naive immune cells.

28 Jan 2026

Chemotherapy-induced gut changes trigger anti-metastatic immune response

Chemotherapy commonly damages the intestinal lining, a well-known side effect. But this injury does not remain confined to the gut.

22 Jan 2026

Study shows DHPS enzyme controls macrophage maturation across multiple organs

A new study led by researchers at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, its Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that an enzyme involved in protein translation is essential for circulating immune cells, called monocytes, to mature into tissue-resident macrophages, a specialized population of immune cells that maintain organ health by clearing dead cells and debris.

21 Jan 2026

Natural brakes on inflammation could treat chronic diseases

Researchers at University College London (UCL) have uncovered a key mechanism that helps the body switch off inflammation – a breakthrough that could lead to new treatments for chronic diseases affecting millions worldwide.

16 Jan 2026

Natural daylight during office hours improves glucose stability in type 2 diabetes

Natural daylight exposure during office hours improves glucose control and boosts fat oxidation in individuals with type 2 diabetes, enhancing metabolic health.

8 Jan 2026

Genetic and cellular mechanisms underlying steatotic liver disease

Steatotic liver disease (SLD), mainly encompassing metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), alcohol-related liver disease (ALD), and metabolic dysfunction and ALD (MetALD), has emerged as the dominant cause of chronic liver disease worldwide, displacing viral hepatitis as the primary aetiology.

10 Nov 2025

Investigating the impact of starting HIV drugs within days of infection

Despite effective HIV medication, the immune system of people with HIV remains disrupted in the long term. Researchers at Amsterdam UMC investigated whether this dysregulation can be prevented by starting HIV medication immediately after infection – i.e., within a few days.

8 Nov 2025

Urolithin A recharges aging immune cells and boosts mitochondrial fitness in midlife adults

Urolithin A, a natural postbiotic known to trigger mitophagy, rejuvenated key immune cell functions in healthy middle-aged adults after 28 days. The trial showed a shift toward a youthful, energy-efficient CD8⁺ T-cell profile and enhanced bacterial clearance without inflammatory side effects.

3 Nov 2025

Single-cell transcriptomics reveals new players in liver regeneration

The liver is remarkable for its ability to regenerate after injury, yet when this process fails, acute liver failure (ALF) carries devastating outcomes.

2 Sep 2025

COVID-19 ages arteries prematurely with women most affected

COVID-19 may leave arteries biologically “older,” with women showing more persistent stiffness and symptom links than men. Findings from the large CARTESIAN cohort suggest this vascular aging effect is partly reversible over time.

19 Aug 2025

Targeting the adrenomedullin pathway may be a potential therapy for liver failure

Liver failure syndromes are characterized by a dysregulated immune response leading to immune paralysis. Adrenomedullin (ADM) is a potent vasodilator and immunoregulator.

18 Aug 2025

Systems biology identifies sentinel biomarkers bridging ankylosing spondylitis and myocardial infarction

Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is increasingly recognized as an independent risk factor for premature myocardial infarction (MI), yet the molecular bridge linking chronic axial inflammation to acute coronary events remains poorly mapped.

14 Aug 2025

ADA2 regulates inflammation through lysosomal and extracellular mechanisms

Adenosine deaminase 2 (ADA2) plays a critical role in immune regulation, particularly in monocyte differentiation and activation.

7 Jul 2025

Study unveils powerful strategy to rejuvenate effectiveness of CAR T cell therapy against glioblastoma

A team of researchers from the San Raffaele-Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET, Milan), led by Nadia Coltella and Luigi Naldini, has unveiled a powerful strategy to rejuvenate the effectiveness of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy against glioblastoma, one of the most lethal and treatment-resistant brain tumors.

3 Jul 2025

Single-cell transcriptomes of immune cells offer insight into juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), a type of arthritis commonly occurring in children, is a chronic, inflammatory condition that affects the joints, causing pain, swelling, stiffness, and limiting the range of motion.

2 Jul 2025

Choosing better carbs in low-carb diets boosts health outcomes

A long-term study of the Framingham Heart Study Offspring cohort found that low-carbohydrate diets emphasizing high-quality carbs, like whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, were linked to reduced inflammation and oxidative stress. Diets low in carbohydrate quality offered no such benefits.

29 May 2025

Air pollution’s chemical punch alters immune markers in pregnant women, study finds

Personal exposure to nitrogen dioxide and the oxidative potential of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), but not PM2.5 mass, influenced immune biomarker levels in pregnant women. These findings suggest that the chemical reactivity of air pollutants may play a key role in maternal and fetal immune health.

22 May 2025

Study reveals how yellow fever vaccine triggers strong immune response

Researchers show how specific immune cells are activated by the vaccine - an important starting point for the development of new vaccines.

14 May 2025