Cancer precursor cell identified; Webb spots more old galaxies

This week, archaeologists identified depictions of the Milky Way galaxy in ancient Egyptian imagery. A mathematician found a new way to solve higher polynomial equations, one of algebra’s oldest challenges. And climbing shoe abrasion releases chemicals that could be a health hazard for indoor climbers.

Additionally, researchers found a precursor cell for one of the most common forms of lung cancer; the James Webb Space Telescope detected the faintest, oldest galaxy groups yet; and researchers are questioning assumptions about NAD⁺ effects on aging.

‘Cell of origin’ for lung squamous cell carcinoma identified

Lung squamous cell carcinoma is the second-most common form of lung cancer, and decades after the scientific confirmation that smoking causes cancer, it is still not fully understood. Researchers at University College London now report that this cancer develops from a specific precursor cell. They found that a population of basal cells in the trachea eventually outcompetes other cell types, pushing them out, becomes dominant, and invades and populates whole lobes of the lung.

This subset of cells in the trachea expresses a gene called Krt5. To determine the origins of this cancer, the researchers labeled Krt5-expressing basal cells in the tracheas of two groups of mice—one group was exposed to a carcinogen to observe the effects on trachea cells. In the carcinogen group, some of the basal cells multiplied faster than other Krt5-expressing cell types and became dominant before spreading into the lungs.

Dr. Sandra Gómez-López, first author of the study, says, “There is a natural balance between the different cell populations and types, but when these cell populations are exposed to carcinogens like those found in tobacco smoke, this balance is disrupted. Our experiments have shown that populations of cells originating from just a few damaged basal cells in the trachea gradually become dominant, taking over large areas of the lung.”

Look at these old galaxy groups

Astronomers have released images of the largest sample of galaxy groups ever detected, using data from the James Webb Space Telescope. Notably, they span a time period from 1 billion years ago to about 12 billion years ago, when the universe was even younger than Earth is today. It’s hard for me to imagine that things were going on basically everywhere before I personally existed, but you can’t argue with data from a telescope that can detect galaxies so faint they’re 1 billion times dimmer than humans can see.

These images of early galaxy groups are key to understanding the development and interactions of galaxy groups in the recent universe. Compared to nearby galaxies we observe today, these early galaxies were irregularly shaped and rapidly forming stars.

Over time, galaxies developed more symmetrical structures and star formation was quenched. These differences could provide key indicators of the structure and development of regions of dark matter, supermassive black holes and the thermal history of the hot gas in the spaces between galaxies.

Netflix guy’s supplement regimen refuted

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, known as NAD to its friends and that wax-faced Netflix documentary guy who wants to live forever, is a coenzyme involved in cellular metabolism. Among other things, NAD helps mitochondria produce ATP, which cells use for energy. Levels of NAD decline with age, and some biologists have correlated this decline with the effects of aging.

Supplements of nicotinamide riboside, an NAD precursor, have grown popular. But NAD and its effects are still poorly understood, and a study by researchers at the University of Copenhagen now finds that reducing skeletal NAD⁺ levels in mice by 85% did not accelerate aging or affect whole-body metabolism.

In order to avoid any effects of NAD levels on muscle tissue as it develops, the mice were genetically bred with NAD levels that could be modulated once they became adults. With substantially diminished NAD levels, they maintained muscle size and exhibited no adverse effects on exercise or strength. The researchers did observe increased energetic stress during exercise, but markers of whole-body and muscle health had no differences from regular mice.

Researcher Sabina Chubanava says, “Contrary to what might have been expected, healthy skeletal muscle function is not as reliant on high levels of NAD as previously thought. Importantly, our findings indicate that reducing muscle NAD levels well beyond the modest drops seen with normal aging does not cause muscle weakness or make the muscle age faster.”

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