The skin is the largest human sensory organ. What is not fully understood is how the skin responds to stimuli, especially to pain. Research has now demonstrated that Stem Cell Factor and its receptor, c-Kit, play a central role in tuning the responsiveness of sensory neurons to heat stimuli. “As yet, c-Kit is the first example of a single gene being required for normal noxious heat sensitivity of C-fibers,” according to the neurobiologists.

Original post by ScienceDaily: Skin Care News

Posted: December 15th, 2007 under skin health.
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Two new mouse studies have provided insight into the role of the death-inducing protein TRAIL and its receptors in tumor development and metastasis. Binding of TRAIL to its receptors induces the cells expressing the receptors to undergo a form of cell death known as apoptosis. Scientists found that if lymphoma-prone mice were deficient in the TRAIL receptor they developed lymphoma more frequently than TRAIL receptor–sufficient lymphoma-prone mice.

Original post by ScienceDaily: Skin Care News

Posted: December 15th, 2007 under skin health.
Comments: none