New ideas about megakaryocytes and platelets

Series edited by Lawrence F. Brass

This series highlights the current ideas about the production of megakaryocytes from undifferentiated hematopoietic precursors, the steps by which megakaryocytes produce platelets, and the molecular mechanisms within platelets that make hemostasis possible. This complex system that keeps us from bleeding to death at the same time exposes us to increased risk of thrombosis and vascular disease.

Published December 2005

Pharmacological manipulation of cell death

Series edited by Ivor J. Benjamin and Guido Kroemer

This series of reviews on pharmacological manipulation of cell death explores the creation of new therapies for correcting excessive or deficient cell death in human disease. Signal transduction pathways controlling cell death and the molecular core machinery responsible for cellular self-destruction have been elucidated with unprecedented celerity during the last decade, leading to the design of novel strategies for blocking pathological cell loss or for killing unwanted cells. Thus, an increasing number of compounds targeting a diverse range of apoptosis-related molecules are being explored at the preclinical and clinical levels. Beyond the agents that are already FDA approved, a range of molecules targeting apoptosis-regulatory transcription factors, regulators of mitochondrial membrane permeabilization, and inhibitors or activators of cell-death–related proteases are under close scrutiny for drug development.

Published October 2005

Channelopathies

Series edited by Laurie Goodman

Ion channels are pore-forming proteins that provide pathways for the controlled movement of ions into or out of cells. The processes of ionic movement across cell membranes is critical for essential and physiological processes ranging from control of the strength and duration of the heartbeat to the regulation of insulin secretion in pancreatic beta cells. Diseases caused by mutations in genes that encode ion channel subunits or regulatory proteins are referred to as channelopathies. As might be expected based on the diverse roles of ion channels, channelopathies range from inherited cardiac arrhythmias, to muscle disorders, to forms of diabetes. This series of reviews examines the roles of ion channels in health and disease.

Published August 2005

Complex genetic disorders

Series edited by Richard Mayeux

The remarkable achievements in human genetics over the years have been due to technological advances in gene mapping and in statistical methods that relate genetic variants to disease. Nearly every Mendelian genetic disorder has now been mapped to a specific gene or set of genes, but these discoveries have been limited to high-risk, variant alleles that segregate in rare families. With a working draft of the human genome now in hand, the availability of high-throughput genotyping, a plethora of genetic markers, and the development of new analytical methods, scientists are now turning their attention to common, complex disorders such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension, and Alzheimer disease. In this series, the JCI provides readers with reviews dedicated to complex genetic disorders, offering a view of genetic medicine in the 21st century.

Published June 2005

Heart failure

Series edited by Michael D. Schneider and Ivor J. Benjamin

Substantial progress has been made in the treatment of heart failure, as scientists have determined the underlying etiology, pathogenesis and mechanisms behind the disease. This review series delves into the interrelated triggers that culminate in heart failure and the therapeutic avenues available to patients.

Published March 2005

Regulatory T cells

Series edited by Leonard Chess

Immune protection is achieved by the elaboration of many molecules that together can not only destroy invading organisms, pathogenic cells, and tumors but also injure normal cells. This review series focuses on recent advances indicating that distinct subsets of regulatory T cells and natural killer T cells control potentially pathogenic antigen-reactive T cells. These suppressor cells may play important roles in transplantation, allergic disease, vaccination, and the prevention and treatment of autoimmune disease.

Published November 2004

Emerging infectious diseases

Series edited by Andrew R. Marks

This series examines six different pathogens in order to illustrate the selective forces that drive the emergence of new infectious diseases and the implications for public health and our survival.

Published March 2004

Cellular senescence

Series edited by Pier Giuseppe Pelicci

Cellular life span is restrained by signaling pathways activated by DNA damage, telomere dysfunction, and environmental stresses. Cells entering a state of senescence undergo a permanent cell cycle arrest, and functional and morphological changes. This series investigates the molecular pathways associated with execution of the senescence program and how it contributes to aging and tumor suppression.

Published January 2004

Quorum sensing

Series edited by E. Peter Greenberg

Researchers have only recently realized that bacteria use cell-to-cell communication in order to orchestrate gene expression during infection - a phenomenon known as quorum sensing. This series explores the role of these signaling mechanisms and bacterial group behavior in evading host defenses and antibiotics.

Published November 2003

Genetic repair

Series edited by Bruce Sullenger

This series examines the inspired techniques utilized in targeted gene repair for the simple correction of genetic defects and the hurdles that must be overcome in order to make clinical use of molecular therapeutics in the treatment of diseases such as cystic fibrosis, hemophilia, sickle cell anemia, muscular dystrophy, and ß-thalassemia.

Published August 2003