Initiation of hormone therapy after age 65 remains risky but still works for some women
Peer-Reviewed Publication
Updates every hour. Last Updated: 8-Jun-2026 20:16 ET (9-Jun-2026 00:16 GMT/UTC)
This work, led by Xiuchun “Cindy” Tian, professor of biotechnology in the Department of Animal Science, and her former and current graduate students Yue Su, Jiaxi Liu, and Ruifeng Zhao, was published in Stem Cells.
Leveraging human organoid-based mechanistic investigation, researchers reveal how an immunosuppressive drug, antithymocyte globulin (ATG), induces injury to blood vessels in the liver. According to the study, ATG first triggers rapid clotting through a complement activation system and later causes inflammation by activating the TGF-β pathway. This discovery explains why some patients experience severe liver-related side effects following organ transplantation and aid in developing safer immunosuppressive regimen.
Low back pain (LBP) is a crucial risk factor for future health decline, affecting quality of life of individuals. Now, researchers have discovered that a hormone treatment can ease chronic LBP in mice by preventing harmful nerve growth inside damaged spinal tissue. The study shows that parathyroid hormone triggers bone cells to release a protein that repels pain-sensing nerves. These findings offer new clues for developing treatments for age-related and injury-related back pain.