The complement activation product C3a is often described as a proinflammatory mediator,
alongside its downstream cousin, C5a. However, emerging studies show that C3a has …

Neurosecretory protein VGF (non-acronymic) belongs to the granin family of neuropeptides.
VGF and VGF-derived peptides have been repeatedly identified in well-powered and well …

Though discovered over 100 years ago, the molecular foundation of sporadic Alzheimer's
disease (AD) remains elusive. To better characterize the complex nature of AD, we …

Microglia are the major cell type expressing complement C3a receptor (C3aR) in the brain.
Using a knockin mouse line in which a Td-tomato reporter is incorporated into the …

Background Multiomic studies by several groups in the NIH Accelerating Medicines
Partnership for Alzheimer's Disease (AMP-AD) identified VGF as a major driver of …

Regulated expression and secretion of BDNF, which activates TrkB receptor signaling, is
known to play a critical role in cognition. Identification of additional modulators of cognitive …

As the common factor linking adipose tissue to the metabolic context of obesity, insulin
resistance and atherosclerosis are associated with a low-grade chronic inflammatory status …

Classic innate immune signaling pathways provide most of the immune response in the
brain. This response activates many of the canonical signaling mechanisms identified in …

Neuropeptides are small proteins broadly expressed throughout the central nervous system,
which act as neurotransmitters, neuromodulators and neuroregulators. Growing evidence …

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are leading druggable targets for several medicines,
but many GPCRs are still untapped for their therapeutic potential due to poor understanding …