IL-6 has been associated with protection and pathology to respiratory viral infection. Here we clarify its mechanisms for clearance of influenza virus.
Kuklin et al. show that inducible deletion of two major cytoprotective transcription factors, Nrf2 and NF-kB, in hepatocytes of mice causes spontaneous liver inflammation and necrosis. Functional studies combined with transcriptional profiling identified a cross-talk of these transcription factors in the control of hepatocyte proliferation in the normal and acutely injured liver, which is mediated to a large extent by liver macrophages.
Muhar, Farnung et al. show how cells eliminate damaged proteins using SCF–FBXO31, a complex that degrades C-terminally amidated proteins, providing insight into protein quality control and mutations linked to neurodevelopmental disorders.
Kurzeder et al. demonstrate in a proof-of-concept study that digoxin, an Na+/K+ ATPase inhibitor, reduces circulating tumor cell clusters in metastatic breast cancer patients, supporting further studies with refined inhibitors and clinical endpoints.