Two MBA students from our faculty, Hedva Haykin and Elina Starosvetsky, have made significant contributions to groundbreaking research recently published in Nature, highlighting the cutting-edge work being done in our institution.
Hedva Haykin co-authored a study that explores how the immune system’s organization into interacting modules, each represented by different immune cell types, enhances its ability to evolve. By examining genetic variation in immune cell frequencies using a genetically diverse mouse model, the study found that these variations are driven by multiple genes involved in processes like cell proliferation and migration. A particularly noteworthy discovery is the identification of “cyto-trans” genes, which influence immune cell types in which they are not expressed. These genes have faced weaker negative selection, contributing to the immune system’s adaptability and robustness. The research underscores how the modular nature of the immune system allows for the creation of beneficial variations, aiding in its rapid evolution.
In another study, co-authored by Elina Starosvetsky and published in Nature Cardiovascular Research, the focus shifts to the brain’s reward system and its impact on recovery from acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The research demonstrates that activation of the brain’s reward system can significantly improve cardiac remodeling and vascularization after AMI in mice, leading to enhanced cardiac performance. The study reveals a causal connection between the brain’s motivational networks and the physiological processes that drive recovery from heart attacks. This research introduces new potential therapeutic avenues for improving clinical outcomes in patients suffering from AMI.
Reward system activation improves recovery from acute myocardial infarction
Interactions between immune cell types facilitate the evolution of immune traits
