A new study from Prof. Bal Khakh’s lab identifies astrocyte gene expression changes in Huntington’s Disease, paving the way for identification of therapeutic targets.
Astrocyte molecular signatures in Huntington’s disease was published in Science Translational Medicine 16 Oct 2019: Vol. 11, Issue 514.
The study is also covered by UCLA Health News

Jun Nagai and colleagues in Prof. Bal Khakh’s lab published in Cell that astrocytes, non-neuronal cells in the brain, regulate behaviors including hyperactivity and attention by promoting new connections between neurons.
Hyperactivity with Disrupted Attention by Activation of an Astrocyte Synaptogenic Cue Cell Volume 177, Issue 5, 16 May 2019, Pages 1280-1292.e20 (PDF of article)

In Nature Immunology faculty members Sonal Srikanth and Yousang Gwack report a new role for a Ca²⁺ sensor molecule (STIM1) to keep the immune system in check by retaining STING (stimulator of interferon genes) in the ER.
STIM1 moonlights as an anchor for STING Nature Immunology 20, 152–162 (2019)