Scientists have identified the brain cells that regulate inflammation and determined how they keep tabs on the immune response. The neurons that act as the master dial for the immune system live in the brain stem, the stalk-like structure that connects the bulk of the brain to the spinal cord. The finding could lead to treatments for autoimmune diseases and other conditions caused by an excessive immune response. The mechanism by which the brain sends signals back to the immune system to regulate inflammation remains unclear.

Researchers at UC San Francisco and UC Davis recently discovered that Maternal Brain Hormone (CCN3) increases bone density and strength in mice. The hormone's effects explain how women's bones remain relatively robust even as calcium is stripped from their bones to support milk production. Mice with increased CCN3 had dramatic increases in bone mass and strength over the course of weeks, regardless of age and sex. The hormone can be administered through a hydrogel patch applied directly to the site of a bone fracture.

Scientists at Northwestern University have invented a goo that could open the door to regenerating human knee cartilage. The goo mimics the chemical structure of cartilage. Animal subjects who had their joints treated with the biomaterial grew new cartilage within six months. If the goo works in humans, it could benefit people who need knee replacement surgeries, athletes who experience ACL tears, and people who suffer from degenerative diseases like arthritis.