Here you will find a regularly updated collection of articles published in physiological journals, usually published by physiological societies.
The Physiological Society of Japan
celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2023. On this occasion the Journal of Physiology compiled a collection of some of the most influential research published by Japanese authors in this journal. Have a closer look here
The Physiological Society of Japan publishes regularly Science Topics related to a recently published paper.
The latest topic relates to an article published by Shigetoshi Oiki et al. in Cell Reports Physical Science
From the abstract: Single-molecule measurements of protein dynamics reveal discrete transitions between conformational states, providing critical kinetic information. However, recording signals often elicit flickering because rapid conformational transitions exceed the temporal recording resolution, making time-domain kinetic analysis challenging. We developed an amplitude-domain method to decipher the underlying rate of channel flickering. Experimental single-channel currents, when passed through a first-order filter, often yield two beta distributions (double-beta distributions) in the amplitude histogram. We revealed that these two components were projected from current traces comprising two aggregated Markov processes emerging alternatively (double-flicker gating). The underlying gating model of double flickering is related to the model topology, which exhibits mode switching. To estimate the underlying double-flickering rates, multiple amplitude histograms drawn from the filtered current data at different cut-off frequencies were simultaneously fitted with double-beta distributions. The simulated data for various models and rates verified the capability of the method for robust rate estimation.
APSselect A February 2026 selection from Journals published by the American Physiological Society (APS)
AJP Endocrinology and Metabolism: Jacob A. Herring et al: Nr4a1 β-cell specific deletion impairs glucose tolerance in female mice
From the abstract: Functional β-cell mass is the combination of the β-cell’s ability to secrete insulin, proliferate, and survive under damaging stress. The Nr4a family of transcription factors controls the expression of genes essential for fuel metabolism and cellular proliferation. We report the effects of β-cell specific Nr4a1 deletion in mice (Nr4a1β−/−). We determined that Nr4a1β−/− impairs glucose tolerance in female mice fed a high-fat diet. We found decreases in β-cell mass and glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Nr4a1β−/− decreased mRNA and protein levels of key genes involved in glucose utilization and cell cycle progression. Estrogen treatment induces mRNA and protein expression of Nr4a1 in cell lines as well as primary mouse islets.
AJP GI and Liver Physiology: Jennifer C. Pryor et al.: Antibiotics alter duodenal immune populations upon gluten exposure in mice: implications for non-coeliac gluten sensitivity
From the publication: A growing proportion of the non-celiac population experiences adverse symptoms to gluten. The pathogenesis of non-celiac gluten sensitivity (NCGS) is unclear, but elevated duodenal eosinophils and altered mucosa-associated microbiota (MAM) populations have been reported. A mouse model examined how microbial modulation affects immune responses to gluten. Antibiotic treatment followed by gluten reintroduction reduced duodenal Staphylococcus and altered microbial carbohydrate and lipid metabolism pathways in the fecal microbiome. Antibiotics and gluten treatment resulted in increased abundance and activation of duodenal eosinophils and elevated γδ T-cells in the duodenal epithelium. These findings highlight the role the microbiome plays in gluten-induced immune responses, providing insights into mechanisms behind non-celiac gluten sensitivity.
AJP Function: Eden M. Gallegos et al.: Alcohol and Metabolic Stress Synergize to Dysregulate Mitochondrial Health and Lipid Metabolism; Evidence from a Hepatocyte Spheroid Model
From the abstract: Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease and alcohol-associated liver disease frequently co-occur, manifesting as MetALD. Understanding the hepatocyte-specific effects of alcohol and metabolic stressors is critical to uncovering mechanisms of synergistic injury. Ethanol and metabolic stressors synergize to dysregulate hepatocyte lipid homeostasis and oxidative stress while additively impairing mitochondrial bioenergetics. Gene expression results suggest that lipid accumulation may be driven by altered expression of triglyceride storage and lipid handling markers rather than de novo lipogenesis. These findings highlight the importance of metabolic contributions in alcohol-induced hepatocellular dysfunction and establish HepaRG spheroids as a robust model to elucidate hepatocyte-specific responses in MetALD.
Much more can be found in this month’s selection of articles from APS journals!
Don’t miss Physiology Shorts, published on the website of The Phyiological Society
The German Physiological Society (DPG) selects regularly a “Paper of the Month“.
DPG’s latest paper of the month (Karen Lahme et al) was recently published in Cell.
From the abstract: Chronic kidney disease affects 1 in 10 people worldwide, with damage to specialized blood filter cells of the kidney, called podocytes, playing a critical role. In membranous nephropathy (MN), a major cause of nephrotic syndrome, circulating autoantibodies attack proteins on podocyte foot processes (FPs), damaging the kidney’s filtration barrier. This study shows that these autoantibodies trigger the formation of antigen-autoantibody aggregates on the podocyte FP plasma membrane. These aggregates bud off as stalked vesicles, termed autoimmunoglobulin-triggered extracellular vesicles (AIT-EVs), which are released into the urine. AIT-EVs carry disease-causing autoantibodies, their target antigens, essential FP proteins, and disease-associated stressors representing a mechanism for removing immune complexes (ICs) and waste. However, their excessive release leads to FP effacement and podocyte dysfunction. In MN patients, urinary AIT-EVs correspond to glomerular urinary-space aggregates. Enriching AIT-EVs enables detection and monitoring of pathogenic autoantibodies, suggesting a non-invasive approach for autoimmune kidney disease diagnosis and therapy.
These new and engaging video feature from The Journal of Physiology aims to deliver short and informative research snapshots directly from the authors of research papers selected by the Editors of the journal!
Pflügers Archiv (the official Journal of the DPG) : a selection made by Armin Kurtz, the former editor in chief of Pflügers Archiv – Eur J Physiol:
Pflügers Arch – Eur J Physiol. Volume 475, issue 1, January 2023 Special Issue: Body and mind: how somatic feedback signals shape brain activity and cognition.
From Pflügers Archiv we highlight a thematic collection of papers. These are in a Special Issue entitled “Body and mind: how somatic feedback signals shape brain activity and cognition”.
During recent years, body-to-brain signaling is gaining increasing attention. Understanding interactions between the brain and “peripheral” functions (cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic, hormonal and others) bears great potential for basic neurosciences as well as for pathophysiology and clinical innovations. A major focus of the Special Issue is on respiration as a fundamental rhythm which has astonishing impact on brain function and cognition. However, this example can and should be generalized to a modern understanding of embodiment – after all, the brain is an organ, and as such is embedded into the entire organism and its environment.