Timothy Hla
@hlatim.bsky.social
Scientist, biochemist / molecular biologist, works on lipid mediators, sphingolipids, S1P, prostanoids, vascular biology, endothelial cells, Professor at Harvard Medical School, Boston
https://research.childrenshospital.org/hlalab
https://research.childrenshospital.org/hlalab
A non biologic PCSK9 inhibitor could be a game changer! www.nytimes.com/2025/11/08/h...
New Pill From Merck Could Slash Cholesterol Levels, Trials Show
www.nytimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 1:54 PM
A non biologic PCSK9 inhibitor could be a game changer! www.nytimes.com/2025/11/08/h...
Sphingolipid sensor degrades cGAMP to suppress antiviral host defense- #virus #lipids #hostdefense #innateImmunity
www.cell.com/immunity/ful...
www.cell.com/immunity/ful...
Membrane integrity changes upon viral infection activate sphingomyelinase SMPDL3B to restrict cGAS-STING signaling via cGAMP degradation
Wang et al. find that cell membrane stress upon viral infection induces expression
and stabilization of host sphingomyelin phosphodiesterase acid-like 3B (SMPDL3B),
which, in turn, degrades cGAMP to s...
www.cell.com
November 2, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Sphingolipid sensor degrades cGAMP to suppress antiviral host defense- #virus #lipids #hostdefense #innateImmunity
www.cell.com/immunity/ful...
www.cell.com/immunity/ful...
October 26, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Reposted by Timothy Hla
What does the naked mole rat’s extreme healthspan have to do with ongoing clinical trials?
open.substack.com/pub/erictopo...
open.substack.com/pub/erictopo...
A Long-Awaited Longevity Mystery Solved
Spotlighting an essential human biologic pathway targeted by drugs in clinical trials
open.substack.com
October 13, 2025 at 12:46 PM
What does the naked mole rat’s extreme healthspan have to do with ongoing clinical trials?
open.substack.com/pub/erictopo...
open.substack.com/pub/erictopo...
Reposted by Timothy Hla
Male mice that exercise can pass their newly gained fitness on to male offspring.
If the same holds true in humans, researchers say, fathers could help improve the health of any future children by staying in shape themselves. https://scim.ag/47igpZm
If the same holds true in humans, researchers say, fathers could help improve the health of any future children by staying in shape themselves. https://scim.ag/47igpZm
Well-exercised male mice appear to pass fitness to their male offspring
Surprising epigenetic effect relies on snippets of RNA packaged within sperm
scim.ag
October 13, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Male mice that exercise can pass their newly gained fitness on to male offspring.
If the same holds true in humans, researchers say, fathers could help improve the health of any future children by staying in shape themselves. https://scim.ag/47igpZm
If the same holds true in humans, researchers say, fathers could help improve the health of any future children by staying in shape themselves. https://scim.ag/47igpZm
Reposted by Timothy Hla
Endothelial gateways for brain lipid uptake and metabolism: www.jci.org/articles/vie...
A. Dushani Ranasinghe & Timothy Hla Comment on Wenxin Song et al: www.jci.org/articles/vie...
A. Dushani Ranasinghe & Timothy Hla Comment on Wenxin Song et al: www.jci.org/articles/vie...
October 10, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Endothelial gateways for brain lipid uptake and metabolism: www.jci.org/articles/vie...
A. Dushani Ranasinghe & Timothy Hla Comment on Wenxin Song et al: www.jci.org/articles/vie...
A. Dushani Ranasinghe & Timothy Hla Comment on Wenxin Song et al: www.jci.org/articles/vie...
Reposted by Timothy Hla
Researchers are studying why mitochondria are moving between cells and whether the process can be harnessed to treat cancer and other diseases
go.nature.com/4fYoEwG
go.nature.com/4fYoEwG
Cells are swapping their mitochondria. What does this mean for our health?
Researchers are studying why the energy factories are moving between cells and whether the process can be harnessed to treat cancer and other diseases.
go.nature.com
September 1, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Researchers are studying why mitochondria are moving between cells and whether the process can be harnessed to treat cancer and other diseases
go.nature.com/4fYoEwG
go.nature.com/4fYoEwG
Duh!!
September 1, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Duh!!
Reposted by Timothy Hla
Another piece of the #glycoRNA puzzle revealed by @raflynn5.bsky.social and @vijayrathinam.bsky.social!! RNAs with modified base acp3U activate TLR3/7, but not when acp3U is N-glycosylated. This is how cell surface/secreted glycoRNAs avoid stimulating autoimmunity.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
RNA N-glycosylation enables immune evasion and homeostatic efferocytosis - Nature
N-glycans on glycoRNAs prevent innate immune sensing of endogenous small RNAs, and the natural mechanism they use demonstrates how glycoRNAs exist on the cell surface and in the endosomal network with...
www.nature.com
August 19, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Another piece of the #glycoRNA puzzle revealed by @raflynn5.bsky.social and @vijayrathinam.bsky.social!! RNAs with modified base acp3U activate TLR3/7, but not when acp3U is N-glycosylated. This is how cell surface/secreted glycoRNAs avoid stimulating autoimmunity.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Timothy Hla
Very good news and we should all continue to ask our colleagues to come here to Bluesky.
Hey everybody! @drjuliawester.bsky.social and I have a new paper!
We surveyed over 800 scientists, science communicators, and science educators who use social media.
Conclusion: Scientists no longer find Twitter useful or pleasant, and many have switched to Bluesky! 🧪🌎🦑
doi.org/10.1093/icb/...
We surveyed over 800 scientists, science communicators, and science educators who use social media.
Conclusion: Scientists no longer find Twitter useful or pleasant, and many have switched to Bluesky! 🧪🌎🦑
doi.org/10.1093/icb/...
Scientists no Longer Find Twitter Professionally Useful, and have Switched to Bluesky
Synopsis. Social media has become widely used by the scientific community for a variety of professional uses, including networking and public outreach. For
doi.org
August 19, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Very good news and we should all continue to ask our colleagues to come here to Bluesky.
China’s Biotech Is Cheaper and Faster www.nytimes.com/2025/08/17/o...
Opinion | China’s Biotech Is Cheaper and Faster
www.nytimes.com
August 18, 2025 at 10:43 AM
China’s Biotech Is Cheaper and Faster www.nytimes.com/2025/08/17/o...
Excellent review on lipids and CNS neurodegenerative diseases. A neglected area...Lipid and Lipoprotein Metabolism in Microglia: Alzheimer’s Disease Mechanisms and Interventions - Journal of Lipid Research www.jlr.org/article/S002...
Lipid and Lipoprotein Metabolism in Microglia: Alzheimer’s Disease Mechanisms and Interventions
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) presents a significant challenge owing to its widespread
prevalence and complex neuropathogenesis, affecting millions worldwide. Current therapeutic
strategies that predominan...
www.jlr.org
August 8, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Excellent review on lipids and CNS neurodegenerative diseases. A neglected area...Lipid and Lipoprotein Metabolism in Microglia: Alzheimer’s Disease Mechanisms and Interventions - Journal of Lipid Research www.jlr.org/article/S002...
Reposted by Timothy Hla
#GlycoPower! @vijayrathinam.bsky.social
@raflynn5.bsky.social @vinnieviruses.bsky.social &co show @nature.com that N-glycosylation of host small-RNAs present at cell surface prevents immune recognition by TLR3 and TLR7 upon apoptotic cells uptake avoiding autoinflammation!
@raflynn5.bsky.social @vinnieviruses.bsky.social &co show @nature.com that N-glycosylation of host small-RNAs present at cell surface prevents immune recognition by TLR3 and TLR7 upon apoptotic cells uptake avoiding autoinflammation!
RNA N-glycosylation enables immune evasion and homeostatic efferocytosis - Nature
N-glycans on glycoRNAs prevent innate immune sensing of endogenous small RNAs, and the natural mechanism they use demonstrates how glycoRNAs exist on the cell surface and in the endosomal network with...
www.nature.com
August 6, 2025 at 10:12 PM
#GlycoPower! @vijayrathinam.bsky.social
@raflynn5.bsky.social @vinnieviruses.bsky.social &co show @nature.com that N-glycosylation of host small-RNAs present at cell surface prevents immune recognition by TLR3 and TLR7 upon apoptotic cells uptake avoiding autoinflammation!
@raflynn5.bsky.social @vinnieviruses.bsky.social &co show @nature.com that N-glycosylation of host small-RNAs present at cell surface prevents immune recognition by TLR3 and TLR7 upon apoptotic cells uptake avoiding autoinflammation!
thehill.com
July 31, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Reposted by Timothy Hla
Senators from both parties endorsed a $400 million increase to the budget of NIH.
The Appropriations Committee vote represents a clear opposition of presidential plan to dramatically reduce the support for NIH.
www.statnews.com/2025/07/31/n...
The Appropriations Committee vote represents a clear opposition of presidential plan to dramatically reduce the support for NIH.
www.statnews.com/2025/07/31/n...
Senate committee endorses NIH budget increase, rebuking Trump administration’s proposed 40% cut
Senators from both parties endorsed a $400 million increase to the budget of the National Institutes of Health on Thursday
www.statnews.com
July 31, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Senators from both parties endorsed a $400 million increase to the budget of NIH.
The Appropriations Committee vote represents a clear opposition of presidential plan to dramatically reduce the support for NIH.
www.statnews.com/2025/07/31/n...
The Appropriations Committee vote represents a clear opposition of presidential plan to dramatically reduce the support for NIH.
www.statnews.com/2025/07/31/n...
Reposted by Timothy Hla
Future of NIH in the hands of five senators.
Write to them if you are in
PA -McCormick
WV - Moore Capito
ME - Collins
AL - Britt
LA - Cassidy
Write to them if you are in
PA -McCormick
WV - Moore Capito
ME - Collins
AL - Britt
LA - Cassidy
July 16, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Future of NIH in the hands of five senators.
Write to them if you are in
PA -McCormick
WV - Moore Capito
ME - Collins
AL - Britt
LA - Cassidy
Write to them if you are in
PA -McCormick
WV - Moore Capito
ME - Collins
AL - Britt
LA - Cassidy
Latest paper from the lab - CD69 in endothelial cells..Inflamed endothelial cells express S1PR1 inhibitor CD69 to induce vascular leak - Journal of Biological Chemistry www.jbc.org/article/S002...
Inflamed endothelial cells express S1PR1 inhibitor CD69 to induce vascular leak
Inflammation disrupts endothelial barrier function and causes vascular leak into the
tissue parenchyma. Sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor-1 (S1PR1) in endothelial cells
(EC) is a key inducer of endothe...
www.jbc.org
July 4, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Latest paper from the lab - CD69 in endothelial cells..Inflamed endothelial cells express S1PR1 inhibitor CD69 to induce vascular leak - Journal of Biological Chemistry www.jbc.org/article/S002...
HDL bound S1P in adult neurogenesis and Alzheimer’s disease! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
HDL-bound S1P affects the subventricular niche and early neuropathological features of Alzheimer’s disease - Nature Communications
The blood ApoM-S1P complex regulates vascular functions, but its role in neurogenic niches remains unclear. Here, the authors show that the blood ApoM-S1P complex preserves V-SVZ homeostasis and prote...
www.nature.com
July 2, 2025 at 11:21 AM
HDL bound S1P in adult neurogenesis and Alzheimer’s disease! www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Timothy Hla
• Happy to announce that our paper in @nature.com is finally out! Thanks to the perseverance of @taijamakinenlab.bsky.social and our many collaborators we finally pulled it off! A small 🧵
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Laymen video:
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Laymen video:
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Dynamic cytoskeletal regulation of cell shape supports resilience of lymphatic endothelium - Nature
Dynamic cytoskeletal regulation of lymphatic endothelial cell shape, induced by isotropic stretch and crucial for dermal lymphatic capillary function, is identified and found to result from continuous...
www.nature.com
March 20, 2025 at 2:05 PM
• Happy to announce that our paper in @nature.com is finally out! Thanks to the perseverance of @taijamakinenlab.bsky.social and our many collaborators we finally pulled it off! A small 🧵
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Laymen video:
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Laymen video:
www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Will senators save the NIH? prospect.org/politics/202...
Will the Senate Save NIH?
Rescuing biomedical research is every bit as important as saving Medicaid.
prospect.org
June 25, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Will senators save the NIH? prospect.org/politics/202...
Seems ApoM Rx may be beneficial for dry AMD in mice - excellent paper by #Javaheri and #Apte groups @WashU www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Apolipoprotein M attenuates age-related macular degeneration phenotypes via sphingosine-1-phosphate signaling and lysosomal lipid catabolism - Nature Communications
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of blindness. Here, the authors identify a role for apolipoprotein M in AMD that may present a therapeutic target.
www.nature.com
June 24, 2025 at 6:41 PM
Seems ApoM Rx may be beneficial for dry AMD in mice - excellent paper by #Javaheri and #Apte groups @WashU www.nature.com/articles/s41...
happening today!
www.lipidmaps.org/resources/ed...
www.lipidmaps.org/resources/ed...
LIPID MAPS
LIPID MAPS website provides open-access to a large number of globally used lipidomics resources, including databases, tools and educational materials.
www.lipidmaps.org
June 24, 2025 at 1:19 PM
happening today!
www.lipidmaps.org/resources/ed...
www.lipidmaps.org/resources/ed...
Here Is All the Science at Risk in Trump’s Clash With Harvard www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Here Is All the Science at Risk in Trump’s Clash With Harvard
More than 900 research grants worth $2.6 billion are in jeopardy. So is the 80-year-old model of American science.
www.nytimes.com
June 23, 2025 at 9:34 AM
Here Is All the Science at Risk in Trump’s Clash With Harvard www.nytimes.com/interactive/...