Toril Holien

I am a long time subscriber to National Geographic. National Geographic generally does a superb job of covering complex scientific topics. However, The End of Aging” in the September issue was a dramatic deviation from this record. 1/n

We have officially solved our fourth follistatin 288 structure in complex with an activin family ligand, this time with activin B. Using our novel structure, computational analysis, and molecular dynamics simulations, we interrogate the antagonist's ligand specificity. www.jbc.org/article/S002...

We are deeply saddened by the passing of Robert A. Kyle, MD, founder and first president of the International Myeloma Society. We extend our deepest condolences to Dr. Kyle’s family, friends, colleagues and the many patients whose lives he touched. https://ow.ly/ql2p50ZJz6K

Great to see the Virtual BMP Forum getting in shape for the 3rd round 😊! Organizers Eri Takematsu, David Maridas, Marie Jose Goumans and @jeromejatzlau.bsky.social First topic is mechanobiology and cardiovascular biology Please share and join here 👇!

Don’t miss 2026 Edward Novitski Prize recipient Michael O’Connor on August 11 to learn how a 30-year quest to understand the shrew gene is shedding new light on Drosophila embryonic development. 🔗https://buff.ly/uvGHncW

BMP10 KO alone, but not BMP9 KO alone, induces #ArterioVenousMalformation in 🐭Retina Brain wounded Skin ROSA26-CreER; Bmp10 f/f vs Bmp9-/- vs compound KO B6/129 strain Exogenous BMP10, not BMP9, rescues retinal vascularization in BMP9/10 dKO🐭 #Angiogenesis 2023 link.springer.com/article/10.1...

We are excited to share our latest publication in JBC, which elucidates the role of heparan sulfate in erythroferrone-mediated BMP inhibition! Check out our findings here: www.jbc.org/article/S002...

Our method optimization study is out in Cytometry Part B: Clinical Cytometry🎉! Choice of wash buffers is important to avoid cell loss for diagnostic flow cytometry sample types! We hope this is useful to other laboratories doing clinical flow cytometry! onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...

Today’s #Bluesky with natural reflecting pool #Norway #Kjerringøy

Advertise your Bluesky account with a Simpsons GIF

Talquetamab–daratumumab, with or without pomalidomide, led to longer progression-free survival than daratumumab-based standard care in relapsed or refractory myeloma. More than 75% of patients had grade 3 or higher adverse events. Full MonumenTAL-3 trial results: https://nej.md/4ojBcCL #EHA2026

Nature Comms is seeking an editor with expertise in clinical infectious diseases urldefense.com/v3/__https:/...

Interested in TGF-β family signaling? Then you should join us for the upcoming FASEB conference #TGFbSRC

Still time to register & submit your abstract for a potential short talk! The FASEB TGF-β family in Development and Disease conference in Porto, July 26.-30. coming up. Early registration and extended abstract submission deadline is June 14th 👇 @mythreye.bsky.social events.faseb.org/event/TGF-B/...

Earlier this week I posted an example of a fake western blot provided by ThermoFisher to demonstrate the validity of a p53 antibody. I considered it an amusing curiosity. In fact Thermo Fisher Scientific has systematically manipulated antibody validation data!

Exciting PhD vacancy in my lab at Amsterdam UMC! 4-year, fully funded KWF project studying cell-cell communication in the myeloma bone marrow niche and drug resistance. Feel free to share! More info: werkenbij.amsterdamumc.org/en/vacatures... #PhD #Myeloma #KWF @amsterdamumc.bsky.social

Great review on MGUS!

Free and open-source images, icons, and tools for creating scientific illustrations doi.org/10.59350/5zt... 🧪

Join us for the FASEB Science Research conference on TGF-β Family in Development and Disease! Awards Abstract Submission Deadline: April 15, 2026. @faseborg.bsky.social @mythreye.bsky.social

Activin A secretion by muscle-repairing macrophages induces heterotopic ossification in mice @jci.org www.jci.org/articles/vie...

Registration is open 😀! Make a note of these dates: Awards Abstract Submission Deadline: April 15, 2026 Regular Abstract Submission Deadline: May 31, 2026 Early Registration Deadline: June 14, 2026 events.faseb.org/event/TGF-B/...

Check out the line-up for the @faseborg.bsky.social Science Research Conference on TGF-β Family in Development and Disease 👇 events.faseb.org/event/TGF-B/...

Check out the global speaker line up. several travel awards and slots for short talks open. Don’t miss this summer @faseborg.bsky.social events.faseb.org/event/TGF-B/...

Decoding the Mechanism of Action of a Parasite TGFβAntagonist Inspires the Creation of Cell-type-specific TGFβ Modulators https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.02.16.706112v1

Cow Tools! We have lived alongside cows for nearly 10,000 years. We breed them and exploit them It is now, only now, that we have discovered THEY CAN USE TOOLS Here I describe our study (paper) www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti... in @currentbiology.bsky.social with @auersperga.bsky.social

😂

Hyperactive BMP and Mechanosignaling Remodel Chromatin to Drive Aberrant Osteogenesis in FOP https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.01.05.697733v1

Discovery and Characterization of Zilurgisertib, a Potent and Selective Inhibitor of Activin Receptor-like Kinase‑2(ALK2) for the Treatment of Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva. T Ullrichet al. ACSMed.Chem. Lett. 31Oct 2025 shorturl.at/UCzDT …mouse model …start clinical trial

🚨 New paper out! A human epiblast model reveals how dynamic TGF‑β signalling controls epithelial identity in early mammalian development Here is the full paper: rdcu.be/eSWEs 🧵 A twittorial: THREAD

Researchers report knockdown of Activin receptor-like kinase 5 (ALK5) & Mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 2 (SMAD2) - 2 genes of the TGFb pathway, protected dopaminergic neurons from a-Synuclein-induced toxicity; ⬆️TGFb signaling exacerbated a-Synuclein toxicity www.nature.com/articles/s41...

C'mon guys. Cells show blebbing and death was inhibited by caspase inhibitors and had mitochondrial permeabilization. In my alternate universe, this is apoptosis 🙄

European Respiratory Journal: The activin signalling inhibitor sotatercept may transform PAH therapy by targeting pulmonary vascular remodelling, but unique safety risks demand careful monitoring https://bit.ly/3UBsPVj

BMP9 enhances osteogenic differentiation in rheumatoid arthritis. BMP9 is down-regulated in synovial tissue of RA patients. In arthritis mice model BMP9 enhances osteogenic differentiation of synovial cells. Han Zhang et al. J Transl Med 2025 Feb 28 tinyurl.com/y65xbekk

BMP9 regulates the endothelial secretome to drive pulmonary hypertension https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.08.29.673113v1

Our preprint is out! We induced apoptosis in myeloma cells with BMP9 and did a whole genome KO screen to find regulators of apoptosis (and BMP-SMAD signaling). ID3 induced by SMAD activity inhibited TCF3 and induced apoptosis. This was the main work in Clara Andersson-Rusch's PhD. Have a look! 👇

Our new collection offers cell biologists practical, expert-driven guidance and best practices in the design, execution, and analysis of experiments, and the subsequent communication of their results to their peers. 👉 rupress.org/jcb/collecti... #Reproducibility

Excited to share our new manuscript, now published in Blood! BCMA #CART show impressive responses for #myeloma, but pts with high-risk cytogenetics relapse more quickly and are in urgent need of new therapies. Thread👇 (1/10) ashpublications.org/blood/articl...

SMAD7: riding on fibrosis-limiting routes and beyond www.embopress.org/doi/full/10....

Nice work! Temporal patterns of genomic evolution in multiple myeloma showing importance of timing of events for progression and prognosis. #myeloma #multiplemyeloma #hemesky www.nature.com/articles/s41...

GCK inhibition induces IKZF1 degradation through a CRBN-independent mechanism in MM. buff.ly/B79qqYd #hemesky

📣 Save the date 📣 The next FASEB Science Research Conference on TGF-β Family in Development and Disease will take place: July 26-30, 2026 in Porto, Portugal! @faseborg.bsky.social With Mythreye Karthikeyan @mythreye.bsky.social, Rosemary Akhurst and Andrew Hinck web.cvent.com/event/af5f6d...

Elskar når folk som ikkje anar noko om landbruk skal romantisere denne livsstilen, og så lage tv av at dei ikkje er førebudd på det betyr å vere bonde. Då blir det rør. Heggdal er god til å rydde opp.

Vi må ta kampen mot brøl-apene som maksimerer utnyttelsen av urimelige konflikter, gjennom sort-hull effektene på vår oppmerksomhet. Men hvordan? Her er iallefall bilde av rett person @froyasjursaether.bsky.social

Ever wondered what happens when therapeutic antibodies bind to cancer cells? In our latest study, we used multiplexed 3D-RESI to directly visualize how anti-CD20 antibodies interact with their receptors, revealing their precise arrangement at single-protein resolution. (1/6)

🧪Move over CUT&Tag, there’s a new #TranscriptionFactor mapping method in town. Our newly developed DynaTag is faster, cleaner, more sensitive than #ChIPseq, #CUT&RUN and #CUT&Tag. 🔗 Our @natcomms.nature.com paper: www.nature.com/articles/s41... 🧵Let’s break down what makes DynaTag so powerful (1/7)

This seems like a really important paper comparing chromosome tracing methods, demonstrating that classical denaturing DNA-FISH and chromosome tracing leads to substantial distortion of 3D genome structure, likely due to the high-temperatures involved (70-90C): www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Translational research is digging for gold. Basic research is learning where and what to dig. The more funding is diverted to translation, the more we deplete the research ecosystem, driving the supplies of "gold" - immediately translatable findings and innovations - to unsustainably low levels.

I still can’t believe that all NIH grants to my colleagues at Harvard and Harvard Medical School have been nullified. And that, as a nation, we’re somehow okay with this illegal, arbitrary, and petty act. Just think of the consequences: scientists, students, and patients will all suffer.