Ever since joining the royal family, Kate Middleton—Catherine, Princess of Wales—has often sported heirloom jewelry; whether that’s the Cartier Halo tiara that she wore on her wedding day, or the four-strand pearl and diamond choker that…
Author: admin
-
Lawyers protest against 27th Amendment at SHC – Dawn
- Lawyers protest against 27th Amendment at SHC Dawn
- Judges’ transfer case: 5 IHC judges file plea challenging fixing of intra-court appeal before FCC Dawn
- Commuters trapped for hours as protest halts traffic in Karachi The Express Tribune
- IHC…
Continue Reading
-
Lawyers protest against 27th Amendment at SHC – Dawn
- Lawyers protest against 27th Amendment at SHC Dawn
- Judges’ transfer case: 5 IHC judges file plea challenging fixing of intra-court appeal before FCC Dawn
- Commuters trapped for hours as protest halts traffic in Karachi The Express Tribune
Continue Reading
-

Human and viral chemokines differentially modulate G protein signaling, β-arrestin recruitment and chemotaxis mediated by the viral G protein-coupled receptor ORF74 | Cell Communication and Signaling
Chang Y, Cesarman E, Pessin MS, Lee F, Culpepper J, Knowles DM, et al. Identification of herpesvirus-like DNA sequences in AIDS-associated kaposi’s sarcoma. Science. 1994;266:1865–9. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.7997879.
Cesarman E, Damania B, Krown SE, Martin J, Bower M, Whitby D. Kaposi sarcoma. Nat Rev Dis Primers. 2019;5:9. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41572-019-0060-9.
Vischer HF, Siderius M, Leurs R, Smit MJ. Herpesvirus-encoded gpcrs: neglected players in inflammatory and proliferative diseases? Nat Rev Drug Discov. 2014;13:123–39. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrd4189.
De Groof TWM, Elder EG, Siderius M, Heukers R, Sinclair JH, Smit MJ. Viral G protein–coupled receptors: attractive targets for herpesvirus-associated diseases. Pharmacol Rev. 2021;73:828–46. https://doi.org/10.1124/pharmrev.120.000186.
Tsutsumi N, Kildedal DF, Hansen OK, Kong Q, Schols D, Van Loy T, et al. Insight into structural properties of viral G protein-coupled receptors and their role in the viral infection: IUPHAR Review 41. Br J Pharmacol. 2025;182:26–51. https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.17379.
Syrovatkina V, Alegre KO, Dey R, Huang X-Y. Regulation, signaling, and physiological functions of G-proteins. J Mol Biol. 2016;428:3850–68. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jmb.2016.08.002.
Gurevich VV, Gurevich EV. GPCR signaling regulation: the role of GRKs and arrestins. Front Pharmacol. 2019;10:125. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2019.00125.
Nagarsheth N, Wicha MS, Zou W. Chemokines in the cancer microenvironment and their relevance in cancer immunotherapy. Nat Rev Immunol. 2017;17:559–72. https://doi.org/10.1038/nri.2017.49.
Kohli K, Pillarisetty VG, Kim TS. Key chemokines direct migration of immune cells in solid tumors. Cancer Gene Ther. 2022;29:10–21. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41417-021-00303-x.
de Munnik SM, Smit MJ, Leurs R, Vischer HF. Modulation of cellular signaling by herpesvirus-encoded G protein-coupled receptors. Front Pharmacol. 2015. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2015.00040.
Lyngaa R, Nørregaard K, Kristensen M, Kubale V, Rosenkilde MM, Kledal TN. Cell transformation mediated by the Epstein-Barr virus G protein-coupled receptor BILF1 is dependent on constitutive signaling. Oncogene. 2010;29:4388–98. https://doi.org/10.1038/onc.2010.173.
Maussang D, Verzijl D, Van Walsum M, Leurs R, Holl J, Pleskoff O, et al. Human cytomegalovirus-encoded chemokine receptor US28 promotes tumorigenesis. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2006;103:13068–73. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0604433103.
Bais C, Santomasso B, Coso O, Arvanitakis L. G-protein-coupled receptor of kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus is a viral oncogene and angiogenesis activator. Nature. 1998;391:86–9. https://doi.org/10.1038/34193.
Yang T-Y, Chen S-C, Leach MW, Manfra D, Homey B, Wiekowski M, et al. Transgenic Expression of the Chemokine Receptor Encoded by Human Herpesvirus 8 Induces an Angioproliferative Disease Resembling Kaposi’s Sarcoma. J Exp Med. 2000;191:445–54. https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.191.3.445.
Holst PJ, Rosenkilde MM, Manfra D, Chen SC, Wiekowski MT, Holst B, et al. Tumorigenesis induced by the HHV8-encoded chemokine receptor requires ligand modulation of high constitutive activity. J Clin Invest. 2001;108:1789–96. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI13622.
Jensen KK, Manfra DJ, Grisotto MG, Martin AP, Vassileva G, Kelley K, et al. The Human Herpes Virus 8-Encoded Chemokine Receptor Is Required for Angioproliferation in a Murine Model of Kaposi’s Sarcoma. J Immunol. 2005;174:3686–94. https://doi.org/10.4049/jimmunol.174.6.3686.
Cesarman E, Nador RG, Bai F, Bohenzky RA, Russo JJ, Moore PS, et al. Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus contains G protein-coupled receptor and cyclin D homologs which are expressed in Kaposi’s sarcoma and malignant lymphoma. J Virol. 1996;70:8218–23. https://doi.org/10.1128/jvi.70.11.8218-8223.1996.
Chiou C-J, Poole LJ, Kim PS, Ciufo DM, Cannon JS, Ap Rhys CM, et al. Patterns of gene expression and a transactivation function exhibited by the vGCR (ORF74) chemokine receptor protein of Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus. J Virol. 2002;76:3421–39. https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.76.7.3421-3439.2002.
Cannon M, Philpott NJ, Cesarman E. The kaposi’s Sarcoma-Associated herpesvirus G Protein-Coupled receptor has broad signaling effects in primary effusion lymphoma cells. J Virol. 2003;77:57–67. https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.77.1.57-67.2003.
Cannon ML, Cesarman E. The KSHV G protein-coupled receptor signals via multiple pathways to induce transcription factor activation in primary effusion lymphoma cells. Oncogene. 2004;23:514–23. https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.onc.1207021.
Montaner S, Sodhi A, Servitja J-M, Ramsdell AK, Barac A, Sawai ET, et al. The small GTPase Rac1 links the Kaposi sarcoma–associated herpesvirus vGPCR to cytokine secretion and paracrine neoplasia. Blood. 2004;104:2903–11. https://doi.org/10.1182/blood-2003-12-4436.
Shepard LW, Yang M, Xie P, Browning DD, Voyno-Yasenetskaya T, Kozasa T, et al. Constitutive activation of NF-κB and secretion of interleukin-8 induced by the G protein-coupled receptor of Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus involve Gα13 and RhoA. J Biol Chem. 2001;276:45979–87. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M104783200.
Boon K, Vanalken N, Szpakowska M, Chevigné A, Schols D, Van Loy T. Systematic assessment of chemokine ligand bias at the human chemokine receptor CXCR2 indicates G protein bias over β-arrestin recruitment and receptor internalization. Cell Commun Signal. 2024;22:43. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12964-023-01460-2.
Arvanitakis L, Geras-Raaka E, Varma A, Gershengorn MC, Cesarman E. Human herpesvirus KSHV encodes a constitutively active G-protein-coupled receptor linked to cell proliferation. Nature. 1997;385:347–50. https://doi.org/10.1038/385347a0.
Geras-Raaka E, Varma A, Ho H, Clark-Lewis I, Gershengorn MC. Human Interferon-γ–inducible protein 10 (IP-10) inhibits constitutive signaling of kaposi’s Sarcoma–associated herpesvirus G protein–coupled receptor. J Exp Med. 1998;188:405–8. https://doi.org/10.1084/jem.188.2.405.
Gershengorn MC, Geras-Raaka E, Varma A, Clark-Lewis I. Chemokines activate kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus G protein-coupled receptor in mammalian cells in culture. J Clin Invest. 1998;102:1469–72. https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI4461.
Geras-Raaka E, Varma A, Clark-Lewis I, Gershengorn MC. Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) chemokine vMIP-II and human SDF-1α inhibit signaling by KSHV G protein-coupled receptor. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 1998;253:725–7. https://doi.org/10.1006/bbrc.1998.9557.
Rosenkilde MM, Kledal TN, Bräuner-Osborne H, Schwartz TW. Agonists and inverse agonists for the herpesvirus 8-encoded constitutively active seven-transmembrane oncogene product, ORF-74. J Biol Chem. 1999;274:956–61. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.274.2.956.
Ho HH, Du D, Gershengorn MC. The N terminus of Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus G protein-coupled receptor is necessary for high affinity chemokine binding but not for constitutive activity. J Biol Chem. 1999;274:31327–32. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.274.44.31327.
Rosenkilde MM, Schwartz TW. Potency of ligands correlates with affinity measured against agonist and inverse agonists but not against neutral ligand in constitutively active chemokine receptor. Mol Pharmacol. 2000;57:602–9. https://doi.org/10.1124/mol.57.3.602.
Schwarz M, Murphy PM. Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus G protein-coupled receptor constitutively activates NF-κB and induces proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine production via a C-terminal signaling determinant. J Immunol. 2001;167:505–13. https://doi.org/10.4049/jimmunol.167.1.505.
Pati S, Cavrois M, Guo HG, Foulke JSJ, Kim J, Feldman RA, et al. Activation of NF-kappaB by the human herpesvirus 8 chemokine receptor ORF74: evidence for a paracrine model of kaposi’s sarcoma pathogenesis. J Virol United States. 2001;75:8660–73. https://doi.org/10.1128/jvi.75.18.8660-8673.2001.
Hensbergen PJ, Verzijl D, Balog CIA, Dijkman R, van der Schors RC, van der Raaij-Helmer EMH, et al. Furin is a chemokine-modifying enzyme: in vitro and in vivo processing of CXCL10 generates a C-terminally truncated chemokine retaining full activity. J Biol Chem United States. 2004;279:13402–11. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M312814200.
de Munnik SM, van der Lee R, Velders DM, van Offenbeek J, de Smits- Vries L, Leurs R, et al. The viral G protein-coupled receptor ORF74 unmasks phospholipase C signaling of the receptor tyrosine kinase IGF-1R. Cell Signal. 2016;28:595–605. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cellsig.2016.02.017.
Cornaby C, Tanner A, Stutz EW, Poole BD, Berges BK. Piracy on the molecular level: human herpesviruses manipulate cellular chemotaxis. J Gen Virol Microbiol Soc. 2016;97:543–60. https://doi.org/10.1099/jgv.0.000370.
Couty J-P, Lupu-Meiri M, Oron Y, Gershengorn MC. Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus-G protein-coupled receptor-expressing endothelial cells exhibit reduced migration and stimulated chemotaxis by chemokine inverse agonists. J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2009;329:1142–7. https://doi.org/10.1124/jpet.108.147686.
Liu L, Doijen J, D’huys T, Verhaegen Y, Dehaen W, De Jonghe S, et al. Biological characterization of ligands targeting the human CC chemokine receptor 8 (CCR8) reveals the biased signaling properties of small molecule agonists. Biochem Pharmacol. 2021;188:114565. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bcp.2021.114565.
Schoofs G, Van Hout A, D’huys T, Schols D, Van Loy T. A flow Cytometry-based assay to identify compounds that disrupt binding of Fluorescently-labeled CXC chemokine ligand 12 to CXC chemokine receptor 4. JoVE. 2018;57271. https://doi.org/10.3791/57271.
Claes S, D’huys T, Van Hout A, Schols D, Van Loy T. A kinetic Fluorescence-based Ca2+ mobilization assay to identify G Protein-coupled receptor Agonists, Antagonists, and allosteric modulators. JoVE. 2018;56780. https://doi.org/10.3791/56780.
Dixon AS, Schwinn MK, Hall MP, Zimmerman K, Otto P, Lubben TH, et al. Nanoluc complementation reporter optimized for accurate measurement of protein interactions in cells. ACS Chem Biol. 2016;11:400–8. https://doi.org/10.1021/acschembio.5b00753.
Liu C, Sandford G, Fei G, Nicholas J. Ga protein selectivity determinant specified by a viral chemokine receptor-conserved region in the C tail of the human herpesvirus 8 G protein-coupled receptor. J Virol. 2004. https://doi.org/10.1128/jvi.78.5.2460-2471.2004.
de Munnik SM, Kooistra AJ, van Offenbeek J, Nijmeijer S, de Graaf C, Smit MJ, et al. The viral G protein-coupled receptor ORF74 hijacks β-arrestins for endocytic trafficking in response to human chemokines. PLoS One. 2015;10:e0124486. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0124486.
Bogacka J, Pawlik K, Ciapała K, Ciechanowska A, Mika J. CC chemokine receptor 4 (CCR4) as a possible new target for therapy. Int J Mol Sci. 2022;23:15638. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms232415638.
Liu A, Liu Y, Llinàs Del Torrent Masachs C, Zhang W, Pardo L, Ye RD. Structural insights into KSHV-GPCR constitutive activation and CXCL1 chemokine recognition. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2024;121:e2403217121. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2403217121.
Park JB, Sahoo B, Sahoo AR, Kim D, Seo HD, Bowman J, et al. Structural basis for ligand promiscuity and high signaling activity of kaposi’s Sarcoma-associated Herpesvirus-encoded GPCR. Nat Commun. 2025;16:8403. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-63457-4.
Rosenkilde MM, Kledal TN, Holst PJ, Schwartz TW. Selective elimination of high constitutive activity or chemokine binding in the human herpesvirus 8 encoded seven transmembrane oncogene ORF74. J Biol Chem. 2000;275:26309–15. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M003800200.
Feng H, Sun Z, Farzan MR, Feng P. Sulfotyrosines of the kaposi’s Sarcoma-Associated herpesvirus G Protein-Coupled receptor promote tumorigenesis through autocrine activation. J Virol. 2010;84:3351–61. https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.01939-09.
Zhang R, Xie X. Tools for GPCR drug discovery. Acta Pharmacol Sin. 2012;33:372–84. https://doi.org/10.1038/aps.2011.173.
Zhang J, He S, Wang Y, Brulois K, Lan K, Jung JU, et al. Herpesviral G protein-coupled receptors activate NFAT to induce tumor formation via inhibiting the SERCA calcium ATPase. PLoS Pathog. 2015;11:e1004768. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1004768.
Machleidt T, Woodroofe CC, Schwinn MK, Méndez J, Robers MB, Zimmerman K, et al. NanoBRET—a novel BRET platform for the analysis of Protein–Protein interactions. ACS Chem Biol. 2015;10:1797–804. https://doi.org/10.1021/acschembio.5b00143.
Ma X, Leurs R, Vischer HF. NanoLuc-Based Methods to Measure β-Arrestin2 Recruitment to G Protein-Coupled Receptors. New York, NY: Springer US; 2021. pp. 233–48. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-1221-7_16. G Protein-Coupled Receptor Screening Assays [Internet].
Luo J, Li D, Wei D, Wang X, Wang L, Zeng X. RhoA and RhoC are involved in stromal cell-derived factor-1-induced cell migration by regulating F-actin redistribution and assembly. Mol Cell Biochem. 2017;436:13–21. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11010-017-3072-3.
Michaelis UR. Mechanisms of endothelial cell migration. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2014;71:4131–48. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-014-1678-0.
Couty J-P, Geras-Raaka E, Weksler BB, Gershengorn MC. Kaposi’s Sarcoma-associated Herpesvirus G Protein-coupled Receptor Signals through Multiple Pathways in Endothelial Cells. J Biol Chem. 2001;276:33805–11. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.m104631200.
Smit MJ, Verzijl D, Casarosa P, Navis M, Timmerman H, Leurs R. Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus-encoded G protein-coupled receptor ORF74 constitutively activates p44/p42 MAPK and Akt via G(i) and phospholipase C-dependent signaling pathways. J Virol. 2002;76:1744–52. https://doi.org/10.1128/jvi.76.4.1744-1752.2002.
Boldajipour B, Mahabaleshwar H, Kardash E, Reichman-Fried M, Blaser H, Minina S, et al. Control of chemokine-guided cell migration by ligand sequestration. Cell. 2008;132:463–73. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2007.12.034.
Décaillot FM, Kazmi MA, Lin Y, Ray-Saha S, Sakmar TP, Sachdev P. CXCR7/CXCR4 heterodimer constitutively recruits β-arrestin to enhance cell migration. J Biol Chem. 2011;286:32188–97. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M111.277038.
Desnoyer A, Dupin N, Assoumou L, Carlotti A, Gaudin F, Deback C, et al. Expression pattern of the CXCL12/CXCR4-CXCR7 trio in Kaposi sarcoma skin lesions. Br J Dermatol. 2016;175:1251–62. https://doi.org/10.1111/bjd.14748.
Kwon E-K, Min C-K, Kim Y, Lee J-W, Aigerim A, Schmidt S, et al. Constitutive activation of T cells by γ2-herpesviral GPCR through the interaction with cellular CXCR4. Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) – Molecular Cell Research. 2017;1864:1–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbamcr.2016.10.008.
Nijmeijer S, Leurs R, Smit MJ, Vischer HF. The Epstein-Barr virus-encoded G protein-coupled receptor BILF1 hetero-oligomerizes with human CXCR4, scavenges Gαi proteins, and constitutively impairs CXCR4 functioning. J Biol Chem. 2010;285:29632–41. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.M110.115618.
Gouwy M, Struyf S, Noppen S, Schutyser E, Springael J-Y, Parmentier M, et al. Synergy between coproduced CC and CXC chemokines in monocyte chemotaxis through Receptor-Mediated events. Mol Pharmacol. 2008;74:486–96. https://doi.org/10.1124/mol.108.045146.
Lane BR, Liu J, Bock PJ, Schols D, Coffey MJ, Strieter RM, et al. Interleukin-8 and growth-regulated oncogene alpha mediate angiogenesis in Kaposi’s sarcoma. J Virol. 2002;76:11570–83. https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.76.22.11570-11583.2002.
Xu Y, Ganem D. Induction of chemokine production by latent kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus infection of endothelial cells. J Gen Virol. 2007;88:46–50. https://doi.org/10.1099/vir.0.82375-0.
Lee M, Lee J, Kang S, Wirth D, Yoo S, Park C. CXCL1 confers a survival advantage in Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus‐infected human endothelial cells through STAT3 phosphorylation. J Med Virol. 2023;95:jmv.28020. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmv.28020.
Korbecki J, Bosiacki M, Szatkowska I, Kupnicka P, Chlubek D, Baranowska-Bosiacka I. The clinical significance and involvement in molecular cancer processes of chemokine CXCL1 in selected tumors. IJMS. 2024;25:4365. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25084365.
Li X, Ohler ZW, Day A, Bassel L, Grosskopf A, Afsari B et al. Mapping herpesvirus-driven impacts on the cellular milieu and transcriptional profile of Kaposi sarcoma in patient-derived mouse models. BioRxiv. 2024. https://doi.org/10.1101/2024.09.27.615429. Cited 2025 Sep 9.
Knowlton ER, Rappocciolo G, Piazza P, Lepone LM, Nadgir SV, Bullotta A, et al. Human herpesvirus 8 induces polyfunctional B lymphocytes that drive Kaposi’s sarcoma. mBio. 2014;5:e01277-14. https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.01277-14.
Pontejo SM, Murphy PM, Pease JE. Chemokine subversion by human herpesviruses. J Innate Immun. 2018;10:465–78. https://doi.org/10.1159/000492161.
Palande V, Roden RBS, Choi YB. Nano-luciferase complementation assay of human herpesvirus 8 chemo/cytokine-receptor interactions. Sci Rep. 2025;15:35365. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-19281-3.
West J, Damania B. Upregulation of the TLR3 pathway by kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus during primary infection. J Virol. 2008;82:5440–9. https://doi.org/10.1128/JVI.02590-07.
Neumeyer S, Tagawa T. The Kaposi sarcoma herpesvirus control of monocytes, macrophages, and the tumour microenvironment. Virology. 2025;601:110286. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.virol.2024.110286.
Continue Reading
-

Chester designer told ‘disabled people don’t need fashion’
Rumeana JahangirNorth West
IntotumHanan Tantush has been tailoring clothes for disabled people’s needs after her grandad’s cancer diagnosis A designer who was told “disabled people don’t need fashion” says she felt so angered that she now has an…
Continue Reading
-

Nutritionist explains why many women suffer from iron deficiency during pregnancy: ‘Almost impossible to get your iron…’
If you’ve struggled with low iron during pregnancy, you’re far from alone – and there’s a biological reason behind it. Despite eating well or taking supplements, your body actively limits iron absorption for a significant part of…
Continue Reading
-
Rabih Alameddine talks about his novel,’The True True Story of Raja the Gullible’
SCOTT SIMON, HOST:
Rabih Alameddine won the National Book Award for fiction this week for his funny and moving novel “The True True Story Of Raja The Gullible (And His Mother).” Raja teaches philosophy to…
Continue Reading
-

Rabih Alameddine talks about his novel,’The True True Story of Raja the Gullible’ : NPR
Raja has been exhausted by his loving mother for six decades. NPR’s Scott Simon talks with Lebanese writer Rabih Alameddine about his book, “The True True Story of Raja the Gullible (and His Mother).”
…Continue Reading
-

New clues in pancreas lymph nodes, spleen could help detect and prevent type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes (T1D) impacts nearly two million Americans, and by the time most people learn they have it, most of the body’s insulin-producing cells are destroyed. Now, pinpointing a hidden group of immune “attack” cells in the…
Continue Reading
-

‘Superfluous consumerism’: adult Advent calendar trend alarms green groups | Christmas
The trend for Advent calendars aimed at adults is “superfluous consumerism” that adds to excessive and wasteful consumption, according to environmental groups.
While once children excitedly opened a door each day to see what festive picture lay behind it, adults can now count down the days to Christmas with calendars containing everything from luxury beauty products to instant mashed potato.
This year’s adult versions include beauty calendars such as the Nivea Women’s one at about £30 and one from Liberty priced at £275.
But some have raised concerns over the packaging involved in providing 24 products to either be unwrapped or revealed each day, and the potential for unwanted items.
Anna Diski, a plastics campaigner at Greenpeace UK, said: “Advent calendars like these probably contain two or three items you actually want, and 20 or so more you could do without. You don’t want that single-use plastic lingering in your bathroom cabinet, let alone in the natural environment.”
Daniel Webb, the founder and director of the charity Everyday Plastic, said: “These luxury Advent calendars are a microcosm of a bigger problem, a system that keeps producing more and more stuff we don’t need and probably can’t afford.”
The research firm Ipsos found seven in 10 Britons have a some point purchase an Advent calendar. While most bought chocolate ones (84%), beauty calendars are increasingly popular (15%), along with toy calendars (14%) and non-chocolate food versions (10%).
The firm’s consumer intelligence platform, Ipsos Synthesio, has found online discussions around Advent calendars begin as early as September, driven by promotions by retailers and influencer-led unboxing videos.
Webb said that encouraging people to shop for Christmas in the autumn was a decision “made by marketing departments, purely designed to drive overconsumption, not celebration”.
He added: “I’m sure people find it fun and this isn’t about blaming anyone for wanting to celebrate – it’s about questioning why brands are choosing to fuel the waste crisis in this way. Real change means cutting plastic production and phasing out this kind of superfluous consumerism.”
The beauty expert, journalist and author Sali Hughes said it was important to focus on asking “whether you would want at least five of the advent items if sold at full price”.
She added: “If the answer is yes, then the whole calendar is probably worth the spend. If it’s no, then it’s a lot of money for the sake of novelty.
“I also think it’s worthwhile imagining all the products in a pile, without the seductive packaging. If it consequently loses its allure, then you’re paying all that money for something pretty ephemeral that will, if its even been designed responsibly in the first place, just go into recycling after Christmas.”
Samantha Dover, the insights director of beauty at the market analyst Mintel, said: “The adult Advent calendar trend isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, but the landscape in which these calendars sit is changing. In beauty, the high cost of many Advent calendars, even if they promise significant savings compared to buying individual products, means they are out of reach for many consumers.”
Dover said the perceived savings mean they were still viewed as “good value for money”, adding: “It is likely that many consumers self-gift themselves calendars, and even split the cost with others and share products, as a result.” She said this could help reduce “waste often generated by Advent calendars”.
Dr Christopher Carrick, the founder of bio-plastics manufacturer Lingin Industries, said government legislation was likely to have an impact on the calendars, which he described as “more packaging intensive, compared to the amount of actual product, than almost any other aspect of Christmas”.
He said: “The extended producer responsibility which charges companies based on the amount of unsustainable packaging they put into the world is putting pressure on companies producing Advent calendars to reduce the amount of packaging.
“This year, brands will have more responsibility over the costs associated with the waste generated by packaging, meaning designs and materials will need to be amended.”
Continue Reading
