EFA6A encodes two isoforms with distinct biological activities in neuronal cells.

The processes of neurite extension and remodeling require a close coordination between the cytoskeleton and the cell membranes. The small GTPase ARF6 (ADP-ribosylation factor 6) has a central role in regulating membrane traffic and actin dynamics, and its activity has been demonstrated to be involved in neurite elaboration. EFA6A has been shown to act as a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) for ARF6.

Human respiratory cells from nasal polyps as a model for gene transfer by non-viral cationic vectors.

The influence of cell differentiation and proliferation on cationic vector mediated gene transfer into the explant-outgrowth cell culture from nasal polyps was investigated. Respiratory cells were categorized into two groups based on the expression of cytokeratin filaments (CKs), which were used as differentiation markers. Outgrowths grown for 2 weeks expressed similar levels of CKs 14, 13 and 18 showing a de-differentiated phenotype, while outgrowths cultured for 4 weeks presented very high levels of CK 13, high CK 14 and low CK 18 expression and were squamous differentiated.

Comparison between cationic polymers and lipids in mediating systemic gene delivery to the lungs.

Airway inflammation frequently found in congenital and acquired lung diseases may interfere with gene delivery by direct administration through either instillation or aerosol. Systemic delivery by the intravenous administration represents an alternative route of delivery that might bypass this barrier. A nonviral approach for transfecting various airway-derived cell lines in vitro showed that cationic polymers (PEI 22K and 25K) and lipids (DOTAP, GL-67/DOPE) are able to transfect with high efficiency the reporter genes firefly luciferase and E.

Trophoblast giant cells express NF-kappa B2 during early mouse development.

To investigate whether transcription factors of the NF-kappa B family could play a role in early mammalian development, we have analyzed the expression of nfkb1, nfkb2, c-Rel, RelA, RelB, and bcl-3 from 6.5- to 10.5-day mouse embryo implantation sites.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1 beta, and interleukin-6 expression in inflammatory bowel disease.

The etiology of ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD) remains enigmatic. Infiltrating intestinal macrophages are capable of producing the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). We investigated the presence of IL-6, TNF-alpha and IL-1 beta mRNA transcripts in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), normal, and other inflammatory intestinal specimens utilizing the polymerase chain reaction (PCR).