Aging-related alterations in mechanistic target of rapamycin signaling promote platelet hyperreactivity and thrombosis.

Background: Aging is an independent risk factor for the development of cardiovascular, thrombotic, and other chronic diseases. However, mechanisms of platelet hyperactivation in aging remain poorly understood.

Objectives: Here, we examine whether and how aging alters intracellular signaling in platelets to support platelet hyperactivity and thrombosis.

Comparative analysis of primer sets for the assessment of clonality in feline lymphomas.

Introduction: Lymphomas are among the most important and common malignant tumors in cats. Differentiating lymphomas from reactive lymphoid proliferations can be challenging, so additional tools such as clonality assessment by PCR are important in diagnosis finding. Several PCR assays have been developed to assess clonality in feline lymphomas.

Epigenetic signatures of social status in wild female spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta).

In mammalian societies, dominance hierarchies translate into inequalities in health, reproductive performance and survival. DNA methylation is thought to mediate the effects of social status on gene expression and phenotypic outcomes, yet a study of social status-specific DNA methylation profiles in different age classes in a wild social mammal is missing. We tested for social status signatures in DNA methylation profiles in wild female spotted hyenas (Crocuta crocuta), cubs and adults, using non-invasively collected gut epithelium samples.

Mitofusin-2 Regulates Platelet Mitochondria and Function.

Background: Single-nucleotide polymorphisms linked with the rs1474868 T allele ( [mitofusin-2] T/T) in the human mitochondrial fusion protein gene are associated with reduced platelet RNA expression and platelet counts. This study investigates the impact of MFN2 on megakaryocyte and platelet biology.

Methods: Mice with megakaryocyte/platelet deletion of ( [ conditional knockout]) were generated using Pf4-Cre crossed with floxed mice.