Pleiotropic tumor suppressive functions of PTEN missense mutations during gliomagenesis.

PTEN plays a crucial role in preventing the development of glioblastoma (GBM), a severe and untreatable brain cancer. In GBM, most PTEN deficiencies are missense mutations that have not been thoroughly examined. Here, we leveraged genetically modified mice and isogenic astrocyte cell cultures to investigate the role of clinically relevant mutations (G36E, L42R, C105F, and R173H) in the development of EGFR-driven GBM.

Anti-MDA5 positivity: describing the frequency and spectrum of clinically evident MDA5 disease.

To evaluate experience in a tertiary rheumatology service with melanoma differentiation-association-protein-5 (MDA5) disease and testing, patients with positive autoantibody results were reviewed for the presence of clinical disease. Anti-MDA5 positivity was detected in 2% of myositis-specific antibody tests. Of these, 29% did not have features consistent with anti-MDA5 disease.

An In Vitro Delayed Scratch Closure Assay with Features of Chronic Wounds.

A scratch assay is a simple wound healing model for assessing cell migration in which a confluent cell layer is scratched to create a scratch zone ("wound") that cells migrate into. Here, we describe a scratch assay exhibiting delayed closure and increased inflammation, which more closely resemble chronic wounds. This delayed scratch closure assay is more relevant for screening compounds and studying delayed wound healing compared with traditional scratch wound assays that more closely resemble acute wounds.