Metabolic Functions of Gut Microbes Associate With Efficacy of Tumor Necrosis Factor Antagonists in Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Diseases.

Background & Aims: Altered interactions between the mucosal immune system and intestinal microbiota contribute to pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). It is not clear how inhibitors of cytokines, such as antagonists of tumor necrosis factor (anti-TNF), affect the intestinal microbiome. We investigated the effects of anti-TNF agents on gut microbe community structure and function in a longitudinal 2-step study of patients with IBD.

A novel human p53 isoform is an essential element of the ATR-intra-S phase checkpoint.

The archetypal human tumor suppressor p53 is considered to have unique transactivation properties. The assumption is based on the fact that additionally identified human p53 isoforms lack transcriptional activity. However, we provide evidence for the existence of an alternatively spliced p53 isoform (Deltap53) that exerts its transcriptional activity independent from p53.