Roles of FGFR3 during morphogenesis of Meckel's cartilage and mandibular bones.

To address the functions of FGFR2 and FGFR3 signaling during mandibular skeletogenesis, we over-expressed in the developing chick mandible, replication-competent retroviruses carrying truncated FGFR2c or FGFR3c that function as dominant negative receptors (RCAS-dnFGFR2 and RCAS-dnFGFR3). Injection of RCAS-dnFGFR3 between HH15 and 20 led to reduced proliferation, increased apoptosis, and decreased differentiation of chondroblasts in Meckel's cartilage. These changes resulted in the formation of a hypoplastic mandibular process and truncated Meckel's cartilage.

Divergent stress responses to IL-1beta, nitric oxide, and tunicamycin by chondrocytes.

As the only cell in cartilage responsible for matrix synthesis, the chondrocyte's viability is crucial to healthy tissue. It must tolerate stresses from both mechanical and cellular sources. This study examines the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response in chondrocytes after exposure to IL-1beta, nitric oxide, or tunicamycin in order to determine whether this form of stress causes cell death.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme genotype in blacks with diabetic nephropathy: effects on risk of diabetes and its complications.

Objective: Among blacks, we have observed that diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a more frequent primary cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) in women (approximately 50%) than in men (< 20%). In this study, we consider the role of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) polymorphism in determining this gender discrepancy and its role in the course of DN.

Methods: ACE genotype (I = insertion, D = deletion) was determined in consecutive consenting patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and DN.

Two alanines juxtaposed to aggrecan's G1 domain alter its intracellular localization.

Nascent proteins translated and processed in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) sometimes contain intrinsic signals for ER retention or ER retrieval. These signals are usually a few amino acids in length, and if alanine modifications are made within these sequences, normal transit patterns of the nascent protein frequently change. The purpose of this study was to determine whether two alanines juxtaposed to the first globular domain of aggrecan's core protein affect its transit in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells.

Advanced diabetic nephropathy disproportionately affects African-American females: cross-sectional analysis and determinants of renal survival in an academic renal clinic.

Objective: The aims of this study were to study further the previously observed 2-fold higher prevalence of endstage renal disease (ESRD) due to diabetic nephropathy (DN) in African-American (AA) women, when compared to AA men, and to identify factors predictive of renal survival in this population.

Design: Cross-sectional analysis of DN in an academic renal clinic.

Methods: We identified and retrospectively studied all patients with diabetic nephropathy enrolled in our renal clinic in 1996.