Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor enhances in vitro differentiation of mid-/hindbrain neural progenitor cells to dopaminergic-like neurons.

Parkinson's disease (PD) affects the motor system through the degeneration of the dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra. The use of human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived human neural progenitor (hNP) cells provides a potential cell source for cell therapies and drug screens for future treatments. Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) is a known dopaminergic neuroprotectant agent; however, its potential role in neural differentiation remains largely unknown.

STAT1 negatively regulates lung basophil IL-4 expression induced by respiratory syncytial virus infection.

IL-4 contributes to immunopathology induced in mice by primary respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. However, the cellular source of IL-4 in RSV infection is unknown. We identified CD3(-)CD49b(+) cells as the predominant source of IL-4 in the lungs of RSV-infected BALB/c mice.

Human neural progenitors express functional lysophospholipid receptors that regulate cell growth and morphology.

Background: Lysophospholipids regulate the morphology and growth of neurons, neural cell lines, and neural progenitors. A stable human neural progenitor cell line is not currently available in which to study the role of lysophospholipids in human neural development. We recently established a stable, adherent human embryonic stem cell-derived neuroepithelial (hES-NEP) cell line which recapitulates morphological and phenotypic features of neural progenitor cells isolated from fetal tissue.

Association of RON tyrosine kinase with the Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus envelope glycoprotein.

The envelope (Env) of Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV) functions as an oncoprotein. One of the mechanisms of JSRV-induced cell transformation that has been proposed for epithelial cells involves JSRV Env binding Hyaluronidase 2 (the JSRV receptor), thereby inducing its degradation and allowing the release and activation of RON tyrosine kinase which is normally suppressed by HYAL-2. In this study, we report that HYAL-2 and RON are not critical for the JSRV Env-induced transformation of the rat epithelial cell line IEC-18, while the cytoplasmic tail of the JSRV Env is critical to transform this cell line.

Identification of quantitative trait loci for susceptibility to mouse adenovirus type 1.

Adult SJL/J mice are highly susceptible to mouse adenovirus type 1 (MAV-1) infections, whereas other inbred strains, including BALB/cJ, are resistant (K. R. Spindler, L.