Elucidating the role of DEPTOR in Alzheimer's disease.

The mammalian or mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a Ser/Thr protein kinase that, in response to nutrient stimulation, regulates cellular growth, proliferation, survival, protein synthesis and gene transcription. It has also been implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD) with neuronal cells and hippocampal slices of AD transgenic mice experiencing dysregulated mTOR and synaptic plasticity in response to treatment with the toxic amyloid β (Aβ(1-42)) peptide, which has been implicated in AD. DEP domain-containing mTOR-interacting protein (DEPTOR) is a protein which can bind to mTOR and cause its inhibition, and functions as a regulatory protein of mTOR to control its activity.

Differential expression of placental glucocorticoid receptors and growth arrest-specific transcript 5 in term and preterm pregnancies: evidence for involvement of maternal stress.

Pregnancy-specific stress predicts birth outcomes. We hypothesized that there is a maternal stress-GR interaction that can influence fetal birth weight. This study examined the relationship between mothers' stress and attitude towards their pregnancies, placental glucocorticoid receptors (GRs) and growth arrest-specific transcript 5 (GAS5) expression, and the status of GR polymorphism, with their infants' birth weights.

Immune system function, stress, exercise and nutrition profile can affect pregnancy outcome: Lessons from a Mediterranean cohort.

Pregnancy is associated with major physiological and future psychosocial changes, and maternal adaptation to these changes is crucial for normal foetal development. Psychological stress in pregnancy predicts an earlier birth and lower birth weight. Pregnancy-specific stress contributes directly to preterm delivery.

Changes in placental progesterone receptors in term and preterm labour.

Currently, preterm labour is associated with increased fetal mortality and morbidity and is often associated with elevated levels of inflammatory cytokines. However, the exact mechanisms that lead to this pathology are not fully elucidated. In the present study evidence was obtained using a specific membrane progesterone receptor (mPR) agonist, Org OD 02-0, that the progestin antagonism of apoptotic effects of a cytokine, IL-1β, on human placental BeWo cells is mediated through mPRs.

Crucial cross-talk of interleukin-1β and progesterone in human choriocarcinoma.

Choriocarcinoma is a highly malignant epithelial tumour that is most often associated with hydatidiform mole and presents the most common emergency medical problem in the management of trophoblast disease. We hypothesise that the hormones/cytokines present within the tumour microenvironment play key roles in the development of choriocarcinoma. In this study we assessed the effects of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) on cell death in the presence or absence of the sex hormone progesterone using two choriocarcinoma cell lines (BeWo and JEG-3) as in vitro experimental models.