The Q43L mutant of neuregulin 2β is a pan-ErbB receptor antagonist.

The ErbB4 receptor tyrosine kinase possesses both tumour suppressor and oncogenic activities. Thus pharmacological agents are needed to help elucidate ErbB4 functions. However, limitations of existing ErbB4 agonists and antagonists have led us to seek novel ErbB4 antagonists.

Potential of a unique antibody gene signature to predict conversion to clinically definite multiple sclerosis.

We identified a unique antibody gene mutation pattern (i.e. "signature") in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) B cells from multiple sclerosis (MS) patients not present in control populations.

Inter-conversion of neuregulin2 full and partial agonists for ErbB4.

The EGF family hormone NRG2beta potently stimulates ErbB4 tyrosine phosphorylation and coupling to IL3 independence. In contrast, the NRG2alpha splicing isoform has lower affinity for ErbB4, does not potently stimulate ErbB4 phosphorylation, and fails to stimulate ErbB4 coupling. Here we investigate these differences.

Antigen specificity of clonally expanded and receptor edited cerebrospinal fluid B cells from patients with relapsing remitting MS.

We re-engineered the immunoglobulin rearrangements from clonally expanded CSF B cells of three Multiple Sclerosis patients as Fab fragments, and used three methods to test for their antigen (Ag) specificity. Nine out of ten Fab fragments were reactive to Myelin Basic Protein (MBP). The one Fab that did not react to MBP was a product of receptor editing.

Body satisfaction in college women after brief exposure to magazine images.

Female undergraduates were divided into groups based on their rated body dissatisfaction (n = 45 operationally defined as Satisfied, n = 45 as Dissatisfied). These groups were then randomly assigned to one of three magazine categories: fashion, fitness-and-health, and news. Measures of Body Satisfaction, Depression, Anxiety, Self-esteem, Fear of Fat.

Five carboxyl-terminal residues of neuregulin2 are critical for stimulation of signaling by the ErbB4 receptor tyrosine kinase.

The neuregulins (NRGs) are members of the epidermal growth factor (EGF) family of peptide growth factors. These hormones are agonists for the ErbB family of receptor tyrosine kinases, a family that includes the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR/ErbB1), ErbB2/Neu/HER2, ErbB3/HER3, and ErbB4/HER4. We recently observed that the EGF family hormone NRG2beta is a potent agonist for ErbB4.

Neuregulin isoforms exhibit distinct patterns of ErbB family receptor activation.

During the last decade, several novel members of the Epidermal Growth Factor family of peptide growth factors have been identified. Most prominent among these are the Neuregulins or Heregulins. To date, four different Neuregulin genes have been identified (Neuregulin1-4) and several different splicing isoforms have been identified for at least two of these genes (Neuregulin1 and Neuregulin2).