Prospective diagnostic accuracy evaluation and clinical utilization of a modified assay for platelet-associated immunoglobulin in thrombocytopenic and nonthrombocytopenic dogs.

Background: No diagnostic tests reliably distinguish primary immune-mediated thrombocytopenia (pIMT) from other causes of thrombocytopenia.

Objectives: The purpose of the study was to evaluate diagnostic sensitivity and specificity using modified direct and indirect platelet-associated immunoglobulin (PAIg) assays and reticulated platelets (RP) by flow cytometry for the classification of thrombocytopenic dogs and differentiating pIMT.

Methods: Platelets were isolated from plasma samples of thrombocytopenic dogs and nonthrombocytopenic healthy and ill dogs.

Lentivirus-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses are rapidly lost in thymectomized cats infected with feline immunodeficiency virus.

To what extent the thymus is needed to preserve the virus-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) response of lentivirus-infected adults is unclear. Presented here is the first definitive study using thymectomized (ThX) animals to directly evaluate the contribution of thymic function to lentivirus-specific CTL response and the control of lentivirus infections. ThX and mock-ThX cats were inoculated with feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and monitored for their FIV-specific CTL responses.

Role for activating transcription factor 3 in stress-induced beta-cell apoptosis.

Activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) is a stress-inducible gene and encodes a member of the ATF/CREB family of transcription factors. However, the physiological significance of ATF3 induction by stress signals is not clear. In this report, we describe several lines of evidence supporting a role of ATF3 in stress-induced beta-cell apoptosis.

The roles of ATF3 in liver dysfunction and the regulation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase gene expression.

Activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3), a member of the ATF/cAMP-responsive element-binding protein family of transcription factors, is a transcriptional repressor, and the expression of its corresponding gene, ATF3, is induced by many stress signals. In this report, we demonstrate that transgenic mice expressing ATF3 in the liver had symptoms of liver dysfunction such as high levels of serum bilirubin, alkaline phosphatase, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, and bile acids. In addition, these mice had physiological responses consistent with hypoglycemia including a low insulin:glucagon ratio in the serum and reduced adipose tissue mass.

The roles of ATF3 in glucose homeostasis. A transgenic mouse model with liver dysfunction and defects in endocrine pancreas.

Activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) is a member of the ATF/cAMP-response element-binding protein family of transcription factors. It is a transcriptional repressor, and the expression of its corresponding gene is induced by stress signals in a variety of tissues, including the liver. In this report, we demonstrate that ATF3 is induced in the pancreas by partial pancreatectomy, streptozotocin treatment, and ischemia coupled with reperfusion.