Stochastic cytokine expression induces mixed T helper cell States.

During eukaryotic development, the induction of a lineage-specific transcription factor typically drives differentiation of multipotent progenitor cells, while repressing that of alternative lineages. This process is often mediated by some extracellular signaling molecules, such as cytokines that can bind to cell surface receptors, leading to activation and/or repression of transcription factors. We explored the early differentiation of naive CD4 T helper (Th) cells into Th1 versus Th2 states by counting single transcripts and quantifying immunofluorescence in individual cells.

Mir193b-365 is essential for brown fat differentiation.

Mammals have two principal types of fat. White adipose tissue primarily serves to store extra energy as triglycerides, whereas brown adipose tissue is specialized to burn lipids for heat generation and energy expenditure as a defence against cold and obesity. Recent studies have demonstrated that brown adipocytes arise in vivo from a Myf5-positive, myoblastic progenitor by the action of Prdm16 (PR domain containing 16).

miR-200 enhances mouse breast cancer cell colonization to form distant metastases.

Background: The development of metastases involves the dissociation of cells from the primary tumor to penetrate the basement membrane, invade and then exit the vasculature to seed, and colonize distant tissues. The last step, establishment of macroscopic tumors at distant sites, is the least well understood. Four isogenic mouse breast cancer cell lines (67NR, 168FARN, 4TO7, and 4T1) that differ in their ability to metastasize when implanted into the mammary fat pad are used to model the steps of metastasis.

Targeting microRNAs in obesity.

Obesity is a serious health problem worldwide associated with an increased risk of life-threatening diseases such as type 2 diabetes, atherosclerosis, and certain types of cancer. Fundamental for the development of novel therapeutics for obesity and its associated metabolic syndromes is an understanding of the regulation of fat cell development. Recent computational and experimental studies have shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) play a role in metabolic tissue development, lipid metabolism and glucose homeostasis.

MicroRNA-125b promotes neuronal differentiation in human cells by repressing multiple targets.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small noncoding RNAs that regulate gene expression at the posttranscriptional level. Research on miRNAs has highlighted their importance in neural development, but the specific functions of neurally enriched miRNAs remain poorly understood. We report here the expression profile of miRNAs during neuronal differentiation in the human neuroblastoma cell line SH-SY5Y.

MicroRNA-125b is a novel negative regulator of p53.

The p53 transcription factor is a key tumor suppressor and a central regulator of the stress response. To ensure a robust and precise response to cellular signals, p53 gene expression must be tightly regulated from the transcriptional to the post-translational levels. Computational predictions suggest that several microRNAs are involved in the post-transcriptional regulation of p53.

MicroRNAs induced during adipogenesis that accelerate fat cell development are downregulated in obesity.

Objective: We investigated the regulation and involvement of microRNAs (miRNAs) in fat cell development and obesity.

Research Design And Methods: Using miRNA microarrays, we profiled the expression of >370 miRNAs during adipogenesis of preadipocyte 3T3-L1 cells and adipocytes from leptin deficient ob/ob and diet-induced obese mice. Changes in key miRNAs were validated by RT-PCR.

Differential expression of hDAB2IPA and hDAB2IPB in normal tissues and promoter methylation of hDAB2IPA in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Background/aims: hDAB2IP is a candidate tumor suppressor gene. We studied the expression of its two variants, hDAB2IPA and hDAB2IPB, in normal tissues, and the expression and methylation status of hDAB2IPA in hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) and cell lines.

Methods: Conventional or real-time RT-PCR was performed in normal tissue samples, cell lines and HCC samples, and sequencing analysis and methylation-specific PCR in cell lines and HCC samples.

The male seahorse synthesizes and secretes a novel C-type lectin into the brood pouch during early pregnancy.

The male seahorse incubates its young in a manner resembling that of a mammalian pregnancy. After the female deposits her eggs into the male's brood pouch they are fertilized and the embryos develop and grow for several weeks until they are able to withstand the external environmental conditions independently, at which point they are irreversibly released. Although the precise function of the brood pouch is not clear, it is probably related to providing a suitable protective and osmotic environment for the young.