Heterogeneous integration of adult-generated granule cells into the epileptic brain.

The functional impact of adult-generated granule cells in the epileptic brain is unclear, with data supporting both protective and maladaptive roles. These conflicting findings could be explained if new granule cells integrate heterogeneously, with some cells taking neutral or adaptive roles and others contributing to recurrent circuitry supporting seizures. Here, we tested this hypothesis by completing detailed morphological characterizations of age- and experience-defined cohorts of adult-generated granule cells from transgenic mice.

A dominant-negative c-jun mutant inhibits lung carcinogenesis in mice.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer mortality in the United States and worldwide. The identification of key regulatory and molecular mechanisms involved in lung tumorigenesis is therefore critical to increase our understanding of this disease and could ultimately lead to targeted therapies to improve prevention and treatment. Induction of members of the activator protein-1 (AP-1) transcription factor family has been described in human non-small cell lung carcinoma.

Duration-dependent cytoprotective versus inflammatory effects of lung epithelial fibroblast growth factor-7 expression.

Fibroblast growth factor-7 (FGF7) is a lung epithelial cell mitogen that is cytoprotective during injury. Transgenic mice that conditionally expressed FGF7 were used to dissect the mechanisms of FGF7 protection during lung injury. FGF7 improved survival when induced 3 days prior to acute lung injury.

Detection of EP1 and FP receptor mRNAs in the iris-ciliary body using in situ hybridization.

Objective: To determine the expression of E-prostanoid1 (EP(1)) and F-prostanoid (FP) receptor mRNAs in iris-ciliary bodies of the human eye using in situ hybridization.

Methods: EP(1) and FP receptor mRNAs were detected by riboprobes labeled with digoxigenin on paraffin sections of the iris-ciliary body tissue of the human eye using in situ hybridization.

Results: EP(1) and FP receptor mRNAs were highly expressed in blood vessels, muscles and the endothelia of the iris.

Ex vivo localization of the mouse saposin C activation region for acid beta-glucosidase.

Saposin C is a biological activator of acid beta-glucosidase (GCase), the lysosomal hydrolase with activity towards glucosylceramide (GC). In addition, saposin C possesses a functional domain that determines the in vitro and ex vivo neuritogenic effects of prosaposin, the precursor of saposins A, B, C, and D. The domains for enzymatic activation and neuritogenic function segregate in vitro, respectively, to the carboxyl- and amino-terminal halves of human and mouse saposin C.