Differentiation of preosteoblasts using a delivery system with BMPs and bioactive glass microspheres.

Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and 45S5 Bioglass microspheres (bioactive GM) can increase the differentiation of osteoblasts. Recombinant human BMP-2 (rhBMP-2) is presently the BMP most frequently used in delivery systems and it has already been used in clinical bone healing studies. We have developed a delivery system that combines a collagen Type I gel, BMP and bioactive GM.

Functional comparison of thymic B cells and dendritic cells in vivo.

In this report we present a transgenic mouse model in which we targeted gene expression specifically to B-lymphocytes. Using the human CD19 promoter, we expressed major histocompatibility complex class II I-E molecules specifically on B cells of all tissues, but not on other cell types. If only B cells expressed I-E in a class II-deficient background, positive selection of CD4(+) T cells could not be observed.

Duplication and MHC linkage of the CTX family of genes in Xenopus and in mammals.

The effects of whole genome duplications that characterize the evolution of vertebrates have been studied on the gene of the Xenopus thymocyte molecule CTX and its mammalian relatives. CTX, with an extracellular part consisting of one V and one C2 external domain, defines a new subset of the immunoglobulin superfamily and is conserved from amphibians to mammals. The number of CTX loci, their polymorphism, and their genetic linkages have been studied in several Xenopus species and in humans.

CTX, a Xenopus thymocyte receptor, defines a molecular family conserved throughout vertebrates.

CTX, a cortical thymocyte marker in Xenopus, is an immunoglobulin superfamily (Igsf) member comprising one variable and one constant C2-type Igsf domain, a transmembrane segment and a cytoplasmic tail. Although resembling that of the TCR and immunoglobulins, the variable domain is not encoded by somatic rearrangement of the gene but by splicing of two half-domain exons. The C2 domain, also encoded by two exons, has an extra pair of cysteines.

The T cell receptor beta genes of Xenopus.

cDNA of the T cell receptor beta (TCRB) have been isolated from the anuran amphibian Xenopus and they show strong structural homology to TCRB sequences of other vertebrates. Ten BV families, two D segments, ten J segments, and a single C region have been defined so far. Each V family consists of one to two members per haploid genome.