Unlabelled: Genome- and epigenome-wide association studies have associated variants and methylation status of carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1a (CPT1a) to reductions in very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol and triglyceride levels. We report significant associations between the presence of SNPs and reductions in plasma cholesterol, as well as positive associations between hepatic Cpt1a expression and plasma cholesterol levels across inbred mouse strains. Mechanistic studies show that both wild type and human apolipoprotein B100 (apoB)-transgenic mice with liver-specific deletion of (LKO) display lower circulating apoB levels consistent with reduced LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) and LDL particle number.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPeripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) are commonly used in biomedical research on the immune system and its response to disease and pathogens. This detailed protocol describes the equipment, supplies, and steps for isolating, cryopreserving, and thawing high-quality and highly viable PBMCs from whole blood cells suitable for downstream applications such as flow cytometry and RNA-sequencing. Protocols for processing plasma and buffy coat from the whole blood in parallel and concurrently with PBMCs are also described.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArch Sex Behav
July 2024
There is scant knowledge regarding pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use among female sex workers (FSWs) in Europe. Spain recognized FSWs as a population at high risk of acquiring HIV and granted them subsidized access to PrEP when the medication first became nationally available in 2019. Nevertheless, FSWs represented just 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGout is caused by the deposition of monosodium urate crystals (MSUc) in the joints, triggering a unique inflammatory and metabolic response in macrophages. Here, we present a protocol to generate MSUc for in vitro and in vivo studies in mouse and human cells. We describe steps for dissolving uric acid followed by crystallizing, purifying, evaluating, and analyzing MSUc.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe nuclear receptor co-repressor (NCoR) complex mediates transcriptional repression dependent on histone deacetylation by histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) as a component of the complex. Unexpectedly, we found that signaling by the receptor activator of nuclear factor κB (RANK) converts the NCoR/HDAC3 co-repressor complex to a co-activator of AP-1 and NF-κB target genes that are required for mouse osteoclast differentiation. Accordingly, the dominant function of NCoR/HDAC3 complexes in response to RANK signaling is to activate, rather than repress, gene expression.
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