Luminescence stability improvement in liposome-based homogeneous luminescence resonance energy transfer.

A stable liposome-based time-resolved luminescence resonance energy transfer (TR-LRET) assay was developed based on the interaction of biotinylated lipids and streptavidin. Eu(3+) ion chelated to 4,4,4-trifluoro-1-(2-naphthalenyl)-1,3-butanedione and trioctylphosphine oxide was incorporated into liposomes. Acceptor-labeled streptavidin bound to biotinylated lipids of the liposomes enables TR-LRET.

Aiolos controls gene conversion and cell death in DT40 B cells.

The Ikaros family transcription factor Aiolos is important for B cell function, since B cells of Aiolos-null mutant mice exhibit an activated phenotype, enhanced B-cell receptor (BCR) signalling response and develop a systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) type autoimmune disease. Aiolos has also been reported to interact with anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 and Bcl-x(L) in T cells, but whether Aiolos regulates cell death has not been studied in B cells. Here we show that the disruption of Aiolos in the DT40 B cell line induces a cell death sensitive phenotype, as the Aiolos(-/-) cells are more prone to apoptosis by nutritional stress, BCR cross-linking, UV- or gamma-irradiation.

Fetal sex and prenatal betamethasone therapy.

We examined the influence of fetal sex on the occurrence of respiratory distress syndrome in premature infants after maternal treatment with betamethasone. Among treated infants of 1,251 to 1,750 gm birth weight, the incidence of RDS was 40.9% in 22 males and 7.

Prenatal administration of betamethasone for prevention of respiratory distress syndrome.

The outcome of 114 infants of birth weight 750 to 1,750 gm who received prenatal betamethasone therapy was compared retrospectively to that of 138 infants delivered to untreated women. The incidence of respiratory distress syndrome in all treated infants was 37.7% compared with 50.