Publications by authors named "J H Whitsett"
EMC3 is critical for CFTR function and calcium mobilization in the mouse intestinal epithelium.
Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol
December 2024
Article Synopsis
- Membrane proteins, particularly CFTR, are essential for gastrointestinal health, while the endoplasmic reticulum membrane protein complex (EMC) is crucial for inserting these proteins into cell membranes during synthesis.
- In mice with a deleted EMC subunit (EMC3ΔIEC), researchers found smaller size and altered intestinal structures, with fewer important cell types like goblet and Paneth cells.
- The study revealed that EMC is vital for the proper functioning of membrane proteins and maintaining calcium levels in intestinal epithelial cells, suggesting its importance in overall cellular functions.
Viral lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI) are ubiquitous in early life. They are disproportionately severe in infants and toddlers (0-2 years), leading to more than 100,000 hospitalizations in the United States per year. The recent relative resilience to severe Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) observed in young children is surprising.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFKLF5 Shapes Developing Respiratory Tubules by Inhibiting Actin Asymmetry in Epithelial Cells.
Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol
November 2024
Tubulogenesis depends on precise cell shape changes driven by asymmetric tension from the actin cytoskeleton. How actin asymmetry is dynamically controlled to coordinate epithelial cell shape changes required for respiratory tubulogenesis remains unknown. Herein, we unveiled a critical role for the transcription factor KLF5, regulating actin asymmetry, inducing epithelial cell shape changes by balancing RHOA and CDC42 GTPase activity via RICH2.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The SFTPC gene mutation (SFTPCI73T) is a major cause of interstitial lung disease, leading to limited treatment options.
- Research shows that EMC3 is crucial for maintaining surfactant balance in alveolar type 2 cells and influences the metabolism of the SFTPCI73T mutation.
- Findings indicate that deleting Emc3 can improve lung structure and function in mice with the SFTPCI73T mutation, revealing new therapeutic targets, particularly involving Valosin Containing Protein (VCP) for treatment.