Engineered antigen-specific T regulatory cells suppress autoreactivity to the anti-glomerular basement membrane disease antigen.

Anti-glomerular basement membrane (anti-GBM) disease is accompanied by insufficient antigen-specific T regulatory cells (Tregs) and clonally expanded antigen-specific T conventional cells (Tconvs). In particular, this applied to the immunodominant T cell auto- epitope of type IV collagen, α3(IV)NC1135-145 , presented by HLA-DR15. Here, we investigated whether Tregs engineered to express GBM-T cell receptors (TCR) specific for α3(IV)NC1135- 145 better suppress autoimmunity.

Reduced PI3K(p110α) induces atrial myopathy, and PI3K-related lipids are dysregulated in athletes with atrial fibrillation.

Background: Elucidating mechanisms underlying atrial myopathy, which predisposes individuals to atrial fibrillation (AF), will be critical for preventing/treating AF. In a serendipitous discovery, we identified atrial enlargement, fibrosis, and thrombi in mice with reduced phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) in cardiomyocytes. PI3K(p110α) is elevated in the heart with exercise and is critical for exercise-induced ventricular enlargement and protection, but the role in the atria was unknown.

A concise guide to essential R packages for analyses of DNA, RNA, and proteins.

R is widely regarded as unrivaled by other high-level programming languages for its statistical functions. The popularity of R as a statistical language has led many to overlook its applications outside the statistical realm. In this brief review, we present a list of R packages for supporting projects that entail analyses of DNA, RNA, and proteins.