Publications by authors named "J Schlessinger"

Unlabelled: Focal adhesion kinase (FAK) functions as a signaling and scaffolding protein within endothelial cells (ECs) impacting blood vessel function and tumor growth. Interpretations of EC FAK-null phenotypes are complicated by related PYK2 (protein tyrosine kinase 2) expression, and to test this, we created PYK2 FAK mice with tamoxifen-inducible EC-specific Cre recombinase expression. At 11 weeks of age, EC FAK inactivation resulted in increased heart and lung mass and vascular leakage only on a PYK2 background.

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Background: AbobotulinumtoxinA has become well established as a treatment option for moderate to severe glabellar lines since its first aesthetic approval in 2009.

Objective: Pivotal trials leading to regulatory approval showed that abobotulinumtoxinA treatment was associated with high responder rates when defined as achievement of none or mild glabellar lines (0 or 1 on the glabellar line severity scale) and a duration of action of up to 5 months. More recently, the goals for treatment of glabellar lines have shifted toward not only achieving a decrease in glabellar line severity but also ensuring that patients are satisfied with their experience.

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Article Synopsis
  • Cendakimab is a treatment that targets and inhibits interleukin-13 (IL-13), which plays a role in the development of atopic dermatitis (AD), and is being studied for its effectiveness in treating this condition compared to a placebo.
  • A phase 2 clinical trial involved 221 adult participants with moderate to severe AD who had not responded well to topical treatments, with patients receiving different doses of cendakimab or a placebo from May 2021 to November 2022.
  • Results showed that the highest dose of cendakimab (720 mg, once weekly) significantly improved eczema symptoms compared to placebo, while other dosages did not achieve statistical significance, indicating potential for cend
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Many growth factors and cytokines signal by binding to the extracellular domains of their receptors and driving association and transphosphorylation of the receptor intracellular tyrosine kinase domains, initiating downstream signaling cascades. To enable systematic exploration of how receptor valency and geometry affect signaling outcomes, we designed cyclic homo-oligomers with up to 8 subunits using repeat protein building blocks that can be modularly extended. By incorporating a de novo-designed fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFR)-binding module into these scaffolds, we generated a series of synthetic signaling ligands that exhibit potent valency- and geometry-dependent Ca release and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway activation.

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