Revisiting the NPcis mouse model: A new tool to model plexiform neurofibroma.

Neurofibromatosis Type I (NF1) is a rare genetic disorder. NF1 patients frequently develop a benign tumor in peripheral nerve plexuses called plexiform neurofibroma. In the past two decades, tissue-specific Nf1 knockout mouse models were developed using commercially available tissue-specific Cre recombinase and the Nf1 flox mice to mimic neurofibroma development.

Caspase-3 Is a Pivotal Regulator of Microvascular Rarefaction and Renal Fibrosis after Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury.

Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is a major risk factor for chronic renal failure. Here, we characterize the different modes of programmed cell death in the tubular and microvascular compartments during the various stages of IRI-induced AKI, and their relative importance to renal fibrogenesis. We performed unilateral renal artery clamping for 30 minutes and contralateral nephrectomy in wild-type mice (C57BL/6) or caspase-3 mice.