Capromorelin: a ghrelin receptor agonist and novel therapy for stimulation of appetite in dogs.

Ghrelin is a hormone, secreted from cells in the stomach, which is important in the regulation of appetite and food intake in mammals. It exerts its action by binding to a specific G-protein-coupled receptor, the growth hormone secretagogue receptor 1a (GHS-R1a) which is found in areas of the brain associated with the regulation of food intake. Ghrelin causes a release of growth hormone (GH) through binding to GHS-R1a in the hypothalamus and pituitary gland.

Pilot, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical field study to evaluate the effectiveness of bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension for the provision of post-surgical analgesia in dogs undergoing stifle surgery.

Background: Local anesthetics are an important component of perioperative pain management, but the duration of action of available products is limited. We hypothesized that a single local infiltration of a novel bupivacaine liposome injectable suspension (AT-003) would provide clinically effective analgesia over a 72-h period. In a masked, randomized, placebo-controlled, multi-center pilot field study, dogs undergoing lateral retinacular suture placement for cranial cruciate insufficiency were randomly assigned to surgical site infiltration with AT-003 (5.

Canine epidermolysis bullosa acquisita: a retrospective study of 20 cases.

Background: Epidermolysis bullosa acquisita (EBA) is a rare autoimmune subepidermal blistering disease of dogs and humans.

Objectives: Our objectives were to describe clinical phenotypes, histopathology and treatment outcomes of canine EBA.

Animals: Twenty dogs diagnosed with EBA based on a subepidermal blister formation and collagen VII autoreactivity.

Akt requires glucose metabolism to suppress puma expression and prevent apoptosis of leukemic T cells.

The PI3K/Akt pathway is activated in stimulated cells and in many cancers to promote glucose metabolism and prevent cell death. Although inhibition of Akt-mediated cell survival may provide a means to eliminate cancer cells, this survival pathway remains incompletely understood. In particular, unlike anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins that prevent apoptosis independent of glucose, Akt requires glucose metabolism to inhibit cell death.

Stratum corneum removal facilitates experimental sensitization to mite allergens in atopic dogs.

In humans with atopic dermatitis and in mouse models of IgE-mediated allergic diseases, evidence is mounting that the stratum corneum (SC) provides an important barrier against environmental allergens. At this time, it is not known whether the SC has a similar role in dogs, especially in those with atopic dermatitis. The objectives of this pilot study were to determine whether SC removal led to earlier and stronger sensitization of atopic dogs to Dermatophagoides farinae (Df) house dust mites.

Autophagy provides nutrients but can lead to Chop-dependent induction of Bim to sensitize growth factor-deprived cells to apoptosis.

Tissue homeostasis is controlled by the availability of growth factors, which sustain exogenous nutrient uptake and prevent apoptosis. Although autophagy can provide an alternate intracellular nutrient source to support essential basal metabolism of apoptosis-resistant growth factor-withdrawn cells, antiapoptotic Bcl-2 family proteins can suppress autophagy in some settings. Thus, the role of autophagy and interactions between autophagy and apoptosis in growth factor-withdrawn cells expressing Bcl-2 or Bcl-xL were unclear.

Glucose metabolism in lymphocytes is a regulated process with significant effects on immune cell function and survival.

Lymphocytes require glucose uptake and metabolism for normal survival and function. The signals that regulate the expression and localization of glucose transporter 1 (Glut1) to allow glucose uptake in T cells are now beginning to be understood. Resting T cells require extracellular signals, such as cytokines, hormones, and growth factors, or low-level TCR stimulation to take up adequate glucose to maintain housekeeping functions.

Glucose uptake is limiting in T cell activation and requires CD28-mediated Akt-dependent and independent pathways.

T cell activation potently stimulates cellular metabolism to support the elevated energetic and biosynthetic demands of growth, proliferation, and effector function. We show that glucose uptake is limiting in T cell activation and that CD28 costimulation is required to allow maximal glucose uptake following TCR stimulation by up-regulating expression and promoting the cell surface trafficking of the glucose transporter Glut1. Regulation of T cell glucose uptake and Glut1 was critical, as low glucose prevented appropriate T cell responses.

IL-7 promotes Glut1 trafficking and glucose uptake via STAT5-mediated activation of Akt to support T-cell survival.

Lymphocyte homeostasis requires coordination of metabolic processes with cellular energetic and biosynthetic demands but mechanisms that regulate T-cell metabolism are uncertain. We show that interleukin-7 (IL-7) is a key regulator of glucose uptake in T lymphocytes. To determine how IL-7 affects glucose uptake, we analyzed IL-7 signaling mechanisms and regulation of the glucose transporter, Glut1.

Surfactant protein A regulates IgG-mediated phagocytosis in inflammatory neutrophils.

Surfactant proteins (SP)-A and SP-D have been shown to affect the functions of a variety of innate immune cells and to interact with various immune proteins such as complement and immunoglobulins. The goal of the current study is to test the hypothesis that SP-A regulates IgG-mediated phagocytosis by neutrophils, which are major effector cells of the innate immune response that remove invading pathogens by phagocytosis and by extracellular killing mediated by reactive oxygen and nitrogen. We have previously shown that SP-A stimulates chemotaxis by inflammatory, but not peripheral, neutrophils.

Akt1 and Akt2 are required for alphabeta thymocyte survival and differentiation.

The beta-selection checkpoint in alphabetaT lymphocyte development occurs at the double negative (DN) 3 (CD4(-)CD8(-)CD25(+)c-kit(-)) stage, when further differentiation requires a signal from the newly rearranged TCR beta chain. Thymocytes with mutations in key signaling molecules in the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-Akt pathway manifest defects in survival, proliferation, and differentiation past the beta-selection checkpoint. However, little information is available regarding the role of Akt itself in thymocyte development.

Glycogen synthase kinase 3alpha and 3beta mediate a glucose-sensitive antiapoptotic signaling pathway to stabilize Mcl-1.

Glucose uptake and utilization are growth factor-stimulated processes that are frequently upregulated in cancer cells and that correlate with enhanced cell survival. The mechanism of metabolic protection from apoptosis, however, has been unclear. Here we identify a novel signaling pathway initiated by glucose catabolism that inhibited apoptotic death of growth factor-deprived cells.

Cytokine stimulation promotes glucose uptake via phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase/Akt regulation of Glut1 activity and trafficking.

Cells require growth factors to support glucose metabolism for survival and growth. It is unclear, however, how noninsulin growth factors may regulate glucose uptake and glucose transporters. We show that the hematopoietic growth factor interleukin (IL)3, maintained the glucose transporter Glut1 on the cell surface and promoted Rab11a-dependent recycling of intracellular Glut1.

An essential role for an inositol polyphosphate multikinase, Ipk2, in mouse embryogenesis and second messenger production.

Phospholipase C and several inositol polyphosphate kinase (IPK) activities generate a branched ensemble of inositol polyphosphate second messengers that regulate cellular signaling pathways in the nucleus and cytoplasm. Here, we report that mice deficient for Ipk2 (also known as inositol polyphosphate multikinase), an inositol trisphosphate and tetrakisphosphate 6/5/3-kinase active at several places in the inositol metabolic pathways, die around embryonic day 9.5 with multiple morphological defects, including abnormal folding of the neural tube.

Surfactant protein A differentially regulates peripheral and inflammatory neutrophil chemotaxis.

Surfactant protein A (SP-A), a pulmonary lectin, plays an important role in regulating innate immune cell function. Besides accelerating pathogen clearance by pulmonary phagocytes, SP-A also stimulates alveolar macrophage chemotaxis and directed actin polymerization. We hypothesized that SP-A would also stimulate neutrophil chemotaxis.