Plasma markers of inflammation and prediction of cardiovascular disease and mortality in African Americans with type 1 diabetes.

Background: To determine whether plasma levels of markers of inflammation are predictive of the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), hypertension, or mortality in African Americans with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Methods: A total of 484 African Americans with type 1 diabetes were included. At baseline and 6-year follow-up, a clinical interview and examination were conducted to document CVD and systemic hypertension.

Markers of endothelial dysfunction and inflammation predict progression of diabetic nephropathy in African Americans with type 1 diabetes.

African Americans with early-onset type 1 diabetes mellitus are at a high risk for severe diabetic nephropathy and end-stage renal disease. In order to determine whether baseline plasma levels of inflammatory markers predict incidence of overt proteinuria or renal failure in African Americans with type 1 diabetes mellitus, we re-examined data of 356 participants in our observational follow-up study of 725 New Jersey African Americans with type 1 diabetes. At baseline and 6-year follow-up, a detailed structured clinical interview was conducted to document medical history including kidney dialysis or transplant, other diabetic complications, and renal-specific mortality.

Inflammatory biomarkers and progression of diabetic retinopathy in African Americans with type 1 diabetes.

Purpose: We examined whether baseline plasma levels of markers of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction are associated with the incidence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in African Americans with type 1 insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (T1DM).

Methods: At baseline and follow-up examinations, detailed ocular examination, structured clinical interview, venous blood specimens, and masked grading of seven standard field retinal photographs were obtained. Baseline plasma levels of 28 inflammatory biomarkers, measured using multiplex bead analysis system, were measured in the participants.

A bioluminescent HL-60 cell line to assay anti-leukaemia therapeutics under physiological conditions.

Screens for compounds and proteins with anti-cancer activity employ viability assays using relevant cancer cell lines. For leukaemia studies, the human leukaemia cell line, HL-60, is often used as a model system. To facilitate the discovery and investigation of anti-leukaemia therapeutics under physiological conditions, we have engineered HL-60 cells that stably express firefly luciferase and produce light that can be detected using an in vivo imaging system (IVIS).

A role for Phospholipase D in Drosophila embryonic cellularization.

Background: Cellularization of the Drosophila embryo is an unusually synchronous form of cytokinesis in which polarized membrane extension proceeds in part through incorporation of new membrane via fusion of apically-translocated Golgi-derived vesicles.

Results: We describe here involvement of the signaling enzyme Phospholipase D (Pld) in regulation of this developmental step. Functional analysis using gene targeting revealed that cellularization is hindered by the loss of Pld, resulting frequently in early embryonic developmental arrest.

TdeA, a TolC-like protein required for toxin and drug export in Aggregatibacter (Actinobacillus) actinomycetemcomitans.

Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans is an oral bacterium that causes localized aggressive periodontitis (LAP) and extra-oral infections such as sub-acute infective endocarditis. As part of its array of virulence factors, A. actinomycetemcomitans produces leukotoxin (LtxA), a member of the RTX family of toxins.

Regulation of Aggregatibacter (Actinobacillus) actinomycetemcomitans leukotoxin secretion by iron.

The gram-negative oral and systemic pathogen Aggregatibacter (Actinobacillus) actinomycetemcomitans produces a leukotoxin (LtxA) that is a member of the RTX (repeats in toxin) family of secreted bacterial toxins. We have recently shown that LtxA has the ability to lyse erythrocytes, which results in a beta-hemolytic phenotype on Columbia blood agar. To determine if LtxA is regulated by iron, we examined beta-hemolysis under iron-rich and iron-limiting conditions.

Leukotoxin confers beta-hemolytic activity to Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans.

Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans is the etiologic agent of localized aggressive periodontitis, a rapidly progressing oral disease that occurs in adolescents. A. actinomycetemcomitans can also cause systemic disease, including infective endocarditis.

The ATP-dependent Lon protease of Mus musculus is a DNA-binding protein that is functionally conserved between yeast and mammals.

The ATP-dependent Lon protease is a multi-functional enzyme that is conserved from archae to mammalian mitochondria, which not only degrades protein substrates but also binds DNA. As a starting point toward understanding Lon function in development, the mouse Lon cDNA was cloned and the encoded protein was characterized in cultured mammalian cells, in yeast and in vitro. Mouse Lon shows 87, 40 and 33% amino acid similarity with the human, yeast and bacterial homologs, respectively.