Environmental 24-hr Cycles Are Essential for Health.

Circadian rhythms are deeply rooted in the biology of virtually all organisms. The pervasive use of artificial lighting in modern society disrupts circadian rhythms and can be detrimental to our health. To investigate the relationship between disrupting circadian rhythmicity and disease, we exposed mice to continuous light (LL) for 24 weeks and measured several major health parameters.

Inhibition of GSK3β Stimulates BMP Signaling and Decreases SOST Expression Which Results in Enhanced Osteoblast Differentiation.

Both bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and Wnt signaling have significant roles in osteoblast differentiation and the interaction between BMP and Wnt signaling is well known. Sclerostin is an important inhibitor of bone formation, inhibiting Wnt signaling and downstream effects of BMP such as alkaline phosphatase activity and matrix mineralization in vitro. However, little is known about the effect of BMP and Wnt signaling interaction on the regulation of SOST, the gene encoding sclerostin.

Identification of receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatase μ as a new marker for osteocytes.

Osteocytes are the predominant cells in bone, where they form a cellular network and display important functions in bone homeostasis, phosphate metabolism and mechanical transduction. Several proteins strongly expressed by osteocytes are involved in these processes, e.g.

Near-infrared fluorescence imaging of both colorectal cancer and ureters using a low-dose integrin targeted probe.

Background: Irradical tumor resections and iatrogenic ureteral injury remain a significant problem during lower abdominal surgery. The aim of the current study was to intraoperatively identify both colorectal tumors and ureters in subcutaneous and orthotopic animal models using cRGD-ZW800-1 and near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence.

Methods: The zwitterionic fluorophore ZW800-1 was conjugated to the tumor specific peptide cRGD (targeting integrins) and to the a-specific peptide cRAD.

Validation of a simple and fast method to quantify in vitro mineralization with fluorescent probes used in molecular imaging of bone.

Alizarin Red S staining is the standard method to indicate and quantify matrix mineralization during differentiation of osteoblast cultures. KS483 cells are multipotent mouse mesenchymal progenitor cells that can differentiate into chondrocytes, adipocytes and osteoblasts and are a well-characterized model for the study of bone formation. Matrix mineralization is the last step of differentiation of bone cells and is therefore a very important outcome measure in bone research.

Class III β-tubulin, a novel biomarker in the human melanocyte lineage.

It is generally thought that class III β-tubulin expression is limited to cells of the neural lineage and is therefore often used to identify neurons amongst other cell types, both in vivo and in vitro. Melanocytes are derived from the neural crest and share both morphological features and functional characteristics with peripheral neurons. Here, we show that these similarities extend to class III β-tubulin (TUBB3) expression, and that human melanocytes express this protein both in vivo and in vitro.

Near-infrared fluorescence imaging of liver metastases in rats using indocyanine green.

Background: Near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence imaging using indocyanine green (ICG) is a promising technique to obtain real-time assessment of the extent and number of colorectal liver metastases during surgery. The current study aims to optimize dosage and timing of ICG administration.

Materials And Methods: Liver tumors were induced in 18 male WAG/Rij rats by subcapsular inoculation of CC531 rat colorectal cancer cells into three distinct liver lobes.

Serpina1 (alpha1-AT) is synthesized in the osteoblastic stem cell niche.

Objective: Previously, we identified Serpina1 as a potent inhibitor of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cell (HSC/HPC) mobilization. Serpina1 protein is found in the bone marrow (BM) extracellular fluid and concentrations are decreased during granulocyte colony-stimulating factor-induced HSC/HPC mobilization in mice. In addition, administration of exogenous Serpina1 protein inhibits HSC/HPC mobilization.

Osteocyte-specific monoclonal antibody MAb OB7.3 is directed against Phex protein.

Osteocytes are the most abundant cells in bone; however, relatively little is known about their properties and functions. The development of monoclonal antibody MAb OB7.3 directed against chicken osteocytes enabled us to purify osteocytes from enzymatically isolated bone cells.