Pre-clinical evaluation of a replication-competent recombinant adenovirus serotype 4 vaccine expressing influenza H5 hemagglutinin.

Background: Influenza virus remains a significant health and social concern in part because of newly emerging strains, such as avian H5N1 virus. We have developed a prototype H5N1 vaccine using a recombinant, replication-competent Adenovirus serotype 4 (Ad4) vector, derived from the U.S.

A selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) modulator blocks adipocyte differentiation but stimulates glucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) agonists such as the thiazolidinediones are insulin sensitizers used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. These compounds induce adipogenesis in cell culture models and increase weight gain in rodents and humans. We have identified a novel PPARgamma ligand, LG100641, that does not activate PPARgamma but selectively and competitively blocks thiazolidinedione-induced PPARgamma activation and adipocyte conversion.

The marble goby oxyeleotris marmoratus activates hepatic glutamine synthetase and detoxifies ammonia to glutamine during air exposure.

Ammonia levels in various tissues of the marble goby Oxyeleotris marmoratus remained constant throughout a 72 h period of air exposure. The rate of ammonia excretion in these experimental fish decreased to approximately one-fifth of that of the submerged control. Ammonia was not converted to urea during air exposure because there were no significant increases in urea content in the tissues.

Skeletal muscle peroxisome proliferator- activated receptor-gamma expression in obesity and non- insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Unlabelled: The two isoforms of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma1 and PPARgamma2), are ligand-activated transcription factors that are the intracellular targets of a new class of insulin sensitizing agents, the thiazolidinediones. The observation that thiazolidinediones enhance skeletal muscle insulin sensitivity in obesity and in patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), by activating PPARgamma, and possibly by inducing its expression, suggests that PPARgamma expression in skeletal muscle plays a key role in determining tissue sensitivity to insulin, and that PPARgamma expression may be decreased in insulin resistant subjects. We used a sensitive ribonuclease protection assay, that permits simultaneous measurement of the two isoforms, to examine the effects of obesity and NIDDM, and the effects of insulin, on skeletal muscle levels of PPARgamma1 and PPARgamma2 mRNA.

RXR agonists activate PPARalpha-inducible genes, lower triglycerides, and raise HDL levels in vivo.

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) and retinoid X receptors (RXRs) are members of the intracellular receptor superfamily. PPARs bind to peroxisome proliferator-response elements (PPREs) as heterodimers with RXR and as such activate gene transcription in response to activators. Fibrates like gemfibrozil are well-known PPARalpha activators and are used in the treatment of hyperlipidemia.