Human leukocyte antigen antibodies in chronic transplant vasculopathy-mechanisms and pathways.

Transplant recipients exhibiting posttransplant antibodies are at a higher risk for acute and chronic antibody mediated rejection (AMR). The primary alloantigens recognized by antibodies in recipients with AMR are the highly polymorphic HLA class I and class II molecules expressed on the surface of the endothelial cells (ECs) of the graft. Traditionally, anti-HLA antibodies were thought to mediate graft injury through complement-dependent mechanisms.

Role of anti-MHC class I antibody in facilitating transplant accommodation.

The ligation of MHC class I molecules by class I antibodies on endothelial cells leads to both proliferation and survival signal transduction. This signaling pathway has been implicated in the development of acute and chronic antibody-mediated rejection. The ability of a graft to acquire resistance to immune-mediated graft injury is the basis of accommodation.

NCAM1 association study of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia: polymorphisms and alternatively spliced isoforms lead to similarities and differences.

Objective: The neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM1) is a multifunction transmembrane protein involved in synaptic plasticity, neurodevelopment, and neurogenesis. Multiple NCAM1 proteins were differentially altered in bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the NCAM1 gene were significantly associated with bipolar disorder in the Japanese population.

Genome scans and gene expression microarrays converge to identify gene regulatory loci relevant in schizophrenia.

Multiple linkage regions have been reported in schizophrenia, and some appear to harbor susceptibility genes that are differentially expressed in postmortem brain tissue derived from unrelated individuals. We combined traditional genome-wide linkage analysis in a multiplex family with lymphocytic genome-wide expression analysis. A genome scan suggested linkage to a chromosome 4q marker (D4S1530, LOD 2.

Effect of agonal and postmortem factors on gene expression profile: quality control in microarray analyses of postmortem human brain.

There are major concerns that specific agonal conditions, including coma and hypoxia, might affect ribonucleic acid (RNA) integrity in postmortem brain studies. We report that agonal factors significantly affect RNA integrity and have a major impact on gene expression profiles in microarrays. In contrast to agonal factors, gender, age, and postmortem factors have less effect on gene expression profiles.