The anti-obesity effect of Taheebo (Tabebuia avellanedae Lorentz ex Griseb) extract in ovariectomized mice and the identification of a potential anti-obesity compound.

Estrogen deficiency-induced obesity has a high risk of visceral fat accumulation and body weight gain. It is also associated with many adverse health conditions. Taheebo extract from Tabebuia avellanedae has been recognized as playing several biological and pharmacological roles.

DOCK2 is required in T cell precursors for development of Valpha14 NK T cells.

Mouse CD1d-restricted Valpha14 NKT cells are a unique subset of lymphocytes, which play important roles in immune regulation, tumor surveillance and host defense against pathogens. DOCK2, a mammalian homolog of Caenorhabditis elegans CED-5 and Drosophila melanogaster myoblast city, is critical for lymphocyte migration and regulates T cell responsiveness through immunological synapse formation, yet its role in Valpha14 NKT cells remains unknown. We found that DOCK2 deficiency causes marked reduction of Valpha14 NKT cells in the thymus, liver, and spleen.

Defective fetal liver erythropoiesis and T lymphopoiesis in mice lacking the phosphatidylserine receptor.

Clearance of apoptotic cells by macrophages is considered important for prevention of inflammatory responses leading to tissue damage. The phosphatidylserine receptor (PSR), which specifically binds to phosphatidylserine (PS) exposed on the surface of apoptotic cells, mediates uptake of apoptotic cells in vitro, yet the physiologic relevance of PSR remains unknown. This issue was addressed by generating PSR-deficient (PSR(-/-)) mice.

DOCK2 is essential for antigen-induced translocation of TCR and lipid rafts, but not PKC-theta and LFA-1, in T cells.

DOCK2 is a mammalian homolog of Caenorhabditis elegans CED-5 and Drosophila melanogaster Myoblast City which are known to regulate actin cytoskeleton. DOCK2 is critical for lymphocyte migration, yet the role of DOCK2 in TCR signaling remains unclear. We show here that DOCK2 is essential for TCR-mediated Rac activation and immunological synapse formation.

DOCK2 regulates Rac activation and cytoskeletal reorganization through interaction with ELMO1.

Although the migratory property of lymphocytes is critical for protective immunity, tissue infiltration of lymphocytes sometimes causes harmful immune responses. DOCK2 plays a critical role in lymphocyte migration by regulating actin cytoskeleton through Rac activation, yet the mechanism by which DOCK2 activates Rac remains unknown. We found that DOCK2 associates with engulfment and cell motility (ELMO1) through its Src-homology 3 (SH3) domain.