Transforming growth factor-beta1 suppresses airway hyperresponsiveness in allergic airway disease.

Rationale: Asthma is characterized by increases in airway resistance, pulmonary remodeling, and lung inflammation. The cytokine transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta has been shown to have a central role in asthma pathogenesis and in mouse models of allergic airway disease.

Objectives: To determine the contribution of TGF-beta to airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR), we examined the time course, source, and isoform specificity of TGF-beta production in an in vivo mouse asthma model.

Lysosomal integral membrane protein 2 is a novel component of the cardiac intercalated disc and vital for load-induced cardiac myocyte hypertrophy.

The intercalated disc (ID) of cardiac myocytes is emerging as a crucial structure in the heart. Loss of ID proteins like N-cadherin causes lethal cardiac abnormalities, and mutations in ID proteins cause human cardiomyopathy. A comprehensive screen for novel mechanisms in failing hearts demonstrated that expression of the lysosomal integral membrane protein 2 (LIMP-2) is increased in cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure in both rat and human myocardium.