Interleukin-2-secreting T helper cells promote extra-follicular B cell maturation via intrinsic regulation of a B cell mTOR-AKT-Blimp-1 axis.

During antigen-driven responses, B cells can differentiate at extra-follicular (EF) sites or initiate germinal centers (GCs) in processes that involve interactions with T cells. Here, we examined the roles of interleukin (IL)-2 secreted by T helper (Th) cells during cognate interactions with activated B cells. IL-2 boosted the expansion of EF plasma cells and the secretion of low-mutated immunoglobulin G (IgG).

Caspase-dependent signaling underlies glioblastoma cell death in response to the fungal metabolite, fusarochromanone.

Fungal metabolites continue to show promise as a viable class of anticancer agents. In the present study, we investigated the efficacy of the fungal metabolite, fusarochromanone (FC101), for its antitumor activities in glioblastomas, which have a median survival of less than two years and a poor clinical response to surgical resection, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Using clinically applicable doses, we demonstrated that FC101 induced glioblastoma apoptotic cell death via caspase dependent signaling, as indicated by the cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase, glioblastoma (PARP).

Hippocampal cellular stress responses after global brain ischemia and reperfusion.

Brain ischemia and reperfusion (I/R) induce neuronal intracellular stress responses, including the heat-shock response (HSR) and the unfolded protein response (UPR), but the roles of each in neuronal survival or death are not well understood. We assessed the relative expression of UPR (ATF4, CHOP, GRP78, XBP-1) and HSR-related (HSP70 and HSC70) mRNAs and proteins after brain I/R. We evaluated these in hippocampal CA1 and CA3 after normothermic, transient global forebrain ischemia and up to 42 h of reperfusion.