Hippo signaling in the ovary and polycystic ovarian syndrome.

Purpose: To provide a commentary on our understanding of the role that the Hippo signaling pathway may play in patients with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and how this understanding may impact the diagnosis of PCOS.

Methods: We assessed publications discussing the role of the Hippo signaling pathway in the ovary. In particular, we discuss how Hippo signaling disruption after ovarian fragmentation, combined with treating ovarian fragments with phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) inhibitors and phosphoinositide-3-kinase stimulators to augment AKT signaling, has been used in treatment of patients with primary ovarian insufficiency.

Targeting the leukocyte activation cascade: getting to the site of inflammation using microfabricated assays.

This paper describes the use of microfabricated devices to study the leukocyte activation cascade (LAC). The devices consist of microchannels fabricated in polydimethylsiloxane using soft lithography. Microfluidics, used to generate physiologically relevant levels of shear flow, was achieved by the simple attachment of a syringe pump.