Publications by authors named "R Jeffrey Westcott"
Article Synopsis
- Focal cortical dysplasia (FCD) is a key cause of hard-to-treat epilepsy, and this study explored how glucose metabolism is affected in different FCD types by studying GLUT1 expression and DNA methylation changes.
- Researchers found that hypermethylation of glucose-regulating genes can differentiate FCD subtypes from other conditions and that lower GLUT1 levels are linked to increased levels of VEGFα and MCT2.
- Decitabine treatment showed potential to restore glucose uptake and alter gene expression related to metabolism in brain cells, suggesting new pathways for developing biomarkers and early treatment strategies for FCD.
Influenza infections result in a significant number of severe illnesses annually, many of which are complicated by secondary bacterial super-infection. Primary influenza infection has been shown to increase susceptibility to secondary methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection by altering the host immune response, leading to significant immunopathology. Type III interferons (IFNs), or IFNλs, have gained traction as potential antiviral therapeutics due to their restriction of viral replication without damaging inflammation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAsthma is characterized by airway remodeling and hyperreactivity. Our earlier studies determined that the nitric oxide (NO)-soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC)-cGMP pathway plays a significant role in human lung bronchodilation. However, this bronchodilation is dysfunctional in asthma due to high NO levels, which cause sGC to become heme-free and desensitized to its natural activator, NO.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- Respiratory virus infections result in millions of hospitalizations and can lead to long-lasting lung damage and inflammation.
- A study using C57BL/6 mice infected with influenza showed that the mTORC1 inhibitor rapamycin, when administered after viral clearance, reduced persistent lung inflammation primarily driven by immune cells.
- The findings suggest that targeting mTORC1 could be a potential treatment for chronic lung inflammation following respiratory viral infections.
Asthma is characterized by airway remodeling and hyperreactivity. Our earlier studies determined that the Nitric Oxide (NO)-soluble Guanylyl Cyclase (sGC)-cGMP pathway plays a significant role in human lung bronchodilation. However this bronchodilation is dysfunctional in asthma due to high NO levels which cause sGC to become heme-free and desensitized to its natural activator, NO.
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