Publications by authors named "Stephanie E O'Hara"

Article Synopsis
  • Regulatory T (Treg) cells are crucial for maintaining immune tolerance during pregnancy, ensuring that the mother’s body accepts the developing fetus and placenta.
  • In a study using a specific mouse model, researchers found that depleting Treg cells early in pregnancy led to problems with the remodeling of uterine arteries, reduced natural killer (uNK) cell numbers, and resulted in fetal loss and growth restriction.
  • By transferring Treg cells from healthy donors, the negative effects on vascular function and fetal health were mitigated, highlighting the important role Treg cells play in adapting the uterine environment for a successful pregnancy and their connection to issues like preeclampsia.
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There is increasing evidence linking bitter taste receptor (BTR) signaling to gut hormone secretion and glucose homeostasis. However, its effect on islet hormone secretion has been poorly characterized. This study investigated the effect of the bitter substance, denatonium benzoate (DB), on hormone secretion from mouse pancreatic islets and INS-1 832/13 cells.

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Early life represents a window of phenotypic plasticity. Thus, exposure of the developing fetus to a compromised nutritional environment can have long term consequences for their health. Indeed, undernutrition or maternal intake of an obesogenic diet during pregnancy leads to a heightened risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) and obesity in her offspring in adult life.

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