Mice deficient in GEM GTPase show abnormal glucose homeostasis due to defects in beta-cell calcium handling.

Aims And Hypothesis: Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion from beta-cells is a tightly regulated process that requires calcium flux to trigger exocytosis of insulin-containing vesicles. Regulation of calcium handling in beta-cells remains incompletely understood. Gem, a member of the RGK (Rad/Gem/Kir) family regulates calcium channel handling in other cell types, and Gem over-expression inhibits insulin release in insulin-secreting Min6 cells.

Mutagenesis induced by targeted alpha therapy using 213Bi-cDTPA-9.2.27 in lacZ transgenic mice.

Targeted alpha therapy utilizes alpha-emitting radionuclides conjugated to monoclonal antibodies to allow specific irradiation of cancer cells whilst sparing normal, healthy tissues. The mutagenic potential of (213)Bi conjugated to a human melanoma antigen-specific antibody (9.2.

Excess lipid availability increases mitochondrial fatty acid oxidative capacity in muscle: evidence against a role for reduced fatty acid oxidation in lipid-induced insulin resistance in rodents.

A reduced capacity for mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation in skeletal muscle has been proposed as a major factor leading to the accumulation of intramuscular lipids and their subsequent deleterious effects on insulin action. Here, we examine markers of mitochondrial fatty acid oxidative capacity in rodent models of insulin resistance associated with an oversupply of lipids. C57BL/6J mice were fed a high-fat diet for either 5 or 20 weeks.

Human C5aR knock-in mice facilitate the production and assessment of anti-inflammatory monoclonal antibodies.

Complement component C5a binds C5a receptor (C5aR) and facilitates leukocyte chemotaxis and release of inflammatory mediators. We used neutrophils from human C5aR knock-in mice, in which the mouse C5aR coding region was replaced with that of human C5aR, to immunize wild-type mice and to generate high-affinity antagonist monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) to human C5aR. These mAbs blocked neutrophil migration to C5a in vitro and, at low doses, both prevented and reversed inflammatory arthritis in the murine K/BxN model.