ERG Regulates Lymphatic Vessel Specification Genes and Its Deficiency Impairs Wound Healing-Associated Lymphangiogenesis.

Objective: Rarefaction of blood and lymphatic vessels in the skin has been reported in systemic sclerosis (SSc) (scleroderma). E26 transformation-specific-related factor (ERG) and Friend leukemia virus-induced erythroleukemia 1 (FLI-1) are important regulators of angiogenesis, but their role in lymphatic vasculature is lesser known. The goal of this study was to determine the role of ERG and FLI-1 in postnatal lymphangiogenesis and SSc lymphatic system defects.

Endothelial Regulates Expression of Pulmonary Lymphatic Junctional and Inflammation Genes in Mouse Lungs Impacting Lymphatic Transport.

The ETS transcription factor ERG is a master regulator of endothelial gene specificity and highly enriched in the capillary, vein, and arterial endothelial cells. ERG expression is critical for endothelial barrier function, permeability, and vascular inflammation. A dysfunctional vascular endothelial ERG has been shown to impair lung capillary homeostasis, contributing to pulmonary fibrosis as previously observed in IPF lungs.

GATA6 coordinates cross-talk between BMP10 and oxidative stress axis in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a life-threatening condition characterized by a progressive increase in pulmonary vascular resistance leading to right ventricular failure and often death. Here we report that deficiency of transcription factor GATA6 is a shared pathological feature of PA endothelial (PAEC) and smooth muscle cells (PASMC) in human PAH and experimental PH, which is responsible for maintenance of hyper-proliferative cellular phenotypes, pulmonary vascular remodeling and pulmonary hypertension. We further show that GATA6 acts as a transcription factor and direct positive regulator of anti-oxidant enzymes, and its deficiency in PAH/PH pulmonary vascular cells induces oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction.

Moral motivation based on multiple developmental structures: an exploration of cognitive and emotional dynamics.

Intrapersonal variability and multiplicity in the complexity of moral motivation were examined from Dynamic Systems and Self-Determination Theory perspectives. L. Kohlberg's (1969) stages of moral development are reconceptualized as soft-assembled and dynamically transformable process structures of motivation that may operate simultaneously within person in different degrees.

Differentiating autonomy from individualism and independence: a self-determination theory perspective on internalization of cultural orientations and well-being.

On the basis of self-determination theory (R. M. Ryan & E.