A transcriptional profile of aging in the human kidney.

In this study, we found 985 genes that change expression in the cortex and the medulla of the kidney with age. Some of the genes whose transcripts increase in abundance with age are known to be specifically expressed in immune cells, suggesting that immune surveillance or inflammation increases with age. The age-regulated genes show a similar aging profile in the cortex and the medulla, suggesting a common underlying mechanism for aging.

Gene expression in the normal adult human kidney assessed by complementary DNA microarray.

The kidney is a highly specialized organ with a complex, stereotyped architecture and a great diversity of functions and cell types. Because the microscopic organization of the nephron, the functional unit of the kidney, has a consistent relationship to the macroscopic anatomy of the kidney, knowledge of the characteristic patterns of gene expression in different compartments of the kidney could provide insight into the functions and functional organization of the normal nephron. We studied gene expression in dissected renal lobes of five adult human kidneys using cDNA microarrays representing approximately 30,000 different human genes.

ARMER, apoptotic regulator in the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum, a novel inhibitor of apoptosis.

We have identified a novel protein, apoptotic regulator in the membrane of the endoplasmic reticulum (ARMER), which protects HT1080 fibrosarcoma cells from apoptosis induced by various stimuli. We demonstrate that ARMER is an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) integral membrane protein with four predicted transmembrane domains and a COOH-terminal KKXX ER retrieval motif. We used an inducible expression system (pIND) to study the effects of regulated ARMER overexpression.

Expression of FKBP12 in benign and malignant vascular endothelium: an immunohistochemical study on conventional sections and tissue microarrays.

FKBP12 is a cytosolic FK506 binding protein that interacts with calcineurin and thereby mediates the immunosuppressive effects of FK506. Because initial immunohistochemical staining showed abundant expression of FKBP12 in vascular endothelial cells, we evaluated whether it could serve as a marker for vascular neoplasms. We performed immunohistochemical staining of conventional sections from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue from 59 benign and malignant vascular neoplasms using a polyclonal rabbit antiserum against FKBP12.

A custom mandibular distraction device for the rat.

In the last several years, the rat model has been used as a reliable means of studying distraction osteogenesis (DO). This model has several benefits, including lower cost, the availability of molecular reagents for the rat, and the ability to perform a large number of operations in a short time. We have recently developed an external device that is custom-made for the rat mandible and secured at the mandibular ramus.

Analysis of self-assembly and apatite binding properties of amelogenin proteins lacking the hydrophilic C-terminal.

Amelogenins, the major protein component of the mineralizing enamel extracellular matrix, are critical for normal enamel formation as documented in the linkage studies of a group of inherited disorders, with defective enamel formation, called Amelogenesis imperfecta. Recent cases of Amelogenesis imperfecta include mutations that resulted in truncated amelogenin protein lacking the hydrophilic C-terminal amino acids. Current advances in knowledge on amelogenin structure, nanospheres assembly and their effects on crystal growth have supported the hypothesis that amelogenin nanospheres provide the organized microstructure for the initiation and modulated growth of enamel apatite crystals.