TCR-mediated hyper-responsiveness of autoimmune Galphai2(-/-) mice is an intrinsic naïve CD4(+) T cell disorder selective for the Galphai2 subunit.

Heterotrimeric Gi signaling regulates immune homeostasis, since autoimmunity occurs upon disruption of this pathway. However, the role of the lymphocyte-expressed Galphai subunits (Galphai2 and 3) on T cell activation and cytokine production is poorly understood. To examine this role, we studied T lymphocytes from mice deficient in the Galphai2 or Galphai3 subunits.

Receptor subtypes: species variations in secretin affect potency for pancreatic but not gastric secretion.

Introduction: Receptor subtypes can be distinguished by different actions of agonists on physiologic responses. In this study, we compared effects of four species variants of secretin (rat, porcine, canine, and human) on pancreatic secretion and gastrin-induced acid secretion in urethane-anesthetized rats. These secretins differ by one to three residues in position 14, 15, or 16 and were used to probe for the presence of different secretin receptor subtypes in the rat.