Studies on the role of connexins (Cxs) in the pathogenesis of right ventricular (RV) hypertrophy in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) have not been reported to date. Therefore, we established a rat model of PAH induced by monocrotaline (MCT), and they were randomized to three groups: Control, MCT, and MCT+bosentan. Through electromicroscopy, in the control group, the gap junctions were long and frequent in intercalated disks, and short and rare at the sites of side-side cell junctions. In the MCT group, the opposite distribution was detected. In the MCT+bosentan group, the distribution of gap junctions was similar to that in the control group. Using immunoconfocal microscopy, most of the Cx43 staining was aggregated at the cell termini, and staining was weak at the sites of side-side cell junctions in the control group. However, the distribution of Cx43 was opposite in the MCT group. In the MCT+bosentan group, the result was similar to that in the control group. Therefore, perturbation of connexin distribution may be associated with RV hypertrophy. Improving the distribution of Cx43 in RV myocardium may be one of the mechanisms of a dual ET receptor antagonist partly reversing the RV hypertrophy.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|---|
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.prp.2009.01.002 | DOI Listing |
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A
January 2025
Institute of Science and Technology Austria, AT-3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria.
Biophysical constraints limit the specificity with which transcription factors (TFs) can target regulatory DNA. While individual nontarget binding events may be low affinity, the sheer number of such interactions could present a challenge for gene regulation by degrading its precision or possibly leading to an erroneous induction state. Chromatin can prevent nontarget binding by rendering DNA physically inaccessible to TFs, at the cost of energy-consuming remodeling orchestrated by pioneer factors (PFs).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFProc Natl Acad Sci U S A
January 2025
Department of Cell Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27701.
In species with genetic sex determination (GSD), the sex identity of the soma determines germ cell fate. For example, in mice, XY germ cells that enter an ovary differentiate as oogonia, whereas XX germ cells that enter a testis initiate differentiation as spermatogonia. However, numerous species lack a GSD system and instead display temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFProc Natl Acad Sci U S A
January 2025
Division of Livestock Infectious Diseases, State Key Laboratory for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Harbin Veterinary Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Harbin 150069, China.
Historically considered to be nonenveloped, hepatitis E virus (HEV), an important zoonotic pathogen, has recently been discovered to egress from infected cells as quasi-enveloped virions. These quasi-enveloped virions circulating in the blood are resistant to neutralizing antibodies, thereby facilitating the stealthy spread of infection. Despite abundant evidence of the essential role of the HEV-encoded ORF3 protein in quasi-enveloped virus formation, the underlying mechanism remains unclear.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Neurosurg
January 2025
1Department of Neurology, Centre for Leading Medicine and Advanced Technologies of IHM, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui.
Objective: Endovascular treatment (EVT) is an effective treatment for patients with acute vertebrobasilar artery complex occlusion (VBAO). However, the benefit of bridging thrombolysis prior to EVT remains controversial. The purpose of the present study is to explore the best treatment strategy between bridging treatment (BT) and direct EVT in patients with acute VBAO.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Occup Environ Med
January 2025
Department of Public and Occupational Health, Amsterdam Public Health Research Institute, Amsterdam University Medical Center location Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
Objective: To evaluate the process of an online cognitive rehabilitation program aimed at supporting cancer survivors experiencing cognitive problems at work.
Methods: Cancer survivors (n = 279) were randomized to one of the intervention groups (i.e.
Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!