Oestrogen receptor β regulates epigenetic patterns at specific genomic loci through interaction with thymine DNA glycosylase.

Background: DNA methylation is one way to encode epigenetic information and plays a crucial role in regulating gene expression during embryonic development. DNA methylation marks are established by the DNA methyltransferases and, recently, a mechanism for active DNA demethylation has emerged involving the ten-eleven translocator proteins and thymine DNA glycosylase (TDG). However, so far it is not clear how these enzymes are recruited to, and regulate DNA methylation at, specific genomic loci.

Endocrine disruptors targeting ERbeta function.

Endocrine disruptive chemicals (EDCs) circulating in the environment constitute a risk to ecosystems, wildlife and human health. Oestrogen receptor (ER) alpha and beta are targeted by various kinds of EDCs but the molecular mechanisms and long-term consequences of exposure are largely unknown. Some biological effects of EDCs are mediated by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), which is a key player in the cellular defence against xenobiotic substances.

AhR and ARNT modulate ER signaling.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), in complex with its binding partner ARNT, mediates the cellular response to xenobiotic compounds such as the environmental pollutant dioxin. In addition, the AhR has important regulatory roles in normal physiology. For instance, there is extensive data showing an intricate relationship between the AhR and estrogen receptor (ER) pathways.

Wheezing, asthma, hay fever, and atopic eczema in relation to maternal occupations in pregnancy.

Objectives: To examine whether prenatal occupational exposures, especially to organic solvents, are associated with atopic diseases in childhood.

Methods: The study comprised children born in Odense or Aalborg, Denmark between 1984 and 1987. Occupational job titles were derived from questionnaires filled out by the mothers when attending midwife centres.

Wheezing, asthma, hayfever, and atopic eczema in childhood following exposure to tobacco smoke in fetal life.

Background: Prenatal maternal smoking has been associated with adverse respiratory effects in childhood such as lung deficits and wheezing, but results concerning asthma, hayfever, and atopic eczema are inconsistent.

Objective: In the present study, we investigate the effects of maternal smoking in pregnancy on asthma, hayfever, atopic eczema, and wheezing in the offspring up to the age of 14-18.

Methods: The study was based on a cohort of mothers enrolled during midwife visits around the 36th week of gestation in Odense and Aalborg, Denmark, 1984-1987.

Genome-wide expression profiling; a panel of mouse tissues discloses novel biological functions of liver X receptors in adrenals.

The liver X receptors alpha and beta (LXRalpha and LXRbeta ) are members of the nuclear receptor superfamily of proteins which are highly expressed in metabolically active tissues. They regulate gene expression of critical genes involved in cholesterol catabolism and transport, lipid and triglyceride biosynthesis and carbohydrate metabolism in response to distinct oxysterols and intermediates in the cholesterol metabolic pathway. The biological roles of the LXRs in tissues other than liver, intestine and adipose tissue are poorly elucidated.

The effects of egg-derived antibodies to glucosyltransferases on dental caries in rats.

The role of Streptococcus mutans in the development of dental caries is well recognized. Important virulence factors include the glucosyltransferases (gtf), essential for production of glucans. We evaluated the anticariogenic effects of orally administered chicken anti-cell-associated (CA) Gtf antibodies in desalivated rats.

Glucocorticoid response and promoter occupancy of the mouse LXRalpha gene.

The liver X receptors alpha and beta (LXRalpha and LXRbeta) are members of the nuclear receptor superfamily of proteins which are highly expressed in metabolically active tissues. They regulate gene expression of critical genes involved in cholesterol catabolism and transport, lipid and triglyceride biosynthesis, and carbohydrate metabolism in response to distinct oxysterol intermediates in the cholesterol metabolic pathway. Several LXR target genes have been identified, but there is limited information on how expression of the LXRs themselves is controlled.

Gene expression profiling in adipose tissue indicates different transcriptional mechanisms of liver X receptors alpha and beta, respectively.

The nuclear receptors liver X receptors (LXR) alpha and beta are important regulators of genes involved in lipid, cholesterol, and carbohydrate metabolism and are highly expressed in mature adipocyte tissue. In this study we show that LXRalpha and LXRbeta are more expressed in brown adipose tissue and subcutaneous white adipose tissue than visceral (gonadal) adipose tissue. Furthermore, we report differences between LXRalpha and LXRbeta in their ability to alter expression of target genes.

In situ delivery of passive immunity by lactobacilli producing single-chain antibodies.

Lactobacilli have previously been used to deliver vaccine components for active immunization in vivo. Vectors encoding a single-chain Fv (scFv) antibody fragment, which recognizes the streptococcal antigen I/II (SAI/II) adhesion molecule of Streptococcus mutans, were constructed and expressed in Lactobacillus zeae (American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) 393). The scFv antibody fragments secreted into the supernatant or expressed on the surface of the bacteria showed binding activity against SAI/II in enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and surface scFv-expressing lactobacilli agglutinated SAI/II-expressing S.