Decreased brain damage and curtailed inflammation in transcription factor CCAAT/enhancer binding protein beta knockout mice following transient focal cerebral ischemia.

CCAAT/enhancer binding protein beta (C/EBPbeta) is a leucine-zipper transcription factor that regulates cell growth and differentiation in mammals. Expression of many pro-inflammatory genes including the cytokine interleukin-6 is known to be controlled by C/EBPbeta. We report that focal cerebral ischemia induced by transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) significantly increases C/EBPbeta gene expression in mouse brain at between 6 and 72 h of reperfusion.

Stearoyl-CoA desaturase as a new drug target for obesity treatment.

Stearoyl-CoA desaturase (SCD), the rate-limiting enzyme in monounsaturated fatty acid synthesis, has recently been shown to be the critical control point regulating hepatic lipogenesis and lipid oxidation. As several manifestations of the metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes mellitus are associated with alterations in intracellular lipid partitioning, we propose that SCD1 may be a potential therapeutic target in the treatment of obesity and the metabolic syndrome. In support of this notion, we have shown that SCD1-deficient mice have increased energy expenditure, reduced body adiposity, increased insulin sensitivity and are resistant to diet-induced obesity and liver steatosis.