Novel PPARG mutation in multiple family members with chylomicronemia.

Chylomicronemia is characterized by severe hypertriglyceridemia when chylomicrons persist in plasma despite a fasting state. The recessive monogenic form is due to homozygous or compound heterozygous loss-of-function mutations in the LPL gene or genes involved in the assembly, transport, or function of LPL, including APOC2, APOA5, GP1HBP1, and LMF1. The multifactorial form of chylomicronemia is due to both common small-effect variants and rare heterozygous large-effect variants in genes in which mutations are associated secondarily with hypertriglyceridemia.

Familial chylomicronemia syndrome: an under-recognized cause of severe hypertriglyceridaemia.

Familial chylomicronemia syndrome (FCS) is a rare autosomal recessive disorder of chylomicron metabolism causing severe elevation of triglyceride (TG) levels (>10 mmol L ). This condition is associated with a significant risk of recurrent acute pancreatitis (AP). AP caused by hypertriglyceridaemia (HTG) has been associated with a worse prognosis and higher mortality rates compared to pancreatitis of other aetiology.

A novel mutation in GPIHBP1 causes familial chylomicronemia syndrome.

Familial chylomicronemia syndrome is characterized by severe elevation in serum triglycerides and an increased risk of acute pancreatitis. Although familial chylomicronemia syndrome is mainly caused by mutations in the lipoprotein lipase (LPL) gene, few causal mutations in other genes (ie, APOC2, APOA5, LMF1, and GPIHBP1) have also been reported. In this case report, we present the discovery of a novel mutation in the glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored high-density lipoprotein-binding protein 1 (GPIHBP1) gene and discuss its pathogenicity through a familial segregation study.

Nodal signalling in embryogenesis and tumourigenesis.

With few exceptions, most cells in adult organisms have lost the expression of stem cell-associated proteins and are instead characterized by tissue-specific gene expression and function. This cell fate specification is dictated spatially and temporally during embryogenesis. It has become increasingly apparent that the elegant and complicated process of cell specification is "undone" in cancer.

M-T5, the ankyrin repeat, host range protein of myxoma virus, activates Akt and can be functionally replaced by cellular PIKE-A.

The myxoma virus (MV) ankyrin repeat, host range factor M-T5 has the ability to bind and activate cellular Akt, leading to permissive MV replication in a variety of diverse human cancer cell lines (G. Wang, J. W.

Myxoma virus M11L blocks apoptosis through inhibition of conformational activation of Bax at the mitochondria.

Many viruses inhibit or retard apoptosis, a strategy that subverts one of the most ancient antiviral mechanisms. M11L, a myxoma virus-encoded antiapoptotic protein, has been previously shown to localize to mitochondria and block apoptosis of virus-infected cells (H. Everett, M.

Gene expression profiling in type 1 diabetes prone NOD mice immunized with a disease protective autoantigenic peptide.

Immunization with autoantigenic peptides skews T cell responses in type 1 diabetes (T1D), yet the gene-expression signature characterizing this change is unclear. We used cDNA microarray technology to identify genes differentially regulated in splenocytes of T1D prone NOD mice after immunization with a disease protective glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 (GAD(65) P14) peptide. We identified 96 genes involved in cytokine secretion, humoral immune response, T cell activation, signal transduction, cell proliferation, complement activation and inflammatory responses.

Myxoma virus M11L prevents apoptosis through constitutive interaction with Bak.

M11L, a 166-amino-acid antiapoptotic protein of myxoma virus, was previously shown to bind to the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor by hydrophobic interactions at the outer mitochondrial membrane. Here we demonstrate that an additional property of M11L is the ability to constitutively form inhibitory complexes with the proapoptotic Bcl-2 family member Bak in human cells. This binding interaction was identified by both FLAG-tagged pull-down assays and tandem affinity purification from transfected and virus-infected human cells.

Which dopamine receptor(s) do we need for motor function? Lessons from gene targeting and translational blockade.

Recent advances in molecular biology have led not only to the identification of novel dopamine receptor subtypes, but also to the ability to selectively suppress the expression of these receptors. The approaches used to suppress receptor expression, as well as the problems in interpretation of the results are summarized. To date, these studies have confirmed the critical role for D2 receptors and the dopamine transporter in normal motor function, but the contributions of other receptor subtypes have not yet been adequately assessed.

Behavioural evidence for cholecystokinin-dopamine D1 receptor interactions in the rat.

The effects of cholecystokinin (CCK) on behavioural responses to the dopamine D1 receptor agonist (+/- )SKF 38393 ((+/- )-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-7,8- dihydroxy-1-phenyl-1H-3-benzazepine HCl) were studied in the rat. SKF 38393 (5 mg/kg s.c.