Publications

Select neuronal populations display steady rhythmic neuronal firing that provides tonic excitation to drive downstream networks and behaviors. In noradrenergic neurons of the locus coeruleus (LC), circadian neurons of the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), and CO2/H+-activated neurons of the brainstem retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN), large subthreshold membrane potential oscillations contribute to the pacemaker-like action potential discharge.

Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is widely recognized as a potentially severe toxicity that often leads to dose reduction or discontinuation of cancer treatment. Symptoms may persist despite discontinuation of chemotherapy and quality of life can be severely compromised. The clinical symptoms of CIPN, and the cellular and molecular targets involved in CIPN, are just as diverse as the wide variety of anticancer agents that cause peripheral neurotoxicity.

Dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra (SN) and ventral tegmental area (VTA) play a central role in the reinforcing properties of abused drugs including methamphetamine and cocaine. Chronic effects of psychostimulants in the SN/VTA also involve non-dopaminergic transmitters, including glutamate and the stress-related peptide corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF). In the SN/VTA, astrocytes express a variety of membrane-bound neurotransmitter receptors and transporters that influence neurotransmission.

To catalyze SARS-CoV-2 research including development of novel interventive and preventive strategies, we characterized progression of disease in depth in a robust COVID-19 animal model. In this model, male and female golden Syrian hamsters were inoculated intranasally with SARS-CoV-2 USA-WA1/2020. Groups of inoculated and mock-inoculated uninfected control animals were euthanized at 2, 4, 7, 14 and 28 days post-inoculation to track multiple clinical, pathology, virology, and immunology outcomes.

The field of cannabinoid research has been receiving ever-growing interest. Ongoing debates worldwide about the legislation of medical cannabis further motivates research into cannabinoid function within the central nervous system (CNS). To date, two well-characterized cannabinoid receptors exist. While most research has investigated Cb1 receptors (Cb1Rs), Cb2 receptors (Cb2Rs) in the brain have started to attract considerable interest in recent years.

: Hemophilia comprises a group of X-linked hemorrhagic disorders that result from a deficiency of coagulation factors. The disorder affects mainly males and leads to chronic pain, joint deformity, reduced mobility, and increased mortality. Current therapies require frequent administration of replacement clotting factors, but the emergence of alloantibodies (inhibitors) diminishes their efficacy.

The pontine nuclei comprising the locus coeruleus (LC) and Barrington's nucleus (BRN) amongst others form the neural circuitry(s) that coordinates arousal and voiding behaviors. However, little is known about the synaptic connectivity of neurons within or across these nuclei. These include corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF+) expressing neurons in the BRN that control bladder contraction and somatostatin expressing (SST+) neurons whose role in this region has not been discerned.

Methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) is a metabolic disorder most commonly caused by mutations in the methylmalonyl-CoA mutase (MMUT) gene. Although adeno-associated viral (AAV) gene therapy has been effective at correcting the disease phenotype in MMA mouse models, clinical translation may be impaired by loss of episomal transgene expression and magnified by the need to treat patients early in life.

Background Psoriasis is a chronic, complicated, and recurrent inflammatory skin disease. However, the precise molecular mechanisms remain largely elusive and the present treatment is unsatisfactory. Objective This study aimed to unravel the functions of long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) AGAP2-AS1 and its biological mechanism in psoriasis pathogenesis, hinting for the new therapeutic targets in psoriasis. Methods The expression of AGAP2-AS1 in the skin tissue of psoriasis patients and healthy controls were detected by qRT-PCR and RNAscope™.

Previous studies suggest a link between high serum type I interferon (IFN) and lupus nephritis (LN). We determined whether serum IFN activity is associated with subtypes of LN and studied renal tissues and cells to understand the impact of IFN in LN.221 systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients were studied. Serum IFN activity was measured by WISH bioassay.