Publication

PER1 is a circadian clock transcription factor that is regulated by aldosterone, a hormone that increases blood volume and sodium retention to increase blood pressure. Male global Per1 knockout (KO) mice develop reduced night/day differences in sodium excretion in response to a high salt diet plus desoxycorticosterone pivalate treatment (HS+DOCP), a model of salt-sensitive hypertension. Additionally, global Per1 KO mice exhibit higher aldosterone levels on a normal salt diet.

Diverse neurons in the parabrachial nucleus (PB) communicate with widespread brain regions. Despite evidence linking them to a variety of homeostatic functions, it remains difficult to determine which PB neurons influence which functions because their subpopulations intermingle extensively. An improved framework for identifying these intermingled subpopulations would help advance our understanding of neural circuit functions linked to this region. Here, we present the foundation of a developmental-genetic ontology that classifies PB neurons based on their intrinsic, molecular features.

Beta-klotho (KLB) is a coreceptor required for endocrine fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 15/19 and FGF21 signaling in the brain. Klb is prominent within the hypothalamus, which is consistent with its metabolic functions, but diverse roles for Klb are now emerging. Central Klb expression is low but discrete and may govern FGF-targeted sites. However, given its low expression, it is unclear if Klb mRNA is more widespread.

Disease associated with Nipah virus infection causes a devastating and often fatal spectrum of syndromes predominated by both respiratory and neurologic conditions. Additionally, neurologic sequelae may manifest months to years later after virus exposure or apparent recovery. In the two decades since this disease emerged, much work has been completed in an attempt to understand the pathogenesis and facilitate development of medical countermeasures.

Leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor 5 (LGR5) is a known cancer stem cell marker. However, there are no reported analyses of LGR5 mRNA expression in normal liver and liver cancer tissues. Here, we evaluated LGR5 expression by RNAscope, a newly developed RNA in situ hybridization technique, using a tissue microarray consisting of 25 samples of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) selected from the medical archives at our hospital.

ADAMTS18 is an orphan member of the ADAMTS family of metalloproteinase. ADAMTS18 mutation has been linked to developmental eye disorders, such as retinal dystrophies and ectopia lentis. Here, we report a new function of ADAMTS18 in modulating the lacrimal gland (LG) branching morphogenesis, and an association with dry eye in mice. Adamts18 mRNA was found to be enriched in the epithelium of branching tips of embryonic (E) LG, but its expression was barely detectable after 2 weeks of birth.

Lymphomas are characteristic tumors surrounded by an inflammatory microenvironment. The cells of the microenvironment are essential for the growth and survival of neoplastic cells and are recruited through the effect of cytokines/chemokines. Lymphomas include heterogeneous groups of neoplasms infiltrating various lymphoid structures which may arise from B lymphocytes, T lymphocytes, and natural killer (NK) cells at various stages of their differentiation state.

The choroid plexus (CP) is one of the key gateways regulating the entry of peripheral immune cells into the CNS. However, the neuromodulatory mechanisms of maintaining its gateway activity are not fully understood. Here, we identified adenosine A2A receptor (A2AR) activity as a regulatory signal for the activity of CP gateway under physiological conditions. In association with a tightly closed CP gateway, we found that A2AR was present at low density in the CP.

Bovine respiratory disease (BRD) is the most significant cause of cattle morbidity and mortality worldwide. This multifactorial disease has a complex aetiology. Dogma posits a primary viral infection followed by secondary bacterial pneumonia. Bovine rhinitis B virus (BRBV) is an established aetiological agent of BRD, but little is known regarding its pathogenesis. Here, a BRD PCR panel identified 18/153 (11.8 %) lung samples and 20/49 (40.8 %) nasal swabs collected from cattle with respiratory signs as positive for BRBV, which was the most prevalent virus in nasal swabs.

Given the recent success of gene therapy modalities and the growing number of cell and gene-based therapies in clinical development across many different therapeutic areas, it is evident that this evolving field holds great promise for the unmet medical needs of patients. The recent approvals of Luxturna and Zolgensma prove that recombinant adeno-associated virus (rAAV)-based gene therapy is a transformative modality that enables curative treatment for genetic disorders.