Publication

We derived two novel cell lines from rainbow trout (RT) proximal (RTpi-MI) and distal intestine (RTdi-MI) and compared them with the previously established continuous cell line RTgutGC. Intestinal stem cells, differentiating and differentiated epithelial cells, and connective cells were found in all cell lines. The cell lines formed a polarized barrier, which was not permeable to large molecules and absorbed proline and glucose.

A precise sequence of axon guidance events is required for the development of the ocular motor system. Three cranial nerves grow towards, and connect with, six extraocular muscles in a stereotyped pattern, in order to control eye movements. The signalling protein alpha2-chimaerin (α2-CHN) plays a pivotal role in the formation of the ocular motor system; mutations in CHN1, encoding α2-CHN, cause the human eye movement disorder Duane Retraction Syndrome (DRS).

Fatal neuroendocrine differentiation (NED) of castration-resistant prostate cancer is a recurrent mechanism of resistance to androgen deprivation therapies (ADT) and anti-androgen receptor pathway inhibitors (ARPI) in patients. The design of effective therapies for neuroendocrine prostate cancer (NEPC) is complicated by limited knowledge of the molecular mechanisms governing NED. The paucity of acquired genomic alterations and the deregulation of epigenetic and transcription factors suggest a potential contribution from the microenvironment.

The ectocervix is part of the lower female reproductive tract (FRT), which is susceptible to sexually transmitted infections (STI). Comprehensive knowledge of the phenotypes and T cell receptor (TCR) repertoire of tissue resident memory T cells (TRM) in human FRT is lacking. We have taken single-cell RNA sequencing approaches to simultaneously define gene expression and TCR clonotypes of the human ectocervix. There are significantly more CD8 than CD4 T cells.

17β-estradiol controls post-natal mammary gland development and exerts its effects through Estrogen Receptor ERα, a member of the nuclear receptor family. ERα is also critical for breast cancer progression and remains a central therapeutic target for hormone-dependent breast cancers. In this review, we summarize the current understanding of the complex ERα signaling pathways that involve either classical nuclear "genomic" or membrane "non-genomic" actions and regulate in concert with other hormones the different stages of mammary development.

Adult stem cells play an essential role in adult organ physiology and tissue repair and regeneration. While much has been learnt about the property and function of various adult stem cells, the mechanisms of their development remain poorly understood in mammals. Earlier studies suggest that the formation of adult mouse intestinal stem cells takes place during the first few weeks after birth, the postembryonic period when plasma thyroid hormone (T3) levels are high.

Birth defects of the external genitalia are among the most common in the world. Proper formation of the external genitalia requires a highly orchestrated process that involves special cell populations and sexually dimorphic hormone signaling. It is clear what the end result of the sexually dimorphic development is (a penis in the male versus clitoris in the female); however, the cell populations involved in the process remain poorly defined.

Nucleic acid-based systems play important roles in antiviral defense, including CRISPR/Cas that adopts RNA-guided DNA cleavage to prevent DNA phage infection and RNA interference (RNAi) that employs RNA-guided RNA cleavage to defend against RNA virus infection. Here, we report a novel type of nucleic acid-based antiviral system that exists in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs), which suppresses RNA virus infection by DNA-mediated RNA cleavage.

We study a patient with the human papilloma virus (HPV)-2-driven "tree-man" phenotype and two relatives with unusually severe HPV4-driven warts. The giant horns form an HPV-2-driven multifocal benign epithelial tumor overexpressing viral oncogenes in the epidermis basal layer. The patients are unexpectedly homozygous for a private CD28 variant. They have no detectable CD28 on their T cells, with the exception of a small contingent of revertant memory CD4+ T cells. T cell development is barely affected, and T cells respond to CD3 and CD2, but not CD28, costimulation.

The purpose of this study was to characterize the miRNA profile of purified retinal ganglion cells (RGC) from healthy and diseased rat retina. Diseased retina includes those after a traumatic optic nerve crush (ONC), and after ocular hypertension/glaucoma. Rats were separated into four groups: healthy/intact, 7 days after laser-induced ocular hypertension, 2 days after traumatic ONC, and 7 days after ONC. RGC were purified from rat retina using microbeads conjugated to CD90.1/Thy1. RNA were sequenced using Next Generation Sequencing.