Publications

Recent discoveries implicate the classical complement cascade in normal brain development and in disease.

Limited longitudinal data exist on the effect of HIV on adipose tissue (AT). We found an increase in CD4+ cells and detectable SHIV-RNA in AT during acute SHIV infection. SHIV-RNA+ cells were rare, suggesting that AT is unlikely to be a major source of productively infected cells in SHIV infection.

Behavioral manifestations of drug-seeking behavior are causally linked to alterations of synaptic strength onto nucleus accumbens (NAc) medium spiny neurons (MSN). Although neuron-driven changes in physiology and behavior are well characterized, there is a lack of knowledge of the role of the immune system in mediating such effects. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is a pattern recognition molecule of the innate immune system, and evidence suggests that it modulates drug-related behavior.

The epithelial lining of the Fallopian tube is vital for fertility, providing nutrition to gametes, and facilitating their transport. It is composed of two major cell types: secretory cells and ciliated cells. Interestingly, human ovarian cancer precursor lesions are primarily consisting of secretory cells. It is unclear why secretory cells are the dominant cell type in these lesions.

The interaction between signaling pathways is a central question in the study of organogenesis. Using the developing murine tongue as a model, we uncovered unknown relationships between Sonic hedgehog (SHH) and retinoic acid (RA) signaling. Genetic loss of SHH signaling leads to enhanced RA activity subsequent to loss of SHH-dependent expression of Cyp26a1 and Cyp26c1.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is associated with several genetic alterations including oncogene amplification, leading to increased aggression of tumors. Recently, a relationship between HPV infection and oncogene amplification has been reported, but this finding remains controversial.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Hunger, driven by negative energy balance, elicits the search for and consumption of food. While this response is in part mediated by neurons in the hypothalamus, the role of specific cell types in other brain regions is less well defined.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is commonly observed in intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) and can, if excessive, cause spontaneous intestinal inflammation as shown by mice with IEC-specific deletion of X-box-binding protein 1 (Xbp1), an unfolded protein response-related