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Full-Text Articles in Genetic Phenomena
Ricin B Chain-Insulin Fusion Protein Immunomodulation Of Type 1 Diabetes, James Edward Carter Iii
Ricin B Chain-Insulin Fusion Protein Immunomodulation Of Type 1 Diabetes, James Edward Carter Iii
Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects
Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) is a debilitating chronic inflammatory disease of the insulin-producing pancreatic islet β-cells that results from a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Attempts to suppress Th1-mediated autoimmune diseases such as T1D by mucosal delivery of autoantigens for immunotolerization have yielded only partial success. Attainment of satisfactory levels of sustained immunological tolerance remains to be accomplished. To restore self-tolerance requires delivery of sufficient amounts of autoantigen to stimulate regulatory T helper cells that function to survey the gut and induce tolerance to consumed antigens such as food. Oral delivery of autoantigens has previously been shown to …
Glucocorticoid Regulation Of Insulin Like Growth Factor Binding Protein-5 Gene Transcription In Human Osteoblasts, Xiaoying Wang
Glucocorticoid Regulation Of Insulin Like Growth Factor Binding Protein-5 Gene Transcription In Human Osteoblasts, Xiaoying Wang
Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects
Glucocorticoids (GCs) inhibit bone formation in vivo and inhibit osteoblast proliferation and collagen synthesis in vitro. These effects may be mediated by alterations in the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system. In the present study of normal human osteoblast-like (HOB) cells, we tested the hypothesis that dexamethasone (Dex) inhibits the expression of IGF binding protein-5 (IGFBP-5). Dex decreased IGFBP-5 mRNA levels to 54% of control after 4 hr. Dex did not modify the decay of IGFBP-5 mRNA in transcriptionally arrested osteoblast cells. Dex decreased IGFBP-5 hnRNA levels to 67% of control after 2 hr, and the activity of the human IGFBP- …
The Role Of Gap Junctions In Congenital Diseases Of The Heart, Scott Henry Britz-Cunningham
The Role Of Gap Junctions In Congenital Diseases Of The Heart, Scott Henry Britz-Cunningham
Loma Linda University Electronic Theses, Dissertations & Projects
Background. Gap junctions are thought to have a crucial role in the synchronized contraction of the heart and in embryonic development. Connexin43, the major protein of gap junctions in the heart, is targeted by several protein kinases that regulate myocardial cell-cell coupling. We hypothesized that mutations altering sites critical to this regulation would lead to functional or developmental abnormalities of the heart.
Methods. Connexin43 DNA from 25 normal subjects and 30 children with a variety of congenital heart diseases was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction and sequenced. Mutant DNA was expressed in cell culture and examined for its effect …