The rockefeller university

Regulatory T cells (T-regs) are emerging as an essential stem cell niche component that promotes wound repair in adipose, muscle, and lung tissues. Recently in Cell, Ali et al. (2017) report that skin resident T-regs facilitate the proliferation and differentiation of hair follicle stem cells through Notch signaling.

Menopause is associated with bone loss and enhanced visceral adiposity. A polyclonal antibody that targets the beta-subunit of the pituitary hormone follicle-stimulating hormone (Fsh) increases bone mass in mice. Here, we report that this antibody sharply reduces adipose tissue in wild-type mice, phenocopying genetic haploinsufficiency for the Fsh receptor gene Fshr. The antibody also causes profound beiging, increases cellular mitochondrial density, activates brown adipose tissue and enhances thermogenesis. These actions result from the specific binding of the antibody to the beta-subunit of Fsh to block its action. Our studies uncover opportunities for simultaneously treating obesity and osteoporosis.

So-called mild controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (mCOH) has in recent years increased in popularity, claiming to be safer and more patient-friendly, while also improving in vitro fertilization (IVF) outcomes. We here challenge the International Society for Mild Approaches in Assisted Reproduction (ISMAAR) definition of mild stimulation, and especially address four fundamental issues, where our review found conventional COH (cCOH) advantageous over mCOH. They are: prevalence of severe ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS), oocyte/embryo quality, pregnancy/live birth rates, and cost. We conclude that an objective review of the literature does not support the routine utilization of mCOH in assisted reproduction.

The study of the nuclear pore complex (NPC) is a fascinating endeavor, as it not only implies uncovering the 'engineering marvel' of its architecture and function, but also provides a key window into a significant evolutionary event: the origin of the eukaryotic cell. The combined efforts of many groups in the field, with the help of novel methodologies and new model organisms, are facilitating a much deeper understanding of this complex assembly. Here we cover recent advances on the characterization of the structure of the NPC scaffold and of the biophysical mechanisms that define the permeability barrier. We identify common architectural and functional principles between those two NPC compartments, expanding the previous protocoatomer hypothesis to suggest possible evolutionary origins for the FG nucleoporins and the NPC permeability barrier.

During antibody affinity maturation, germinal center (GC) B cells cycle between affinity-driven selection in the light zone (LZ) and proliferation and somatic hypermutation in the dark zone (DZ). Although selection of GC B cells is triggered by antigen-dependent signals delivered in the LZ, DZ proliferation occurs in the absence of such signals. We show that positive selection triggered by T cell help activates the mechanistic target of rapamycin complex 1 (mTORC1), which promotes the anabolic program that supports DZ proliferation. Blocking mTORC1 prior to growth prevented clonal expansion, whereas blockade after cells reached peak size had little to no effect. Conversely, constitutively active mTORC1 led to DZ enrichment but loss of competitiveness and impaired affinity maturation. Thus, mTORC1 activation is required for fueling B cells prior to DZ proliferation rather than for allowing cell-cycle progression itself and must be regulated dynamically during cyclic re-entry to ensure efficient affinity-based selection.

Background: Magnolia champaca, commonly known as champak is a well-known tree due to its highly fragrant flowers. Champak floral scent is attributed to a complex mix of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These aromatic flowers are widely used in flavors and fragrances industry. Despite its commercial importance, the VOC biosynthesis pathways in these flowers are largely unknown. Here, we combine metabolite and RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) analyses of fully opened champak flowers to discover the active VOC biosynthesis pathways as well as floral scent-related genes. Results: Volatile collection by headspace method and analysis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) identified a total of 43 VOCs from fully opened champak flowers, of which 46.9% were terpenoids, 38.9% were volatile esters and 5.2% belonged to phenylpropanoids/benzenoids. Sequencing and de novo assembly of champak flower transcriptome yielded 47,688 non-redundant unigenes. Transcriptome assembly was validated using standard polymerase chain reaction (PCR) based approach for randomly selected unigenes. The detailed profiles of VOCs led to the discovery of pathways and genes involved in floral scent biosynthesis from RNA-seq data. Analysis of expression levels of many floral-scent biosynthesis-related unigenes in flowers and leaves showed that most of them were expressed higher in flowers than in leaf tissues. Moreover, our metabolite-guided transcriptomics, in vitro and in vivo enzyme assays and transgenic studies identified (R)-linalool synthase that is essential for the production of major VOCs of champak flowers, (R)-linalool and linalool oxides. Conclusion: As our study is the first report on transcriptome analysis of Magnolia champaca, this transcriptome dataset that serves as an important public information for functional genomics will not only facilitate better understanding of ecological functions of champak floral VOCs, but also provide biotechnological targets for sustainable production of champak floral scent.

Mendelian susceptibility to mycobacterial disease is a rare syndrome characterized by severe clinical infections usually caused by weakly virulent mycobacterial species such as Bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccines and environmental nontuberculous mycobacteria or more virulent mycobacteria as mycobacterium tuberculosis. Since 1996, 9 genes including 7 autosomal (STAT1, IFNGR1, IFNGR2, IL12B, IL12RB1, ISG15, and IRF8) and 2 X-linked genes ( NEMO and CYBB) have been identified. Allelic heterogeneity leaded to recognize about 18 genetic diseases with variable clinical phenotypes, but sharing a same physiological mechanism represented by a defect in human IL-12-dependant-INF-gamma-mediated immunity. We report here a case of multifocal Bacillus Calmette-Guerin osteomyelitis in a context Mendelian susceptibility to mycobacterial disease mimicking a metastatic neuroblastoma in a child presenting with delayed growth. The investigation of her twin sister showed the same disease. A heterozygous mutation in exon 22 of STAT1 gene was found in both sisters, another sister and the father being healthy and heterozygous for the same mutation.

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an incurable autoimmune disease characterized by autoantibody deposition in tissues such as kidney, skin and lungs. Notably, up to 75% of patients with SLE experience neuropsychiatric symptoms that range from anxiety, depression and cognitive impairment to seizures and, in rare cases, psychosis-collectively this is referred to as central nervous system (CNS) lupus(1-4). In some cases, certain autoantibodies, such as anti-NMDAR or anti-phospholipid antibodies(5,6), promote CNS lupus. However, in most patients, the mechanisms that underlie these symptoms are unknown. CNS lupus typically presents at lupus diagnosis or within the first year, suggesting that early factors contributing to peripheral autoimmunity may promote CNS lupus symptoms. Here we report behavioural phenotypes and synapse loss in lupus-prone mice that are prevented by blocking type I interferon (IFN) signalling. Furthermore, we show that type I IFN stimulates microglia to become reactive and engulf neuronal and synaptic material in lupus-prone mice. These findings and our observation of increased type I IFN signalling in post-mortem hippocampal brain sections from patients with SLE may instruct the evaluation of ongoing clinical trials of anifrolumab(7), a type I IFN-receptor antagonist. Moreover, identification of IFN-driven microglia-dependent synapse loss, along with microglia transcriptome data, connects CNS lupus with other CNS diseases and provides an explanation for the neurological symptoms observed in some patients with SLE.

Background: Fusion of the human IgG1 Fc domain to the C-terminal C2 domain of B-domaindeleted (BDD) factor VIII (FVIII) results in the recombinant FVIII Fc (rFVIIIFc) fusion protein, which has a 1.5-fold longer half-life in humans. Objective: To assess the structural properties of rFVIIIFc by comparing its constituent FVIII and Fc elements with their respective isolated components, and evaluating their structural independence within rFVIIIFc. Methods: rFVIIIFc and its isolated FVIII and Fc components were compared by the use of hydrogen-deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HDX-MS). The structure of rFVIIIFc was also evaluated by the use of X-ray crystallography, small-angle Xray scattering (SAXS), and electron microscopy (EM). The degree of steric interference by the appended Fc domain was assessed by EM and surface plasmon resonance (SPR). Results: HDX-MS analysis of rFVIIIFc revealed that fusion caused no structural perturbations in FVIII or Fc. The rFVIIIFc crystal structure showed that the FVIII component is indistinguishable from published BDD FVIII structures. The Fc domain was not observed, indicating high mobility. SAXS analysis was consistent with an ensemble of rigid-body models in which the Fc domain exists in a largely extended orientation relative to FVIII. Binding of Fab fragments of anti-C2 domain antibodies to BDD FVIII was visualized by EM, and the affinities of the corresponding intact antibodies for BDD FVIII and rFVIIIFc were comparable by SPR analysis. Conclusions: The FVIII and Fc components of rFVIIIFc are structurally indistinguishable from their isolated constituents, and show a high degree of structural independence, consistent with the functional comparability of rFVIIIFc and unmodified FVIII.