In the developing zebrafish retina, neurogenesis is initiated in cells adjacent to the optic stalk and progresses to the entire neural retina. It has been reported that hedgehog (Hh) signalling mediates the progression of the differentiation of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) in zebrafish. However, the progression of neurogenesis seems to be only mildly delayed by genetic or chemical blockade of ...

Background Recent studies revealed that tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) play a decisive role in the regulation of tumor progression by manipulating tumor oncogenesis, angiogenesis and immune functions within tumor microenvironments. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), which is a point of convergence for numerous oncogenic signalling pathways, is constitutively activ...

The midbrain-hindbrain interface gives rise to a boundary of particular importance in CNS development as it forms a local signalling centre, the proper functioning of which is essential for the formation of tectum and cerebellum. Positioning of the mid-hindbrain boundary (MHB) within the neuroepithelium is dependent on the interface of Otx2 and Gbx2 expression domains, yet in the absence of eit...

Grb2 is a ubiquitously expressed adaptor protein, which activates Ras and MAP kinases in growth factor receptor signalling, while in B-cell receptor (BCR) signalling this role is controversial. In B cell lines it was shown that Grb2 can inhibit BCR-induced Ca(2+) signalling. Nonetheless, the physiological role of Grb2 in primary B cells is still unknown. We generated a B-cell-specific Grb2-defi...

background recent studies revealed that tumor-associated macrophages (tams) play a decisive role in the regulation of tumor progression by manipulating tumor oncogenesis, angiogenesis and immune functions within tumor microenvironments. signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (stat3), which is a point of convergence for numerous oncogenic signalling pathways, is constitutively activa...

Wnt signalling is activated in both pituitary organogenesis and its mature function. Wnt ligands and Wnt signalling pathways are critical for the regulation of the formation of the pituitary. In the mature pituitary, Wnt signalling pathways control cell activity and may stimulate cell proliferation in both physiological and pathological processes. This review compares Wnt signalling pathways ac...

Pathogenic bacteria produce virulence factors only when they sense they are in a location in which the energy required for pathogenesis is warranted. One environmental factor monitored by pathogens is population density, either of its own population or of the population of a host's endogenous flora. To date, four systems have been described which allow pathogens to regulate virulence genes in a...

A novel class of receptor-the Frizzled family-has been identified and the members shown to be receptors for Wingless and its homologs, the Wnts, which mediate key cell-cell interactions during the development of fruitflies and vertebrates, respectively.