Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 4 is one of the seven members of the STAT family. STAT4 has a prominent role in mediating interleukin-12-induced T-helper cell type 1 lineage differentiation. T cells are key players in the maintenance of adipose tissue (AT) inflammation. The role of STAT4 in obesity and AT inflammation is unknown. We sought to determine the role of STAT4 ...

OVE26 (OVE) diabetic mice on the inbred strain FVB are a valuable model of diabetic nephropathy that excretes the highest amount of urine albumin of all diabetic mouse models. Crossing of OVE mice to C57BL6 or DBA2 mice reduced albuminuria 17-fold in F1 diabetic offspring without reducing diabetes. When comparing renal histology of OVE mice on the FVB background to F1 C57BL6 crosses, we found t...

Proteinase-activated receptor 2 (PAR-2) is a ubiquitous surface molecule. It belongs to the family of G protein-coupled receptors activated by site-specific proteolysis by trypsin. Altered function of PAR-2 has been described in different malignant tumours, both in vivo and in vitro. In the present study, we investigated differences of metastatic spread of B16 melanoma in knock-out animals comp...

Melanocyte regeneration in epidermis (e.g., vitiligo) and matrix of hair follicle graying hair) is quite dependent on the migration melanocyte precursors located follicle. We have demonstrated that casein kinase (CK) 1 ablation keratinocytes increases eumelanin production epidermal numbers. Here we further evaluate effect CK1 inhibition first established Fusion Red-labelled-melanocyte reporter ...

There is accumulating evidence, that ischemic preconditioning - a non-damaging ischemic challenge to the brain - confers a transient protection to a subsequent damaging ischemic insult. We have established bilateral common carotid artery occlusion as a preconditioning stimulus to induce early ischemic tolerance to transient focal cerebral ischemia in C57Bl6/J mice. In this video, we will demons...

Impairment of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) is recognized as a predisposition factor for atherosclerosis development. We hypothesize that the metabolic syndrome has a direct impact on VSMC migration and phenotypic switching, which may increase the incidence of atherosclerotic events. Aortic VSMC were extracted from 10 weeks old C57BL6 mice and incubated for 24 hr in adipocytes conditioned...

Melanoma is a challenging disease to treat. Punica granatum L. has a potential anticancer effect. This study determined the antiproliferative and antiangiogenic potential of the extract from pomegranate peel (PPE) in melanoma. Melanoma cells (1 × 106) were injected to C57BL6 mice subcutaneously. On 8th day, mice were randomly divided into 9 groups. Group 1 was considered as control and received...